The Continued Showdown

"Mom, do you know about the Blacksmith Association?"

In response to Liu Yan's question, Liu Erlong did not answer directly, but instead asked a question in return.

"[Blacksmith Association]?"

Although she felt a little anxious about Liu Erlong's evasive answer, Liu Yan still seriously began to recall her past memories.

In just a few breaths, Liu Yan spoke again, saying, "I remember, it was a force in Gengxin City, the ' City of Metal,' formed by blacksmiths... It possessed the most high-level blacksmiths on the Douluo Continent, and each guild leader seemed to be the strongest blacksmith on the continent, known as... Divine Craftsman?"

Although the place where she lived back then provided access to a lot of information, it was all too fragmented. It was only because Liu Yan had a good memory that she was able to recall these few details.

After all, since leaving that place with Yu Luomian, her daughter Liu Erlong is almost twelve years old. More than ten years have passed, and she has been living like a canary in this small courtyard in "Luolin City," rarely venturing out. Apart from accompanying her daughter, she waits for Yu Luomian's arrival. Her social circle can be said to be completely blank, even less than Liu Erlong's.

"Almost there~"

Liu Erlong nodded, noticing the worry on Liu Yan's face. He quickly stood up, sat down beside her, took her arm, and gently pressed her soft, boneless hand against his cheek, whispering:

"Mom, don't worry, listen to me first—"

Liu Yan tried to calm her racing heart, gave Liu Erlong a trusting look, and nodded gently. "Mm!"

Just like when she was a child, Liu Erlong rested her cheek in her mother's hand, leaned against the table, and looked up at her mother's beautiful, fairy-like face. She spoke softly:

"Mom, do you remember how, half a year ago, my teacher, classmates, and I went to the Elementary Soul Beast Forest, more than 200 miles away, to participate in a unified Soul Hunting?"

Liu Yan nodded. "Yes, I remember."

Logically speaking, when Liu Erlong was eight years old, almost nine, he had already reached level twenty in cultivation. Then, with the help of Yu Luomian who happened to come by, he obtained his second hundred-year-level Soul Ring and became Grand Soul Master.

Now, more than three years have passed, and Liu Erlong has only just reached level 29. Half a year ago, she didn't need to hunt for Soul Ring at all, let alone in the primary Soul Beast forest, where there are generally no thousand-year-old Soul Beast suitable as Liu Erlong's Third Soul Ring.

But Liu Erlong still went.

This is because Liu Erlong needs to hone herself through battles with Soul Beast.

It was on that occasion that Liu Erlong fully demonstrated the domineering nature of her "Fire Dragon" Martial Soul and her combat power at the level of Grand Soul Master, enabling her to hunt down the First Soul Ring of the hundred-year level for Si Kexin and Audrey. Only then did the two of them take the initiative to express their desire to get closer to her.

Before that, even though the two girls were somewhat reluctant to befriend Liu Erlong because of Dean Yi Qingzhu's influence, they were both reluctant to do so.

Who isn't a 'little princess' at heart?

"During that operation, I learned about the Blacksmith Association from a classmate named Ouye Hua who was traveling with me at the academy."

Liu Erlong slowly said, "His family runs a blacksmith shop in the north of this ' Luolin City,' and his father is a high-level blacksmith... Among blacksmiths, the ranks are... and the highest, the Divine Craftsman."

"According to him, ' Gengxin City ' is a sacred place in the hearts of all blacksmiths on the Douluo Continent."

"Seven or eight years ago, after the new president of the Blacksmith Association, the Divine Craftsman Lou Gao, took power, he began to promote reforms of the association... Now, within the Star Luo Empire, almost all blacksmiths earn significantly more than before!"

"More than a month ago, Ouye Hua returned to the academy from home and told the students that the former president of the Blacksmith Association, the Divine Craftsman Tie Futu, had broken through to the Soul Douluo realm!"

"President Lou Gao then announced that a ' Heavenly Craft Academy ' would be established, recruiting students from across the continent, with the Divine Craftsman Tie Futu as its dean!"

"I've heard that even the Clear Sky Sect, the number one sect in the world, sends disciples to the Heavenly Craft Academy for training..."

Hearing this, Liu Yan's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but interrupt, asking, "Erlong, are you planning to go to the [Heavenly Craft Academy]?"

Liu Erlong nodded at Liu Yan's question, but then shook his head.

This action immediately left Liu Yan completely bewildered and at a loss.

Fortunately, Liu Erlong didn't keep her in suspense and replied, "I plan to study forging, but whether I'll attend the [Heavenly Craft Academy], I'll have to wait and see."

"Learn forging?!"

Liu Yan didn't hear Liu Erlong's later words at all. All she could hear were the words "learning forging" from Liu Erlong beginning. Her bright eyes were filled with tension and panic as she looked at Liu Erlong and hurriedly asked, "Erlong, why did you think of learning this? You're not going to be a blacksmith, are you? This... this... this..."

The repeated use of "this" three times clearly demonstrates the worry in Liu Yan's heart at this moment.

Blacksmith? With Erlong's outstanding Soul Master talent, why would he suddenly want to become a blacksmith?

Liu Yan couldn't understand it; she really couldn't understand it.

She was a courtesan who sold her art but not her body, a woman of low social status. If her own daughter were to become a blacksmith of the same lowly status, she would truly be unable to accept it!

"I'm not going to be a blacksmith." Liu Erlong grasped his mother's suddenly cold hand and said calmly, "I'm just learning forging."

"Ouye Hua said that as long as one can master the forging technique of the Thousand Refinement level, the tools he makes can be sold for a pretty good price at the auction house."

"I also asked Dean Yi Qingzhu to inquire about relevant information for me. He said that it's very convenient for Soul Master to learn forging, and they can master it extremely quickly!"

"Tang Hao, the second son of the sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect, spends most of his time cultivating and only occasionally studies blacksmithing. Now, in his early twenties, he has already been recognized as Grandmaster Blacksmith..."

"And my ' Fire Dragon ' Martial Soul is extremely well-suited in this aspect, so it probably won't be long before it reaches the Thousand Refinement level."

"Erlong, you want to learn forging and reach the Thousand Refinement level? Are you going to create artifacts for auction? You... are you short of money?"

Liu Yan suddenly noticed a key point in Liu Erlong's words and said worriedly, "If you need money, Mom has quite a bit here... If it's not enough, when your father comes next time, Mom will definitely talk to him about it..."

"Mother!"

Liu Erlong called out, interrupting Liu Yan, and a look on her small face that Liu Yan found unfamiliar.

"Erlong..." Liu Yan fell silent, looking at Liu Erlong.

Looking into Liu Yan's eyes, which were filled with worry, concern, and fear, Liu Erlong turned his head and looked around at the house where she had lived for nearly twelve years since she was born.

Turning around, Liu Erlong looked directly at Liu Yan, their eyes met, and he spoke earnestly:

"Mom, let's leave here."

"Leaving ' Luolin City ', leaving the ' Heaven Dou Empire ', we're going to the ' Star Luo Empire ', to ' Gengxin City '."

"I can learn forging. I'm Grand Soul Master now, and I can receive ten Gold Soul Coin from the Spirit Hall every month. That's enough for me to master Thousand Refinement- level forging..."

"Once I become Soul Elder, my monthly allowance will be one hundred Gold Soul Coin!"

"As for my cultivation, Mother, don't worry. If I join the Blacksmith Association or enroll in the Heavenly Craft Academy, as Ouye Hua said, there will be people to help outstanding students like me to hunt for the best age Soul Ring..."

"Even Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring can be provided by the Blacksmith Association!"

We'll continue tomorrow night. Goodnight everyone!