"No!"
Mu Xi cried out almost reflexively and rushed straight over to Yao Chuan.
"Are you crazy? You've only just finished forging one piece! Hundred Refinement takes a lot of energy! Look at you—you're drenched in sweat!"
She pulled out a handkerchief and started wiping Yao Chuan's sweat without asking. Her movements were a little clumsy, but the concern and worry in her eyes were genuine.
"What's the rush? You'll have plenty of time to practice later! What you need most right now is a rest!"
Just then, Mu Chen, who had been quiet the whole time, returned after taking a call.
He happened to hear Yao Chuan saying he wanted to continue and immediately put on a stern face.
"Xi'er is right!"
Mu Chen nodded gravely. "Yao Chuan, haste makes waste."
"This is your first time trying your hand at forging, and you've already managed a high-quality Hundred Refinement purification. That's an astonishing achievement!"
He looked at Yao Chuan, his eyes full of satisfaction and a trace of barely concealed shock.
"That must have taken a lot out of your spiritual power, too. Listen to us. That's enough for today. Take it easy!"
Mu Chen's expression suddenly brightened, and a hint of mysterious excitement crept into his voice as he gave a grand wave of his hand.
"Come on! Let's get cleaned up! Uncle Mu's taking you to a great place! We're going to have a feast!"
Mu Xi's eyes lit up at the mention of good food.
"A great place? Dad, where are we going?"
Mu Chen smiled smugly. "To the seaside! Aolai City! They've just brought in the freshest seafood. Dad's treating you to a seafood feast! Eat your fill!"
Aolai City?
Yao Chuan was a little surprised to hear the name. Wasn't that just a small seaside town next to Eastsea City? Compared to a big city like Eastsea City, it was practically a little village.
Mu Xi asked curiously, too, "Dad, what made you suddenly want to go to Aolai City for seafood?"
"Heh!"
Mu Chen had the look of a child eager to show off a prized possession.
"You wouldn't know this, but an old friend of mine—Mang Tian. You know, the guy who runs a workshop in Aolai City. He called me first thing this morning to brag! He said something like..."
Mu Chen imitated Mang Tian, speaking in a gruff voice.
"'Old Mu! Hahaha, guess what? I finally found a promising young talent! A peerless genius! His talent for forging is absolutely incredible! He's definitely going to surpass you, an Eight-Star Saint Craftsman, someday! Hahaha! Jealous?'"
When he was done, Mu Chen snorted.
"Can you believe that? Isn't that infuriating?"
He looked as if someone had just claimed his precious treasure was second-best.
"So what if he's taken on a good apprentice? What's there to brag about? That's why..."
Mu Chen looked at Yao Chuan, his eyes practically glowing.
"I thought I'd hurry over there with our Yao Chuan!"
"Let Mang Tian open his eyes! Let him see what a real genius looks like! What a truly promising young talent!"
"Let's see whether his apprentice is better or our Yao Chuan comes out on top!"
"Hehe..."
Mu Chen grew more pleased with himself by the second, chuckling as he imagined Mang Tian's jaw dropping.
Yao Chuan: "..."
He looked at Mu Chen's childish expression and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Who would've thought that the usually dignified Eight-Star Saint Craftsman had such an immature side?
But... Mang Tian? Aolai City? A peerless genius?
This was giving him a strong sense of déjà vu... Could it be Tang Wulin?
Yao Chuan pondered the matter. He was looking forward to meeting Tang Wulin, but he was also a little wary.
It wasn't that he had anything against Tang Wulin, the protagonist. He simply remembered all too clearly that a remnant wisp of God King Tang's divine consciousness still resided in Tang Wulin's body.
He was a little worried that Tang San might discover his Black Dragon Martial Soul, as well as the Blood Spear.
If that old-fashioned fellow decided Yao Chuan had a "death wish," Yao Chuan hadn't grown strong enough yet. He wouldn't stand a chance.
But once he calmed down and thought it over, he felt he might be worrying too much.
The golden light inside Tang Wulin was, in the end, just a remnant wisp of divine consciousness left behind by Tang San. Its main purpose was to guide Tang Wulin in safely absorbing the Golden Dragon King's power and gradually breaking the seals.
Its ability to sense the surrounding environment was quite limited.
And with the Divine Realm lost, as a surviving wisp of divine consciousness, it had few opportunities to interfere with the mortal world.
Most of its attention also had to be focused on guarding against the Silver Dragon King and Di Tian.
At this stage, it probably didn't have time to worry about him.
That thought put Yao Chuan somewhat at ease.
At last, he nodded, agreeing to Mu Chen's suggestion that they go to Aolai City.
Mu Xi was delighted when she heard the news. She eagerly climbed into the car with her father and Yao Chuan, and they headed straight for Aolai City.
Naturally, the first thing they did after arriving was enjoy the seafood feast Mu Chen had promised them.
Mu Chen picked a seaside restaurant with a good reputation.
But once they actually started eating, Mu Chen was astonished again.
Only then did he realize that after his Martial Soul Awakening, Yao Chuan hadn't just become much stronger—his appetite had grown to a frightening degree as well.
He alone ate nearly enough for ten people!
The plates piled up like a little mountain.
At last, he put down his chopsticks, still wanting more.
The waiters bringing out the dishes and the cooks flipping food in the kitchen were all exhausted by his appetite.
Mu Chen looked at the mountain of empty plates and shook his head with a laugh.
"Good heavens! Thank goodness your Uncle Mu is an Eight-Star Saint Craftsman with a fairly full purse. Otherwise, I really might not be able to afford to feed a big eater like you!"
Yao Chuan merely smiled. He knew full well that Mu Chen was joking with him. To an Eight-Star Saint Craftsman, this meal had cost next to nothing.
Besides, given the talent he'd shown in the Forging Room today, it wouldn't be long before he could make money through forging and support himself. There was no need for anyone else to worry about him.
After the meal, Yao Chuan felt a little stuffed, so he offered to take a walk along the beach, enjoy the sea breeze, and help his food settle. He also wanted to take in Aolai City's coastal scenery.
Mu Chen was more than happy to agree and nodded cheerfully.
Once Yao Chuan's figure disappeared through the restaurant's entrance, Mu Chen turned around and realized his daughter Mu Xi was still sitting there.
She wasn't looking at her father at all. She was gazing blankly in the direction Yao Chuan had gone, lost in thought, and quietly mumbling to herself.
"I've never seen anyone make being a big eater look so elegant and unhurried..."
That little gaze, that expression—she was completely smitten.
Mu Chen didn't know whether to laugh or scold her.
He tapped on the table, cleared his throat, and began to spur his daughter on.
"Girl, stop focusing on how handsome he looks while eating. See what I mean? Yao Chuan's talent is terrifying. If you don't work hard at cultivating and improving your strength, you might not even be able to keep up with him someday."
His tone was teasing, but there was a serious note beneath it.
"You don't want to be left way behind by Yao Chuan, do you? So far behind you can't even see his shadow?"
Those words doused Mu Xi like a bucket of cold water, instantly snapping her out of her lovestruck daze.
Her expression sharpened. She immediately lowered her head and wolfed down the rest of the food in her bowl, then set her chopsticks down with a sharp clack.
"Dad, I'm going to cultivate!"
With that, she rushed out of the restaurant without looking back, so eager that she seemed unwilling to waste another second.
Seeing that she finally knew she needed to work hard, Mu Chen smiled with satisfaction.
Before you continue