Chapter 381 - 0323 Guidance and Test_1 - I! Cleaner! - NovelsTime

I! Cleaner!

Chapter 381 - 0323 Guidance and Test_1

Author: I! Cleaner!
updatedAt: 2025-07-14

CHAPTER 381: 0323 GUIDANCE AND TEST_1

"Truly worthy of being the world’s strongest blacksmith!"

Watching the pink trident floating up and down in the cauldron bubbling with a ghastly green foam, the Red-haired Director couldn’t help but give a thumbs up, full of admiration as he said,

"Even with such rudimentary tools, you can craft the finest anomalous objects. It’s truly remarkable!"

"Hmph, such a fuss over nothing!"

With an impatient curl of his lips, an elder with a boxy head and eyes full of pride spoke,

"Compared to when I was still alive, the tools for forging anomalies have become much better, but the skills of the blacksmiths have declined. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"It’s because they’re too concerned with perfection! Too meticulous about the forging environment and materials!"

With a downward jab of the tool in his hand, knocking off a large piece of lacquer from the iron cauldron, the boxy-headed elder grumbled with discontent,

"The source of anomalies is emotion! It’s obsession! It’s anticipation! Ultimately, it’s the power of the heart, and there is no ’standard answer’ for the heart!

Nowadays, this bunch of forge masters always thinks that using the best tools and pairing them with the best materials will definitely produce good items. When they fail to create something satisfactory, they blame the materials or the process, completely ignoring the importance of the heart. This is simply going astray!"

Completely unaware that his coffin lid had been stolen, the conversation-enthused Third Generation Director complained with a displeased look in his eyes,

"Let me tell you, a person’s heart is the most complex yet simplest thing. As long as you can understand it, figure it out, and guide it appropriately, that’s enough. The process and tools are superficial; they can only influence your success rate, but not the quality of the product.

If you don’t believe me, watch me. Even with a furnace made of brick scraps and a pot casually picked up from the roadside, I can still forge True God-level anomalous objects. If it weren’t for wanting the imagery of ’flame’ and ’forging,’ I wouldn’t even need to use a pot. I could mold anomalies with my bare hands!"

"How could I not believe you?"

Glancing at the fork forming in the pot, the Red-haired Director, while secretly signaling Leon to return quickly, praised with a beaming smile,

"From the beginning till now, for so many years, whenever the Taurus Director’s position was vacant, you have certainly been the world’s best blacksmith. That alone is enough to prove your level. If I can’t trust you, then whom can I trust?"

"Heh, you’re only saying that."

After giving the flattering Red-haired Director a sidelong glance, the elder with the boxy head scoffed,

"If you believe me, why don’t you come to me more often to make things?

I know what’s in your heart! You’re a sly little girl, not a truthful word comes out of your mouth. If it weren’t for the current Taurus sealing himself away, I probably wouldn’t even see your face!"

"You’re wronging me there."

Noticing out of the corner of his eye that Leon was carrying a coffin into the cemetery, the Red-haired Director exhaled slightly in relief. Squinting with fox-like eyes, he smiled and said,

"I also wish I could come to you more often to make things. But firstly, you live in the Realm of the Dead all year round, so coming here once is really troublesome. Secondly, there hasn’t been much significant change in recent years, so there hasn’t been any good material either. As for those ordinary things, they can be left for regular forge masters to practice with; they’re really not worth troubling you.

Furthermore, even though they may not measure up to a fraction of your level in a lifetime, they are still inheritors of the secret smithing techniques. If I trouble you for slightly better things, those ordinary forge masters would never get a chance to practice. What happens then when the bureau’s secret smithing techniques are lost to history?"

"Tsk, if you ask me, with your current level, there’s no difference if it’s lost to history... Alright, that kid, come over. The thing is done!"

"Okay!"

Seeing the elder with the boxy head had finished forging, Leon, who had already placed the coffin lid back in its original spot, quickly stepped forward, merging completely with the illusion created by the Red-haired Director, and then walked swiftly towards the two of them.

"Huh? What’s with you, kid?"

Noticing the sweat beads on Leon’s forehead, the elder with the boxy head frowned with a puzzled look and asked,

"This here furnace is colder than ice water, how did you end up sweating?"

Damn! I’m going to blow my cover!

Hearing the Third Generation Director’s inquiry, sweat broke out on Leon’s brow. He quickly raised the back of his hand to wipe it off and then, following the communication method taught by the Director beforehand, respectfully said,

"It must be that I’m excited... The contemporary Taurus His Excellency once guided me and imparted some entry-level techniques of the Secret Smithing Techniques, so I can be considered a forge master.

For a forge master, to witness firsthand the forging process of the undeniably greatest blacksmith in history, I’m really thrilled beyond control, hence a little sweaty."

"Tsk... another little brat whose mouth is full of lies!"

Although he could tell at a glance that Leon was just spouting nonsense, the elder with the boxy head couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth upwards upon hearing the wording "undeniably greatest blacksmith in history". He then dismissively waved his hand,

"Forget it if you don’t want to say. I don’t care to ask... You, come here. Since you’re brought by Olivia, if there’s anything you don’t understand in the secret smithing techniques, I can offer you a little guidance."

Guided by me?

Hearing the elder with the boxy head’s words, Leon couldn’t help but feel a slight joy flash across his expression.

What the Director said was indeed true! The core logic in communicating with this Third Generation His Excellency was not to leave out "strongest blacksmith" from every three sentences. As long as you could manage to say that, it didn’t matter what else you talked about.

"Thank you, Third Generation!"

Activating the badge panel, Leon simultaneously switched on the badges "Arcane Inheritor (Taurus)" and "Arcane Inheritor (Aquarius)," then bowed to the elder with the boxy head with gratitude and apology before inquiring,

"I wanted to ask you..."

"Wait, I haven’t finished speaking yet!"

Raising a hand to signal for a moment, the Third Generation Director folded his arms and slightly tilted his head,

"While I don’t mind guiding you a bit, not just anyone is worthy of my guidance. You need to let me first take a look at your level!"

Upon hearing this, Leon blinked slightly, glanced at the cauldron bubbling with green foam, and said with some difficulty,

"Are you saying... you want me to forge an anomalous object for you right here?"

"Forget about making stuff."

Hearing Leon’s words, the elder with the boxy head responded with a hint of disdain,

"The current level of forge masters is too poor. Watching you all carve things like flowers is irritatingly bothersome, and I don’t want to suffer that. Here’s the deal, since you were standing nearby observing how I forge anomalies, let’s use this as the test!"

Reaching into the cauldron and digging around, he tossed the item sunk at the bottom of the pot to Leon and noticed Leon’s hesitant expression and obvious lack of confidence in the test. Then, the elder with the boxy head chuckled oddly and said,

"Go on, without pouring power into it to activate it, use what you’ve learned from the current Taurus and refer to my previous creation process, explain what kind of anomalous object I’ve crafted for you!"

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