"Then what are these contribution points good for, Uncle?" Lu Chen tilted his head up and looked eagerly at Long Tianwu, his eyes full of curiosity.
Long Tianwu smiled and ruffled his hair, explaining patiently, "There are two types of contribution points. One type is fixed and used specifically for military promotions."
"The other is much more flexible. You can exchange them with the Federation for natural treasures, whether for cultivation or forging."
Lu Chen's eyes lit up at that, then he scratched his head and asked, "Then where do I pick up missions to earn contribution points? Oh, and do I have to pay for forging metals myself?"
"Oh, you don't need to worry about that." Long Tianwu waved a hand. "You can accept missions through your soul communicator, but you'll have to come to the legion to collect the forging metals. I can bring them for you, too. It's just the matter of the forging room..."
Before he could finish, Lu Chen eagerly raised his head, his face brimming with excitement. "Then can I take a mission now and try my hand at it?"
"Of course." Long Tianwu agreed with a smile and immediately took Lu Chen to the mission office to choose the simplest mission: forging a piece of Thousand Refinements metal.
The mission wasn't difficult and only offered around two hundred contribution points. That wasn't particularly generous, but for Lu Chen, who was just starting out, something was better than nothing. If he saved up, he would eventually be able to exchange them for something good.
After accepting the mission, Long Tianwu took him to the legion's forging room.
Lu Chen had solid skills and finished the piece of Thousand Refinements metal without much effort, successfully completing the mission.
Afterward, Long Tianwu slapped his forehead as he remembered something. "Come on, I'll take you to the Blacksmith's Association to see Master Zhen Hua. It's on the way."
When they reached the association's entrance, however, Long Tianwu stopped. "I won't go in. Go find him yourself."
Lu Chen nodded, pushed open the door, and entered the association. He made his way familiarly into Zhen Hua's new office, his eyes darting around.
This office was much more spacious than the previous one and contained quite a few unusual forging implements.
"Oh, Little Lu Chen's here!" Zhen Hua waved to him with a smile, then pointed to a middle-aged man sitting beside him. "Let me introduce you. This is the chef I just hired. As for his identity, I won't say much. This fellow has quite a background."
Lu Chen had recognized the man the moment he entered and already knew exactly who he was.
What chef? This was clearly Mu Ye, the sect master of the Body Sect!
Mu Ye dispensed with the formalities, pointing at a plate of bright red shrimp on the table as he said with a smile, "Here, try some. These are Red Jade Shrimp from the Blood Trench, three thousand meters deep. They're extremely rare, and the blood essence they contain is particularly compatible with that of us humans. Very nourishing."
"Try one first."
Lu Chen nodded, picked up a Red Jade Shrimp, and peeled off its glossy, scarlet shell, revealing flesh as translucent as jelly.
He pinched off a small piece and put it into his mouth. With a gentle chew, a sweet, refreshing flavor instantly burst across his tongue.
Immediately afterward, a gentle yet rich current of energy slowly spread, sliding down his throat into his stomach and silently merging into his bloodline.
Although this energy wasn't as forceful or obvious as the power of the Golden and Silver Dragon Kings spilling from Tang Wulin and Gu Yue, it excelled in its gentle, lasting warmth, and its nourishing effects were very real.
Lu Chen's eyes lit up, and he immediately felt reassured.
Looks like absorbing the Dragon Kings' escaping energy isn't the only way to strengthen my bloodline. These heavenly treasures work too!
I just don't know whether only these deep-sea rarities have an effect.
Or would any heavenly treasure work?
Mu Ye's eyes instantly lit up.
He keenly detected the bloodline power slowly flowing within Lu Chen because of the Red Jade Shrimp. It was unbelievably rich, several times more condensed than that of soul masters his age.
He immediately set down his chopsticks and leaned forward slightly, an eager smile on his face. "Kid, you've got excellent natural aptitude. Interested in body tempering? I have a few secret body-tempering methods that are never passed on to outsiders. I guarantee they'll take your physique to the next level."
At that, Lu Chen scratched his head, looking a little troubled. "Body-tempering techniques... But aren't those usually sect inheritances? I've already joined the War God Hall. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to learn another sect's techniques?"
"Oh, what difference does that make!" Mu Ye hurriedly waved his hands, his voice taking on a note of urgency, afraid this promising seedling would slip away. "You don't have to leave the War God Hall or join our sect. You just need to take me as your master! I'll teach you everything I know, with no other conditions!"
"But..." Lu Chen deliberately put on a bewildered expression, blinking as he asked, "What sect are you from, exactly? Why don't I even have to join?"
Mu Ye sighed, a trace of desolation flashing across his face, but still uttered four words in a deep voice: "The Body Sect."
As those three words left his mouth, everything was as clear as a mirror in Lu Chen's mind.
There were currently only four top-tier powers on the Douluo Continent: Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, the Spirit Pagoda, and the War God Hall.
The Body Sect had indeed once enjoyed glory, but it had long since gone downhill. How could it compare with the War God Hall, whose sun stood at its zenith?
Lu Chen would have to be an idiot to leave the War God Hall for the Body Sect.
But at this moment, Mu Ye's mind was filled with Lu Chen's uniquely blessed bloodline and outstanding forging talent. He was already utterly tempted.
This boy had attained such mastery at such a young age that he would become a Saint Blacksmith at the very least. If Mu Ye could take him as a disciple, not only would the Body Sect gain a powerful ally, but he might even help compensate for A Ruheng's rather dim wits and preserve the Body Sect's foundations.
Lu Chen rapidly weighed things up.
Taking Mu Ye as my master is all profit and no loss!
The Body Sect's body-tempering arts are unrivaled under heaven. Besides, in the original story, Mu Ye's eldest disciple, that senior brother of his, was a genuine Limit Douluo!
Having one more powerful thigh to cling to and building ties with another faction could only benefit him, with no downside.
Especially when his own future still wasn't entirely certain.
Who knew whether Buddha Tang and the others had contingency plans that the original story had never mentioned?
What was more, this was a perfect opportunity to forcibly pull support that originally belonged to Tang Wulin into his own hands!
He pretended to hesitate for a few seconds, then raised his head and declared with a firm gaze, "All right! I'll take you as my master!"
"Good, good. This is one of our Body Sect's secret techniques. Remember, you mustn't pass it to anyone else to read. Only you may view it. Your master will provide all the heavenly treasures needed to cultivate it," Mu Ye said, somewhat excitedly.
"Thank you, Master," Lu Chen said with some respect.
Clearly, though, Tang Wulin wasn't receiving such favorable treatment on his end.
Tang Wulin had been taken in as Mu Chen's disciple. Although Mu Chen valued him quite highly, it clearly wasn't to the same extent as in the original story.
After all, with an even more dazzling pearl before him, Mu Chen probably only expected Tang Wulin to follow in his footsteps as a Saint Blacksmith.