Yao Chuan's special training began.
The intensity was several levels higher than the assignments Mang Tian had given him.
He practically shoved Tang Wulin in front of the forging table.
"Listen. A true forging master relies on instinct, on a resonance of the soul."
Yao Chuan's voice was low, carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Not on those two eyes of yours, staring fixedly at where the hammer lands!"
He pointed at Tang Wulin's eyes.
"Close them."
"Listen with your heart!"
"Use your mental power to sense!"
"Sense the faint groans each time the metal changes shape!"
"Sense the life force gestating within it in the flames!"
"Sense its yearning for rebirth, its rhythm beneath the heavy hammer!"
Every word Yao Chuan spoke struck Tang Wulin's heart like a hammer.
Tang Wulin drew a deep breath.
He obediently closed his eyes.
The Heavy Silver Hammer rested in his hand, its cold, familiar feel spreading through his palm.
He tried to empty his mind and follow Yao Chuan's instructions.
His mental power reached toward the searing hot lump of metal in front of him like an invisible thread, cautious and delicate.
The metal gave off a faint hum in the furnace fire.
Its heat carried a vague tremor.
"Not enough!"
"Too deliberate!"
"Relax!"
"You're poking it with your mental power, not feeling it!"
Yao Chuan's reprimand was merciless.
Sweat appeared on Tang Wulin's forehead.
He adjusted his breathing and tried again.
He cast aside his distracting thoughts and let his mental power flow toward the metal like water.
Gradually, the structure within the metal, its fine patterns, seemed to sketch a vague outline in his mind's eye.
It truly seemed to be breathing, stretching its sinews and bones beneath the high heat.
Clang!
The Heavy Silver Hammer came down.
This time, it wasn't a blind swing.
The hammer landed right at the critical point where the metal, as he had dimly sensed, was about to change shape.
Ssshh—
A barely audible, smoother sound of deformation rang out.
Impurities were squeezed from the metal's surface more effectively.
"Right! That's the feeling!"
A glint flashed in Yao Chuan's eyes.
"Hold on to it! Remember that rhythm!"
"Forging is the process of giving metal life!"
"Your job is to fuse with it and guide its transformation!"
What followed was hellish repetition.
With every hammer blow, Tang Wulin had to pinpoint that elusive "feeling" in the darkness behind his closed eyes.
When he failed, Yao Chuan's icy reprimands poured over him like cold water.
Only when he managed a little success did the stern words reveal the faintest hint of approval.
Sweat streamed down Tang Wulin's cheeks and neck, soaking through his thin work-study student uniform.
His arm muscles had long since gone numb with pain, and only his stubborn refusal to give in kept him standing.
Every time he raised the Heavy Silver Hammer, it felt like he was lifting a small mountain.
Yao Chuan stood to one side with his arms folded, watching in silence.
At first, his goal had been simple and pragmatic.
He wanted to force it out of him!
Force out the Golden Dragon King's power hidden inside Tang Wulin!
Under the pressure of forging at his limit, when his mental focus was pushed to the point of exhaustion and his strength was spent, the sealed power was more likely to stir and crack open a sliver.
That would be the perfect moment for him to "shear the wool," drawing on that pure, domineering energy.
His instruction of Tang Wulin had been colored by scrutiny and exploitation.
But as he watched Tang Wulin collapse again and again from exhaustion, only to grit his teeth and get back up, his eyes filled with an almost obsessive focus and determination—
As he watched him tremble all over, swing the hammer crookedly or miss his mark, even nearly hitting himself, without ever once calling it quits—
Something in Yao Chuan's calculating heart quietly began to change.
"This kid... is one tough bastard."
Yao Chuan muttered to himself.
That fierce determination, that resilience that refused to break, reminded him of how he had been when he first started practicing with a hammer.
Pure and unyielding.
"He may be a little short on talent compared to me, but that drive..."
Yao Chuan's gaze gradually grew serious.
His pragmatism faded, replaced by admiration for someone so dedicated.
He stopped merely watching and began giving Tang Wulin hands-on instruction.
"Let the force travel through your arm, then sink into your wrist!"
"The 'point' isn't the tip of the hammer. It's the full force running through the handle, three inches down!"
"Your waist and back!"
"Put your waist and back into it! You're swinging a hammer, not smashing with brute force!"
"Idiot!"
"I just said you were starting to get it, and you've already forgotten?"
Yao Chuan's voice was still stern, but every instruction struck right at the heart of the problem.
He would even step behind Tang Wulin, placing a hand against his back or arm to demonstrate the path and rhythm of the muscles as they exerted force.
Those cold fingers carried a strange strength, instantly correcting Tang Wulin's faulty movements.
"Tense up here! Relax here!"
"Breathe! Match your breathing to the hammer's rhythm!"
This hands-on teaching was far more effective than simple reprimands.
Tang Wulin was like parched earth, greedily soaking up nourishment.
His understanding of forging and his control over the Heavy Silver Hammer improved at an astonishing rate.
That vague feeling of "communicating" with the metal grew clearer and clearer.
Tang Wulin had no idea any of this was happening.
All he knew was that Brother Yao Chuan was an amazing teacher!
So amazing that it made his previous forging feel like playing in the mud!
He threw himself into it completely.
By day, he endured Wu Changkong's brutal physical training and Blue Silver Grass control exercises.
At night, and in every spare moment, he devoted himself entirely to the forging table.
Under Yao Chuan's precise, almost unbearably strict guidance, his forging skills advanced by leaps and bounds.
Time flew by amid the sweat, the clash of metal, and the crackle of the furnace flames.
In the blink of an eye, a little over a month remained before the Class Promotion Tournament.
That day, at the Eastsea Blacksmith Association.
The examination hall was solemn and quiet.
Tang Wulin stood before the examination platform and drew a deep breath.
A piece of Heavy Silver lay in front of him.
Today's examination: Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver!
This was the crucial step in his bid to become a Level Three Blacksmith.
Heavy Silver itself wasn't especially rare, but Thousand Refinement was far more difficult than it was with ordinary metals.
Yao Chuan leaned against the shadowed wall nearby, arms folded and expression calm.
Xie Xie and Gu Yue had come too, standing a little farther away.
Xie Xie looked thrilled and eager, muttering something under his breath.
Gu Yue wore an expressionless face. Her eyes shifted between Yao Chuan and Tang Wulin, with a trace of irritation that was hard to detect.
The examination began.
Tang Wulin closed his eyes.
His mental power spread out in an instant, enveloping the entire forging table.
In his "sight," the piece of Heavy Silver revealed clear veins and currents of energy.
He seemed to see the metal's "heartbeat."
The Heavy Silver Hammer rose!
Thud!
Gone was the heavy, tentative testing of the past. Now his strikes flowed with a steady rhythm.
The hammer blurred through the air, his pace alternating between fast and slow, each blow measured and distinct.
Every strike landed precisely on the spot his "feel" guided him toward.
Beneath the hammer, the Heavy Silver rang out in an unbroken series of clear, resonant notes, each one carrying a weighty undertone.
The sparks no longer flew in chaotic sprays. They danced through the hammer's blur like tiny sprites being led along.
Sweat soon soaked through Tang Wulin's clothes.
But his movements didn't falter in the slightest. Instead, they grew smoother and more fluid with every strike.
The entire forging process flowed like water, with a distinctive beauty to it.
The examiner was a veteran Level Four Blacksmith from the branch association.
He stared fixedly at Tang Wulin's movements, his eyes full of shock.
"How old is this kid?"
"That feel... he's practically a veteran who's spent ten years forging!"
"No, even more... pure!"
When the final strike fell with a strange, trembling hum—
Hummmmmm—
The piece of Heavy Silver blazed with silver light more dazzling than ever before!
The light drew inward, as if the metal had come alive, flowing slowly across its surface.
Thousand Refinement complete!
And a remarkably flawless Thousand Refinement at that!
The examiner stepped forward to inspect it closely. He touched the Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver, smooth as jade yet radiating toughness and sharpness, and nodded again and again.
"Excellent!"
"Very good!"
"Congratulations, Tang Wulin! You've passed the Level Three Blacksmith examination!"
Cheers erupted.
"That was amazing, 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 huge smile bloomed across Tang Wulin's face. He was nearly drained, but the joy of succeeding overwhelmed everything else.
He instinctively looked toward Yao Chuan.
In the shadows, Yao Chuan gave a slight nod, the faintest curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
A great warmth flooded Tang Wulin's heart.
He knew that without Brother Yao Chuan's two months of hellish special training and wholehearted instruction, he never could have broken through so quickly.
"From now on, I'm counting on you for all my mecha needs, Master Wulin!" Xie Xie slung an arm around Tang Wulin's shoulders, waggling his eyebrows like they were the best of buddies.
Putting on the grand air of an important figure, he solemnly encouraged him:
"Wulin, don't get cocky. Keep working hard!"
"Try to become a master as soon as possible!"
"That way, my divine-grade mecha parts will be taken care of! When the time comes, I'll pay you market price. Your buddy here definitely won't shortchange you!"
Xie Xie thumped his chest as he made his promise.
"Xie Xie!" Tang Wulin laughed helplessly, amused by his antics.
Everyone laughed too.
The scene was warm and cheerful for a while.
Yet amid all the joy, only one person felt out of place.
That was Gu Yue.
She stood a few steps away, watching Tang Wulin surrounded by people at the center, then glancing at Yao Chuan not far off.
The pent-up frustration in her heart threatened to spill over.
It wasn't that she resented Tang Wulin's achievement.
It was these past two months! Two whole months!
Whether it was to teach Tang Wulin blacksmithing or, more precisely, to absorb that so-called Golden Dragon King essence of his, Yao Chuan had spent nearly all his free time with Tang Wulin!
They were inseparable!
How many times had she tried to find Yao Chuan alone to discuss her vision for the revival of Soul Beasts, even if only to sound out his attitude?
Either the timing was wrong.
Or the moment she opened her mouth, the noise of forging drowned her out.
Or Yao Chuan shut her down outright with a look that said, "It's teaching time. No interruptions."
Tang Wulin was like a massive stumbling block, standing between her and Yao Chuan.
He had completely derailed the carefully laid "recruitment plan" she had prepared.
Watching Tang Wulin now, all fired up after being promoted to Level Three Blacksmith, and remembering how much attention Yao Chuan paid him—
Gu Yue's discontent reached its peak.
She gave a cold snort and turned to leave the scene that was making her so irritable.
"Gu Yue?"
Tang Wulin was observant and noticed something was wrong with her.
The joy he'd felt after passing the test had faded somewhat.
"What's wrong? You don't seem... very happy?"
Tang Wulin asked, a little confused.
Gu Yue stopped, but didn't turn around.
She only tossed out a cold, "Congratulations."
Her voice was so flat that it held not the slightest hint of emotion.
Then she quickened her pace and left the testing hall without looking back.
All she left behind was a cool, distant silhouette.
The smile froze on Tang Wulin's face.
He watched the direction Gu Yue had disappeared in, his brows drawing tight.
"What was that...?"
He couldn't make heads or tails of it.
He'd passed the Level Three Blacksmith test. That was good news, wasn't it?
Did Gu Yue think he wasn't good enough?
Or had he offended her somehow?
Xie Xie scratched his head too. "Did Gu Yue get up on the wrong side of the bed today? Wulin, did you do something to upset her?"
"No..."
"...I don't know either."
Tang Wulin shook his head, bewildered. It felt like a wad of cotton was stuck in his chest.
Without thinking, he looked to Yao Chuan again, his eyes asking for help.
Yao Chuan had already stepped out of the shadows.
He'd naturally seen Gu Yue's reaction just now.
His brows had furrowed almost imperceptibly as well.
He wasn't completely oblivious to Gu Yue's special, purposeful attention toward him.
But at this stage, whether it was teaching Tang Wulin blacksmithing or "shearing the sheep," both mattered more than probing Gu Yue's thoughts.
As for why Gu Yue had suddenly grown cold toward Tang Wulin—
Yao Chuan couldn't make sense of a girl's thoughts either.
"Don't worry about her."
Yao Chuan walked over to Tang Wulin, his tone calm.
"A woman's heart is as unfathomable as the sea."
"What matters most right now is consolidating your Level Three Blacksmith skills and raising your Soul Power."
"Strength is the foundation of all authority."
"When she needs you to forge something, her attitude will naturally change."
Yao Chuan patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder in consolation.
It sounded reasonable, but it also made Gu Yue seem a little too calculating.
Tang Wulin opened his mouth, but in the end, he pushed his doubts aside.
Brother Yao Chuan was right. Strength mattered most.
He nodded and temporarily put Gu Yue's strange behavior out of his mind.
Just then, Su Wenjun, a staff member of the Blacksmith Association, walked over with an elegantly bound booklet in his hands.
"Master Yao Chuan, Brother Tang, the association just received a copy of the latest auction catalog from the auction house."
Su Wenjun smiled and handed over the booklet.
"There are a few precious treasures among the featured lots. Their quality is said to be exceptional. Take a look and see if anything interests you."
Tang Wulin politely accepted the booklet.
He'd only meant to flip through it casually. After all, things at auctions often went for astronomical prices, far beyond what a work-study student like him could dream of affording.
But when his gaze swept across one of the pages—
His pupils suddenly contracted!
It felt as though an invisible hand had seized his heart and squeezed hard!
His breathing stopped!
The page clearly listed three items:
Century Ice Crystal Fruit
Century Red Flame Fruit
Century Dragon-Type Soul Beast Essence Blood. These were exactly—
These were exactly the three essential ingredients the mysterious "Old Tang" in his sea of consciousness had told him he needed to break the first seal inside his body, the one restraining the Golden Dragon King!
Not one more, not one less!
But before he could get excited, he looked further down.
Tang Wulin managed to calm down again.
The prices of these three items were simply outrageous!
The Century Ice Crystal Fruit alone was priced between eight hundred thousand and one million Federal Coins!
And that didn't even include the fierce bidding that was sure to follow!
The final sale price would certainly be an astronomical figure, enough to drive an ordinary Soul Master to despair!
Tang Wulin's vision went dark.
They were all too expensive!
Being a Level Three Blacksmith meant he'd earn much more from commissions in the future, but where was he supposed to scrape together nearly ten million in the short term?
There was no way he could afford that right now!
Excitement and overwhelming despair mingled like ice water poured over his head.
Tang Wulin's face turned deathly pale.
Before you continue