Even if flawed, a semi-divine sword embryo remains a semi-divine sword embryo. Semi-Divine Forgemasters might scoff at it, but to other forgemasters, achieving this level could be a lifelong dream.
Ray Xu's denial of any jealousy was hardly believable. He wasn't the only one—others around him, small-minded as they were, took pleasure in ridiculing Charlie Zhao. Their scorn seemed to add fuel to the flames of her frustration.
Unseen by most, Jason Chu stood quietly among the crowd, his face unreadable. He didn't like what he was witnessing; the hypocrisy was blatant to him. As a forgemaster himself, he knew well enough that these so-called Semi-Divine Forgemasters were spouting nonsense. The semi-divine sword embryo Charlie Zhao had forged was far from trash—in fact, it was of remarkable quality, an excellent foundation by any standard.
The real issue lay in their own inability to forge it. So, they labeled it "garbage," deflecting their incompetence with arrogance. He shook his head at the absurdity of it all. The crowd's condemnation of Charlie Zhao only deepened his disgust.
And beyond that, he couldn't help but feel personally implicated.
"Seems like I have a bit of responsibility here," he thought, recalling the fabricated accusation that she had been late due to escorting him. He hadn't realized that his presence could have played a part in her plight.
Taking a steady breath, Jason stepped forward, making his way through the crowd toward the open space where Charlie stood.
"Who is he?"
"Isn't that a blind man?"
"What does he think he's doing?"
Jason's unhurried pace and blind, almost wooden stride drew all eyes his way. The crowd watched him, puzzled by this unusual interruption.
"Uncle?" Charlie murmured in disbelief, her voice low and hesitant as she recognized him. She had no idea why the blind man she had helped earlier was here now.
People around her also took note of her reaction.
Seeing this, Dominic, the overseer, raised an eyebrow. As far as he was concerned, neither Charlie nor the blind man mattered at this point. The competition was drawing to a close, and there was a reception awaiting the esteemed Semi-Divine Forgemasters. He didn't want to waste another moment on these two.
Just as he was about to order them to be removed, a voice interrupted.
"Wait." Ray Xu's voice carried across the crowd.
Dominic looked over, surprised to see that Ray was the one who had spoken. "Master Ray?"
"Let's see what the blind man's up to." Ray's gaze was fixed intently on Jason.
He had noticed that, despite Charlie's recognition, Jason wasn't approaching her. Instead, Jason moved past her, heading toward the central forge where Charlie's sword embryo rested.
This intrigued Ray, who signaled to let Jason proceed. He was curious—perhaps this situation could turn in his favor.
Dominic hesitated but ultimately gave a silent nod. It wasn't worth provoking someone as prominent as Ray over such a small matter.
"Uncle, what are you doing?" Charlie's voice quivered with both confusion and worry.
"This sword embryo is the culmination of all my effort," she thought, her heart pounding. She couldn't imagine what this seemingly untrained blind man planned to do.
"I don't like owing favors." Jason's voice was calm as he approached the sword embryo. The faintest trace of a smile touched his lips.
To the crowd's utter astonishment, Jason produced a hammer in his hand—a strange, powerful tool radiating an aura both ancient and profound.
With a decisive motion, he raised the hammer and struck.
Bang!
The hammer came down on the blood-red sword embryo, and with that single strike, sparks scattered, arcane symbols danced, and a resonant force rippled outward. It felt as if the heavens and earth themselves trembled under the impact of that one strike.
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