First Meeting with Tang Wulin, Sudden Anger

The intermediate academy officially began.

For Xu Yue, it merely meant changing to a new environment where he could keep urging Xu Xiaoyan to cultivate, while also being a little closer to Mu Xi.

Although Eastsea Academy required all students to live on campus, for locals, it did not really make much difference.

Whether they commuted or stayed in the dorms, they had plenty of freedom.

Inside a forging room at the Blacksmith Association.

"Mm, A-Yue, be gentler..."

Xu Yue watched Mu Xi lie facedown on a lounge chair for a massage, constantly crying out in pain, and irritably gave her perky backside a slap.

Smack!

A crisp sound rang out!

"Ow... A-Yue, what are you doing?!" Mu Xi protested coquettishly.

"Big Sis Mu Xi, if you're getting a massage, then just get one properly. Don't make such weird noises."

By then, Mu Xi had long reached the age of rapid development, and the figure she had inherited from her mother, Yuan Bao'er, was gradually beginning to show.

Like a flower blooming in full splendor, her entire body radiated the vitality of youth.

More importantly, the two had grown up together as childhood sweethearts, and the affection built through spending every day together made Mu Xi's allure to him increase exponentially.

Xu Yue took a deep breath of the slightly scorching air in the forging room and suppressed the ripples in his heart.

"And haven't I told you already? Hold back a little when you're forging. Look, you strained yourself, didn't you?!"

"Hmph! I was just too excited!"

Mu Xi pursed her red lips and said proudly, "I'm a fourth-rank blacksmith now."

"I know, my genius blacksmith sister."

The special effect of the Spirit-Forged Starfall Hammer, Star Spirit, could produce different effects according to different stellar martial souls.

In Mu Xi's hands, with her Blazing Sun martial soul, the resulting effect was called "Fire Refining."

It allowed blacksmiths to refine metals and remove impurities more quickly. During the hundred-forging and thousand-forging stages, it was exceptionally effective, nearly increasing efficiency by thirty to forty percent.

Combined with the improved physical condition from Xu Yue's gravity training method and Mu Chen's constant guidance, Mu Xi's forging had risen almost a full level every year over the past few years.

Just moments ago, Mu Xi had officially met all the requirements of a fourth-rank blacksmith.

She had completed a multi-metal fusion forging at the thousand-forging first-grade level.

Xu Yue rubbed the last bit of ointment into Mu Xi's injured spot. Only after the reddened skin from overexertion faded from pink back to snowy white did he clap his hands and rise.

"Alright, Big Sis Mu Xi. Get up now."

"No!" Mu Xi shook her head, narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, and opened her arms toward Xu Yue as she acted spoiled. "I want you to carry me!"

"If Xiaoyan sees you like this, the image of you as her dashing, heroic big sister will probably shatter."

Xu Yue shook his head helplessly, but still smiled and gently lifted Mu Xi from the lounge chair in a bridal carry.

"So what?" Before Mu Xi could finish speaking, Xu Yue set her down. "Xiaoyan can't see us anyway... Hey, hey!"

"Alright," Xu Yue said with a smile as he looked at Mu Xi, who had become increasingly clingy lately. "Let's go tell Uncle Mu the good news. He'll definitely be very happy."

"Mm!" Mu Xi nodded vigorously, a radiant smile on her face as she wrapped her arm around Xu Yue's and walked out of the forging room.

But when she thought of something, her gaze dimmed slightly, while the arms holding Xu Yue tightened a little more.

As they passed the front desk, the two greeted a woman standing behind it.

"Big Sis Xiaoling!"

Yun Xiaoling looked at the pair of siblings acting so intimately before her, and her expression showed no surprise at all.

It was practically common knowledge throughout the association.

"Miss Mu Xi, Young Master Xu Yue."

"Don't, Big Sis Xiaoling." Xu Yue smiled and interrupted her. "If you keep calling us that, Uncle Mu will scold us again."

"Yeah!" Mu Xi said with a smile as well. "Where's my dad right now? In the forging room?"

"No. The president is currently in his office with Master Cen Yue. Do you need me to take you there?"

"No, no, we can go by ourselves."

Mu Xi smiled and waved her hand, heading toward the elevator with Xu Yue.

Yun Xiaoling watched their retreating figures, an unconscious, indulgent smile appearing at the corner of her lips.

The couple she shipped had grown up. What a wonderful thing.

The two took the elevator directly to the floor where Mu Chen's office was located. When Xu Yue pushed open the door, he immediately saw Mu Chen and Cen Yue.

"Uncle Mu, Master Cen."

Xu Yue and Mu Xi greeted the two of them.

"Xiao Yue, Xiao Xi, what brings you here?" Mu Chen nodded and asked with a smile.

"Uncle Mu, Sister Mu Xi can already be assessed as a Level Four Blacksmith. I've confirmed it beyond doubt."

Xu Yue smiled as he recounted what had just happened, immediately shocking the two people present.

"What? Level Four?!"

Mu Chen sprang to his feet, saying excitedly.

"Xiao Yue, are you telling the truth?!"

"Of course it's true!" Before Xu Yue could answer, Mu Xi pursed her red lips, somewhat displeased by her father's doubt.

"Do you think A-Yue and I would lie to you?"

"Good, good, good!" Mu Chen laughed heartily, overjoyed.

Seeing this, Cen Yue also congratulated Mu Chen.

"Congratulations, President, on having such a beloved disciple and daughter. Perhaps someday, the continent will speak of a pair of divine blacksmiths from the same family."

Seeing how happy Mu Chen was, Xu Yue did not interrupt him. Only after sitting down close beside Mu Xi did he ask, "Uncle Mu, how come you and Master Cen have the leisure to chat today? That's not something one sees often."

Hearing Xu Yue's question, Mu Chen's laughter gradually faded. He chuckled. "Today, we're awarding a blacksmith's badge to a young man. Perfect timing—you can get to know him as well."

"Oh?" Mu Xi froze for a moment, curious.

Just as Mu Chen was about to explain, there came a light knock on the office door.

Knock, knock!

"President!" A familiar female voice sounded.

"See? I was just about to mention him, and he's here." Mu Chen chuckled and called toward the door, "Come in!"

When the office door opened and the youth personally brought in by Yun Xiaoling walked into the room, Xu Yue's expression instantly froze.

The newcomer had black hair, large eyes with clearly defined black and white, long eyelashes, and a handsome, clean-cut appearance.

Even without an introduction, the person's name immediately surfaced in his mind.

It was Tang Wulin!

Was Tang Wulin here today to receive his blacksmith's badge?

Xu Yue did not know.

Other than a few major events, he rarely thought about the story he had seen in his previous life.

After all, he had his own life to live, and the so-called Legend of the Dragon King was merely someone else's life.

Yet at that moment, as Xu Yue looked at Tang Wulin, his gaze involuntarily moved from that delicate face to his forehead.

Though it was smooth and unmarked, Xu Yue knew exactly what existed there.

In an instant, an intense, uncontrollable fury surged within him.

The emotion had come swiftly, but it did not fade. Instead, it developed in a direction that was becoming increasingly difficult to control.