Don't Overwork (Please Follow!!!)

It was rare for someone to be willing to enter the blacksmithing trade as a Soul Master.

Usually, only children from blacksmithing families, influenced from a young age, would have such thoughts.

"This little one's Soul Power Fluctuation... could he have already obtained his first Soul Ring?" Silong asked.

Duan Jin chuckled. "Grandmaster Silong truly has sharp eyes."

As a Soul Saint, it was hardly surprising that Silong could sense such things.

"Go on, go on. It's been a long time since the Blacksmith Association has had a talented newcomer join."

Possessing Soul Power was crucial for a blacksmith. Among the seven ranks established by the Blacksmith Association, starting from Blacksmith Master, one needed Soul Power to assist with the work.

An ordinary blacksmith simply could not cross that threshold and reach the level of a Blacksmith Master with a mortal body.

It could not be helped. The more advanced the technique, the greater the demands placed on the forger. Ordinary blacksmiths without Soul Power were simply incapable of handling it.

For Silong, the arrival of an outstanding newcomer was good news. As Lou Gao's eldest disciple, he might inherit the Blacksmith Association at any time in the future, so naturally, he was happy to see it flourish.

Duan Jin cupped his hands and led Su Ming into the Forge Room beside them.

Before leaving, Su Ming also cupped his hands in greeting.

Once inside the Forge Room, Su Ming discovered the source of the noise. It came from the complex machinery operating within. Beside the enormous machine stood a somewhat aged middle-aged man, frowning in thought.

Hearing the door open, the middle-aged man looked up.

"Little Gold, you're back?"

His attention settled on Su Ming.

Su Ming felt as though something had locked onto him.

"Teacher, this is Su Ming. He worked at my family's blacksmith shop for nearly a year. He's devoted to forging and has talent, so I brought him to meet you and see whether you would be willing to take him as a disciple."

"Oh?"

Zhu Jiuyang revealed an interested expression.

He was not angry at his disciple's presumptuousness.

He was more than willing for his disciple to bring him another student. He knew that anyone who caught Duan Jin's eye had to be a genius, let alone someone talented in the field of Soul Masters as well.

He sensed it even more clearly than Silong did and could confirm that Su Ming was a One-Ring Soul Master.

"What is your name?"

"Su Ming."

"Mm. How old are you this year?"

"Seven."

"Seven?" Zhu Jiuyang was surprised. "You became a One-Ring Soul Master at seven?"

"Teacher, he broke through Level 10 shortly after turning seven. I was the one who took him to Hunt Soul for his first Soul Ring," Duan Jin answered from the side.

"You took him to Hunt Soul?" Zhu Jiuyang frowned.

Duan Jin knew why his teacher was frowning. "Don't worry, Teacher. Little Su's first Soul Ring was a three-hundred-year Diamond Ape."

Zhu Jiuyang nodded in satisfaction, then instructed Su Ming, "If you join my school, tell me when you need to obtain your second ring. Don't go looking for Little Gold. He's only a Soul Elder; how could he find the Soul Ring most suitable for you?"

Su Ming was puzzled.

Zhu Jiuyang explained, "Once you join my school, I will provide you with the best training in terms of Soul Master cultivation, whether it is Soul Rings or guidance in Soul Power cultivation."

"Soul Power is the foundation of the Soul Master World. With strength, blacksmiths will not be looked down upon. Likewise, the stronger your Soul Power, the more freely you can forge. The two complement each other. If I break through to Level 80 and become a Soul Douluo now, I'll become a Divine Blacksmith within three days!"

Su Ming was speechless.

So he was one of those people obsessed with cultivation rank.

"Little Su, don't take that lightly," Duan Jin explained from the side. "Everyone in the Blacksmith Association who became a Grandmaster is a Soul Saint."

Su Ming nodded.

He was actually curious what the threshold for becoming a Grandmaster was, that it required one to be a Soul Saint.

Zhu Jiuyang continued asking Su Ming about his circumstances. When he learned that Su Ming could perform Thousand Forgings, he was extremely surprised.

Under the Blacksmith Association's classification, Hundred Forgings and Thousand Forgings were two thresholds. Completing Hundred Forgings made one a Junior Blacksmith. Intermediate Blacksmiths and Senior Blacksmiths thereafter shaped materials on the foundation of Hundred Forgings, while Thousand Forgings was the threshold for becoming a Blacksmith Master.

It was worth mentioning that the so-called Thousand Forgings here were no different from the Thousand Forgings of the Dou San era. The difference was that Thousand Forgings in the Dou San era were performed on Rare Metal and could draw out the Spirituality within the metal. That was what Thousand Forgings with Spirit meant.

In the current era, Thousand Forgings still could not draw out the almost nonexistent Spirituality within metal.

"I only succeeded once by chance," Su Ming said modestly.

Although he had only performed it once here, he had actually done it many times.

After he comprehended that Thousand Forgings on this side, his self in the Dou San era immediately achieved results. During the month Su Ming and Duan Jin spent traveling to the Savage Beast Mountain Range, he repeatedly Borrowed Power and completed true Thousand Forgings, displaying his talent as a forger.

It was also because Su Ming of the Dou San era had consolidated those skills that he was confident he could perform another downgraded version of Thousand Forgings before Zhu Jiuyang.

Wasn't that so? The Thousand Forgings of the Dou Yi era had no spirit, so naturally, they were a downgraded version of Thousand Forgings.

Of course, the technical difficulty was still similar, with little actual difference.

Spirit was, in fact, the difference between forging in the two eras.

At Zhu Jiuyang's request, Su Ming repeated the Thousand Forgings once more and successfully became Zhu Jiuyang's disciple.

Over the next few days, he came to understand Zhu Jiuyang better.

Zhu Jiuyang's Martial Soul was Fire Spirit. It possessed the Mental Attribute and was a top-tier dual-attribute Martial Soul of fire and spirit. His Soul Power Level was as high as Level 79.

In fact, when Zhu Jiuyang demonstrated forging techniques for him, Su Ming felt that Zhu Jiuyang's flames even carried an aura of holiness.

"Martial Brother, does our teacher have some connection to Spirit Hall?" Su Ming quietly asked.

Spirit Hall?

Duan Jin shook his head, looking utterly confused.

"I've been under Teacher for more than ten years, and I've never heard of him having any contact with Spirit Hall. Still, it seems that the Spirit Hall bishop in Gengxin City has never shown disrespect toward our teacher."

Miles, the bishop of Spirit Hall in Gengxin City, often bullied the Blacksmith Association's blacksmiths. He had clashed with Grandmasters such as Silong and Siqi many times, and even Divine Blacksmith Lou Gao had been disgusted by him several times. Yet Miles had never provoked Zhu Jiuyang.

"I think it's more because Teacher is strong," Duan Jin said. Having been instilled with Zhu Jiuyang's belief in strength, he firmly agreed with it. "Our teacher has Level 79 Soul Power and could break through to Level 80 and become a Soul Douluo at any time. Of course, that isn't the point. The point is that he isn't an ordinary Soul Saint. Five years ago, he fought a Soul Douluo and did not fall behind."

Five years ago?

He was Level 79 now. Five years ago, he probably had not even exceeded Level 75, right?

Su Ming clicked his tongue in amazement.

In this era, people capable of fighting above their level were exceedingly rare. His teacher had been able to fight above his rank while still a Soul Saint, so he truly was formidable. He was worthy of his theory that only the strong would not be bullied.

"Just do the tasks Teacher assigns you. There's no need to exceed them. Our school emphasizes Soul Power cultivation. Spend these next few years slowly accumulating experience. Once you break through to Soul Elder, train intensively for another month, and you'll understand the benefits of a higher Soul Power Level."

Duan Jin reminded Su Ming not to overwork himself when it came to forging.