Just when Mo Yuesheng was about to explode with anger, the apprentice from the Weapon Foundry Hall next to him finally couldn't help but speak up: "Be quiet, if you two want to continue arguing and disturb others, please leave here immediately and argue outside!"
His words were like a basin of cold water poured on Mo Yuesheng's forehead, which was burning with anger, and the anger in Mo Yuesheng's heart was suppressed at once.
He suddenly realized that Dai Qingqing was deliberately trying to provoke him. If he got so angry that he lost his composure, he would probably perform poorly in the rest of the competition.
He squinted his eyes and glanced at Dai Qingqing, and saw that there was indeed a strange look in the woman's eyes, as if she felt sorry that Mo Yuesheng was awakened by the apprentice's warning.
“You did it on purpose!”
Mo Yuesheng gritted his teeth and dared not speak loudly anymore. He could only squeeze out words from between his teeth.
Dai Qingqing was straightforward, nodded, and said: "Yes, I did it on purpose!"
Her unconcealed look made Mo Yuesheng's heart churn again. A curse rose to his throat, but he swallowed it back.
Ye Li looked at Mo Yuesheng's appearance and felt happy in his heart. It seemed that this woman named Dai Qingqing knew him very well and could find his weaknesses.
After Dai Qingqing provoked Mo Yuesheng, she looked at Ye Li again, raised her pretty face slightly, and said: "How is it, handsome little brother, did your sister help you vent your anger?"
As she spoke, Dai Qingqing's eyes showed a look of seeking credit.
Ye Li could only touch his nose and said, "Thank you, sister, for speaking for me."
Seeing Ye Li's clumsy response, Dai Qingqing laughed and said, "Don't be embarrassed, I am just a playful person.
What's your name? You must be someone famous if you can stand in the first row here."
Ye Li felt that he was really an unknown person now, but he still answered honestly: "Sister Dai, my name is Ye Li, I think you have never heard of my name."
Dai Qingqing was indeed stunned, and asked, "Surname Ye, which weapon-making family has the surname Ye?"
Ye Li shook his head and said, "I am not from a family of forgers."
Hearing Ye Li's answer, Dai Qingqing showed a curious look on her face and said, "Then you must be an apprentice or disciple of some master, otherwise how could you be so young and have the ability to stand in the first row."
Ye Li touched his nose. He didn't know how to answer. He was about to say that he had nothing to do with the weaponsmith, but the people around him suddenly applauded.
Ye Li was stunned and looked around, and found that at some point, all the contestants had arrived at the venue, and at this moment, they were looking towards the front of the venue with eyes full of reverence.
Ye Li looked in the direction they were looking and saw a burly old man with a head full of inch-long silver hair and a white beard that reached his chest walking towards him. Beside him were Pei Ku and three other old men.
Although Ye Li had never seen Ou Qianxie, he could guess from Pei Ku's respectful expression that this burly old man must be Ou Qianxie, the master of the Foundry Hall.
However, except for Pei Ku, Ye Li didn't recognize any of the other three old men.
"Hey, Master An Changsheng, the Alchemy Saint, is here too, as well as Zhong Bao, the family supervisor of the four major chambers of commerce. But who is that old man with pockmarked face at the end?"
The joking expression on Dai Qingqing's face next to her had completely disappeared, and she became serious.
Listening to what she was muttering, Ye Li's heart was shaken, and he couldn't help but focus his attention on the three people next to Ou Qianxie again.
One of the three men was a little bald and looked older than the others, with a long beard and eyebrows. In his hand was a cane that was more than a person's height and as black as ink. On the top of the cane was tied a large golden gourd, about the size of a human head, with a thin red string.
Although he was not sure in his heart, Ye Li guessed from his appearance that this person was most likely the Alchemy Saint An Changsheng that Dai Qingqing had just mentioned.
To a descendant of a seventh-rank family like him, this was simply a legendary figure. It was said that An Changsheng could refine divine-level elixirs that surpassed the heavenly level.
Next to him was a broad-faced old man wearing a luxurious robe with cloud patterns. He looked very imposing. Ye Li naturally guessed that he was the head of the Guan Chamber of Commerce among the four major chambers of commerce, and the master of the Guan family.
There was also an old man with a pockmarked face next to him. Since Dai Qingqing didn't know who he was, Ye Li naturally didn't know either.
For Ye Li, all the people who appeared in front of him now were legendary figures. If he had stayed in Dahuang City, he estimated that he would never have the chance to meet these people in his life.
Just as he was shocked, several people had already walked quickly to the podium set up at the front of the venue. There was a long table and four chairs on the podium.
After the five people came on stage, Ou Qianxie and the other three old men sat at the long table, while Pei Ku walked to the front of the stage.
He first glanced at his master behind him, and after he nodded, he looked at the contestants and said, "First of all, congratulations to all the contestants for passing the first two rounds of competition and reaching the final stage.
The finals will be held today. My original plan was to divide it into two stages. The fact that you have made it to the finals already shows that your basic skills in making external symbols have reached the standard, so there is no need to compete too much.
Therefore, we have streamlined the final competition items to one round, which is used to compete on your ability to comprehend the essence of the talisman.
This ability to comprehend not only represents your natural potential in the art of talismans, but also represents how much experience you have gained from practicing this art over the years.
If you want to become a weaponsmith in the future, you should understand that basic skills are the minimum guarantee for entry, while the ability to comprehend the essence of talismans is the highest guarantee for your upper limit of achievement.
Although each of us wants to believe that hard work can surpass talent, the fact is that people who succeed through hard work are more talented than most people.
Talent is just like our body. If you are born blind, then if we compete to see who can see farther, even if my eyes are blurry, you can never beat me.
This limitation is innate. Although most people are reluctant to admit it, it does exist objectively.
If we just want to become an ordinary senior caster, then diligent study and continuous practice can enable you to do this.
But if you want to become a master, you must have talents that surpass others.
Our final round of competition is to let you show your talents. After all, you know that the fundamental purpose of this competition is that the master wants to recruit some talented apprentices.
Of course, if there are people among you who are extremely talented, Master would also like to accept another disciple."