Iron Wall Traps Dragon, the Saint Craftsman's Wrath!

Dust showered down from the walls.

Excruciating pain was like a dull saw, repeatedly grinding through Light Dragon's nerves.

He suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood-tinged saliva. The instant his awareness returned, the tearing sensation of being pierced through the chest nearly made him pass out again.

He lowered his head and looked at the pitch-black spear shaft.

The spear had penetrated his chest, avoiding his heart, yet precisely wedging itself between his ribs and pinning him to the gray-white wall like a specimen.

"Y-you... bastard..."

Veins bulged across Light Dragon's forehead. As the local tyrant, being reduced to such a state by a few brats hurt worse than death.

"Get... out!"

With an enraged roar, one white and one yellow soul ring rose beneath his feet.

Martial Soul Possession, Iron Armor Dragon!

His already burly body swelled once more, and a layer of gray keratin emerged across his skin—dragon scales as hard as granite.

His right arm in particular bulged with muscle, its strength surging instantly.

First Soul Skill, Iron Armor Possession.

Second Soul Skill, Iron Armor Dragon Body.

Though pinned to the wall and unable to charge, he poured all that explosive strength into both hands, gripping the Tyrant Profound Divine Spear's shaft tightly as he tried to pull it free.

"Bzz—"

The spear shaft gave a dull shudder.

But it only shuddered.

Light Dragon's face turned red and his eyes bloodshot. His flesh, bones, and muscles were already operating beyond their limits, yet the spear did not budge in the slightest.

It was as though it had grown into the wall—or rather, into this very space.

"Boss!"

The two lackeys, who had been scared stupid, finally came to their senses. They scrambled over, one grabbing Light Dragon's waist and the other his legs, and pulled with all the strength they could muster.

Three people, six hands, bolstered by Martial Soul and soul skill power.

Yet it was like a group of ants trying to shake a pillar that held down the sea.

"Pfft—"

Light Dragon spat out another mouthful of blood. Not only had he failed to pull it out, but his struggle had torn at his wound, making his entire body convulse in agony.

The surrounding diners pointing and whispering, Uncle Li's frightened yet complicated gaze, and the black-haired youth sitting at the table and leisurely wiping his mouth.

Each of them felt like a slap across Light Dragon's face, leaving it burning with pain.

Humiliation—extreme humiliation—turned into hysterical fury.

"You little beast... if you've got the guts, kill me!"

Light Dragon gave up struggling. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Tang Linyuan as he rasped, "Otherwise, when my brother gets here, I'll make your whole family die with me!"

"Do you know who my brother is? He's Guang Biao, captain of the Eastsea City Mecha Brigade! He runs all the streets around here!"

"Captain of the Mecha Brigade?"

Tang Linyuan crumpled the napkin he had used into a ball and tossed it accurately into the trash bin beneath the table.

He did not even raise his head to look at the impotently raging man. He merely turned toward Tang Wulin, who had relaxed after seeing his brother make a move and was now continuing to eat, his mouth glistening with oil.

"Wulin, take out the Soul Guidance Communicator your martial uncle gave you."

"Huh? Oh!"

Tang Wulin froze for a moment before understanding. He hastily wiped his mouth, and blue light flashed from the Star Sea Ring around his wrist as an exquisite silver Soul Guidance Communicator appeared in his hand.

"Are we calling Teacher?" Tang Wulin scratched his head and obediently handed over the communicator.

Tang Linyuan took it and skillfully dialed a number.

"Beep—beep—"

After two rings, the call connected.

"Haha, is that Wulin? What, you miss Teacher after only a few days apart?"

Mu Chen's hearty laughter came from the communicator. In the background, sharp metallic clanging could be heard.

"Teacher!" Tang Wulin hugged the communicator, his voice bright. "I want to eat that braised pork from the last banquet..."

"All you know is eating! Fine, fine. I'll serve it again next time you come." Mu Chen laughed as he scolded him, his tone filled with affection.

Tang Linyuan took the communicator and calmly said, "Martial Uncle Mu."

The laughter on the other end paused. Mu Chen's voice immediately became more serious. "Linyuan? Why is it you? What happened?"

He knew this martial nephew far too well.

Unless he had run into trouble that required an elder to step in, this child would never call at such a time.

"It isn't anything major."

Tang Linyuan leaned against the back of his chair and glanced at Light Dragon, who was still shouting from the wall.

"Wulin and I were eating in the old district when we ran into someone collecting protection money. He said his brother was the captain of the Mecha Brigade and wanted to wipe us out."

"I pinned him to the wall, but he still wants to call for people."

The other end of the communicator went silent for half a second.

Then came an enraged roar that seemed capable of shattering the receiver.

"Outrageous!"

"In Eastsea City, does someone actually dare lay a hand on my, Mu Chen's, disciple and martial nephew? The Mecha Brigade? Is it that idiot Guang Biao?!"

Mu Chen's voice carried the authority of one long in power and the rage of someone fiercely protective of his own. "Linyuan, where are you?"

"Li's Braised Beef Shop on Snack Street."

"Good. Stay there and finish the beef." Mu Chen snorted coldly.

"I have something urgent and can't leave right now, but I'll send someone over immediately. I'd like to see who dares touch even a finger of yours!"

"Thank you, Martial Uncle." The corner of Tang Linyuan's mouth lifted slightly.

"What are you thanking me for? You're that old bastard Zhen Hua's disciple, and you're also my, Mu Chen's, martial nephew! If you suffer injustice in Eastsea City, that's the same as slapping me in the face!"

Beep.

The call ended.

The shop fell quiet again.

Only Light Dragon was still groaning on the wall, though his voice had clearly become much softer. He had evidently been intimidated by the force of that call.

Xie Xie had been listening closely the entire time.

When Tang Linyuan put down the communicator, he could not help leaning closer. Lowering his voice, he asked with a worried expression, "B-boss, um... who was that just now?"

"Wulin's blacksmithing teacher," Tang Linyuan answered casually.

"Blacksmithing teacher?!"

Xie Xie nearly leaped out of his chair, his expression changing instantly.

"Boss, don't you understand the situation here? Guang Biao is regular military! He's the captain of the Mecha Brigade! He has heavy mecha under his command!"

"A blacksmithing teacher... even if he's a high-ranking blacksmith, he won't have any pull with those military thugs! When scholars meet soldiers, reason won't get you anywhere!"

Xie Xie anxiously rubbed his hands together and even began gathering their things.

"Shouldn't we leave first? A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Once we're back at the academy, Teacher Wu can shield us. I doubt they'd dare storm the school to arrest us."

He was genuinely worried.

In his eyes, blacksmiths might be wealthy and highly respected, but that was based on peaceful trade.

When blades and guns came out, the military still had the final say.

Tang Linyuan looked at Xie Xie, who was like an ant on a hot pan, and shook his head.

"Sit down."

He reached out, pressed Xie Xie's shoulder, and forcibly pushed him back into his chair.

"Xie Xie, your understanding of power is still too shallow."

Tang Linyuan picked up his chopsticks, lifted a piece of beef tendon, and slowly chewed it.

"Wulin's teacher is named Mu Chen."

"He is the president of the East Sea Blacksmith Association, one of the Federation's few Level Eight Saint Craftsmen."

Xie Xie froze.

"And that isn't even the important part." Tang Linyuan swallowed the beef, his gaze deep.

"More importantly, he is an eighty-ninth-rank peak Soul Douluo."

"And a Three-Word Battle Armor Master."

"Pfft—cough, cough, cough!"

Xie Xie choked on his saliva and began coughing violently, his eyes widening like bells.

A Three-Word... Battle Armor Master?!

After Tang Linyuan's earlier explanation, Xie Xie already knew how powerful Battle Armor was. He understood even more clearly that Three-Word Battle Armor Masters were practically strategic nuclear weapons!

In Eastsea City, let alone a Mecha Brigade captain, even the city's highest-ranking governor would have to respectfully light a cigarette for that man!

He looked at the two brothers calmly eating before him and suddenly felt that the world was a little surreal.

So the thickest thigh had been right beside him all along?