Chapter 437: Do You Remember Snake Wu Wan?
Seeing that all the blacksmiths in the hall had their eyes fixed on Moyu, Su Yao was stunned, a trace of shock flashing across her delicate face.
"Moyu… is actually an eighth-rank blacksmith grandmaster?"
An eighth-rank blacksmith was exceedingly rare on the continent, and those who held that rank were all highly esteemed figures.
After hesitating for a moment, Su Yao parted her red lips and asked, "Is Mr. Moyu truly an eighth-rank blacksmith?"
Though Su Yao knew that the gray-haired elder in front of her wouldn't deceive her, it was still hard to believe that Moyu, who looked even younger than her own disciple, could be an eighth-rank grandmaster.
Beside Su Yao, the young woman in colorful clothes was equally shocked, her beautiful eyes staring at Moyu in disbelief. She too wondered if this young and handsome man could really be an eighth-rank blacksmith.
The gray-haired elder, noticing the astonished looks, chuckled softly. He gave Moyu a respectful nod and said, "It seems that Valley Master Su is not familiar with Mr. Moyu's achievements. Very well, allow me to explain."
The elder then began recounting the events of the recent blacksmithing competition, especially the moment when Moyu defeated the experts from the Danta and claimed the championship.
As he listened, Moyu raised an eyebrow, recognizing the elder. If he remembered correctly, this elder, named Beimingzi, had also participated in the competition and had done quite well, even forging a peak seventh-rank weapon.
If not for the unexpected appearance of Qiu Yuanqiao and Moyu's own exceptional performance, Beimingzi might have won the championship.
As Moyu pondered this, Beimingzi continued to recount the highlights of the blacksmithing competition, leaving Su Yao and the others in stunned silence.
"Mr. Moyu, I am Beimingzi, and I greatly admire your skill in blacksmithing. The moment you defeated Qiu Yuanqiao during the competition inspired countless blacksmiths. I haven't had the chance to meet you before, but now that we've met here in Sound Valley, I wonder if we might become friends?" Beimingzi asked with a hopeful expression.
The gap between a seventh-rank blacksmith and an eighth-rank blacksmith was immense. Although Beimingzi was a well-known and accomplished seventh-rank blacksmith, he didn't dare to act superior in front of Moyu, who was an eighth-rank grandmaster.
This was the status that came with being an eighth-rank blacksmith.
Moyu was momentarily surprised but quickly smiled and nodded. "It would be an honor to be friends with someone of your standing, Mr. Beimingzi. However, there's no need for such formality—please just call me Moyu."
Moyu was not one to turn down connections like these. Both blacksmiths and alchemists tended to form tight-knit communities, and Beimingzi, as a peak seventh-rank blacksmith, had many disciples and friends, making him a valuable ally. If Moyu's Yuan Mansion ever failed to merge with the Blacksmith Alliance, having Beimingzi and his network on his side would be a great alternative.
"Heh, then I'll dispense with the formalities, Moyu. I don't know who your teacher is, but for you to reach the level of an eighth-rank blacksmith at such a young age, it's clear your talent is limitless. I believe you could elevate the status of blacksmiths to be on par with alchemists one day," Beimingzi said with a smile, his old eyes filled with hope.
For all blacksmiths, achieving the same status and respect as alchemists was a shared dream. However, for countless years, it had remained just that—a dream. In terms of both strength and influence, blacksmiths couldn't compare to alchemists.
But Moyu's victory in the blacksmithing competition had ignited a spark of ambition among blacksmiths. Perhaps blacksmiths weren't so inferior after all.
Moyu merely smiled at Beimingzi's words. He didn't feel a strong sense of duty to lead blacksmiths to glory, but as the Yuan Mansion established itself and grew in the Central Plains, advancing blacksmithing would certainly be a priority. Who knew—perhaps over time, something might change.
While Moyu and Beimingzi were conversing, Su Yao's beautiful face showed signs of shock. The title of champion of the blacksmithing competition was the highest honor any blacksmith could receive, and even she, an outsider to the trade, understood its weight.
The fact that this young man before her had claimed that honor was truly astonishing.
Beside her, the young woman in colorful attire had a look of admiration in her eyes. The fact that this youthful-looking man had won the championship of the blacksmithing competition meant that he was even more extraordinary than she had thought. Though she wasn't willing to admit it, she realized that compared to Moyu, she still fell short.
"In that case, there's no need for any further selection. Mr. Moyu, the task of repairing the Heavenly Demon Zither will be entrusted to you. Do any of the other masters object?" Su Yao asked calmly, recovering from her initial shock.
As the Valley Master of Sound Valley, one of the Three Valleys, she quickly regained her composure. Although Moyu was young, his achievements were undeniable, and the Dou Qi Continent had seen many strange and miraculous events throughout its history. After her brief moment of surprise, Su Yao returned to her graceful, serene demeanor.
"Of course, we have no objections," the dozen blacksmiths in the hall said in unison, cupping their hands respectfully.
"Rest assured, Sound Valley will not let your efforts go unrewarded. A small gift will be prepared for each of you before you leave," Su Yao said with a smile.
"Thank you, Valley Master Su," the blacksmiths replied, smiles on their faces. Sound Valley, being one of the Three Valleys, was known for its generosity. Receiving a gift without having to do much work was certainly a pleasant surprise.
With a wave of her hand, Su Yao instructed her attendants to lead the blacksmiths away, leaving Moyu alone in the hall with Elder Huan Yin, Su Yao, and the young woman in colorful clothes.
Seeing this, Moyu raised an eyebrow slightly.
Unlike Burning Flame Valley and Ice River Valley, which were known for their dominance, Sound Valley was an isolated and mysterious place. Little was known about it outside its borders.
Along the way, Moyu had noticed that almost all the disciples and elders in Sound Valley were women, and most of them were quite beautiful. The three women in front of him—Su Yao, the Saintess, and Elder Huan Yin—were not only the most powerful but also the most stunning. Even in the outside world, they would be hailed as goddesses.
"Mr. Moyu, I never imagined that you were a grandmaster blacksmith. Forgive me for not offering a more fitting reception earlier," Su Yao said, smiling politely as she approached Moyu.
An eighth-rank blacksmith's status on the Dou Qi Continent was comparable to Su Yao's as the Valley Master of Sound Valley. Moreover, Su Yao needed Moyu's help with an important matter, so she was being especially courteous.
Turning to Elder Huan Yin, Su Yao added, "Huan Yin, you've done an excellent job as always. To be able to invite a talented young grandmaster like Mr. Moyu here is truly impressive."
Elder Huan Yin smiled and replied respectfully, "It was merely good fortune. Meeting Mr. Moyu was a stroke of luck."
Even Elder Huan Yin had been surprised to learn that Moyu was a blacksmithing grandmaster. Such a figure was rare to find, and it seemed she had encountered him by sheer luck.
"You're too kind, Valley Master Su. I just happened to have some good fortune during the blacksmithing competition," Moyu replied humbly, especially given Su Yao's connection to Snake Uncle.
Hearing Moyu's modesty, Su Yao and the other two women were taken aback. Their admiration for Moyu grew.
He was young, handsome, powerful, and humble—all qualities that matched the ideal image of a gentleman in their eyes.
Not wanting to dwell on the topic, Moyu smiled and said, "If I may, could I take a closer look at the Heavenly Demon Zither?"
"Of course. After all, we are counting on you to repair it," Su Yao replied with a smile.
With a graceful wave of her hand, Su Yao summoned the Heavenly Demon Zither, a powerful energy radiating from the black zither as it appeared.
Looking at the zither, Su Yao's eyes showed a hint of sadness. She handed it to Moyu and said, "Mr. Moyu, I'll leave it in your capable hands."
Moyu nodded solemnly as he accepted the zither. He carefully infused his soul power into it, frowning as he sensed the damaged weapon spirit within.
"It seems the weapon spirit has suffered significant damage. What caused this?" Moyu asked.
At his words, the young woman beside Su Yao lowered her head, her face showing a hint of guilt. She muttered softly, "It was my fault. After mastering the third level of the Heavenly Demon Sound, I wanted to test the zither's power. But in the Mangya Mountain Range, I accidentally encountered a seventh-rank advanced magical beast, the Flaming Storm Wolf King. The weapon spirit was severely injured while protecting me."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, and she looked at Moyu with a pleading expression. "Mr. Moyu, my name is Dan Qiner. Please, I beg you to repair the Heavenly Demon Zither. If you succeed, I would do anything to repay you."
Before Moyu could respond, Su Yao gently shook her head and reassured her disciple, "It's not your fault, Qiner. I failed to protect you. That Flaming Storm Wolf King has already been dealt with. As for the zither, though it was damaged, it can still be repaired. If you had been harmed, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life, so there's no need to feel guilty."
"Teacher…" Dan Qiner whispered, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked gratefully at Su Yao.
Moyu, watching the exchange, was momentarily stunned. He found himself gaining a deeper appreciation for Su Yao's character.
Turning to Moyu, Su Yao asked cautiously, "Mr. Moyu, do you think you'll be able to repair the Heavenly Demon Zither?"
Both Elder Huan Yin and Dan Qiner turned their expectant gazes toward Moyu as well. The zither wasn't just an eighth-rank weapon—it was a sacred treasure passed down through Sound Valley for generations. Its repair was of utmost importance.
Moyu stroked his chin thoughtfully before nodding. "Although the weapon spirit has been significantly damaged, I'm about 80% confident that I can repair it."
From what Moyu could sense, the Heavenly Demon Zither was a five-colored eighth-rank weapon. Although this was beyond his current ability to forge, repairing it was within his capabilities.
Hearing this, Su Yao and the others were stunned for a moment before smiles spread across their faces.
With their stunning beauty, the three women smiling together was like a field of flowers blooming all at once, a breathtaking sight.
"Thank you, Mr. Moyu," Su Yao said, relief evident in her voice. She immediately expressed her gratitude.
"No need to thank me. I'm simply fulfilling the task entrusted to me. However, I will need some very rare materials to repair the zither, and I don't have them on hand. Would Sound Valley be able to help procure them?" Moyu asked.
"Of course, Mr. Moyu. No matter how rare the materials, Sound Valley will make sure they're gathered. You don't need to worry," Su Yao replied with a gentle smile.
Moyu nodded. With Sound Valley's resources, obtaining the necessary materials wouldn't be an issue.
"This repair is of great importance to Sound Valley. As long as you succeed, the reward will certainly satisfy you. And if there's anything specific you need, just let me know," Su Yao offered.
At this, Moyu's heart stirred, and he cupped his hands with a smile. "In that case, might the reward include some information you possess?"
Su Yao paused, her eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity. "As long as it's not about Sound Valley's private matters, I'm open to sharing."
Moyu's heart raced. Locking eyes with Su Yao, he asked slowly, "Valley Master Su, do you remember Snake Wu Wan?"
(End of chapter)
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