Gu Yue, Are You Forcing Me to Become a Dragon Rider?!

Zhen Hua hurried forward and suppressed his excitement as he asked, "Was there any strain on your body?"

"Everything was just right. It wasn't enough to injure my muscles or bones." Nan Liujing looked at the Thunder Silver on the forging table, sensing the life he had personally nurtured. "Teacher, does this mean I'm a Level Five blacksmith now?"

Zhen Hua burst into laughter. "You're not just a Level Five blacksmith. You're also the youngest Master Craftsman-level blacksmith in the history of the Douluo Continent."

Nan Liujing laughed heartily as well. Having cheats really did feel great.

Back at the small cafeteria, Zhen Hua promptly had Mu Ye make a bowl of noodles to replenish Nan Liujing's energy.

"So this kid is a Master Craftsman now?" In the kitchen, Mu Ye watched Nan Liujing wolf down his noodles, then looked at the grinning Zhen Hua in astonishment.

"Think about who his teacher is." Zhen Hua was full of pride.

Mu Ye pursed his lips. "What the hell does that have to do with you? It's because the kid has a special constitution."

He would never admit that he was jealous. Even now, the Original Body Sect had yet to find a successor. As for his eldest disciple, A Ruheng... forget it. His strength was sufficient, but his brain was not quite up to par. He was not suited to shoulder the burden of becoming Sect Master.

"Go ahead and be jealous." Zhen Hua laughed heartily, then softened his tone. "Come to think of it, you don't need to set your standards so high."

Mu Ye narrowed his eyes. "Better none than the wrong one. I don't want my ancestors to learn that I accepted a disciple who didn't meet the requirements."

Zhen Hua shook his head. "You're still as stubborn as ever. It was precisely because suitable disciples were so rare that your two martial uncles left and handed this hot potato to you."

"Let's not talk about that." Mu Ye sighed.

Nan Liujing ate quickly, not even leaving the noodle soup behind. He had no idea where Mu Ye had gotten so many top-grade ingredients.

After the meal, Mu Ye went to wash the dishes while Zhen Hua pulled Nan Liujing aside to give him some final instructions before the handover.

He mainly told him to maintain Spirit Forging once a week and try as many different types of metals as possible.

In modern society, video calls were available anyway. If Nan Liujing encountered anything he did not understand, he could quickly ask him.

Distance was no longer a problem.

As for the upcoming Fusion Forging, Zhen Hua merely gave Nan Liujing a journal of his insights for him to reference during this period.

That was how forging worked. A master could lead one through the door, but cultivation depended on the individual.

"Uncle Ye is going to work in Shrek City?"

After returning from the Blacksmith Association, Nan Liujing quickly packed his luggage, only to learn a rather significant piece of news from Ye Xinglan.

Standing nearby, Ye Xinglan explained, "My dad's performance was outstanding, so the company transferred him to headquarters."

Nan Liujing understood.

The company Uncle Ye worked for was called Shining World Tang Sect Co., Ltd. Put bluntly, it was the Tang Sect.

No wonder Ye Xinglan had been admitted to the Shrek Inner Court ahead of schedule in the original timeline. During the Dou San era, Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect were practically inseparable.

So, should he bring Ye Xinglan into the Spirit Pagoda?

A top-tier Soul Master genius was worth recruiting.

Remembering that Uncle Ye was still at home, Nan Liujing could only temporarily suppress the little idea in his heart.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, the group took a Soul Guidance Vehicle to Heaven Dou City's train station.

They had no plans to take a Soul Tool aircraft this time. A while ago, an Evil Soul Master had blown up a Soul Tool airliner in midair. Only a few Soul Masters with flight-type Martial Souls had survived. Even after more than a month, the incident remained the Federation's hottest news, causing major airports to suspend operations.

As everyone knew, as long as one did not take the same high-speed train as Tang Wulin, an Evil Soul Master ambush was basically impossible. That made it safe enough.

They departed from Heaven Dou City and headed south all the way.

The natural scenery and cityscapes along the route delighted Ye Xinglan. Since birth, she had barely ever left Heaven Dou City.

As for Na'er, a faint smile appeared to be on her face, but she actually seemed listless, as though she were hiding something on her mind.

Nan Liujing noticed, but he never said anything.

The sky took on a dusky hue, and they arrived at Shrek City, which had yet to become a place filled with familiar faces.

"Dear passengers, welcome to Shrek City. This is home to Shrek Academy, the continent's number one Soul Master Academy... It is also the location of the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters. Please look to your left. That building soaring into the clouds is the Heavenly Spirit Tower, the tallest building on the Douluo Continent."

As the train gradually slowed, Ye Xinglan was completely captivated by the towering structure after hearing the announcement.

"So that's the Heavenly Spirit Tower?" She could not help clicking her tongue. She had only seen it on television before, and only now, facing it in person, did she understand how magnificent it was.

Ye Changming, however, was indifferent. "Liujing, is someone coming to pick you up later?"

Having learned that Nan Liujing had become Sky Phoenix Douluo's disciple, Ye Changming had long since abandoned any thoughts of recruiting him.

"Yes." Nan Liujing smiled. "My teacher sent someone to wait outside the station."

"Alright." Ye Changming nodded slightly.

Hearing that, Ye Xinglan immediately found the Heavenly Spirit Tower boring. "Without Na'er, I won't even be able to sleep peacefully anymore." Looking at the smiling Na'er, her eyes shifted. "Na'er, why don't you come with me?"

Na'er smiled and shook her head. "My family is coming to pick me up. I can't go."

"Ah, then there's no... Hm? Family?" Ye Xinglan sighed, then abruptly reacted. She stared at Na'er in shock. "What family?"

Nan Liujing also looked at Na'er, but said nothing.

Ever since Na'er had failed to awaken a Martial Soul, he had known this day would come. In the original timeline, Di Tian and the others had taken Na'er away before she went to Shrek.

Na'er pursed her lips and explained softly, "When we left Heaven Dou City, someone came to find me. She said she was my aunt. I didn't believe her at first, but she directly mentioned that I don't have a Martial Soul. Only Uncle Ye and you, Brother and Sister, know that secret."

Ye Changming immediately grew wary. "Na'er, the family you mentioned will be waiting for you at the train station?"

"Mm." Na'er nodded.

Ye Changming said solemnly, "Uncle Ye wants to meet them. Is that alright?"

"Yes." Na'er replied, "Auntie also wants me to bring you to meet her."

The crowd surged as pedestrians hurried out of the train station.

Ye Xinglan was expressionless, while Na'er remained calm, holding Nan Liujing's hand as they followed along.

Following Na'er's directions, the group soon arrived at a café inside the station.

Through the glass window, Nan Liujing spotted a special woman at a glance.

She had long emerald-green hair cascading down her back and wore fashionable casual clothes. Her face was exquisitely beautiful, not inferior in the slightest to Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu.

The moment they stepped into the café, the woman seemed to sense them and looked over.

She rose gracefully and spoke before Ye Changming could say anything. "Hello. I'm Na'er's aunt. I assume she has already told you about me."

Ye Changming probed, "What proof do you have that you're Na'er's relative?"

Bi Ji smiled. "Na'er has a special constitution. Unless our family's awakening method is used, she cannot awaken her Martial Soul. If you have ever tried awakening her Martial Soul, you should have sensed a hidden power that could not be drawn out."

The wariness in Ye Changming's heart immediately faded by more than half. When he had awakened Na'er's Martial Soul, he had indeed sensed an extremely powerful force within her, but no matter what he did, he could not draw it out. So it had been because of her constitution.

Bi Ji turned to Na'er. "Na'er, hold out your hand. I'll temporarily activate your Martial Soul first. That will also prove my identity."

Nan Liujing rubbed Na'er's head, his meaning unmistakable.

Na'er immediately stepped forward and held out her fair little hand.

Bi Ji gently took it. A soft, green-gold glow immediately gathered above Na'er's palm and formed a special array.

Gradually, a strange pale silver radiance emerged from Na'er's body. A clear, impassioned dragon roar began to issue from her palm.

"Na'er's Martial Soul is a dragon Martial Soul?" Ye Xinglan's eyes widened. She was now certain that this beautiful aunt was Na'er's relative.

"Mm." Na'er let out a muffled groan.

"What's wrong?" Ye Xinglan's expression changed.

Nan Liujing calmly said, "It's Soul Power feedback caused by the temporary activation of her Martial Soul. She's fine."

Only after seeing Na'er nod at her did Ye Xinglan relax.

Bi Ji asked, "Can I prove my identity now?"

"Of course." Ye Changming nodded.

Only then did Bi Ji look at Nan Liujing and sincerely thank him. "Come to think of it, I should also thank you for taking Na'er in."

Nan Liujing chuckled. "I like Na'er very much, and I'm glad I met her and made her my little sister. It has been an unforgettable memory."

Na'er blinked her lovely purple eyes, delight hidden within them.

As though relieved of a heavy burden, Bi Ji said, "You may not know how important Na'er is to our family. She is the most gifted member we have seen in a thousand years. If anything happened to her, it would have an enormous impact on our family's inheritance."

Ye Xinglan could not help asking, "Then how could Na'er have gotten lost? If Liujing hadn't saved her, she would have been abducted by human traffickers long ago."

Bi Ji sighed. "When a family expert took Na'er out, they encountered an assassination by Evil Soul Masters. Nearly all the family members protecting her died, including two Titled Douluo."

Ye Xinglan's pupils contracted. Even two Titled Douluo had died. How strong had the enemy been?

Ye Changming frowned inwardly. Evil Soul Masters had become active again recently, and they were also a primary target of the Tang Sect's vigilance.

Nan Liujing wore a grave expression on the surface, but inwardly, he was already wondering who had fabricated this story.

Bi Ji did not elaborate further. She took out a jade box from her storage ring and handed it to Nan Liujing. "This is a gift of thanks. Please accept it."

Nan Liujing looked at the jade box and gently shook his head.

At first, he had interfered with Na'er's meeting with Tang Wulin for his own sake. But after raising Na'er until now, he had long considered her family.

He would definitely stop Gu Yue from merging with Na'er in the future. No matter what, he would change everything.

Bi Ji insisted on giving him the gift. "The fact that you were willing to take in Na'er speaks to your character. The item in this jade box is the highest-grade gift our family can offer. Once you accept it, it can protect your life once if you encounter a certain death situation. Na'er also used it to escape the assassination."

Nan Liujing hesitated. He had not forgotten that the Silver Dragon King had set her sights on him back in Aolai City. He truly did not dare accept a gift from Bi Ji.

Na'er looked somewhat confused. In her memories, no such family existed, nor had she used anything to escape an assassination. Yet for some reason, whenever she tried to explain herself, the words would not come out. That made her feel rather frustrated.

Suddenly, a peculiar thought rose in her mind. She took the jade box and forcibly stuffed it into Nan Liujing's hands. "Brother, keep it."

Nan Liujing was caught off guard. Bi Ji secretly sighed in relief and said with a smile, "Now that the gift has been delivered, I can report back."

Ye Changming frowned slightly. This stunning woman seemed a little too eager to give away the gift.

Bi Ji also realized she had been too hasty. She quickly concealed it with a smile. "Na'er will be staying at Shrek Academy from now on. You siblings won't be unable to see each other again."

Ye Changming's heart stirred. "Does your sect have ties to Shrek Academy?"

Bi Ji smiled. "We have some connection, but it isn't particularly deep."

At that, Ye Changming was completely reassured and no longer wary at all.

The Tang Sect and Shrek Academy were now united against a common enemy and had close ties. Since the woman before him had a connection to Shrek Academy, she counted as an ally.

Nan Liujing held the jade box without saying anything. Na'er never called him merely "Brother." She was reminding him.

He had only just been targeted by Tang San, and now the Silver Dragon King had her eye on him too.

You're forcing me to become a dragon rider, Gu Yue!

"Ring, ring, ring."

An urgent phone ringtone suddenly sounded.

Everyone looked at Nan Liujing.

He took out his phone and saw the words "Teacher Leng" on the screen. He answered the call.

Leng Yaozhu's gentle voice came from the other side. "The person sent to pick you up said he didn't see you."

"Sorry, Teacher. I was delayed by something at the station with an elder." Nan Liujing explained, then asked, "Does the person you sent have any distinguishing features?"

"Features?" Leng Yaozhu thought for a moment. "Just look for the roughest-looking man in the crowd. You can't miss him."

"Alright, I'll head over right away." Nan Liujing replied.

After hanging up, he exchanged a glance with Na'er before asking Bi Ji, "Senior, are you planning to take Na'er back right now, or...?"

Bi Ji said, "I'll first take Na'er back to the clan to awaken her Martial Soul, then send her to Shrek Academy."

Nan Liujing lowered his voice. "So from now on, we'll be separated."

"Brother." Na'er was reluctant. Her eyes reddened slightly. She truly did not want to leave with this aunt, but she simply could not refuse.

A chill hid deep within Nan Liujing's eyes. Smiling, he stepped forward and rubbed Na'er's head, then seemingly pulled a bracelet emitting a soft green-gold glow out of thin air.

Ye Changming recognized it. It was the Life Crystal he had given Nan Liujing when he picked him up at Heaven Dou Airport.

Nan Liujing personally put it on Na'er. A pure life aura dispelled the unease in her heart.

"Shrek Academy and the Spirit Pagoda aren't far apart. You can come find Brother anytime later."

"Mm." Na'er looked down at the green-gold bracelet around her wrist, a trace of a smile appearing in her eyes.

Bi Ji took Na'er away. Ye Changming also left with Ye Xinglan.

After seeing them off, Nan Liujing immediately found the person sent to pick him up based on Leng Yaozhu's description.

He was a middle-aged man around thirty, with a burly build, hair like steel needles, and an exceptionally fierce-looking face. The pedestrians passing by him seemed somewhat afraid, detouring around him instead.

"Nan Liujing?"

"Yes."

Bai Haoze nodded and patted the hovering Soul Guidance Vehicle beside him. "Let's go!"

"What should I call you, Senior?" Nan Liujing asked casually after getting into the vehicle.

"Bai Haoze." The middle-aged man's voice matched his face, extremely deep and low.

Upon hearing those three words, Nan Liujing's brows rose.

Bai Haoze possessed the Light Unicorn Martial Soul and the cultivation of a Titled Douluo. He had a younger sister named Bai Zhicen.

That sounded perfectly normal, but memories from his past life told him that this muscular brother was actually a woman!

She had only assumed her current appearance through a special method.

She was a minor character who would only appear in the later stages of the Dragon King era.

Glancing at the other person's overwhelmingly muscular body, the corner of his mouth could not help twitching.