Gu Yuena: Have My Efforts Paid Off?

Tian Meng roared, "What do you mean, a negative improvement? Does he not understand the strength of our Ice Silkworm Clan?!"

The Ice Silkworm chimed in, "Exactly, exactly! Even if our clan is at the bottom of the Far North, Great Emperor Tian Meng came from our clan!"

Tian Meng's gaze abruptly swung toward the Ice Silkworm.

Were you praising our Ice Silkworm Clan, or mocking us?

Why did that feel so subtle...

The Ice Empress glanced at the two indignant Ice Silkworms and gave a faint snort.

You two clowns, can that person even hear you? Is it useful to rage helplessly in the Sea of Consciousness? Besides, he was telling the truth.

That was simply how the Ice Silkworm Clan was. They were clearly Soul Beasts with both ice and mental attributes, yet the ice-attribute soul skills they granted were rather underwhelming.

Perhaps because they had long been at the bottom of the Far North's food chain, their ice-attribute offensive abilities had practically degenerated away, and all their skill points had gone into the mental attribute.

Had you ever seen soul skills that could only create a little cold wind and a few bits of ice?

That was the norm for ice-attribute soul skills granted by the Ice Silkworm Clan. What normal ice-attribute Soul Master did not know skills like that?

It was a pure negative improvement.

So, almost no one chose this type of Soul Beast for ice-attribute soul skills.

Well... unless they were short on money, or wanted to make better shaved ice to sell.

Oh, being a humanoid air conditioner was not bad either.

Added to the fact that mental-attribute Soul Masters were relatively rare, and the soul skill Ice Silkworms provided was the notoriously divisive Simulation, their reputation became extremely polarized.

Mental-attribute Soul Masters gave them glowing reviews, while other Soul Masters practically gave such Soul Spirits terrible ratings!

After learning that it was from the Ice Silkworm Clan, Li Yucheng temporarily gave up on buying a Soul Spirit and focused on preparing to make a Soul Tool with the help of Spiritual Detection Sharing.

Before starting, however, he glanced at Huo Yuhao again.

The other party had not displayed his Soul Rings while crafting earlier. In other words, he had achieved that level without relying on soul skills...

A new generation really did replace the old.

Li Yucheng sighed inwardly as he took Blue Pregnant Copper and an engraving knife from his Storage Ring.

Huo Yuhao took the opportunity to carefully observe Li Yucheng's techniques.

Watching others craft was also a form of learning.

He had no idea how long Li Yucheng had been immersed in his own world when a knock on the door interrupted his movements.

"Guild Master, Guild Master Mu Chen has come to visit."

Li Yucheng came back to his senses. Looking at the half-finished product before him, he turned to Huo Yuhao with a helpless smile. "Xia Haoxuan was right. I really do not have much time..."

As he spoke, he recalled why Mu Chen might have come to visit, and his eyes lit up.

Wait, had he not already accomplished both of his goals?

He had found a Peerless Genius... Though he belonged to the Spirit Pagoda and could only count as half of one, that half was worth ten. Good enough.

And Mu Chen was probably here to discuss Cooperation. Over the past three years, he had mentioned working together several times, openly and indirectly. Since the man was visiting now, the internal discussions had most likely reached an agreement, and they were ready to approve it.

Since both his goals had been accomplished, could he not just retire?

He had not figured out how to make Xia Haoxuan's life difficult before, but now he had. He would hand over the guild master position, along with all the work that had piled up lately, to him... It would count as supporting the younger generation!

With that thought, Li Yucheng wanted to take Huo Yuhao to meet Mu Chen, but Huo Yuhao politely declined.

Over the past three years, he had visited the Blacksmith Association many times to purchase rare metals. He had deliberately chosen rather unusual times, and had met Mu Chen several times, even speaking with him.

It was also then that he understood the man's attitude.

A casual relationship was fine, but getting too close was not.

After all, Mu Chen was the junior brother of Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua. Many factions were eagerly waiting for Zhen Hua's Heavenly Forged Metal.

If Mu Chen showed any tendency to favor a particular faction—especially a major force like the Spirit Pagoda—it would send a bad signal to the other factions. Unless someone possessed astonishing forging talent, they would not be able to move him.

Since that was the case, Huo Yuhao naturally would not try to latch onto him.

If it really came down to it, he could simply cultivate a Divine Craftsman himself.

At that thought, Huo Yuhao suddenly remembered something.

If nothing unexpected had happened, Tang Wulin should have gone to the Blacksmith Association for his Level 2 Blacksmith assessment after registering at East Sea Academy yesterday... Could Mu Chen's visit today be related to that?

Tang Wulin was carrying a Spirit Pagoda Soul Tool right now.

Huo Yuhao's expression turned strange, but he quickly set the matter aside. After asking a Staff Member for directions, he headed to a Mecha Design Room.

He had not forgotten that he still had a Deity friend here. He could not just leave her behind and return to the Academy by himself, could he?

It felt like that would hurt God's feelings...

Upon entering the design room, Huo Yuhao saw a woman in professional attire and glasses guiding Gu Yuena through a design.

Simulated starlight flowed across the dome, coating Gu Yuena's black hair in a cold blue sheen. Leaning over an obsidian workbench, she held her pen half an inch above the surface. As she listened to the guidance, she began sketching the blueprint with a thoughtful expression.

Cheng Yixuan noticed Huo Yuhao and nodded at him. Then she shifted her gaze back to Gu Yuena, feeling satisfied inwardly.

Her husband had actually been reliable for once. This girl's talent was truly excellent. With proper training, she would become another future Level 9 Designer.

Huo Yuhao did not approach. He used Mental Detection to inspect Gu Yuena's blueprint and spotted several flaws. Rather than speaking up immediately, he carefully studied her design concepts and approach.

Gu Yuena truly had remarkable talent in design...

Only after Gu Yuena finished drawing and Cheng Yixuan completed her guidance and left did he speak.

"You designed a Mecha Arm component. Most of the materials used there are rare metals with strong Soul Power conductivity. Based on your design concept, the Energy Gathering Array can be repositioned somewhat..."

Gu Yuena had naturally noticed Huo Yuhao's arrival long ago. Hearing him now, she felt secretly delighted.

Had her efforts worked?

She had not expected that simply receiving ordinary guidance would bring such a surprise!

Seeing Gu Yuena listen with complete seriousness, looking as though she even wanted to take out a little notebook to make notes, Huo Yuhao's eye twitched as he sighed inwardly.

I'm merely returning the favor. Please do not look as though you're listening to a God King expound the Dao!

Mu Chen was in a rather bad mood.

Yesterday, a Blacksmith had come to the Association for a Level 2 Blacksmith assessment. Mu Chen had stood outside the room, listening to the sounds of the boy hammering during the forging process. The deep foundation behind those strikes had amazed even him.

When he learned that the other party was a nine-year-old child, Mu Chen was even more delighted.

The Blacksmith Association's Thousand Forgings record was held by a Saint Craftsman-level Blacksmith: eleven years, three months, and two days old. This child had already surpassed that record!

Then... he discovered that the Spirit Pagoda had already gotten there first.

Fuck. A plant.

At that moment, Mu Chen experienced a rare surge of intense emotion.

Why did every good thing go to the Spirit Pagoda? Why were they always ahead in everything?

No matter how displeased he was, Mu Chen knew he could only accept it. He could not exactly badmouth the Spirit Pagoda in front of that child, could he?

He was not that kind of person, and the child did not seem like the sort who enjoyed hearing such things.

In the end, Mu Chen could only suppress his heartache, have his subordinates give Tang Wulin a whole pile of benefits, and begin considering Li Yucheng's proposal.

The Spirit Pagoda had a strong monopoly over talented commoners, but they truly did practical things, and there was nothing to criticize about that.

As for those not from common backgrounds... they had far too many options, not to mention Shrek Academy, which only recruited "monsters."

The two major powers took in many talented people. Though Associations like theirs also had their own foundations, their historical legacy could not compare to Shrek's, and their financial resources could not compare to the Spirit Pagoda's. Many times, it inexplicably felt as though they were living off scraps...

After carefully considering the matter, Mu Chen discussed it with the upper management of the East Sea Blacksmith Association and decided to formally cooperate with the Mecha Master Association to jointly cultivate outstanding juniors.

He had come today to formally negotiate with Li Yucheng. The result needed no elaboration—Li Yucheng had long been willing, and Mu Chen did not make excessive demands, so they peacefully reached an agreement.

Mu Chen had thought that would improve his mood. Yet, as he was leaving the Association, he noticed a child who had become all too familiar—Huo Yuhao.

"..."

Watching Huo Yuhao, Gu Yuena, and two Staff Members from the Mecha Master Association talking in the distance, Mu Chen took a deep breath and quietly walked away without greeting them.

To be honest, he did not want to see anyone or anything related to the Spirit Pagoda right now. He only wanted to bury his dissatisfaction in work.

Huo Yuhao noticed Mu Chen. Seeing that he seemed to be in a bad mood, Huo Yuhao did not say anything and continued chatting with the two people before him.

"As for Wulin, I heard his name during class placement today. He was assigned to Class 2. From what I know, their Teacher is a Five-Ring Soul King..."