Second Profession

After class, everyone was still in a daze. Teacher Li's lesson today had completely exceeded anything they could have anticipated—far beyond their expectations!

"Say, Zhang Peng, do you know what a Second Profession is?" Little Fatty, who was sitting in the front row, slowly asked.

"No idea. I've never even heard of it. Could she have just made it up?" Zhang Peng waved a hand and shook his head, completely unconcerned.

In their eyes, compared to lessons they could not understand, the most important thing was hurrying up and cultivating Soul Power. At the end of every term, there would be a class-wide assessment. Soul Masters who failed would be kept behind to make up their studies for the entire holiday.

For six-year-old children, such a punishment was practically worse than killing them.

After all, holidays were their only chance to go outside, relax, and play freely.

For that, they could cultivate Soul Power tirelessly without end!

The break between the first and second classes was a full hour.

The Academy did this partly to give students more time to cultivate, and partly, naturally, to reinforce what had been taught in the previous class.

During breaks, almost all the students chose to go to the Academy's training grounds to cultivate Soul Power. The morning sunlight was perfect, and it was also when Soul Power was at its most abundant.

Tang Wulin had intended to go as well. His Innate Soul Power was only rank three. If he did not seize every moment, how many years would it take before he became a Soul Master?

Just as he was about to leave the classroom, Luo Ze called out to him.

"Wulin, wait a moment. I have some questions about Second Professions that I want to ask you."

"Brother Luo, what is it?" Tang Wulin asked.

"Aren't you a blacksmith? Tell me about the basics of being a blacksmith. I want to choose either Designer or blacksmithing as my Second Profession."

Taking advantage of Na'er not being around, Luo Ze wanted to ask Tang Wulin about the basics of blacksmithing so that he could better choose his own Second Profession.

"Huh?! So soon? Didn't Teacher Li suggest that it would be better to choose a Second Profession after we turn ten? After all, before the age of six is the golden period for cultivation!" Tang Wulin said.

"What Teacher Li meant was that our overall Soul Power is too low. Rather than wasting time learning a Second Profession, we'd be better off raising our levels properly, so we don't end up unable to advance to the Intermediate Academy." Luo Ze bluntly exposed the meaning behind Teacher Li's words.

It was not that she would not let them learn. She was simply afraid they would waste their time and fail to advance in school.

Tang Wulin's eyes widened. "No way?"

"Yes." Luo Ze answered decisively.

Tang Wulin sighed helplessly and began explaining the characteristics of a blacksmith. Simply put, it was a collision between skill and strength.

To forge metal, one not only had to learn how to sense the immense spiritual energy contained within it, but also accurately land every hammer blow on the proper point. Otherwise, no matter how great one's strength was, the metal would ultimately become nothing more than a lump of scrap iron.

"So skill is the most important thing?" Luo Ze asked.

"I think it's perception. Teacher Mang Tian told me that the most important thing for a blacksmith is sensing the energy contained within metal. Once you understand that, not only can you forge accurately, but you can also double the completion quality of the basics!"

At the mention of Mang Tian, Tang Wulin's eyes filled with admiration. Mang Tian was not only his teacher, but also his benefactor!

It was precisely because of his help that Tang Wulin had been able to advance to a level-two blacksmith so quickly, gaining the ability to earn money and buy a Soul Spirit!

"Mm, perception..." Luo Ze rubbed his chin, unable to fully understand.

Although Tang Wulin's explanation was very fitting, it was only a verbal description. To truly understand it, Luo Ze would have to try forging for himself.

Thus, Luo Ze suggested that after school that afternoon, Tang Wulin take him to Teacher Mang Tian's place so he could experience what metal perception truly was.

Tang Wulin naturally agreed. He practically wanted to raise both hands and both feet in approval.

Over the past few days, Luo Ze had not only paid for his meals, but had also treated him to high-nutrition, high-protein Seafood boxed lunches—the kind that actually filled you up. How could Tang Wulin not be excited and grateful?!

He had always wanted to find a chance to repay Luo Ze, but Luo Ze lacked neither money, possessions, nor Soul Power medicine. With such perfect circumstances, Tang Wulin had thought he would never get the chance to repay him in this lifetime.

Now, the opportunity was right in front of him!

After going over everything in detail, Tang Wulin waved goodbye to Luo Ze and hurried off to the training grounds to find a spot to cultivate.

"Hmm... It seems being a blacksmith is difficult too. Should I choose Battle Armor crafting instead?!" Luo Ze muttered to himself.

He did not notice at all that a sharp gaze was fixed firmly on his back. A terrifying pressure blew against his spine like a bone-chilling icy wind.

"My dear Brother, I was gone for ten minutes, and you've already treated my words like they went in one ear and out the other?" Na'er looked at Luo Ze with a "smile."

"Na'er, what happened just now was an accident. I can explain, really!" Luo Ze hurriedly explained.

"I won't listen! Bad brother, stinky brother, I don't want to talk to you ever again!" Though Na'er said that, her body was quite honest as she sat down in the chair.

Na'er was not truly angry. She had heard every word of his conversation with Tang Wulin, and she understood how important a Second Profession was to Luo Ze.

But for some reason, whenever she saw Luo Ze sitting together with Tang Wulin and chatting, she felt an especially strange sense of discomfort. It was like the man she loved had run off with another woman!

Tang Wulin himself was quite good-looking, and because he was still young, his masculine features had not fully developed yet.

"Ah! Don't be angry, Na'er. I didn't do it on purpose. I was only talking to him because I wanted to learn about blacksmithing and carefully consider my Second Profession. We didn't talk about anything else! Really, believe me!" Luo Ze said with a wronged expression.

He really was not lying. To avoid making Na'er angry, he had deliberately kept a distance of ten meters while talking to Tang Wulin!

"Hehe, I was teasing you, silly Brother! You couldn't even tell? Where did all your usual cleverness go?" Na'er burst into laughter, instantly losing her temper at Luo Ze's aggrieved appearance.

"Still, there has to be a punishment, or you'll never learn your lesson! Your punishment is that when you go learn about blacksmithing this afternoon, you have to take me with you!"

That was Na'er's real purpose. She did not care what Tang Wulin did, but she had to be by Luo Ze's side!

"And you call me silly? When have I ever gone anywhere without taking you with me? I wouldn't feel at ease letting you go home alone!"