Gu Yue, You're Forcing Me to Become a Dragon Knight!

Zhen Hua hurried forward and suppressed his excitement as he asked, "Is your body under any strain?"

"Everything was just right. It won't damage my muscles or bones." Nan Liujing looked at the Thunder Silver on the Forging Table and felt the life he had nurtured with his own hands. "Teacher, does this make me a Fifth Grade Blacksmith?"

Zhen Hua burst into laughter. "You're not just a Fifth Grade Blacksmith. You're also the youngest Grandmaster-level blacksmith in the history of the Douluo Continent."

Nan Liujing laughed freely as well. Using cheats really did feel great.

Back at the Small Cafeteria, Zhen Hua immediately had Mu Ye make Nan Liujing a bowl of noodles to replenish his energy.

"So this kid is a Grandmaster now?" In the kitchen, Mu Ye watched Nan Liujing wolf down his noodles, then looked in astonishment at the beaming Zhen Hua.

"You should consider who his teacher is." Zhen Hua looked immensely proud.

Mu Ye curled his lips. "What the hell does it have to do with you? It's because this kid has a special physique."

He would never admit that he was jealous. Even now, the Body Sect had yet to find an heir. As for his eldest disciple, A Ruheng... forget it. His strength was sufficient, but his brains were lacking. He was not suited to bear the burden of becoming sect master.

"Just keep being jealous." Zhen Hua laughed heartily, then softened his tone. "Come to think of it, there's no need for you to set your standards so high."

Mu Ye narrowed his eyes. "Better none than the wrong one. I don't want my ancestors to learn that I accepted a disciple who didn't meet the rules."

Zhen Hua shook his head. "You're still as stubborn as ever. It's precisely because disciples who meet the requirements are so rare that your two martial uncles left and handed this hot potato to you."

"Let's not talk about that." Mu Ye sighed.

Nan Liujing ate quickly, not even leaving behind the noodle broth. He had no idea where Mu Ye had gotten so many top-grade ingredients.

After the meal, Mu Ye went to wash the dishes while Zhen Hua pulled Nan Liujing aside to give him instructions before their handover.

He mainly told him to maintain Spirit Forging once a week and try forging as many different types of metal as possible.

In any case, modern society had video calls. If Nan Liujing encountered anything he didn't understand, he could quickly ask him.

Distance was no longer a problem.

As for the upcoming Fusion Forging, Zhen Hua merely gave Nan Liujing a journal of his insights for him to use as reference during this period.

That was how blacksmithing worked. A master could lead one through the door, but cultivation depended on the individual.

"Uncle Ye is going to work in Shrek City?"

After returning from the Blacksmith Association, Nan Liujing quickly packed his luggage, only to learn a rather significant piece of news from Ye Xinglan.

Ye Xinglan stood to one side and explained, "My dad's performance was outstanding, so the company transferred him to headquarters."

Nan Liujing understood.

Uncle Ye's company was called Xuan Shi Tang Sect Co., Ltd. To put it bluntly, it was the Tang Sect.

No wonder Ye Xinglan had been admitted to the Shrek Inner Court ahead of time in the Original Timeline. So that was why. After all, during the Dou San era, Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect were completely in bed together.

Then, should he recruit Ye Xinglan into the Spirit Pagoda?

A top-tier Soul Master genius was worth recruiting.

Knowing that Uncle Ye was still at home, Nan Liujing could only temporarily suppress that little thought.

Early the next morning, after breakfast, everyone took a Soul Guide Vehicle to the Heaven Dou City Train Station.

They had no plans to take a Soul Guidance Aircraft this time. Mainly because a Soul Guide Passenger Plane had been blown up in midair by Evil Soul Masters some time ago. Only a few Soul Masters with flying Martial Souls had survived. Even though more than a month had passed, the incident remained the Federation's hottest news, causing major airports to suspend operations.

As everyone knew, as long as one did not ride the same high-speed rail as Tang Wulin, Evil Soul Masters basically would not launch a surprise attack. It was quite safe in that regard.

They departed from Heaven Dou City and headed south all the way.

The natural scenery and city views along the route left Ye Xinglan thoroughly satisfied. Since birth, she had barely ever left Heaven Dou City.

As for Na'er, she seemed to wear a faint smile, but she was actually listless, as though she had something on her mind.

Nan Liujing noticed, but he did not say anything.

The sky turned dim yellow, and they arrived at Shrek City, which had not yet become a place full of familiar faces.

"Fellow passengers, welcome to Shrek City. This is home to the continent's number one Soul Master Academy, Shrek Academy... At the same time, it is also the location of the Spirit Pagoda headquarters. Please look to your left. That building soaring into the clouds is the Heavenly Spirit Tower, the tallest building on the Douluo Continent."

As the train gradually slowed amid the announcement, Ye Xinglan was completely drawn to the towering structure that pierced the heavens.

"So this is the Heavenly Spirit Tower?" She could not help clicking her tongue. She had only seen it on television before, but now that she faced it in person, she finally understood how magnificent it was.

Ye Changming was unimpressed. "Liujing, is someone coming to pick you up later?"

Having learned that Nan Liujing had become the disciple of the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, Ye Changming had long given up on trying to recruit him.

"Yes." Nan Liujing smiled. "Teacher sent someone to wait outside the station."

"Alright." Ye Changming nodded slightly.

Hearing that, Ye Xinglan suddenly found the Heavenly Spirit Tower uninteresting. "Without Na'er, I won't even sleep peacefully in the future." Looking at the smiling Na'er, her eyes turned as she said, "Na'er, how about coming with me?"

Na'er smiled and shook her head. "My family is coming to pick me up, so I can't go."

"Ah, then there's no... Huh? Family?" Ye Xinglan sighed, then abruptly reacted. She stared at Na'er in surprise. "What family?"

Nan Liujing also looked at Na'er but said nothing.

Ever since Na'er had failed to awaken a Martial Soul, he had known this day would come. In the Original Timeline, Na'er had been taken back by Di Tian and the others before going to Shrek.

Na'er pursed her lips and explained softly, "When we left Heaven Dou City, someone found me and said she was my aunt. I didn't believe her at first, but she directly mentioned that I didn't have a Martial Soul. Only Uncle Ye, Brother, Sister, and all of you knew that secret."

Ye Changming became wary. "Na'er, the family you mentioned will be waiting for you at the train station?"

"Yes." Na'er nodded.

Ye Changming said gravely, "Uncle Ye wants to meet them. Is that alright?"

"Yes." Na'er answered. "My aunt also wants me to bring you to meet her."

The crowd surged as pedestrians hurried out of the train station.

Ye Xinglan was expressionless, while Na'er remained calm and followed along while holding Nan Liujing's hand.

Following Na'er's directions, everyone soon arrived at a Cafe inside the station.

Through the glass window, Nan Liujing immediately spotted a special woman.

She had long emerald-green hair draped behind her back and wore fashionable casual clothes. Her face was exquisite, not inferior to Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu in the slightest.

The moment they entered the Cafe, the woman seemed to sense them and looked over.

She rose gracefully. Before Ye Changming could speak, she took the initiative and said, "Hello. I am Na'er's aunt. I presume she has already told you about me."

Ye Changming tested her. "What proof do you have that you're Na'er's relative?"

Bi Ji smiled. "Na'er's physique is special. Without our family's awakening method, she cannot awaken her Martial Soul. If you have tried to awaken her Martial Soul before, you should have sensed a hidden power that could not be drawn out."

The wariness in Ye Changming's heart immediately lessened by more than half. When he had awakened Na'er's Martial Soul, he had indeed sensed an extremely powerful force within her, but no matter what he did, he could not draw it out. So it was because of her physique.

Bi Ji turned to Na'er. "Na'er, hold out your hand. I'll temporarily activate your Martial Soul first. That will also prove my identity."

Nan Liujing rubbed Na'er's head, his meaning clear.

Na'er immediately stepped forward and extended her fair little hand.

Bi Ji gently took it. A soft, gentle green-gold glow immediately gathered in Na'er's palm, transforming into a special formation.

Gradually, a strange pale silver radiance emerged from Na'er's body, while a clear and passionate dragon roar began to sound from her palm.

"Na'er's Martial Soul is a Dragon Martial Soul?" Eyes widened, Ye Xinglan also became certain that this beautiful aunt was Na'er's relative.

"Mm." Na'er let out a muffled groan.

"What's happening?" Ye Xinglan's expression changed.

Nan Liujing calmly said, "The temporary activation of her Martial Soul caused Soul Power backlash. It's fine."

Only when Ye Xinglan saw Na'er nod at her did she relax.

Bi Ji asked, "Can I prove my identity now?"

"Of course." Ye Changming nodded.

Only then did Bi Ji look at Nan Liujing and sincerely thank him. "Come to think of it, I also have to thank you for taking Na'er in."

Nan Liujing chuckled. "I like Na'er very much, and I'm also fortunate to have met her and made her my little sister. It has been an unforgettable memory."

Na'er's beautiful violet eyes blinked, concealing her delight.

Bi Ji said with apparent relief, "You may not know how important Na'er is to our family. She is the most gifted existence we've seen in a thousand years. If anything happened to her, it would have an enormous impact on our family's inheritance."

Ye Xinglan could not help asking, "Then how could Na'er have gotten lost? If Liujing hadn't saved her, she would have been abducted by Human Traffickers long ago."

Bi Ji sighed. "When a family expert took Na'er out, they encountered an assassination by Evil Soul Masters. Nearly all the family members protecting her died, including two Titled Douluo."

Ye Xinglan's pupils contracted. Even two Titled Douluo had died. How strong had the enemy been?

Ye Changming secretly frowned. Evil Soul Masters had recently begun growing active again, and they were also a key target of the sect's defenses.

Nan Liujing wore a grave expression on the surface, but inwardly, he was already guessing who had made up this story.

Bi Ji did not dwell on the matter. She took a jade box from her Storage Ring and handed it to Nan Liujing. "This is a token of thanks. Please accept it."

Nan Liujing looked at the jade box and gently shook his head.

At The Very Beginning, when he had interfered with Na'er's meeting with Tang Wulin, he had indeed done so for himself. But after taking Na'er in for so long, he had long regarded her as family.

He would definitely stop Gu Yue from merging with Na'er in the future. No matter what, he would change everything.

Bi Ji insisted on giving him the item. "The fact that you were willing to take Na'er in shows your character. The item inside this jade box is the highest-level gift our family can offer. Once you keep it, if you encounter a certain-death situation, you can rely on it to protect your life once. Na'er escaped the assassination because she used it as well."

Nan Liujing hesitated. He had not forgotten that the Silver Dragon King had once watched him in Aolai City. He truly did not dare accept a gift from Bi Ji.

Na'er looked somewhat confused. In her memories, there was no so-called family, nor had she used anything to escape an assassination. Yet for some reason, whenever she tried to explain, she could not get the words out, which made her a little annoyed.

Suddenly, a special thought emerged in her mind. She took the jade box herself and forcibly stuffed it into Nan Liujing's hands. "Brother, keep it."

Nan Liujing was caught off guard and accepted it. Bi Ji secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Now that the gift has been delivered, I can report back."

Ye Changming frowned slightly. This stunning woman seemed a little too eager to give away the gift.

Bi Ji realized it as well. She had been too hasty, so she quickly concealed it with a smile. "Na'er will live at Shrek Academy from now on. You siblings will not be unable to see each other in the future."

Ye Changming's heart stirred. "Does your sect have ties with Shrek Academy?"

Bi Ji smiled. "We have some connection, though it isn't particularly deep."

This finally put Ye Changming completely at ease, and all his wariness disappeared.

The Tang Sect and Shrek Academy were now united against a common enemy and had a close relationship. Since the woman before them had ties to Shrek Academy, she counted as an ally.

Nan Liujing held the jade box without saying anything. Na'er never called him merely "brother." She was reminding him.

Who would have thought? He had only just been watched by Tang San, and now the Silver Dragon King had her eyes on him too.

You're forcing me to become a Dragon Knight, Gu Yue!

"Ring, ring, ring!"

Suddenly, an urgent phone ringtone sounded.

Everyone looked toward Nan Liujing.

Nan Liujing took out his phone and saw the words "Teacher Leng" on the screen. He pressed the answer button.

Leng Yaozhu's gentle voice came from the other end. "The person sent to pick you up says they haven't seen you."

"Sorry, Teacher. I was delayed by something at the station with an elder." Nan Liujing explained, then asked, "Does the person you sent have any distinguishing features?"

"Features?" Leng Yaozhu thought for a moment. "Just look for the roughest-looking person in the crowd. You can't miss him."

"Alright, I'll head over right away." Nan Liujing replied.

After hanging up, he exchanged a glance with Na'er and asked Bi Ji, "Senior, are you planning to take Na'er back right away, or what?"

Bi Ji said, "I'll first take Na'er back to the clan to awaken her Martial Soul, then she will go to Shrek Academy."

Nan Liujing said quietly, "So that means we're going to separate from now on."

"Brother." Na'er was reluctant, and her eyes reddened slightly. She truly did not want to leave with this aunt, but she simply could not refuse.

A cold glint hid deep in Nan Liujing's eyes. Smiling, he stepped forward and rubbed Na'er's head, then pulled out a bracelet emitting a gentle green-gold light as if performing a magic trick.

Ye Changming recognized it. It was the Life Crystal Stone he had given Nan Liujing when he picked him up at Heaven Dou Airport.

Nan Liujing personally put it on Na'er. A pure Life Aura dispersed the unease in her heart.

"Shrek Academy isn't far from the Spirit Pagoda. You can come find brother anytime later."

"Mm." Na'er lowered her head to look at the green-gold bracelet on her wrist, and a trace of a smile touched her brows.

Na'er was taken away by Bi Ji. Ye Changming also left with Ye Xinglan.

After seeing them off, Nan Liujing immediately followed the features Leng Yaozhu had described and found the person who had come to pick him up.

He was a middle-aged man in his thirties, broad and powerfully built, with hair like steel needles and an especially fierce-looking face. Pedestrians passing nearby were somewhat afraid of him and detoured around him.

"Nan Liujing?"

"Yes."

Bai Haoze nodded and patted the Hover Soul Guide Vehicle beside him. "Get in!"

"What should I call you, Senior?" Nan Liujing asked casually as he got into the vehicle.

"Bai Haoze." The middle-aged man's voice matched his appearance, extremely deep and low.

The moment Nan Liujing heard those three words, his brows rose.

Bai Haoze possessed the Bright Unicorn Martial Soul and had the cultivation of a Titled Douluo. She had a younger sister named Bai Zhicen.

Ordinarily, that would have been perfectly normal, but memories from his previous life told him that this burly guy was actually a woman!

She had only become like this through a special method.

She was a minor character who would only appear in the later stages of the Dragon King Era.

Glancing at her overwhelmingly muscular body, Nan Liujing could not help twitching the corner of his mouth.