Sun Tiexin received the ordinary saber with a steady hand.

He spun the blade in an elegant flourish, sending a chill rippling through the air.

"Not bad, not bad at all!" Sun Tiexin exclaimed with a grin. "Su Zhe, you've truly done me proud!"

"Your first forging created a weapon—ha! This is a milestone for our Artisan Hall. With talent like yours, we're destined for greatness!"

At first, Sun Tiexin tried to maintain his composure, but his excitement quickly got the better of him. Forget the dignified demeanor of a master! His Artisan Hall had just produced a prodigy, a five-clawed golden dragon among mortals!

"Master, you overpraise me," Su Zhe replied with a modest smile.

"Congratulations, junior brother!"

"Well done, junior brother! To forge a weapon on your first try—your future is boundless!"

"Indeed! But don’t forget your senior brothers when you rise to fame, alright? Remember, it was me who gave you a bowl of braised pork that time you were starving!"

The Artisan Hall disciples crowded around Su Zhe, offering their hearty congratulations.

The camaraderie of craftsmen, rough and straightforward, was evident in their unfiltered words and actions. Su Zhe could only smile wryly at their enthusiasm.

"Smack!"

Guo Ju’s massive hand landed on Su Zhe’s shoulder with a loud thud. He laughed uproariously.

"Junior brother, you’ve outdone yourself!" Guo Ju bellowed. "Xiao Xunhuan bet you wouldn’t succeed on your first try, and now you’ve not only succeeded—you’ve forged a weapon! He’s lost the bet and promised to get you a set of top-quality attire!"

Feigning surprise, Su Zhe turned to Xiao Xunhuan. "Second Senior Brother, this is too generous; I can’t possibly accept."

The so-called “top-quality attire” was no simple garment. It would far surpass Su Zhe’s coarse linen robes in both quality and cost. Naturally, Su Zhe had to put on a show of reluctance.

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Xiao Xunhuan glared daggers at Guo Ju before sighing deeply and addressing Su Zhe with a complicated expression.

"We’re all brothers here. No need for such formalities. With your talent, I’m genuinely happy for you. As for the attire, skipping a few visits to the Yuanyang Pavilion is a small price to pay. Consider it a gift from me."

Before Su Zhe could protest further, Guo Ju interrupted with a grin.

"Exactly! Back in the day, the title of Artisan Hall’s greatest talent passed from one to the next—it’s tradition! This is just Xiao Xunhuan acknowledging the new prodigy!"

Xiao Xunhuan was livid, practically jumping in frustration, as if he wanted nothing more than to throttle Guo Ju on the spot.

Su Zhe, observing the scene, thought to himself, this senior brother isn’t as simple-minded as he seems. Crude on the surface, but sharp underneath. He’s managed to leave Xiao Xunhuan with no room to argue.

Unbeknownst to Su Zhe, Guo Ju had his reasons. Xiao Xunhuan’s cunning ways had often left Guo Ju at a disadvantage. But this time, using Su Zhe as a foil, Guo Ju had delivered a satisfying blow.

And oh, how sweet it felt!

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"Enough bickering," Sun Tiexin interrupted, waving a hand to silence the group. "Su Zhe, your mastery of the Barbaric Bull Hammer Technique is cause for celebration."

"Achieving mastery in hammer techniques means you’ve reached the second-tier Forged Bone Realm. This is a critical stage in your cultivation. If you encounter difficulties, consult your senior brothers. Avoid straying from the right path."

Su Zhe nodded. The advice sounded oddly generic—like a teacher reminding a student that every grade in school was "the most important."

Sun Tiexin then raised the weapon Su Zhe had forged, a glint of approval in his eyes.

"You’ve progressed faster than I anticipated. With your beast-like physique and exceptional comprehension, you should stabilize your foundation for three to five days. Once you’ve done so, I’ll teach you the combat techniques of the Barbaric Bull Hammer."

Combat techniques!

Su Zhe’s heart raced with excitement. The complete Barbaric Bull Hammer Technique, with its embedded martial techniques, was a superior foundational skill. Without the combat techniques, its power was mediocre at best—comparable to the mid-tier techniques of other local factions. But mastering the combat techniques elevated it to a league of its own.

"I’m looking forward to it, Master," Su Zhe replied, bowing deeply.

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As the day wound down, a cart from the Internal Affairs Hall arrived at the Artisan Hall, carrying several chests.

"Su Zhe, please sign here," an attendant said respectfully, handing over an inventory list.

Su Zhe checked the contents, signed his name, and carried the chests to his quarters.

Inside his room, he couldn’t help but grin as he opened the chests.

"Having the support of a guild is truly a blessing. With this, I’ve gathered everything I need for the Third Immortal Aperture!"

His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he prepared for the next step in his journey.