Lin Yuan's First Battle Armor, Qilin!

Hearing this, Xiao Zhen finally let out a reluctant sigh of relief.

"Then let's continue."

As Lin Yuan spoke, he took out another batch of materials, leaving Xiao Zhen somewhat dumbfounded.

"Wait, there's more?"

"What else? This piece may be pretty large, but do you think this little amount is enough to forge a complete set?"

Lin Yuan replied matter-of-factly, while Xiao Zhen grumbled irritably.

"If you want to work me to death, just say so. This kind of forging takes a lot out of me too."

"What, is a legendary Saint Craftsman really unable to handle Silver Forging?"

But Xiao Zhen simply ignored Lin Yuan's provocation this time.

"Cut the useless crap. I can only make one more move today at most, but after that, I need to rest. Then I still have to contact the people from the Blacksmith Association and handle some specific matters."

By the end, Xiao Zhen's tone carried a hint of excitement.

After all, this was the hope for the Blacksmith Association's resurgence.

Afterward, Xiao Zhen nearly exhausted all his strength before forging a second exceedingly rare piece of Spirit-Infused Alloy.

As Lin Yuan received the second piece of Spirit-Infused Alloy, he seemed to recall something. Looking at the other man's black cauldron Martial Soul, he cautiously asked,

"You wouldn't happen to have a daughter who got into Shrek Academy, would you?"

"Heh, how did you know?"

"Let me tell you, my daughter has Twin Martial Souls, and she's practically guaranteed to become one of the next generation's Shrek Seven Monsters."

Xiao Zhen was immensely proud of his daughter.

But Lin Yuan had already vaguely guessed something.

They shared the same surname, Xiao, and had the same black cauldron Martial Soul.

So the Saint Craftsman he had found was Xiao Xiao's father?

If that was the case, it seemed he would have a harder time making a move against her in the future.

Thinking this, Lin Yuan looked at Xiao Zhen and slowly tested the waters.

"President Xiao, haven't you heard some of the recent rumors about Shrek?"

"Uh... that was ultimately an accident."

"You should make preparations sooner rather than later. If you rise to prominence, you'll have to leave this place eventually. We can't possibly make such a grand cross-border trip every time. And do you think the Star Luo Empire will still allow your Blacksmith Association to rise once it learns this information?"

Hearing Lin Yuan's words, Xiao Zhen fell silent.

Though he had not witnessed it himself, a Soul Tool that required such rare Spirit-Infused Alloy to create was undoubtedly terrifyingly powerful.

Under such circumstances, the Star Luo Empire naturally could not allow them to defect to the enemy, but—

This was the Blacksmith Association's only chance to rise again.

Once they missed it, there would never be another.

"Let me go back and think about it."

Xiao Zhen let out a heavy breath.

He did not give an answer immediately, and as Lin Yuan watched his departing figure, his expression grew complicated for a moment as well.

Honestly, he truly did not want the man to remain stubborn.

They would inevitably become enemies of Shrek then. If he accidentally killed Xiao Xiao, and Xiao Zhen refused to cooperate afterward, that would be rather troublesome.

As he thought, he arrived at a nearby hotel and directly summoned Gu Yuena.

Looking at the two special Five-Elements Spirit-Infused Alloy pieces, Gu Yuena's eyes held traces of satisfaction.

Then, as though she had recalled something, she looked at Lin Yuan and softly said,

"Young Master, it would be best if you dripped a drop of blood onto each of them. When they are assembled and fused later, you will be able to control the Battle Armor perfectly."

Lin Yuan nodded. Two drops of blood slid from his fingers and fell onto the two pieces of Five-Elements Spirit-Infused Alloy.

Over the following days, Gu Yuena began crafting the Battle Armor components, while Saint Craftsman Xiao Zhen continuously forged Five-Elements Spirit-Infused Alloy for him.

With no shortage of anything, the Battle Armor was actually produced quite quickly.

Still, Xiao Zhen did not immediately decide to leave the Star Luo Empire. His family had lived here for generations.

It was impossible for him to have no attachment to the place.

Until, exactly one month later, the final component was completed, and Lin Yuan's breathing became somewhat hurried.

At last, it was finished—his first Battle Armor.

Battle Armor came in different grades as well. A One-Word Battle Armor could allow a Soul King to rival a Soul Sage, while a Two-Word Battle Armor, with the addition of wings, could allow a Soul Emperor to rival a Soul Douluo.

A Three-Word Battle Armor added a domain, allowing a Soul Sage to fight a Titled Douluo, or a Titled Douluo to fight a Super Douluo.

As for a Four-Word Battle Armor, it provided comprehensive enhancement atop its domain and could allow a Titled Douluo to battle an Ultimate Douluo.

To put it simply, what humans piloted and wore was called a mecha, while what Martial Souls wore was called Battle Armor.

I will combine the top-tier Five-Elements Yin-Yang Spirit-Infused Alloy you forged with the auspicious divine might of the Heavenly Stems Qilin Martial Soul, streamline the wording, adapt it to the main text, and carefully depict the wearing form and visual effects of this exclusive One-Word Battle Armor.

Heavenly Stems Qilin · Five-Elements Yin-Yang One-Word Battle Armor Wearing Form

At a thought from the holder of the Heavenly Stems Qilin Martial Soul, that top-tier Spirit-Infused Alloy, painstakingly forged by Saint Craftsman Xiao Zhen and fused with the divine essence of the Five Elements and Yin-Yang, instantly erupted with flowing light and spread across his body, taking the form of an exclusive One-Word Battle Armor.

Ordinary One-Word Battle Armor possessed nothing but a monotonous metallic texture and a shell made of common Thousand Refined materials. This set, however, was entirely different. It perfectly carried the origin power of six rare divine materials, its layers distinct and its aura naturally harmonious.

Earthdark Iron formed the shoulder guards and breastplate, creating a deep blackish-blue base as heavy and steady as mountains and bedrock. It carried an imposing, stabilizing pressure. Forest Spirit Copper curled through the armor patterns across his body, pale jade-green light flowing through the gaps and carrying the endless spiritual energy of vegetation, gently softening the metal's sharp chill.

The armor joints and vital areas around the waist and abdomen were finely adorned with shining Essence Gold. Flecks of golden radiance flowed ceaselessly, reinforcing the toughness and stability of the entire Battle Armor.

Deep-Sea Sinking Silver was fused into the forearms, knee guards, and boots. A faint, cold silver glow lingered around them, clear and frigid, suppressing brute-force impacts while carrying a tranquil, steady aura.

Most stunning of all were the main torso armor and the protective plates along the spine, where the blazing golden brilliance of Sunscorch Gold intertwined with the light and dark hues of Yin-Yang Essence Iron.

Warm, bright golden light surged outward, dispelling cold and baleful energy. Dark, mysterious patterns hid within the armor's inner layers as the two powers of Yin and Yang circulated in a cycle, generating and balancing one another. They perfectly neutralized the attribute conflicts between the Five-Elements materials, making the entire Battle Armor seamless and flawless.

The entire One-Word Battle Armor fit Lin Yuan's lean, upright frame perfectly. Soft, misty seven-colored light flowed over its surface, while dense, interwoven Yin-Yang Five-Elements patterns lay hidden beneath. They gradually brightened and dimmed with the flow of Soul Power, carrying the faint pulse of life unique to top-tier Spirit-Infused Alloy. It was nearly identical to the power of his Heavenly Stems Qilin.

The Qilin helmet atop his head had crisp, well-defined edges, with an exquisite Five-Elements Yin-Yang totem raised at its brow. Auspicious energy was restrained within, divine might concealed beneath, while simple armor-wing patterns condensed along his back.

The instant he put it on, he could feel that his Soul Power fluctuations were only a thread away from reaching Soul Douluo.

It was no exaggeration to say that this Spirit-Infused Alloy would have been more than sufficient even for forging a Three-Word Battle Armor, yet it had been used to forge a One-Word Battle Armor.

The enhancement it granted him practically increased alongside his Soul Power.

Even his spiritual power and physical body were strengthened considerably.

Faced with such terrifying all-around enhancement and an existence that acted like a perfect amplifier for his own power, Lin Yuan could not help but sigh. As expected of work done by a Saint Craftsman.

As for this first One-Word Battle Armor of his—

Lin Yuan gave it a name: Qilin!

Xiao Zhen instinctively sucked in a cold breath the moment he sensed it.

Was this really a Soul Tool?

He had worried that this humanoid Soul Tool might not be needed by everyone, but now it seemed that if someone wore this thing to fight you, it was basically cheating.

As though he could already see the Blacksmith Association returning to its peak, Xiao Zhen cast aside his last trace of concern, and it naturally vanished without a trace.