Special Training for Tang Wulin, Gu Yue's Jealousy

Yao Chuan's special forging training began.

The intensity of this training was several levels higher than the tasks Mang Tian had assigned.

He pressed Tang Wulin directly in front of the forging table.

"Listen, a true forging master relies on feeling, on the resonance of the soul."

Yao Chuan's voice was low, carrying an unquestionable aura of authority.

"It is not about relying on those two eyes of yours, staring fixedly at where the hammer lands!"

He pointed at Tang Wulin's eyes.

"Close your eyes."

"Listen with your heart!"

"Use your spiritual power to perceive!"

"Perceive the faint groans brought about by every deformation of the metal!"

"Perceive the vitality it nurtures within the flames!"

"Perceive the rhythm of its longing for rebirth under the heavy hammer!"

Every word of Yao Chuan's was like a hammer striking Tang Wulin's heart.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath.

He closed his eyes as instructed.

The Heavy Silver Hammer was in his grip, the cold and familiar sensation traveling through his palms.

He struggled to empty his thoughts, attempting to follow Yao Chuan's guidance.

His spiritual power, like invisible threads, cautiously reached out toward the scorching block of metal before him.

The metal emitted a faint hum within the furnace fire.

The temperature conducted a vague, pulsing throb.

"Not enough!"

"Too deliberate!"

"Relax!"

"You are 'poking' it with your spiritual power, not 'feeling' it!"

Yao Chuan's reprimand was merciless.

Sweat appeared on Tang Wulin's forehead.

He adjusted his breathing and tried again.

Discarding distracting thoughts, he let his spiritual power flow as naturally as water.

Gradually, the internal structure of the metal, those minute patterns, seemed to outline a vague silhouette within his spiritual vision.

It truly seemed to be "breathing," stretching its "sinews and bones" under the high heat.

Clang!

The Heavy Silver Hammer fell.

This time, it was no longer a blind strike.

The spot where the hammer landed was precisely at the critical point he had vaguely perceived, where the metal was about to deform.

Hiss—

A faint, almost imperceptible sound of smoother deformation rang out.

Impurities on the surface of the metal were squeezed out more effectively.

"Yes! That is the feeling!"

A flash of brilliance crossed Yao Chuan's eyes.

"Hold onto it! Remember this rhythm!"

"Forging is the process of bestowing life upon metal!"

"What you must do is merge with it and guide its transformation!"

What followed was a hellish repetition.

For every hammer strike, Yao Chuan demanded that Tang Wulin, in the darkness of his closed eyes, precisely capture that mysterious and elusive "feeling."

When he failed, Yao Chuan's cold reprimands were like a bucket of ice water poured over his head.

Only when he occasionally succeeded by a fraction would a hint of affirmation seep through those harsh words.

Sweat flowed like a stream, rolling down Tang Wulin's cheeks and neck, soaking his thin work-study student uniform.

The muscles in his arms were already aching to the point of numbness, supported entirely by a stubborn, unyielding tenacity.

Every time he lifted the Heavy Silver Hammer, it felt as though he were lifting a small mountain.

Yao Chuan stood to the side with his arms crossed, observing in silence.

His initial goal had been pure and utilitarian.

It was to force!

To force out the Golden Dragon King power hidden within Tang Wulin!

Under the extreme pressure of forging, when mental focus was at its peak and physical strength was exhausted, that sealed power was more likely to passively leak through a tiny crack.

That would be the perfect moment for him to "fleece the sheep" and absorb that pure, tyrannical energy.

His instruction of Tang Wulin had been tinged with scrutiny and exploitation.

However, watching Tang Wulin collapse from exhaustion time and again, only to grit his teeth and climb back up, his eyes filled with a near-obsessive focus and persistence.

Watching him never once cry out to give up, even when his whole body trembled, his hammer strikes went crooked, or he nearly hit himself.

Yao Chuan's calculating heart underwent a quiet change.

This kid... he's a ruthless one.

Yao Chuan muttered to himself.

This ruthlessness, this indomitable resilience, reminded him of how he had been when he first started practicing with the hammer.

Pure and tenacious.

His talent might be a bit lacking compared to mine, but this drive...

Yao Chuan's gaze gradually became serious.

That utilitarian mindset faded slightly, replaced by an appreciation for someone so persistent.

He began to move beyond mere observation and started to provide genuine guidance.

"Channel the force through your arm, sink it into your wrist!"

"The 'point' isn't the hammerhead; it's the entire force channeled through the three inches of the handle!"

"Your waist and back!"

"Use your waist and back to generate power! You are swinging a hammer, not just smashing it with brute strength!"

"Idiot!"

"I just said you were getting the feel for it, and you've already forgotten?"

Yao Chuan's voice remained stern, but every piece of advice struck at the heart of the matter.

He would even walk behind Tang Wulin, pressing his palms against his back or arms to personally demonstrate the trajectory and rhythm of muscle engagement.

Those cold fingers carried a strange power, instantly correcting Tang Wulin's incorrect exertion methods.

"Here, tense up! Here, relax!"

"Breathe! Breathe in rhythm with the hammer's fall!"

This hands-on instruction was far more efficient than mere scolding.

Tang Wulin was like parched earth, frantically absorbing nutrients.

His understanding of forging and his control over the Heavy Silver Hammer improved at an astonishing speed.

That vague sense of "communication" with the metal became increasingly clear.

Tang Wulin was completely unaware of this.

He only knew that Brother Yao Chuan taught him so well!

So well that it made his previous forging feel like playing with mud!

He threw himself into it heart and soul.

His days were spent on Wu Changkong's devilish physical conditioning and Blue Silver Grass control training.

His nights and all his spare time were given entirely to the forging table.

Under Yao Chuan's guidance, which was precise to the point of being harsh, his forging skills advanced by leaps and bounds.

Time flew by amidst the sound of sweat hitting the floor, the clashing of metal, and the crackling of the furnace fire.

In the blink of an eye, there was just over a month left until the Class Promotion Tournament.

This day, at the Eastsea Blacksmith Association.

The examination hall was solemn.

Tang Wulin stood before the examination platform, taking a deep breath.

In front of him lay a piece of Heavy Silver.

Today's test: Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver!

This was the crucial step in his attempt to become a Level 3 Blacksmith.

Heavy Silver itself was not particularly rare, but the difficulty of performing a Thousand-Refinement on it far exceeded that of ordinary metals.

Yao Chuan stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the shadows of a nearby wall with a calm expression.

Xie Xie and Gu Yue had arrived as well, standing a short distance away.

Xie Xie's face was filled with excitement and anticipation, and he was muttering something under his breath.

Gu Yue, however, remained expressionless, her gaze sweeping between Yao Chuan and Tang Wulin with a hint of imperceptible irritation.

The examination began.

Tang Wulin closed his eyes.

His spiritual power instantly spread out, enveloping the entire forging table.

The block of Heavy Silver revealed its clear veins and energy flow within his "vision."

He felt as if he could see the "heartbeat" inside the metal.

The Heavy Silver Hammer rose!

Clang!

It was no longer the heavy, probing strike of the past, but a rhythmic blow imbued with a fluid cadence.

The shadow of the hammer danced, fast and slow in perfect order, light and heavy with clear distinction.

Every strike landed precisely on the nodes guided by his "intuition."

Under the hammer, the Heavy Silver emitted a continuous, crisp metallic vibration that carried a sense of profound weight.

Sparks no longer flew in chaotic sprays; instead, they danced amidst the hammer's light like tiny, guided sprites.

Sweat quickly soaked through Tang Wulin's shirt.

Yet his movements did not deform in the slightest; on the contrary, they became increasingly fluid and harmonious.

The entire forging process flowed like moving clouds and flowing water, possessing a unique aesthetic beauty.

The examiner was a veteran fourth-rank blacksmith from the branch association.

He stared fixedly at Tang Wulin's movements, his eyes filled with shock.

"This kid... how old is he?"

"This feel... it's like that of a veteran who has been immersed in forging for ten years!"

"No, even more... pure!"

When the final hammer fell with a strange, vibrating hum.

Hum~~~~

That piece of Heavy Silver erupted with a silver radiance more brilliant and dazzling than any before!

The light was restrained, as if it possessed life, flowing slowly across the surface of the metal.

Thousand-Refined completion!

And it was a perfectly executed Thousand-Refining at that!

The examiner stepped forward to inspect it closely, touching the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver that felt as warm as jade yet radiated a tough sharpness, nodding repeatedly.

"Good!"

"Very good!"

"Tang Wulin, congratulations! You have passed the third-rank blacksmith examination!"

Cheers erupted.

"Awesome, Wulin!" Xie Xie was the first to rush over, excitedly slapping Tang Wulin hard on the shoulder.

"I knew you could do it! Hahahaha!"

A wide smile bloomed on Tang Wulin's face; he was somewhat exhausted, but filled even more with the joy of success.

He subconsciously looked toward where Yao Chuan stood.

Yao Chuan, still in the shadows, gave a slight nod, the corners of his mouth curling into the faintest of arcs.

Tang Wulin's heart was instantly filled with a massive surge of warmth.

He knew that without the hellish special training and the selfless guidance Yao Chuan had provided over the past two months, he never could have made such a breakthrough so quickly.

"In the future, my mecha will rely entirely on you, Master Wulin!" Xie Xie draped an arm around Tang Wulin's shoulder, winking and acting like they were the best of brothers.

He mimicked the tone of a big shot, encouraging him with mock seriousness:

"Wulin, don't be arrogant or rash, keep working hard!"

"Strive to become a grandmaster as soon as possible!"

"That way, my god-tier mecha parts will be secured! When the time comes, I, your brother, definitely won't treat you unfairly based on market prices!"

Xie Xie patted his chest in assurance.

"Xie Xie!" Tang Wulin couldn't help but laugh, amused by his antics.

Everyone else began to laugh as well.

The scene was harmonious and filled with joy.

However, amidst this merriment, only one person felt completely out of place.

That was Gu Yue.

She stood a few paces away, watching Tang Wulin surrounded by the crowd, then glanced at Yao Chuan not far off.

The stifled feeling in the depths of her heart was almost overflowing.

It wasn't that she was unhappy about Tang Wulin's achievement.

It was these past two months! Two whole months!

In order to teach Tang Wulin forging—or rather, to absorb his so-called Golden Dragon King essence—Yao Chuan had spent almost all his spare time on Tang Wulin!

They were inseparable!

How many times had she wanted to find Yao Chuan in private to discuss her vision for the revival of soul beasts, or even just to probe his attitude?

Either the timing was wrong.

Or, the moment she opened her mouth, she was interrupted by the noise of forging.

Or, she was simply blocked by Yao Chuan's gaze, which clearly signaled, "Teaching in progress, idlers keep out."

Tang Wulin was like a massive stumbling block, wedged firmly between her and Yao Chuan.

It caused her meticulously prepared "recruitment plan" to fall completely through.

Watching Tang Wulin looking so high-spirited after passing the Level 3 Blacksmith examination, and then thinking of Yao Chuan's attentive attitude toward him, the dissatisfaction in Gu Yue's heart reached its peak.

She let out a cold huff, turned around, and prepared to leave this scene that was irritating her so much.

"Gu Yue?"

Tang Wulin was sensitive and noticed that something was wrong with Gu Yue.

The joy he felt from just passing the assessment was somewhat diluted.

"What's wrong? You seem... not very happy?"

Tang Wulin asked, somewhat bewildered.

Gu Yue's footsteps faltered, but she did not turn back.

She merely tossed out a cold, "Congratulations."

Her tone was so flat it lacked even a ripple of emotion.

Immediately, she quickened her pace and left the examination hall without looking back.

She left behind only a cold and distant silhouette.

The smile on Tang Wulin's face froze.

He watched the direction in which Gu Yue had disappeared, his brows knitting tightly together.

"What is she..."

He was completely at a loss.

He had passed the Level 3 Blacksmith exam; this was a good thing, right?

Did Gu Yue think he wasn't qualified?

Or had he offended her somehow?

Xie Xie also scratched his head: "Did Big Sister Gu Yue eat gunpowder today? Wulin, did you provoke her?"

"I didn't..."

"...I don't know either."

Tang Wulin shook his head blankly, his heart feeling as if it were stuffed with cotton.

Subconsciously, he looked toward Yao Chuan again, his eyes filled with a plea for help.

Yao Chuan had already stepped out from the shadows.

He had naturally seen Gu Yue's reaction just now.

His brows also furrowed, albeit imperceptibly.

He was not entirely unaware of Gu Yue's special, goal-oriented attention toward him.

It was just that at this stage, whether it was teaching Tang Wulin to forge or "harvesting wool," both were more important than probing Gu Yue's thoughts.

As for why Gu Yue's attitude toward Tang Wulin had suddenly turned cold?

Yao Chuan couldn't fathom the mind of a girl either.

"Don't worry about her."

Yao Chuan walked up to Tang Wulin, his tone calm.

"A woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea."

"The most important thing for you right now is to consolidate your level-three blacksmith status and improve your soul power."

"Strength is the foundation of all authority."

"Once she needs you to forge something for her, her attitude will naturally change."

Yao Chuan patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder, a gesture of comfort.

The words sounded reasonable, yet they seemed to paint Gu Yue in an overly utilitarian light.

Tang Wulin opened his mouth, but ultimately suppressed his doubts.

Brother Yao Chuan is right; strength is what matters most.

He nodded, temporarily casting aside the anomaly that was Gu Yue.

Just then, Su Wenjun, a staff member of the Blacksmith Association, walked over holding a beautifully bound booklet.

"Young Master Yao Chuan, Little Brother Tang, the association just received a copy of the latest auction list from the auction house."

Su Wenjun smiled as he handed the booklet over.

"There are a few finale items inside that are said to be of extremely high quality. See if anything catches your interest."

Tang Wulin politely took the booklet.

He had intended to just flip through it casually; after all, items at auctions often carried astronomical prices, far beyond what a work-study student like him could dream of.

However, when his gaze swept across one of the pages.

His pupils suddenly contracted!

His heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand!

His breathing even stalled!

On that page, three items were clearly listed:

Century Ice Crystal Fruit

Century Red Flame Fruit

Century Dragon-Type Soul Beast Essence Blood

This was exactly it!

These were the three main ingredients that the mysterious "Old Tang" in his sea of consciousness had told him were necessary to break the first seal of the Golden Dragon King within his body!

Not one more, not one less!

But before he could even get excited, he looked further down.

Tang Wulin calmed down again.

Because the prices of these three items were simply too exaggerated!

The price of the Century Ice Crystal Fruit alone was between eight hundred thousand and one million Federal Coins!

And that didn't even account for the inevitable, fierce bidding!

The final transaction price would undoubtedly be an astronomical figure that would drive an ordinary soul master to despair!

Tang Wulin felt his vision darken.

It was all too expensive!

His status as a level-three blacksmith meant that the rewards for future missions would be much higher, but in the short term, where was he supposed to scrape together this massive sum of nearly ten million?

This was simply not something he could afford right now!

Excitement and immense despair intertwined like ice water poured over his head.

Tang Wulin's face turned deathly pale in an instant.