Taking Another Path

Whether it was the memories of his previous life or Master Jiang's introduction last year, when Ling Yi had first come to Jiang Blacksmith Shop to learn the craft through Ling Bai's recommendation, all of it told Ling Yi that blacksmiths on Douluo Continent were divided into seven ranks. From low to high, they were: Novice Blacksmith, Intermediate Blacksmith, Advanced Blacksmith, Blacksmith, Blacksmith Master, Blacksmith Grandmaster, and Divine Craftsman.

Master Jiang, who had guided Ling Yi into the path of forging, was an Intermediate Blacksmith. In terms of forging skill, he was second to none in North River Mouth Town and the nearby towns.

As for the "Three Great Masters" the other party had mentioned, one should not assume they were nothing special just because they stood awkwardly in the middle of the seven blacksmith ranks, neither high nor low.

One had to know that this was a world that belonged to soul masters. Everything was measured by the power of soul masters.

In Ling Yi's impression, in the original Timeline, Lou Gao, president of the Blacksmith Association and one of the three Divine Craftsmen, had once spent ten years researching a strange metal alloy and forged two pieces of "Eight Treasures Ruyi Soft Armor" that were called divine artifacts.

This soft armor was extremely elastic. It could stretch along with a Beast Martial Soul user's body even if their body swelled to twice its size after using their martial soul, and its defensive performance would not decrease.

Most importantly, its toughness could withstand a Power Attack System Soul Master's Sixth Soul Skill!

What kind of concept was that?

In Heaven Dou Empire, the Sovereign Nation of Waterwood Principality, a Soul Elder above Level 30 could receive the imperial title of Baron, and upon reaching Level 40 as a Soul Ancestor, they would become a Viscount!

Although for higher noble titles, being merely a Soul King was no longer enough, this was already sufficient to show the status of soul masters.

If one roughly compared the ranks between blacksmiths and soul masters, it could be laid out like this:

Novice Blacksmith—Soul Master

Intermediate Blacksmith—Soul Master

Advanced Blacksmith—Great Soul Master

Blacksmith—Soul Elder

Blacksmith Master—Soul Ancestor

Blacksmith Grandmaster—Soul King

Divine Craftsman—Soul Emperor

Of course, the above was only a rough comparison in Ling Yi's own mind. The actual situation definitely could not be measured in such a simple and crude way.

Back to the rank of Blacksmith.

Blacksmiths, according to the skills they specialized in, might forge swords and sabers, craft treasured armor, or develop unusual devices. But no matter which type they were, a qualified work from their hands could provide sufficient support in a battle between soul masters at the Soul Elder level!

Moreover, although it might take a Blacksmith years to create a single qualified work, the number they could produce over the course of a lifetime was still quite considerable.

So, in a certain sense, a Blacksmith's status was higher than that of an ordinary Soul Elder.

Under circumstances where there was demand, they were comparable to a Soul King!

So, the identity of a blacksmith is still worth maintaining properly as an outward-facing label, Ling Yi calculated inwardly.

Master Jiang's letter, as well as the identity of the other party's master, was a pleasant surprise for Ling Yi, neither too large nor too small.

I just don't know whether Master Huang has any reliable comrades-in-arms on his side.

Ling Yi suddenly thought again of that Retired Veteran who had taught him weapon techniques for a year, and also... Yan Bin!

Yan Bin's side should be easy enough. Ling Yi turned his head slightly, his gaze passing through the gap in the carriage window to look at the slowly changing scenery outside. When we said goodbye yesterday, he also asked me to pass along his greetings to Lu Yi, who serves at the Spirit Hall Main Hall in Mu Zhi City...

Master Jiang... Master Jin... Deacon Yan Bin... They respectively represent three side branches: the blacksmith community, the Waterwood Principality military, and Spirit Hall...

Thinking to this point, although Ling Yi's expression still held the reluctance and sorrow appropriate to parting, as well as the uncertainty and anticipation of a long journey into the unknown, a flash of delight passed through his eyes as he looked out the window:

Sure enough, the "Six Degrees of Separation" from my previous life applies under normal circumstances even in this other world.

"Six Degrees of Separation" meant that between you and any stranger, there would be no more than six people separating you. In other words, through at most five intermediaries, you could get to know any stranger.

To give an example, Ling Yi could get to know the hall master of the Spirit Hall Main Hall in Mu Zhi City through Lu Yi, then come to know a certain bishop of Spirit Hall, and through that bishop, meet with a Platinum Bishop or elder of Spirit Hall...

Never mind how much scheming and effort this would take. At the very least, if the strategy was right, even the current Pope Clement, as well as the Pope's teacher, the current Tribunal Elder, Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu, were people Ling Yi would have the chance to meet and greet.

Of course, just like the teasing remarks from his previous life about how a village secretary was only a few steps away from a town secretary, a city secretary, a provincial secretary... and then that unspeakable *** above them, theory was theory, and reality was reality.

The reality was that Ling Yi was currently still extremely, extremely far from beings standing on the central stage of Douluo Continent, such as Spirit Hall, Clear Sky Sect, and the Two Great Empires.

As time passed, and as the scenery outside the window grew unfamiliar, the uncertainty on Ling Yi's face naturally faded somewhat, replaced by a little curiosity. Even his body unconsciously leaned closer to the window. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze strained outward through the gap in the window.

During this time, he also turned back and revealed a harmless smile to the three members of the Ison Family, one adult and two children, whose expressions were complicated, holding a bit of contempt, a bit of pride, and a bit of emotion.

Even after he turned his head back toward the window, the smile on Ling Yi's face did not vanish. It merely shifted into a somewhat eager look.

His mental activity continued.

At present, Ling Yi did not know much about Mu Zhi City or Green Leaf Elementary Soul Master Academy. He only knew a few scattered bits of information from Yan Bin.

Unfortunately, Yan Bin was not a graduate of Green Leaf Elementary Soul Master Academy. He had merely heard of this elementary academy when chatting with colleagues and former classmates.

Therefore, after Ling Yi enrolled, his first priority would be to familiarize himself with the academy environment, get to know the academy's teachers and students, and understand the academy's teaching style and general direction...

Thinking about it this way, although he was reporting to the academy more than half a month early, for Ling Yi, time was still a little tight.

One had to know that Ling Yi was still carrying the letter Master Jiang had given him in his arms. He could hardly wait until after school started before going to find that Old Master Jin, could he?

Ling Yi's current identity was that of a poor child from the countryside. His ability to study in the Capital City of Waterwood Principality relied entirely on the convenience of being a Work-study Student. On ordinary days, the academy should have work-study tasks for him to earn a small income to supplement his living expenses.

But Ling Yi had decent blacksmithing skill, and he also had the opportunity Master Jiang had arranged for him to enter the tutelage of one of Waterwood Principality's Three Great Masters and learn forging techniques. No matter how one looked at it, he should not easily set that aside.

... From the corner of his eye, Ling Yi glanced at the three of them, Ethan Parker and the others. Through some of their expressions and actions from the time they set out until now, he observed their attitudes toward returning to the academy and analyzed their status and social situation within the academy.

Ethan Lillian's face would sometimes faintly show resistance and fear, while whenever Ethan Anno thought of something, a resentful frustration appeared—the kind that dared to be angry but did not dare to speak...

As for Ethan Parker... overall, he was calm, a calm close to indifference. In the microexpressions at the corners of his eyes, his lips, and so on, there was even a hint of self-encouragement, as if he was about to finally hold his head high...

Clearly, these three young masters and young lady haven't been having an easy time at the Capital City academy, where descendants of Big Shots are everywhere—

Ling Yi looked at the green trees and shrubs outside the crack of the carriage window, his gaze deep and distant. So, I need a new identity in the city, in front of my classmates—one that doesn't necessarily have to be very high, but is more or less presentable...

I just don't know how much weight Master Jiang's disciple who returned to the countryside will carry in that Old Master Jin's eyes—

Fortunately, all I need is an opportunity, a ticket to meet him once—

He, Ling Yi, had studied for one year. While also taking care of Soul Power, physique, weapon techniques, improvements to the Meditation Method, and so on—things an ordinary person would have to exhaust all their strength to complete even one of—he had still raised his forging skills to the level of an Intermediate Blacksmith.

Yes, the same level Master Jiang was currently at!

This year, Ling Yi was seven years old and had been in contact with forging for one year. Master Jiang was forty-nine years old and had been in contact with forging for nearly forty years.

From this, one could see that the gap in talent between people truly could not be measured by reason.

That was why Master Jiang had personally written that letter, intending to recommend Ling Yi to his former master.

Thanks to book friend Just Like Snow Between the Eyebrows for the monthly ticket and tip, becoming this book's first disciple. Thanks to book friend Love Fantasy, book friend 20211029220526053, and Wanghou Zhiming for the monthly tickets. At the same time, thank you all for your support and continued reading, thank you!!! (^o^)/~