Applying for day student status

After making sure his parents were comfortably settled into their new lodgings, Tang Wulin said goodbye to them and returned to Eastsea Academy alone.

There were no formal lessons on the first day of registration for new students. The academy had only arranged for them to familiarize themselves with the campus; actual classes would begin the next day. But Tang Wulin did not head straight back to the freshman dormitory. Instead, he first found the academic affairs office and knocked on the door of his homeroom teacher, Long Hengxu.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

"Come in."

The door opened, and the boy, with his short azure hair and eyes as clear as sapphires, glanced at Long Hengxu behind the desk. Small and slender, he approached with a trace of timidity and stopped beside the desk.

Long Hengxu looked up at him, somewhat surprised. "Tang Wulin? Was there something else?"

Tang Wulin lowered his gaze and slowly explained why he had come—he wanted to apply for day student status.

Now that his parents had a stable place to live, and the Blacksmith Association was not far from Eastsea Academy, there was really no need for him to squeeze into a noisy communal dormitory. Besides, his soul was that of an adult. Living among children his own age inevitably left an unbridgeable generation gap, with few shared topics of conversation. More importantly, he needed ample private time to hone his forging skills.

Long Hengxu lowered his head in thought, his first instinct being to refuse outright. Since Eastsea Academy's founding, there had never been a precedent for a freshman living off campus. The rules simply did not allow it.

Seeing this, Tang Wulin said nothing. He raised a hand and gently slid an antique-looking, bright silver badge onto the center of the desk. Engraved on it was a half-body design with hanging lines, adorned with three black stars.

The instant Long Hengxu saw the badge clearly, his pupils contracted, and disbelief covered his face. He knew it all too well. This was a badge exclusive to Level Three Blacksmiths!

He stared blankly at the boy before him. Tang Wulin took two Thousand-Refined Black Steel Hammers from his storage device and spoke softly. "Director, you know my circumstances. My innate soul power was only rank five, and my martial soul is the most ordinary blue silver grass. Every step along the path of a soul master is a struggle. It took me three years of pouring in all my effort just to reach rank eleven. It isn't that I'm unwilling to devote myself to becoming a soul master. I simply intend to put more of my focus on forging."

"Director, you should be able to see something of my talent for forging now. I'm only nine this year, but I'm already a Level Three Blacksmith. You must know how rare it is in the forging world for someone my age to reach this level. I hope to have more free time to improve my forging skills."

Long Hengxu was silent for a moment before saying, "Wait a moment."

He took out his Soul Communication Device and called the headmaster.

A clear, steady middle-aged male voice came from the other end. "What is it?"

Long Hengxu faithfully explained Tang Wulin's reasons for requesting day student status, along with the boy's astonishing talent as a nine-year-old Level Three Blacksmith. A long silence fell over the other end of the line.

The headmaster considered it privately. Even searching through all the forging world's past records, there had never been a precedent for someone becoming a third-rank blacksmith at nine. Even Zhen Hua, the foremost Divine Craftsman of the present age, had been nowhere near such a level at nine. That alone showed how world-shaking Tang Wulin's talent for forging was.

In the end, Eastsea Academy's headmaster personally approved an exception, allowing Tang Wulin to live off campus. His only condition was that Tang Wulin must never be late for class or miss a lesson.

At the same time, the headmaster learned from Long Hengxu about the various disturbances that had occurred at the academy on the first day. But he paid them little mind. After a moment's consideration, he simply waived all the fines Tang Wulin would otherwise have had to pay.

A nine-year-old Level Three Blacksmith had limitless prospects. No one could predict what heights this boy might reach in the future. His paltry rank-five innate soul power was not worth mentioning in the face of such overwhelming talent. The Soul Master World had never lacked heavenly treasures capable of tempering and improving innate soul power. They were merely exceedingly rare and precious, not impossible to find. Anyone could see that this boy might very well grow into a top Saint Craftsman whose name would shake an entire region.

Tang Wulin was delighted, but he still had concerns. He immediately asked Long Hengxu and the headmaster to keep his status as a nine-year-old Level Three Blacksmith strictly confidential. He did not want the news spreading throughout the academy and drawing needless trouble.

Long Hengxu and the headmaster privately marveled at him. A forging prodigy of this age had set a precedent unprecedented in the entire forging world, one the profession was certain to remember. Yet talent that shone too brightly would inevitably invite endless prying, trouble, and conflict. East Sea Academy understood the advantages and dangers involved, and immediately agreed, promising to keep the matter completely secret for him.

From that moment on, Tang Wulin officially became the first freshman in Eastsea Academy's history to be granted an exception allowing him to live off campus.

After completing all the paperwork, Tang Wulin returned to the dormitory to pack his belongings.

The moment he entered, Xie Xie noticed him, his gaze fixed firmly on him. When he saw Tang Wulin packing his luggage with his head lowered, Xie Xie froze, then hurried over to ask, "What happened to you? Did the academy expel you?"

Tang Wulin smiled at that and said helplessly, "Why would you think that? Don't worry, nothing's wrong. I just have some special circumstances, so I applied to live off campus."

After a pause, he looked at Xie Xie and added firmly, "I'll definitely be there on time for tomorrow's duel. I won't break my promise."

After quickly packing his personal belongings, Tang Wulin said goodbye to the dormitory and returned straight to the Blacksmith Association.

The room Mu Chen had originally arranged for him was exceptionally spacious. Not only could it comfortably accommodate Tang Ziran, Lang Yue, and Tang Wulin as a family of three, but even with five more people living there, it would still have felt roomy and comfortable, without the slightest hint of crowding.

Back at their lodgings in the Blacksmith Association, Tang Wulin told his parents that his application to live off campus had been approved.

He explained to Tang Ziran and Lang Yue that he had applied because he wanted more free time to devote himself to studying forging. Without being bound by the dormitory's communal schedule, he could settle down wholeheartedly to polish his craft and improve steadily.

To keep his parents from worrying needlessly, he deliberately left out the unpleasant incidents and conflicts he had encountered on his first day at the academy. He glossed over all his reasons by saying only that he wanted to concentrate on his studies and devote himself to forging, completely dispelling his parents' concerns and doubts.

Tang Ziran already had solid skills of his own. As a mecha repair technician, although his professional rank was not among the best and he could hardly be called a high-level specialist, he was more than capable of inspecting, maintaining, and repairing most mecha components. His everyday technical skills were thoroughly sound.

Mu Chen was meticulous and considerate, and had already made proper arrangements for the entire Tang family. He had specifically secured Tang Ziran a well-paid, undemanding, stable position within the East Sea Blacksmith Association.

His workplace was on the Blacksmith Association's premises, a stone's throw from the family's lodgings—almost like working from home, sparing him the exhaustion of commuting. The arrangement was exceptionally thoughtful. It allowed the Tang family to settle securely as soon as they arrived in Eastsea City, with food, clothing, and a stable home assured, while also letting Tang Wulin study without worries and devote himself to cultivating his forging skills.

Early the next morning, Tang Wulin officially began his life as a day student.

He did not eat breakfast at home that morning, instead arriving early at Eastsea Academy's cafeteria. The academy's breakfasts were divided into three grades: A, B, and C. Grade A meals were the finest, containing meat from high-level soul beasts and abundant energy from heaven and earth, and were the most expensive. Grades B and C were the everyday meals of ordinary students.

Tang Wulin headed straight for the Grade C Meal counter.

The Grade C Meal selection was fairly plentiful, with warm milk, fresh eggs, sausages, and soft bread all available. Without holding back, he filled a large tray with food. Just as he was about to find an empty seat and eat, gazes quietly began turning toward him from all around.

His distinctive short azure hair, paired with eyes as clear as sapphires, made him highly recognizable. The surrounding freshmen identified him at once.

Scattered whispers rose and fell throughout the cafeteria.