The Second Soul Ring Was Settled

Zhen Hua took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and turned his gaze back to Tang Wulin. Pointing at a silvery-white piece of metal on a nearby rack, he said, "Since you have a good grasp of things, let's begin right away. This is Heavy Silver. It's extremely dense and hard. Today, I'll teach you the method of hundred refinement."

He walked over to the anvil, picked up the Tungsten Steel hammer, and began demonstrating for Tang Wulin. Zhen Hua's voice was steady and powerful, and every movement flowed like drifting clouds and running water, without the slightest hitch.

"Hundred refinement is all about controlling rhythm and strength. The first strike must be steady and precise, shaking loose the impurities inside the metal. The second must be swift and fierce, driving those impurities out..."

Zhen Hua swung his hammer as he explained. His movements weren't fast, but every blow seemed to carry a distinctive rhythm. Beneath his hammer, the Heavy Silver slowly began to change shape, its surface impurities stripped away bit by bit to reveal a silvery-white sheen.

Tang Wulin stood beside him, watching without blinking. Zhen Hua's hammer-wielding figure was reflected in his clear eyes. His spiritual power was intensely focused, imprinting every movement and every word deep in his mind.

Once Zhen Hua finished the demonstration, he set down the hammer and turned to Tang Wulin. "Did you see everything clearly? Rhythm is the key to hundred refinement. Give it a try."

Tang Wulin nodded and stepped forward, gripping the Tungsten Steel hammer with both hands. He took a deep breath, recalling Zhen Hua's movements and explanations.

Zhen Hua watched from the side with some nervousness. Although he thought Tang Wulin was talented, hundred refinement was not only the foundation of forging but also one of its hardest techniques to master. When he had first learned it, he had watched several demonstrations and practiced for a long time before barely getting the hang of it.

Yet what happened next left Zhen Hua utterly dumbfounded.

Holding the hammer in both hands, Tang Wulin moved without the slightest awkwardness. Following the rhythm Zhen Hua had explained, he struck the Heavy Silver with one precise blow after another.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The hammer rang out crisply and powerfully, its rhythm distinct. Every strike seemed to carry a unique cadence, exactly like the one in Zhen Hua's demonstration.

Zhen Hua stared at Tang Wulin, his eyes wide with disbelief. This boy... actually learned it after watching just once? And his movements are so perfect! Even I didn't grasp the rhythm this quickly when I was learning!

As Tang Wulin continued hammering, the Heavy Silver slowly changed shape. Its surface impurities were stripped away bit by bit, revealing a silvery-white sheen. The entire process flowed like drifting clouds and running water, without a single hitch.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Tang Wulin's movements gradually slowed. He took a deep breath, raised his hammer, and brought it crashing down onto the Heavy Silver with all his strength.

Bang!

With a tremendous crash, a burst of silver light erupted from the Heavy Silver's surface. Though brief, it was dazzling.

Zhen Hua was completely stunned. He hurried forward, picked up the Heavy Silver, and examined it closely. Its surface was as smooth as a mirror, its internal impurities had been completely removed, and its density had increased severalfold.

"This... how is this possible?" Zhen Hua murmured, his eyes filled with shock.

When he had learned hundred refinement, it had taken him three full days to barely master it. Tang Wulin, however, had learned it after watching just once! Moreover, the boy's hundred refinement was even more perfect than Zhen Hua's own first successful attempt!

Zhen Hua looked up at the little boy before him, his features as finely sculpted as jade, and an indescribable excitement surged through his heart. How is this merely a genius? He's an absolute freak of nature!

"Wulin, have you... have you learned forging before?" Zhen Hua couldn't help asking.

Tang Wulin shook his head and answered obediently, "No. This is my first time."

Zhen Hua was utterly speechless. Looking at Tang Wulin, he thought, That fellow Yun Ming really does have a razor-sharp eye! This little guy was simply born to forge!

He took a deep breath, suppressed his excitement, and said solemnly, "Wulin, from this day onward, you are my disciple. I will pass on everything I've learned throughout my life to you!"

Although Tang Wulin didn't quite understand why Zhen Hua had suddenly become so excited, he still nodded obediently. "Thank you, Teacher!"

Zhen Hua calmed the waves stirred in his heart by Tang Wulin's perfect mastery of hundred refinement and decided to keep testing his limits. Clearing his throat, he pointed at a hard piece of Fine Iron nearby. "Wulin, hundred refinement is only the foundation. It's purification. Next, I'll explain Precision Control. A Blacksmith must not only know how to hammer metal into shape, but also how to cut and shape it precisely without damaging its grain."

He picked up a specially made forging knife and began explaining the mechanics involved and the use of soul power. "Cutting may look simple, but it's actually the ultimate test of strength control. Too much force, and the metal shatters. Too little, and it won't separate. The timing of your soul power infusion is even more critical..."

Zhen Hua explained everything in great detail, even becoming somewhat long-winded. Yet he noticed that Tang Wulin wasn't diligently taking notes or nodding in agreement like other apprentices. Instead, the boy's brows were slightly furrowed, as though he were considering something.

"Teacher, could I give it a try?" Tang Wulin suddenly interrupted.

Zhen Hua paused. He was about to say, "How can you try when you haven't even finished listening to the theory?" when he saw that Tang Wulin had already approached the Fine Iron. While listening, the boy had actually circulated his soul power once already. Now, the domineering power within him flowed through the meridians used by the Mysterious Heaven Skill, rushing straight toward his arms.

"This child..." Zhen Hua didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was just about to stop him when Tang Wulin gripped the forging knife in both hands, his gaze suddenly sharpening.

Without another unnecessary word, Tang Wulin held the knife in both hands and slashed down fiercely at the hard Fine Iron!

There was neither the glow of a soul skill nor a deafening boom. As the blade passed through, the Fine Iron split like butter beneath a hot knife. The cut was as smooth as a mirror, without a single burr. Even the metal's original grain remained clearly visible, as though it had always been two separate pieces.

The smile on Zhen Hua's face froze. He looked as though he had been struck by lightning.

He hurried forward and touched the smooth cut with trembling hands, then looked at Tang Wulin's nonchalant expression. His mind went completely blank.

"You... you learned that... while listening to my explanation?" Zhen Hua's voice trembled slightly.

Tang Wulin scratched his head and said a little sheepishly, "You explained it very clearly, Teacher, so I wanted to try. I didn't expect it to actually split."

Zhen Hua was utterly speechless.

How was that "giving it a try"? That was clearly an extremely advanced level of control over metal! Such precise cutting was not merely a release of strength, but also a profound understanding of the metal's internal structure. Normally, that understanding could only be developed gradually after mastering Thousand Refinement.

"Purification through hundred refinement, shaping through cutting..." Zhen Hua murmured, his eyes growing brighter and brighter. "That cut you just made is already beyond what a second-level Blacksmith can do. Your control over metal has touched the threshold of Thousand Refinement!"

He abruptly raised his head, looking at Tang Wulin with fervor and disbelief.

"By the association's standards, perfectly completing hundred refinement and mastering precise cutting already puts you at the level of a Third-Level Blacksmith—a master!" Zhen Hua's voice grew shrill with excitement. "Heavens, how old are you? In just half a day, you've gone from a complete novice to a master-level blacksmith?"

Zhen Hua remembered his own younger days. To pass the Third-Level Blacksmith examination, he had worn the skin off his palms countless times and toiled through countless days and nights. He had only barely passed in his twenties. Yet this Little Monster before him had taken just half a day!

"A freak! An absolute freak!" Zhen Hua couldn't help blurting out before bursting into laughter. "Good! Wonderful! That fellow Yun Ming was right. You really are a genius! No, you're on your way to becoming God!"

As Zhen Hua looked at Tang Wulin, his desire to take the boy as his disciple instantly blazed into a roaring fire. If he didn't accept a disciple like this, he wouldn't even be able to sleep at night!

"Wulin!" Zhen Hua stopped smiling and said solemnly, "From today onward, I won't merely teach you theory. I'm going to pass on my entire legacy as a Divine Craftsman to you!"

Although Tang Wulin didn't quite understand what "Divine Craftsman" meant, he saw the gratified smile on his older sister Tang Wutong's face and smiled happily as well.

All he knew was that he seemed to have learned another very impressive thing.

Zhen Hua's face was still flushed with excitement over Tang Wulin instantly reaching the level of a Third-Level Blacksmith, as though he had stumbled upon a peerless treasure. Tang Wutong, however, stood beside them with extraordinary composure. Her eyes even held a hint of calm acceptance, as though this were only natural.

To her, her younger brother was the inheritor of the Golden Dragon King Bloodline and a descendant of the Tang Sect. Such comprehension was only right and proper. Yet despite her outward calm, Tang Wutong was rapidly calculating something else in her mind—only a fool would pass up a bargain, and an even greater fool would leave wool unplucked.

Seeing Zhen Hua's eagerness, as though he wanted to pour out a lifetime's knowledge on the spot, Tang Wutong's lips curved into a sly smile. She stepped forward, lightly patted his shoulder, and said casually, "President Zhen Hua, now that you've seen my younger brother's talent, don't even think about turning down the role of his forging teacher. Still, since he's become your student, I shouldn't stand on too much ceremony as his older sister."

Still caught up in his excitement, Zhen Hua waved a hand grandly without a second thought. "You're too polite, Miss Tang! As long as Wulin is willing to learn, I won't hesitate! Never mind teaching him forging—even if he wanted the stars in the sky, I'd find a way to pluck them down for him!"

"There's no need for stars." Tang Wutong blinked. "I heard you have quite a collection of precious soul spirits here. Although Wulin has undergone martial soul awakening, he still hasn't secured a soul spirit. We'll have to trouble you with arranging his second soul ring."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Hua wasn't displeased in the slightest. Instead, he grew even happier. With a hearty laugh, he said, "So that's what you had in mind, Miss Tang! Don't worry. I've already prepared everything!"

As he spoke, Zhen Hua walked over to a special metal cabinet in the corner of the forging room. He opened it and took out two soul spirit orbs that emitted a gentle glow.

"This first treasure is a Little Green Snake." Zhen Hua pointed at the orb emitting a faint green glow. "Don't dismiss him just because he's a ten-year soul spirit, or because most people might consider him insignificant. His special trait is fusion. He can fuse with any other soul spirit. In other words, although the other soul spirit will take the lead, as long as the fusion succeeds, Wulin can actually possess two soul spirits at once! One soul ring carrying two powers!"

A flicker of surprise crossed Tang Wutong's eyes. Clearly, she hadn't expected such a wondrous creature to exist.

Zhen Hua immediately pointed at the other orb, which glowed pink and radiated rich vitality, and continued, "This second treasure was prepared to complement the Little Green Snake. Since you mentioned earlier that Tang Wulin is following the Support System path, there can be no better choice for his second support-type soul spirit—Nine Heart Begonia!"

"Nine Heart Begonia?" Tang Wutong softly repeated the name, rapidly searching her memories. She recalled an account she had read in Shrek Academy's ancient texts. It was the martial soul of Ye Lingling, the Imperial Fighting Team's strongest Support System soul master during the era of the First-Generation Shrek Seven Devils.

"Exactly!" Zhen Hua nodded. "In terms of overall support, such as boosting attack and defense, it may not be as versatile as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. But when it comes to healing alone, it's absolutely among the best on the Douluo Continent. It could even contend for first place! With it around, as long as someone has a single breath left, it can pull them back from the gates of death! Combined with the Little Green Snake's fusion trait, it'll be a perfect match!"

After hearing this, Tang Wutong's eyes flashed. First came a special being capable of fusion like the Little Green Snake, followed by a top-tier support martial soul like Nine Heart Begonia, capable of rivaling the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This combination was simply perfect!

She nodded in satisfaction and said to Zhen Hua, "You certainly are generous, President Zhen Hua. We'll accept this gift. Wulin, hurry and thank your teacher."

Although Tang Wulin didn't quite understand what the two glowing orbs represented, his sister's nod told him they were good things. He quickly bowed obediently to Zhen Hua. "Thank you, Teacher!"

Watching this, Zhen Hua thought, Yun Ming, oh, Yun Ming, what kind of freak have you sent me? He's worthy of even a top-tier combination like this! Still, with this, Shrek will have another legendary figure in the future.