The main hall was oddly silent.

Everyone including Bai Zhiyi and Xu Feiyu looked at each other. They seemed to be clueless about what exactly happened.

Oh, it seemed like that young man had left in displeasure and no longer wanted to join the Beast King Sect because he was unhappy with the assessment given.

It was truly out of everyone's expectations.

Nonetheless, the crowd was slightly furious after they figured out the problem. In fact, even Bai Zhiyi felt slightly uneasy.

'Yes, you're exceptionally gifted and superior, but this is the Beast King Sect, which is one of Danzhou's Nine Great Sects and a supreme force that's being watched over by a Venerable One.'

For generations, apart from disciples that had been nurtured since young in the sect, successful outsiders must be steeled thoroughly if they wanted to join the sect.

All in all, the Beast King Sect was not an ordinary sect that could be joined by anyone.

Xu Feiyu was stunned for some time, then he blurted angrily, "This! This is too much!" He looked enraged but was secretly overjoyed. 'I can't believe that the young fella's quite a personality and looks down on the Beast King Sect.'

Even so, in this case, even if Ou Yangming went back on his word, Xu Feiyu had a legitimate reason to shut him out.

In actuality, Xu Feiyu was not an unreasonable person. Normally, he would not mind recruiting a few more talents for the sect. After all, blacksmiths like him that depended on the sect would only have better days if the sect became more formidable.

Nevertheless, due to Xu Guangji, he was unwilling to let Ou Yangming stay in the Beast King Sect.

What would one feel if one was in Xu Guangji's shoes? What would it feel like to always see the person that defeated one showing off in the sect every day?

If the situation went on for a long time, even if Xu Guangji did not go crazy, he would not get up after the wall and would never rise again.

For the sake of his grandson, Xu Feiyu would not mind shutting out a genius.

In any case, given the sect's foundation and strength, having one more or one less genius would not make too much difference.

"Yes, it's too much!"

"Hmph, what does he take the Beast King Sect as?"

"As gifted as he is, he mustn't be recruited into our sect!"

Complaints were heard one after another, and the people looked displeased.

Being disciples from the Beast King Sect, they would always be envied and respected outside whenever they mentioned their sect. Deep in their bones, they valued and worshipped the sect very much.

Therefore, they became cold-hearted and unhappy when someone regarded the sect as nothing.

Bai Zhiyi was regretful when he noticed the angry faces.

Just as he was thinking of a way to comfort them, a sonorous and powerful voice was heard coming from outside. "What's all this noise!"

It was not loud, but it sounded like thunder, causing the people to feel dizzy. Some of them staggered but luckily, they were supported by the people beside them, or they would have fallen and embarrassed themselves.

The crowd turned to look at the same time. Their faces changed when they saw who it was, and they quickly shut their mouths as they dared not say another word.

Bai Zhiyi and Xu Feiyu exchanged glances. Shocked, they immediately got off the high platform and walked toward the entrance.

"Sect Elder, why have you come?" Xu Feiyu smiled apologetically and asked carefully.

The person at the door was a white-haired elder. He was old, but he was in high spirits. In particular, his eyes were so sharp and bright that nobody dared to look straight at him.

This elder was an extremely important figure in the Beast King Sect. He was Peng Yanbing, the chief of the blacksmiths in the sect, as well as one of the only few sect elders.

However, the sect elder had not shown up in a long time, hence this happened when he suddenly appeared.

"Of course I came here for something." Peng Yanbing scoffed. He glanced at the crowd with bright eyes and questioned, "Why are you gathered here instead of practicing smithing art?"

Xu Feiyu instantly answered, "Sect Elder, there was a smithing art competition here earlier, which is why they've gathered here."

"Oh, who was involved?" Peng Yanbing asked as he was interested.

"Xu Guangji and an outsider," Xu Feiyu responded seriously, "Sect Elder, that outsider spoke conceited nonsense and looked down on our sect, which was why everyone clamored!"

He was afraid that Peng Yanbing would favor talent, thus he amplified Ou Yangming's demerits. Being a sect elder, Peng Yanbing was obliged to protect the sect's honor. Since the elder was now aware of how presumptuous the young fellow was, he would not recruit him regardless of how gifted he was.

Sure enough, Peng Yanbing humphed angrily and asked, "What did that outsider say?"

Feeling anxious, Bai Zhiyi expressed right away, Sect Elder, he didn't speak conceited nonsense; he was only compelled against his will, so he left in dissatisfaction.

"Hmph, what do you mean he was compelled against his will?" Xu Feiyu was outraged. "Plenty of people want to join the Beast King Sect but aren't given a chance. We gave him the opportunity to join us by letting him perform his skills, but he responded with such an attitude and said that he won't bother unless we line the streets to welcome him. What's that if it isn't an act of presumptuousness?"

Bai Zhiyi glared at him and remarked, "Old man! You're talking nonsense! When did he say that?"

Xu Feiyu sneered. "That was what he meant. If not, why would everyone be so mad?"

The crowd was dumbfounded. Even though they thought that Xu Feiyu exaggerated it, they were displeased with Ou Yangming indeed and were unwilling to offend the elder, thus they decided to keep quiet.

Among them, several hot-tempered ones even nodded in response. Since Ou Yangming looked down on the Beast King Sect, they deemed him their enemy. There was naturally no need to adopt gentle means against an enemy, so much so that framing him up would also be considered a light punishment for him. They were already regretful that they could not teach the young fellow a lesson themselves.

Peng Yanbing frowned and waved his hand.

Bai Zhiyi and Xu Feiyu had a lot more to say, but they shut their mouths obediently. Nobody dared to be impolite in front of the sect elder.

The sect elder glanced at them and asked, "Who's that outsider?"

"Sect Elder, that person's Ou Yangming. I met him during the Trading Meet on the 10,000 Beasts Ridge, and I brought him back with the intention of recruiting him due to his unbelievable natural gift in smithing art," Bai Zhiyi answered at once.

Peng Yanbing asked in a deep voice while keeping a straight face, "Unbelievable natural gift—you're speaking too highly of him, aren't you?"

Bai Zhiyi smiled bitterly. "I dare not lie to you, Sect Elder. That fella's natural gift can indeed be described as such!"

Xu Feiyu scoffed and commented, "Brother Bai, words alone aren't proof. Heh, aren't you holding the equipment that he has just smithed for you? How about you show it to everyone and let us see how gifted he is?"

He had seen that Ou Yangming's foundation was unusually solid indeed, but it only meant that he had great potential for the future. At the end of the day, the elder did not believe that the young fellow could smith anything extraordinary.

In actuality, not only him, but most people except Bai Zhiyi did not believe it too.

Even after witnessing Ou Yangming toss 2 High Agility Spirit Ores into his fire, they did not believe that the equipment was a piece of White Silver Equipment, let alone a layered piece of White Silver Equipment.

"Oh? Let me take a look at it," Peng Yanbing ordered.

Bai Zhiyi was hesitant at first, but he soon handed the small, round shield to the sect elder.

At this point, he thought regretfully, 'Why didn't I appraise it just now…'

He was naturally confident in Ou Yangming's smithing art, but his mind was in turmoil because the young fellow offended too many people with what he said earlier.

Peng Yanbing held the small, round shield and glanced at it for a while before his face changed abruptly. Following that, he looked up at Bai Zhiyi and asked, "You… Didn't smith this, did you?"

Bai Zhiyi was struck dumb, then he lowered his head and answered, "I dare not lie to you at all, Sect Elder. It really wasn't me who smithed it."

Xu Feiyu and the crowd were surprised. 'What did Sect Elder mean?'

'Is Ou Yangming's smithing art so astounding that he can be mentioned on equal terms with the renowned Bai Zhiyi?'

Peng Yanbing pondered for some time, then a luster was seen in his hands. Before Long, a grave look could be seen on his face.

"How old is that person?"

Bai Zhiyi was startled at first, then he answered with joy, "Sect Elder, Ou Yangming should be in his twenties, but he's definitely under 30!"

"Under 30…" Peng Yanbing's face twitched, and he mumbled, "Elder Macaque wasn't lying to me indeed; there's such a genius in this world!"

Bai Zhiyi's eyes lit up. He finally understood why Peng Yanbing came to Mount Copper Furnace at this time.

It turned out that he had not come of his own accord but was invited by the old macaque.

Despite that, Bai Zhiyi found it strange. 'Isn't the old macaque too concerned about Ou Yangming? Is its junior incredibly important to it?'

Peng Yanbing fell silent for a brief moment and said, "Go find him now and tell him that the Beast King Sect invites him to join us. If anyone treated him impolitely before this, please ask him not to mind about them."

"Ah," Bai Zhiyi uttered. He almost could not believe what he heard.

The sect elder stared at him and shouted madly, "Aren't you going!"

Bai Zhiyi quickly responded to him and left in a hurry.

Xu Feiyu gasped and looked at Peng Yanbing in disbelief. He mumbled, "Sect Elder, th-this…"

Peng Yanbing scoffed and tossed the small, round shield to him. "See for yourself!"

Xu Feiyu's forehead was already covered in beads of cold sweat. He knew right away that the equipment had moved Peng Yanbing, causing him to make such a decision.

That said, what equipment must it be to have such an unimaginable effect?

He gritted his teeth and released a white light through his hand.

[Item: Round Guardian Shield]

[Equivalent Rank: Magic Tool, Good Grade, Rank Five]

[Attributes: Toughness +30. Agility +2 (White Silver), Durability 30]

[Skills: Indestructible Defense (Intermediate), Comprehensive Protection (Intermediate)]

Xu Feiyu looked up in a daze. He was utterly shocked.

'Is this really something that can be smithed by a young blacksmith?'