Millennium Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, Mu Chen's Thoughts

Crack, crack!

Zhang Yangzi stared at Lin Jin, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists, his face filled with hatred.

Behind him stood Wei Xiaofeng, his expression complicated and his eyes carrying a trace of fear.

Unfortunately.

Lin Jin was sitting cross-legged in meditation. Even though he had sensed the door opening, he did not so much as raise an eyelid.

Hmph!

With a bang, the door was slammed shut.

Zhang Yangzi ultimately did not dare make a move. He only dared vent his anger on the door.

Neither of them entered the dormitory in the end, nor did they return that night.

Lin Jin did not care about that.

The next day, Lin Jin acted as though nothing had happened and went to class according to his schedule.

He did not see Ye Yingluo all day.

Clearly, she was facing no small amount of trouble because of this incident.

Lin Jin's own situation seemed to have returned to how it had been in the Primary Department.

No one dared offend him, and no one dared get close to him.

Lin Jin was happy to have some peace and quiet.

Over the next few days, Mu Xi did not come looking for him again either.

Apparently, she had become busier after entering fifth grade.

It was not until a week later that Lin Jin saw Ye Yingluo again.

Her complexion was somewhat unpleasant.

Yet from beginning to end, she ignored him.

Clearly, she held a great grudge against him.

However, no one came looking for trouble with him during that time.

Not even the academy sent anyone to speak with him. Clearly, all responsibility for the matter had fallen on Ye Yingluo.

No one was willing to offend Mu Chen.

During that time, Lin Jin had also called Mu Chen and told him about the matter.

Mu Chen did not care in the slightest. He merely gave a cold laugh and told him to focus on his cultivation.

That was the influence of an Eight-Star Saint Artisan in a place like Eastsea City—or even throughout the entire Federation!

A dispute among juniors would never cause an Eight-Star Saint Artisan's disciple to suffer unfair treatment.

One month later.

East Sea Blacksmith Association.

Inside Lin Jin's Exclusive Blacksmithing Room.

As the final hammer fell, Spirit Light suddenly burst from the Deep Silver on the forging platform, which had already been compressed to its limit.

Three feet!

First-Grade Thousand Refinement.

Among Rare Metals, Deep Silver was relatively moderately priced.

However, it had excellent ductility and compatibility.

Therefore, it was quite a popular Rare Metal.

A piece of First-Grade Thousand Refinement Deep Silver with three feet of Spirit Light was already worth more than eight million Federal Coins.

"I've finally scraped together enough."

Lin Jin wiped away his sweat, delight appearing in his eyes.

Ever since becoming a Level 2 Blacksmith, he had insisted on covering his own cultivation expenses, including the costs of nourishing his body.

He no longer drew excessively on Mu Chen's resources.

What he meant by having enough this time was that yesterday, he had gone to the Auction House with Mu Chen and Mu Xi, and Mu Chen had bid on two heavenly treasures on his behalf.

They were the Millennium Earth Dragon Tendon and the Millennium Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

The Millennium Earth Dragon Tendon was manageable, selling for only seven million Federal Coins.

However, although the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was only a millennium old, it was still a peerless treasure.

The Auction House had not accepted Federal Coins for it at all, instead choosing barter.

That had been the consignor's own requirement.

What they wanted was two pieces of at least First-Grade Thousand Refinement Rare Metal.

By coincidence, both kinds of Rare Metal were ones Lin Jin could forge: Deep Silver and Cloud Titanium.

The two pieces of First-Grade Thousand Refinement Rare Metal, each with three feet of Spirit Light, were actually worth more than twenty million Federal Coins.

In Mu Chen's estimation, that was already more valuable than the Millennium Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

But Lin Jin did not care.

Compared to paying a premium, he cared more about the improvement the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum itself could bring him.

In the end, Mu Chen had guaranteed it in his own name and secured it.

Now that the forging was complete, it was time to settle the payment for the Millennium Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

In truth.

Although the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was precious, the millennium tier was somewhat awkward.

If Federal Coins had been accepted as payment, someone would have bought it long ago.

But the payment had to be Rare Metals.

Blacksmiths capable of First-Grade Thousand Refinement—and First-Grade Thousand Refinement of designated metals—were few in number, but there were certainly quite a few of them in all of Eastsea City.

Yet not everyone was like Lin Jin or Tang Wulin.

For blacksmiths who had reached that level, a millennium-tier Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum could no longer provide much improvement.

That was what gave Lin Jin an opportunity.

After handing the two forged Rare Metals to Mu Chen, Lin Jin received the two spiritual treasures from Mu Chen.

Then, without stopping for a moment, he hurried back to his own Forging Room.

"This child..."

Mu Chen watched Lin Jin's departing figure and shook his head helplessly.

Lin Jin was simply too proud.

Anything he was capable of accomplishing, any price he could pay through hard work, he would always try to handle himself.

That left him, as Lin Jin's teacher, both helpless and gratified.

At the same time, he grew even fonder of this disciple.

"Send these to the Auction House."

Mu Chen casually instructed a Blacksmith Association staff member and handed over the two packed pieces of metal.

On the other side.

Lin Jin's way of "digesting" these two spiritual treasures was different from everyone else's.

By merely roasting them with Lotus Flower Flame, he could remove the "impurities" from the spiritual treasures and obtain their purest essence.

First came the Millennium Earth Dragon Tendon.

The effect of this spiritual treasure was to strengthen the bones.

It was highly effective at increasing strength.

After being refined by Lotus Flower Flame, a mass of earthy-yellow energy radiating a rich fragrance appeared within the flames.

After refining, this spiritual treasure—which ordinarily had to be mixed with several other spiritual treasures and absorbed through a medicinal bath—was directly swallowed whole by Lin Jin.

That was the effect of Lotus Flower Flame.

After refining, he no longer needed to follow so many "rules."

A burning sensation immediately erupted within his body, making Lin Jin want to tear off his clothes.

But he forcibly endured it.

And that was only the beginning.

The next instant, an itchy, tingling sensation spread through every bone in his body.

That numb feeling, as though it had arisen from his marrow, made him feel as if he were undergoing torture, even though he knew his bones were growing stronger.

Fortunately, Lin Jin still endured it.

When the absorption was complete, his Soul Power—which had already reached the middle stage of Level 24 after a month of accumulation and feedback from Wang Jinxi's Bone Dragon King's Lotus Light—suddenly broke through to Level 25.

Lin Jin took a deep breath and did not stop.

Petal after petal of the Millennium Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum entered his stomach as Lotus Fire burned directly within his body.

It perfectly dissolved the treasure's power, allowing it to spread into every corner of his body.

In comparison, the power of the Millennium Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was unbelievably gentle.

The entire process felt like a form of enjoyment.

Once the absorption was complete, Lin Jin's Soul Power advanced another step, directly reaching the late stage of Level 25.

Compared to that, however, it was not the most important thing.

What mattered most was the improvement in his body's strength.

If bearing two millennium Spirit Rings had previously been somewhat of a struggle.

Then now, he had complete confidence.

He even dared push the Fire Elemental Sprite to an even higher age.

Even if he immediately entered the realm of a Three-Ring Spirit Venerable and bore three high-age millennium Spirit Rings, he would still have complete confidence.

Clang!

In the Testing Room, Lin Jin threw a punch.

"You..."

Mu Chen and Mu Xi stared dumbfounded at the data displayed on the panel.

With a bare fist, his strength had crossed the threshold of a thousand jin!

Was this the physical data a long-range mage was supposed to possess?

"Little brother, you're a monster, aren't you?!"

Mu Xi squeezed Lin Jin's arm, her eyes filled with shock.

Mu Chen likewise took a deep breath.

Compared to Mu Xi, he knew far more clearly about the properties of the various spiritual treasures Lin Jin had consumed.

Yet with the effects of those spiritual treasures, it should have been absolutely impossible to raise a Spirit Master's body to such a degree.

Not to mention that Lin Jin, three years ago, had practically been a skinny little child who could not even eat his fill at every meal.

And now...

He was completely different from before.

Mu Chen understood that the changes in Lin Jin must be related to Lotus Flower Flame.

This Martial Soul, Lotus Flower Flame, likely concealed enormous secrets.

It was by no means an ordinary Martial Soul that could be explained by ordinary talent.

Suppressing the emotions in his heart.

Mu Chen spoke.

"With a physique like yours, I feel even more at ease about your plans for yourself."

"Originally, I intended to arrange for someone to take you directly to the Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform, where you could absorb your gains in peace."

"Now, though, it seems you should go in and make your own way through it."

"It will also be a good opportunity to train your combat ability."

"Even I have to admit now that your achievements on the path of a Spirit Master may surpass your achievements in blacksmithing!"

Lin Jin nodded and gladly accepted.

The Primary Spirit Ascension Platform opened once a month, with a total of one thousand slots each time.

However, given the Blacksmith Association's standing, obtaining one slot was very easy.

He also happened to feel that he lacked actual combat experience.

The Spirit Ascension Platform was an excellent place to train himself.

Moreover, battle was also beneficial to the cultivation of Soul Power.

"One more thing—go with Xi'er."

"I suddenly feel that I should not have her devote most of her energy to blacksmithing."

"Besides, Blazing Sun is not a weak Martial Soul!"

Mu Chen spoke again.

Mu Xi glanced at her father before saying,

"I like blacksmithing."

Mu Chen blinked but said nothing.

Lin Jin, meanwhile, gladly agreed.

A few days later, when the Primary Spirit Ascension Platform opened, Lin Jin and Mu Xi entered it together.