As Ou Yangming continued to walk toward the mountain peak, he saw tens of high platforms along the way.
Every platform was occupied by a human blacksmith or alchemist, and each one was surrounded by at least 10 or at most tens of spirit beasts.
Needless to say, the spirit beasts were not wasting their time around the platforms; they were waiting for the human masters above the platforms to either smith pieces of equipment or refine pills for them.
Ou Yangming did not know much about the refinement of pills, and he never imagined himself cultivating alchemy art while being a blacksmith. Therefore, he simply glanced past the high platforms where pills were being refined. On the other hand, the young fellow would stop and watch for a while whenever he saw blacksmiths using their spiritual fires on their respective platforms.
Those blacksmiths naturally used various concealment techniques on their spiritual fires.
Although Ou Yangming could not see the details of their spiritual fire, he still noticed some peculiar techniques based on the changes in their flames.
Nonetheless, he was smarter this time. He left after briefly observing the blacksmiths’ smithing processes instead of waiting until they were done.
This was because he had found out that the blacksmiths and alchemists on the high platforms were not very well-known. They could at most smith magic tools at the peak of Common Grade Rank Five and could not get involved in Good Grade magic tools. Hence, he only observed for a short while, thinking that he might be inspired in some ways.
His real target was on a higher peak.
Ou Yangming stopped after he traveled for a distance because a giant ape was blocking their path ahead.
The ape was tall, but it was far from Multi-armed King Kong and the fearsome Six-armed Giant Beast. On the contrary, it was more than twice as large as Fat Antelope and the Silver Ridge Giant Leopard.
When the ape’s sturdy body blocked their path, it seemed like an insurmountable mountain.
Ou Yangming stopped and cleared his throat before he asked, “I’d like to go up there, so can you make way, Your Excellency?”
He would be clueless about any other spirit beast’s background but since it was a spirit ape, which openly blocked his path, he knew its origin without needing to ask.
The ape sneered and answered, “You can go up there, but they can’t.” It cast sidelong glances at Big Yellow and the other spirit beasts as it was indifferent toward them.
Ou Yangming furrowed his eyebrows and asked in shock, “Why is that so?”
“Hmph, they’re only low-grade spirit beasts, so they’re not qualified to go beyond half of the mountain.” The ape was displeased, then it added after a pause, “In fact, based on your age and standard, you’re not qualified to climb the peak too, but I won’t stop you since you’re a human master.”
The young fellow turned to look at Big Yellow and the others, which were angry due to the embarrassment. Even so, they dared not provoke the powerful ape.
This was not only because the ape released a more formidable aura but most importantly, it was evidently the 10,000 Beasts Venerable One’s descendant. Unless they did not want to live anymore, they would not have the guts to get on its bad end.
Ou Yangming shook his head and asked, “Your Excellency, could an exception be made if I’d like to bring them up there?”
“Bring them up?” The ape widened its mouth and laughed before it questioned, “Are you a blacksmith or an alchemist.
Big Yellow barked and answered, “He’s a blacksmith.”
The ape shouted furiously at it with a fierce look in its eyes, “I was talking to this human, so why did you interrupt?!”
Big Yellow shrunk its heck and hid behind Ou Yangming, but it mumbled to itself, ‘I’m not afraid of you; I just don’t want to offend the 10,000 Beasts Venerable One.’
“Your Excellency, please cut to the chase.” Ou Yangming frowned. He was quite enraged because the ape was being impolite, but he would not punish it as long as it did not attack him or his companions.
“Haha, you don’t seem convinced, human.” The ape looked at him and laughed out loud. It then put its hands on its waist and stated, “The Venerable One set a rule that those that want to cross the half of the mountain must be at least in middle-grade. That said, exceptions can be made if human masters want to bring low-grade spirit beasts up to the peak.
Ou Yangming pondered for a while and asked, “There’s a condition, am I right?”
“Yes, you’re quite smart.” The ape chuckled. “The condition set by the Venerable One is if the human’s a smithing master, he must be able to smith Good Grade magic tools.”
Big Yellow, Fat Antelope, and the Silver Ridge Giant Leopard sighed as they looked at each other.
Even though Big Yellow followed Ou Yangming here from the lower realm, it did not think that he could smith such tools.
A magic tool at the peak of Common Grade Rank Five and a magic tool of Good Grade Rank One were only a rank apart, but it would not be easy to cross the gap.
As intelligent as Ou Yangming was, he would probably need to explore and attempt for several years, right?
In truth, he would also be considered a genius among geniuses if he could accomplish it that fast.
The ape looked arrogant, but it was conceited indeed. It was true that many spirit beasts on the 10,000 Beasts Ridge respected human blacksmiths, but the ape’s background was related to the 10,000 Beasts Venerable One, and it was knowledgeable. As such, it would not attach too much importance to an overly young human blacksmith.
Of course, the ape would not offend Ou Yangming too, thus it would not stop him if he wanted to enter alone.
“Good Grade magic tools…” Ou Yangming turned to look at the 3 dejected spirit beasts. He suddenly laughed and asked, “Your Excellency, do I need to smith 3 Good Grade magic tools or just one?”
The ape was stunned, and it asked in confusion, “Do you… Want to try?”
Ou Yangming responded proudly, “Why not?”
The ape blinked its huge eyes and scoffed twice before it answered, “I’ll let all of you enter as long as you can smith one Good Grade magic tool.
It agreed to let him try, but it was not too bothered.
After all, the ape had seen many human blacksmiths but none of the young blacksmiths could smith Good Grade magic tools. Besides, blacksmiths that could smith such magic tools were rare gems for the Humans, so they would not be sent to the Trading Meet on the 10,000 Beasts Ridge no matter what.
This was why the ape believed from the bottom of its heart that the young human was simply a pretentious fellow, who only said what he did to not be embarrassed.
Having said that, it believed that he would be ashamed after he was done smithing.
Ou Yangming grinned and opened his interspatial bag. He scanned the space inside with his mental conception and retrieved some minerals.
The ape was somewhat envious when it glanced at his interspatial bag. Human blacksmiths and alchemists were wealthy indeed because they possess interspatial bags as long as they were quite successful. In comparison, there was a much lower proportion of beasts that possessed interspatial bags.
Ou Yangming retrieved the minerals without hurry, then he turned to look at the Silver Ridge Giant Leopard.
The leopard was dumbfounded but a look of joy was soon seen in its eyes as it was in disbelief.
‘Doesn’t his action mean that I’ll be benefitting from this?’
Fat Antelope’s face changed, and it immediately shouted, “Master Ou, you… Can smith for me instead.”
It obtained an equipment set, but they comprised the most ordinary magic tools of Common Grade Rank One. It seemed like Ou Yangming was about to smith a Good Grade magic tool, hence it could not balance the disparity between them.
The Silver Ridge Giant Leopard glared at the antelope and quickly expressed, “Master Ou, if you don’t abandon me, I’m willing to follow you forever!”
When it was previously forced to leave the Silver Ridge Boundary, it felt quite reluctant to part with its territory. Nevertheless, after witnessing Ou Yangming’s smithing art, especially his unbelievable growth speed, there was a subtle change in its mind.
Perhaps it would be better to follow Ou Yangming than to be a normal mountain lord.
Ou Yangming could not help but laugh. “Fat Antelope, hold your horses. Once I grasp the smithing technique, I’ll smith new pieces of equipment for you and Big Yellow.”
Big Yellow wagged its tail and looked like it had expected it, whereas Fat Antelope beamed because it was content with having Ou Yangming’s word.
The Military Fire flickered on Ou Yangming’s hand as it enveloped the materials right away and merged according to a certain proportion. As for the extra minerals, they were naturally separated and not melted together.
Upon seeing this, the ape was struck dumb. It vaguely sensed something unordinary when it saw Ou Yangming break the peculiar stones’ defense with his Military Fire.
The fire released by the human blacksmith, and its mightiness, seemed to have surpassed the ape’s imagination. For some reason, fear grew inside it when it saw Ou Yangming’s purple fire, so much so that it wanted to turn and flee.
Needless to say, the ape was able to stand still due to the courage and confidence that it had developed throughout many years. It stared at Ou Yangming with its massive eyes.
Ou Yangming was fully focused on the smithing process. It was his first time attempting to smith a Good Grade tool, so he must be careful.
Once the ores fused based on a reasonable ratio, they were finally turned into an armor. It had 25 points of Toughness, which proved that it was a magic tool at the peak of Common Grade Rank Five, but it was still a step away from Good Grade.
The young fellow had smithed wholly according to Lin Feifeng’s pointers, but he could not make the magic tool enter Good Grade even when he gave his all. This proved that Lin Feifeng was still lacking in terms of the smithing technique.
Perhaps even he did not know how the hurdle could be crossed.
Ou Yangming curbed his thought and focused his mental conception in his sea of consciousness, then he gave the order to upgrade the tool’s attribute.
Consequently, the Military Fire on Ou Yangming’s hand grew brighter as a hidden purple light ball discreetly entered the fire.
The instant the purple light touched the armor inside the Military Fire, it transformed into invisible powers that entered the equipment.
An incredibly peculiar yet mysterious luster flashed on the armor. The ape’s eyes lit up at the sight of that, and it had a grave look on its face.
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