"Wood"

She saw it clearly; it wasn't just the family behind her that had set their sights on him.

The Leng Family, backed by Leng Yaozhu, the Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, had long since placed a heavy bet on Wang Chuan.

It was said that as long as Wang Chuan spoke the word, even if it were a 100,000-year Soul Bone, the Leng Family would dare to unite with their allies, venture deep into dangerous lands, and hunt a 100,000-year Soul Beast to retrieve it for him.

Why?

Because what Wang Chuan displayed was the terrifying potential to become the "number one person on the continent" in the future, while simultaneously holding the status of a future "Divine Craftsman"!

The rate of return on such an investment was immeasurable.

Investing in geniuses was something every faction did, but a "guaranteed profit" target like Wang Chuan was simply a once-in-a-millennium occurrence.

So, if one didn't offer help when it was needed now, were they supposed to wait until he reigned supreme to offer icing on the cake?

By then, they probably wouldn't even be able to find the door.

Wang Chuan could naturally guess some of Wu Sidu's thoughts, but he didn't feel any aversion to them; as long as she didn't interfere with his cultivation and forging, having one more bystander didn't matter.

He shook his head helplessly, his gaze drifting toward the material cabinet on the other side of the forging room, and said:

"Go, help me fetch a piece of Sinking Silver."

Wu Sidu glanced in the direction he pointed; the cabinet was no more than seven or eight steps away from Wang Chuan.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance, laughing angrily.

"Hey!"

"It's just a few steps, and you're too lazy to walk?"

"You've gotten addicted to bossing me around, haven't you?"

Over the past few days, Wang Chuan would occasionally "dispatch" her to do such trivial things.

Wang Chuan turned around, a mischievous smile appearing on his face, and said as a matter of course.

"Yeah, can't walk."

"Just finished forging, I'm tired."

That lazy demeanor was like a different person compared to the calm, focused youth who spent his days cultivating and forging.

Wu Sidu bit her lower lip and spat out a low mutter.

"Un-gentlemanly guy!"

But complaints aside, she still rose from the soft sofa, walked with light steps to the material cabinet, and skillfully took out a block of Sinking Silver.

Walking back to the workbench, she set the Sinking Silver down, but instead of stepping away immediately, she leaned in a step closer, almost brushing against Wang Chuan's arm.

She tilted her face up slightly, a flash of cunning in her eyes, and spoke into Wang Chuan's ear in a tone several degrees softer than before.

"I've brought it over for you..."

"How are you going to thank me?"

Warm breath brushed against his earlobe.

She could clearly feel the young man's body stiffen for a moment.

As expected!

Wu Sidu chuckled inwardly, confirming her previous guess.

This guy had been acting "unreasonable" on purpose lately, just to make her angry and drive her away.

So he could have some peace and quiet.

It was just a pity...

She wasn't the type of person who was so easily dismissed.

However, the scene she had envisioned—where Wang Chuan might feel awkward or try to dodge—did not happen.

Instead, Wang Chuan quickly regained his composure.

And then...

He decisively extended a finger, curled it, and gave her a light flick on her smooth forehead!

"Ouch!"

Wu Sidu felt the sting, covered her forehead, and stepped back half a pace, eyes wide with shock and annoyance.

"Hey! What are you doing!"

"I'm helping you out of kindness, you don't thank me, and you resort to violence?"

The playful look on Wang Chuan's face had already faded, replaced by his usual expression of calm mixed with a hint of helplessness. He looked at the girl before him, whose mind was clearly far more complex than her peers, and said earnestly.

"Little girl, how old are you?"

"Don't learn to play those superficial, flashy games from adults."

"At this age, you should focus on cultivating and improving yourself, you hear me?"

Wu Sidu pursed her lips, retorting with unconvinced defiance.

"Tch!"

"It's not like you're that much older than me!"

"You're only..."

She didn't finish her sentence because Wang Chuan was no longer looking at her. He turned around, picked up the Sinking Silver and his forging hammer, and his expression instantly became incredibly focused, as if everything around him had ceased to exist.

He had entered that state of forging where "man and hammer are one" and his "mind and spirit are fully immersed."

Wu Sidu knew that interrupting him at a time like this was useless and could even be counterproductive.

Watching Wang Chuan's back as he quickly plunged into a state of self-forgetfulness, Wu Sidu let out a soft huff and muttered under her breath.

"Blockhead!"

"Cultivation maniac!"

"Forging nerd!"

Despite her words, there wasn't much genuine annoyance in her eyes; instead, there was a hint of something she hadn't even realized herself... appreciation?

Or perhaps, it was an acknowledgment of such pure focus.

"Forget it, why bother arguing with a piece of wood."

Wu Sidu smiled self-deprecatingly. No longer trying to disturb him, she walked quietly back to the sofa, sat down cross-legged, and began her own soul power meditation.

She had to work hard at her cultivation, too!

One day, when her cultivation surpassed this guy's, she would definitely... give him a good beating!

Yes, that was decided!

With such "lofty ambitions," the young girl closed her eyes, and faint ripples of soul power began to emanate from her body.

That night, when Wang Chuan finished his meditation and prepared to rest, he passed by Zhen Hua's office and noticed the soul guidance lamp inside was still on.

He hesitated for a moment, then knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in." Zhen Hua's voice came through, carrying a trace of unconcealable fatigue.

Wang Chuan pushed the door open and entered to see Zhen Hua sitting behind his desk. A complex structural blueprint was spread out before him, his brows slightly furrowed, his fingers tapping the desk unconsciously. He was clearly troubled.

"Master."

Wang Chuan greeted him respectfully.

Seeing his beloved disciple, the gloom on Zhen Hua's face cleared slightly, and he squeezed out a smile.

"It's Xiao Chuan."

"It's so late, you haven't rested yet?"

"I was just about to, but I saw your light was still on, so I came to check."

Wang Chuan walked closer, observed Zhen Hua's expression, thought for a moment, and asked with concern:

"Master, did something happen?"

"You seem..."

"Not very happy."

Zhen Hua sighed, waved his hand, and gestured for Wang Chuan to sit.

"It's nothing major, just that an old friend came by in person today, pulling strings to ask if I could custom-forge a set of Four-Character Battle Armor for him."

He paused, his fingers gently brushing his snow-white temples, a complex look flashing in his eyes.

"He has already prepared the materials, all top-tier rare metals, and his sincerity is quite evident."

"It's just..."

"You know my current physical condition."

"The success rate of Heavenly Forging, the burden on the body, and the potential for old injuries to flare up..."

"These things must be weighed carefully."

"Agreeing to it seems like the right thing to do, both logically and emotionally."

"But refusing it seems heartless, and I fear chilling the heart of an old acquaintance."

"So, I'm just a bit conflicted."

Wang Chuan nodded in understanding.

He understood his master's dilemma.

Every opportunity for a Divine Craftsman to perform Heavenly Forging was extremely precious, equivalent to a "transaction" that consumed life force.

Zhen Hua's body was now like a treasure vault with limited reserves; he had to be calculating, using every strike only where it mattered most...

Whether it was paving the way for his legacy, repaying unavoidable favors, or serving some more important grand design.