Special Training, Forging Guidance

Xie Xie looked strangely at the hammer in Tang Wuyang's hand, secretly glad that Tang Wuyang had not used this hammer when they had sparred.

If he had used this hammer to strike him while he was trapped by Ice Chains during their first fight, then...

Tang Wuyang lowered his raised right hand. Wu Changkong looked at him in confusion. "There's something unusual about your hammer."

Tang Wuyang said, "This is a Sinking Silver Hammer. It's heavier than an ordinary Forging Hammer, and Ge has two as well."

"How heavy is it? Let me see!"

Xie Xie was extremely interested in the hammer that had smashed Teacher Wu's Wooden Sword apart. He darted over to Tang Wuyang and reached for the Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammer in his hand.

Clang!

The moment Tang Wuyang released it, the Sinking Silver Hammer dropped straight to the ground. Its enormous momentum dragged Xie Xie down with it, sending him sprawling flat on his back.

"Aiyo! Wh-what kind of thing is this? Why is it so heavy?" Xie Xie clutched the aching part of his body as he got back to his feet.

Wu Changkong walked over and picked up the Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammer. A look of surprise appeared in his eyes as well.

No wonder his Wooden Sword had been smashed apart. The weight of this hammer...

Tang Wuyang explained, "Each one weighs around one hundred and eighty kilograms."

Wu Changkong handed the hammer back to him. "Those three bursts of force it released just now—were those under your control?"

Tang Wuyang accepted the Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammer, paused, and said, "That's the hammer's own ability. Once metal undergoes Thousand Forging, it develops certain special effects."

"My Sinking Silver Hammer has one too. It's called Stacking Hammer."

"You said Tang Wulin has two as well?" Wu Changkong asked.

As one of the people involved, Tang Wulin answered directly, "Yes."

As he spoke, silver light flashed from his right hand. The next moment, a hammer nearly identical in appearance to the one in Tang Wuyang's hand appeared in his palm.

"This is my Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammer. It looks the same as Wuyang's, but my special effect is Vibration Hammer."

Although Wu Changkong did not understand Forging, he could still tell that the Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers in the brothers' hands were extremely valuable.

"You two are very talented at Forging? I looked into it. Mu Xi, who came to challenge you in Forging today, is the daughter of the president of the East Sea Forging Master Association."

The Brothers exchanged smiles, then said in unison, "Um~, we're Forging Masters."

A thoughtful look appeared in Wu Changkong's eyes. He raised both hands toward Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin. "Come. Hold my hands and pull with all your strength. Let me see exactly how strong you are."

Tang Wuyang grabbed Wu Changkong's right hand, while Tang Wulin took his left at the same time.

Wu Changkong's hands were large, his fingers long and powerful. Though he had a cold and aloof air about him, his hands were not rough in the slightest.

"Begin."

Hearing this, the Brothers took deep breaths in unison. Both of them exerted force through their arms and pulled backward with all their might.

This time, Wu Changkong had prepared thoroughly. He stood there as immovably as a nail driven into the ground.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin's Small Faces flushed red from exertion.

Although Wu Changkong himself did not move, the faint Soul Power Fluctuation around his body showed that he was not as relaxed as he appeared.

"Get along."

After a moment, Wu Changkong called for them to stop.

The Brothers obediently withdrew their strength and released Wu Changkong's hands.

A strange expression flickered across Wu Changkong's cold face. He patted Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin on the shoulders. "With strength like yours, our tactics for the Promotion Tournament will be interesting."

By the time Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie returned to the Dormitory, they were utterly exhausted. Forget Forging again—the Brothers could barely even sit cross-legged and enter Meditation.

Starting the next day, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin received special permission not to participate in Physical training.

In Wu Changkong's view, his Physical training was useless to freaks like Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin, whose talent for strength was so extraordinary.

It would be better for them to spend their time cultivating Soul Power and controlling their Soul Skills.

When the other Students of Grade One Class Five reached the third day of Physical training, they finally could not endure any longer. Large groups collapsed across the training field.

From that day onward, the schedule returned to Physical training in the morning and Theory Class in the afternoon.

With only half a day of Physical Education Class, the Students actually felt much more relaxed. No one complained during Physical Education Class anymore.

Tang Wuyang, Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie were taken by Wu Changkong for a Spirit Power test, and the results were astonishing.

Xie Xie's Spirit Power was twenty-nine. That was already an excellent result among his peers, close to the Spirit Origin Realm Intermediate Stage.

Tang Wulin's Spirit Power was fifty-one, nearly at the Spirit Origin Realm Advanced Stage.

Tang Wuyang's Spirit Power made Wu Changkong's eyes light up even more. His Spirit Power was sixty-two, already at the Spirit Origin Realm Advanced Stage.

The three of them had already brought Wu Changkong some pleasant surprises, but compared with Gu Yue, their Spirit Power instantly seemed far less remarkable.

Gu Yue's Spirit Power reached an astonishing one hundred and nineteen, directly entering the Spirit Connection Realm.

The so-called Spirit Connection Realm referred to a state where the mind communicated with the spirit and one's thoughts arrived wherever one's intent reached. Upon reaching the Spirit Connection Realm, one began to master Spirit Power, truly controlling it for one's own use. One could support two Yellow Soul Spirits or one Purple Soul Spirit.

Only then did Wu Changkong confirm that Gu Yue's Martial Soul, Elemental User, was likely actually a rare spirit-type Martial Soul. Through her powerful Spirit Power, she communicated with the elements and used them for herself.

Spirit Masters were the rarest and most sought-after Soul Masters in the modern world, because they were the most compatible with Mecha. This made Wu Changkong value Gu Yue even more.

Of course, there would be no difference in the hardship of their training. The more Wu Changkong valued someone, the greater their training load became.

After a week like this, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin had not found time to visit Mang Tian's Workshop, so naturally they had been unable to complete their Forging Tasks.

Beep beep! Having just finished today's Special training, the four of them were walking back to the Dormitory when Tang Wuyang's Communication Soul Tool suddenly rang.

Tang Wuyang had nearly forgotten he even had the thing. As a Soul Master, he did not need to buy Soul Guidance Batteries. Whenever it ran out of power, he only needed to inject Soul Power into it to use it again.

A special number appeared on the communicator.

"Hello!" Tang Wuyang answered the call.

"What have you two been doing?" A familiar voice came from the other end. Upon hearing it, Tang Wuyang stopped walking.

Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie noticed and stopped as well.

"Teacher." Hearing Tang Wuyang's reply, Tang Wulin leaned his ear closer too.

"What is going on with you two? You still haven't completed a Second-Level Professional task after an entire week?" Mang Tian's tone was extremely stern.

Tang Wuyang hurriedly explained, "No, Teacher. We've been attending class and training every day lately. We really haven't had time to visit your workshop."

Tang Wulin hurriedly added from the side, "That's right, Teacher. Tomorrow is the weekend. Wuyang and I were planning to come over tomorrow."

Mang Tian fell silent for a moment. "You're only in First Grade at an Intermediate Academy, and you're already this busy?"

Tang Wuyang explained everything that had happened since they enrolled, including how they were receiving Teacher Wu's Special training for the upcoming Promotion Tournament.

Gu Yue and Xie Xie's attention was drawn to Tang Wuyang as well.

"Um~, then come tomorrow. I'll be there too!" Mang Tian hung up after saying that.

Tang Wuyang put away the Soul Guidance Communicator and heard Xie Xie say irritably from beside him, "Wei, didn't you two say you had no money? You actually have a Communication Soul Tool!"

Tang Wulin said, "It was a benefit issued by the association. We couldn't afford one ourselves."

Xie Xie said, "Come to think of it, you said you were Forging Masters. The kind that can refine metal?"

Tang Wulin nodded.

Xie Xie said, "Um~, Forging Masters have a promising future if they make it."

"I remember my father once bought a Mecha Core component that had undergone Thousand Forging. It seemed pretty expensive."

"When you reach Master Level, can you refine metal for me too?"

Hearing that, Tang Wuyang asked, "What? Are you going to become a Mecha Master in the future?"

Xie Xie said proudly, "Of course. Our family is a famous Mecha Master family. Naturally, I'm going to become a Mecha Master in the future."

Tang Wulin immediately became interested. "Then tell us, what are real Mecha Masters like? Are there any requirements?"

After the experiences of the past few days, Xie Xie's relationship with the Brothers had improved greatly.

"After so many years of development, Soul Guide Mecha went from initial Miniaturization to later Large-scale designs, then returned to Miniaturization again."

"After completing that entire cycle, individual Combat Power has become increasingly powerful."

"A truly powerful Mecha Master wears Mecha no larger than a suit of armor, but it provides tremendous enhancement. Combined with the fusion of a Martial Soul, it can turn them into a Super Warrior."

"I've heard that God-level Mecha Masters forge all their Mecha themselves."

Tang Wulin asked curiously, "Doesn't that mean God-level Mecha Masters are all Forging Masters?"

Xie Xie rolled his eyes. "Of course not. By forging, I mean that God-level Mecha Masters personally inscribe formations onto their Mecha, making it more compatible with themselves."

"Of course, if they can Forge as well, the compatibility will naturally be even higher."

"Speaking of which, how good are you two at Forging? What level have you reached?"

Hearing this, Gu Yue also turned her gaze toward them.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin looked at each other. They hesitated, but still felt they could not deceive their friend.

The day Xie Xie had threatened Mu Xi for them, the Brothers had already considered him a friend.

Tang Wulin spoke first. "We can barely manage Thousand Forging."

Others might not understand much about Forging, but how could Xie Xie, who came from a Mecha Master family, not understand?

When he heard they could perform Thousand Forging, Xie Xie could not help revealing a surprised expression. "Doesn't that mean your Forging Level has already reached Master Level?"

Tang Wuyang shook his head and denied it. "Not yet. We've only just reached Second Rank Forging Master."

Gu Yue looked at them, her tone carrying a trace of surprise. "So you're only nine years old, yet you're already Second-Level Professionals?"

Xie Xie's eyes shifted as though he had thought of something. He threw an arm around Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang's necks. "Wulin, Wuyang, we're Brothers, right?"

Tang Wulin gave him an annoyed glance. "You never show kindness without a reason. What do you want?"

Xie Xie chuckled. "Nothing. Can you forge Mecha parts for me in the future? What do you say? Don't worry, I'll pay you the market price for everything."

Tang Wuyang asked doubtfully, "Do you even need to ask us? Can't you just post a task at our Forging Master Association? It's the market price either way."

Tang Wulin nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Xie Xie looked at the Brothers in surprise. "It seems you don't truly understand the Forging Master profession yet!"

"Do you think someone will definitely accept a task just because you post it? There are very few Forging Masters above Master Level, and even fewer willing to take Thousand Forging jobs."

"It's not something just anyone can get in line for. It took my father a full four years to replace every part of his Mecha with Thousand-Forged components, and that was with his good relationship with the Forging Master Association."

"You can already perform Thousand Forging now. In a few years, you'll surely reach Master Level. If you become my exclusive Forging Masters, won't I be able to get a Thousand-Forged Mecha much faster? That's a true symbol of nobility."

Tang Wulin nodded helplessly. "Fine. Once I have the ability, I'll definitely help you."

Seeing Gu Yue staring at him, Tang Wuyang could not help agreeing too. "Once my Forging Level is high enough, I'll definitely forge metal for you."

Only after receiving a satisfactory answer did Gu Yue withdraw her gaze from Tang Wuyang and walk alone toward the Girls' Dormitory.

Seeing that Xie Xie was still excited, Tang Wuyang said, "Aren't you tired? Let's hurry back."

Hearing this, Xie Xie finally suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart and followed the Brothers into the Boys' Dormitory Building.

The Intermediate Academy had one rest day each week, and Students could arrange that day as they pleased.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin had been unable to complete their Forging Tasks for Crimson Gold and Heavenly Dragon Iron all week, and they were rather anxious about it.

Mang Tian would be there as well, so it was the perfect chance to complete their respective tasks.

Early the next morning, after Finished Eating breakfast, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin left the academy and headed straight for Mang Tian's Workshop.

Before they even entered, the two heard the sound of Ding Ding clanging from inside.

Tang Wuyang unlocked the door with his key. When they entered the Forging Room, the Brothers saw Mang Tian hard at work.

Mang Tian glanced at them. "Um~, your Essence, Qi, and Spirit are in good shape. It seems you really have been cultivating diligently."

The Brothers scratched their heads awkwardly. Tang Wulin said apologetically, "But, Forging..."

Mang Tian waved his hand. "You can already perform Thousand Forging. In terms of Forging, that means you've entered another stage. You can no longer improve simply through practice."

"At your age, working hard to raise your Soul Power is what matters most."

"So, you did nothing wrong."

"Get along. From now on, come here during the weekly Holiday. Go change your clothes now."

"Afterward, I'll first help you become familiar with using the Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammer. In the afternoon, you can complete the tasks you each accepted."

He truly could not bring himself to be stern with these two disciples. When he had gotten his disciples' Communication Numbers from Cen Yue yesterday, Cen Yue had pestered him for a long time, and even the president had personally come to ask about them.

Although Eastsea City was not an especially important city on the Entire Continent, Mu Chen was one of the continent's Top Ten Holy Craftsmen.

Not only in the Forging Master world, but across the entire continent, he was a major figure with tremendous renown.

If not for the fact that his wife was from Eastsea City, he would never have stayed here.

Yesterday, even Mu Chen had offered to help if Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin needed anything in their studies. How could that not delight Mang Tian?

However, in his opinion, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin only needed his guidance for now. He had his own selfish motives as well. If he handed Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang over to Mu Chen now, who would count as their teacher in the future?

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang's talent for Forging was not simply a matter of Innate Superhuman Strength.

Though Innate Superhuman Strength was rare, it was not unheard of. Yet among those who truly became top-tier Forging Masters, almost none had relied on Innate Superhuman Strength alone.

The higher a Forging Master's rank, the greater the demands on comprehension and Soul Power. In later-stage Forging, it was fundamentally impossible to succeed without sufficiently powerful Soul Power.

Mang Tian had suffered from precisely that weakness. Otherwise, he was confident that he could have advanced to Saint Craftsman.

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang's Innate Superhuman Strength compensated for their current lack of Soul Power. More importantly, these two children possessed extraordinary comprehension.

They entered a state of focus almost every time they forged. Especially during that Thousand Forging of Deep Sea Silver, they had even sensed the life within the metal.

Mang Tian remembered that he had only been able to occasionally enter such a state after becoming a Fourth Grade Forging Master.

It was easy to imagine just how great Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin's talent for Forging was, and neither of them feared hardship.

For three years, they had never slacked off while studying under him. That was what laid such a solid foundation.

Mang Tian was unwilling to simply send away two children this exceptional.

After the two changed clothes, Mang Tian explained a few things to the Brothers before helping them familiarize themselves with their respective Thousand Refinements Sinking Silver Hammers.

That day, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin both immersed themselves in Forging.

That afternoon, the two spent some time completing the tasks they had each accepted.

Mang Tian brought them to the Forging Master Association, submitted the finished products, and received twenty thousand Federation Coins.

Just as the two finished accepting new tasks and prepared to return to school, Mang Tian said to them, "Remember to come forge at Teacher's place every weekly break."

"Every month, you must produce one Thousand-Forged finished product. Teacher will leave the materials there. The Thousand-Forged product will count as payment for the two of you using my workshop."

The two readily agreed, then returned to the academy.