Truth be told, there was a moment when Ji Jue really wanted to smack Zhou Cheng on the back of his head.

"Reversed Heavenly Gang," who do you think you're showing off to!

But as his hand was halfway raised, he suddenly remembered, oh, he actually had a grandfather.

Master craftsman, Zhou Chong.

Under the sharp gaze that came from the deepest part of the workshop, the hand raised halfway sheepishly shrank back. To avoid embarrassment, he even feigned dusting off Zhou Cheng's back.

Then, in the midst of an angry glare, he revealed a 'see how nice I am to you' smile.

Beneath the eaves, beneath the eaves... Let's not squabble over this.

Thus, with pomp and pageantry, he stepped inside, looking left and right, only to find that this time, Zhou Chong had moved almost half of the workshop's equipment over.

The profound underground space was now filled with Spiritual Circuits, structured with three layers on top and six below, intricately fitted together, locked from the inside out.

It was the typical and lavish "Circulation."

Through the emblems of the Twelve Superior and many offerings, the workshop was endowed with the substantial concept of heaven and earth, with triple azure falls and sextuple Netherworld depths. The Superior's Divine Essence circulated and transformed, its defensive enhancement secondary to the main purpose of catalyzing the artifacts within the furnace, resulting in a special qualitative change.

Most suited for it were the edicts and control of the Heavenly Origin System.

When necessary, the external Circulation could connect with the artifacts within the furnace, facilitating operation.

At this moment, stepping into the Circulation, Ji Jue felt the strict laws flowing from the spiritual material and flame light, and even though he was within it, without recognition, he was still rejected from the inside.

He could only observe from a distance.

Not a trace of the inner intricacy and Divine Essence could be glimpsed.

From afar, he saw the figure standing in front of the furnace, his back towards him. The thin Master stood with his hands behind his back, indifferently watching the changes within the furnace, controlling the Circulation's collaborative movement.

Naturally, he could also detect the presence of an intruder who didn't belong to the workshop.

"Ji Jue?"

"Yes."

Ji Jue stopped five steps away, bowing respectfully, just like all juniors do.

No matter how self-important, he had to acknowledge the gap between himself and Zhou Chong and show his respect for this level of accomplishment. As a craftsman, no matter how much one looked down on everything else, one must pay homage to creation.

"Hmm, a true hero indeed, capable of bending and flexing."

Without turning his head, Zhou Chong gave a cold chuckle, "Your teacher has told me about your situation. I owed her one in Spring City, and I didn't expect it to involve you.

It seems my favor was of such negligible signifīcance and extent to her."

Ji Jue remained calm, simply replying, "My master loves me."

"..."

Zhou Chong's words halted, then suddenly went silent.

He might have recalled something, or perhaps, was just concentrating on controlling the changes in the furnace. After a long while, he pointed at a table where a form with an already signed name lay.

Then, pointing to a spot near the furnace, where an apprentice was sweating profusely,

"The signature goes here, and the work is over there."

He asked, "Can you do it?"

Ji Jue took two steps forward, looking at the huge furnace, "What's in the furnace?"

"Swords."

Ji Jue was slightly taken aback, "Why swords?"

"Why not?" Zhou Chong indifferently countered.

Ji Jue honestly responded, "Considering Tong Shan's style and customs, a sword might not be the best choice."

"Is waving a flag around on the battlefield more appropriate? If you like charging into battle with a spear so much, why not join the crowd?"

Zhou Chong sneered, "Craftsmen are not servants, and don't need to be overly accommodating. Adapting details is fine, but if you're without insight, merely indulging others, how can you speak of controlling Superiority and forging the myriad of forms?"

Ji Jue turned back and looked at that expressionless face, "Can Master Zhou be sure that his design is better than the user's choice?"

"I can."

Zhou Chong answered decisively.

With unswerving certainty, without hesitation.

Since the days of his apprenticeship, countless trials and tribulations, the experience accumulated as a craftsman, the multitude of cases referred to by the Chosen One, and the blood and sweat shed in creation and exploration... what he achieved was a skill that towered above countless mediocrities, and even more, a superior vision and instinct.

Dismissing the original design and plan, introducing new elements, changing directions, he created a brand new visage.

Even if the client was a behemoth like the Tong family, he would not back down.

Let alone a mere apprentice's questioning.

Ji Jue couldn't judge the details and the reasoning, but this unabashed confidence, or perhaps arrogance, truly made him take notice.

The Embers Path always evaluated everything based on success or failure; even if Zhou Chong's lofty words fall short in the end, there would be absolutely no excuse.

Even without knowing the specifics, judging from the structure of the Circulation and many investments, the cost paid by the Tong family was definitely substantial, not a minor sum, and definitely not something to mess up and settle with just a simple voucher as compensation.

This type of creation that strives for no mistakes rather than merits, mechanically following the rules and procedures, was the norm.

Zhou Chong dared to gamble his life's reputation and the workshop's reputation, which was as precious as life itself, just for his own design. Purely in terms of courage, he was already above countless others.

Ji Jue silently sighed, "I've learned."

"You're not my student, what is there to teach you?"

Zhou Chong's face was expressionless, he didn't even bother to look back at him, "If you can do it, do it; if not, leave."

Ji Jue said nothing more, took off his coat, stuffed his small belongings into his pockets, handed them to Tong Hua, then directly picked up the work clothes from the corner and put them on.

Straight towards the Melting Furnace he walked.

One step taken, as if he had entered the Melting Furnace, the invisible fierce flames spread, instantly permeating the air. The terrifying heat was confined within the space around the Melting Furnace, where sweat had no chance to emerge before evaporating.

The stinging and burning sensation in his respiratory tract.

The air twisted from the temperature changes, making distant things waver, growing larger and smaller, making one stagger involuntarily while walking.

At the very front of the opened Melting Furnace, the apprentice in charge of feeding materials was already on the brink of collapse.

Curled hair, bloodshot eyes.

Squatting on the ground, his body shook uncontrollably, and when he lifted his eyes, there was no focus left in them.

Seeing Ji Jue coming over, he numbly passed the things in his hands to him, staggered to his feet, took a couple of steps, then with a thud, collapsed onto the ground.

Immediately, an apprentice waiting on the sidelines rushed in, picked him up, and took him outside to prevent him from disturbing the refining process.

Around the Melting Furnace, on the nodes of the Circulation framework, more than a dozen apprentices were working smoothly and without delay to maintain its operation.

Under Zhou Chong's command and control, the Circulation framework changed, and a myriad of precise operations flowed continuously, which indeed broadened Ji Jue's horizons to the point of astonishment.

The notorious sweatshop of Hai Province, reputed far and wide, was an unscrupulous workshop that even Jian Yuan would choose with thumbs up.

The apprentices were consumed quickly as if they were mere tools, one after another, replaced like standard parts in an endless supply.

And to integrate all these various weak abilities and operations in one place, to share Zhou Chong's burden and fulfill his demands, there must be an even more complex Spiritual Sequence hidden underneath the Circulation framework, the so-called 'All Sources Return.'

It's truly grand, truly grand.

Such a good thing, one must find a way to snag it.

Unfortunately, Zhou Chong's secrecy was not typically tight, completely impervious to water.

As the workshop's signature craft that could be passed down, it would be impossible not to have any confidentiality in place. Not just Ji Jue, but even the other apprentices involved would probably find it difficult to comprehend the whole picture.

Once one adapts to this theory, there are no other choices but to contribute incrementally within the system established by Zhou Chong, climbing upwards in hopes of gaining more authority and knowledge... To start anew would be like starting all over again.

That's why it's said to be dark.

"Feed materials."

The indifferent voice came from beside him.

In that moment, guided by the operation of the surrounding spiritual material and the changing circuits, cracks around the Melting Furnace opened up, with Flame Light bursting forth, illuminating Ji Jue's eyes.

Without a second thought, Ji Jue raised his hand.

Between his fingers, sheets of paper rose, curling and blackening in the rushing flames, turning to ashes without a trace, save for countless characters arising from the ashes, overlapping.

Ink spread out, like an invisible brush drawing from within the fire, in an instant, a torrential roar erupted, massive waves gushing forth from creation, filling everything.

Yet, it was tightly contained within the Melting Furnace under the compression of the Circulation framework.

Torrential waves surged, ripples stirred, water waves touching the sky.

Tide Sound rose violently from within the turmoil, but amidst the chaotic noise, a light and clear chirping, Sword Sound.

A single sweep.

And then, the roar dissipated, turning into a faint sound, disappearing without a trace.

In the center of the Flame Light, that vague silhouette suddenly became clearer.

From that fleeting fluctuation, the hairs on the back of Ji Jue's hand stood on end, feeling the piercing severity and the severe laws, with blessings of Heavenly Origin, Ether, Mirror, and Ruins becoming apparent in the flow of spiritual material.

The aroma of the Fourfold Blessing rose, already showing signs of merging into one.

Ingenious, a work of Heavenly Artisan.

No, the reason for the tiresome long preparations, the heavy investment, and the use of the Circulation framework, was all for that perfectly natural 'Evolution'!

Between the ethereal Netherworld, the essence of Superior flowed, gradually integrating and merging through the catalyst of events, becoming inseparable.

And Ji Jue's job would be a record book as the 'Catalyst', constantly being thrown into it.

"Feed materials."

Zhou Chong's voice rang out once more.

Ji Jue didn't hesitate and reached out again, the Matrix of Non-attack emerged from his hands, finding just the right gap to pass through the high temperature that could instantly turn him to ashes and adding to the events.

In an instant, thunder roared, the earth trembled.

The wailing of the storm rose from within the Furnace.

This was his job.

To burn books.

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