The next day.

Skyfire City welcomed the grandest festival of the year.

The entire city seemed to awaken from a deep sleep; the streets were devoid of vehicles, yet crowded with people eagerly looking forward.

The morning sunlight cast a warm layer of gold over this city of steel.

"Clang—!"

The Eternal Watch Clock Tower in the center of the city struck its first lingering bell chime.

The crowd instantly boiled over, and the waves of cheers soared straight into the clouds.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Mo Xuanye, the president of the Skyfire City Blacksmiths' Guild, dressed in a solemn black formal suit and holding an archaic bronze brazier with both hands, slowly walked out from the guild's main gates.

Inside the brazier, a cluster of white flames was burning quietly.

The flames did not look scorching hot; instead, they exuded a warm, jade-like luster, as if they possessed life.

"The Primordial Sacred Fire!"

Within the crowd, someone let out an excited shout.

This was the strange fire that the legendary Divine Artisan Mo Qinghai had inadvertently found from the depths of a volcanic vein a hundred years ago.

Its grade was so high that it was unfathomable.

It was said that this strange fire possessed the miraculous effect of purifying all things and Body Refining.

For a hundred years, countless Master Blacksmiths had attempted to absorb and refine it, but without exception, they all suffered a fierce backlash.

Lightly, they would be heavily injured; heavily, they would drop dead on the spot.

Over time, this untameable Primordial Sacred Fire became the symbol of Skyfire City.

Every Divine Smith Grand Ceremony, Mo Xuanye would personally invite it out and take it around the city for a circle to pray for the residents of the entire city.

Mo Xuanye's pace was steady and his expression was solemn.

Behind him followed a massive parade.

Hot-bodied dancers performed passionate and unrestrained dances.

Sturdily built men beat earth-shattering war drums.

The entire Skyfire City was immersed in an ocean of joy.

The parade passed through the main streets and alleys, ultimately arriving at the plaza in the center of the city.

Mo Xuanye carefully placed the Primordial Sacred Fire in his hands before the giant statue of Mo Qinghai.

With this, the first segment of the celebration was declared over.

Meanwhile, the second segment, which was also the most anticipated segment, was about to kick off.

The Master Blacksmith Competition!

At the same time.

On televisions all over Great Xia Nation, footage of the celebration in Skyfire City appeared.

"Audience friends in front of the television, good morning everyone!"

"Welcome to watch the Great Xia Observer Special Live Broadcast Program!"

"I am your old friend, Wei Zheng!"

"I am Lin Xi!"

The faces of the two hosts were overflowing with enthusiastic smiles.

"Following the thrilling National Examination, we have welcomed the once-in-a-decade Divine Smith Grand Ceremony once again!"

"I believe all viewers can already hardly wait to see what astonishing and brilliant works will emerge in this year's Master Blacksmith Competition!"

Wei Zheng took over the conversation, his voice loud and clear.

"That is correct! In this competition, we still see many familiar old faces!"

"For example, Master Chen from the Imperial Capital, and Master Murong from Modu!"

"Oh? I also see Master Zhao from Wudu!"

Wei Zheng's gaze fell upon a burly figure in the footage.

"However... Master Zhao looks a bit strange today."

"His head... why is it swollen? It looks like he was beaten by someone."

The camera gave that Master Zhao a close-up shot.

That person was precisely the tattooed burly man who had been the first to jump out and provoke Zhou Huai at the banquet last night.

At this moment, where did he have even a shred of yesterday's arrogant aura.

His face was swollen like a fermented pig's head, his eye sockets were bruised, and the corners of his mouth still carried dried blood scabs.

Standing in the crowd, his entire body trembled like a sifting sieve.

When he noticed the camera aiming at him, he squeezed out a smile on his face that was uglier than crying.

In the next second, when his gaze inadvertently met that calm figure not far away.

His whole body shuddered violently, and like a frightened quail, he immediately buried his head deep down, never daring to raise it again.

Lin Xi let out a snicker.

"Brother Wei, you really know how to joke."

"How could Master Zhao possibly be beaten by someone? He must have fallen by himself. The security in Skyfire City has always been good."

Wei Zheng also smiled and quickly pulled the topic back.

"Alright, back to the main topic!"

"Those participating in this competition this year, besides some old faces, naturally cannot lack the addition of new faces."

"Here, I want to emphatically introduce one to everyone!"

He cleared his throat, and his expression turned a bit more serious.

"That is Master Nakamura Shinichiro from Sakura Country!"

"As far as I know, Master Nakamura is the Direct Disciple of the current and only legendary Divine Artisan of Sakura Country, Omi Haruto!"

Lin Xi appropriately displayed astonishment.

"Wow! So he is Omi Haruto's Direct Disciple!"

"With this master joining, this year's Master Blacksmith Competition will definitely be very watchable!"

"More than just watchable." Wei Zheng shook his head, his tone heavy: "For the forgers of our Great Xia Nation, this is undoubtedly a huge test."

"If our domestic competition allows someone from a foreign country to take first place, that would be too embarrassing."

As the nationwide live broadcast began.

Tens of millions of viewers instantly poured into the live broadcast room.

The bullet comments rolled by crazily like a tide.

【??? Did I hear wrong? How can people from Sakura Country participate in our Great Xia Nation's competition?】

【Is something wrong with the organizers' brains? Don't they know that Sakura Country's forging level is currently far ahead of ours?】

【It's over, it's over, the champion is definitely theirs now, what the hell is the point of competing!】

【The person upstairs, don't boost others' morale and destroy your own prestige! No matter how awesome Nakamura Shinichiro is, he is only one person! I don't believe that among all the Master Blacksmiths in our Great Xia Nation, we can't beat just him!】

Just as the live broadcast room was arguing fiercely.

Host Wei Zheng suddenly threw out another blockbuster bomb.

"Audience members, I just received an exclusive piece of gossip here!"

He deliberately kept everyone in suspense, whetting everyone's appetite to the utmost.

"It is said that at the welcome banquet last night, Master Nakamura had some friction with Ou Yezi, a young forger from Donghai City."

"The two sides made a bet on the spot!"

"In today's competition, the loser will not only have to crawl through the other party's crotch three times, but also swear publicly to permanently quit the forging circle and never touch forging again in this lifetime!"

Lin Xi widened her eyes, covered her mouth with her hand, and her face was full of disbelief.

"Good heavens! Gambling with one's career?!"

"What on earth happened between these two masters?"

Boom—!

The live broadcast room completely exploded!

【Holy shit! Holy shit! Playing this big?!】

【Who is this Ou Yezi? I've never heard of him! He actually dares to make such a bet with Nakamura Shinichiro?】

【Regardless of who he is, just based on this backbone, I'm a fan!】

【Although... I still feel he is somewhat overestimating his capabilities; Nakamura Shinichiro is an S-rank divine fire craftsman after all, what can he use to win?】

【Sigh, he is probably just another clown wanting to become famous, merely pandering to the public.】

【Waiting to watch this Ou Yezi make a fool of himself in front of the people of the whole country!】

...

At the same time.

Donghai City, Blacksmiths' Guild.

Inside the president's office.

Gu Yan was crossing his legs, leisurely drinking tea while enjoying the live broadcast.

When he heard the heaven-defying bet exposed by Wei Zheng.

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of scalding hot tea was completely sprayed onto the expensive display screen in front of him.

"Cough... cough cough!"

He coughed violently, his old face turning flushed red.

"Wh... What?!"