Move aside, I'm about to show off!

Na'er froze for a moment. "What?"

"You know what I'm talking about." Gu Yue's tone was calm, yet carried a hint of refusal to take no for an answer. "Now that things have taken a turn, we no longer need to stay separate to gather information... We were one to begin with. We've been apart long enough. It's time you came back."

Na'er laughed it off. "Let's talk about it later. I think things are pretty good as they are. Having my own body and my own consciousness—it's so freeing."

Gu Yue narrowed her eyes slightly. She said nothing, merely watching her in silence. Her stare made Na'er's skin crawl, and she hurriedly changed the subject. "Oh, it's almost dark! I have to head back. I've got classes tomorrow!"

With that, she turned and ran, disappearing into the twilight in a flash.

Gu Yue remained where she stood, watching Na'er's retreating figure as a flicker of complicated emotion crossed her eyes.

As far as resources went, Tang Wulin had originally thought the Spirit Pagoda and Shrek Academy would provide everything for free, only to discover he had been getting ahead of himself.

Resources were indeed plentiful, but they had to be exchanged for points. Still, buying the same resources within the Genius Class cost only half as much as outside.

"Sure enough, there's no such thing as a free lunch." Tang Wulin looked at the points exchange list and sighed helplessly.

He understood, though. If resources were completely free, it would be easy to develop a dependency on them, which would hinder growth instead.

Exchanging points for resources both motivated everyone to cultivate diligently and taught them to allocate resources sensibly, killing two birds with one stone.

Fortunately, he was a Level Five Blacksmith and could earn points through forging.

"It's been a while since I last forged anything anyway... I could use some practice."

Tang Wulin made a few preparations, then headed straight for Shrek Academy's Blacksmith Association.

Shrek Academy held a uniquely independent position throughout the Douluo Continent, which meant its Blacksmith Association was independent as well... Shrek Academy could be entirely self-sufficient.

Shrek Academy's Blacksmith Association stood in the heart of the Outer Court and occupied an enormous area... Outside stood a massive alloy gate bearing the words:

"Blacksmith Association Headquarters!"

It certainly looked imposing. Tang Wulin studied it for a few moments, then slipped straight inside.

The moment he entered, he heard thunderous hammering ringing out continuously from within. Forging was clearly in full swing!

"Damn it, I was so close... My Spirit Forging failed again."

"Don't even get me started. I'm still stuck at Thousand Refinement. Being a blacksmith really does deserve its reputation as the hardest second profession."

"Ugh, why can't this metal just behave and turn itself into spirit-forged metal... So disobedient."

A few people chatted in small groups as they forged, looking full of enthusiasm, though none of them seemed very old.

They looked no older than twenty and were clearly all Shrek Academy Outer Court students.

Tang Wulin looked over curiously. As he watched their forging techniques, he shook his head instinctively.

"That's not how you do Thousand Refinement..."

Tang Wulin earnestly explained a few techniques to one of them, and the young student clearly couldn't take it anymore.

"Seriously, kid, where did you come from... Do you even understand forging before you start talking?"

"A little. I can only do Spirit Forging, really."

Tang Wulin answered with a perfectly straight face, and his words drew the attention of the entire Blacksmith Association.

"This kid says he can do Spirit Forging. Do you believe him?"

"Hahaha, Spirit Forging? That's the hallmark of a Level Five Blacksmith... How old is he?"

"If he can do Spirit Forging, I'll eat shit right here..."

Tang Wulin listened impassively to everyone's doubts and laughter, but he wasn't the least bit flustered.

He simply took out the two forging hammers he carried with him. Both were level-five, Spirit-Forged forging hammers made of heavy silver.

"Everyone, move aside... I'm about to show off... Oh, no, I mean, I'm about to start forging."

As someone who had transmigrated, Tang Wulin had no habit of playing the pig to eat the tiger. With Leng Yaozhu of the Spirit Pagoda as his teacher, along with Zhuo Shi and Zhen Hua, he had no need to hide his edge.

Showing his talent, securing the most resources, and growing stronger as quickly as possible was the best approach.

Everyone instinctively backed away, then gathered around to watch Tang Wulin's performance.

Tang Wulin seemed well practiced at this. He brought over a large square iron block to serve as a platform and make up for his lack of height.

Everyone looked utterly shocked as they watched Tang Wulin lift that piece of rare metal with ease.

Didn't that thing weigh at least a thousand jin? How had he lifted it so easily?

Then he had someone prepare a piece of heavy silver. Once it had been heated and placed on the forging table, he got to work.

Holding a forging hammer in each hand, Tang Wulin began striking.

Boom, boom, boom!

Clang, clang, clang!

Bang, bang, bang!

Tang Wulin forged with a powerful rhythm. The hammering that should have sounded noisy was actually rather pleasant to the ear.

Before long, the heavy silver changed shape, and impurities seeped out.

"It's already reached hundred refinement? It's barely been any time at all..."

Someone exclaimed in shock, but it wasn't over yet. The heavy silver soon changed again, and a hammer blow sent a shaft of light three meters into the air.

"This is... First-grade thousand refinement!"

Tang Wulin kept hammering without taking his eyes off the metal. Thousand Refinement was merely an appetizer to him. His advantage in strength naturally made forging easier for him than for others.

Five minutes later, Tang Wulin successfully completed Spirit Forging.

"Spirit Forging gives it a spirit..."

The entire piece of heavy silver seemed to have been granted life.

"A pity... I'm still a little way off from becoming a Level Six Blacksmith."

Tang Wulin silently regretted it, feeling it wasn't enough, but everyone else was already completely dumbstruck.

"Wait, he's wearing a Level Five Blacksmith badge on his chest."

Only then did everyone notice the gleaming Level Five Blacksmith badge on Tang Wulin's chest.

They had previously assumed it was some sort of toy, but now it seemed it had to be real.

"Kid, how old are you?"

Someone suddenly asked, and Tang Wulin answered solemnly.

"Seven and a half."

Everyone: "..."

The entire group was promptly battered beyond recognition by the blow.

"I'm done. I practiced forging for over a decade just to become a Level Five Blacksmith... How old is this kid, and he's already on my level?"

"How the hell are we supposed to compete with that? Might as well jump..."

These proud sons of heaven in the eyes of outsiders had all been reduced to clowns. Just then, a burly man shoved them aside as easily as if he were handling little chicks.

"Get out of my way, all of you! What's all this crowding around and making a racket?"

The newcomer stood over two meters tall. His bare upper body revealed bronze skin and a lean, powerful build that seemed to contain boundless strength.

"Elder Feng!"

"Elder Feng!"

Everyone greeted him with respect, their eyes burning with eagerness as they looked at him.

Feng Wuyu was one of the Sea God Pavilion Elders, as well as Shrek Academy's only level-eight blacksmith.

"You're a student in the Youth Genius Class jointly run by our academy and the Spirit Pagoda, aren't you... I heard you're even the class monitor!"

"Tang Wulin?"