Apprenticing Under Zhen Hua, Evil Eye External Soul Bone!

The two elders walked ahead, discussing matters within their understanding.

"Hey."

Ye Xinglan lightly bumped Nan Liujing with her shoulder.

Nan Liujing looked at her. "What is it?"

Ye Xinglan asked softly, "I'm guessing there were at least a thousand people just now. Were you nervous up there?"

"It felt fine," Nan Liujing said.

Ye Xinglan glanced at Na'er, who was licking a lollipop with her tiny tongue. "After we finish eating, I have something to tell you."

Nan Liujing was puzzled. "Can't you say it now?"

"No." Ye Xinglan shook her head like a rattle drum, her fair ears faintly reddening. "It's a secret. More people can't know about it."

"Suit yourself." Nan Liujing was hungry now and held out his hand to Na'er. "Na'er, give your brother a piece of candy."

"Mmm!"

With the lollipop still in her mouth, Na'er hurriedly searched through her pockets with both hands. After fumbling around, she pulled out a strawberry-flavored lollipop and handed it to her brother.

"I bought that for Na'er." Ye Xinglan's eyes widened.

Nan Liujing elegantly tore open the wrapper, tossed it into the trash, and said calmly, "I'll spar with you tonight."

Ye Xinglan paused. "I still have candy on me. If you need more, come get it from me."

"Alright."

As a Divine Craftsman, Zhen Hua was qualified to have his own small cafeteria.

The place was not large, only around thirty square meters, and it looked extremely plain.

The moment they entered, a rich aroma rushed toward them. Na'er instantly found the lollipop in her mouth tasteless.

"Old Mu, there are a few more guests today. Make some extra dishes," Zhen Hua called out casually.

"Who did you invite?"

At that moment, a figure emerged from the kitchen.

He was thin and wiry, wearing a white chef's hat. There was nothing remarkable about his appearance, except for his hands, which were as warm and smooth as jade, not the least bit inferior to Zhen Hua's.

The current sect master of the Body Sect, Mu Ye, was a Four-word Battle Armor Master and a God-level Mecha Master. Unfortunately, he was too single-minded and obsessed with mechas, making it difficult for him to break through to level ninety-five.

Nan Liujing observed him silently.

"Oh." Mu Ye noticed Ye Changming and smiled faintly. "A rare guest. What made you bring so many children over today?"

"I invited them," Zhen Hua said with a smile. "Just make a few dishes. Don't make them too nourishing. These three children can't handle it yet."

"Alright. Sit down. I'll make a few home-style dishes." Mu Ye nodded to Ye Changming, then returned to the kitchen.

"I'm going to make a call. You all sit first." Zhen Hua turned and left the small cafeteria.

Once outside, he released his Mental Power and sealed off the surroundings before taking out his phone and calling an old friend who had faced life and death alongside him.

"Hello." A weary voice came from the other end of the phone.

Zhen Hua got straight to the point. "Sun Kong, aren't we buddies who would live and die together?"

Far away in Ming Capital, Sun Kong froze for a moment. "What's with you?"

Zhen Hua smiled. "You have a nephew, right?"

Sun Kong did not stand on ceremony. "Get to the point."

Zhen Hua explained his purpose. "I want to take your nephew as my disciple."

The pen in Sun Kong's hand stopped.

Zhen Hua said in a deep voice, "You saw what I looked like when I performed Heavenly Forging, and you know how much Heavenly Forging harmed me. Ever since then, I've wanted to find a suitable successor to train. Your nephew, however, can directly communicate with the Instinctual Spirituality of metals. You're a Rank 7 Saint Craftsman. You should know what that means."

"He can communicate with metals?" Now Sun Kong could no longer sit still.

"I only discovered this talent of his by chance," Zhen Hua said. "He's with me right now. I'm calling to ask for your opinion. As long as you agree, I'll arrange a set of Four-word Battle Armor for you. Whether you use it yourself or give it to someone else, it's fine. I'll cover the material costs."

The Four-word Battle Armor popular on the market nowadays was generally made from Pseudo-Heavenly Forging Metal created through the cooperation of six Saint Blacksmiths, or cultivated through special Nourishing Methods.

As for Four-word Battle Armor made entirely from Full Heavenly Forging, aside from Zhen Hua himself, no one else had it.

Sun Kong fell into brief silence on the other end.

His original plan had been to personally teach Nan Liujing forging once he returned to Ming Capital. Even if he did not like forging, Sun Kong could arrange for him to study another profession and build a foundation early.

Yet before he could do that, Boss had brought Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu over, and now Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua had stepped in as well.

Sun Kong directly ignored the reward Zhen Hua offered. Four-word Battle Armor was certainly tempting, but it was nowhere near as important as a child's future. After considering it, he replied, "I won't hide it from you. Heavenly Phoenix Douluo just came to see me, and she's after my nephew too. If you want to take him as your disciple, you may run into her."

"Heavenly Phoenix Douluo?" Zhen Hua frowned and pondered for a moment. "If she comes, we'll discuss it then. In any case, I'll only take him as my disciple if you agree."

Sun Kong rubbed his brow. "What else can I say?"

"You're a Divine Craftsman. If this child likes forging too, wouldn't it be better to leave him with you? Besides, with your current status, resources practically fly toward you like scraps of paper. I believe you won't be stingy when it comes to your own disciple."

"Of course." Zhen Hua smiled confidently. "Let me know later who the Four-word Battle Armor is for. I need to prepare suitable materials. Once I've said something, there's no taking it back."

"Fine." Sun Kong did not stand on ceremony either. "The child is with you. You can arrange the rest."

The two did not chat much. After discussing the important matter, Zhen Hua hung up and returned to the small cafeteria.

Everything was as usual.

The meal officially began.

Mu Ye's culinary skills undoubtedly astonished everyone. It was hard to imagine that if he had devoted his energy to cultivation, he would have reached at least level ninety-seven. Unfortunately, his obsession with the Red Divine Mech had wasted his potential.

There were seven dishes on the table, and by the end, every plate had been wiped clean.

Na'er kept praising Chef Uncle. Seeing her adorable doll-like appearance, Mu Ye laughed heartily and actually made several portions of dessert.

For a chef, seeing someone savor food with the greatest enjoyment was undoubtedly the highest praise.

In the Original Timeline, Tang Wulin's earnest attitude toward food had moved him as well. Otherwise, he would not have brought out the precious Red Jade Shrimp.

This Red Jade Shrimp was different from the ones sold at seafood shops in Aolai City. It was a top-grade ingredient with powerful effects in nourishing qi and blood.

After the meal, Na'er and Ye Xinglan leaned back against their chairs in satisfaction. Ye Changming pulled Mu Ye aside to discuss culinary skills.

Only Nan Liujing was taken to Zhen Hua's office.

Zhen Hua got straight to the point. "I want to take you as my disciple."

Nan Liujing calmly replied, "Because I heard the voices of metals?"

Zhen Hua nodded. "Perhaps you still don't understand what hearing the voices of metals represents, but I can tell you clearly that if you are willing to learn forging from me, I am confident I can make you a new generation Divine Craftsman before you turn twenty-five."

"I've already spoken with your uncle. He said he would respect your wishes."

After saying that, Zhen Hua waited expectantly for Nan Liujing's decision.

"Teacher." A wise man knew when to submit. Nan Liujing immediately made his stance clear.

"Good!"

Zhen Hua laughed loudly. He had originally been thinking that if Nan Liujing dared refuse, he would tie him up, lock him in a dark room, and only let him out once he agreed. He had not expected the process to go so smoothly.

He patted Nan Liujing's shoulder. "Remember, do not publicize your apprenticeship."

Thinking of the assassination attempt Zhen Hua encountered in the Original Timeline, Nan Liujing said in a deep voice, "Are you worried that people will target me and try to assassinate me?"

Surprise appeared on Zhen Hua's face. Nan Liujing's maturity exceeded his expectations. He sighed.

"From the moment I became a Divine Craftsman, the balance of the Soul Master world was broken. If news of me taking a disciple gets out, certain people who see me as a thorn in their side will definitely wait for an opportunity to act. They cannot easily assassinate me, but you are different. You have yet to grow up, and your ability to protect yourself is far from sufficient."

Nan Liujing said solemnly, "Rest assured, Teacher. I understand that."

Zhen Hua's tone softened. "Because of your teacher, you have been dragged into danger. Naturally, you should receive some compensation."

"Just so happens, there's an order in Ming Capital. The item being exchanged is an exceptionally pure Evil Eye External Soul Bone, only a thousand years old. Once I get it, I'll give it to you."

An Evil Eye External Soul Bone?

Nan Liujing's heart slightly stirred.

Now, only the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest remained. The Demonic Forest was in an even worse state, having long become a happy worksite for the Earthwood Brothers.

"By the way, Teacher, do you have any especially high-grade metals here?" Nan Liujing had not forgotten the momentary daze he experienced when sensing Deep Silver's spirituality. He wanted to test it.

Zhen Hua was puzzled. "Of course I do. Do you want some?"

Nan Liujing explained, "When I saw the Deep Silver, its spirituality actively came to me, and it caused me to blank out for a moment. Other metals didn't do that. Considering that my Mental Power is at the middle stage of the Spirit Connection Realm, I'm wondering whether the higher the grade of the metal, the greater the Mental Power required to communicate with its spirituality."

"You have Mental Power at the middle stage of the Spirit Connection Realm?"

Zhen Hua became interested and casually took out a piece of brilliant gold metal from his Storage Ring.

"Try sensing it with your Mental Power."

Nan Liujing focused his mind, and his Mental Power quickly enveloped the brilliant gold metal. He could sense a special existence, but he could not communicate with it.

He opened his eyes again and shook his head. "I can sense the existence of its spirituality, but my Mental Power isn't enough to communicate with it."

Zhen Hua understood. He then took out another piece of reddish-brown metal.

Nan Liujing sensed it again. This time, he felt something.

After the spirituality inside the metal sensed his Mental Power, it became incredibly active, like a child encountering a toy. It continuously sent him friendly messages. Although it was more like spiritual communication, their exchange was extremely harmonious, and there was clearly a sense of closeness.

Nan Liujing immediately told Zhen Hua about it.

Zhen Hua said nothing and took out another piece of metal, one extremely similar to Deep Silver.

This time, Nan Liujing found communication rather difficult, but it was much better than with the brilliant gold metal. The spirituality at least reacted. Unfortunately, it was like having a poor network connection, and their exchange was terribly laggy.

The results of the three tests were all different.

"The brilliant gold metal is called Dragon Pattern Gold. It is one of the highest-grade metals. The reddish-brown metal is called Crimson Copper, and its grade is similar to Deep Silver. The third metal is called Deep Sea Deep Silver, and it is two grades higher than ordinary Deep Silver." Zhen Hua fell into thought.

"It seems your guess was correct. You have an extremely strong affinity with metals, to the point where you can even make their spirituality seek you out. However, insufficient Mental Power prevents you from communicating with metal spirituality more effectively."

Just as Nan Liujing was about to speak, Zhen Hua suddenly smiled. "In that case, this Evil Eye External Soul Bone has come at precisely the right time. With its help, it won't take you long to reach the Spirit Sea Realm."

"From now on, come to your teacher's place for meals on Saturdays and Sundays. I'll have Uncle Mu prepare more ingredients that can enhance Mental Power."

Food supplements were popular on Douluo Continent. Nearly every major Soul Master family did something similar. However, when young Soul Masters received nourishment, it had to be truly converted into their own strength. Otherwise, overdoing it would harm the body instead.

Nan Liujing did not refuse. "Thank you, Teacher."

Zhen Hua smiled. "Why thank me between teacher and disciple? What is your Martial Soul?"

Nan Liujing clenched his right hand, and a dark green Dragon Subduing Staff condensed into existence. Dazzling lightning flowed across the staff like slender snakes.

Zhen Hua raised an eyebrow. "What is the Dragon Soul?"

"Thunder Dragon Soul," Nan Liujing said.

"A top-tier True Dragon Soul." Zhen Hua suddenly understood why Heavenly Phoenix Douluo had come looking for him. However, since Nan Liujing was a Dragon Subduing Staff Soul Master, why had no one from the Qian Gu Family come to take him as a disciple?

"Actually, I have another Martial Soul." Nan Liujing did not hide anything. Under Zhen Hua's slightly surprised gaze, a golden Soul Ring rose up. Dreamlike brilliant gold light emerged from his left palm, and strands of Heaven and Earth Yuan Power flowed into it. Half a minute later, a candy bearing Dragon Scale patterns appeared in his hand.

"You also have a Food System Martial Soul?"

This time, Zhen Hua was truly shocked.

"Would you like to try it?" Nan Liujing handed it over.

Zhen Hua did not stand on ceremony. He took it and tossed it into his mouth.

The moment it went down his throat, his expression changed slightly. As a Titled Douluo, the Golden Dragon Candy Nan Liujing provided could not give him much of a boost at present. That was evident from the fact that no faint Dragon Scale appeared on Zhen Hua's body.

Yet the rich energy entering his body and the comfortable sensation of it nourishing every inch of flesh and blood were completely real. It was like receiving an entire massage treatment, leaving his whole body refreshed.

Not to mention the hidden passive effect of increasing mental concentration. That was the best part, and at a crucial moment, it could be enough to turn the tide.

Zhen Hua asked, "What level is your Soul Power now?"

"Level Thirteen," Nan Liujing replied.

Zhen Hua's expression turned solemn. "Although it may be somewhat impolite, Teacher still wants to ask: how many of these candies can you make each day, and how long can they be stored?"

Nan Liujing sensed the Golden Dragon King bloodline activated within his Candy Martial Soul and roughly estimated it. "It's best not to make more than ten a day. They can only be stored for one day."

In truth, the effects of Golden Dragon Candy differed completely depending on whether Nan Liujing used it himself or someone else did.

It was like the difference between Daigo using the Divine Light Stick and his son using the Divine Light Stick.

"A top-grade Food System Martial Soul." Zhen Hua praised him, not continuing to ask about the golden Soul Ring. "Now I can guarantee that the time for you to become a Divine Craftsman can be shortened by at least another two years."

As he spoke, he took out a thick, weighty book and handed it to Nan Liujing, instructing him, "This is the Encyclopedia of Metals. It records every type of metal on the market. Memorize them first. As a blacksmith, you must understand these things, just as Soul Masters in ancient times had to memorize the various types of Soul Beasts."

"Yes!"

Nan Liujing took it and placed it in his Storage Ring.

The Divine Craftsman setting in the original work was changed. At The Very Beginning, it said there were three Nine-Star Divine Craftsmen, but later it became just Zhen Hua alone.

I might as well establish directly that currently, no one on Douluo Continent possesses Four-word Battle Armor made from pure Heavenly Forging Metal. Instead, they rely on Pseudo-Heavenly Forging Metal jointly created by six Saint Blacksmiths, or Four-word Battle Armor advanced through Nourishing Methods.

Only after Zhen Hua appeared did genuine versions exist. That was precisely why the Holy Spirit Cult had always wanted to eliminate him, which also corresponded with the assassination attempt in the original work.

After all, everyone else had Four-word Battle Armor of the same level, with roughly similar improvements. Zhen Hua alone created something overpowered. If they were not going to kill him, who would they kill?