Zhen Hua, the Tianhai Grand Competition

Inside Xiao Chen and Na'er's room at the East Sea Spirit Pagoda.

Xiao Chen had already packed his luggage and stored it in his Storage Soul Guidance Device.

He was standing beside the desk, holding his Soul Guidance Phone and taking a call from Leng Yaoyu.

"Xiao Chen, stop by Skysea City first on your way back."

Xiao Chen was immediately puzzled. "Aunt Leng, what am I going to Skysea City for?"

He had originally planned to take Na'er straight back to Shrek City. Suddenly receiving instructions to go to Skysea City naturally left him confused.

Leng Yaoyu explained, "What, have you forgotten that I promised to find you a teacher when you first started learning forging?"

Only then did Xiao Chen remember that Leng Yaoyu had indeed said she would find him a forging teacher. It was just that he had always used cheats when forging and could forge perfectly well without a teacher, so it had slipped his mind.

But he still did not understand what this had to do with Skysea City, so he asked again, "Aunt Leng, what does that have to do with Skysea City?"

Leng Yaoyu patiently explained, "Skysea City will be hosting the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition in a few months, and it includes a dedicated forging competition."

"Your teacher will be there to watch, too. You can take this opportunity to go and put on a good performance, letting him see your talent."

The Skysea Alliance Grand Competition was an event jointly organized by the many cities surrounding Skysea, encompassing team matches, individual matches, forging, and several other competitions.

Leng Yaoyu had arranged for Xiao Chen to go both to let him make his mark in forging and to help him smoothly become the disciple of a renowned teacher.

"The Skysea Alliance Grand Competition? Am I entering, too? Then who's my forging teacher?"

He was not particularly interested in his future teacher. After using cheats for so many years, he had already figured out his own role.

All he had to do was hammer away and leave the rest to the Command Block. Whether he had a teacher's guidance did not matter.

"That's right. You only need to enter the forging competition, Xiao Chen. You don't need to participate in the other events."

Leng Yaoyu answered with a smile, "Oh, and I might find the time to come over, too. Don't disappoint your big sister."

Then, with a hint of mystery, Leng Yaoyu slowly continued:

"Also, your teacher is Zhen Hua. Surprised?"

"Zhen Hua?" Xiao Chen remained completely unruffled. "I really didn't expect that. You certainly have connections, Aunt Leng."

Zhen Hua's name resounded like thunder in the forging world. As the only Divine Craftsman alive, he was the teacher countless blacksmiths dreamed of studying under.

Xiao Chen, however, did not particularly care. Had this been when he first started learning forging, he might have been pleasantly surprised.

But things were different now. After all, his "talent" spoke for itself. Having Zhen Hua around would not make much difference.

Still, Leng Yaozhu had used her connections to arrange this for him, so he would try learning from Zhen Hua.

All he could say was that he had underestimated himself when he first started forging. No, he had underestimated the Command Block.

"Of course, whether you can remain Zhen Hua's disciple will depend on your own abilities."

Leng Yaoyu's tone grew serious. "Zhen Hua is aloof and proud, and his standards for disciples are extremely high. You mustn't slack off."

"I understand, Aunt Leng," Xiao Chen replied.

"Once you reach Skysea City, pay him a visit first. I've already sent you Zhen Hua's address in Skysea City. Make sure you check it," Leng Yaoyu reminded him.

She then ended the call, and the Soul Guidance Phone's screen gradually darkened.

Xiao Chen put down his Soul Guidance Phone, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes.

Although he had long guessed that Zhen Hua would become his forging teacher, taking him as a master now felt rather optional.

Whatever the case, having one was better than not. He still needed theoretical guidance, after all.

Even Tang San had a Grandmaster of theory, and Zhen Hua offered more than theory.

He looked up and gazed out the window. The sea breeze of the East Sea brushed gently past, carrying a faint, salty dampness.

He was currently in the East Sea, not particularly far from Skysea City, making the trip very convenient. He could also use this opportunity to turn Gu Yue down and keep Na'er from throwing another tantrum.

The thought of Na'er and Gu Yue arguing in front of him gave Xiao Chen a headache. Had Gu Yue's brain cramped up? Why was she trying to get close to him?

He did not understand. He did not understand at all.

Just as Xiao Chen was pondering this, an argument broke out beyond the door. Na'er's indignant complaints and Gu Yue's retorts reached his ears clearly.

"Gu Yue, why did you follow me?"

"This is my brother's room and mine. Hurry up and leave!"

"Why can't I come? Chen never said I wasn't allowed near him. Why should I leave?"

Xiao Chen helplessly rubbed his throbbing temples, strode to the door, and opened it.

Na'er and Gu Yue stood face-to-face, both looking tense, swords drawn and bows bent, as though they would start arguing again at any moment.

Seeing Xiao Chen open the door, Na'er immediately went to his side and stared warily at Gu Yue.

Looking at the two bickering girls before him, Xiao Chen cut straight in. "All right, stop arguing."

"Gu Yue, I'm afraid we won't be able to travel together."

"Yes!" Na'er's eyes instantly lit up at those words. A brilliant smile spread across her face, and she could not help cheering.

Although she did not know why they were going to Skysea, anywhere was fine as long as they could get rid of Gu Yue.

"Na'er and I need to stop by Skysea City first. We won't have time to accompany you to Shrek City."

Xiao Chen spoke evenly, offering no further explanation.

Hearing this, Gu Yue did not persist. She merely sighed softly.

"All right. Since you have something to do, I won't insist."

After a pause, Gu Yue added, "Then, Chen, let's exchange contact details."

Xiao Chen raised his eyebrows slightly, considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Sure."

Beside him, Na'er immediately frowned and wanted to object. But just as the words reached her lips, she remembered her earlier wager with Gu Yue, which required "fair competition," and sullenly shut her mouth.

After they added each other's contact details, a satisfied smile appeared on Gu Yue's face. She waved to Xiao Chen. "Keep in touch."

With that, she glanced at Na'er beside him, a trace of triumph flashing through her eyes, then turned and left with light steps, clearly very pleased with the progress she had made.

Only after watching Gu Yue leave did Na'er breathe a sigh of relief. "Brother, what are we going to Skysea City for?"

Xiao Chen answered simply, "To take a master, compete, and sightsee."

"Huh? We're going to Skysea to have fun? Then let's leave right now!"

Seeing that Na'er had heard only the sightseeing part, Xiao Chen's mouth twitched. He nodded. "All right, let's set off now."

He picked up the Storage Soul Guidance Device beside him, took Na'er's hand, and left the room with her, heading out of the East Sea Spirit Pagoda.

Before long, they arrived at Eastsea City's Soul Guidance Train Station. Voices clamored inside, and the rumbling of Soul Guidance Trains never stopped.

Holding Na'er's hand, Xiao Chen followed the crowd aboard the Soul Guidance Train bound for Skysea City. The carriage's interior walls were made of soul guidance alloy, and its leather seats were soft and comfortable.

They chose adjacent seats and sat down. Barely settled, Na'er could not resist leaning toward Xiao Chen, her sparkling eyes filled with curiosity, and broke the silence in the carriage first:

"Brother, who's your teacher?"

Xiao Chen leaned back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed. At her question, he slowly opened them. "Zhen Hua. A Divine Craftsman, someone who stands at the very pinnacle of forging on the continent."

Na'er nodded with only a vague understanding, then asked with innocent earnestness:

"Then who's better, you or him?"

Her question left Xiao Chen speechless on the spot.

"Na'er, don't pretend to understand when you don't. Isn't that obvious?"

"Zhen Hua is the continent's acknowledged Divine Craftsman. I'm just a newcomer who only started forging a few years ago. How could I compare to him?"

"All right, stop fooling around. We're almost there."

Xiao Chen looked out the window. The Soul Guidance Train was speeding along, the scenery racing backward outside. Buildings were growing increasingly dense, a clear sign that they were approaching Skysea City.

Na'er stuck out her tongue and obediently leaned back in her seat without asking any more questions. Occasionally, she leaned toward the window to look at the scenery, her face full of anticipation for Skysea City.

Skysea's delicacies, here comes Na'er!

Before long, the Soul Guidance Train gradually slowed, finally coming to a steady stop at Skysea City's Soul Guidance Train Station.

The platform was more spacious than Eastsea City's, and the crowds were denser, making it noticeably more bustling than the East Sea.

Xiao Chen and Na'er left the station and followed their previously planned route straight to the hotel they had booked in advance.

The Rose Hotel stood in Skysea City's central shopping district.

Its exterior was exquisite and elegant, its pale pink stone walls adorned with delicate rose reliefs. Two pots of roses in full bloom stood at the entrance, giving off a light fragrance. Just as its name suggested, it had a romantic air.

Xiao Chen led Na'er into the hotel. The reception staff were courteous and soon checked them in, handing them a room key card.

They took the elevator to their room and opened the door, where a faint, fresh fragrance greeted them.

The room was neatly furnished, with a soft, large bed taking up most of the space. A desk and chair stood beside the window, and the lighting was excellent. Through the window, they could see Skysea City's bustling streets.

The moment Na'er entered, her eyes lit up. She flung herself straight onto the soft bed and rolled over, her face filled with contentment.

"This is practically Na'er's paradise!"

Xiao Chen put down the Storage Soul Guidance Device in his hand. Watching Na'er's lively antics, he smiled helplessly, then reminded her:

"Na'er, don't fall asleep. I have things to take care of later, so I can't fool around with you."

He needed to check the information Leng Yaoyu had sent him, confirm Zhen Hua's exact itinerary and address, and plan what came next. He had no time to play with Na'er.

"Oh, come on, Brother. This bed is so soft. Aren't you coming up to try it? It's seriously comfortable!"

Lying on the bed, Na'er beckoned to Xiao Chen, wheedling a little. She paid no attention to his words and went on rolling around on the bed.

Ignoring Na'er's coaxing, Xiao Chen took out his Soul Guidance Phone and checked the information Leng Yaoyu had sent earlier.

Because Zhen Hua was busy with other matters, he would not arrive in Skysea City for another month to attend to matters related to the Skysea Alliance Grand Competition.

That meant he and Na'er would need to stay in Skysea City for a month.

That was fine, too. A month would give him just enough time to relax, while also finding time to hone his forging skills in preparation for the upcoming competition.

"Of course I'm getting on the bed. Why else would I book a hotel?"

Xiao Chen put away his Soul Guidance Phone, walked over to the bed, and sat cross-legged. Closing his eyes and focusing, he began cultivating his soul power.

He could clearly sense that his current soul power level had reached rank 36, a full three ranks higher than when he had first arrived in the East Sea. Yet he had not spent much time cultivating during this period, making this improvement particularly unusual.

Xiao Chen pondered inwardly. The only possibility was the soul power the Command Block had fed back to him after devouring Tang San's divine consciousness.

He could not help grumbling to himself. Was he really cut out to be an Evil Soul Master?

No way. I'm open and aboveboard. I'm absolutely not becoming one. Besides, it skimmed far too much off the top this time. Just what has the Command Block been doing with all that energy?

Seeing Xiao Chen begin cultivating again, Na'er also put aside her playful mood, obediently sat on the edge of the bed, and began cultivating her own soul power.

The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, sunlight spilled into the room through the window.

Na'er woke early. Looking at Xiao Chen, who was still cultivating, she hesitated for a moment, but finally went over and gently shook him awake.

"Brother, wake up! Let's go out to eat. Na'er's hungry!"

Xiao Chen slowly opened his eyes. After a night of cultivation, his soul power had improved a little more, but being interrupted by Na'er left him somewhat helpless.

"Go eat by yourself. It's not as though you don't have legs. Why do you have to drag me along?"

"No! Come with me. Eating alone is too boring."

Na'er clung to Xiao Chen's arm, refusing to let go. Her eyes were full of anticipation, and she had clearly made up her mind to have him accompany her.

Seeing Na'er's stubborn expression, Xiao Chen sighed helplessly and could only get up.

"Stop fussing. I'll go with you."

Her wheedling victorious, Na'er gave a smug smile.

"Hehe, Na'er's still the best."

After washing up, they left the hotel together and strolled along Skysea City's streets.

As a major coastal metropolis, Skysea City was more prosperous than Eastsea City. Its streets were wide and tidy, lined with shops on both sides and filled with an endless stream of traffic, displaying all the vitality and everyday bustle of a great city.

As they passed a shop called "Yuhao Grilled Fish," the rich aroma drifting from inside instantly whetted Na'er's appetite. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes lighting up.

"Brother, let's eat here. It smells so good!"

Xiao Chen took a closer look, and his mouth could not help twitching. Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao's cooking truly lived up to its reputation. Ten thousand years had passed, and business was still booming.

But his instinct was to refuse. Grilled fish first thing in the morning was rather too greasy, after all, so he said:

"No. It's too greasy this early in the morning."

"If you want it, go eat it yourself."

"Oh, Brother, please. Na'er really has no money left."

Na'er tugged at Xiao Chen's hand, her eyes full of pleading and her expression pitiful. She had already burned through all her allowance on snacks in the East Sea.

Looking at Na'er's pitiful expression, Xiao Chen helplessly pressed a hand to his forehead. "No money? Congratulations, Na'er, you've added another debt to your tab. Remember to pay me back later."

Despite his words, he still took Na'er's hand and walked into the grilled fish shop.

She was his little sister. He had no way around it.

Business was booming inside, and delicious aromas filled the air. Xiao Chen and Na'er found an empty table, sat down, and ordered a serving of the signature grilled fish along with a few light side dishes.

Before long, the grilled fish was served. Crisp outside and tender inside, it gave off a mouthwatering aroma that greatly whetted their appetites.

Na'er eagerly picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. Her eyes instantly lit up, her face filled with satisfaction.

"This fish is so fragrant! It's better than any I've had before!"

Xiao Chen tried a bite as well. It truly tasted excellent, and he could not help nodding. "It really is good."

While they were eating, the staff brought out a large projection screen, a classic form of entertainment at the Yuhao Grilled Fish shop.

It mainly showed highlights from Soul Master Tournaments or classic battle scenes featuring Soul Masters.

Xiao Chen had expected to see ordinary competitive matches, but the moment the footage began playing, he froze, his expression becoming quite a sight.

Rousing commentary rang out from the screen alongside stunning images, and one classic line after another echoed through the shop:

"Withering amid splendor, Golden Road!"

"Blazing heat amid extreme frost, Heavenly Emperor's Hammer!"

"Truth amid nothingness, Spiritual Storm!"

"A solitary dance amid frost, Raiment of Light!"

The customers stopped to watch, some moved and others sighing softly with emotion. Only Xiao Chen remained seated, his face full of embarrassment, feeling as though he might cringe to death.

Great. At least I'm not sleepy anymore.

Na'er, however, watched with relish beside him, her eyes sparkling as she remarked to Xiao Chen:

"So sweet, so touching! These two must really love each other!"

Xiao Chen's mouth twitched. Not knowing how to respond, he could only lower his head and eat in silence, pretending he had not heard.

All he could say was that this was how the Douluo Continent was. The expression of emotion was far too intense, so he, a transmigrator, would pass on watching.

After finishing their meal and paying, Xiao Chen took Na'er's hand and left the grilled fish shop.

He still did not have enough of that over-the-top adolescent spirit. He needed some proper peace and quiet.