Forging was forging, fighting was fighting. Why insist on mixing them up?

Wu Changkong had no intention of stopping the combat sparring. The best way to understand one another was, in fact, to stand on opposing sides!

Unfortunately, thanks to Hu Fangyuan's outstanding performance, Wu Changkong had overestimated how well Tang Wulin and the other two would fight. With his Martial Soul, the Heavenly Frost Sword, in use, all three lost within just a few exchanges despite pulling out every trick they had-and that was with Wu Changkong not taking things seriously.

Except...

"There's something strange about that hammer of yours." Wu Changkong looked at Tang Wulin in puzzlement.

During the fight just now, Wu Changkong had selectively taken attacks from each of the three students to get a feel for their combat strength.

Of those attacks, Tang Wulin's hammer had been the most distinctive.

For no other reason than its sheer force!

That overwhelming strength kept raising the threat posed by those plain, unadorned hammer strikes!

Wait!

Aren't you a Control System Soul Master with Blue Silver Grass as your Martial Soul?!

You and Hu Fangyuan-neither of you plays by the rules, do you?!

Tang Wulin scratched his head and said sheepishly, "These are Heavy Silver Hammers. They're a little heavier than ordinary forging hammers."

"How heavy? Let me see."

Xie Xie was very interested in a hammer that could make Teacher Wu ask questions. He ran over swiftly and grabbed the Thousand Refinement Heavy Silver Hammer in Tang Wulin's hand.

Clang!

The instant the Heavy Silver Hammer left Tang Wulin's hand, it plummeted straight to the ground. Its tremendous momentum dragged Xie Xie down with it, sending him sprawling face-first in the dirt.

"Ow!" Xie Xie cried out in pain. "Y-you, what is this thing? Why is it so heavy?"

Wu Changkong walked over and lifted the Thousand Refinement Heavy Silver Hammer. Even he could not help looking moved.

Tang Wulin said, "Each one weighs roughly a hundred and fifty kilograms."

Wu Changkong said, "It delivered three bursts of force just now. Was that your control, or something else?"

Tang Wulin hesitated before saying, "It's an ability of the hammer itself. After metal undergoes Thousand Refinement, it develops unpredictable special effects. My Heavy Silver Hammers have one too. It's called Stacked Hammer."

"Stacked Hammer?"

Wu Changkong raised an eyebrow. He tightened his grip slightly on the Heavy Silver Hammer, feeling the peculiar tremor coming from within it. The material of this hammer truly was extraordinary. Thousand Refinement Heavy Silver was something people outside would struggle to buy even if they had the money.

For a nine-year-old child to have forging hammers of this caliber, and even be able to swing them, spoke volumes in itself.

A thoughtful look appeared in Wu Changkong's eyes. He raised his hand and said to Tang Wulin, "Here, take my hand."

Tang Wulin clasped his hand. Wu Changkong's hand was large, with long, strong fingers. It was slightly cool, yet not rough in the slightest.

"Pull me with all your strength. Let me feel just how strong you are," Wu Changkong said.

Hu Fangyuan had remained silent off to the side all this time, observing Tang Wulin.

After all, back when he had transferred into the class and Wu Changkong had made Tang Wulin and Xie Xie fight him and Gu Yue as a test, Hu Fangyuan had already felt somewhat puzzled.

According to what he had learned before, there was no way a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master could possess such powerful physical attributes.

Could Tang Wulin have had some other extraordinary encounter?

Now it seemed that guess was probably correct.

Then what was Tang Wulin's extraordinary encounter?

A soul living in his mind?

An exceptional bloodline within his body?

Or did he have an extraordinary background, with his incredibly powerful parents having no choice but to painfully abandon him to someone else's care for some reason?

Fuck!

Surely my world doesn't actually have such a melodramatic plot?

Hu Fangyuan shook his head, casting these wild thoughts aside.

His goal was Eternal Life. What did anyone else's circumstances have to do with him?

With that thought, Hu Fangyuan began analyzing Tang Wulin's attacks against Wu Changkong just now.

His footwork was scattered and unstructured, he knew nothing whatsoever about coordinating with teammates, and his ability to seize an opening was immature. There was nothing worth praising.

However, the way he applied force was somewhat interesting.

He had actually incorporated a blacksmith's forging force into his attacks.

He had ideas, but that was about it.

Forging was forging, fighting was fighting.

Insisting on mixing the two up was simply putting the cart before the horse.

In Hu Fangyuan's eyes, Tang Wulin had an excellent foundation and extremely powerful physical strength, but his fighting techniques were far too crude.

He had brute strength to spare, yet did not know how to use it.

With a systematic Body Refinement Cultivation Method and close-combat techniques, this kid could at least double his combat strength.

Still, none of that had anything to do with him.

Since Wu Changkong thought highly of Tang Wulin, he would naturally teach him. Why should Hu Fangyuan concern himself with it?

Just then, Wu Changkong finished testing Tang Wulin's strength, and their tightly clasped hands parted. A peculiar look flashed across Wu Changkong's icy face. He patted Tang Wulin's shoulder. "The four of you will compete together in the Class Promotion Tournament. With your strength at this level, our tactics should get interesting."

Tang Wulin's eyes lit up, and he nodded firmly. "Thank you, Teacher Wu! I definitely won't disappoint you!"

Xie Xie also came over, his face full of excitement. "Teacher Wu, how are you going to arrange the tactics for the four of us?"

Wu Changkong glanced at him. "What's the rush? Tactics take time to hone. Starting tomorrow, you'll have special training every evening. The four of you need to learn to coordinate first. As you are now, you can manage when fighting individually, but in a real team battle, you're a pot of porridge."

Xie Xie scratched his head and chuckled twice without arguing. He knew himself that the four of them really had no coordination. During their earlier test, everyone had fought their own battles, with no structure whatsoever.

"All right, you three can head back first."

Wu Changkong waved a hand, then looked at Hu Fangyuan. "Hu Fangyuan, come with me for a moment."

Tang Wulin and the other two exchanged glances. Although they were somewhat curious about why Teacher Wu wanted to speak to Hu Fangyuan alone, they did not dare ask any further questions and obediently left the training ground.

Once everyone had left, only Hu Fangyuan and Wu Changkong remained on the training ground.

"What is it, Teacher Wu?" Hu Fangyuan blinked, looking somewhat surprised at Wu Changkong, who had asked him to stay behind for a private conversation. Inwardly, however, he had already guessed most of it.

Wu Changkong pressed his lips together, seemingly finding it a little difficult to speak. He had always been cold and proud, accustomed to standing above others. Now that he had to give a student money and resources like this, it really did feel somewhat awkward.

After hesitating for several seconds, he finally spoke. "What cultivation resources would you like me to buy for you this month?"

Looking at the somewhat awkward Wu Changkong, Hu Fangyuan could not help laughing.

It really was rare for this usually cool teacher to wear an expression like that.

"Oh, you mean that! I haven't decided yet. How about I tell you in a couple of days, Teacher?"

Hu Fangyuan spoke with a grin. He truly had not decided what to buy this month. He still had stocks of basic body-refinement medicinal ingredients and Soul Power Potions, and enough food for the Copper Bone Gu.

If he really had to name something he lacked, it would probably be some rarer gu materials needed for the gu he wanted to refine later, but Hu Fangyuan did not yet have a precise plan.

"Ahem!"

Wu Changkong seemed to notice Hu Fangyuan's amusement. He immediately straightened his face, returning to his icy demeanor. "Fangyuan, your talent is the greatest among them, and the same goes for your talent in combat. I hope you won't squander your gifts."

His tone was very earnest, carrying a measure of expectation. In his eyes, Hu Fangyuan had the greatest potential of these four children.

Rank twenty-one Soul Power, offense and defense in one, decent physical attributes, excellent combat awareness, and considerable skill in body refinement.

With proper nurturing, his future achievements would be limitless. Wu Changkong even felt that this kid had a very real chance of aiming for Shrek Academy.

Hu Fangyuan nodded. "Of course. That goes without saying."

What I'm pursuing is Eternal Life, after all!

He only said those words inwardly, without speaking them aloud.

Wu Changkong knew nothing of Hu Fangyuan's inner desire. He merely nodded in satisfaction, then said, "Head back now. Don't be late for class tomorrow. Get yourself into good condition. We'll be testing Spiritual Power in the afternoon."

"All right, Teacher Wu." Hu Fangyuan agreed without asking any further questions, then turned and walked toward the training ground's entrance.