It's just a pity that when he needs you, he doesn't hold back at all.

Now silently taking away half of the association's reserve spirits and essence, that's already considered good. When he impulsively modified the Nether Sea Worms' battle plan, that was the real thunderbolt for the association.

No matter how well you say it, it's still the Heavenly Furnace!

And it might be the strongest Heavenly Furnace in history.

"If..."

The assistant hesitated: "I mean if the Grandmaster intends, then the next successor..."

Delong paused in his steps, turned around, and looked over expressionlessly.

"There is no 'if'."

Delong told him word by word: "The Grandmaster soars above the nine heavens, moves like thunder, and is as enigmatic as the yin shadow. How could mere mortals like us fathom him?

Regarding such matters, it's best you don't even think about it."

The assistant lowered his head in silence, not daring to speak again.

Delong raised his head, looking outside the corridor, at the bustling square in the distance.

It was noisy and extremely busy.

"Look at them..."

He sighed softly: "Everyone seems like ants."

For the Heavenly Furnace, what difference does the association's trifling matters have from the stories of ants?

.

.

The next day, in the afternoon.

After resting the whole night in the luxury hotel arranged by the association, Ji Jue rarely lazed in bed and got up at eight o'clock.

After having breakfast, he went to take photos at the popular scenic spots of Tianxue, and after having a bowl of Federation's pig trotter rice by the street, he hummed a tune and leisurely arrived at the venue as per the text message instructions.

To talk about the efficiency of the association, it's certainly fast.

The exam just ended yesterday, and today the results were out. They didn't even give the apprentices time to indulge after the exam, wishing they could announce the results the same day so that the apprentices who didn't pass could quickly go home to receive their mentors' loving whips.

After all, this kind of battle royale-style assessment, covering everything from theory to practice, is indistinguishable from reality. The outcomes and rankings are clear and straightforward, leaving no room for maneuvering.

The association has already expressed that it was done very well, and this will continue to be done in the future!

It's just unknown how the subsequent apprentices will wail about it. Anyway, after this period of time, Gustav might as well be haunted by the apprentices who never made it.

"Wow, old Lou, didn't sleep well last night?"

By the vending machine outside the venue, Ji Jue immediately noticed Lou Feng with dark circles around his eyes, yawning and gulping down concentrated coffee.

"Your face looks terrible."

Ji Jue curiously asked: "Who offended you?"

"..."

Lou Feng was silent for a long while, staring fixedly at this rascal dripping with dog-like mischief:

"What do you think?"

Last night Ji Jue slept soundly, but every time Lou Feng closed his eyes, he would see the image of Ji Jue grabbing him and instantly refining him.

Each time he just fell asleep, he would hear someone in his dreams saying 'Be partners for life', 'Hey craftsman, you don't want me to become your uncle, right?' and other ghostly words, scaring him awake in a cold sweat, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

As a wealthy young master, who grew up enjoying life without lacking anything, and being used to sweet love and bitter reality, Lou Feng never thought that the first, second, and third times he couldn't sleep were because of a man!

And it was the same man!

At this moment, being gazed at by Lou Feng's sorrowful eyes, Ji Jue felt a chill and cautiously took a step back: "No, I haven't offended you recently, have I?"

"Damn you——"

Lou Feng's fists instantly clenched.

You messed with me totally yesterday, and today you act like nothing happened?

"Ah? Oh, oh, hey!" Ji Jue finally had a sudden realization, slapping his thigh: "How long ago was that, how are you still so petty?"

I've been grinding in the instance for several months, who would remember such trivial matters?

Just as Lou Feng was emotionlessly digging into his pockets for explosives intending to blast this rascal on the spot, Ji Jue timely poured a bucket of cold water on the powder keg, cooling things down.

"The results should be out, right?"

He curiously asked: "Which rank?"

"..."

Instantly, Lou Feng was silent, his face alternating between anger and relief, eventually twisting into a look of numbness, seemingly hopeless but his mouth couldn't contain a smirk more twisted than a python's.

"Third."

Is there really no such thing as a completely impermeable wall in this world?

The association is large and has many people, and naturally, with more people relationships get complicated. For someone like Lou Feng, finding out some information is no big deal.

Most major workshops probably received news before the results were officially announced.

Only this numbskull Ji Jue didn't care, went back to sleep after the exam, didn't answer calls, and didn't even set foot outside his door.

But even if he didn't go out, didn't make an appearance, and didn't say anything, could anyone be unclear about his results... could anyone dislodge him from his position?

In contrast, nervously anxious Lou Feng, upon learning his ranking, laughed so uproariously that his laughter echoed from the ninth floor to the first, piercing ears more ridiculously than an anti-material sniper rifle.

Those who didn't know would have thought there were ghosts.

Indeed, there were quite a few damn ghosts.

In the middle of the night, countless people were wailing like banshees.

Some were rejoicing in their success, others were angered by their low ranking, or saddened by their failure... every few years, this drama would play out once in Tianxue.

Everyone had almost gotten used to it.

In the wee hours, the list was already public, along with the associated records. The storm it stirred up had yet to subside.

This year's exam resulted in thirty-one apprentices obtaining the Craftsman qualification.

Compared to previous years, it's not particularly few.

But anyone who has seen the records knows how exaggerated the quality of this cohort is.

The phrase 'gathering of heroes' hardly does it justice.

Whether it's thirty-one, or even the top hundred, they are the crème de la crème, who in previous years would have undoubtedly ranked among the best!

It was absolutely fierce.

Even if it was the Craftsman exam, it wasn't ever this ridiculously competitive.

Every household knows its own story; even if Lou Feng spoke against his conscience, he couldn't claim that this third place was rightfully his.

By his estimate, even if he could pass, his ranking would be around nine to eleven. Unexpectedly, after Ji Jue dragged him along, they killed recklessly, and their ranking shot up like a rocket.

By the time they came to, they were already third place!

To be honest, such favor and support, even if one were to offer sacrifices and call brothers, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to kneel down and call him godfather.

But Ji Jue lacks such things as a conscience.

So the relationship between them got stuck in a glitch here.

More than friends, less than rivals.

At this moment, seeing this guy's carefree demeanor with no self-awareness, Lou Feng felt a mix of emotions.

There was jealousy, admiration, respect... and gratitude too.

In the end, all his unwillingness and anger turned into a helpless sigh.

"Let's go, Mr. Chief."

Lou Feng moved aside, gazing at the hall and venue waiting in the distance.

What's holding you back from grasping the lead?

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