No way?

Why didn't you say so earlier?

Teacher, you've seen it for yourself, it's not that I'm unwilling to take the test, it's the Association that won't let me, *sigh!*

Upon hearing this, Ji Jue subconsciously curled the corners of his mouth, but then quickly furrowed his brows, his expression becoming increasingly grave.

—Why not?

It's like saying 'accepting a gift doesn't mean I agree'; me feeling unable to take the exam, and you not letting me take the exam, those are two different things!

Besides, no matter how uncertain I may talk, in Ji Jue's heart, he never lacked the thought, "It's just a craftsman's exam, a bit of effort should settle it."

Just as Professor Ye had said.

Deep down, he was someone who couldn't stay put.

He couldn't stand being mediocre and useless; he also couldn't tolerate idly enduring the agonies of doing nothing.

If the teacher believed he could obtain the license, then there was certainly no reason for him to shrink back timidly.

Putting aside the benefits provided by the Association's endorsement, the ancient records of the Heavenly Furnace were right before his eyes, and if possible, who wouldn't want to try to surpass them?

Even if the Heavenly Furnace has spent three mysterious months preparing for a public service exam, hadn't I myself been studying through night school correspondence?

No matter how numerous the concerns and considerations, once the decision is made to start, they should be set aside, and one should forge ahead with all their might. Since when does encountering a slight problem justify shirking responsibility and giving up?

Ji Jue's expression subtly changed, becoming solemn:

"Could you tell me the reason?"

Internal strife within the Association? Restrictions set by those guys whom the teacher beat up? Or is it that with the recent upheavals in Cliff City, someone doesn't want Professor Ye's student to become a craftsman at this time?

There has to be an explanation, right?

Behind the desk, the Association's person in charge, Li Yun, was a middle-aged woman with meticulous makeup and a calm and friendly demeanor.

Though not a craftsman or the Chosen One, as the Association's sole representative in Cliff City, she was responsible for all matters related to the Taiyi Ring and for maintaining the local craftsmen's connection with the Association.

Ji Jue had seen her both in the teacher's study and at Lei Wuye's funeral, and though they hadn't interacted much, her relationship with Professor Ye should be good.

Moreover, the teacher had accepted a mission from the Association, solving the troubles in Spring City.

It hadn't even been two months since then; they wouldn't discard a used grinding wheel so swiftly.

"Please do not misunderstand, Mr. Ji, this isn't about making things unnecessarily difficult."

Li Yun didn't want this to cause misunderstandings that could disrupt her future work. She immediately stood up, searched through the bookshelf behind her, and after a while, found a file, pulling out Ji Jue's registration form.

She placed it before him.

With a complex sigh, she said, "It's according to the records, your internship period is a bit too short... From last winter to today, the time on record is barely a year."

"..."

Ji Jue was stunned, he hadn't expected that what was preventing his exam would be time.

"Can't I take the exam in just a year?"

"It's more than just one year."

Li Yun answered, "According to common practice, the Association does not accept apprentices with less than three years of training time to register for the exam."

Ultimately, if blame had to be assigned, it still fell on the Heavenly Furnace.

Not just the Heavenly Furnace.

But another Grandmaster — the Plowsmith!

The record set by the contemporary Grandmaster Heavenly Furnace, concerning the time taken to become a craftsman, had long been known within the Association and much admired by many successors.

Since several decades ago, a craftsman who studied on his own for just one year to pass the exam and become a Grandmaster, the apprentices' time to become craftsmen seemed to have subtly become a standard to measure talent and future potential.

The number of apprentices attempting to shortcut their way to prominence had never been low.

Lured by the temptation of overnight fame and the glory of being on par with a Grandmaster, they pursued the record one after another.

As everyone knows, there's no end to overreaching.

If it were just mere ambition, that would be fine, but the problem was that there were far too many incompetents!

Typically, such duds would be filtered out during the exam itself, but Embers could really cram... Additionally, with various blessings and creations, concocting a machine capable of answering questions wasn't that difficult.

And each time the evaluation process of the craftsman's exam required a group of masters for review, every incompetent candidate was a waste of one more master's time, one more master's resources.

It should be noted that to ensure fairness, all materials required for the craftsman exam were provided by the Association, and even the registration fee of four hundred thousand, which made Ji Jue's heart palpitate, was still an outright loss!

Moreover, according to post-exam statistics, these hastily trained apprentices, even if they were luckily certified as craftsmen, ended up as underdeveloped monstrosities.

Severely lacking in fundamentals.

There was even an unfortunate soul who received the craftsman's certificate one day and the very next day blew himself up...

More importantly was the adverse trend that emerged.

After briefly flourishing, the Association seemed to enter an era of abundant talent, vibrant and brilliantly dynamic.

But in the end, those who could earn a golden ribbon were few and far between!

Not a single one became a master.

Furthermore, many cases emerged where individuals, lost in their own vanity and flattery, unwilling to wake from their beautiful dreams, sought any advancement they could and ended up straying into the dark and decaying You Sui.

Therefore, after an urgent meeting with the Association's four councilors and various schools, this trend was finally halted.

Not only that, since then, apprentices with too short training time faced stricter and more rigorous examinations.

If the performance was ambiguous enough to grade either A or B, it would certainly be B.

If it was just barely passing, then it would definitely be considered failing.

A difference of one point was enough to eliminate countless individuals.

At the same time, to prevent the recurrence of the past folly and some big workshops shamelessly inflating their craftsman numbers, the Association had since introduced a new rule — for an apprentice with less than three years of training to take the exam, the signatures and guarantees of three craftsmen were required to avoid the waste of resources and loss.

Of course, even if the apprentice failed the exam, there would be no problems or outright punishments, but the results would be made public separately.

If those backing you are willing to lose face, the Association doesn't really care.

Moreover, how could the various factions and noble houses within the Association miss such a good opportunity with their fierce competition?

It would probably be headline news the next day.

Exploiting the situation to attack your character, ability, and judgment, how could you argue back?

From that time on, no craftsman would ever let an apprentice who fancies himself the Chosen One due to a second childishness run off to take an examination.

This would simply be too much of a loss of face.

Moreover, most apprentices aren't like Mr. Lou here, scions of distinguished families, who can pull together three craftsman for an endorsement.

They just have to endure it!

"Of course, I don't doubt Master Ye's judgment and her demands on students. If she lets you come, she must have confidence in you. However, rules are rules, even if I were to let it pass, it would be rejected by the higher-ups."

Li Yun took out an old notification document from the bottom of the box and placed it in front of Ji Jue, earnestly advising, "You're still so young, how about waiting two more years?"

"..."

Ji Jue didn't say a word, just sighed softly.

He didn't waste any more breath begging for a favor.

The association is the association, rules are rules, and after so many years, once everyone got used to it, consensus became consensus. When one is insignificant, challenging the rules and overturning consensus is a very irrational and low-value activity.

Only after reaching West River does one have the right to talk about the change after thirty years.

Once the Golden Core is swallowed, life is in my own hands.

Before that…

"Three signatures?" Ji Jue asked.

"Yes."

Li Yun nodded, her expression suggesting she'd anticipated this.

She wasn't surprised.

"I have bothered you." Ji Jue slowly stood up, politely bidding farewell, "I'll come again tomorrow."

"You're welcome anytime."

Li Yun nodded, watching him turn and leave.

In the silence, she buried herself in paperwork again.

...

...

Under the noon sunlight, Ji Jue sat on the steps of the square, sighing.

Signatures of three craftsmen...

It's going to be a bit tricky.

He doesn't really know any craftsmen.

After all, since his debut, he has seen countless craftsmen, but alas, very few are alive, and many are dead... If only he'd left a few alive to sign.

It's just uncertain whether a signature from You Sui would hold any water.

It's not a tough problem, just a bit annoying.

His teacher sending him to take this license test, she couldn't possibly be unaware of this rule, which means she doesn't see it as an obstacle for Ji Jue.

Indeed…

After he thought it through, he straightforwardly took out his phone and dialed a number.

In just a few seconds, the call connected.

Ji Jue tentatively asked,

"Hello? Are you there?"

"Fuck off!"

From the other side, an unthinking curse came through.

It was Lou Feng.

Ji Jue: "..."

Lou Feng: "..."

The sudden silence was thick with awkwardness.

Due to an overwhelming instinct, shadows, or perhaps PTSD, both parties were stuck in discomfort.

Until Ji Jue let out a sorrowful long sigh.

"So that's how it is, I understand."

He laughed regretfully, "Back in Spring City, I thought we had become friends. I didn't expect... I thought we could be partners for life. Sorry, it was wishful thinking on my part, didn't mean to disturb you. Just knowing you're doing well is enough."

The air suddenly filled with a poignant aroma of tea, suffocating Lou Feng nearly breathless.

Choked.

After dealing with this bastard, the education and class of the Lou Family seem to have been in vain.

He could only roll his eyes to the heavens, "Just spit it out if you have something to say!"

"Won't it be troubling for you?"

Ji Jue asked weakly, "I'm already sorry for disturbing you, and if somebody discovers a connection between the Lou Family and someone dirt-poor like me, that can't be good, right?"

"Ji, are you fucking done yet? I…"

A vein popped on Lou Feng's forehead as a stream of expletives almost slipped out, until he noticed the shocked gaze from his parents and siblings across the dinner table. It was too late.

Snap!

At the head of the table, the old man's eyes popped as his chopsticks trembled, spilling two grains of rice onto the table.

There was an air of wanting to say more but opting for silence.

Dead silence.

Lou Feng shut his eyes, fighting the urge to hang himself on the spot, put down his chopsticks, and slowly stood up, "I'm full."

Then, bending his head and tucking his chin, he dashed out of the dining room at the fastest speed of his life.

It was akin to a getaway.

It took him a long while to come back to his senses, holding a phone with two cracks now on the screen.

Such hatred!!!

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