Zhou Huai closed his eyes.

His consciousness sank into Ou Yezi's body.

Before him was a reception room with rosewood sofas, and the fragrance of tea drifted through the air.

Assistant Lin Wei stood respectfully to one side with her hands lowered.

Guild President Gu Yan sat in the main seat, his buttocks barely touching half of the sofa, making him look somewhat restrained.

Sitting opposite Ou Yezi were two people.

One was a middle-aged man wearing a well-fitted gray Zhongshan suit with a refined appearance and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose.

Beside him was a young woman.

The woman had neat short hair, exquisite facial features, and eyes as sharp as a newly honed blade.

She wore a black tight-fitting combat uniform that fully outlined her fiery figure, with her legs crossed and a casual posture, yet exuding an aloofness that kept strangers at a distance.

"How is it? Master Ou Yezi, have you considered it?"

The woman spoke first, her voice crisp yet carrying a condescending, scrutinizing undertone.

"The Divine Smith Grand Ceremony isn't something just anyone can attend."

"It's also because our teacher values your talent that he is making an exception to give you this chance."

Zhou Huai did not speak immediately.

He closed his eyes and rapidly shared Ou Yezi's memories from this period of time.

The first half of the memories consisted of day-after-day of monotonous forging.

It wasn't until this morning that Guild President Gu Yan came looking for him with a nervous expression.

He said that a special envoy from the Skyfire City Blacksmiths' Guild had arrived and explicitly requested to see him.

This so-called Divine Smith Grand Ceremony was established to commemorate that SS-rank Primordial Spirit Divine Artisan from a century ago, Mo Qinghai.

Back then, Great Xia Nation produced countless legendary-quality equipment precisely because of the existence of this top-tier Divine Artisan.

Many of those top-tier equipment items are still passed down among top powerhouses to this day.

Mo Qinghai originated from Skyfire City.

Today, Skyfire City has also become a Holy Land in the hearts of countless forgers in Great Xia Nation.

Every ten years, Skyfire City would hold a Divine Smith Grand Ceremony.

On one hand, it provided a platform for forgers from all walks of life in Great Xia Nation to communicate and spar.

On the other hand, it was the forger competition officially hosted by Skyfire City.

Being able to stand out in this competition and become famous in a single battle was the lifelong dream of countless forgers.

Not to mention that the rewards of the competition were extremely generous.

At the very least, the champion would receive a blueprint for legendary-grade equipment.

Of course, those who could receive invitation letters were all forgers who had some renown in their respective fields.

Ou Yezi was naturally among them now.

He was too young, yet he rose to fame in a mere few months, revealing a sharp and formidable edge.

It was difficult for him not to be noticed by Skyfire City.

Seeing that Ou Yezi remained silent for a long time, the woman opposite him was clearly somewhat impatient.

She turned her gaze to Gu Yan in the main seat, her tone carrying a hint of oppressiveness.

"Guild President Gu Yan, as the president of the Donghai City Blacksmiths' Guild, you should be able to make decisions for Master Ou Yezi, right?"

"Whether he is participating or not, give us a straight answer."

Beads of sweat seeped from Gu Yan's temples; how could he dare make decisions for this master?

He picked up his teacup, put it down again, and wore an awkward smile on his face.

"This... our guild fully respects Master Ou Yezi's personal opinion."

"Please wait patiently, I believe he will give an answer very soon."

The woman crossed her arms in front of her chest, her fingertips tapping lightly on her arms.

"How much longer do we have to wait?"

"We've already waited for over half an hour just now."

"We finally waited for your Master Ou Yezi."

"Yet sitting here for half a day, he can't even squeeze a peep out."

"If he still doesn't give a reply."

"Our patience is about to run out."

However, right at this moment.

Zhou Huai, controlling Ou Yezi, slowly opened his eyes.

He looked calmly at the woman opposite him, his voice indifferent.

"You don't have to wait anymore."

"This so-called Divine Smith Grand Ceremony, I have no interest in attending."

What?

The woman's sharp gaze condensed; she almost thought she had heard wrong.

"You're not attending?"

Zhou Huai nodded, his tone affirmative.

"That's right."

"I don't have the time, nor do I have the interest."

Ou Yezi was indeed very busy.

Recently in the Secret Realm, Yasuo and Xiang Yu had harvested quite a few level-30-plus rare materials and equipment blueprints.

The equipment on them should have been upgraded long ago.

After finishing these, he still needed to find time to forge a batch of standard equipment for the brothers of the Evernight Guild.

He was practically as busy as a spinning top.

How could he have the idle time to attend some damn Divine Smith Grand Ceremony?

A surprised look also appeared on the face of the middle-aged man opposite him.

He pushed the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose and persuaded gently in a mild voice.

"Master Ou Yezi, you can consider it further."

"To be honest, our teacher Mo Xuanye is very interested in you."

"If you are willing to participate, perhaps you will have the opportunity to become Teacher Xuanye's final disciple."

Hearing this, Zhou Huai wanted to laugh inside.

Mo Xuanye.

Mo Qinghai's own grandson.

He was also the most prestigious Forging Grandmaster in Great Xia Nation today.

Unfortunately, a tiger father had a dog for a son.

This Grandmaster Mo hadn't even managed to forge a single piece of legendary-grade equipment to this day.

He had long since disgraced his old man entirely.

And he still wanted to take his SS-rank Divine Craftsman of Myriad Forms as his final disciple?

Did he even have that qualification?

Zhou Huai shook his head once more, a hint of aloofness in his tone.

"I said, I'm not interested in the forger competition."

"Nor am I interested in becoming your teacher's disciple."

"Please leave."

Hearing this, the woman's expression turned completely cold.

She rose from the sofa with a cold snort.

"Good! What a Master Ou Yezi! You certainly have a grand presence!"

"Since they don't appreciate it, let's not stick our warm faces against their cold bottoms here!"

"Uncle Tian, let's go!"

The middle-aged man called Uncle Tian sighed helplessly.

He also stood up and nodded slightly toward Gu Yan, considering it a farewell.

The two turned around and walked toward the door.

Just at the moment when their hands were about to touch the door handle.

In Zhou Huai's mind, a cold System prompt sounded abruptly.

【Ding!】

【Challenge Quest Triggered!】

【Quest Name: Name of the Divine Artisan】

【Quest Objective: Win the championship of this Divine Smith Grand Ceremony's forger competition!】

【Quest Reward: Class Small Orb Draw Chance X1!】

The calm expression on Zhou Huai's face instantly froze.

The corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

That dog System actually backstabbed him!

He had just said he wouldn't participate, and yet it turned around and issued a challenge quest.

Wasn't this slapping him hard in the face?

"Wait a minute."

A voice came from behind them.

The two who were about to leave paused in their steps.

The woman turned around with undisguised sarcasm on her face.

"What?"

"Did Master Ou Yezi... change his mind again?"

Zhou Huai, controlling Ou Yezi, slowly stood up from the sofa.

No emotion could be seen on his face, as he just said calmly.

"I didn't think it through just now."

"The Divine Smith Grand Ceremony, I will attend."

The sarcasm on the woman's face grew thicker.

"Oh? Didn't you say you weren't interested just a moment ago?"

"How come you've figured it out now?"

"Let me tell you, the invitation letter from our Skyfire City Guild isn't something you can have whenever you want and reject whenever you please!"

Uncle Tian beside her hurriedly tugged at her sleeve, signaling her to say a little less.

He turned his head back, wearing a gentle smile on his face once again.

"Hehe, children are ignorant, I hope Master Ou Yezi will forgive her."

"Since the Master is willing to participate, that is naturally for the best."

"This is the specially made invitation letter from our Skyfire City Blacksmiths' Guild, please accept it, Master."

He took out a card crafted from scarlet-gold metal from his embrace and handed it over with both hands.

Zhou Huai reached out and took it.

The card felt warm to the touch, and intricate flame patterns were engraved on it.

"Three days later, see you in Skyfire City."

After Uncle Tian finished speaking, he pulled the still somewhat indignant woman and left quickly.

Inside the reception room, quiet was restored once more.

Guild President Gu Yan let out a long breath, and his entire body relaxed.

"Master Ou Yezi, you really scared me to death just now."

"I really thought you weren't planning to go."

He rubbed his hands together, looking immensely honored.

"This is the Divine Smith Grand Ceremony! A once-in-a-decade grand event!"

"If you can win the championship in one fell swoop up there, then the reputation of our Donghai City Blacksmiths' Guild will be completely established!"

Zhou Huai glanced at him and didn't speak.

He simply tossed that scarlet-gold invitation letter casually onto the table.

Turning around, he walked toward his exclusive forging room.

Right now, he just wanted to quietly beat some iron for a bit.

To vent the gloomy mood after being backstabbed by the System.