Chapter 372: Thousand Refinements with Spirit
Xu Sanshi is innocent? How is that possible? My analysis is flawless, there's no way I'm wrong! Xu Sanshi is definitely one of the traitors inside Shrek Academy!
As these thoughts raced through Xuanzi's mind, he walked over to the window, opened it, and gazed at the distant Golden Tree. His voice was firm and resolute as he declared, "I swear upon the Ancient Golden Tree if Xu Sanshi is innocent, I will immediately apologize to him and resign from my position as an elder, living the rest of my days as an idle man within the academy!"
The middle aged man looked at him in shock, astonished that Xuanzi would make such a serious oath. It was clear that Xuanzi had made up his mind to summon Xu Sanshi back and interrogate him. However, even if Xuanzi did resign, Mu En would definitely not let him leave. This wasn't the first time Xuanzi had threatened to resign, only for Mu En to persuade him to stay.
The man cupped his hands and said, "Understood, Elder Xuan. However, should we inform Elder Mu about this?"
"After all, you know that Elder Mu once forbade you from taking so called 'actions for the good of the academy'. In my opinion, summoning a suspected traitor like Xu Sanshi for interrogation is precisely an act that serves the academy's best interests."
Xuanzi furrowed his brows and said, "No need. Elder Mu is already preoccupied with his plans to emerge once more and restore Shrek Academy's former glory. If I disturb him with such a trivial matter, wouldn't that just create more trouble for him?"
"I know that if Elder Mu hears about this, he will definitely stop me and tell me not to be so rash. But now that the traitor has revealed himself, should I just turn a blind eye? As the next Pavilion Master of Sea God's Pavilion, I have the duty to strike hard against traitors!"
From Xuanzi's perspective, every action he had taken was for the academy's benefit. Even though things hadn't always gone according to plan, his intentions were pure it was simply his execution that had issues.
The middle aged man nodded. "Understood, Elder Xuan. I will not inform Elder Mu about this."
He decided to follow Xuanzi's orders. Even if Xu Sanshi turned out to be innocent, and Elder Mu became displeased, it wouldn't be too much of a problem.
For one, Elder Mu was a reasonable man, and if punishment were to be dealt, it would be Xuanzi, not him, who bore the brunt of it. After all, he was just carrying out orders.
Secondly, Elder Mu's days were numbered. And in the future, Xuanzi, as the second strongest in Sea God's Pavilion, would inevitably become Pavilion Master, making him the most powerful figure in Shrek Academy. If he offended Xuanzi now, it would only mean trouble for himself later.
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy
Inside the Third Laboratory, Huo Yuhao was sweating profusely as he swung a heavy hammer, striking a rare metal over and over. He was trying to break through the level of Thousand Refinements and reach the realm of Spirit Refinement. To do so, he had to dedicate time to forging.
Since the next few days were reserved for other teams' matches, and only after the top four were decided would the semifinals begin, he had no interest in watching those fights. Instead, he chose to spend his time in the laboratory, forging rare metals.
Normally, reaching the level of Spirit Refinement in forging required a Soul Master with at least three soul rings. Huo Yuhao, being a Soul Emperor on the verge of becoming a Soul Sage, had long surpassed the necessary cultivation level.
However, he had no formal teacher in forging, so his progress was slower. Still, he didn't expect to master Spirit Refinement overnight. His first goal was to achieve Thousand Refinements with Spirit.
After all, Thousand Refinements also had different tiers.
Hundred Refinements metals were divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.
Thousand Refinements metals were ranked from Fifth to First Grade, with First Grade being the highest.
Thousand Refinements with Spirit was the pinnacle of First Grade, representing the awakening of a metal's spirit.
In the era of Douluo Dalu 3, forging had become highly advanced. The protagonist of Douluo 3, Tang Wulin, had several teachers guiding him, combined with his exceptional talent, allowing him to progress rapidly in forging.
But Huo Yuhao, despite lacking a teacher, had remarkable talent in forging as well. His soul skills even provided enhancements to his craft.
With his powerful spiritual energy, he could use Spiritual Detection Sharing to observe the minute changes in metal after each strike. Every tiny transformation was captured in slow motion in his mind, allowing him to adjust his hammering force with extreme precision.
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew in all directions.
The sound of his hammer striking metal was rhythmic, almost like he was playing an instrument. The constant ringing of metal filled the laboratory.
Nearby, Kong Deming and Xuan Ziwen were watching attentively.
The reason they were here was simple Huo Yuhao had told them he was attempting a breakthrough in forging. They wanted to observe and learn from the process.
After all, if Huo Yuhao truly advanced in forging, it would be a massive breakthrough for the Sun Moon Empire.
A successful Spirit Refinement would mean that soul tools could be built with even stronger materials, pushing the development of soul engineering even further.
However, Kong Deming felt uncertain. Could Huo Yuhao really succeed?
Any kind of technological or skill based advancement required years of effort. For example, ever since the first Ninth Rank Soul Engineer appeared, countless researchers had tried and failed to create Tenth Rank Soul Tools.
It wasn't until he himself discovered a new method and, with Huo Yuhao's help, advanced to Super Douluo that he finally succeeded in creating the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield, a Tenth Rank Soul Tool.
"Yuhao, I hope you succeed," Kong Deming muttered, his expression serious as he focused on Huo Yuhao's forging process.
Beside him, Xuan Ziwen's breathing slowed.
He, too, hoped for Huo Yuhao's success.
After all, knowing Huo Yuhao's character, if he mastered a higher level of forging, he would definitely teach Xuan Ziwen. And with better forging techniques, he could craft even more advanced soul tools.
To Xuan Ziwen, letting a student teach the teacher was a small price to pay if it meant progressing the field of soul engineering.
Huo Yuhao's hammer moved effortlessly, his strikes landing with perfect accuracy.
The silver metal on the table shrunk with each strike, its shape refining further. His expression was one of deep focus, as if nothing else in the world existed except the metal before him.
Suddenly, the metal on the table erupted in a silver glow, and a powerful boom echoed throughout the laboratory.
The brilliant silver radiance was dazzling, lingering without fading.
Huo Yuhao lifted his hammer once more and struck the metal again.
Clang!
Then, as he set the hammer down and stepped back, the metal itself let out another clear, ringing chime without being struck.
It was responding to him.
Huo Yuhao's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Thousand Refinements with Spirit."
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1