Chapter 43: Divine Blacksmith-A Tool

With Mu Xi's guidance, Xia Yi progressed in forging by leaps and bounds.

This made Xia Yi deeply appreciate the importance of having a great teacher.

After a month of working with Mu Xi, Xia Yi learned that Tang Wulin had been taken as a disciple by Mu Chen.

Though Xia Yi was extremely confident in his own talent, he had to admit that Tang Wulin had long been Mu Chen's disciple. If not for the serendipitous encounter that led to him saving Mu Xi, Xia Yi would have been wary of Mu Chen plotting against him.

"Can I ask you a question?" Xia Yi asked Mu Xi.

"What is it?" Mu Xi asked curiously.

"Are there any rules for a blacksmith taking on disciples?" Xia Yi asked.

"You're asking how many disciples a blacksmith can take, right? I can tell you clearly: generally, high-level blacksmiths may have many disciples, but they'll only take one personal disciple," Mu Xi replied with a laugh, glancing at Xia Yi with a deliberately sympathetic look as she drove. "And Tang Wulin is already my father's personal disciple."

Mu Xi wasn't lying to Xia Yi. At the level of a Saint Craftsman, everyone dreams of nurturing a Divine Craftsman if they can.

On the Douluo Continent, only one Divine Craftsman can exist at a time.

Instead of raising multiple personal disciples to compete for the title of Divine Craftsman, it's better to focus all efforts on one.

Thus, high-level blacksmiths typically only take one personal disciple.

Back when her father Mu Chen and her master's elder brother Zhen Hua were both her grandfather's disciples, her grandfather compensated Zhen Hua by officially accepting him as his personal disciple after Mu Chen married his daughter, Yuan Bao'er, Mu Xi's mother.

Zhen Hua later became a Divine Craftsman, while Mu Chen became a Saint Craftsman. Although Mu Chen's talent for forging was not as strong as Zhen Hua's, the difference between a personal disciple and an ordinary disciple was significant.

"What's Tang Wulin's current level?" Xia Yi asked.

"He's a Level 4 Master Blacksmith," Mu Xi said with a smile.

Blacksmiths are divided into nine levels. Levels 1 and 2 are the apprentice levels; Levels 3 and 4 are the master levels; Levels 5 and 6 are the grandmaster levels; Levels 7 and 8 are the saint levels; and the highest Level 9 is the divine level.

Xia Yi hadn't expected Tang Wulin to be so talented, already a Level 4 Master Blacksmith at such a young age.

He thought of the aged Master Ao Chuang, who was in his sixties and also only at Level 4.

"How about I take him to a secluded place and get rid of him? What do you think?" Xia Yi asked with a serious tone.

Mu Xi burst into laughter and replied lightly, "Go ahead if you dare. Just don't let my father find out. He always says that forging starts with forging the heart. If you do something like that, he'll never teach you a single thing about forging."

She knew Xia Yi was joking, so she didn't take it seriously. If Xia Yi had truly intended to kill Tang Wulin, he wouldn't have told her.

Instead of taking Xia Yi to the Blacksmith Association, Mu Xi brought him directly to her home.

The villa of an Eight-Star Saint Craftsman was truly impressive. Even from outside the fence, the place looked like the White House, with lush greenery, a swimming pool in front of the mansion, and a picturesque view.

"Young miss is back," a maid greeted respectfully as soon as Mu Xi's car entered the courtyard.

"Where are my parents? Their daughter's lifesaver has arrived, and they're not coming out to greet him?" Mu Xi pouted while storing the car into her storage soul guide ring.

"The Saint Craftsman and madam are in the living room waiting for you and this young gentleman," the maid replied after glancing at Xia Yi.

"Fine, you can go back to work. I'll take Xia Yi to meet them," Mu Xi said with a wave, leading Xia Yi to the living room.

Soon, Xia Yi saw the man he had been eager to meet: Mu Chen. He was a dignified man in his forties, dressed in a gray outfit, with a sturdy and robust physique.

Beside him was Mu Xi's mother, Yuan Bao'er. She looked to be in her thirties, bearing a resemblance to Mu Xi but with an added touch of mature charm and grace. Her stunning figure was something the still-young Mu Xi couldn't yet hope to match.

"Dad, Mom, this is Xia Yi," Mu Xi said cheerfully, running over to stand behind Mu Chen and kneading his shoulders.

"Uncle, Aunt," Xia Yi greeted. He initially considered calling Mu Chen "senior" or "president," but since this was their home and not the Blacksmith Association, he chose otherwise.

"So young and promising," Mu Chen remarked with a sigh, taking out a few notebooks from his storage soul guide device. "These are my notes on forging over the years. You saved Xi'er's life, so consider this my repayment."

"Thank you, Uncle," Xia Yi said, feeling a bit disappointed but still not rejecting the offer. These were the notes of a Saint Craftsman, treasures that countless blacksmiths would dream of having.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Mu Xi grumbled, clearly displeased as she pouted even more and tugged at Mu Chen's shoulders.

"Xi'er, don't be unreasonable," Mu Chen said sternly, casting a strict glance at Mu Xi, whose pout grew even more exaggerated.

Seeing no response from her father, Mu Xi turned to her mother, wrapping her arms around Yuan Bao'er's and pleading, "Mom, aren't you going to say something? Dad's being so mean."

Yuan Bao'er gently patted Mu Xi's arm and turned to Xia Yi. "Young man, where are you from, and what does your family do?"

"I'm from Heaven Dou City. I have no parents and no family," Xia Yi replied, his expression tinged with sadness. Though this was a lie, it carried a kernel of genuine emotion.

"You…" Mu Xi was stunned. She had been around Xia Yi for a while but had no idea he had such a "tragic" background.

Born into a perfect family, she could imagine how difficult it must have been for Xia Yi, without parents, to struggle and reach where he was today.

"No wonder you didn't even have the basics of forging," Mu Xi said, her eyes glistening, and her gaze toward Xia Yi softened.

"If you're from Heaven Dou City, why did you come to a small city like Eastsea City?" Yuan Bao'er asked, her tone also softening.

"The academies in Heaven Dou City said my talent was too poor, so I had to come to Eastsea City to study," Xia Yi said helplessly.

"Twelve levels of soul power," Yuan Bao'er murmured. In a big city like Heaven Dou, such a cultivation level indeed wouldn't be recognized.

"Don't be discouraged. It's harder for support-type soul masters to cultivate. Besides, even if your talent for cultivation is lacking, your talent in forging is enough to make you famous," Yuan Bao'er said softly, trying to console him.

"But forging rank advancement also depends on soul power," Xia Yi said, disheartened. He had hoped Yuan Bao'er would persuade Mu Chen to take him as a disciple, but it seemed she had no such intentions.

"Even a low-ranking blacksmith can enjoy wealth and prosperity," Mu Chen said with a gentle smile.

"True," Xia Yi laughed, then said to Mu Chen, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Since Mu Chen had no intention of accepting him, Xia Yi saw no point in staying any longer.

"Wait, I have one more request," Yuan Bao'er called out, stopping him.

"What is it?" Xia Yi asked, curious.

Yuan Bao'er smiled faintly and said, "Xi'er's master uncle has been calling recently, saying he misses her. But with the Heaven Sea Alliance competition keeping us busy, neither her father nor I can accompany her to meet him. Since you're from Heaven Dou City, I'd like you to go with her. Oh, I forgot to mention—her master uncle is none other than Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua."

Mu Chen's mouth twitched slightly. Now he understood why Yuan Bao'er hadn't argued with him—she intended to introduce Xia Yi to Zhen Hua.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Mu Xi's eyes lit up. Mu Chen already had Tang Wulin as his personal disciple, but Zhen Hua didn't yet.

With Xia Yi's talent for forging and her connection, there was a real chance Zhen Hua would accept him.

"In that case, I'll humbly accept," Xia Yi said with a nod. He hadn't expected Mu Xi to have a connection with Zhen Hua.

"Let's go meet my master uncle now!" Mu Xi said excitedly, dragging Xia Yi out. She was confident Zhen Hua would agree to her request, as he treated her like his own daughter.

As Xia Yi and Mu Xi left, Mu Chen looked at Yuan Bao'er and said seriously, "I asked my senior brother to investigate. Xia Yi's records show he appeared in Heaven Dou City just a month ago, but there's no prior record of him ever being there. I'm worried he might harm Xi'er."

"Why worry so much? Once he's with my senior brother, he'll handle it if there's any problem," Yuan Bao'er said with a smile.

Zhen Hua doted on Mu Xi so much that if Xia Yi had any ill intentions toward her, Zhen Hua would surely intervene.

Mu Chen shook his head helplessly. Though Yuan Bao'er was his wife, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Zhen Hua.

A mighty Divine Craftsman, yet he was being used as a mere tool by Yuan Bao'er.

Even if Zhen Hua realized her intentions, he could do nothing about it.

He was completely at her mercy.

(End of Chapter)