Chapter 435: Arrival and Selection
A surge of overwhelming soul power swept across the sky like an endless wave.
It unleashed a terrifying pressure as it shot toward the elderly man in the purple robe with lightning speed. As it passed through, the space around it rippled, and tiny, dark cracks quietly spread through the air!
Although soul power is invisible and colorless, anyone with some level of strength could feel the fearsome pressure that filled the sky. This pressure came from deep within their souls, making them shiver involuntarily.
At that moment, the whispering crowd fell silent. Even those who had previously sneered at Moyu's actions had their expressions freeze in place, looking utterly ridiculous.
Moyu's soul power had already reached the half-step eighth rank—just a step away from entering the Soul Realm! Such a terrifying level of soul power was naturally overwhelming. A mere sixth-rank blacksmith like Ye Xiu was no match for him, and even if he had reached the seventh rank, he would still be like an ant trying to shake a tree compared to Moyu!
Elder Huan Yin's eyes widened in astonishment as she gazed at the immense power sweeping through the sky. After a moment, she took a deep breath and turned to look at Moyu with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. Her soft voice quivered slightly, "A seventh-rank blacksmith?"
With Moyu's soul power, it wouldn't be unreasonable to say he could be an eighth-rank blacksmith. However, looking at his youthful and handsome face, Elder Huan Yin couldn't believe someone so young could have reached such heights.
Even being a seventh-rank blacksmith was enough to send shockwaves through her heart.
She never would have imagined that not only was Moyu a Dou Zong (Battle Sovereign), but he also had such a deep mastery of blacksmithing.
"Ye Xiu is really in for it this time," Elder Huan Yin thought with some pity. As much as she felt sorry for him, Ye Xiu himself was feeling at least ten times the regret. No one could remain calm in the face of such overwhelming soul power.
Ye Xiu's face had gone completely pale, and there was a hint of dullness and terror in his eyes.
As a blacksmith, his sensitivity to soul power was heightened. The power coming toward him felt like the vastness of the ocean, something he had only ever sensed in the presence of the high-ranking elders of the Blacksmith Alliance, individuals who held great renown across the continent.
Yet this time, the one exerting that power wasn't one of those renowned elders—it was a young man who appeared to be in his twenties!
Realizing this, Ye Xiu frowned, and a sudden thought struck him. His eyes filled with terror as he looked at Moyu.
"Could you be…"
Young, powerful, and with those unique silver eyes—these three traits made Ye Xiu recall the recently crowned champion of the blacksmithing competition that had caused a sensation in the Western Region: Moyu!
Although Ye Xiu hadn't participated in the competition for personal reasons, he had heard the stories. Moyu had snatched the championship title from the Danta (Pill Tower), causing a huge stir in the blacksmithing world.
Thinking of this, Ye Xiu's old eyes flickered. He quickly withdrew his soul power and bowed respectfully to Moyu.
"I have been blind to greatness. I didn't realize it was Mr. Moyu. Please forgive my rudeness," Ye Xiu said humbly, bowing his head and apologizing to Moyu before turning to the Cheng family with another apology. He then left the scene in disgrace.
Ye Xiu knew that this newly crowned champion was not only a once-in-a-lifetime genius in blacksmithing but also a killing machine! Both the Myriad Sword Sect and the master swordsmiths of the Blacksmith Alliance had suffered at this young man's hands, so how could Ye Xiu stand a chance?
As the crowd watched Ye Xiu's humbling departure, they were left stunned. Many of them knew Ye Xiu to be the top blacksmith within tens of thousands of miles of Tianhuang City, someone even city lords treated with great respect.
Yet here he was, bowing to a young man. It was a sight so shocking that it left everyone in disbelief.
Moreover, according to Elder Huan Yin, Moyu was actually a seventh-rank blacksmith!
A seventh-rank blacksmith wasn't just a high-ranking figure; such a person was a top-level existence, even in powerful sects like the Three Valleys.
Of course, if Ye Xiu knew their thoughts, he would have scoffed. Seventh rank? This man had won the blacksmithing competition and was an eighth-rank blacksmith!
Cheng Yao and the other members of the Cheng family were left staring blankly at Ye Xiu's retreating figure. After a long moment, they swallowed hard. A seventh-rank blacksmith? The mere thought made them shudder in fear. A person like that could easily wipe out the Cheng family if they wished.
On the opposite side, Liu Qing and Liu Fei also stood dumbfounded, watching Ye Xiu flee in terror. The idea that a sixth-rank blacksmith would be frightened off by Moyu seemed almost absurd.
"Elder Huan Yin, is there any conclusion to this competition?" Moyu asked, slightly surprised that Ye Xiu had recognized him. He smiled and withdrew his overwhelming soul power.
Hearing Moyu's question, Elder Huan Yin snapped out of her daze. A rare smile appeared on her elegant face as she nodded in response. She was astonished at how respectful Ye Xiu had been toward Moyu, and she looked at the young man before her with curiosity.
"With your extraordinary strength, sir, the victor is clearly you. The Liu family will hold the rights to manage the Tianhuang City spatial wormhole for the next three years."
At these words, Cheng Yao's face darkened. But faced with Moyu's overwhelming power and Elder Huan Yin's status, he didn't dare voice any complaints. He could only clench his fists in frustration and glare at Liu Qing with hatred.
In contrast, Liu Qing's face was alight with joy. He cupped his hands toward Elder Huan Yin and said with a smile, "Thank you, Elder Huan Yin."
Elder Huan Yin waved it off with a smile but turned her gaze directly toward Moyu. She stepped forward, smiling warmly as she asked, "I believe I heard Ye Xiu address you as Moyu?"
"Yes, greetings, Elder Huan Yin," Moyu replied with a smile, offering a respectful bow.
"To have achieved so much at such a young age is truly remarkable. May I ask who your teacher is?" Elder Huan Yin inquired with a smile. Despite Moyu's incredible talent, she believed he must have had an extraordinary mentor to reach such heights so young.
Moyu smiled faintly and replied, "Just a reclusive hermit, nothing noteworthy." He smoothly deflected the question, not wishing to discuss his teacher.
Seeing that Moyu wasn't keen on discussing the topic, Elder Huan Yin quickly dropped it. Though she was an elder of Sound Valley and a powerful Dou Zong, she knew she had to remain polite to a seventh-rank blacksmith.
"Now that the matter of the spatial wormhole has been settled, Mr. Moyu, would you have time to visit Sound Valley with me?" Elder Huan Yin asked, her voice as warm as a fire in winter, drawing many heated gazes from the crowd.
Hearing this, Moyu pondered for a moment. He was indeed interested in Sound Valley, not only because of the valley master's special connection to Snake Uncle but also due to information about the Nine-Winged Purple Gold Snake. Although he had already learned some of this from Yao Lao, he hoped to gather more details to help revive Snake Uncle.
"What exactly is Sound Valley seeking high-level blacksmiths for?" Moyu finally asked after a moment of contemplation.
"Our valley master seeks to repair a treasured item, which requires the assistance of high-level blacksmiths. Please rest assured that it's not too difficult, and if successful, Sound Valley will certainly reward you generously," Elder Huan Yin replied with a smile.
"Repairing a weapon?" Moyu narrowed his eyes slightly before nodding. If high-level blacksmiths were required, it was likely weapon-related, which made sense.
Having made up his mind, Moyu smiled and said, "There's no time like the present. Let's head there now. However, I'll need a moment to say goodbye to my friends."
Elder Huan Yin sighed in relief, her elegant face lighting up with a brighter smile. With a wave of her sleeve, a colorful giant bird flew into the square from the distance.
She smiled at Moyu and said, "In that case, I'll wait for you on the bird."
With those words, Elder Huan Yin's graceful figure rose into the air, landing softly on the giant bird's back.
"Moyu, are you really planning to go to Sound Valley?" Xiao Yixian asked, stepping out from the crowd. Her beautiful eyes looked at Moyu with concern.
Xiao Yixian's sudden appearance instantly drew everyone's attention. Her stunning beauty and cold, aloof demeanor made her seem like a goddess. Even Liu Fei, who was normally confident in her appearance, couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious.
"I have some matters to take care of in Sound Valley. I'll be back in a few days. In the meantime, Xiao Yixian, you should stay in Tianhuang City with Qingzhi and the others. I'll return as soon as I'm done. Also, Liu Qing, I need a favor," Moyu said, turning to Liu Qing.
"Say the word. If it's within my power, I'll do it without hesitation," Liu Qing replied enthusiastically, thumping his chest.
Moyu smiled and said, "It's nothing major. This is my friend, Xiao Yixian. Please take care of her while I'm away."
Liu Qing was momentarily stunned. His gaze shifted between Moyu and Xiao Yixian with a peculiar look. After all, he knew that Moyu already had a fiancée.
Still, he couldn't help but admire Moyu's luck, being surrounded by such beautiful women.
"Rest assured, though the Liu family may not be a superpower, we'll take excellent care of Miss Xiao Yixian," Liu Qing promised with a smile.
After making the necessary arrangements, Moyu chatted with his friends for a while longer. When the colorful bird let out a sharp cry from above, Moyu bid them farewell and leaped into the sky.
"Be careful," Xiao Yixian said softly, her eyes filled with concern.
Moyu smiled and nodded before landing steadily on the giant bird.
"Are you ready, Mr. Moyu?" Elder Huan Yin asked with a smile when she saw him.
Moyu nodded and cupped his hands respectfully. "Please lead the way, Elder Huan Yin."
Elder Huan Yin waved her hand with a smile and gave a command. The giant bird let out a loud cry and flapped its wings, creating a fragrant wind as it soared northward, leaving behind envious gazes from the crowd below.
Sound Valley was located in the Mysterious Sound Mountain Range in the southwest of the Central Region.
The mountain range wasn't far from Tianhuang City, less than half a day's journey away. Thanks to the speed of Elder Huan Yin's giant bird, it took them only two hours to arrive.
As they entered the Mysterious Sound Mountain Range, Moyu was able to see it clearly for the first time. Every plant and tree seemed to emit a faint sound wave, filling the area with an air of solemnity.
Elder Huan Yin's beautiful eyes swept over the mountain range before she sent out a special sound signal. The giant bird began to slow down and eventually descended to the base of a tall mountain.
Elder Huan Yin smiled and took out a colorful jade token from her storage ring. Pressing it against a spatial barrier at the foot of the mountain, a strange ripple spread out, and the barrier slowly opened.
"Mr. Moyu, please," Elder Huan Yin said with a smile, stepping through the barrier first. As she entered, her figure mysteriously disappeared.
Moyu hesitated for a moment before following her through the spatial rift.
As he stepped inside, the light suddenly brightened, causing him to squint briefly before slowly opening his eyes again.
In front of him was a long, colorful stone staircase surrounded by lush greenery. Peering into the distance, he could see buildings hidden among the greenery, with faint voices occasionally drifting through the air, echoing in the vast valley.
The valley was filled with countless buildings, and disciples dressed in colorful robes bustled about, occasionally sparring with one another, bringing a sense of life to the enormous valley.
Following Elder Huan Yin, Moyu arrived at a grand, colorful hall. Many Sound Valley disciples stood guard outside, their watchful eyes scanning the surroundings.
"It seems the other blacksmiths have arrived," Elder Huan Yin muttered, gazing at the heavily guarded hall.
"What's going on?" Moyu asked, frowning slightly.
"The item we need to repair is of great importance to Sound Valley. The valley master intends to find the most skilled blacksmith among the candidates. It's a bit of a wide net, but I hope Mr. Moyu doesn't mind," Elder Huan Yin explained with a smile.
Hearing this, Moyu stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Even though they were selecting from multiple blacksmiths, Moyu, as the newly crowned champion of the blacksmithing competition, would surely outshine them all.
(End of chapter)
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