I am just a mortal, why do you all worship me as a saint?

Chapter 12: Losing both technique and mindset

The outcome was actually decided when they competed in forging swords.

Zhuge Qian witnessed Gu Heng's forging techniques and artistic conception. Each hammer blow carried a unique charm, as if the most profound meaning of heaven and earth had been incorporated into the forging method. The competition lasted for four days, and in the end, Zhuge Qian knew that he had already lost.

This man lives in seclusion in the city, yet he is a true master craftsman, a rare find in the world!

Zhuge Qian was naturally unwilling to accept defeat, but he couldn't afford to be resentful. At his level, he understood that he couldn't beat Gu Heng now. The only way was to go elsewhere, continue to hone his skills with others, and refine his forging techniques until one day he returned to this place and competed with Gu Heng again! In the past few years, he had traveled to many places, competing with the most famous craftsmen in the world. His reputation rose with his travels, his skills improved continuously, and he gained a new understanding of "momentum".

So, several years later, Zhuge Qian returned.

There was only one thing he wanted to do: to make this master craftsman, who possessed unparalleled forging skills and lived in seclusion in the city, submit to him, the "Sacred Craftsman of Heaven and Earth"!

Su Jinxi nestled silently in Gu Heng's arms, looking at Zhuge Qian. Only then did she remember that this person... she had a strong impression of him!

Isn't that the "Master Craftsman of Heaven and Earth," Zhuge Qian?!

The reason she remembered Zhuge Qian was because he traveled all over the world, relying on his forging skills and artistic conception, and went around looking for other famous or unknown spirit craftsmen to "compete" with. His arrogant attitude was simply unique in the world!

A hundred years ago, Zhuge Qian came to the Demon Realm and challenged the strongest demon saint craftsman under the Ten Thousand Demon Emperor!

Su Jinxi was already a highly valued figure by the Demon Emperor's side at that time, so she also became a witness to that earth-shattering forging competition. The two sides spent seven days setting up a large arena in the Demon Emperor City, where they forged the same type of magical artifact at the same time.

Then, Zhuge Qian won.

After he won, he was very disappointed because he had traveled the world for so long but had not found any craftsman who could surpass him in forging skills.

This contest became known throughout the land, and it even caused the demon race to lose face. Fortunately, the Demon Emperor was ultimately magnanimous, otherwise Zhuge Qian would never have been able to leave the demon realm.

This guy actually sparred with this senior before?!

So, who won?

"Brother Zhuge, it seems you've gained something from your travels over the years."

Gu Heng brewed tea for him, using tea leaves from the system's shop. Zhuge Qian looked at the golden luster of the tea in the cup and thought that Gu Heng was still using such precious tea to entertain him, his "defeated opponent," which made Zhuge Qian feel a little complicated.

"I wouldn't say I gained anything. I traveled all over this world, looking for rivals in forging skills, but they... are still no match for you."

Zhuge Qian glanced at the forging furnace behind Gu Heng. He had already arrived at the entrance of the clinic and had witnessed Gu Heng forging the sword blank.

Putting aside the fact that Gu Heng's skills are now far more advanced than they were a few years ago, there's also the material...

That's meteorite iron from the celestial star!

This meteorite iron contains the power of stars, making it the most difficult material to forge in the world! Even he, in his current state, has no guarantee that he can forge this extremely precious gift from heaven into shape!

Having traveled for so long, his current level of understanding is vastly different from before, so Zhuge Qian understands that this competition is completely unnecessary.

Because the outcome will not change.

He will still lose, and he will lose even more badly than last time.

"It's just a matter of winning or losing; I've already forgotten about it. If Brother Zhuge dwells on the past and can't let go of it, it will affect him."

Gu Heng smiled faintly.

He knew that Zhuge Qian was quite dissatisfied with the last competition, but there was nothing he could do. The forging method taught to him by the system, although it couldn't compare to that of cultivators, made beating ordinary people a piece of cake.

At that time, Zhuge Qian's expression was as if he had never lost, but Gu Heng showed him what it meant to be outmatched.

There was no way around it; this flawed system couldn't turn Gu Heng into a cultivator, but it could make him a perfect and outstanding mortal. Zhuge Qian couldn't win, but Gu Heng didn't want him to continue obsessing over this, as it could easily lead to extremism. "...Hehe, Brother Gu's words do hit the nail on the head regarding my mental deficiency."

Zhuge Qian smiled bitterly.

He was very proud because he had never lost a single time since he began his travels and became famous for them!

Zhuge Qian even dared to kick open the gates of the "Holy Forging Palace" and challenge the palace master who had been famous for a thousand years! The Holy Forging Palace was one of the three great "Divine Palaces" in the world, a truly extraordinary force, and a holy land in the hearts of all craftsmen!

For a wandering, unaffiliated cultivator like him to dare to do this demonstrates just how arrogant Zhuge Qian had become.

But even the palace master of the Holy Forging Palace, who was said to be able to forge imperial-grade divine weapons and magical artifacts, ultimately did not defeat him; it was a draw.

"Master Craftsman Zhuge" has never been defeated!

Until he arrived in Qingmu City, he happened to meet this reclusive master who had deeply penetrated the mortal realm and was playing among mortals. Zhuge Qian's impressive "battle record" was shrouded in an indelible layer of dust because of Gu Heng.

He had always wanted to get revenge, but when he returned to Qingmu City, Zhuge Qian found that he had no chance of winning. His forging skills had become more profound, as if he could dominate the world and be invincible as long as he picked up the forging hammer!

This setback made him realize that he shouldn't be so arrogant. There are always hidden talents in this world, and even if he is a "master craftsman of heaven and earth", he still needs to maintain a humble and cautious heart.

Indeed, compared to Gu Heng, he relied on his skills to challenge others everywhere, winning the attention of countless people and building up his reputation. However, Zhuge Qian was not the strongest. In the end, he was defeated, losing all the arrogance he had accumulated.

The strongest have long since become indifferent to fame and fortune, living in seclusion in the city, completely unconcerned about the so-called "winning or losing".

Zhuge Qian then realized that he had not only lost in terms of technique, but also in terms of mindset. "Brother Zhuge, it's time to relax. Fate and destiny are predetermined. Perhaps one day you will have an epiphany and take another step forward, won't you?"

Gu Heng chuckled. His words were meant to comfort Zhuge Qian. After all, they were both mortals, and he admired Zhuge Qian. Compared to him, who was almost giving up, Zhuge Qian still had the passion to strive for improvement. Gu Heng was unwilling to let him lose his edge.

"Haha! Brother Gu is right."

Zhuge Qian laughed heartily, but then sighed. He looked at Gu Heng and asked, "But why did you open a clinic, Brother Gu?"

"Medical techniques are also my forte, but as forging... I need to settle down and learn more about it," Gu Heng replied.

Gu Heng certainly couldn't say, "Forging doesn't make money, but studying medicine does." The other person's level was higher than his; such profit-driven thinking would easily ruin his mood. After all, the two were old friends who had become acquainted through a misunderstanding, and he couldn't do that. Zhuge Qian had also witnessed Gu Heng's alchemy skills, which were equally astonishing.

It's incredible that someone could master both forging and medicine to such a high degree!

Although Zhuge Qian didn't know anything about alchemy, he had seen it all, even if he hadn't eaten pork. He was a well-known figure, known as "Master Craftsman Zhuge." He had seen those experts and strong people who were proficient in medicine and had watched them make medicine, but none of them had such precise control over the medicinal power as Gu Heng. His method of making medicine was also quite casual, as if he could just pick up any kind of divine pill or medicine at will!

"It seems Brother Gu is living a very leisurely and refined life here."

"What leisure and elegance? It's just a desire for peace and quiet. After all, I don't have much to ask for."

Gu Heng smiled and shook his head.

After living as a mortal for too long, all that's left is boredom. But what more can he ask for? If he can't become a cultivator, there are so many places in this world that are difficult to visit!

Zhuge Qian thought about it and realized it made sense. Brother Gu's forging and medical skills were unparalleled, and he couldn't see through his cultivation level at all. Such a master probably really had no other ambitions.

"However, it seems that Qingmu City is not a very comfortable place to stay."

Gu Heng sighed.

"What do you mean by this, Brother Gu?"

Just as Zhuge Qian was wondering what Gu Heng meant, several figures streaked across the sky above Qingmu City, their presence terrifying.

Zhuge Qian also sensed those auras, but he didn't care at all. He scanned his sea of ​​consciousness and knew that those were just cultivators in the late Nascent Soul stage or the Out-of-Body stage, weaklings.

"The Mo family patriarch is dead. This Green Wood City will soon be a battleground where the Mo family once occupied a place, and the two sides will fight to the death for it."

In these turbulent times, Gu Heng felt that he was probably going to be swept along by the tide.