Chapter 29: Blood Demon… Your Excellency?
The moment the door opened, Lu Jun felt a soft body suddenly fall into his arms.
Gu Yuena's silver hair spread out like a waterfall, a faint, delicate fragrance brushing his cheek.
The petite girl's body completely stiffened, her amethyst-like eyes wide as she met his gaze.
"You… what are you doing by the door?"
Lu Jun subconsciously wrapped his arm around her waist, his palm feeling the slender, soft touch.
"I… uh, I was just…"
Gu Yuena didn't know what to say for a moment.
She couldn't possibly say she wanted to peek at what Lu Jun was doing inside, could she?
The two remained frozen at the doorway, time seemingly still.
Lu Jun could clearly feel the rapid heartbeat of the girl in his arms, and her slightly trembling eyelashes.
"Cough." Ultimately, it was Lu Jun who recovered first, carefully helping her stand upright. "What are you doing here?"
Gu Yuena frantically tidied her disheveled silver hair, a few unruly strands sticking up on top of her head, much like startled cat ears:
"Teacher called me over to tell you to finish your cultivation. It's time for you to go to the Forging Association."
"Oh, the timing is really tight."
Lu Jun felt a bit of a headache and walked out.
"Are there any problems with your forging and manufacturing?" Gu Yuena followed him. "Are you tired?"
"Not really, though I'm only good at ice-attributed metals…"
Thinking of his second professional path, Lu Jun felt embarrassed.
He was too specialized…
As long as it wasn't ice-attributed metal, both the forging and manufacturing paths were essentially useless to him.
Stepping out of the cultivation area, the afterglow of the setting sun fell upon them.
Lu Jun stretched, his bones making crisp cracking sounds.
"Actually, sometimes I really envy you," he suddenly said, his gaze falling on Gu Yuena. "You can get a perfect score in mecha design."
"As for me, if it's not related to ice-attributed metals or components, I basically get a zero."
Gu Yuena raised her hand to tie up her hair: "But everyone praises the items you forge using ice-attributed metal."
Lu Jun smiled and shook his head: "That's the problem. Besides ice-attributed metals, I can't even do basic purification with other metals."
"During the last assessment, the examiner asked me to forge a piece of ordinary deep silver… I got a zero directly."
Hearing this, Gu Yuena suddenly covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking slightly.
Lu Jun spread his hands:
"Go ahead and laugh."
Either zero or a hundred, no one else was so specialized.
"I'm sorry…" Gu Yuena tried hard to keep a straight face. "I don't usually laugh so easily."
Leng Yulai quietly approached from a distance.
"You two little ones, I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation, but time is a bit pressing."
"You should go to the mecha design side for your studies," Leng Yulai looked at Gu Yuena.
"And you, you also need to go to the Forging Association."
"Shigu (Martial Aunt), you're really strict," Lu Jun sighed.
Hearing him say that, Leng Yulai put on a stern face:
"Less nonsense. I'm currently responsible for protecting you. However, in some ways, I should thank you."
"Why?"
"Because protecting you is much easier than dealing with the branch tower master's affairs," Leng Yulai shrugged.
"An easy and pleasant job, where I can even slack off a bit. Who wouldn't like that?"
"…"
…
The metal building of the Mingdu Forging Association shimmered with a cold light under the sun, the entire structure towering like a colossal sword piercing the clouds.
Lu Jun looked up, the surface of the towering building adorned with soul tool patterns, symbolizing its authoritative position in the forging world.
Speaking of which, he still didn't know who was at the Forging Association in Mingdu.
He only knew that in the original work, the Douluo Continent's only Divine Craftsman, Zhen Hua, was at the Forging Association in Heaven Dou City.
If he could get guidance from a Divine Craftsman… his Four-Word Dou Armor would be settled.
Alas, he just didn't know if he would be that lucky.
Plus, his specialization was too severe; it was hard to say if a Divine Craftsman would even take notice of him.
"Don't be nervous." Leng Yulai seemed to sense Lu Jun's emotions, patting his shoulder, her beautiful eyes filled with encouragement. "Just treat it as a regular practice."
Stepping through the revolving door, a spacious and bright hall came into view.
At the service desk in the center, a woman in uniform was smiling as she greeted visitors.
"Hello, how may I help you two?"
The woman's voice was sweet, her gaze lingering on Lu Jun for a few more seconds.
It was rare to see a child who looked no more than eight or nine years old appear at the Forging Association.
Leng Yulai stepped forward:
"The Level 3 Forging Master assessment booked last week, candidate Lu Jun."
The woman's smile instantly froze, her fingers rapidly sliding across the soul tool screen:
"Lu… Lu Jun? That nine-year-old child? But wasn't he last time…" She suddenly covered her mouth, quickly grabbing her communicator. "I apologize, I was rude. Please wait a moment, I will report this to the higher-ups immediately."
"Is that really necessary?"
Lu Jun found the past unbearable to recall.
"I only failed the Level 3 Forging Master assessment three times…"
It was too painful to talk about.
None of those three assessment contents were related to ice-attributed metals.
This led to him being severely scolded by the examiners at the time.
They said his forging teacher was useless, and that an inexperienced little brat like him came to join the fun, and so on.
In short, it left the people at the Forging Association with a bad impression of him.
They thought he was both weak and arrogant, too presumptuous.
"Hahahahaha."
Leng Yulai couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"My sister told me you caused quite a stir here, so it seems it's true."
Lu Jun lowered his head.
He couldn't face anyone.
He was still very confident in his cultivation; at nine years old, being a Level 31 Soul Master, it was no exaggeration to say he defeated ninety-nine percent of his peers.
But as for his second profession…
Unless it was related to ice-attributes, he was truly hopeless.
"You two." The front desk woman hurried over, her attitude much more respectful. "Please follow me, the examiner is already waiting for you."
"It's not… the same examiner as last time, is it?"
Lu Jun's mouth twitched.
He had been scolded so badly last time that Lu Jun even had psychological trauma.
If not for Leng Yaozhu's kind persuasion, telling him that this was something a Dou Armor Master must experience.
Otherwise, Lu Jun would rather die than do forging or mecha manufacturing.
"Of course not. This time, the one personally assessing you is the President," the front desk woman whispered.
"The President?"
Lu Jun and Leng Yulai exchanged glances.
"Is it Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua, Your Excellency?"
Lu Jun asked subconsciously.
"…The Divine Craftsman is in Heaven Dou City, not with us," Leng Yulai raised her hand and flicked Lu Jun's forehead.
"In Mingdu, the President of the Forging Association is President Gu Chenyu, an Eight-Level Saint Craftsman. Among Saint Craftsmen, he is the one most likely to approach the Divine Craftsman."
"?"
It appeared.
An unfamiliar name!
He wasn't a character from the original work, so he knew nothing about him, did he?
Lu Jun looked bewildered. After being led to the assessment location, he finally met the unfamiliar President as he wished.
A tall, thin middle-aged man, who, upon seeing Leng Yulai, seemed surprised:
"Oh, it's actually you, Dark Phoenix, Your Excellency. What a rare guest."
"Blood Demon, Your Excellency, I apologize for the disturbance." Leng Yulai smiled, speaking a name that stunned Lu Jun, then raised her hand and patted Lu Jun's shoulder.
"This is my sister's disciple. He's here for the Level 3 Forging Master assessment today, so I'll leave him to you."
Lu Jun: "(_?)"
Wait.
Hold on.
Is something not quite right?
Lu Jun slowly raised his head, his expression very stiff, looking at the middle-aged man. He strongly resisted the urge to turn around and slip away.
Blood Demon… Your Excellency?
Could this guy be the Dark Blood Demon, one of the Holy Spirit Cult's One Emperor, Two Emperors, and Four Heavenly Kings?
How did he suddenly become a Saint Craftsman???
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30Chapter 30 The Blood Demon's Story
Lu Jun's fingers trembled slightly, and a thin layer of cold sweat oozed out of his back.
Is this middle-aged man with a gentle smile in front of me the Dark Blood Demon, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Holy Spirit Church?
He subconsciously took a half step back, but Leng Yulai calmly held his shoulders.
"What's wrong? Are you too nervous?"
"It's just three failures. Keep trying. You can do it."
Leng Yulai, who didn't know the truth, was still cheering for Lu Jun.
Lu Jun took a deep breath.
Calm down.
Be rational. In this era before Tang San's intervention, the Holy Spirit Church no longer exists.
Thinking of this, Lu Jun began to observe the other party.
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He noticed that Gu Chenyu's hands were covered with calluses, which were the marks left by years of forging and were definitely not disguises.
What was even more surprising was that the other person's temperament was completely different from the evil aura of the rumored dark blood demon.
It looked like he hadn't killed many people.
"…"
Is he really a holy craftsman?
In the original novel, the dark blood demon who killed countless people has become a holy craftsman wielding a forging hammer?
This change is too big. Doesn't his martial spirit have to devour souls in order to cultivate and become stronger?
How is this problem solved?
"I can sense that your soul is in a state of fear. Are you afraid of me?"
Gu Chenyu was a little confused, then he squatted down in front of Lu Jun and looked straight into his eyes.
In those eyes, which should have been scarlet, there was now a flicker of enthusiasm unique to a blacksmith.
"Little one, you don't have to be afraid."
"I've been observing you for a long time."
"It started from the first time you failed the Blacksmith Association's assessment."
"After all, you're only nine years old, and you're already a second-level blacksmith. And you're striving to become a third-level blacksmith. Honestly, not only me, but everyone in the Blacksmith Association here has been shocked by you."
Gu Chenyu smiled very kindly.
It is impossible to tell that he has any connection with the evil soul master.
"It's just that because you failed three consecutive tests and scored zero points each time, many of the forging masters who followed you were undoubtedly extremely disappointed. They thought you were just trying to be brave."
"I thought so at first, but then I realized that you are a disciple of His Majesty the Heavenly Phoenix, and your behavior would never be so bad."
"So I visited Her Majesty Tianfeng, and she told me about your situation."
"You can only forge ice-attributed metals because of your ultimate ice-attributed martial spirit. Therefore, you know nothing about other metals."
"It not only reminds me of myself back then."
At this point, Gu Chenyu laughed.
"I used to be very biased in certain subjects..."
"Even the path that led me to forging was a matter of chance."
"I can observe a person's current state through his soul. Child, you seem to have lost confidence in forging?"
"Because three consecutive assessments hit you hard?"
Lu Jun was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
really.
He once thought that when he came to Douluo Continent, he might become the almighty protagonist in the novels he usually read.
He knows everything and learns quickly.
Especially after he awakened his martial soul with ultimate attributes, he became even more convinced that he was a genius.
Until now, his confidence has really been hit.
"Haha, let me tell you a story."
Gu Chenyu raised his right hand, and a wriggling blood ball appeared in his palm.
"This is my martial spirit, named Blood Demon."
Lu Jun raised his head and looked at him.
This time it is confirmed that he is one of the Four Heavenly Kings and the Dark Blood Demon in the original novel.
"This Blood Demon Martial Soul nearly led me down the evil path." Gu Chenyu muttered as he recalled the past, "My Martial Soul is born with a desire to devour the souls of others."
"When my martial spirit awakened at the age of six, it was very weak. Without soul power, it looked like a useless martial spirit."
"It was the people in the Spirit Pagoda who helped me awaken my spirit. They also knew that my spirit was special. It was a very evil spirit that required the sacrifice of human life to fully awaken its soul power."
"In order to prevent me from harming others, the Spirit Pagoda taught me how to control my spirit's instincts and constantly studied my spirit, looking for better ways to control it."
As Gu Chenyu spoke, he began to laugh.
"Then, it was an accidental event that allowed me to come into contact with forging and learn about it."
"Plus, the people at the Spirit Pagoda told me that if you want to control your martial spirit's soul-devouring instinct, you must first divert your attention as much as possible and not think about devouring souls."
"So I thought, wouldn't it be the best way to distract yourself by just hitting metal with a hammer?"
"It lets me vent my anger and uses up all my energy, leaving me exhausted every day. I'm so tired that I don't even have the energy to think about it."
"You know what? The people at the Spirit Pagoda actually agreed to let me do this. So, at a young age, I started picking up a hammer and embarked on the road of forging."
"My grandfather was ill, and it was the people from the Spirit Pagoda who took care of him. They also arranged for a teacher to teach me forging and let me start working. All the federal coins I earned were used to repay the Spirit Pagoda for the money it spent on my grandfather's treatment."
"However, if I can't devour souls, I won't be able to further cultivate my soul power, nor will I be able to use soul power to improve my physical fitness."
"Until one day, by chance, my teacher was forging his soul, and I was watching from the side. When he finished, I was surprised to discover that metals can also be given souls and life..."
"Then, I made a request and, after obtaining the teacher's consent, I tried to devour the soul-forged metal soul..." Gu Chenyu paused, then continued, "After that, my cultivation began to advance by leaps and bounds, and I jumped to level ten. I was finally able to absorb souls and become a soul master."
"Now, I'm already a level 95 Super Douluo. If I were six years old back then, I couldn't have imagined that I could become a Titled Douluo by relying on the metal soul forged by the Devouring Soul."
Gu Chenyu laughed.
"Your Highness the Blood Demon's journey has been truly miraculous," Leng Yulai said. "I've heard of your deeds many times, and this further proves that the Spirit Pagoda's current path is correct."
"I am very grateful to the Spirit Pagoda. Without you, there would be no new me." Gu Chenyu looked at Leng Yulai with a grateful face.
"If there were no Spirit Pagoda, I might not be able to control the instincts given to me by my martial spirit and become an evil spirit master who devours the lives of others."
"Even until now, the people from the Spirit Pagoda and the Sun-Moon Federation still ask me to devour the souls of those who have committed heinous crimes and give them cruel and painful death sentences, but honestly, their souls don't taste good at all. Compared to the soul-forged metal souls I carefully forged, there is a world of difference."
Lu Jun lowered his head, trying hard to suppress his complaints.
Well, if there were no Spirit Pagoda, you would indeed have become a murderous evil soul master.
I won't be as picky about food as I am now.
"So, kid." Gu Chenyu raised his hand and patted Lu Jun's body, saying, "Have more confidence in yourself."
"Your starting point is much higher than mine. I can become a Saint Craftsman, what about you?"
"I understand. Thank you, Your Majesty."
Lu Jun felt much better.
He suddenly felt that the butterfly effect he created was quite good.
At least, he reduced the number of lower-class people in Douluo Continent who were in difficult times.
In fact, there are quite a few evil soul masters who were forced to become evil soul masters.
For example, some just suck animal blood.
Without the control and magic of Tang Fozu, the Soul Pagoda carefully created by Huo Yuhao was finally ready to do human work.
At least they are willing to follow the example of the Spirit Hall 20,000 years ago, to perfectly solve the problem of evil soul masters from the root, and indirectly save countless lives slaughtered by evil soul masters.
"Well, take up your full confidence and forge your most perfect Thousand Forged Metal."
Gu Chenyu smiled.
"Whether or not you pass the Level 3 Blacksmith exam, I'd like to take you in as my apprentice and teach you blacksmithing. What do you think?"
Lu Jun was stunned.
This development seems to be different from what I expected...
"What are you still standing there for? This is an eight-star holy craftsman." Leng Yulai hurriedly whispered.
Only then did Lu Jun bow to him.
"teacher."