# Chapter 1629: Flame Golden Tower
On the training ground of the Wood Estate, many people had gathered at this moment. On the stone platform, the elders of the Wood Estate stood, looking at the arriving crowd.
Mu Linxue and her three companions walked to the base of the stone platform on the training ground, immediately drawing the gazes of many. As the number one beauty of the Wood Estate, every appearance of Mu Linxue undoubtedly became the focus of everyone's attention, which naturally also brought Lin Feng, who stood beside her, into the center of the Wood Estate crowd's line of sight.
Many people furrowed their brows slightly as they examined Lin Feng. This person had a very unfamiliar face, never seen before. And now, he was actually standing together with Mu Linxue. What this meant, many people vaguely guessed.
Mu Linxue's eldest uncle had seen Lin Feng once before, but at that time he had only regarded Lin Feng as an insignificant menial servant. However, at this moment, his body rose from his seat on the stone platform, walked to the edge of the platform, and looked toward Mu Linxue and Lin Feng, saying: "Linxue, who is this person? How did he come here?"
"His name is Lin Feng. For this forging competition I am participating in, he will cooperate with me in forging." Mu Linxue said calmly, causing her eldest uncle's pupils to contract slightly as he stared at Lin Feng. A few months ago, Mu Linxue had forged a second-grade Imperial Artifact. He had originally thought it was solely Mu Linxue's achievement. Could it be that this person had cooperated with Mu Linxue to forge it?
"No wonder she has never been willing to find someone to cooperate with her in forging. So it turns out she already had a suitable person." Mu Linxue's eldest uncle's heart turned cold as he looked at Lin Feng and said: "You don't seem to be a member of the Wood Estate, do you?"
"I joined the Wood Estate some time ago and became Miss Linxue's guard." Lin Feng looked directly at the other party and said with a light laugh.
"Since Linxue's participation in the forging competition is of great importance, do you have any pre-carved formations you can show me?" Mu Linxue's eldest uncle continued. He wanted to understand Lin Feng's Array Dao ability, to gauge what grade of Imperial Artifact he and Mu Linxue could achieve through cooperation.
"Eldest Uncle, you seem to be overstepping your bounds a bit. The forging competition is my affair. Lin Feng is my partner. I hope Eldest Uncle will show some respect to my friend." Mu Linxue said with some displeasure. She knew very well what her eldest uncle was thinking — he undoubtedly wanted to see if she could threaten Yan Feng.
"Your participation in the forging competition is not only your personal matter but also a matter for the Wood Estate." Mu Linxue's eldest uncle said coldly.
"You should mind your own children. As for my affairs, I won't trouble Eldest Uncle to worry." Mu Linxue's voice was icy. Her eldest uncle snorted coldly, a hint of anger showing.
"Enough." Mu Linxue's second grandfather rebuked sternly. Only then did her eldest uncle desist, flicking his sleeve and turning around, walking to his seat, and saying to the older generation of the Wood Estate: "Linxue's participation in the forging competition is of great importance. Her partner must undergo inspection."
"We'll discuss it later. First, confirm the people participating in the forging competition." The old man sitting in the upper seat spoke indifferently with his eyes closed. Only then did Mu Linxue's eldest uncle shut his mouth. This friction had undoubtedly drawn everyone's attention. Many people looked at Lin Feng with rather unfriendly eyes. Of course, Lin Feng had already anticipated this situation might occur, so he simply closed his eyes to rest. At this moment, he understood even more why Mu Linxue had always been unwilling to expose him before.
The members of the Wood Estate gathered one after another. At this moment, an old man stood up from the stone platform, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then spoke: "At noon today, the forging competition of Flame Golden City will begin. Our Wood Estate has decided to select five pairs of combinations to participate in this forging competition. Now, those who can forge Imperial Artifacts, come up onto the stone platform yourselves."
For members of the Wood Estate, the prerequisite for participating in the forging competition was being able to forge Imperial Artifacts. Otherwise, even if they went to participate, they would only become a laughingstock and be eliminated in the first round.
The crowd looked around. Several pairs of figures lifted their steps and stepped onto the stone platform. Mu Linxue touched Lin Feng's arm. This fellow was still resting with his eyes closed, quite leisurely indeed.
"Let's go up." Mu Linxue said as she saw Lin Feng open his eyes, pulling his arm as they walked toward the stone platform. This scene caused the pupils of the crowd to suddenly contract. Mu Linxue, the number one beauty of the Wood Estate, was actually holding a man's arm. What was going on? Could it be that Mu Linxue had developed feelings for this young man through their cooperation in forging?
And everyone knew very well that after the forging competition, Mu Linxue would most likely be sent by the Wood Estate to the Yan Family. This matter was almost settled. Although Mu Linxue had forged a second-grade Imperial Artifact some time ago, she couldn't possibly defeat Yan Feng. Yet before this, Mu Linxue had actually developed a close relationship with a man.
Mu Qingying and Mu Xiao followed behind Mu Linxue. Seeing this scene, their pupils also contracted. Was Mu Linxue's relationship with Lin Feng already this close?
Sixteen people, eight pairs of combinations. These were the young people of the Wood Estate under thirty years old who could forge Imperial Artifacts. Of course, those who could truly forge Imperial Artifacts by their own strength would definitely not number eight pairs. Most relied on the cooperation of two people to complete the forging of Imperial Artifacts, and their success rates also varied.
"Family Head, how should we determine the candidates?" One person looked at the old man sitting in the middle of the stone platform with his eyes closed and asked in a low voice. Only five pairs could participate, meaning three pairs needed to be eliminated.
The old man opened his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping over the sixteen people on the stone platform. An extremely surging pressure descended upon them. At this moment, all sixteen people seemed to feel a terrifying might pressing down on them.
"Thud, thud..." Two people's footsteps successively retreated backward. These two people belonged to two different pairs.
The old man's gaze swept over the two pairs and said: "If you can't even withstand this level of pressure, how can we expect you to perform your strength under the gaze of the forging masters with everyone watching? Your two pairs are out."
"Family Head, but this has nothing to do with me?" One young man felt very wronged. It was his partner who had stepped back.
"Since you chose your own partner, you advance and retreat together." The old man's authoritative gaze swept over that person. Immediately, the two pairs retreated unwillingly. They had been eliminated so easily.
Now, only six pairs remained. They only needed to eliminate one more pair.
"Show me the best Imperial Artifacts you have forged." The old man's gaze swept over the crowd as he said indifferently. Immediately, they all took out the most satisfactory Imperial Artifacts they had forged and handed them to the old man. Only two Imperial Artifacts were second-grade Imperial Artifacts; the rest were all first-grade Imperial Artifacts. Of those two second-grade Imperial Artifacts, Lin Feng and Mu Linxue accounted for one. The other was forged by another pair consisting of one man and one woman. These two were the children of Mu Linxue's eldest uncle. They had not divided into two pairs to participate but had joined forces — one specializing in forging, the other in formations.
The old man merely glanced at those Imperial Artifacts, then returned them to their owners. His gaze then fell on two of the people, and he said: "The quality of the Imperial Artifacts you forged is the worst. Step down."
The two people's eyes dimmed. They dared not say anything more and bowed as they retreated.
The various people on the stone platform nodded inwardly. In the real forging competition, with everyone watching, forging within a set time allowed for failure. Therefore, the old man's two rounds of testing — one for pressure resistance and one for the quality of Imperial Artifacts forged under their best conditions — were both aimed at the forging competition.
"Phew..." Mu Qingying exhaled. Close call. Fortunately, they had passed. Being able to represent the Wood Estate in the forging competition was itself a matter of honor.
"Alright. Prepare yourselves and set out." The old man glanced at the ten people on the stone platform and said calmly. The forging competition was about to begin, and they needed to head to the Flame Golden Tower.
Mu Linxue's eldest uncle furrowed his brows slightly. He had wanted to make things difficult for Lin Feng, but since the Family Head had spoken, he let it go. After all, Mu Linxue and Lin Feng were bound to lose. When the forging competition ended, Mu Linxue would be sent to the Yan Family, and at that time, Lin Feng would die a miserable death. Given Yan Feng's character, how could he let Lin Feng off?
"Even my Mu Lie and Mu Yu can defeat your pair's combination." He thought coldly in his heart. Mu Lie and Mu Yu were precisely his children.
"Younger generations of the Wood Estate skilled in forging, all go watch this forging competition. It will be beneficial for you." The Wood Estate Family Head spoke again, then his body soared into the air, stepping into the clouds along with a group of Wood Estate elders.
"Come up." The Wood Estate Family Head said to Mu Linxue and the others.
Mu Linxue and the other ten people all rose into the air, landing on that cloud layer. Then, the Wood Estate elders and the competition participants broke through the air and departed. Behind them, many more people soared into the air and chased after them, going to observe this forging competition held once every thirty years.
At this moment, in Flame Golden City, the whole city was in an uproar. Countless crowds were converging toward the Flame Golden Tower in the central region of Flame Golden City. The forging competition was a showdown among all the young forging masters of Flame Golden City. Their forging strength was of great significance, likely symbolizing an era. Anyone who stood out in the forging competition held at the Flame Golden Tower would ultimately achieve astonishing accomplishments and become revered forging masters.
Therefore, this forging competition was extremely attention-grabbing, truly focusing the gaze of the entire city. Not only Flame Golden City, but many surrounding superpowers had also sent people to observe, just like Sword Mountain and others, who had close relationships with some forging families of Flame Golden City. In the forging competition, the various families of Flame Golden City competed on the surface, while they competed behind the scenes.
The Flame Golden Tower was now packed with people. The dazzling golden flame tower stood upon the ground, majestic and spectacular. In front of the Flame Golden Tower, there was a vast open space, which was the venue for the forging competition. Surrounding it were countless viewing stands. Even the main viewing stand at the Flame Golden Tower's location had a great many seats, used to receive forces from all directions!