Which Academy to Choose—That Is the Question

"Father, Mother, I'm back."

The journey from Star Dou Forest to Dongyang City of the Sun Moon Empire was indeed no short one.

Even with Mu Ye, a Rank 94 Title Douluo, traveling at full speed, it was more than half a month later when Xu Tianming returned to Dongyang City.

Although it had delayed them for some time, the gains had been worthwhile.

Feeling Electrolux sleeping curled up within his spiritual space, Xu Tianming's lips curved into a faint smile.

"It's good that you're back. Good that you're back."

Kong Yue pulled her son to her side and looked him over from head to toe.

Only after seeing that Xu Tianming was unharmed did her face reveal a somewhat relieved expression.

"Judging by how you look, you must have gained quite a lot from cultivating with Elder Mu this time."

As the saying went, no one knew a son better than his father.

Xu Xiang merely glanced at Xu Tianming's expression and knew that he was in an excellent mood, so he could not help teasing him.

"Hehe."

Xu Tianming scratched his head and gave a dry laugh.

Still, he did not explain what exactly he had done during this trip.

"There's news from Ming Capital."

After exchanging a few jokes, Xu Xiang's expression turned serious.

"Our Crown Prince truly is a ruthless man."

With a soft sigh, Xu Xiang continued.

"A few years ago, he was severely wounded by his own brother during the struggle for the throne and ultimately became crippled."

"I had thought he would never recover from that blow, but over these past years, he used every means at his disposal to hollow out my cousin's power and gradually take control of the entire Sun Moon Empire."

Xu Xiang's tone was somewhat complicated.

There was both a sense of regret over the royal family's internal strife and surprise at Xu Tianran's ability to seize complete control of the situation.

"Now that you're of age, it's time for you to go to Ming Capital for school."

Xu Xiang changed the subject and held up two fingers before Xu Tianming.

"Right now, both the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy and Ming Capital Soul Master Academy have sent invitations. Which academy do you want to attend?"

Xu Xiang did not ask whether Xu Tianming wanted to go. He simply gave him two academies to choose from.

Xu Xiang, Kong Yue, and the others all understood clearly that Xu Tianming's studies in Ming Capital represented Xu Xiang's support for Xu Tianran's rise to power.

Though it did not sound pleasant, Xu Tianming's status was essentially that of a hostage.

[Ding~ The host is about to face a difficult choice. God-Level Choice has been activated. Please make a choice according to your own wishes!]

[God-Level Choice One: Attend the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.]

[Reward: Forging Technique, Tiangong Secret Forging!]

[God-Level Choice Two: Attend Ming Capital Soul Master Academy.]

[Reward: Soul tool technology, Level 9 Soul Master Advanced Manual!]

The two options Xu Xiang offered had triggered Xu Tianming's system once again.

Listening to the voice by his ear, Xu Tianming was unusually hesitant.

Tiangong Secret Forging was obviously related to Forging Technique, but he could not be certain whether it contained forging techniques from the era of Legend of the Dragon King.

Level 9 Soul Master Advanced Manual, on the other hand, was easier to understand. It presumably contained methods for breaking through to become a Level 9 Soul Master.

If he mastered Spirit Forging, Soul Forging, and even Heaven Forging, he would undoubtedly make tremendous progress in soul tool materials.

It would even be of immense help in researching Battle Armor and Mecha in the future.

A Level 9 Soul Master, meanwhile, represented the strongest combat power of the current age.

There were fewer than twenty Level 9 Soul Masters in the entire Sun Moon Empire, while the Three Douluo Kingdoms and Shrek did not have even one.

From that alone, one could see just how powerful and scarce Level 9 Soul Masters were across the continent.

"Father, what do you think?"

After pondering for a moment, Xu Tianming turned his gaze toward his father.

"Since you're going to Ming Capital to study anyway, naturally you should choose the best academy."

A nostalgic expression appeared on Xu Xiang's face.

"Your mother and I both studied at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy back then. That was also where we met."

"The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy is also the finest academy in our Sun Moon Empire. Compared with it, Ming Capital Soul Master Academy is still slightly inferior."

Upon hearing that, Xu Tianming immediately nodded.

"Then I'll listen to Father and attend the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy!"

[Ding, congratulations to the host for making a choice. Reward obtained: Forging Technique, Tiangong Secret Forging!]

A flood of information instantly surged into Xu Tianming's mind like a tidal wave, making his consciousness waver.

Fortunately, his spiritual power was no longer what it had been when he had first awakened his Martial Soul.

Otherwise, struck by such a vast amount of information, he would probably have fainted on the spot.

"Tianming, what's wrong?"

Noticing Xu Tianming sway, Xu Xiang flashed forward and caught him.

"I'm fine. I'm just a little tired."

Xu Tianming shook his faintly aching head and came up with an excuse.

"You must have had a difficult time these past days."

Kong Yue also walked to Xu Tianming's side and said with concern,

"Go back to your room and rest first. In a few days, I'll personally take you to Ming Capital."

"Yes, Father, Mother."

Xu Tianming bowed slightly to them before slowly leaving the main hall of the City Lord's Mansion.

"Ordinary forging tempers the form, Spirit Forging tempers the nature, Soul Forging tempers the spirit, and Heaven Forging tempers the law. When form, nature, spirit, and law are all complete, the resulting weapon can gain sentience!"

Instead of returning to his room after leaving the City Lord's Mansion hall, Xu Tianming went to a newly constructed building beside the manor's rear garden.

"As expected, this Tiangong Secret Forging contains forging arts that only existed in the era of Legend of the Dragon King, ten thousand years later!"

"Thankfully, Elder Mu had a Forging Room specially built in the City Lord's Mansion so I could temper my body."

Although Mu Ye was not proficient in forging, he was, after all, a friend of Zhen Hua, the Divine Craftsman of the Legend of the Dragon King era.

He might not have eaten pork, but he had at least seen pigs run.

In order to let Xu Tianming circulate his blood and qi while tempering his physique, Xu Xiang had also built a Forging Room in the City Lord's Mansion according to Mu Ye's request.

However, without the guidance of a famous master, Xu Tianming had only poured brute strength into metal. He had never truly entered the path of forging.

But things were different now.

With Tiangong Secret Forging, many aspects of forging that he had not understood before suddenly became clear.

After lighting the fire in the forge, Xu Tianming removed his shirt, revealing an exceptionally muscular body.

Tempered by the Body Sect Secret Technique and his cultivation, his body did not resemble that of an eleven-year-old boy at all.

"Remove the dross and preserve the essence. Examine the subtle and discern the principles. Sense the changes in the metal's texture within the finest margins, purge all impurities, make its density uniform, and reveal its original luster."

Xu Tianming rubbed his chin.

"According to Tiangong Secret Forging, I should have barely reached the realm of Hundred Refinement now."

Reaching out, Xu Tianming gripped a pair of forging hammers made from Tungsten Steel beside the forge, and his aura changed instantly.

"Looks like I need to reach the Thousand Refinement level before enrollment as soon as possible!"