Woke Up to a Big Shot Wanting Him as a Student?

Zhen Hua?

The moment those two words were spoken, the air in the shop froze.

Quite a few passersby stopped in their tracks when they heard the name.

That Zhen Hua?

The continent's only Divine Craftsman, president of the Blacksmiths Association, a rank-ninety-two Titled Douluo—that legendary figure?!

What was someone like him doing in a little place like this?

Almost everyone in the Douluo Federation knew the name Zhen Hua.

Chen Xing was a little surprised.

Of course he knew who Zhen Hua was.

In the Dragon King era, he was the continent's only Divine Craftsman, a Level Nine Blacksmith capable of forging Four-Word Battle Armor.

But someone of his stature should have been at the Blacksmiths Association. Why had he come to a little place like Aolai City?

As Chen Xing puzzled over it, he noticed the girl beside Zhen Hua.

She seemed to have called Zhen Hua "Uncle" just now.

Could she be Mu Xi?

Then that made sense. That made perfect sense.

Aolai City was not far from Eastsea City, so it was perfectly reasonable for Mu Xi to come here.

Judging by the way Zhen Hua was looking at him, though, he had probably taken an interest in Chen Xing's ability.

An idea suddenly came to Chen Xing.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Zhen Hua.

"Why should I tell you?"

Everyone present froze.

What was this kid saying? Had he lost his mind? How dared he speak to Senior Zhen Hua like that?

Just standing before Zhen Hua made their legs feel weak.

Sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Na'er immediately hid behind Chen Xing and instinctively pressed closer to his back.

She did not understand what had happened, but she could tell something was wrong.

Chen Xing patted the back of Na'er's hand to reassure her, then continued to meet Zhen Hua's gaze without servility or arrogance.

Zhen Hua himself was not angry. Instead, he laughed.

"Interesting."

He took a step forward and looked Chen Xing over.

"Little one, do you know who I am?"

His tone was calm, as though he were stating the most ordinary fact in the world.

Tang Ziran, however, was so nervous that his palms were sweating.

He hurriedly tugged Chen Xing's sleeve and whispered,

"Little Chen, Senior Zhen Hua is the continent's only Divine Craftsman, and he's a God-Class Mecha Engineer too! Apologize, quick!"

But Chen Xing did not listen to him.

Of course he knew Zhen Hua was a Red-Class Mecha Engineer. In fact, he knew even more about him than Tang Ziran did.

But he could not simply reveal everything without a fight.

He needed to raise the value of his ability.

After all, someone like Zhen Hua had seen countless geniuses.

If Chen Xing showed all his cards too readily, Zhen Hua might not think much of them.

The harder something was to obtain, the more people valued it.

Chen Xing held Zhen Hua's gaze and said evenly,

"I know who you are."

Zhen Hua paused.

"Oh? If you know, then why—"

"Because I know, I can't just tell you."

Chen Xing cut him off.

Zhen Hua fell silent.

He studied the six- or seven-year-old child before him. There was no fear in those eyes, nor any eagerness to please.

It was as if the boy were certain of something.

Zhen Hua suddenly smiled.

Heh. This child really is different from the others.

With that thought, he took something from his wristband and casually set it on the table.

It was a palm-sized metal device, exquisitely made, with a faint glow of soul power flowing across its surface.

"This is the Core Controller of a Level Three Mecha."

Zhen Hua looked at Chen Xing.

"Tell me what that ability of yours is, and it's yours."

Chen Xing glanced down at it, then shook his head.

Zhen Hua blinked.

"Not enough?"

He immediately took another item from his wristband, considerably larger than the first.

"A Level Four Mecha core. How about that?"

Chen Xing shook his head again.

Mu Xi finally could not hold back.

"Hey, aren't you being a little too greedy? Any one of the things my uncle offered could feed your whole family for years!"

Chen Xing glanced at her, but remained unmoved.

Seeing how impossible he was to sway, Mu Xi stamped her foot in anger.

In the corner, the two Mecha Engineers exchanged a glance, both muttering to themselves.

A Level Three Mecha's Core Controller? A Level Four Mecha's core?

Either one would take Level One Mecha Engineers like us more than half a year to earn.

And this kid barely gave them a glance?

That's the Divine Craftsman!

The fact that he's offering a trade at all is an honor.

Turning him down like that—how drunk is this kid?

Sure enough, Zhen Hua's smile gradually faded. He fixed his gaze on Chen Xing and asked again,

"Little one, what do you want, then?"

Chen Xing raised his head and looked Zhen Hua straight in the eye.

"I want to learn from you."

Zhen Hua froze.

"What did you say?"

"I want to learn about Mecha from you." Chen Xing repeated each word clearly. "Will you teach me?"

The entire shop fell silent again.

Everyone found it hard to believe.

Mu Xi, standing beside Zhen Hua, widened her eyes as if she had heard the greatest joke in the world.

In the corner, the two Level One Mecha Engineers drew sharp breaths.

A little kid with zero soul power dared to make demands of the continent's only Divine Craftsman—and ask him to teach him?

He'd lost his mind. Completely lost it!

Yet, to everyone's surprise, Zhen Hua did not refuse.

He fell into thought.

Seeing Zhen Hua considering it sent everyone's thoughts into turmoil.

Zhen Hua was actually considering it?

That Zhen Hua was actually considering it?

Could the Divine Craftsman really be about to teach a child with zero soul power?

Then, under everyone's astonished gaze, Zhen Hua slowly spoke.

"Do you know how high my standards are for accepting a disciple?"

Chen Xing nodded.

"I do."

"And you think you meet them?"

Chen Xing thought for a moment, then said seriously,

"I can be your student, but I'd rather not enter into a Master-Disciple Relationship."

Zhen Hua frowned.

"Why?"

Chen Xing was silent for a moment.

A red-haired woman came to mind.

"Because I already have a teacher."

Zhen Hua studied him for a long while, then suddenly laughed.

"Interesting. Very interesting."

He turned and walked to the door, then looked back at Chen Xing.

"Very well, little one. Come find me at Aolai City's Blacksmiths Association tomorrow."

With that, he took a Token from his robes and tossed it over.

"I want to see for myself whether you're worth teaching!"

After saying that, Zhen Hua strode out of the shop with Mu Xi.

Chen Xing caught the Token. A large character for "Zhen" was engraved on it.

The passersby were stunned by what they had just witnessed.

Was I still half asleep? A big shot actually wanted to take a kid with Zero Soul Power as his student?

"Holy shit! Little... junior brother! You're incredible!"

"Yeah! The Divine Craftsman wants you as his student! The Divine Craftsman!"

Xu San and Wang Dagou shouted excitedly.

Na'er clapped hard for Chen Xing too, her face full of joy, as though she were the one he had accepted as a student.

Tang Ziran stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the Token in Chen Xing's hand.

Was this really his son?

His son had actually caught the Divine Craftsman's eye?

[This one's a "divine rope craftsman" too, meow.]