The end of Gaowu: Becoming stronger from not practicing

Without Ma Dashuai's interference, Zhang Lingfeng was able to more thoroughly practice lying flat, and the lying flat points he earned each month were more than a hundred more than usual.

Zhang Lingfeng felt pleased as he watched the "lying down value" steadily increase.

Another year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Lying flat value: 65781
Zhang Lingfeng was overjoyed.

But today he also received a message about the Divine Inscription Master Guild.

After being certified as a Divine Inscription Master by the Divine Inscription Master Guild that day, Zhang Lingfeng received a communication jade slip, which allowed him to contact Divine Inscription Masters.

They can also receive various messages from the Divine Inscription Master Guild.

Or some task assignments.

But he always puts his "lying flat" philosophy into practice, so he doesn't usually pay attention to this kind of information. He only opens it to check the content when he has free time.

Unexpectedly, when I checked the jade slip today, I saw a new message.

It was a message sent by the maid named Murong Li who examined her back then.

"Hello Master Zhang, you haven't visited the guild since you became a certified Divine Inscription Master. I wonder if you've encountered any problems. Please come visit the guild when you have time. The guild will always be your home."

There is something else I need to inform you about.

Five years from now, the guild will be holding a Divine Inscription Master Training Competition, and we hope you will be able to participate.

If you are not in Baidi City, I suggest you come back and visit, because a forging competition will be held here in three years, and many blacksmiths will participate.

Perhaps you can find a blacksmith who satisfies you and forge the divine weapons or airships you need.

Two years after the forging tournament, there will also be the Divine Inscription Master Cultivation Competition. I hope you will be able to participate then.

Bye-Bye.

Guild member Xiao Mu, who respects and admires you, welcomes you always!

The image of Murong Li flashed through Zhang Lingfeng's mind.

Some were dumbfounded.

He wasn't interested in participating in forging competitions or divine rune master cultivation contests, but he would be willing to watch them.

He wouldn't be willing to participate in a competition that would be thankless and exhausting.

He just wanted to put the "lying down" policy into practice to the end and earn more "lying down" points.

Time flies.

The days passed by.

Zhang Lingfeng diligently followed the routine of lying flat every day.

Normally, they would forge small divine weapons in the forge to appease Master Ma or to give him an explanation, and of course, they also hoped to bring in income for the Divine Craftsman Shop.

After all, he used the best materials from the Divine Craftsman Shop for everything he ate and wore.

They also receive a stipend from the sacred stones, so they can't just do nothing.

Fortunately, the hidden weapons and throwing knives he forged were selling well. After all, he was a level two blacksmith, which was respectable in Ma Street, and there were quite a few people who came to place orders.

At least Zhang Lingfeng won't let the Divine Craftsman Shop lose money.

He devised a plan for this purpose.

Nine to five.

Two days off per week.

He also set specific holidays for himself.

There are all sorts of random festivals like food festivals, mahjong festivals, card-playing festivals, and shopping festivals, ensuring you have plenty of excuses to keep lying down and doing nothing.

During holidays, I will absolutely not be busy in the forge.

No amount of divine stones could save you.

During regular workdays, I arrive neither early nor late, working from nine to five, with each day meticulously planned to ensure that my "lying flat" principle is never compromised.

After finishing his work, he would go fishing or return to the Ou family compound to drink and chat with Lao He, Lao Wang, and Grandpa Ou.

They were living a very comfortable life.

Today is another holiday.

It's called the Fishing Festival and lasts for three days.

Zhang Lingfeng went out fishing at sea with Master Ou and the others.

Since having their own lookout, the Ou family's tenement has become busier, with goods frequently being transported to relatively safe locations, and the pay is quite substantial.

Because of this favor, Zhang Lingfeng sometimes couldn't refuse when Master Ou introduced people to forge divine weapons, and he would even have to give them a discount.

Fortunately, they were all forging small ones.

It wouldn't affect his ability to lie flat.

He was sitting on the deck, casting his fishing line, hoping to catch a larger siren.

"boom!"

Suddenly a dark shadow appeared on the ocean horizon.

As the dark figure approached, a series of rumbling sounds came from it; it was a huge airship.

"It's the Divine Craftsman Pavilion airship."

"They organized the forging competition."

"The blacksmiths who can forge divine weapons in their Divine Craftsmen Pavilion are said to be all level three blacksmiths, and they all need to have the strength of a god-level expert."

"What an impressive airship."

……

Everyone was talking about it.

As the airship drew closer, no one dared to speak or look around.

Zhang Lingfeng couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Beneath the airship of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion, there was a face that looked like a ghostly face, making anyone who looked up feel a chill run down their spine, as if they were under a curse.

"Divine Craftsman's Pavilion, Divine Craftsman's Shop".

"It seems that Master Ma has been suppressed by the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion."

Zhang Lingfeng thought to himself.

He didn't know much about the story of the Divine Craftsman Shop and the Divine Craftsman Pavilion, but he had heard that the historical relationship was very complicated, and some people said that Master Ma himself came from the Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

Every time he faces the blacksmiths of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, he is reminded of the past, which causes the divine weapons he forges to fall short of the standards.

Like a demon in his heart, it lingered in Master Ma's mind, making it impossible for him to let go.

Zhang Lingfeng didn't want to get involved in their feud.

The Divine Craftsman's Pavilion is the premier shop in White Emperor City. Any blacksmith they have is far more skilled than Master Yang.

Even Commander Ma is nothing in the entire Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

It's unclear what exactly caused the Divine Craftsman Shop to provoke the Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

three days later.

Zhang Lingfeng finished fishing.

He returned to the Divine Craftsman's Shop.

They sensed something was off.

An unfinished airship that Master Yang and Master Wang were forging together was overturned on the ground, and it was covered with divine damage left by many powerful gods.

It seems that the Divine Craftsman's Shop has had a conflict with someone.

They are top-tier in the Majie Shenjiang Shop.

A well-deserved existence.

Who would dare cause trouble at the Divine Craftsman's Shop?

"Master Yang, what exactly happened?"

Zhang Lingfeng couldn't help but press for an answer.

"Just now, people from the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion came and asked the Divine Craftsmen Shop to take down its signboard. Master Ma got into a fight with them, and they, relying on their strength, attacked Master Ma and damaged a lot of things."

Fortunately, Master Chen arrived with several divine inscription masters, and the commotion subsided.

Master Yang explained.

"Why does the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion have to go against the Divine Craftsmen Shop? Logically speaking, our small place can't affect the development of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, let alone steal their business."

Zhang Lingfeng found it strange. Competition in the business world is nothing more than the exchange of interests.

"The Ma family ancestor who built the Shenjiang Shop was once a member of the Shenjiang Pavilion. The founder of the Shenjiang Pavilion and the founder of the Shenjiang Shop were originally fellow apprentices."

After we separated.

Together, the two founded the Divine Craftsman Pavilion and the Divine Craftsman Shop.

Over the years, the Divine Craftsman Pavilion has undergone numerous upgrades and iterations, each generation surpassing the last. However, the Ma family's lineage has suffered a break, and it seems unlikely that the name "Divine Craftsman Shop" can be preserved.

"If the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion wants to take it over, tell Master Ma to change the name so as not to affect the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion."

Master Wang, who was standing to the side, took the initiative to speak when Zhang Lingfeng asked about the matter.

"This is too overbearing!"

Zhang Lingfeng was somewhat angry.

It turns out it was a problem with the name.

Since the founders of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion and the Divine Craftsman Shop were originally fellow apprentices, they should have looked out for each other, so why are they now fighting against each other?

"The Divine Craftsmen Pavilion felt that the name 'Divine Craftsmen Shop' was detrimental to the prestige of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion. They had previously approached Master Ma, wanting to buy the Divine Craftsmen Shop and turn it into another Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, but Master Ma disagreed."

Therefore, over the years, whenever there is a forging competition, the blacksmiths from the Divine Craftsman Pavilion will stand up to suppress the Divine Craftsman Shop.

This makes it very difficult for the blacksmiths at the Divine Craftsman's Shop to pass the third round.

Master Yang explained.

"Master Ma was feeling very frustrated. He went out to find a successor in order to go against the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion. He finally found Wu Xiaomei, but he didn't expect the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion to come and cause trouble again."

Master Liu shook his head.

They were all blacksmiths from the Divine Craftsman's Shop. Seeing the people from the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion being so domineering, they were also very angry. Unfortunately, the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion was the supreme authority in White Emperor City.

They dared not provoke them at all.

They are not to be trifled with.

"Master Ma is back."

At this moment, an airship flew in from a distance, entered the airspace above Shenjiangpu, and slowly came to a stop.

The people who got off the airship were Ma Dashuai and his son, Wu Xiaomei, and Chen Fenfang.

Ma Dashuai looked exhausted.

After glancing at everyone, he returned to his room, ignoring even Zhang Lingfeng.

Chen Fenfang tried to persuade her from the side.

I hope General Ma won't fight with the Divine Craftsman Pavilion.

Ma Fei was in a gloomy mood.

After serving Commander Ma in the room, he then came to Master Yang and the others.

"Young master, how did things go?"

Master Yang asked.

"The matter is settled. If the shop has a blacksmith who can pass the third round, the shop's signboard can be preserved, and the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion will not bother us again from now on."

If no one can pass the third round, the shop's signboard will be taken away by the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion.

Ma Fei explained.

"This is outrageous! How could they do this?"

Master Wang looked furious.

"My father has put a lot of effort into this business over the years. If we lose, I can't even imagine what he would do. Knowing his personality, he might just disband the Divine Craftsman Shop, take me away from Baidi City, and never come back."

Ma Fei said worriedly.

He couldn't bear to leave this place, nor could he bear to part with the businesses here.

She was unwilling to leave him like that.

But seeing that the Divine Craftsman Shop has changed its signboard, General Ma would be furious to death.

"According to the rules of the forging competition, in previous years, to pass the third round, one needed to be at least a level four forger. Master Ma failed to pass several times. It seems that the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion is determined to devour the Divine Craftsmen Shop."

Master Yang looked solemn.

What are the details of the third round of the competition?

Zhang Lingfeng inquired.

"It's also about forging divine weapons, but the so-called divine weapons are challenges set by several master forgers. Whoever forges the closest divine weapon, the highest level, and the strongest power will have a higher chance of passing."

Generally, only level 5 blacksmiths can pass the third round.

Unless a level four blacksmith cultivates to the highest level, the chance of success is extremely slim. My father lost several times in a row in this regard.

Ma Fei said.

He would rush to the scene every time a forging conference was held.

Once it reaches the third round, the blacksmiths at the Divine Craftsman's Shop will be eliminated without exception, even if General Ma personally intervenes.

"Master Chen is a divine inscription master, can't he also uphold justice for Master Ma?"

Zhang Lingfeng inquired.

“Even our Divine Craftsman Shop has a Divine Inscription Master backing us up, do you think the Divine Craftsman Pavilion wouldn’t have an even more powerful Divine Inscription Master?”

Ma Fei said self-deprecatingly.

"The current head of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion is said to have a very good relationship with the president of the Divine Inscription Master Guild. Even if he goes to the Divine Inscription Master Guild, Master Ma will not be able to gain any advantage."

However, with the Divine Inscription Masters Guild around, they didn't dare to openly tear down the Divine Craftsman's Shop's signboard.

Master Liu sighed.

"The situation is driving us crazy!"

Master Wang looked helpless.

They were all at least level two blacksmiths, having forged countless divine weapons, but compared to the blacksmiths of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, they were all ashamed of themselves.

They also knew that their skills were not good enough to survive in the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion.

"Don't overthink it. My dad will do everything he can to save the shop. Even if the shop is lost... the shop will probably still exist."

Ma Fei comforted everyone.

He knew that if the Divine Craftsman's Shop closed down, it wouldn't be a good thing for any of the craftsmen present.

Although their craftsmanship would make them highly sought after in Baidi City, the quality of their work might not be comparable to that of the divine craftsmen's shops.

Secondly, they had worked at the Divine Craftsman's Shop for many years, and it would take them time to adapt to a sudden change in environment.

In addition, the competition among blacksmiths in other shops is also fierce. Sometimes even a level three blacksmith like Master Yang may not be able to gain an advantage.

Therefore, everyone hopes that Shenjiangpu will not go out of business and that its reputation can be preserved.

Even Zhang Lingfeng was no exception.

If the Divine Craftsman's Shop loses its signboard and General Ma closes down the shop, then wherever he goes in the future, he will lie down and carry on with his practice.

Even if you manage to get into other shops, you'll have to readjust.

The other party may not be able to tolerate him working nine-to-five to forge divine weapons like General Ma, taking breaks on holidays, and arbitrarily setting holidays.

But if we don't go to other shops...

So the "lying down" value you get normally isn't that high.

Therefore, deep down, Zhang Lingfeng hoped that the Divine Craftsman Shop could last forever and stand strong.

"Even a level four blacksmith can't easily get past the third round. What kind of competition is this?"

"What is the strongest blacksmith in the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion?"

"What level was the blacksmith who won first place in previous years? Was he from the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion?"

Zhang Lingfeng couldn't hold back any longer, and during the meal, he kept asking Master Yang and Master Wang a series of questions.

"The Divine Craftsmen Pavilion has a considerable influence on the Divine Continent. Every time it holds a forging competition, the forging masters who come to participate include forging masters from several nearby cities."

Even a blacksmith from the Baruch family participated in the competition and nearly won the glory of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion.

"I don't know exactly how powerful the blacksmiths in the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion are, but every blacksmith who can win first place is a genuine level six blacksmith, and the divine weapons they forge already possess divine charm!"

Master Yang and Master Wang, among others, spoke frankly and without reservation.

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