A Win-Win Little Prodigy

Qian Duoduo chuckled. "I only get a few free days like this all year. They all happen to be busy and couldn't get away, so since I had nothing to do, I came over to take a look."

"So that's how it is."

The examiner had never expected that he would merely be looking for a couple of colleagues from the Soul Tool Department to help out, only to end up inviting this great figure instead.

"Huh? Kid, that saber of yours is pretty good!"

Qian Duoduo waved a hand without saying anything, but his gaze was instead drawn to the Long Saber in His Hand. He said exactly what the examiner had said earlier.

"Can I take a look?"

"Of course."

Qian Chaoguang readily handed over the long saber.

"However... it might not like being held by you."

"Oh? It can dislike something? Now that's new."

Qian Duoduo smiled, not taking Qian Chaoguang's words to heart.

As a Rank 8 Soul Engineer, he was extremely proficient in forging as well. This was the first time he had heard that a blade could feel something like displeasure.

Especially when those words came from a "child."

Qian Duoduo grasped the hilt with his left hand, then ran two fingers of his right hand along the spine of the blade before lightly flicking it. A clear ring resonated from the saber.

"Mm? It really does? I have a faint feeling that it seems extremely resistant to being held by me."

Qian Duoduo tried pouring a little Soul Power into it.

That test nearly became a problem. The blade began trembling faintly and releasing a chill, as though it might snap at any moment. Qian Duoduo hurriedly stopped and handed the saber back to Qian Chaoguang.

"Kid, tell me—how exactly did you do this? And what material was this blade forged from? It looks like Cold Iron, but its properties are far stronger than Cold Iron's."

Qian Duoduo could not help being curious.

After all, in his understanding, Cold Iron was merely a very ordinary low-grade Rare Metal.

Yet after being transformed from the mundane into the miraculous through Thousand Forging, Thousand Forged Cold Iron could already rival high-grade Rare Metals. It was sufficient for engraving the primary Core Magic Arrays needed for Level Five through Level Seven Soul Tools.

Qian Chaoguang sheathed the long saber and answered seriously, "The entire blade truly is made from Cold Iron, forged using a special inherited technique from my family. Actually, the finished product would be even better if Frost Titanium were mixed in during the forging process."

Qian Duoduo asked instinctively, "Then why didn't you use it?"

Qian Chaoguang's face reddened as he muttered, "It's too expensive. I can't afford it..."

Nonsense. That stuff was sold by the gram, and each gram cost over a hundred Gold Soul Coins. Even if Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong pooled all their savings, they still could not afford thirty grams.

Over the years, he and Huo Yutong had mostly relied on high-quality refined metals to earn a little spending money. Factoring in cultivation and everyday food and clothing expenses, it had already been far from easy to save more than three thousand Gold Soul Coins.

As for selling Thousand Forged Metal?

Forget it. He still wanted to live a few more years.

"Can't afford it...?"

Qian Duoduo suddenly realized something. His eyes widened as he asked in astonishment, "Kid, are you saying you forged this blade?"

"Yes, Dean. I come from a declining Hidden Family. Now, I'm the only one left in my family. For all these years, my Adopted Sister and I have depended on each other for survival, relying entirely on forging to earn a meager living. After enduring countless hardships to reach Shrek Academy, I only wanted to see whether I might have a chance to become a Soul Engineer."

"But my Soul Power Level is too low—only Level 13. Big Brother Beibei used a Tang Sect quota to get me an opportunity to take the test. My cultivation talent is terrible. The only things I can show off are a bit of brute strength and these crude forging skills."

At that moment, Qian Chaoguang once again transformed into a master actor and began spinning his tale.

He had originally planned to try his luck with the Soul Tool Department after some time, but he had unexpectedly run into the big boss of the department the moment he entered the academy gates. It was like being handed a pillow just when he was sleepy.

Qian Duoduo's eyes shifted as he formed a few plans in his heart.

Without revealing anything, he asked, "Then where is your sister now?"

"She's also at Shrek Academy."

Qian Chaoguang answered honestly.

"My sister's cultivation talent is much better than mine. She's already Level 27."

The examiner at the side could not help interrupting. "Level 27? Could your sister be that little girl with the Eye Martial Soul? The one who specializes in Spiritual Power?"

"Yes, yes! My sister is named Huo Yutong. She has Innate Level Nine Soul Power! Although her forging skills aren't as good as mine, she also wants to become a Soul Engineer."

Qian Chaoguang looked very happy as he eagerly introduced Huo Yutong to Qian Duoduo.

Before the examiner could say anything, he felt an extremely aggressive gaze—even carrying a trace of killing intent—fixed upon him.

Who else could it be?

Naturally, it was Qian Duoduo beside him.

An Innate Level Nine Soul Power Body Martial Soul master—others might not know, but could Shrek's teachers possibly not know?

This was a prodigy one could not find even with a lantern!

Spirit-Type Soul Beasts might be difficult for other factions to find, but would they still be hard to find if Shrek made a move?

If they did not recruit such a genius early, what if those people from the Martial Soul Department snatched her away?

Qian Duoduo's gaze was practically murderous now.

The examiner hurriedly raised both hands. "Uh, Dean, please listen to my explanation... I didn't know she wanted to become a Soul Engineer! We've always assigned classes only after the freshmen assessments—you know that..."

"Alright, alright. It's not your fault."

Qian Duoduo waved his hand, then bent down and looked warmly at Qian Chaoguang.

"Kid, you want to use this saber for the assessment, right? I'll approve it. Let me see what you can do in actual combat. If you pass the assessment, remember to bring your sister to our Soul Tool Department."

Joy appeared on Qian Chaoguang's face as he hurriedly thanked him. "Thank you, Dean Qian!"

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Xiao Liu, get started."

Qian Duoduo gave the examiner a look. The examiner instantly understood and jogged toward the entrance to the Beast Taming Area.

With a Rank 8 Soul Engineer and Super Douluo like him here, there was naturally no need to follow the rule requiring at least three teachers. He alone was more than enough.

Beibei gave Qian Chaoguang's shoulder a firm pat and an encouraging look.

Qian Chaoguang flashed a brilliant smile, drew his long saber, and slowly walked into the Beast Taming Area.

The moment Qian Chaoguang stood still with the long saber in hand, Qian Duoduo at the side keenly noticed that Qian Chaoguang's aura had instantly Changed.

His aura had not risen in the slightest, yet his entire body seemed to have turned into a sharp blade ready to leave its sheath at any moment, radiating danger from head to toe.

"Kid, I forgot to ask your name earlier."

"Dean, my name is Qian Chaoguang."

Qian Duoduo's expression turned solemn as he said seriously, "Qian Chaoguang, fighting Soul Beasts is no joke. Though it's only a Ten Year Soul Beast, danger may still arise. Are you ready?"

Qian Chaoguang spun the saber in a flourish, lowered his body, and gripped it with both hands in a combat stance.

"Always ready."

"Begin!"

Qian Duoduo gestured toward the distance. With a series of clanking mechanical sounds, a massive iron gate slowly opened.

The sound of frantic running came from within the pitch-black passageway.

A streak of green light suddenly darted out of the deep cavern. It was incredibly fast as it lunged straight at Qian Chaoguang.

The corners of Qian Chaoguang's lips curled upward. A lustrous white Soul Ring appeared beneath his feet.

The Extreme Ice Light Martial Soul flowed along his arms and into the blade. Blades of light dyed the long saber a magnificent icy blue.