Zuo Qiu Lun

A fine day came to an end amid tense matches. After two team battles, Liu Tianran and his group returned to the hotel. Thanks to Saint Craftsman Li Ziming's "sudden whim," the seven-person team competition, usually the center of attention, seemed somewhat deserted this year.

Now, the topics discussed by spectators throughout Skysea City revolved more around the young prodigies who had emerged in the individual matches and clashed against one another.

Still, Liu Tianran's appearance in the team competition caused a small stir. A thirteen-year-old Healing System Soul Ancestor had caught the attention of some people.

Some had even begun considering approaching and recruiting him.

Tianhai Grand Hotel

"Captain, you didn't see it for yourself. The level of the individual matches this time was terrifying. There were more than a dozen teenage Soul Ancestors! Is this really the kind of competition the Skysea Grand Tournament is supposed to have?"

"The people in the individual matches aren't even more than five years older than us, yet they're already this strong. They even easily defeated the champions of the previous Skysea Alliance Grand Tournament."

"God! They're just too strong! And quite a few of those Soul Ancestors are around our age!"

"Luckily, they didn't bring teams to compete in the team matches. Otherwise, I think we should hurry home."

Liu Tianran was currently lying in the hotel room, listening to He Qing describe just how powerful the individual match contestants were.

"Enough, enough. You make them sound so incredible that anyone listening would think you're a Soul Ancestor too." Unable to stand He Qing's muttering any longer, Yun Qian shot back.

"And weren't those Soul Ancestors you're praising so highly defeated by a Soul Grandmaster in the end?"

"You mean Zhou Mingyu? He's no ordinary person! You didn't see that sword strike of his. Even the referee who got turned into an ice sculpture couldn't thaw himself out! That was a Soul Emperor! What kind of Soul Grandmaster is that monstrous?!"

"If you don't believe me, ask Old Xu. He's an ice Soul Master, so he definitely understands it better than I do."

With that, everyone turned to look at the quiet Xu Xiaoyu. Wearing a solemn expression, Xu Xiaoyu said, "If I faced him, I probably wouldn't have the slightest ability to fight back."

Everyone was startled. He was usually such a proud person, yet he had actually admitted on his own that he was inferior to a seven-year-old boy.

After their surprise faded, everyone fell silent.

Watching the atmosphere in the room gradually grow heavy, Liu Tianran knew it was time for him to step in.

"All right, don't think so much about it. We just need to do our best."

"Get some proper rest today. We still have a match tomorrow."

Everyone nodded and returned to their respective rooms. After they left, Liu Tianran went back to his own room as well.

Early the next morning, Zuo Qiu Lun, a highly anticipated seeded contestant in the Skysea Grand Tournament, woke up on a large bed. He was currently staying in a guest room prepared by the Tianhai City Blacksmith Association.

After getting dressed, Zuo Qiu Lun took a soul-guided taxi toward the Forging Masters Association. Before long, he arrived at his destination.

Like the Donghai City Blacksmith Association, the Tianhai City Blacksmith Association was one of the Forging Masters Association's important branches. As the foremost of the five first-tier cities along the Eastsea Coast, Skysea City had two Saint Craftsmen stationed there year-round.

With a calm expression, Zuo Qiu Lun entered the Spirit Pagoda and headed straight for the Forging Masters Association's VIP room. None of the staff he passed stopped him. Occasionally, someone who saw him merely offered him a respectful smile.

After all, they all knew that he was a distinguished guest invited by a Saint Craftsman.

Zuo Qiu Lun entered a room where a handsome blond young man with a powerful aura was waiting for him. Seated upright in the place of honor, he resembled a blazing Blazing Sun.

Several staff members from the Forging Masters Association were also busy in the room. When Zuo Qiu Lun entered, they perceptively withdrew, closing the door behind them.

"Whew, you're a little late!"

The moment the door closed, the man's imposing air vanished. Smiling, he spoke to Zuo Qiu Lun in a familiar, relaxed tone. "I watched your matches these past few days. Not bad. Clean and decisive. You've already gained a bit of fame."

"How could my reputation compare to that of a Saint Craftsman like you?" Zuo Qiu Lun replied casually to Li Ziming, without the respectful tone the staff had used earlier.

"All right, why are you being polite with me? What did you come to see me about?"

Li Ziming directly ignored his polite flattery and looked at his "friend" and colleague.

"How are your preparations for the plan devised by the main body going?"

"My part was prepared long ago. I've also reported your information to Mu Ye. He's already on his way here."

"Good."

"Zuo Qiu Lun"—Liu Tianran's fourth avatar—was an avatar specially prepared for the Body Sect.

The Body Sect was a super sect that had enjoyed enormous fame during Huo Yuhao's era. Super Douluo inheritances had never ceased within the sect. During the continental war, it had once been a core force in the Douluo Three Kingdoms' resistance against the Sun Moon Empire.

Although the Body Sect had suffered grievous losses after that battle, with its young geniuses all but wiped out, it had declined to the point where it possessed little fame in this era and had nearly withdrawn from the public eye.

Yet the Body Sect's decline was only in comparison to superpowers such as Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, the Spirit Pagoda, and the War God Hall.

To the other ninety-nine percent of factions, the Body Sect's ten-thousand-year foundation and the terrifying power accumulated by its unbroken line of Super Douluo remained an unshakable behemoth.

According to the original description, few people in the Body Sect's current era were qualified to take the stage and compete in the flourishing age. Its younger generation lacked someone capable of carrying the banner. If Zuo Qiu Lun joined now and displayed sufficient potential and talent, then compared to avatars within other factions, this might be the easiest opportunity to enter the upper ranks, perhaps even seize power and influence its stance.

Therefore, so that he could attract the Body Sect's attention as quickly as possible, Liu Tianran had chosen the purest Body Martial Soul—"Body"—when constructing him. His physical strength also incorporated the material properties of Heavenly Refinement metal, precious materials Zhenhua had specially given Li Ziming to help him comprehend the essence of Heavenly Refinement.

Combined with the strategic reserves of blood essence and spiritual power accumulated within the space,

Zuo Qiu Lun was, simply put, the purest kind of stats monster.