Ouyang Ming slowly entered the square. Here, many casting tables had been placed, and the apprentices answered questions on the casting tables. At this moment, when all the apprentices retired and blacksmiths with arms or spiritual fire took the stage, the atmosphere in the square suddenly became more solemn.
After all, apprentices are apprentices, and they don't have weapons or spiritual fire on them.
Moreover, even if the apprentices gain the favor of the elders, they will have the opportunity to hunt for arms. But whether it can be successfully obtained is another question.
In contrast, although everyone on stage at this moment did not have the title of formal blacksmith, at least they all had arms or spiritual fire. In other words, they have truly stepped into the threshold of blacksmiths and have respectable strength.
Ou Yangming only had a certificate plate in his hand, with no number on it, and everyone entering the venue would not deliberately choose the casting platform.
There are more than 300 casting platforms in the square, but there are only about 30 candidates to participate in the official blacksmith assessment.
Ouyang Ming stood casually in front of a casting platform. He turned around and looked around. Except for Hu Yicheng and others, his eyes suddenly focused and he saw Yan Yuanhua on the high platform.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and Ouyang Ming nodded distantly to him.
On the high platform, Yan Yuanhua looked at Ouyang Ming in surprise, never expecting that this guy actually had the means to participate in the blacksmith's assessment. However, even if he succeeds, he is only an official blacksmith, and is still far from an intermediate blacksmith!
Suddenly, he saw Ouyang Ming's smile. There seemed to be strong confidence in that smile, which actually made him feel as if he had a chance to win.
Shaking his head vigorously, Yan Yuanhua's eyes couldn't help but become a little confused.
"Junior brother Yan, what are you doing?" A middle-aged man next to him whispered: "We are sitting here, but we represent the master. Don't look around!"
Yan Yuanhua's face turned slightly red and he said quickly: "Yes, second senior brother."
This man was also an introductory disciple of Master Wu Hongxi, but he was Yuan Lexin, the second disciple of the master. Not only is he far more powerful than him, but he is also one of the three senior blacksmiths under the master.
Yan Yuanhua was so arrogant in front of Hu Yicheng and others, but in front of the second senior brother, he was as honest as a child, not daring to make any thorns.
However, Ouyang Ming's confident, sunshine-like smile never left his mind. He finally couldn't help but ask: "Second Senior Brother, is this the official blacksmith's assessment?"
Yuan Le was startled and said in surprise: "Yes!"
"So in this assessment, will anyone directly become an intermediate blacksmith?"
Yuan Lexin glanced at him strangely and said, "Junior Brother Yan, are you dizzy?" He paused and said, "The material used in the official blacksmith's assessment is ordinary iron ingots. Using such materials, Even if the master takes action himself, he can only create a handful of high-quality equipment at most. Haha, the conditions for an intermediate blacksmith are to be able to stably create high-quality equipment!"
Yan Yuanhua felt relieved and said: "Second Senior Brother, are you saying that in this assessment, it is impossible for the title of Intermediate Blacksmith to appear?"
Yuan Lexin said without hesitation: "Absolutely impossible." He frowned slightly and said: "What the hell are you doing!"
Yan Yuanhua said quickly: "It's okay, it's okay, Second Senior Brother, come and watch the fun..."
Although Yuan Lexin was puzzled, it was difficult to ask questions on this occasion, so she had to close her mouth and look down boredly. What's so interesting about such an assessment for a senior blacksmith like him
At this time, when Ouyang Ming looked at the materials placed on the casting platform, he frowned slightly.
Although he had known for a long time that this type of assessment must have limitations, the all-colored iron ingots on the casting platform still made Ouyang Ming feel a little worried.
The higher the grade of the equipment, the better the materials required.
Something made of selected fine steel, even a kitchen knife, is much sharper than a saber made of iron ingots, because the difference between the two materials is really too big.
With Ouyang Ming's current forging skills, he can even forge magical weapons.
However, this requires a prerequisite, which is to provide strong enough raw materials.
Now, he has set his sights on becoming a super blacksmith, but the materials he can use are limited to iron ingots.
Picking up an iron ingot casually, Ouyang Mingdong looked at it and looked around, but he couldn't see how to turn it into top-quality equipment.
The upper limit that low-level materials can withstand is not high. Even if he has the special ability of arms to cheat, he cannot increase the upper limit of low-level materials. If the upper limit is raised without hesitation, the only result is that the piece of equipment explodes into pieces with a "boom".
"Everyone, you are all young people who have received arms or spiritual fire for less than a year." Jin Shengjie's eyes flashed, seeming to take in everyone's performance: "In this year, you have gone through countless trainings, you should You have mastered the most basic method of complete equipment forging. Now, pick up the materials in front of you and forge the equipment you are best at. "
As soon as his voice fell, Ouyang Ming raised his hand high and said: "Senior."
Jin Shengheng couldn't help being slightly startled, and he looked at Ouyang Ming in surprise.
The blacksmith assessment has become a routine over the years, and he has already had the experience of presiding over this annual assessment several times. However, he had never encountered a precedent for anyone speaking midway.
Jin Shengheng frowned slightly and said, "You are..."
Ouyang Ming said loudly: "I am Ouyang Ming, from Changlong County."
"Oh, it turns out he's the blacksmith from Changlong County." Jin Shengjie said calmly, feeling relieved in his heart. It turned out that he was not a blacksmith who grew up in the capital, so he had to understand the rules.
On other occasions, he would definitely ignore it. But at this moment, under the gaze of many people, he still showed enough grace.
"What's the matter with you?"
Ouyang Ming raised the iron ingot in his hand high and said: "Senior, these materials are too bad, I ask for some replacement!"
"Change...materials?" Jin Shengjie was slightly startled, with a look on his face that didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Yi Yucheng had a bad intention, so he immediately took a step forward and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? The official blacksmith examinations of all dynasties have all used the same materials, so what qualifications do you have to be excluded?"
Jin Shengjie said slowly: "Yes, based on your experience in mastering weapons for less than a year, using iron ingots as materials is undoubtedly the best way to practice. As for more advanced materials, let's wait until your skills have improved step by step."
Ouyang Ming smacked his lips and said, "However, good equipment cannot be forged from such materials!"
Jin Shengheng's expression darkened. If he hadn't wanted to maintain his image in front of everyone, he would have scolded him long ago.
Feng Guangyuan also had a gloomy face and said: "Boy, don't mess around. I'll give you better materials. Can you forge it well? You're so ambitious. Besides wasting materials, what else can you do?"
Ouyang Ming laughed dumbly and said, "Senior Feng, if you say this, aren't you going to kill people?"
Feng Guangyuan laughed angrily, turned around and said, "You are from Changlong County. Since you have signed up, you must have a sponsor. Who is your sponsor?"
Du Gaoge, who was watching, was already dumbfounded and wished he could go down and drag Ouyang Ming away.
In front of so many people, he made such a big mistake. It was really embarrassing to my grandma's house. At this moment, he wished he was not here. However, after hearing Feng Guangyuan's question, he had no choice but to stand up and said: "Master Feng, calm down, his guarantor is our Yijia Pavilion."
There were whispers all around. The three words "IKEA Pavilion" also had a certain influence among everyone.
Feng Guangyuan snorted coldly and said, "Don't you know the rules in your Yijia Pavilion? You actually let such an ignorant person in. Humph, could it be that you don't take us blacksmiths seriously?"
Du Gaoge's head immediately broke out in sweat, and he said: "Masters, forgive me, it's our fault, let's take him away!"
Although Ouyang Ming is a distinguished guest of the chief shopkeeper of Changlong County, if compared with many blacksmiths in the capital, his status is vastly different.
Jin Shengjie waved his hand gently and said: "Hey, what's going on with you two? They are outsiders and don't know the rules. You can't just kill them all just because of a few words!"
"Yes." Feng Guangyuan and Yi Yucheng responded quickly, but in their hearts they secretly thought that you are right anyway.
Jin Shengjie said in a deep voice: "Ouyang Ming, don't make any excessive demands. Just do the assessment honestly. If you successfully pass the test, I promise you to continue participating next year."
"As expected of Master Jin, you are so broad-minded!"
"This kid is so lucky. Fortunately, he met Master Jin, otherwise..."
Jin Shengjie gently stroked his long beard, with a harmonious smile on his face, enjoying the compliments from everyone below.
Ouyang Ming raised his eyebrows and was about to speak. When he turned his eyes, he saw the bitter look on Du Gaoge's face. He couldn't help but shook his head slightly, sighed secretly in his heart, and stopped talking.
Jin Shengheng waved his hand and said, "Let's get started."
Everyone in the field responded in unison, and each of them gathered their thoughts, picked up the iron ingots on the casting table, and began to forge the equipment they were best at.
However, there were two young men next to the two casting platforms closest to Ouyang Ming. They looked at them with disgust and left far away. They would rather go to other casting platforms than stand with him. .
At some point, there was a young man beside Hu Yicheng. He asked in a low voice: "Dad, is this... the great uncle you mentioned?"
Hearing this, Hu Yicheng looked embarrassed and whispered: "Look carefully, I believe he will not let you down!"
Du Gaoge snorted angrily and said in a low voice: "Brother Hu, he disrupted the assessment venue like this, do you think there will be a chance?"
Hu Yicheng was stunned for a long time and was speechless.
However, at this moment, Ouyang Ming, who seemed to have been abandoned by everyone, sighed and weakly picked up an iron ingot.
With a flick of his wrist, the weapons suddenly boiled into flames.