As the elevator slowly descended, Mu Xi turned to Arthur and said, "You have to go easy on me when the time comes. Don't let me lose too embarrassingly."
"Hard to say," Arthur shook his head. "You'd better forge quickly. If you're too slow, you'll just have to watch me take all the spotlight."
"Hmph." Mu Xi turned her head away.
Tang Wulin, feeling like a bit of a third wheel, scratched his head awkwardly.
The elevator doors opened. In a corner of the first-floor lobby, Grandmaster Cen Yue was sitting at a round table.
He was surrounded by several young people, all wearing Blacksmith Rank badges on their chests. The lowest was second-Rank, and the highest was a young man in his twenties wearing a fourth-Rank badge.
"Grandmaster Cen!" Arthur walked forward and gave a slight nod.
Grandmaster Cen Yue hurriedly stood up, a smile appearing on his face. "You're here? Quick, take a seat."
"Let me introduce you. This is my Disciple, Tang Wenhao, a Fourth-Rank Blacksmith. He's participating in the Adult Group this time." He pointed to the young man with the fourth-Rank badge.
Since the opportunity was rare, he wanted his Disciple to show his face in front of Arthur and get to know him; just leaving an impression would be enough.
Once Arthur grew up in the future, it wouldn't be so easy to meet him.
After emphasizing the introduction of his Disciple, Cen Yue introduced the others in turn. "This is Zheng Tianlin, a Third-Rank Blacksmith. And these are Li Mo and Zhang Lei, both top performers among the second-Ranks."
"Hello." The group stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Arthur was practically a legend in the Donghai Blacksmith Association.
"Don't be so polite," Arthur waved his hand. "We're all from the same association. We see each other all the time."
Despite his words, everyone was still very constrained, not just because of Arthur's status as a forging Prodigy.
In fact, in the very beginning, Arthur had been like a harbinger of doom within the association.
Because behind him stood Agravaine.
The Dragon Sparrow Douluo was notoriously ill-famed.
The Blacksmiths in the association were all afraid of provoking Arthur, only to find their precious rare metals missing every time they finished forging.
They had nowhere to go to cry about it.
Complaining to anyone was useless.
The local tyrant of East Sea City—the Dragon Sparrow Douluo: "Who stands below, accusing this official?"
Coupled with the forging talent Arthur later displayed, everyone in the association truly held him in great awe.
"Now that everyone is here, I'll start," Cen Yue spoke. "Our Blacksmith Association has always been the face of East Sea City in the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition. Last time, we took third in the Junior Division and first in the Youth Group. Wenhao, since you're in the Adult Group this time, you must keep up the good work and bring glory to the association."
Tang Wenhao, who had a sturdy build and steady eyes, responded, "Yes, Teacher."
Next, Cen Yue looked at Zheng Tianlin. "Tianlin, your progress is fast and steady. Perform well in the Youth Group and strive to reach the fourth Rank soon." Zheng Tianlin nodded, though his face carried a hint of arrogance.
Finally, Cen Yue's gaze fell on Arthur, Tang Wulin, and Mu Xi. "You three are our association's trump cards for this competition. If you perform normally, you're sure to sweep the top three."
As soon as these words came out, Tang Wenhao and the others felt incredibly lucky. Fortunately, they were in the Adult Group.
If they were in the Junior Division, it would be absolutely terrifying.
Setting aside Mu Xi and Tang Wulin, with the Devil King Arthur there, this year's Junior Division was on Hell difficulty!
Just thinking about it was enough to make one cry... The opening ceremony of the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition was held at the Tianhai Stadium, which could accommodate 80,000 people. This was a top-tier event for the Donghai Economic Circle and received much attention from the Federation.
The Grand Competition was for selecting talent for the Tianhai Alliance.
Early in the morning, the representative teams from various cities entered the stadium, and the stands were already packed.
Tang Wulin was a country boy, and being in such a grand venue for the first time, he felt dazed throughout.
"What are they doing?" Tang Wulin asked Xie Xie.
Xie Xie explained, "You don't even know this? It's being talked about everywhere in the streets. There's going to be an exhibition match later. The Alliance spent a fortune to invite people from Shrek Academy and the champions of the last Youth Group Seven-man competition to have a match."
"That's Shrek, after all."
"I don't know where the Tianhai Alliance got the courage. Are they paying to lose?"
Xu Xiaoyan smiled and said, "The Alliance high-ups must have their own ideas."
"Who would pay to get bullied?" Arthur pondered. "What if Shrek was the one who insisted on coming?"
"Shrek insisted on coming?" Everyone was stunned. "What do you mean?"
"I should probably explain this to you properly." Arthur shared his guess, explaining, "Shrek Academy's exams for its students are all sorts of weird and bizarre; anything goes."
"Participating in the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition might just be a small exam for them."
"And that's considered normal."
"It wouldn't be strange for Shrek students to do anything during an exam. Some have even invaded Federation military bases."
This was what Arthur felt was the most likely conclusion; otherwise, this exhibition match really wouldn't make sense.
"Huh?" Everyone was deeply shocked. Especially Tang Wulin; born into poverty, in his eyes, the Federation's official organizations were like the heavens.
"Teacher, is this true?" Everyone looked at Wu Zhangkong, since he had come from Shrek.
After a moment of silence, Wu Zhangkong was as sparing with his words as ever: "Mm."
What could he say?
It wasn't easy for him to comment on this.
Because back when he was at Shrek Academy, he had also taken part in those ridiculous stunts.
"Ahem, I just ran into an old friend. I'll be gone for a while." Wu Zhangkong chose to slip away, taking the chance to meet his old friend.
"Doesn't the Federation care?" Tang Wulin turned back, puzzled.
"How can they?" Arthur continued the discussion. "Can your Federation beat Shrek?"
Xu Xiaoyan nodded. "What's the matter, you're not satisfied?"
"Haha..." Xie Xie chuckled. Coming from a wealthy family, he had some knowledge; nowadays, absolutely no one could control Shrek.
This was also why everyone flocked to be selected for Shrek.
If you can't beat them, join them!
Everyone discussed it one after another.
"Is Shrek's dominance really that staggering?" Gu Yue said thoughtfully, a hint of consideration flashing in her eyes as she asked, "I've joined the Tang Sect; that shouldn't affect joining Shrek, right?"
"It won't affect it." Unusually, Na'er took the initiative to discuss with Gu Yue. "The identities of the Tang Sect and Shrek don't conflict at all. If anything, joining the Tang Sect makes it even easier to enter the Shrek Inner Court."
"Oh~" Gu Yue nodded, her thoughts unknown.
"How dare you!" A scolding voice suddenly rang out. "How dare you speak so recklessly about Shrek Academy?!"
Turning around, they saw a girl about their age walking toward them.
She wore green sportswear, with a golden ponytail tied behind her head. Beneath her long eyelashes were a pair of large, azure-blue eyes that were exceptionally beautiful. Her skin under the sunlight was fair and delicate, possessing a certain refined quality.
The girl had a stern, cold expression, looking like a little adult.
"You have insulted Shrek Academy. I want an explanation."
Wait, we were just bragging and chatting. Someone actually took it seriously?
Even Teacher Wu Zhangkong, a Shrek person, didn't take it seriously.
Wu Zhangkong, who had long since left Shrek: Yes, children, I have no objection.
Everyone looked at each other. Finally, Arthur stepped forward. He had to be the one to deal with this kind of situation where things were being blown out of proportion; he could handle it.
Arthur said casually, "I say, who are you?"
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