Lu Guan stood up.
He did not even activate his soul power.
He simply reached out with his right hand and grabbed the pudgy hand Wang Daxiong had planted on the desk.
The physique granted by his Body Martial Soul, combined with the restructuring of his bones after he fused with the remnant soul of a ten-thousand-year Ferocious Beast, had brought his raw physical strength to a terrifying level.
"Ow!"
Before Wang Daxiong could react, he felt as though his hand had been caught in an iron vise.
With just a little force from Lu Guan, Wang Daxiong pitched forward, his knees slamming into the floor.
"It hurts! It hurts! Let go! You're breaking it!"
Tears and snot streamed down Wang Daxiong's face as he frantically slapped the floor with his other hand.
His two lackeys backed away in fright, not daring to help.
"Is my martial soul ugly?" Lu Guan looked down at him.
"No! Not at all! It's awesome!" Wang Daxiong howled at the top of his lungs.
"Still calling me a monster?"
"I'm the monster! I'm the monster! Please let go, big brother!"
Lu Guan released him.
Wang Daxiong dropped onto his backside, cradling his swollen, reddened hand and bawling like a two-hundred-pound child.
"Keep quiet in class from now on."
Lu Guan returned to his seat and opened his textbook.
The classmates around him looked at him differently now.
If they had feared him before, that fear had now become awed respect.
Innate full soul power, and he did not even need his martial soul to beat someone up.
More importantly, he really would do it!
School ended that afternoon.
With his bag on his back, Lu Guan headed straight for the Blacksmith Association.
Inside the private forging room on the top floor.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Six strikes rang out in rapid succession, their tight rhythm leaving no room to breathe.
Bare-chested, Lu Guan swung all six arms furiously.
On the forging bench, a lump of pig iron shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye, a dazzling silvery sheen spreading across its surface.
Mu Chen stood to one side holding a cup of tea that had long since gone cold.
Watching Lu Guan's movements flow like drifting clouds and running water, he inwardly marveled.
This boy's talent for forging was downright frightening.
How many days had he been learning? His success rate at Hundred Refinement had already reached one hundred percent.
And his six hands worked together so seamlessly that they could not only expel impurities to the fullest extent, but also give the metal its initial shape as they hammered.
Humm-
The pig iron gave a clear, resonant hum.
Hundred Refinement was complete.
Lu Guan withdrew his martial soul, wiped away his sweat, and turned to Mu Chen.
"Teacher, I think I can try Thousand Refinement now."
Mu Chen set down his teacup and shook his head.
"No."
Lu Guan frowned.
"Your comprehension and technique are certainly sufficient." Mu Chen stepped forward and picked up the Hundred Refined pig iron. "But your body can't withstand it."
"Thousand Refinement gives life to metal. During that process, the metal produces an extremely powerful recoil. Ordinary blacksmiths use soul power to counteract it."
"You only have one ring right now. Your soul power is too weak. Even though you have a Body Martial Soul and a powerful physique, it's better to play it safe."
Mu Chen patted Lu Guan's shoulder.
"Teacher, I can do it..." Lu Guan knew all that, of course, but he was confident!
"Don't rush." Mu Chen interrupted him with a smile. "I'll solve this for you. Keep practicing Hundred Refinement on your own for now. I'm going to make a call."
Lu Guan could only agree.
Mu Chen left the forging room, walked to the window at the end of the corridor, and dialed a number.
The communicator rang several times before someone answered.
"Junior brother, has the sun risen in the west? What made you think of calling me?"
A strong, vigorous voice came from the other end.
The Divine Craftsman, Zhen Hua.
"Senior brother, is that chef friend of yours around?" Mu Chen got straight to the point.
"You're looking for Mu Ye?" Zhen Hua sounded surprised. "What do you want with him? You know what his temper is like."
"I've taken on a disciple." Mu Chen lowered his voice. "A Body Martial Soul, with innate full soul power."
The other end fell silent for three seconds.
"Are you sure?"
Mu Chen's tone was serious. "Of course. Whatever else I might do, I would never lie about something like this."
Zhen Hua sighed.
"Then you've called too late."
"How so?"
"Mu Ye just left," Zhen Hua said. "Leng Yaozhu came by yesterday. Afterward, he rushed off in a blazing hurry. No idea what he went to do."
Mu Chen froze. "Leng Yaozhu? The Spirit Pagoda?"
"Yes."
"All right, I understand. Just let him know when you see him."
After ending the call, Mu Chen rubbed his chin, lost in thought...
Over the next few days, Lu Guan's life followed an extremely regular routine.
He attended classes at the academy during the day and spent his time at the Blacksmith Association after school.
At night, he returned home to meditate and cultivate.
The weekend arrived.
For once, Lu Guan did not rise early and slept in a little.
He had just finished dressing and was about to leave when someone tugged at his clothes.
Lu Guan looked down.
Na'er wore a little pink dress, her silver hair neatly combed, and gazed up at him pleadingly with her purple eyes.
"Big brother, let's play together."
Her voice was soft and sweet.
Xu Ran emerged from the kitchen carrying a plate of sliced fruit. Seeing them, she spoke with a sour note in her voice.
"This little girl. Every day, I come up with new things to cook for her and buy her new clothes, and what do I get?"
"She only clings to her big brother, who's never home."
Xu Ran set the fruit plate down heavily on the table.
"And you, Lu Guan! All you ever think about is running off somewhere. It's the weekend. What's wrong with taking your little sister out for a walk?"
Lu Guan looked at Na'er.
He had been so busy forging these past few days that he had barely spent any time with her. Strangely, though, Na'er was still quite attached to him.
Faced with Na'er's invitation, Lu Guan fell into thought.
Training or romance?
Sir, I'm afraid this will take quite a bit of electricity...
Lu Guan sighed and ruffled Na'er's silver hair.
"All right. No forging today. I'll take you out to play."
Na'er's eyes lit up, and the corners of her lips immediately lifted.
Eastsea City was lively on weekends.
Holding Na'er's hand, Lu Guan wandered from one end of the snack street to the other.
Grilled meat skewers, candied hawthorn skewers, soul beast milk tea.
Whenever Na'er gave something a second glance, Lu Guan paid for it without hesitation.
He was the Blacksmith Association's precious darling now, after all. Although the monthly allowance Mu Chen gave him was nothing in the Soul Master World, it was more than enough to cover an ordinary person's expenses.
Na'er held candied hawthorns in one hand and grilled meat skewers in the other, eating until grease coated her mouth.
She ate daintily, taking tiny bites, but at an astonishing speed.
Walking beside her, Lu Guan felt a wave of emotion.
Who could have imagined that this little girl harbored the power to destroy the world?
Lu Guan glanced at the enormous pile of snack wrappers in Na'er's hands.
Hmm-actually, maybe you could tell...
After a morning of wandering, the two had bought quite a few things.
"Full yet?" Lu Guan wiped Na'er's mouth with a tissue.
Na'er nodded vigorously.
"Then let's go home."
Carrying bags of all sizes, Lu Guan took Na'er's hand and headed back.
To avoid the crowds on the main street, he chose a somewhat secluded alley.
The alley was quiet, with only their footsteps sounding against the blue stone paving.
As they walked, Lu Guan stopped.
Someone stood ahead of them.
The man wore ordinary gray cloth clothing and had an average build.
His face was unremarkable, the sort that would disappear into a crowd.
Yet standing there, he gave off a sense of extraordinary steadiness.
With gentle features, he quietly watched Lu Guan.
Every muscle in Lu Guan's body instantly tensed.
His instincts told him this man was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
That danger was not the pressure of soul power, but an intimidation born purely of physical strength.
Lu Guan had no doubt that if this man wanted him dead, he would die!
The man's gaze passed over Lu Guan's shoulders, arms, waist, and back before finally settling on his face.
He took a step forward.
Without making a sound.
"You're Lu Guan?"
The man spoke in a rich, mellow voice.
Lu Guan pulled Na'er behind him, shielding her from the man's gaze.
"Who are you?"
Rather than answer, the man examined Lu Guan carefully. "Come, let me see your martial soul."
Lu Guan watched him warily, but at those words, the soul power he had readied to act at any moment subsided.
Seeing Lu Guan's reaction, the man could not help laughing.
"All right, let me introduce myself first. My name is Mu Ye, the current Body Sect Master."
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