Mentor Zhang Tiezhu

"What a pity. This technique can't be applied to Soul Tools on a large scale."

A flicker of disappointment passed through Jing Hongchen's eyes.

In the Sun Moon Empire, where assembly lines had already emerged, this kind of forging craft was destined to be impossible to promote widely.

"Although Thousand Refinement can't truly be popularized on a large scale, Forging Technique still has certain advantages when it comes to refining metals."

Xu Tianming shook his head, clearly disagreeing somewhat with Jing Hongchen's assessment.

The Battle Armor and mecha developed from Forging Technique were the correct path for Spirit Masters in the future.

However, Jing Hongchen had not been wrong about one thing.

Whether it was Forging Technique or the mecha and Battle Armor derived from it, only a small number of people would be able to master them.

"You have a point."

"Mingde Hall has an Eighth-Level Soul Engineer who specializes in refining metals."

Jing Hongchen tapped the table twice with his hand.

"If you're willing, you can study Soul Engineering under him while continuing your research into Forging Technique."

Xu Tianming froze slightly at those words.

"Then what about my studies at the academy?"

"Isn't it better to find you a personal one-on-one teacher?"

Jing Hongchen's eyes widened slightly.

"You've cultivated your Body Martial Soul to this extent. There isn't anyone in the academy who can guide your Martial Soul cultivation at all."

"Now I've specially found an Eighth-Level Soul Engineer to be your mentor, and you can continue researching your Forging Technique."

"You should be secretly thrilled!"

Honestly, making Xu Tianming sit properly in a classroom and attend lessons really would have been rather difficult for him.

"Thank you, Dean! Thank you, Dean!"

After coming to his senses, Xu Tianming beamed and repeatedly cupped his hands toward Jing Hongchen.

"Take this card."

With a flash of light in his hand, Jing Hongchen tossed a golden card to Xu Tianming.

"This is your academy card. Keep it safe."

"In a while, I'll have Lin Jiayi take you to meet your mentor."

"Thank you, Dean!"

In truth, after being fed by Mu Ye, that master chef, what good food had Xu Tianming not eaten before?

Others coveted the medicinal cuisine in the cafeteria of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy, but he was not the slightest bit envious.

"Dean, you summoned me?"

A familiar knock came with Lin Jiayi's familiar face as he once again appeared in the office.

Lin Jiayi was also slightly taken aback when he saw Xu Tianming.

Then his gaze fell upon Xiao Hongchen and his sister on the sofa, and his expression became increasingly strange.

"Take him to see Zhang Tiechui. From now on, Zhang Tiechui will be his mentor."

Pointing at Xu Tianming, Jing Hongchen gave Lin Jiayi his instructions.

Lin Jiayi froze again.

"Hm?"

Jing Hongchen frowned slightly.

"Yes, Dean. I'll take him there immediately!"

Jing Hongchen's soft hum landed in Lin Jiayi's ears like a thunderclap, making him jolt all over.

"Then, Dean, I'll take my leave first."

Xu Tianming also gave Jing Hongchen a slight bow before following Lin Jiayi out of the office once more.

"Teacher Lin, who exactly is this Zhang Tiechui?"

Almost as soon as they left Jing Hongchen's office, Xu Tianming impatiently began asking Lin Jiayi about this mentor.

Zhang Tiezhu.

That name always gave Xu Tianming an extremely jarring feeling.

"Zhang Tiezhu is one of Mingde Hall's Eighth-Level Soul Engineers."

Lin Jiayi's expression was somewhat strange.

"However, he has an eccentric temper. He hardly even listens to the dean's orders."

At that point, Lin Jiayi paused.

"He has taught some students before, but they all couldn't stand his teaching methods and found ways to leave."

Xu Tianming nodded slightly.

He had known from the name alone that this Zhang Tiezhu was no ordinary person.

Come to think of it, an ordinary person would not choose such a name either.

After passing through the academy's teaching buildings, they arrived at the place where Mingde Hall was located.

Quite a few researchers in Mingde Hall were teachers from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.

Meanwhile, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy continuously supplied Mingde Hall with a great number of Soul Engineering talents.

The two complemented each other, allowing the Sun Moon Empire to make tremendous progress in Soul Tools in recent years.

Led by Lin Jiayi, Xu Tianming entered a somewhat low teaching building.

After entering, Lin Jiayi led Xu Tianming directly to the only door on the first floor and stopped.

Fifth Laboratory.

Wasn't Xuan Ziwen in the First Laboratory in the original story?

Lin Jiayi shook the badge on his chest.

A flash of light passed by, and the alloy doors immediately parted to both sides.

The moment the doors opened, the familiar sound of metal being hammered rang in Xu Tianming's ears.

This laboratory was not small. At the very least, it was several times larger than the Forging Room in the City Lord's Mansion of Dongyang City.

Unlike the neat laboratories of other Soul Engineers, this laboratory was extremely messy.

All sorts of metal blocks and metal components were casually piled in every corner of the laboratory.

Of course, the most eye-catching thing was the luxurious-looking smelting furnace in the center of the laboratory.

"Fine furnace!"

Although he did not know what level Soul Tool this furnace was, Xu Tianming could tell at a glance that it was extraordinary.

The middle-aged man hammering beside the furnace immediately stopped forging when he heard those words.

The man was broad and muscular, with wide shoulders and a broad chest. His bare upper body was covered in sharply defined muscles.

His dark skin gave him the air of a hardened man.

"Mentor Zhang Tiezhu, this is the student the dean arranged for you."

Seeing the burly man raise his head, Lin Jiayi hurriedly spoke.

Zhang Tiezhu said nothing. After glancing at Lin Jiayi, his gaze fell on Xu Tianming.

"You said this smelting furnace is good. Then what exactly makes it so good?"

"Teacher Zhang is testing me."

Xu Tianming's gaze swept over the snow-white smelting furnace, and a fiery light flashed in his eyes.

"The most important function of a smelting furnace is heating metal."

"We're standing so close to this smelting furnace, yet we can't feel the slightest trace of its high temperature. Doesn't that already explain everything?"

As the saying went, amateurs watched the spectacle, while experts saw the details.

Xu Tianming could tell at a glance that not a trace of the furnace's temperature was leaking out. It was all being used to heat the metal.

With a smelting furnace like this, forging efficiency would undoubtedly improve greatly.

"You have a good eye. This furnace is my labor of love!"

It was as if Zhang Tiezhu had been scratched right where he itched, and the expression on his face softened considerably.

"Did you offend Dean Jing Hongchen? Otherwise, why would he send you here to be my student?"

Setting the forging hammer in his hand aside, Zhang Tiezhu asked directly without regard for Lin Jiayi still being there.

"I did not offend Dean Jing Hongchen."

Xu Tianming shook his head and looked straight at Zhang Tiezhu in front of him, speaking each word clearly.

"I came here because I believe Forging Technique is the future of Soul Engineers, and forging is bound to change the entire world!"