Douluo Era III – Skysea City
A man hurried into the Skysea City Blacksmith Association.
Ignoring the surprised looks from the surrounding blacksmiths, he went straight to the top floor and stopped in front of Duan Xuan's forging room.
"Teacher, I'm here!"
The man was none other than Zhen Hua, the only Divine Blacksmith on the continent.
The moment he received his teacher's message, he rushed over without delay.
But as soon as he pushed the door open—
A piece of metal suddenly flew toward him.
Zhen Hua instinctively raised his hand and caught it.
Before he could ask anything, Duan Xuan spoke calmly.
"Forge this piece of metal into a pair of forging hammers."
"Oh…"
Hearing this, Zhen Hua immediately understood.
"This is the child's first Thousand Refinement product, isn't it?"
Usually, when a blacksmith completed their first Thousand Refinement metal, it would be forged into a hammer.
This was because the first Thousand Refinement metal often possessed excellent characteristics.
Combined with the blood sacrifice ritual, the hammer could inherit and amplify those properties.
Duan Xuan nodded.
"Do it carefully."
"If you produce a defective product, I'll hold you responsible."
"Leave it to me!"
Zhen Hua agreed readily.
A Divine Blacksmith failing to craft something as simple as a forging hammer?
That would be a joke.
But compared to the task, there was something else he was curious about.
"Hm… Thousand Refinement, fourth grade."
"The quality is pretty average."
Zhen Hua weighed the metal in his hand.
He looked confused.
"Teacher, what's so special about this child that you had to call me here personally?"
The last time he saw Duan Xuan this excited was when Zhen Hua himself became a Divine Blacksmith.
He had expected to see something extraordinary.
But this metal didn't look that impressive.
Duan Xuan rolled his eyes.
"Do you know how old that child is?"
Zhen Hua thought for a moment.
"…Nine?"
It was already a ridiculous guess in his mind.
Duan Xuan sneered.
"Wrong."
"He's six."
"…Teacher, can you stop joking at a time like this?"
Zhen Hua's mouth twitched.
A six-year-old had barely even awakened their martial soul.
What could a child that age possibly do?
But Duan Xuan glared at him.
"Think carefully."
"If it wasn't something this outrageous, would I give up teaching such a talented seed and call you here?"
"…Wait."
Zhen Hua blinked.
His expression slowly froze.
"So… you weren't joking?"
"Of course not!"
Duan Xuan snorted.
"You'll see his level tomorrow when he arrives."
"Now hurry up and finish those forging hammers!"
"If you're going to be his teacher, shouldn't you prepare a welcome gift?"
Zhen Hua felt a bit speechless.
He was the only Divine Blacksmith on the continent.
Did he really need to prepare gifts for a student?
There were countless blacksmiths who would pay astronomical prices just to become his disciple.
But as he looked at the Thousand Refinement metal in his hand—
A spark of excitement rose in his heart.
If…
If that child really completed Thousand Refinement at six years old…
"—Hiss."
Zhen Hua inhaled sharply.
Then he nodded firmly.
"I understand."
"I'll go forge it right now!"
If the child truly had that level of talent—
Even if he had to lower himself a little, it would be worth it.
Watching Zhen Hua hurry away, Duan Xuan chuckled.
"Hmph… brat."
"You didn't believe me."
Meanwhile, Bai Chen had no idea what was happening.
Both versions of him—whether in Douluo Era II or Douluo Era III—were currently training forging nonstop.
Three days wasn't a long time.
But for a beginner, three days could change a lot.
When Bai Chen returned to Duan Xuan's forging room three days later, his confidence was far greater than before.
Duan Xuan walked over with a smile.
"Come, Bai Chen."
"This is the current president of the Blacksmith Association—Divine Blacksmith Zhen Hua."
"He accepted my request and came here to evaluate your forging ability."
"If you pass, he will take you as his disciple."
Bai Chen bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Divine Blacksmith."
Zhen Hua smiled gently.
"No need to be so formal."
"I heard from Duan Lao that your forging talent is impressive."
"Let me see it with my own eyes."
"Yes."
Bai Chen stepped up to the forging table and picked up a piece of metal.
Before he could begin—
Two forging hammers were suddenly handed to him.
Zhen Hua said kindly,
"Use these."
The moment Bai Chen took them, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him.
Looking at their color and texture, he immediately understood.
He bowed again.
"Thank you, President."
There was always a subtle connection between a blacksmith and the items they personally forged.
This was one reason blacksmith equipment was so valuable.
Holding these hammers—
Even before he started forging—
Bai Chen had a strong feeling that the result would not disappoint.
Clang!
Under the watchful eyes of both a Saint Blacksmith and a Divine Blacksmith, Bai Chen began forging.
As soon as the two soul rings rose beneath Bai Chen's feet, Zhen Hua's eyes widened.
Wait…
Isn't this child only six years old?
Where did that second soul ring come from?
But seeing Bai Chen fully focused on forging, he decided not to interrupt and simply kept watching.
Soon—
Just like Duan Xuan three days earlier—
Shock appeared in Zhen Hua's eyes.
This rhythm…
Wasn't this Duan Xuan's unique hammer technique?
The child had already learned it?
And that strength—
Even many Soul Elders couldn't match it.
What Zhen Hua didn't notice was that Duan Xuan, standing beside him, looked equally excited.
As the only person who had witnessed Bai Chen's previous forging session, Duan Xuan could clearly tell—
The child must have practiced constantly over the past three days.
His control over strength and understanding of metal had completely transformed.
Three days ago, Bai Chen's hammer technique was merely imitation.
Now—
It already contained his own understanding.
In his entire life, Duan Xuan had never seen a genius of this level.
Finally—
A brilliant flash of light erupted.
Bai Chen exhaled deeply and lowered his hammers.
He could say with confidence—
This was the highest-quality piece he had forged in the past few days.
The Bai Chen of Douluo II possessed greater raw strength, but he used only ordinary forging hammers—the standard type given to Sun Moon Royal Academy students.
The Bai Chen of Douluo III, however, was using Thousand Refinement forging hammers—and ones he had personally forged.
Their compatibility with him was far superior.
The advantage in tools compensated for the difference in strength—
Allowing Bai Chen's forging ability to reach an entirely new level.