Become a Blacksmith

Tang Chenfeng became the new boss of Dorm Seven, and at the same time, he had taken on a burden—the responsibility of protecting his roommates and the other Work-Study Students.

The siblings made their beds, laid out their mattresses and quilts, and chose their own bunks. After all, they were at the academy now, so they certainly could not sleep in the same bed as they did at home. Only after checking the time did they realize lunch was nearly over. Ze Ping came over and said, "Boss, want to go eat together?"

Tang Chenfeng replied, "Sure. The two of us aren't familiar with the way around here yet, so Ze Ping, please lead the way."

Ye Hongling smiled from the side. "Sorry to trouble you."

Thus, led by Ze Ping, the group of eight headed toward the academy cafeteria. Along the way, Ye Hongling asked him, "Is there anything good to eat in the cafeteria?"

Ze Ping answered, "The cafeteria has quite a variety of food, but Work-Study Students are usually poor and can only buy cheaper things. As for the more expensive dishes, we needn't even think about them."

"How can that do?" Tang Chenfeng continued, "For Soul Masters like us, replenishing energy through food is very important. Don't tell me you've been eating cheap meals all this time?"

Ze Ping sighed after hearing that. "Boss, I don't want to either, but my family isn't well-off. A Work-Study Student's daily work only barely covers one day's food. I've already reached Level Eight, and I need to save money to buy a Spirit Soul. I have to cut costs wherever I can."

"If you keep doing that, it'll backfire. Without enough energy, your cultivation speed will slow down greatly. How about I treat you to lunch today? We're all in the same dorm, so we should help each other out."

Ze Ping said in surprise, "Boss, you're treating me? Then I'll gladly accept."

The group crossed the field and arrived at the cafeteria opposite it. Quite a few people had already gathered there. Aside from new students like Tang Chenfeng, most were academy students wearing school uniforms.

The dormitories for ordinary students were above Haitian Academy's cafeteria, so the cafeteria only had one floor. However, it covered nearly a thousand square meters and was packed with tables and chairs.

"Well, if it isn't Ze Ping, the pickled-vegetable kid. Here for pickled vegetables again?" The moment the three of them entered, an unpleasant voice rang out.

Following the voice, they saw several male students who looked around ten years old. The leader was rather handsome, but the disdainful expression on his face made Tang Chenfeng inexplicably want to punch him.

Ze Ping glared at them furiously. "Tch, what's so great about you? You're just relying on your money. If I had money, I'd beat you up too."

A Work-Study Student beside him quietly said to Tang Chenfeng, "That guy is Ning Tong. He comes from a wealthy family. He relies on his money to bully Work-Study Students all the time. Even when he doesn't come looking for a fight, he always runs over to provoke us like this."

Ning Tong said disdainfully, "Beat me up? Please. Haven't we pinned you to the ground and beaten you every single time? Have you ever won? Though I'll admit I have money. I'm going to eat now, so I don't have time for you. Go keep eating your pickled vegetables." He waved a hand and turned to leave.

"You...!" Ze Ping was about to fly into a rage when Tang Chenfeng pulled him back.

"Boss, what are you doing? I'm definitely going to teach him a lesson today."

"Enough. You can't beat him with your current strength. Eat well and recover your energy first. Later, I'll help you improve your strength, then you can beat him up properly."

Ze Ping froze. "Ah, how?"

"Eat first."

In the end, Ze Ping agreed with a puzzled expression. He found a seat with Tang Chenfeng and the others, then showed no restraint at all as he went to get plenty of things he usually dared not eat.

Looking at the much more lavish meal in his hands, Ze Ping thought, Did I take a little too much? Just as he thought that and returned to the table, he was stunned. The table before him was already covered in food. Some plates had even been stacked atop others because there was no room left, making it look like an enormous amount. Tang Chenfeng and Ye Hongling sat together, eating nonstop.

"Boss, wait a moment. If you take too much food and can't finish it, you'll be marked down for wasting food."

Tang Chenfeng replied calmly, "Don't worry. My sister and I never waste food."

A while later, under the dumbfounded gazes of Ze Ping and the other students, the siblings swept through the entire table of food like a tornado. The plates looked as though they had just been washed, without even a crumb left behind. What astonished Ze Ping most was that after they finished that entire table, they brought back another table full of food and continued eating... It was said that the students who came afterward could not buy any food, even if they had money.

After a while, the three of them left the cafeteria together. Ze Ping could not help asking, "Boss, do you usually eat like this at home too?"

"No. We were already holding back a lot compared to home."

Ze Ping said, "It really wasn't easy for your family to raise you two. By the way, Boss, how much living money do you actually have? That meal just now, including mine, cost more than two hundred Federal Currency. That would take four straight days of work to earn."

Tang Chenfeng said somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, we don't have much money either. At most, it'll probably last another two days."

"Ah? Only two days? Then you still let me eat whatever I wanted?" Ze Ping asked in surprise.

"You don't need to worry about that. My brother and I have other ways to make money, so we shouldn't have to worry too much," Ye Hongling said confidently.

Since there were no classes on the first day, the three returned to their dormitory. The academy-tailored uniforms had already been delivered and placed on their beds, so the siblings changed into them. The uniforms fit closely and were very light, somewhat like fitted martial attire, making movement convenient.

Just as they finished changing, Ze Ping ran over. "Boss, what was the method you mentioned for helping me improve my strength?"

"This... Based on my guess, your strength should originally have improved faster. But because you usually don't replenish enough energy, your progress has been rather slow. Also, you normally only cultivate through meditation, right? As for physical training, you completely rely on your Martial Soul's transformation of your body, don't you?"

"That's right. After all, physical training doesn't really mean much to us Soul Masters."

"Then you're wrong." Tang Chenfeng said, "Physical training isn't useless for us—it's just insufficient. Normal people's training intensity naturally isn't enough for us. We need training suited to ourselves. I also noticed that your actual combat experience is severely lacking. Your fighting has no technique whatsoever. What you need most right now is actual combat training and a great deal of physical training."

"So that's how it is?" Ze Ping seemed to have a sudden realization. "Then how do you want to train me, Boss?"

"Well, it might be rather tough." Tang Chenfeng spoke earnestly.

"I'm fine with it, Boss. As long as I can make Ning Tong regret it, I'm fine with anything," Ze Ping said firmly.

Suddenly, Ye Hongling said from the side, "Brother, you aren't planning to use Grandpa's method to train Ze Ping, are you?"

"That's right. It's a bit harsh, but it really helps. Besides, isn't Ze Ping willing?"

Ye Hongling looked at Ze Ping with pity. "Ze Ping, take good care of yourself."

That look made goosebumps rise all over Ze Ping's body. For some reason, an inexplicable chill arose in his heart.

"Oh, right. Ze Ping, do you know where Dean Zhao's office is?"

"Oh, Boss, you mean the Vice Dean? All the teachers' offices are gathered together in an office building. The Vice Dean's should be on the far right side of the first floor."

"I roughly understand. Then I should get going first. Ze Ping, your training will begin the day after tomorrow. I still need to plan it properly first."

"By the way, Boss, what are you going to see Dean Zhao for? As far as I know, Dean Zhao doesn't usually talk to people much."

"This? I'm going to see the dean to find work and make money. Otherwise, my sister and I will starve to death." With that, Tang Chenfeng opened the door and walked out.

Elsewhere, in a room within the academy office building, a burly figure sat in a chair with his eyes closed, resting. This person was Zhao Gaobo, the academy's Vice Dean whom Tang Chenfeng had met before. After parting from Ye Jiulong and Ling Wei after their meal, he had returned here. At this moment, he was also waiting for someone.

"Let me see, where is the Vice Dean's office?" Tang Chenfeng had already arrived at the teachers' office building and was searching for Zhao Gaobo's office.

At the far right end of the first floor was a plain little door. The plaque beside it read "Vice Dean's Office." After confirming it, Tang Chenfeng was about to knock when a response came from inside before he could move. "Come in."

Tang Chenfeng was briefly stunned, then opened the door. After closing it behind him, he said to Zhao Gaobo, "Teacher Zhao, how did you know I would come at this time?"

Zhao Gaobo, seated in his chair, opened his eyes. "I can sense your arrival with Spiritual Power. Although my strength is still inferior to your grandfather's, it isn't far behind."

Tang Chenfeng's eyes lit up. "Teacher Zhao, are you also a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse?"

Zhao Gaobo did not answer that question. Instead, he said, "You know the answer yourself. All right, back to the matter at hand. Tang Chenfeng, right? Ye Jiulong has already told me about your situation. You siblings are truly impressive, managing to eat your home clean with just your mouths."

Tang Chenfeng's face reddened slightly at Zhao Gaobo's teasing. "I can't help it. I don't know why, but ever since Martial Soul Awakening, I've become especially hungry. I simply can't hold back."

Zhao Gaobo smiled after hearing that. "That's a good thing. It means you absorb energy very quickly. But it's indeed a major problem for your wallet, especially for a Work-Study Student like you."

Tang Chenfeng did not beat around the bush and asked directly, "Then, Teacher Zhao, do you have a way to solve it?"

Zhao Gaobo said, "Of course I have a solution, but it requires sufficient talent, diligence, time, and patience. I'll set a test for you to see whether you can meet those conditions. Otherwise, I won't be able to help you. Do you agree?"

"I agree." Tang Chenfeng agreed immediately without hesitation. He put the difficulties aside for now. No matter what kind of test it was, he had to make an effort to try. That was how he thought.

Hearing Tang Chenfeng's resolute answer, Zhao Gaobo nodded in satisfaction. He then stood and walked toward the bookshelf on his left, saying as he walked, "Since you've agreed, don't give up easily in the future." By then, Zhao Gaobo had reached the bookshelf and seemed to be looking for something.

Zhao Gaobo first took a book from the second shelf. Then, a sound of mechanisms moving seemed to come from behind the wall. "Your grandfather told me that you are very interested in Mechas and Battle Armor. Do you know what the prerequisite for controlling them is?" As he spoke, he pulled another book from the second-to-last shelf, then placed the first book into its spot. Another sound of mechanisms moving came from behind the wall.

Tang Chenfeng thought for a moment. "The prerequisite should be becoming a sufficiently outstanding Soul Master. Only with enough Soul Power and Spiritual Power can one use them better."

Zhao Gaobo stood up and said, "You're right, but not entirely. If you merely want to operate them, then you are indeed correct. But if you want to stand at the pinnacle, that is far from enough."

Tang Chenfeng was startled. "Then what else is lacking?"

Zhao Gaobo said, "There's a lot to discuss. Do you know that the Mechas and Battle Armor of those top Soul Masters are mostly made with their own participation? That is called a Soul Master's Sub-profession. There are four major professions: design, manufacturing, repair, and the foundation for creating them..."

As he spoke, he placed the book in his hand into the empty space on the second shelf. As the book slid in, the mechanism sounds became more distinct.

Click—click. As the mechanism sounds grew louder, the wall of the office actually sank inward, slowly turning into an entrance to a secret chamber.

Zhao Gaobo's voice became noticeably more excited. "The foundation of the four major professions is forging—the work of a Blacksmith. Tang Chenfeng, I intend to teach you how to become an outstanding Blacksmith."

"A Blacksmith? Do you mean an ironworker?" Tang Chenfeng asked.

"More or less, but not one an ordinary ironworker can compare to."

Zhao Gaobo continued, "I know you have many questions, and I'll answer them one by one. First, let me ask you: what materials are used to make Battle Armor and Mechas?"

Tang Chenfeng recalled slightly. In his memories, he had only seen one set of Battle Armor—Ye Jiulong's Battle Armor.

"Rare Metals, right? Mechas use relatively ordinary ones, while Battle Armor should use some more special type of metal material."

After hearing Tang Chenfeng's answer, Zhao Gaobo nodded slightly. "Not completely right, but rather close to the correct answer. The materials for both Mechas and Battle Armor are indeed Rare Metals, but there actually isn't much difference between them. They can use exactly the same materials. The most important distinction lies in their quality, and how to improve that quality depends on the Blacksmith's skill. The reason I said Blacksmiths are the foundation of the four major professions is because they provide the raw materials. Without them, making Battle Armor and Mechas would be as hard as climbing to the heavens."

Before this, Tang Chenfeng's understanding of Battle Armor could only be called superficial. But now, the door to a new world seemed to have opened before him.

Zhao Gaobo said from the side, "Well? Interested?"

Tang Chenfeng answered, "I want to give it a try. I want to try becoming an outstanding Blacksmith."

Zhao Gaobo smiled. "That's what I was waiting to hear. Then come in. I still have another test waiting for you." With that, he walked into the secret chamber.

Tang Chenfeng followed him inside. Once they entered, the secret chamber door gradually returned to its original state, as though it had never appeared at all.