Su Xun knew exactly what he wanted.
Forging was merely a way to avoid falling behind others in battle armor, and he also valued its ultimate potential.
It was only meant to serve his battle armor needs.
There was no way he would become a full-time blacksmith and nothing else.
Thus, faced with Zhen Hua's promise, he gently shook his head.
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior, but to me, forging comes second. Being a soul master comes first."
"So, forgive me for being unable to grant your wish."
With that, Su Xun bowed to Zhen Hua, then walked over to Han Tianyi's side to wait quietly.
A smile rose on Han Tianyi's face.
He had genuinely feared Su Xun might agree in a moment of hotheaded excitement.
But on closer thought, that possibility was actually very slim.
After all, Su Xun's martial soul governed the six desires. If he could not even control such a simple desire, he would be unworthy of being called the Six Desires Immortal.
Besides, Su Xun was now the Spirit Pagoda's deputy pagoda master's sole personal disciple, and could also be considered his own disciple.
Leng Yaozhu and he might not match Zhen Hua in connections, but in strength, they left him countless streets behind.
Having grown up in such an environment ever since his martial soul awakening, how could Su Xun be dazzled by the position of president of the Blacksmith Association?
Zhen Hua looked at Su Xun, his face filled with conflicting emotions.
Then his gaze settled on Han Tianyi, and he asked hopefully:
"Your Excellency Illusory Brain, is there truly no room for compromise?"
"You know how difficult it is for the forging world to produce a talented individual."
"Su Xun... is simply too rare a find."
Han Tianyi smiled faintly at that.
"I can certainly understand how you feel, Your Excellency Divine Craftsman."
"But you've forgotten this boy's introduction just now: 'My master is Leng Yaozhu, and I also study under Elder Han.'"
"In his heart, Leng Yaozhu holds a place no one else can compare to."
"Even I am merely 'gleaning scraps of another's wisdom.'"
Zhen Hua froze at his words.
Han Tianyi continued:
"Moreover, this boy's martial soul means no less to the Body Sect than his forging talent means to you, if not more."
"To Leng Yaozhu, this boy also holds an extraordinary place."
"Over these past few years, I've clearly felt considerable changes in Leng Yaozhu's state of mind. Perhaps her cultivation has also made a breakthrough."
"If she found out you were poaching her disciple, she might well fight you to the death."
A chill ran down Zhen Hua's spine.
If Leng Yaozhu came to fight him to the death, the major powers would certainly protect him because of his special status. Losing his life was highly unlikely.
But from then on, he probably could not expect another peaceful day.
And just what was Su Xun's martial soul, for Han Tianyi to make such a comparison?
Could it be the most perfect body martial soul, the one generations of Body Sect predecessors had theorized about?
For a moment, Zhen Hua's emotions grew even more complicated, and he could not help letting out a wistful sigh.
"Such a fine seedling. What a pity..."
Han Tianyi smiled faintly.
"What's there to pity?"
"Your Excellency Divine Craftsman, Su Xun reached his current level in forging merely by practicing in the spare time between his regular cultivation sessions."
"Moreover, he's only had guidance from a seventh-rank blacksmith trained by our Spirit Pagoda."
"Come to think of it, he still hasn't had a true 'teacher' in forging."
He reached this level just in his spare time? How was that possible?
Zhen Hua instinctively doubted it.
But immediately afterward, Han Tianyi shot Su Xun a meaningful glance.
Su Xun understood at once. With a slight stir of his thoughts, three soul rings appeared around him: black, black-and-white, and black.
Not even ten years old, yet a Three-Ring Soul Elder, with two black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings and another ring of an unusual color?!
Zhen Hua's pupils contracted, and he fully believed Han Tianyi's words.
Then he smiled bitterly.
"Now I have no choice but to believe you."
"And I finally understand why Your Excellency Illusory Brain is willing to take second place."
As he spoke, he turned to Su Xun and said earnestly:
"With your talent for forging, it would be a real shame to waste it."
"If you're willing, you can come here to see me whenever you have time."
"When it comes to forging, I won't claim to know everything, but I should be able to offer some answers to whatever problems you encounter."
Joy rose in Su Xun's heart, and he hurried forward to bow deeply.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Zhen Hua waved a hand.
"Since you're already a fifth-rank blacksmith, whether you've taken the assessment or not, you can be considered a member of the Blacksmith Association."
"When I have nothing else to do, I already hold public sessions to answer questions."
"Giving an outstanding youngster like you a little special tutoring is only natural."
With that, he glanced at the sky and added:
"Your Excellency Illusory Brain, I'll hurry Mu Ye along. Sorry for the trouble, but please wait a little longer."
"Su Xun, do you have any questions right now? Why not take this opportunity to tell me about them?"
Hearing that, Su Xun naturally stopped standing on ceremony and seized the opportunity to get some free guidance.
Han Tianyi had no objections either, and went off to brew himself some tea.
At noon, a red-painted fighter jet came roaring in. As it approached the Blacksmith Association, its body began to transform, taking on a humanoid shape before landing on the association's rooftop.
Battle armor grades were classified by the number of words in their names.
Mechas, meanwhile, were classified by their paint colors, following the same hierarchy as soul ring colors.
However, there was one ironclad rule-
A God-Level Mecha was not necessarily painted red, but a mecha painted red was always a God-Level Mecha!
Needless to say, the God-Level Mecha that had just landed belonged to Mu Ye, the Body Sect's current sect master... Xiao Hong.
Mu Ye stepped out of the mecha, his gaze immediately locking onto the large-headed Han Tianyi. In a flash, he appeared beside him, his eyes blazing with eagerness.
"Martial Uncle, I knew you still cared about our Body Sect, unlike certain heartless people."
"Hey, where's the disciple you found for me?"
"Let me see him, quick!"
Han Tianyi rolled his eyes and slapped away the hand Mu Ye had instinctively reached toward his head, snapping:
"Who told you I brought you a disciple?"
"Our Body Sect may be in decline, but surely you don't have to be this shameless?"
Mu Ye paid him no mind. As his spiritual power spread outward, he had already locked onto Su Xun.
As for whether he was being shameless, he could not care less.
After all, that old rascal Zhen Hua's message had included Han Tianyi's appraisal of Su Xun.
How could he possibly not take this seriously?
The moment Mu Ye spotted Su Xun, he was ready to flash over and get properly "acquainted."
But Han Tianyi reacted swiftly, grabbing Mu Ye's arm and once again explaining the matters involving Leng Yaozhu and the others through a voice transmission.
Finally, he laid out his proposed "Academy Path," abandoning the "Sect Path."
"The Academy Path?"
Mu Ye's brows furrowed slightly, and resistance stirred in his heart.
According to the Body Sect's historical records, some of its secret techniques had once been lost.
Although the records of those events were no longer very detailed, all sorts of small clues pointed to Shrek's involvement.
However, Shrek was simply too powerful!
The steadily declining Body Sect could only swallow that bitter pill. To preserve the sect's inheritance, even knowledge of the matter had been restricted to successive sect masters.
Thus, he felt an almost instinctive aversion to the word "academy."
Before you continue