Three Years Later, the Boy Had Grown Up

Time flew by like an arrow.

A full three years had passed since the Evil Soul Master attack outside Shrek City that had shocked the continent.

Over those three years, the situation across the continent had undergone earth-shaking changes. Friction between major powers such as the War God Temple, Spirit Pagoda, and Shrek Academy had intensified. Although there was no direct evidence proving that Shrek Academy had colluded with Evil Soul Masters, the tacit understanding that had endured among those powers for years had largely shattered because of the incident, and many collaborations had been completely severed.

If the major powers had not all understood that destroying any one of them would require a devastating price, and if the Blood God Legion had not been occupied with the invasion of the Abyssal Plane, small-scale conflicts would likely have erupted long ago.

Still, although there had been plenty of friction among the various powers over the past three years, those in power had remained rational and had not allowed matters to escalate. As a result, the clashes between them gradually began to quiet down.

But that did not mean relations between the major powers had begun to improve.

It was because they had truly uncovered the forces behind the Evil Soul Masters.

The incident three years ago had indeed been the work of Evil Soul Masters, at least on the surface—and the latter half really had been. The Federation Government first used it as grounds to hold the major powers in Shrek City accountable, including Shrek Academy, Spirit Pagoda, and the Tang Sect. Shrek Academy bore the brunt of it. After all, Shrek Academy had always regarded exterminating Evil Soul Masters as its duty. And under the excuse of purging Evil Soul Masters, Shrek Academy's people often treated Federation law as though it did not exist.

The major powers were embarrassed by this as well. They had not expected the Evil Soul Masters to be so brazen as to commit crimes outside Shrek City. It left the major powers thoroughly angered. While continuing to clash with one another, they also increased their efforts to exterminate Evil Soul Masters.

And that purge uncovered a problem.

The Holy Spirit Cult was far stronger than they had expected.

Ever since Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao destroyed the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters in the Demonic Forest ten thousand years ago, the number of Evil Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent had fallen to its lowest point since the fall of Spirit Hall.

Although the Holy Spirit Cult had risen from the ashes again over the following millennia, it had never grown truly powerful under the tacit suppression of the major forces. Whenever the Holy Spirit Cult produced an Evil Soul Master at the Limit Douluo level, the major powers would quietly join hands and launch a large-scale purge.

Yet under the intensified suppression of the past three years, the major powers discovered that the Holy Spirit Cult had produced more than one Evil Soul Master at the Limit Douluo level!

The major powers across the continent were all stunned.

They tacitly reduced their conflicts and began quietly tracking down members of the Holy Spirit Cult. After all, the Holy Spirit Cult had produced more than one Limit Douluo-level Evil Soul Master, yet acted with such restraint. When villains stayed quiet, they were surely plotting something. No other power believed the Holy Spirit Cult would behave itself. They had to be planning something unknown to the world.

However, none of that had anything to do with Xiao Cheng.

Three years were enough to transform a boy into a youth.

West of Shrek City, the Xiao Family residence.

Morning sunlight spilled across the courtyard, illuminating a tall, slender figure.

The eleven-and-a-half-year-old had already shot up in height. He was no longer the slightly soft-looking little boy he had been three years ago. He had grown quickly, and his shoulders and back had broadened considerably. Though he still retained some of a youth's leanness, one could already glimpse the valiant figure he would cut as an adult.

He wore a simple white training outfit, its sleeves rolled up to reveal firm forearms. His black hair was casually tied behind his head, with a few loose strands hanging over his forehead and making his eyes appear even deeper and brighter.

The roundness of childhood had faded from his face, revealing the sharp contours of youth. His nose was straight, his brows were sword-like, and most of the childishness between his brows had vanished. Only a sharp edge lingered at the corners of his eyes, like his Azure Sky Divine Spear, which could tear through space. Even when restrained, its sharpness could not be concealed.

It was Xiao Cheng, three years later.

Holding the Azure Sky Divine Spear, he slowly practiced a spear technique in the courtyard. His movements were not fast, yet they carried a calm, heavy presence. Every thrust seemed to tear the air apart, producing a low, mournful howl. Azure light flowed around the spear tip, and the faint phantom of an Azure Python coiled around it, radiating a sharp and profound aura.

Four black Soul Rings slowly revolved around his body, emitting a deep glow.

After finishing the set, Xiao Cheng withdrew his spear and stood still, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.

That breath lingered in the air without dispersing, transforming into the shape of a small Dragon that circled briefly before slowly fading away.

"Level forty-four." Feeling the fluctuations of Soul Power within him, Xiao Cheng nodded in satisfaction. "The Dragon Transformation Sutra has also broken through to the fourth level. At this rate, when I reach level fifty and become a Soul King, I should be able to reach the fifth level."

The fifth level of the Dragon Transformation Sutra was an important threshold. At that point, his Martial Soul could evolve from an "Azure Python" into a "Flood Dragon," completing the first true leap in life level on his path of dragon transformation.

From snake to python, and from python to Azure Python, size and strength grew, but there was no fundamental change in their essence of life. They all belonged to the snake lineage, differing only in size and power.

But Flood Dragons were different.

A Flood Dragon had already stepped beyond the snake lineage and begun advancing toward the dragon lineage. Once his Martial Soul evolved into a Flood Dragon, it would undergo a qualitative transformation. Not only would his strength and speed increase tremendously, but he would also gain abilities and traits unique to the dragon lineage.

"Still, I can't rush it," Xiao Cheng thought to himself. "My start has already been smooth, and I still have plenty of time. There's no need to hurry."

He put away the Azure Sky Divine Spear and stretched his body, his bones producing a series of crackling sounds.

Just then, a clear voice came from outside the gate.

"Xiao Cheng! Are you home?"

The voice was bright and cheerful, carrying familiar vitality.

The corners of Xiao Cheng's lips lifted slightly as he walked over and opened the gate.

Two young girls stood outside.

The one in front looked around twelve or thirteen. She was tall and wore her fiery red hair in a high ponytail. Her hair swayed gently in the morning breeze, its tips tinged with a golden-red glow. Her features were exquisite and striking, and her brows carried a heroic confidence. The corners of her lips were raised slightly, exposing a small canine tooth. Her entire presence was like a blazing flame, bold and fervent.

It was Leng Yaozhu.

Three years had passed, and she had grown from a lively little girl into a spirited young lady. The baby fat had faded from her face, revealing delicate features. She had grown much taller and was nearly at Xiao Cheng's shoulder. Her entire body radiated a scorching, sharp aura.

If Leng Yaozhu three years ago had been a newly lit flame, then three years later, she was a raging fire.

Her Heavenly Phoenix True Fire and Evil-Breaking Sacred Fire had completely fused, forming a new flame of even greater power. Her cultivation had also reached level forty-five, making her a Soul Ancestor. When she went all out, even Xiao Cheng did not dare face her head-on. She remained the undisputed main damage dealer.

Standing behind her was Leng Yulai.

Unlike her sister's fiery nature, Leng Yulai possessed a gentler, more reserved temperament. She wore a pale purple dress, and her dark hair draped over her shoulders, making her skin appear as white as snow. Her features were graceful and refined, with a faint tenderness in her eyes. A subtle smile rested on her lips, making her seem like a quietly blooming orchid—calm and beautiful.

Three years had also turned her from a little girl into a graceful young lady. Though she was half a head shorter than her sister, her figure was slender and well-proportioned, already carrying the charm of adolescence. Her cultivation had reached the peak of level thirty-nine, just one step away from breaking through to level forty and becoming a Soul Ancestor.

Her cultivation and strength had also advanced significantly during three years of training. Though she was not as flamboyant and domineering as her sister's Heavenly Phoenix True Fire, her control over the darkness element was stranger and more unpredictable. She excelled at infiltration and corrosion, often achieving unexpected results in actual combat.

"Yao Zhu, Yu Lai, you're here." Xiao Cheng greeted them with a smile.

"Of course!" Leng Yaozhu strode into the courtyard carelessly, looked Xiao Cheng up and down, then nodded in satisfaction. "Mm, not bad, not bad. You've grown taller again. At this rate, you'll surpass me before long."

"Yao Zhu, you've been saying that for two years," Xiao Cheng said helplessly.

"Have I? Why don't I remember?" Leng Yaozhu played dumb before changing the subject. "By the way, did you finish your Level Five Forger assessment?"

"I passed." Xiao Cheng nodded, his tone calm as though he were discussing something insignificant. "Half a month ago, I successfully completed Spirit Refinement and passed the assessment. I'm now a Level Five Forging Grandmaster."

"You really did it?!" Leng Yaozhu's eyes widened. Even though she already knew plenty about Xiao Cheng's forging talent, she could not help being shocked. "You're only eleven and a half! An eleven-and-a-half-year-old Level Five Forging Grandmaster?! You're defying the heavens!"

"Just the basics. I'm the future God Craftsman, after all." Xiao Cheng was not modest in the slightest.

"Basics my foot!" Leng Yaozhu mercilessly exposed him. "It's one thing for your cultivation to grow so quickly, but your strength is also absurd. Now even your secondary profession is advancing this fast. Are you even letting anyone else live?"

"Sis, haven't you gotten used to it already?" Leng Yulai covered her mouth and smiled.

"I'm used to it, but it still sounds ridiculous every time I hear it!" Leng Yaozhu dramatically clutched her chest. "Look at me. I've trained so hard for so many years, and I'm only level forty-five. But him? He practices spears, hammers metal, and tempers his body every day, yet his cultivation hasn't fallen behind at all. He's already about to catch up to me despite being a year younger! Does that make sense? It does not!"

"Yao Zhu, you make it sound like your cultivation is low," Xiao Cheng said with a smile. "A level forty-five Soul Ancestor is already among the best of your generation, okay?"

"Can I even compare myself to you?" Leng Yaozhu rolled her eyes. "Compared to you, I'm just an ordinary person."

"Sis, you're exaggerating..." Leng Yulai said helplessly.

The three chatted and laughed for a while before sitting on the stone benches in the courtyard.

"By the way, did you come looking for me today because something happened?" Xiao Cheng asked.

"Of course." Leng Yaozhu turned serious. "The cultivation of the three of us is about there now. It's time to start considering making Battle Armor."

"Battle Armor?" Xiao Cheng was slightly startled, then nodded. "That's true. It is time to think about it."

Battle Armor Masters were the profession with the strongest individual combat power in the current world of Soul Masters. A good set of Battle Armor could raise a Soul Master's combat power by one or even several tiers. For genius Soul Masters like them, possessing their own Battle Armor was also an important means of increasing their strength.

One-Word Battle Armor was the lowest grade of Battle Armor. It was usually composed of eleven parts and could provide Soul Masters with substantial boosts to Soul Power and attributes. Though it was only One-Word Battle Armor, when worn by a Soul King, it could temporarily grant strength comparable to that of an ordinary Soul Saint.

"Yu Lai and I have also taken secondary professions," Leng Yaozhu said. "I studied mecha manufacturing, and Yu Lai studied mecha design. We've both reached Level Four already. With you as a Level Five Forging Grandmaster, the three of us can absolutely make our own One-Word Battle Armor. My father said we could have someone else make it, but Battle Armor we make ourselves will suit us best. Besides, with the three of us working together, handling design, manufacturing, and forging from start to finish, aren't we better than those craftsmen outside?"

Xiao Cheng considered it and found that she made sense.

The three of them included one Level Five Forging Grandmaster, one Level Four mecha manufacturer, and one Level Four mecha designer. Together, they had more than enough ability to make One-Word Battle Armor. Moreover, Battle Armor made by themselves could be customized according to their own needs, making it more suitable than anything bought outside.

"But I have an idea," Xiao Cheng said.

"What idea?" Leng Yaozhu asked curiously.

"I want to use Spirit Alloy to make our One-Word Battle Armor," Xiao Cheng said.

"Spirit Alloy?" Leng Yaozhu froze for a moment, then her eyes widened. "You mean... the kind of Spirit Metal created through First-Grade Thousand Refinement?"

"That's right." Xiao Cheng nodded.

Leng Yaozhu drew in a sharp breath. "Are you crazy? Spirit Alloy works well, but the success rate for high fusion rates is far too low! First-Grade Thousand Refinement, and it also needs Fusion Refinement. Knowing you, you probably wouldn't even consider an alloy with a fusion rate below eighty percent. Even if you're a Level Five Forging Grandmaster, you can't guarantee that every fusion rate will be above eighty percent, can you?"

"I certainly can't guarantee it," Xiao Cheng admitted frankly. "But I can try slowly. We aren't in a hurry to use Battle Armor anyway. If we spend more time and make more attempts, we'll succeed eventually. Besides, we aren't short on money." In truth, Leng Yaozhu had underestimated Xiao Cheng's standards. In his eyes, he would not even consider an alloy with a fusion rate below ninety percent.

After a pause, he continued, "Besides, you know the benefits of Spirit Metal. One-Word Battle Armor forged from Spirit Metal can be directly absorbed into a Soul Master's body, without needing to be worn externally like ordinary Battle Armor. And Spirit Metal One-Word Battle Armor can be upgraded directly, unlike ordinary Battle Armor, which has to be remade. When upgrading it into Two-Word Battle Armor, we only need to add higher-grade metals to create a higher-level alloy, then redesign and manufacture it. Not only does that greatly save rare resources, but the upgraded Battle Armor will also be more powerful."

Leng Yaozhu fell silent for a moment after hearing that, then sighed. "All right, you have a point. Spirit Metal One-Word Battle Armor is indeed much better than ordinary One-Word Battle Armor. Since you want to try it, we'll try it with you."

"Then it's settled." Xiao Cheng smiled. "I'll first try forging Spirit Metal. Once I succeed, I'll hand it over to you two for design and manufacturing."

"Okay!" Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai answered in unison.

The three chatted for a while longer before Leng Yaozhu and Leng Yulai took their leave.

After seeing them off, Xiao Cheng returned to the courtyard, sat on a stone bench, and stared up at the sky, lost in thought.

Forging Spirit Metal was indeed no easy task.

Ordinary Thousand Refinement only required removing impurities from metal and increasing its purity. But for Spirit Metal, the forger had to integrate spiritual power and Soul Power into the metal during the Thousand Refinement process, making the metal come alive and develop spirituality.

Xiao Cheng had also consulted Zheng Tie about this. It was worth mentioning that Zheng Tie had successfully completed Soul Refinement during those three years and become a genuine Level Seven Saint Craftsman. However, Zheng Tie had also said that he could teach Xiao Cheng only so much. Although he was a Level Seven Saint Craftsman, the path beyond Level Six was mostly something he had explored on his own. It was enough for his own use, but insufficient for teaching a forging prodigy like Xiao Cheng. If Xiao Cheng wanted to go further in forging in the future, he would need to find a more reliable teacher.

Xiao Cheng had already made plans regarding that matter.