The Three-Year Deadline Has Arrived

High above the world...

"So? You planned to have Gu You take Zhen Hua as his master." Yun Ming gazed at the calm, pure-blue waters of Sea God Lake below, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes as no one knew what he was thinking.

"That's right! Even calling this child a once-in-a-generation talent would be underselling him. If he is fully nurtured, he will surely become like you—and a Divine Craftsman at that!" Feng Wuyu grew more excited as he spoke.

"Stop going mad. The reason you came to me was to have me swallow my pride and ask Zhen Hua to teach Gu You, wasn't it? Then, as Gu You's talent continued to reveal itself, Zhen Hua would take him as his chief disciple." Yun Ming patted Feng Wuyu's shoulder, his eyes carrying a touch more helplessness.

"Are you unwilling?" Feng Wuyu was slightly stunned by the pat.

"It isn't that I'm unwilling. It's that ever since ancient times, people have always gone to seek masters, not invited masters to seek disciples. Besides, everything this child has experienced has gone too smoothly. That won't benefit his future cultivation. Whether he can take a master depends on himself. He must use his own talent to astonish this world!" Yun Ming looked at Feng Wuyu.

"You intend to make a six-year-old child travel thousands of miles to Heaven Dou City to seek a master?" Even though he knew the answer, Feng Wuyu still could not quite give up.

"Why not? Besides, who said he has to go now? Wait another three years. During those three years, you can teach Gu You first and firmly establish yourself as his nominal master. Then tell Gu You about this decision. If he truly wants to learn forging and truly wants some experience, he definitely won't refuse." Yun Ming looked out toward the horizon.

Feng Wuyu said no more. Understanding Yun Ming's intentions only deepened his respect for the master of Sea God Pavilion.

"You know that while he is with me, he will rarely go back." Before leaving, Feng Wuyu spoke softly.

"I know. I'll explain it clearly to Ya Li. Coming back once every few months shouldn't be a problem, right? No matter what, Ya Li really does like this child. And if you take up so much of his time and still fail to teach him well, just wait and see how I deal with you!" Yun Ming left behind only his retreating figure before vanishing.

"Don't worry. With his talent and my instruction, he'll be at least a five-star blacksmith within these three years!"

No matter how high one's talent, cultivation was still necessary. Crossing mountain after mountain, hurdle after hurdle, pushing aside the branches that blocked the way ahead, winding onward... three years passed.

Bang!

A tremendous boom spread outward. Feng Wuyu silently stared at the number 2,864 jin displayed on the strength-testing device. He was not shocked. Over the past three years, he had suffered no shortage of scares.

"After today, you should be ten years old by nominal age, right?" Feng Wuyu looked at Gu You. Gu You was twisting his left hand while examining the machine he had nearly shattered with a single punch. With Dragon Claw added to it, the aura of Annihilation continuously eroded the machine's steel, leaving streaks of purple radiance that vanished before Gu You's eyes.

Huh?

Gu You came back to his senses and looked at Feng Wuyu. "What? Are you throwing me a birthday celebration?"

Feng Wuyu snorted. "Can't I?"

Old tsundere. Gu You rolled his eyes.

"We won't stop until we're drunk!"

"Drunk, my ass! I don't like drinking."

"That's true! At your age, what could you possibly need to drown your sorrows over?"

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing. We'll have a good meal tonight, and I'll talk to you about some things."

"I'm going back!" Gu You ran out of the Shrek Blacksmith Association, turning back with a smile. Behind him, Feng Wuyu waved his hand and muttered to himself.

"This child..."

Over the course of three years, Gu You's Soul Power had reached an astonishing rank 25. He had also attained the level of a quasi-five-star blacksmith. If his Soul Power rank had been high enough, he would have long since become a true five-star blacksmith.

At the same time, Jiji Ba had bestowed Gu You with his second Soul Ring: an exceptionally peculiar spiritual Soul Skill. Even Gu You had not expected that a Soul Spirit focused primarily on offense would grant a second Soul Ring of the spiritual attribute. Yet it suited him well. His Spiritual Power had now reached as high as 379, placing him in the middle stage of the Spirit Connection Realm. He could be called invincible among those of the same realm. Who was Gu Yue? Was her Spiritual Power high? Those had become rhetorical questions in Gu You's heart.

Ten thousand years ago, a Soul Beast could grant a Soul Master only one Soul Ring. But in the present era, ten thousand years later, the emergence of the Spirit Pagoda and artificial Soul Spirits had changed that reality. Ten-year and hundred-year Soul Spirits could grant one Soul Ring, while thousand-year ones could grant two, with one additional ring added at each higher level thereafter.

With that, Gu You's three years of forging training had come to an end. What awaited him next was a journey across the world!