The clear white stone road is flat and slippery, and the thick white snow has long since disappeared, and only some residual snow can be seen in the low-lying areas beside the road.

The tender green moss bravely arched out the still hardy soil with the support of the spring breeze overnight, but it did not hesitate to bring this spring to the city without winter.

The crisp sound of iron horses' hooves striking on the stone slabs is an ode to spring, along with the birdsong in the treetops and the noise under the eaves.

However, just as the blue sky is always blackened by dark clouds, there was a sudden sound of horses' hooves on the lively street at this time, which was somewhat discordant with the quiet spring, and this sound was made by Qin Tao and his party.

Without time to enjoy the spring scenery of Yanjing, Qin Tao and the four of them quickly rushed towards a quiet avenue in the east of the city.

Shengning Avenue, as its name suggests, is wide enough to see any noisy and messy shops or houses except for rows of willow trees containing spring colors, and the crisp birdsong from the trees from time to time is harmless.

"This road is really quiet......" Looking at the gently swaying willow branches on both sides, Tang Xuexin couldn't help but sigh in a low voice.

Qin Tao held the reins and controlled the horses to walk slowly, but his eyes were fixed on a building at the end of Shengning Avenue.

The gold-inlaid tiles paved the cloudy dome, the clear crystal like the stars twinkling in the golden sun refracted a colorful superimposed shadow, the red four-entrance door opened to the fullest, and the white jade stone steps below greeted the intoxicating spring of the outside world.

An endless stream of people hurried through the red gates, their expressions serious and solemn, and everyone seemed to be full of lofty awe for this place.

Feeling the subtle silence, Qin Tao handed over the horse to the servants who ushered in him, and followed Fang Yu and Tama into the main hall.

The spacious hall displays various grades of divine soldiers, and the dazzling array of mural carvings is even more dazzling. After a few leisurely glances at the blades that swept by his side, Qin Tao was led into the inner hall with just a slight smack of his lips.

Bypassing the exquisite smelting platforms in the inner hall, Qin Tao and his party followed the spiral ladder to the second floor.

"This is simply an upgraded version of the end of Tielin Avenue...... sighing at the low-key and luxurious furnishings in the hall, Qin Tao couldn't help but think of it.

The office area on the second floor was crowded with busy people, pages and pages of files were flipped through frequently, and an elderly man was busy with his books.

Following the stairs on the second floor, the four of them came to the top floor, and the furnishings on the third floor are still luxurious, but there is no noise on the second floor, and it is more quiet here.

At the end of the third floor is a wooden door about two meters high, and a white-clothed maid stands at the door.

The four of them came to the door but were stopped by the cold voice of the white-clothed maid: "Except for Lu Tao, the others are waiting outside." As she spoke, the face hidden under the white hood never lifted for a minute, as if the person who came was just a passing visitor to her.

Looking at the cold and somewhat arrogant maid, Tang Xuexin suddenly became angry, and shouted without scruples: "Where did the wild girl come from, she doesn't even understand the rules!"

However, when the last word came out of her mouth, she fell into regret. Not for anything else, but the soul pressure that slowly emanated from the maid's body, which couldn't help but make this witch feel frightened.

With a slight sound, Tama stretched out his flaming palm and collided with the void in front of him, while Fang Yu next to him grabbed Tang Xuexin's arm and quickly retreated.

In the flash of light, the void between the four people and the white-clothed maid was blasted open by an invisible force, and a dull thud erupted. Afterwards, Fang Yu and Tama stayed in front of Tang Xuexin, refusing to leave half a step.

Qin Tao shook his head helplessly, first bowed respectfully to the white-clothed maid, and then walked to Tang Xuexin's side and took the girl's trembling jade hand, and comforted: "Xuexin, don't be afraid, it's okay." ”

Between the words, it seemed that a warm current entered Tang Xuexin's body from Qin Tao's palm, which immediately eased the frightened girl a lot.

When he was young, seeing that the girl was getting better, Qin Tao smiled slightly, gently put down his jade hand and said to Fang Yu and the others, "Take good care of Xue Xin." With that, he strode into the space behind the door.

The space inside the door was pitch black, Qin Tao carefully walked to the closest beam of light to him, raised his head and looked at the remaining five beams of light in mid-air.

Five yellowing rays of light shrouded a finely carved crystalline round platform, on which were carved with different patterns and patterns, and on top of the round platform stood five old men wearing cloaks of different colors.

Due to the strong light, it was difficult for Qin Tao to identify the specific appearance of these five old men, but judging from the aura emanating from their bodies, this was not a character that Qin Tao dared to provoke.

After a little silence, Qin Tao bowed to the five old men, and took the lead in speaking: "Boy Lu Tao has seen five seniors. The sound was small, but there was a rumbling echo in the small space.

"I thought that Dongfang Yun guy recommended someone, but I didn't expect it to be a doll. A shrill voice suddenly sounded, and said as if playfully.

"Hmph! When you were his age, you didn't know where and the mud were. A deep voice mocked disdainfully.

"Tsk, but it's pretty good. A woman's voice suddenly appeared in the space.

"Boss, you can save it, just because you still want the old cow to eat tender grass at your age!" the deep voice sounded again.

Hearing this, Qin Tao was already speechless with black lines, he was originally told to come to see the president of the Royal Smelting Association, but he never thought that he would meet five strange people.

At this time, an old but extremely soft voice sounded: "Child, Dongfang Yun recommended you, but we don't believe that you are really outstanding, so you have to show us." ”

After this voice sounded, the three people before stopped moving, and the old man's words were more like a spring breeze, even if he was ordering, it was very comfortable to listen to.

Qin Tao nodded lightly, picked up a piece of dark blue cold iron from the stone plate in front of him, and then held it in his left palm and began smelting.

When a beam of fire dispelled the darkness around him, Qin Tao could clearly feel the startled gazes of the five old men and the chaotic aura that seemed to be excited. As the cold iron gradually melted, the fire in the palm of his hand became stronger and stronger, and most of the darkness in the space was dispelled.

"Well, that's it, kid, you've passed. That spring-like voice sounded again, and it immediately made Qin Tao stop the flame in his hand.

"Tsk, this smelting method is really peculiar. The woman's voice exclaimed softly.

"Young man, your name is really Lu Tao?" a slightly serious voice suddenly asked.

Qin Tao lowered his head, he thought that his identity would definitely not be able to escape the five masters in front of him, but he couldn't see the true strength of these five masters clearly.

Seeing that Qin Tao was silent, the last old man who had not spoken finally made a voice, it was an old and hoarse voice, as if he had been asleep for a long time: "Third brother, don't ask, this young man is not so dangerous." ”

The serious voice fell silent, and the voice like a spring breeze sounded one after another: "Lu Tao, my five brothers have no questions about the world, but Dongfang Yun pleaded with us to go out of the mountain, the purpose is to train you well, so that you can successfully win the championship of the smelting competition." ”

Frowning slightly, Qin Tao was extremely puzzled by what the five old men said, even if the Haoling Empire sent a mysterious smelter to participate in the competition, there was no need to invite such an unfathomable peerless master out of the mountain.

"Could it be that there are other secrets hidden in this?" Qin Tao couldn't help but ask himself in his heart.

The spring breeze voice continued: "However, after looking at it just now, it seems that we have made another difficulty, because this smelting method of yours is too strange. ”

The only woman among the five suddenly interjected, "You shouldn't have much of a problem with your control over the flames and the casting of the spirit, but I don't know what the final blade will be." The woman's attitude is very serious, and she is a big change from before.

"Boss, that's okay, the blades refined by the fourth-level smelter may not be perfect. The spring breeze sound again.

At this time, the darkness in the space occupied almost all the places, and the yellow light that originally enveloped everyone had become extremely weak, which made Qin Tao, who wanted to see the dignity of the five people, dispel his thoughts.

Quietly listening to the five people's analysis of themselves, Qin Tao couldn't help but secretly guess what kind of strength the five old men would be. And after searching all the information in his mind, Qin Tao didn't think of anything related to these five people.

In the end, the old man with a hoarse voice spoke: "Young man, you can stay in the association for the past few days before the game, and you can't mention a few of us to anyone, including the three people outside the door, understand?"

An invisible feeling of oppression suddenly eroded Qin Tao's left chest and exerted a pressure around his heart, Qin Tao's face immediately tightened, beads of sweat slid down his forehead, and he hurriedly and respectfully responded: "Boy, keep it in mind." ”

Then, the dim light dissipated in the blink of an eye, and the space immediately returned to darkness and silence, and the wooden door quietly opened at this time.

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