Qian Duoduo

"So that's how it is. I never expected you to have learned such a way to make money at such a young age, Wulin. That's really impressive!"

"Say, you've followed me all the way to the Soul Tool Testing Area. Aren't you going back yet?"

"Of course not. Didn't I say I'd be following you from now on? I have to get closer to you."

"..."

Twenty minutes later, the two arrived outside the Soul Tool Testing Area.

Looking at Zhou Sichen's shameless grin, Tang Wulin felt a profound sense of helplessness well up inside him.

He had no interest in being Zhou Sichen's big brother, yet no matter how many times he refused, this guy always wore the same expression.

It was his first time encountering someone with this kind of personality. It felt as though no matter what he said, the other person simply did not hear it.

Zhou Sichen grinned and patted him on the shoulder. "All right, I'm sticking with you, so just give up already."

"...Fine. Do whatever you want."

Tang Wulin sighed. No longer trying to persuade Zhou Sichen, he stepped forward and spoke to the Gatekeeper of the Soul Tool Testing Area. "Hello, I heard I can earn money through forging here. Is that true?"

"?"

Seeing Tang Wulin, who did not even look old enough to enroll, the Gatekeeper slowly raised three question marks over his head.

"Where did this kid come from? Go back already and stop causing trouble!"

"Um, I..."

Tang Wulin had just been about to explain when Zhou Sichen cut in from the side.

"Hey, don't say that, Big Brother Gatekeeper. I'm Zhou Sichen from First Year Class Seven. I can vouch for Tang Wulin with my reputation—he's a student of Shrek Academy. Just give him a chance, will you?"

"You two..."

The Gatekeeper frowned. He was just about to lecture these two little brats who had come from who knew where when two strong men walked out of the Soul Tool Testing Area.

The two had been talking, but the moment they saw Tang Wulin, they both froze.

"What's going on here?"

The moment he saw the two strong men, the Gatekeeper hurriedly stood at attention. "Dean Qian, this child was just making a fuss about coming here to forge for money. I'm terribly sorry for disturbing you. I'll send him back right away!"

The newcomers were none other than Qian Duoduo, the Vice Dean of the Soul Engineering Department, and Fan Yu, its Third-in-Command. To a lowly Gatekeeper like him, neither was someone he could afford to offend.

He had to drive Tang Wulin away quickly. Otherwise, if these two sirs said he had failed at his duties and fired him, where could he possibly argue his case?

Yet something unexpected happened. Qian Duoduo frowned and rebuked him, "What are you talking about? Since this child wants to work here, we should give him the chance. Refusing even to let him try isn't the style of our Soul Engineering Department. Leave this matter alone."

Then, ignoring the dumbfounded Gatekeeper, he smiled at Tang Wulin.

"Child, what is your name?"

Tang Wulin answered honestly, "Tang Wulin."

The smile on Qian Duoduo's face immediately deepened.

"Tang Wulin? What a fine name. Come, come, bring your friend in with you."

As he spoke, he signaled Fan Yu with his eyes. Fan Yu nodded impassively, pushed open the door, and led everyone into the Soul Tool Testing Area.

As he pulled Tang Wulin forward, Qian Duoduo warmly introduced himself. "Wulin, I'm the Vice Dean of the Soul Engineering Department. My name is Qian Duoduo. The one leading the way is my capable assistant, Fan Yu. If you come here often to forge in the future, I can also introduce you to our Dean, Xian Lin'er."

"..."

Tang Wulin nodded silently.

For some reason, he felt that Qian Duoduo was being a little too enthusiastic toward him, as though he had known him beforehand.

But he was only a First Year student. How could the Vice Dean of the Soul Engineering Department possibly take notice of him? He suspected he was overthinking things.

In truth, Tang Wulin had still underestimated the significance of an Ultimate Martial Soul to Shrek Academy.

After he entered the academy through Mu En's connections, Yan Shaozhe, Qian Duoduo, and several other deans quickly learned of him.

The moment they heard that an Ultimate Martial Soul had appeared again after several thousand years—and that it was the Golden Dragon, the Ancestor of Power—the four deans of the Martial Soul Department and Soul Engineering Department were all sent into a frenzy.

They all declared that they wanted to snatch Tang Wulin away.

At first, however, Qian Duoduo had not held out much hope.

After all, the Martial Soul Department had suppressed the Soul Engineering Department for so many years. It was difficult for Soul Tools to snatch talent from the Martial Soul Department's grasp.

This time would probably just be going through the motions.

Yet something happened that took everyone by surprise. Mu En, Yan Shaozhe's teacher, spoke up and forbade them from actively snatching people during First Year. Tang Wulin was to experience academy life for himself and make his own choice.

Those words completely changed the situation.

Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er were naturally overjoyed, because it meant they had at least a sliver of a chance to snatch Tang Wulin from the Martial Soul Department's subordinates.

Qian Duoduo had come here this time to instruct Fan Yu to do everything possible to get Tang Wulin.

Who would have thought that before they could make their move, Tang Wulin would come knocking on their door himself?

Qian Duoduo could not help bursting into wild laughter inwardly.

Old Yan, Old Yan, although I haven't won against you much in this life, at least this time, fortune is on my side.

Soon, they arrived at their destination.

"Wow—"

At the sight inside the Soul Tool Testing Area, Tang Wulin could not help widening his eyes.

The inside of the Soul Tool Testing Area was far more spacious than he had imagined. Countless Soul Engineers were crafting and testing Soul Tools here. Boisterous shouts, the roar of explosions, and the crisp clang of hammering shook Tang Wulin's eardrums. The air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder, giving him a firsthand sense of what people worked on here.

Tang Wulin had never seen such a spectacular scene before, and for a moment, he was completely transfixed.

Seeing Tang Wulin's astonished expression, Qian Duoduo smiled smugly.

"How is it? Impressive, isn't it? Welcome to the Shrek Soul Tool Testing Area. This is the largest Soul Tool research and development base in the Original Three Kingdoms of the Douluo Continent. Your forging talent definitely won't be wasted here."

As he spoke, he led them to a Forging Platform and pointed at the metals on the table. "Come, show us what you can do, Wulin. Pick whichever metal you like from the table."

Tang Wulin swallowed and nodded, then stepped up to the Forging Platform.

In terms of Level of Detail, this Forging Platform from ten thousand years ago naturally could not compare to those from Tang Wulin's original era. However, the metals laid out on the table were all high-quality goods. There were even many metals Tang Wulin had only heard of before, but never seen.

Although Shrek was far inferior to the Sun Moon Empire in Rare Metal resources, it was still the place with the most advanced Soul Tool technology among the Original Three Kingdoms. It had plenty of resources available for Tang Wulin to forge.

But Tang Wulin's target this time was not those Rare Metals he had never seen before.

He reached out and grabbed a piece of Heavy Silver.

Without a doubt, this was the metal he was best at forging.

It was also the metal he was most confident would make Qian Duoduo see him in a new light.