The first to applaud was Uncle Beck. If Hu Jiexi and Dali Ben’s swords earlier were a pleasant surprise, then Li Younan’s sword brought a sense of awe.
He found it difficult to conceal his internal excitement. Unlike others, this show for Beck was more entertainment than anything else.
Almost every man has a fascination with weapons. The most enjoyable thing is to wield a fine sword or knife and, without any hesitation, destroy something.
This inherent enjoyment, etched into genetic instinct, manifests in men from the time they are boys.
As is commonly known, men remain boys at heart till their last breath.
Therefore, this inherent destructiveness does not fade away even in old age.
But crafting a sword or blade is a complicated affair, and if, while enjoying destruction, one accidentally damages the weapon, it can be quite distressing.
The Sword Forging Competition perfectly eliminates those annoying aspects; you simply need to wield the weapons forged by others and enjoy cutting away.
However, for Beck, he had to admit that after all these years of using a variety of blades brought by different contestants for various destructions, none compared to the thrill brought by Li Younan’s sword.
Especially when Dog delivered the final blow that decapitated the dummy, he already imagined the audience’s reaction when this episode is aired.
Without a doubt, solely from saving ratings standpoint, this season’s show will definitely be a hit, but there’s more to this season than just that.
When Li Younan’s sword finished its test, the host began announcing the next process, which was to identify the contestants moving to the final round.
The three judges had virtually no disagreement and unanimously passed Li Younan into the next round.
Yet deciding between Dali Ben and Hu Jiexi as Li Younan’s opponent left the judges momentarily puzzled.
Without a doubt, this round saw Li Younan emerge with an overwhelming advantage, but for the other two, there wasn’t a clearly discernible advantage or disadvantage.
The three judges frowned, muttered between themselves for a while, and finally determined the result after several minutes.
The three contestants simultaneously stood before the judges’ table, and three sharp blades lay before them.
Beck, as the representative, began to speak: "Based on our unanimous decision, Li Younan’s Demon Blade, whether in sharpness or sword toughness, is flawless, this is indisputable, hence he will obviously advance to the next round."
Next, the three judges focused their gaze on Hu Jiexi and Dali Ben, and Beck spoke: "Hu Jiexi’s sword has an advantage in sharpness, but Dali Ben’s blade has stronger destructiveness. The three of us truly cannot discuss out a final result, so our decision is for both of you to join Li Younan in advancing to the next round."
At this moment, Hu Jiexi and Dali Ben, who had been tense for a long time, first showed a trace of surprise, followed by relieved smiles, met each other’s eyes and shook hands.
Beck continued, "Next, we’ll announce the final round’s task, but unlike previous episodes, the final round’s task will be announced by a special guest, please welcome Mr. Winslow."
As Beck finished speaking, a gentle middle-aged man slowly walked in from backstage.
Li Younan initially paused upon seeing him, then a strange expression formed on his face — it was him.
This man was none other than the old guy he had encountered earlier when submitting materials, who was casually graffitiing on the studio’s wall.
Indeed, this old guy dared to graffiti so recklessly in the studio — there must be some connections; otherwise, it wouldn’t be feasible.
Unexpectedly, he was the guest tasked with announcing the final round’s topic. Rich people indeed.
Winslow winked at Li Younan, gave a slight smile, then withdrew his gaze, and all three contestants looked at Winslow.
Winslow began with a brief introduction, smiling slightly and speaking slowly, "I am a friend of the Sword Forging Competition’s producer, my name is Winslow, and the prize for this episode is sponsored by myself."
"I’m a weapon collection enthusiast, sponsoring this episode with a collector’s mindset. I want to purchase and collect the weapons from this round. If you agree to sell, I’ll make individual offers after the show is recorded."
Li Younan felt pretty good; he had no reason not to sell. After all, forging this peerless sword took too short a time, a bit rushed. Strictly speaking, from his perspective, it wasn’t up to a premium standard — earning some pocket money is fine.
Winslow then began talking about the final round’s topic, getting a bit serious and saying, "My collection lacks a true king’s sword that perfectly unifies aesthetics, physics, and craftsmanship. Hence, this final task is a hope for you to create such a sword according to my requirements..."
"Firstly, the sword blade must be forged from powdered steel, the blade needs to have patterns, no specific forging pattern method is required; you can use Damascus stacking or other forging techniques."
"I hope to see exquisite carvings on the sword guard and hilt. Furthermore, there must be a scabbard, and the sword length should be controlled at around one meter."
"You have 10 days to forge this sword, and after 10 days, I will personally come here to watch the test."

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