Chapter 1764 Metal Tower(2)

To capture the Metal Tower's attention, most blacksmiths showcase their creations on the tower's first floor, which also serves as an open marketplace. However, despite the abundance of talented blacksmiths, only about ten individuals gain the Metal Tower's recognition every few hundred years.

"I've been selling my creations here for about a hundred years now," the man said. "In all that time, I've only seen three people be recognized by the Metal Tower. But let me tell you, being recognized doesn't mean you'll be accepted—that's an entirely different matter."

"I see. Thank you for the information," Yuan said to the man.

He left shortly after and began roaming the first floor, examining all of the stores available.

Now that Yuan understood how to attract the Metal Tower's attention, he knew he needed to craft treasures that would quickly build his reputation. The simplest and most effective way to achieve this was to create something far superior to anything else being showcased around him.

After exploring every store on the first floor, Yuan observed that most of the treasures on display were only Ancient-grade, with a few Mythic-grade items scattered among them. However, even the Mythic-grade treasures were of noticeably low quality.

'A few peak-quality Mythic-grade and Empyrean-grade treasures should be more than enough to attract the Metal Tower's attention.' Yuan thought to himself as he left the Metal Tower.

Thanks to the Metal Tower's influence, the area surrounding it was teeming with smithies and smithing-related stores, including shops selling various materials and tools essential for crafting.

Yuan entered a nearby smithy and requested to use their workshop.

"Hello, I would like to borrow the workshop to create some treasures."

The bulky man standing behind the counter looked at Yuan like he was crazy.

"You got any identification? A blacksmith identification, to be more specific."

"Sorry, but I don't have anything like that."

"Then we cannot lend you our workshop, no matter how much you offer. If you wish to use our workshop, you need to be an official blacksmith."

"How do I become an official blacksmith?" Yuan asked.

"Hahaha! You want to become an official blacksmith, but you don't even know how? You're an amusing one!" The bulky man laughed out loud.

He continued, "Ten blocks down, there is a place called the Blacksmith Association. In order to be recognized as an official blacksmith, you must pass several tests."

"Thank you. Then I will be back after I acquire my identification," Yuan said to the man.

"Hahaha! If a scrawny kid like you can pass the assessment, I'll gladly let you use my workshop for free!"

"Scrawny?" Yuan raised an eyebrow. This was the first time he had ever been referred to with such a term.

Yuan's physique might appear scrawny compared to the bulky man standing before him, but in reality, it was perfectly balanced and refined to an unparalleled degree of perfection, being neither too skinny nor too bulky.

Yuan left the store shortly after, but he didn't immediately head to the Blacksmith Association. Instead, he decided to try his luck at a few more smithies. Unfortunately, all of them required him to be an official blacksmith.

'I guess this is a process I must go through to progress the trial.' Yuan thought to himself as he visited the Blacksmith Association.

The Blacksmith Association was an enormous building spanning several streets, its reflective surface and metallic structure giving it the appearance of a solid block of steel at first glance.

Yuan walked inside the building and approached the nearest worker.

"I'd like to take the assessment to become an official blacksmith."

The worker, a young man, nodded, "Sure thing. May I ask how experienced you are with the art?"

"I'd say that I'm quite experienced."

"Then what is the highest grade of treasure you've created?"

"Celestial-grade." Yuan calmly responded.

The young man's eyes immediately widened with disbelief. He didn't respond for several moments due to being speechless.

Eventually, he said, "That's a good joke, but I need a serious answer."

Yuan's expression remained calm as he responded, "I am dead serious."

Seeing Yuan's solemn gaze, the young man swallowed nervously and spoke in a stiff voice, "T-then will you be fine with accepting the most difficult assessment? If you pass, we'll grant you the highest Blacksmith Rank we can possibly give you. Even if you fail, you can try again with a lower difficulty."

Yuan nodded, "Sure, give me your most difficult assessment."

The young man nodded and said, "Please give me a moment to notify my superiors."

Sometime later, an old man with long, short white hair and a curly mustache approached Yuan and asked, "Are you the one who requested our most difficult assessment?"

Yuan nodded.

"Follow me."

Yuan followed the old man to the basement, where a large workshop was available.

"Since you claim to be able to craft Celestial-grade treasures, we'll have you craft an Empyrean-grade treasure for your assessment. If you are able to do so, the Blacksmith Association will immediately promote you to our highest blacksmith rank," said the old man.

Yuan pondered for a moment before asking, "Does the Blacksmith Association have any connections with the Metal Tower?"

The old man quickly understood what Yuan was trying to ask and said, "While we do have some connections and can recommend you to the Metal Tower, it is up to them whether they are willing to accept you. Moreover, Divine Blacksmiths are not rare in the Metal Tower, so even if you are capable of crafting Celestial-grade treasures, it won't guarantee you a spot in the Metal Tower."

"I see. Thanks for the explanation."

The old man retrieved a pile of materials a moment later and said, "You have three months to craft the treasure using the materials we provide you. Are you ready to begin?"

"I am ready."

Yuan spent a couple of minutes examining the materials. Once he was prepared, he immediately began to work.

Less than a day later, Yuan presented his finished creation to the old man, who was utterly gobsmacked, not only by the masterpiece itself but also by the sheer brilliance of the process that had brought it to life.