Lu Lin, the Blacksmith Version

Before long, Lu Lin had already walked to the office in the teacher's area.

The door was open.

Lu Lin knocked softly, then looked toward the young man sitting in the center of the office. "Teacher Liu, Duan Yang said you were looking for me?"

"Mm, come in first."

The young man raised his head, looking at Lu Lin standing in the doorway, a faint trace of a smile flickering in the corners of his eyes.

Lu Lin stepped inside, his gaze falling on the speaking Teacher Liu.

This man was born with Sword Eyebrows and Star Eyes, clear brows and sparse lashes, dressed in a gray long robe.

His name was Liu Yanchi, a four-ring Soul Ancestor.

Lu Lin's homeroom teacher, and one of the teachers with the highest Soul Power Level in the entire elementary academy.

Not only that, but Liu Yanchi had also come from Shrek Academy.

Although he hadn't broken through to four rings during his time at the academy and failed to meet the advancement requirements, resulting in his expulsion, this resume alone was enough to crush most soul masters in the academy.

"Yao Yue came running to me, saying you wanted to find an apprentice part-time job. Coincidentally, I know a blacksmith who's looking for an apprentice. I wanted to ask if you're interested."

Hearing this, Lu Lin froze in place, momentarily at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Damn it, Yao Xiaopang, you're this efficient? I was just speaking offhand, didn't you get that?

Seeing that Lu Lin didn't answer immediately, Liu Yanchi didn't rush him, quietly waiting for Lu Lin's response.

It was no exaggeration to say that among the twenty-plus students in the Martial Soul Class, Lu Lin was the only one he paid attention to.

Because in Lu Lin, Liu Yanchi saw many shadows of himself.

And Lu Lin was still considering whether to agree.

To be honest, blacksmiths in this era weren't exactly in high demand.

If it were three thousand years ago, that would be a different story—back then, the Sun Moon Continent and Douluo Continent hadn't collided yet, and the Tang Sect was still the number one sect on the continent.

The Hidden Weapons made by the Tang Sect were in such high demand that they couldn't keep up, making blacksmiths a red-hot profession.

But now, with the widespread use of Sun Moon Empire's soul tools, the Tang Sect had completely degenerated into a roadside nobody.

And in the era of Dragon King Legend, because of the battle armor system, blacksmiths were also an extremely popular secondary profession. The blacksmith system had fully matured in that era, and divine craftsmen held an absurdly high status on the continent.

Lu Lin was genuinely a bit hesitant.

But in his view, he would inevitably need to get involved with Soul Tools.

His weakness lay in being too young, while Tang Fozi was already a Titled Douluo. The gap between them was like a chasm.

Lu Lin wouldn't let go of any chance to grow stronger.

His plan was to later use an avatar to enter the Sun Moon Empire, learn their advanced Soul Tools, and at the same time investigate clues about Tang Fozi, that Evil Soul Master.

Lu Lin didn't believe that a Titled Douluo-level Evil Soul Master had no connection to the Holy Spirit Sect.

And while his main body could share the avatar's learning results, he still needed to have some foundation himself.

At the same time, blacksmithing should also improve his physical condition, even if only a little.

After all, his main body couldn't get his hands on Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber.

"Thank you, Teacher Liu. I think I can give it a try."

Hearing this, a smile curled at the corner of Liu Yanchi's mouth. He knew Lu Lin would agree.

"Good, I'll take you to the blacksmith shop now."

At a corner of Frostwind City's central street, the Giant Rock Blacksmith Shop.

"Old Liu, this is the apprentice you found for me?"

Zhao Shiyan, bare-chested and extremely burly, looked at the thin, weak Lu Lin beside Liu Yanchi, then turned to Liu Yanchi, a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Zhao Shiyan was a full meter ninety tall, and with his exaggerated muscles, just standing still gave off an intense sense of pressure.

Liu Yanchi said flatly, "He's the only one suitable."

"Fine."

Zhao Shiyan rubbed his chin, casually picked up a black iron block from a basket on the floor, and tossed it into a blazing furnace. Then he turned to Lu Lin and said, "Go find a hammer over there, then come back and wait."

So this is an interview first?

Lu Lin muttered to himself, then followed the instructions and walked toward the corner where the Forging Hammers were stored.

Lu Lin swept his gaze over them, noticing that these Forging Hammers varied in size and shape, a dazzling array.

But even the smallest hammer had a head bigger than two of Lu Lin's heads combined.

Lu Lin looked for a moment, and his gaze finally settled on a two-handed hammer that seemed relatively "moderate."

The hammer had a dull, dark exterior, and just from its appearance, it felt heavy.

Lu Lin reached out and grasped the hammer handle; it was cold and heavy in his hand. He tried weighing it and found it quite strenuous.

With his strength, using this hammer for a long time would probably be exhausting.

Perhaps Ji Ming, with his Body Martial Soul, would be more suited to forging iron.

But Si Yuan Ye would certainly never agree to his own disciple becoming a blacksmith, let alone later getting involved with Soul Tools.

The path was his own choice. He had already agreed to Teacher Liu, so naturally he couldn't just give up.

Lu Lin silently dragged the Forging Hammer over to stand beside Zhao Shiyan, waiting for his next instruction.

After a moment, Zhao Shiyan used iron tongs to pull out a red-hot iron block, tossed it onto the anvil, then turned to Lu Lin and said succinctly:

"Strike!"

Lu Lin nodded, took a deep breath, then circulated his soul power. He raised the Forging Hammer high with both hands and slammed it heavily down at the dark red iron block on the anvil.

Clang!

The Forging Hammer struck the iron block accurately, kicking up a massive wave of heat.

Seeing this, a flicker of surprise passed through Zhao Shiyan's eyes, but he said nothing and continued observing Lu Lin.

Liu Yanchi, however, found it only natural.

He had said Lu Lin was the most suitable, and not without reason. Lu Lin possessed an extremely strong tenacity.

Whether it was the excessive self-discipline of frantically cultivating soul power whenever he had time, or the fierce grit of not even grunting when his "strange illness" flared up—Liu Yanchi had seen it all.

Strangely enough, Lu Lin's strange illness struck without any pattern, yet his body remained perfectly normal.

Even during his time at Shrek Academy, he had never seen such a case.

Lu Lin paid no mind to what the two beside him were thinking.

He gripped the Forging Hammer high with both hands and swung down a second hammer with clumsy movements.

But this hammer missed.

A mistake. That angle just now wasn't right.

Lu Lin thought to himself, but his hands didn't stop. He adjusted the angle and swung the heavy hammer forcefully at the iron block...

Clang!

Clang!!

The sounds of hammering rang out continuously within the blacksmith shop.

Of course, not every strike landed precisely on the iron block.

But whenever Lu Lin made a mistake, he immediately adjusted his force to ensure the next strike's accuracy.

Basically, he only missed once every two or three strikes.

After dozens of such hammer blows, the iron block's color had completely darkened.

Only then did Zhao Shiyan finally speak: "That's enough."

"What's your name?"

It seemed he had passed the interview.

Lu Lin released the Forging Hammer.

By now, his soul power was nearly depleted.

Without enough strength, he had to rely on soul power to assist in forging.

What made it worse was that overexertion left his limbs sore and aching, his back soaked with sweat, and the blacksmith shop was scorching hot—all these factors combined made him extremely uncomfortable.

Lu Lin took a deep breath before looking at Zhao Shiyan:

"My name is Lu Lin."

Zhao Shiyan gave an almost imperceptible nod: "Come five days a week, no less than two hours each time. Can you manage?"

Lu Lin had grown somewhat accustomed to Zhao Shiyan's way of speaking, so he didn't waste words and nodded: "I can."

"When you come to the blacksmith shop is up to you—morning or afternoon, either works.

As for pay, I'll start you at one Silver Soul Coin a month. Later on, I'll raise it depending on the situation."

Zhao Shiyan stated the terms matter-of-factly.

Lu Lin knew there was really no room for bargaining.

But the treatment Zhao Shiyan offered was actually quite generous.

After all, Yao Xiaopang worked at a shop selling everyday Soul Tools, where business was booming and he never had to worry about performance, yet his salary was also one Silver Soul Coin a month.

And at Lu Lin's current level, he could barely even lift a Forging Hammer—he wasn't even an apprentice, let alone capable of forging weapons for the blacksmith shop.

The only reason Zhao Shiyan was willing to pay such a high wage was out of respect for Liu Yanchi.

"Old Liu, you can take him away now. Have him come back tomorrow."

After saying this, Zhao Shiyan turned around, picked up the iron block Lu Lin had just forged, and tossed it back into the furnace, as if to melt it down and start over.