Chapter 788 - Turning The Tables
Chapter 788: Turning The Tables
A clear breeze blew up Yu Xiuming’s clothes!
He cast a sidelong glance at Ou Yangming, and his face changed, but he quickly went back to normal.
The man thought, ‘So what if you’re fast? The key is still your equipment’s properties. Since you’re only starting to smith now, it’s too late. I’ll certainly be taking the first round.’ Yu Xiuming was extremely confident.
He kept his aura at the bottom of his heart and cast the distracting thoughts aside.
Before long, he pressed his right thumb dumb and finally carved the last rune on the helmet. The runes were connected smoothly from end to end, and the helmet glowed splendidly in black light.
At this moment, a black-robed appraiser walked to the center of the square.
He cupped his hands at the crowd and introduced himself, “I’m Lu Jinfeng, and I’ll be appraising the pieces of equipment in this round.” He did not speak loudly, but everyone heard him well.
“Please!” Yu Xiuming gestured to the black-robed appraiser and passed the helmet to him.
Lu Jinfeng curbed his thought and channeled his mind into the helmet. As the Appraisal Light shone on his palm, a set of clear data was displayed above the helmet. It looked like a colorful light screen was floating a meter above the equipment, allowing the equipment’s properties to be displayed to everyone. Since this special appraising method was used, there was no way for either of them to cheat, but the appraiser would need to consume plenty of mental power. This was why only appraisers with great mental powers could adopt this method.
At one glance, the rows of data were clear to see.
[Item: Iron Pride Helmet]
[Equivalent Rank: Magic Tool, High Grade, Rank One]
[Attributes: Toughness +31, Power +1 (White Silver), Agility +19, Durability 31]
[Skills: Iron Blood Pride (Once activated, one’s courage will be greatly increased, where one’s power will shoot up by 30% and last for 15 minutes)]
The light screen stayed for 10 seconds because it was dispersed by the wind.
Upon seeing the set of data, the Beast King Sect’s disciples were stunned and in disbelief. Heavy breathings were the only sounds that could be heard in the square.
After some time, someone came back to his senses and remarked, “That’s too absurd. He only used those ordinary materials, and yet he refined a piece of White Silver Equipment.”
“Yes, and it’s even a magic tool of High Grade Rank One. This person’s level of attainment in smithing art is too frightening. I, Li He, am completely convinced by his ability to turn something bad into something magical,” the middle-aged cultivator next to the person before commented. His voice was dry, and monstrous waves were surging in his heart at the moment.
Following that, his face darkened as he sighed. “Master Ou’s in a dangerous spot.”
“Yes, being able to smith a piece of White Silver Equipment using those ordinary materials is probably the limit,” a disciple that practiced smithing art stated.
The 10,000 Beasts Venerable One looked rather regretful as well. “What a pity—I didn’t expect Yu Xiuming to be so outstanding. In fact, his performance was almost flawless. I’m afraid that Master Ou will be defeated in the first round.” It rubbed its temple with its finger and was not resigned to the outcome. After all, it had a favorable impression of Ou Yangming. For one, the young fellow smithed a Thunderbolt-resistant Suit that could absorb 70% of the Heavenly Thunderbolts’ powers.
On the other hand, Ou Yangming had also refined 1,080 formation boards to increase Multi-armed King Kong’s success rate during the Thunderbolts Disaster. As such, the 10,000 Beasts Venerable One was very grateful for everything.
Yuqi the Venerable One was sitting next to the 10,000 Beasts Venerable One. He sighed as he played with a jade bottle in his hand. “Yes, he’s going to lose this round. He’ll lose not because of his abilities, but his luck.”
The old macaque was as still as a mountain between them.
Its eyes no longer looked hazy as they became hollow as though it had seen the vicissitudes of life. It shook its head and expressed, “It’s too early to say that he’ll be losing. He’s Master Ou, after all, and he can’t be perceived.”
The 10,000 Beasts Venerable One could not help but laugh. “Elder Macaque, I know you’re grateful for Ou Yangming, but it’s already the limit for one to smith a piece of White Silver Equipment with those ordinary materials. If one tries to push it further by force, the materials’ structure will be destroyed, and they’ll become useless. Besides, given how excellent Yu Xiuming performed, there must be an invisible pressure on Master Ou.”
Who knew, the old macaque simply sat upright and tapped the 10,000 Beasts Venerable One’s shoulder. “Is Master Ou someone that’ll collapse under pressure? I have a feeling that he’ll surely break through the shackles and surprise us this time.”
“Why?” The 10,000 Beasts Venerable One and Yuqi the Venerable One asked at the same time.
“Because he’s Ou Yangming…” The old macaque uttered word by word with a meaningful look in its eyes.
The 10,000 Beasts Venerable One was taken aback. It never expected the old macaque to think of Ou Yangming so highly.
Needless to say, Ou Yangming knew nothing about what the people were saying. Whether it was the crowd’s evaluations or Yu Xiuming’s proud result, he never paid attention to them at all. He was completely immersed in his world without an expression on his face. With a flash of thought, the young fellow entered the states of the integration of Heaven and man, as well as the thoroughly meticulous. A peaceful fluctuation undulated outward, and an incredibly profound yet indescribable artistic conception circulated. It was the true path intent.
Ou Yangming’s Heavenly Phoenix Fire shone brightly up to 10 meters around him, and it was warmer than the sun.
His fingers were moving swiftly, but they were not disorderly at all. On the contrary, whenever he paused, everyone could see 10 types of materials flying into the air without him moving his hands at all. They entered the Heavenly Phoenix Fire according to a fixed order, and they quickly melted like ice coming into contact with fire. As soon as all of the materials were melted…
“Condense!” Ou Yangming grunted. With that, a piece of armor was formed. It was dark and black, but the black light that dazzled on it was fearsome. The young fellow had an even more solemn look on his face. As he hit his left hand in the air, a Power Ore transformed into a stream of green light and entered the armor as if it was sucked.
While Ou Yangming’s Heavenly Phoenix Fire scorched, the Power Ore cooperated with his movements like a playful elf and was embedded in the armor.
The Beast King Sect’s disciples could not hold it back anymore, so they began whispering to one another.
“That’s the ninth Power Ore, right?”
“Yes, indeed, Master Ou’s a valiant figure that can even refine flying carpets.”
The Layering Technique that was used by Ou Yangming was so simple and straightforward, but he managed to layer 12 Power Ores. This was even more awe-inspiring than layering Powers Ores using a complicated technique. The simpler the technique, the more it tested a blacksmith’s foundation, and the more one could not opportune shortcuts.
Yu Xiuming stood with his hands behind his back. He was also surprised and in admiration.
‘I must admit that my Layering Art is inferior to his.
‘But this alone won’t let you defeat me.’
At last, Ou Yangming’s Heavenly Phoenix Fire finally distinguished when only a quarter was left of each of the sandalwoods. The young fellow looked regretful as he shook his head and sighed. “What a pity—my Qi movement fluctuated when I condensed the veined patterns at the end, leaving a flaw on the armor.”
When Yu Xiuming heard that, his slightly perturbed heart calmed down. ‘Since there was a fluctuation, your equipment’s a piece of Half-Silver Equipment at most. I’m going to win this round for sure.’ His eyes were bright.
Old Craftsman’s arms dropped, and he sighed. “Did he lose? It’s okay, it’s okay—as long as he did his best.”
The 3 ladies beside Old Craftsman were eye-catching, but most of the people focused on Bai Shixue because her Body of Charm still could not be ignored even in the Spiritual Realm. At this point, the ladies looked sad at the same time. In particular, Ni Yinghong squeezed the corner of her shirt with her right hand while she clenched her left hand. Her long nails were pressed into her palm as a result, causing deep marks to be seen. It was worth noting that she had known Ou Yangming the longest and had the deepest relationship with him.
Old Craftsman pitied her, so he tapped her shoulder gently. He had long regarded Ni Yinghong as his granddaughter-in-law.
Lu Jinfeng walked to the center and sighed. ‘Since Master Ou said that after he smithed the armor, it means that he’s prepared to lose.’ As such, he smiled and announced, “I hereby announce that Master Yu wins the first round.”
Who knew, Ou Yangming paced toward Lu Jinfeng and smiled with his eyes squinted. “You haven’t appraised my equipment, have you?” He did not sound angry at all, but the appraiser was somehow getting goosebumps as if a venomous snake was staring at him from the dark.
The discussions that filled the air disappeared at that instant, leaving only the sound of leaves being blown by the wind to be heard.
Lu Jinfeng thought, ‘Didn’t you say that there was a fluctuation when you condensed the last veined pattern? Weren’t you admitting your defeat?’
Yu Xiuming looked at Ou Yangming with a faint smile. He was not worried that the young fellow had any tricks up his sleeves to make a final struggle.
Lu Jinfeng broke out in a cold sweat in a split second. He smiled embarrassedly and replied to Ou Yangming, “Master Ou, I made a silly mistake. Please forgive me.”
“It’s fine, just be careful next time.” Ou Yangming then passed the armor to the appraiser.
Lu Jinfeng gritted his teeth and released his Appraisal Light once more. A light screen immediately appeared above the armor.
[Item: Twilight Armor]
[Equivalent Rank: Magic Tool, High Grade, Rank One]
[Attributes: Toughness +31, Power +1 (White Silver), Agility +1 (White Silver), Durability 31]
[Skills: Twilight’s Chain (Once activated, countless Twilight Chains will fly out and confine one’s enemy for 1 second)]
The Beast King Sect’s disciples felt like they were dreaming when they saw the light screen. There were rumbles in their heads, and they widened their eyes in disbelief.
After 3 seconds, someone finally came back to his senses and exclaimed, “2 of the attributes actually reached White Silver level!”
“Hmph, how ignorant! The key is the equipment’s skill, which can confine one’s enemy for 1 second. During a life-or-death fight, that 1 second will be enough for one to turn the tables!”
“In this case, did Master Ou win?” A disciple pressed down the brim of his hat and asked probingly.
“Of course—he definitely won!”
“Master Ou even said that this equipment is flawed. He’s demanding too much from himself, isn’t he?”
Nevertheless, Yu Xiuming was the most shocked out of everyone present. His eyes lacked luster as he repeated, “How’s this possible, how’s this possible…” Being the greatest smithing genius from Mount Wuzhi, he knew every material’s traits inside out, so it was not empty talk that he was skillful in handling them. As far as the man knew, if one smithed a piece of equipment using the most common materials in the Spiritual Realm, one would have hit the materials’ limits by adding a White Silver Attribute to the equipment. If one were to push it further, the materials would lose their Toughness attributes and become useless.
However, Ou Yangming had just disproved Yu Xiuming’s understanding. The man was suffering more than if he were killed.
After 5 minutes, Yu Xiuming finally had a bit of an expression on his face. He was upset but furious at the same time because he was defeated despite having overdone himself in what he specialized in.
Lu Jinfeng’s eyes flickered. He stole a glance at Master Kurong, who was sitting upright.
Seeing as the master was calm, the appraiser finally spoke, “I hereby announce that Master Ou wins the first round.”