After the Martial Soul returned to its origin, revealing its true form as a Natural God, the five sacred artifacts of the Nature Spirit also underwent evolution. Among them, the Crown of Nature evolved into the Natural God Halo, and the Grand Dao Source Stone embedded in it—which bore the elemental laws—did not disappear.
The Grand Dao Source Stone fused with the Eye of Dao and Dharma, evolving into the Natural God Eye, while the elemental power it represented merged into Jing Shaoyu's body, achieving a state where all might converged into his true self.
Thus, although the Grand Dao Source Stone was gone, the elemental power Jing Shaoyu wielded became even stronger.
Upon advancing to Soul Saint, the elemental forces he controlled increased to eleven—more precisely, ten elements and one attribute power.
In addition to the existing wood, fire, water, ice, wind, thunder, earth, light, and darkness, the new elemental powers Jing Shaoyu mastered were metal and spatial force. Due to its unique nature, spatial force had no fixed classification—it could be considered either an element or a higher-level attribute.
Because all powers converged into his true self, Jing Shaoyu's control over elemental forces was no longer constrained. Regardless of his previous skills, he could now freely wield elemental power. Compared to Gu Yue, the only thing he might lack was the Heart of Elements.
Currently, the spatial skill Jing Shaoyu mastered was called Space Freeze. As the name suggested, it was the ability to freeze space. Simply put, this skill could solidify the space in a designated area, and everything within that space would also be frozen. They could perceive the passage of time but not the movement of space.
This artificial ability to forcibly separate space and time, when developed to its limit, could undoubtedly freeze an entire world into an unchanging painting.
Of course, Jing Shaoyu was far from achieving something so exaggerated at this stage.
Metal element, much like how ice element derived from water and thunder element derived from wind, also originated from earth element—more precisely, it was the result of his innate Earth Monarch talent advancing to Land Monarch. Apart from metal immunity and metal control, the skill derived from metal element was the Metal and Leather Art.
The Metal and Leather Art was a skill that combined combat and functionality. In combat, it could gather the metal element from the Heaven and Earth Essence to form countless golden blades, attacking enemies from all directions—a manifestation similar to Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin.
However, Jing Shaoyu valued another use of the Metal and Leather Art even more.
By employing this skill, he could invoke the laws of heaven and earth, using the world and nature as a furnace to temper metal with the power of the cosmos, imbuing it with true life and will. This would fuse the laws of heaven and earth with the metal into a perfect entity.
In short, the Metal and Leather Art could evolve any metal into a true living being.
In the common parlance of the Douluo Continent, this was known as Heavenly Forging.
Heavenly Forging was the pinnacle of metalworking, a technique only Divine Craftsmen could master. Currently, in the Soul Master community of Douluo Star, there was only one Divine Craftsman—Zhen Hua. Heavenly Forged Metal was the core requirement for upgrading Three-Word Battle Armor to Four-Word Battle Armor, which was the fundamental reason why Divine Craftsmen held such esteemed status.
Currently, there is only one Divine Craftsman on the continent—Zhen Hua. Therefore, any Titled Douluo wishing to upgrade their Three-Word Battle Armor to Four-Word Battle Armor must seek Zhen Hua's assistance. However, even for a Divine Craftsman, forging a piece of Heavenly Forged Metal is no easy task. Otherwise, Four-Word Battle Armor Masters in the Douluo Federation wouldn't be so rare, with only the Limit Douluo of major factions typically possessing such armor.
Even someone like Lian Yali, whose status and position stand at the pinnacle of the continent, failed to obtain Four-Word Battle Armor before advancing to Limit Douluo. This shows that the major factions have reached a consensus: Zhen Hua's life must not be excessively drained. Otherwise, if Zhen Hua were to fall, it remains uncertain whether the Federation could produce a new Divine Craftsman.
Jing Shaoyu understood clearly that the issue of the Divine Craftsman's scarcity was, at its core, a matter of Douluo Star's ownership. Without resolving the problem of that old fool Tang Hao, the Divine Craftsman would forever remain a lone figure.
However, the emergence of the Metal and Leather Art had freed Jing Shaoyu and those around him from worrying about metal shortages. If outsiders—no, even insiders—learned that Jing Shaoyu, an amateur in forging, had mastered Heavenly Forging, their jaws would surely drop in shock.
Mo Hentian had already expressed his despair.
"Shaoyu, are you saying you can perform Heavenly Forging?!" Yun Ming and Ya Li listened to Jing Shaoyu's explanation, their faces filled with astonishment. Yun Ming asked, "Are you certain?"
"Absolutely!" Jing Shaoyu nodded with unwavering confidence. "Though it may take longer, the results will surpass those of any Divine Craftsman. Once the academy stabilizes, I can help upgrade Mom's Battle Armor."
"Wonderful!" Ya Li agreed without hesitation.
"That's a good plan," Yun Ming also nodded, his eyes thoughtful. "Shaoyu, keep your Metal and Leather Art a secret for now. The implications are too significant, and it might provoke hostility from the Blacksmiths' Association."
"Haha, it's not really something to fear," Jing Shaoyu scratched his head awkwardly. "The Metal and Leather Art can only perform Heavenly Forging—it's useless for anything below that. So, for blacksmiths, it just means one more Divine Craftsman exists. It won't affect them otherwise."
How to put it? Lower-tier techniques like Soul Forging and Spirit Forging were simply too rudimentary to even qualify for the Metal and Leather Art.
"There's such a distinction?" Yun Ming was surprised but still cautioned, "Even so, it's best to remain cautious."
"Understood," Jing Shaoyu nodded.
Outer Academy. After leaving the island, Jing Shaoyu immediately headed to the Outer Academy. Xu Xiaoyan and the other four girls had been injured by Leng Yulai and were recuperating. More importantly, they had witnessed his capture by Leng Yulai and were likely frantic with worry.
"Xiaoyan!" Jing Shaoyu spotted Xu Xiaoyan sitting on the bed, her face clouded with anxiety, and called out to her.
Hearing his voice, Xu Xiaoyan immediately turned her head, her delicate face instantly lighting up with excitement and joy. "Shaoyu-gege!"
She leaped off the bed, not even bothering with shoes, and rushed toward Jing Shaoyu, eager to embrace him. But someone was faster—another girl reached him first, wrapping her arms around him and frantically checking him over. Only after confirming he was unharmed did she finally exhale in relief.
"That's great, it's really great that you're okay, Shaoyu!" The one who reached Jing Shaoyu before Xu Xiaoyan was undoubtedly the fastest among them—Wu Siduo. Her pretty face was flushed with excitement as she clung tightly to him with both arms and legs.
"Maomao, you're so mean, hogging all the space like this! Move over, I want to hug Shaoyu-gege too!" Xu Xiaoyan complained, pushing Wu Siduo aside to make room before also wrapping herself around Jing Shaoyu.
Jing Shaoyu, now thoroughly enveloped by his two admirers, wore a faintly helpless expression but didn't stop them. They must have been worried sick about him all this time.
Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo's unusual behavior quickly drew the attention of the others. Soon, Ye Xinglan, Mo Hentian, and Lan Fozi emerged from the room as well. Upon seeing Jing Shaoyu, their faces lit up with a mix of emotions—relief, joy, and excitement.
"Yu-ge!"
"Class President!"
"Shaoyu-gege!"
And just like that, Jing Shaoyu was completely buried under them, each clinging to a side, nearly suffocating him.
It took him a while to finally calm them down and get them to sit properly in front of him. Then, he proceeded to check each of their conditions one by one.
Their injuries had already been treated by Ya Li, so there were no external wounds left. They just needed ten days to half a month of rest to recover their Primordial Qi and regain their vitality. Jing Shaoyu shortened this process, ensuring they would fully recover in at most five days.
Afterward, Jing Shaoyu answered the girls' many questions, mostly about his experiences. Their reactions ranged from astonishment to delight.
"Sigh! I thought I could close the gap between us, Shaoyu, but it seems like it's only getting wider," Wu Siduo said helplessly. "So frustrating!"
"Exactly! Shaoyu-gege, your progress is way too fast!" Xu Xiaoyan also sighed deeply.
"Hahaha, then shouldn't you all work harder?" Jing Shaoyu chuckled, reaching out to pinch Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo's cheeks and ruffle their hair.
"Yu-ge, what happened to that Leng Yulai?" Ye Xinglan asked curiously. "Did Jin Lao save her too?"
"Her? Well, how should I put it…" Jing Shaoyu stroked his chin. "She's dead, but not entirely."
"Dead but not completely? What kind of weird explanation is that?" Mo Hentian frowned in confusion.
"How should I explain this to you…?" Jing Shaoyu found himself at a loss for words, deep in thought.
Just then, Tang Yinmeng and Lan Muzi rushed in anxiously. Spotting Jing Shaoyu and the five girls, they delivered some bad news.
"Shaoyu, we have some troubling news," Lan Muzi said grimly, his voice heavy. "Na'er-shimei has gone missing!"
"What?!" Xu Xiaoyan immediately jumped to her feet. "She was taking care of us just this morning! How could she disappear?"
"That's right!" Wu Siduo and the others chimed in. "How could Na'er just vanish? Maybe she's hiding somewhere? Or did she go to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda? Gu Yue and the two aunties are there, right?"
"If that were the case, we wouldn't be so panicked," Lan Muzi said with a bitter smile. "We found Na'er's farewell letter at her residence, addressed to Shaoyu. After discovering the letter, we immediately went to Elder Cai and Long Lao. They searched the entire academy and Shrek City but couldn't find any trace of Na'er. They even checked the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, but she wasn't there either."
Everyone instinctively turned their gaze to Jing Shaoyu, whose expression was grave as he looked at Lan Muzi and asked, "Where's the letter?"
"Yinmeng," Lan Muzi immediately turned to Tang Yinmeng beside him.
Tang Yinmeng glared at Jing Shaoyu with displeasure but still handed over Na'er's letter, letting out a cold snort.
Jing Shaoyu paid no attention to Tang Yinmeng's attitude. He took the letter and examined it. The content was simple—a brief farewell note written in Na'er's voice. Though the details were meticulously handled, Jing Shaoyu could tell at a glance that it was a forgery by Gu Yue!
"Heh!" Jing Shaoyu let out a laugh, which sounded like a bitter chuckle to others, but he calmly said, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I know where Na'er is. Don't worry, I'll bring her back."
"Really?" Lan Muzi and Tang Yinmeng were instantly overjoyed. Tang Yinmeng added, "It better be true, or I won't let you off!"
"Brother Shaoyu, is Na'er really okay?" Xu Xiaoyan grabbed Jing Shaoyu's hand, her small face filled with deep concern as she whispered.
"Of course it's true!" Jing Shaoyu put away the letter and nodded earnestly. "When have I ever promised something I couldn't deliver? Trust me, I will bring Na'er back."
"Mm!" Xu Xiaoyan's worry lessened slightly as she nodded in response.
"Are you going to look for Na'er now? We'll go with you!" Wu Siduo said.
"Yes, Na'er is our companion too. We should all go find her," Ye Xinglan added.
Though Mo Hentian and Lan Fozi didn't speak, their expressions and gazes clearly showed their concern and anxiety for Na'er.
"Haha, no need to rush. The place Na'er went to is very safe," Jing Shaoyu said with a relaxed smile. "Focus on recovering first. Once you're healed, we'll go together to bring Na'er home."
"Okay!" The five girls, reassured, nodded in agreement.
"Rest well at the academy. I'll go to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda first to pick up Mom and Auntie, and also look for Gu Yue," Jing Shaoyu said with a smile.
In truth, his heart was filled with anger and resentment toward Gu Yue. When the Heart of Eternity had returned, he had thought it was due to his Martial Soul's evolution summoning it. But now, it seemed this was also Gu Yue breaking her promise.
He could understand her reasons, but he would never accept them. So he was going to find Gu Yue—even if it meant laying all cards on the table—to make her return Na'er.
"At a time like this, you're still going to see another woman?" Tang Yinmeng, who held a grudge against Jing Shaoyu, ignored the first part of his statement and only heard that he was going to find Gu Yue, making her furious.
Jing Shaoyu frowned and said, "Eldest Senior Sister, I must go find Gu Yue. Only she knows how to get to the place Na'er went to!"
Tang Yinmeng was stunned, as were Xu Xiaoyan, Wu Siduo, Ye Xinglan, Mo Hentian, and Lan Fozi. None of them understood the meaning behind Jing Shaoyu's words—or rather, they understood but couldn't believe it because it was too absurd.
"Brother Shaoyu, what exactly is the relationship between Na'er and Sister Gu Yue?" Xu Xiaoyan had long noticed the strange and awkward dynamic between Gu Yue and Na'er but had never paid it much attention. Now that Jing Shaoyu brought it up, she realized it wasn't just a coincidence.
Na'er and Gu Yue seemed to be at odds, yet at times, they displayed astonishing tacit understanding. There were even moments when Xu Xiaoyan felt the illusion that they were one and the same person.
"Could they really be sisters?" Ye Xinglan blurted out, her voice dazed.
"That's right, they're biological sisters," Jing Shaoyu immediately seized the opportunity to say. He couldn't very well tell everyone that Gu Yue and Na'er were the same person, that Na'er was a subsidiary personality of Gu Yue, could he? So Ye Xinglan's suggestion of a sisterly relationship was perfect.
"It's actually true?!" Everyone was shocked.
"I'll explain the details later. I'm going to find Gu Yue," Jing Shaoyu said before quickly leaving the room, leaving behind a group of stunned individuals.
He soon rushed out of Shrek City, flying toward the Spirit Transfer Pagoda headquarters. However, when he was less than a kilometer away, he suddenly heard a sigh.
"Brother, stop!"
"Na'er!" Jing Shaoyu froze in place, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at his chest, where a silver light flickered—the location of the Heart of Natural God. Na'er's voice had come from there.
Spirit Transfer Pagoda Headquarters.
Leng Yaozhu sat by the window, gazing despondently at the blue sky outside. Her eyes were filled with struggle, pain, and conflict, yet intertwined with these negative emotions was a faint thread of joy—something even Leng Yaozhu herself hadn't noticed.
Her mind was completely occupied by Jing Shaoyu. She didn't dare close her eyes because the moment she did, all she could see were her own shameless actions while riding him. She no longer knew how to maintain their master-disciple relationship—or rather, what she couldn't accept was herself.
Because only now did she realize that her feelings for Jing Shaoyu had long since changed. The so-called master-disciple affection was just an excuse to deceive and numb herself.
Why had she turned a blind eye to Jing Shaoyu's harem behavior, even subtly encouraging and supporting it? Wasn't it because she wanted to indulge in some pitiful fantasies? Every time she saw Jing Shaoyu being intimate with Gu Yue or other girls, she would feel a strange emotion, fantasizing that she was the one in their place—only to deceive herself afterward with the excuse that it was just a teacher's concern for her disciple.
When facing Jing Shaoyu as his teacher, Leng Yaozhu was confident. But when facing him as a woman, she was filled with insecurity. No matter how much she claimed not to care, the truth remained: she was a hundred years older than him!
Even if her appearance and body were still youthful, at her core, she was still a century-old woman. And that terrified her.
After her encounter with Jing Shaoyu, she had felt a fleeting sense of triumph—no matter how fiercely those young girls competed, wasn't she still the first? But soon, she was plunged into deep hesitation, worry, and fear. She didn't know Jing Shaoyu's attitude, nor dared to guess his thoughts now. Her heart was filled with dread.
Leng Yaozhu couldn't help but stand up, gazing at her reflection in the windowpane, her eyes slightly dazed. Such peerless beauty, such a fiery figure, such noble grace—Leng Yaozhu, what are you so afraid of?
Now, you possess the strength of a quasi-god, the power of Ultimate Fire, and, more importantly, a body rejuvenated with youth and vitality. What is there to fear? The current you is a woman in her prime, just thirty years old!
You could even bear him a child...
Lost in her thoughts, Leng Yaozhu gradually drifted into a trance.
"Hehe, my dear sister, daydreaming about your precious disciple again, aren't you...?"
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