The Forging Department these days, you could say, has replaced its old musket with a cannon.
Half a year after Su Wen left, Shrek Academy gradually enrolled a few students with exceptional "blacksmithing" talent. Old Du temporarily instructed them, and at the same time, several of Old Du's senior and junior brothers took up teaching positions in the department.
Su Wen had met them all before—simple, honest blacksmiths.
Now that Lou Yingying and the others had returned, they naturally became senior brothers and sisters.
Bang!!
Inside the forging room.
Wang Dong'er held the Clear Sky Hammer, swinging down the final blow in a rhythmic manner. In her palm, she gripped a dark hammer with golden patterns, which then turned into starry light and disappeared into her body. Looking at the finished product before her, she nodded in satisfaction.
Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver.
Heavy Silver is only found in seabeds over a thousand meters deep. It's extremely tough, and possesses great ductility at high temperatures.
Blacksmiths in the past, influenced by the popularity of Tang Sect's hidden weapons, mostly judged metal value by hardness. Even so, Heavy Silver was a sky-high treasure even ten thousand years ago, worth a fortune.
But nowadays, with Su Wen having mined the treasures of the seabed, Deep Sea Heavy Silver has become a relatively common material in the Forging Department.
Of course, the reason it continues to be popular even in the mecha era ten thousand years later is its all-rounder qualities—not only is it exceptionally hard, but its soul power conductivity is unmatched among metals.
A high-quality piece of Heavy Silver can boost soul power by 5%... up to 10%!
For reference, most metals actually lose soul power in transmission.
Its flaw is being a bit unwieldy—its density is frighteningly high. Even in the future, it's only suitable for mechas or some heavy-duty, stationary soul devices.
Wang Dong'er exhaled a deep breath.
She was about to take out another rare metal to begin fusing it with the Heavy Silver, when suddenly her actions were interrupted.
"Su Wen?"
The girl, a towel draped over her neck, wore a white fitted tank top and pale blue shorts—like a beautiful, sporty youth fresh from a workout. Her light blue hair tumbled loosely over her shoulders. The high temperatures of the forging furnace would melt away any makeup, so she never wore any, yet her beauty remained... absolutely stunning.
"Mm-hmm." Su Wen sized up the girl, a bit surprised.
He hadn't expected this.
Old Du had described Wang Dong'er as steady and down-to-earth, like she'd placed herself within a furnace, refining out all impatience bit by bit.
This was quite a change from the once playful, adorable Wang Dong'er...
Truly a forging talent passed down in the old Tang family.
Ten thousand years later, her own brother would also become a divine craftsman.
"Slow down."
Su Wen took Wang Dong'er's hand.
A blush appeared on the girl's fair face, but she didn't resist. After years of cuddling and cultivating together, they'd long grown used to physical contact.
They'd even kissed before...
The two walked out of the forging room.
Strolling beside Sea God Lake, they resembled a young couple taking a leisurely walk.
It was dusk, the sunset casting a golden glow across the lake. Many outer court students were out for a stroll, but few recognized Su Wen and Wang Dong'er. Wang Dong'er's looks, however, drew many glances.
"Your real identity…" Su Wen hesitated.
Wang Dong'er's body suddenly stiffened, as if struck by lightning.
She turned to Su Wen, her small face trembling.
"Actually, Gu Yuena and I figured it out long ago, but we kept it from you all these years. We were worried you'd do something rash. But now, you're about to advance to Soul Emperor, so you have the right to know the truth..."
Su Wen looked at Wang Dong'er and sighed softly.
The answer would be cruel, but she'd have to face it sooner or later.
The one she hated, who controlled her like a chess piece—summoning or discarding her at will—was actually her "biological" father. Anyone would have trouble accepting that.
The girl trembled slightly, head lowered.
"Tell me, who am I really!!" Wang Dong'er had been preparing herself for a long time, and finally, with tearful eyes, she asked.
"You're Tang San's daughter," Su Wen said.
"..."
The air seemed to freeze.
Wang Dong'er stared at Su Wen, searching for any sign he was joking. But none—after so many years together, she knew her roommate wouldn't joke at a moment like this.
She was Tang San's daughter?
But…
"Strictly speaking, you're one of the soul fragments of Tang San's daughter," Su Wen sighed.
After telling her, how she moved forward would be up to her.
"Tang San took your original body and split the soul in two: one part was put into your body, the other was hidden somewhere else. I once thought the other fragment would be in the divine beast, but it wasn't... maybe it's in him."
"He sent you to Huo Yuhao's dorm, and mine, because we're children of destiny. You know all that. But what you don't know is, after you and Huo Yuhao or I develop feelings, one of you will ascend to the God Realm. At that point, he can merge the other soul fragment with you, restoring you as 'the Tang Wutong'."
"What about me?!" Wang Dong'er whimpered through tears.
"You..." Su Wen fell silent.
But that said it all.
The "Wang Dong'er" personality would disappear completely.
Or, more precisely, be replaced.
"Wuwuwuwu~" Wang Dong'er broke down, burying herself in Su Wen's chest, fists pounding at him as she sobbed.
Su Wen sighed and patted her head.
But suddenly, a sneaky voice came from the side.
"Scumbag!"
"Playing dumb after you're done!"
"Bet he broke up first, the girl didn't agree, and he said 'I only see you as a sister'—the oldest trick in the book…"
"Such a beautiful girl, toying with her like that, you'll get struck by lightning!"
Su Wen looked around in confusion and saw a few outer court students pointing at him.
Huh???
He glanced at the sobbing girl in his arms, lips twitching.
To be fair, it did look like that.
After all, many couples supposedly started and ended their relationships by Sea God Lake—it was known as the lovers' holy land.
After clumsily comforting Wang Dong'er,
They finally left hand in hand.
…
A week later.
Outside Shrek Academy.
Many outer court students in white, yellow, purple, and black uniforms chatted noisily. Several inner court students stood by as team leaders, looking old and composed, with a bit of arrogance toward their juniors.
Especially the new students in white, still fresh from having just enrolled.
"Sister Nannan, which teacher is leading the team this time?"
A girl in black outer court uniform leaned over and asked. She had sword-like brows and starry eyes—if she were a boy, she'd be a top-notch handsome guy. But as a girl, she exuded heroic spirit.
"No idea," Jiang Nannan shook her head.
Her pink eyes seemed lost in thought.
Her martial soul, Soft Boned Rabbit, made her naturally taller than most girls, attracting some admirers. But in her heart, a certain figure occupied all her thoughts.
That moment from years ago was etched into her heart.
Like a divine hero, he'd held her hand in a dark little room—though his hand was small, it gave her warmth and hope she'd never known.
Now, he was making waves in the inner court.
It was said his strength was already awe-inspiring—even Dean Yan had lost to him.
"Xiao Bai, with your fierceness, aren't you afraid no man will want you in the future?" teased an inner court student in red and white.
"Hmph! None of your business!" Xiao Bai said coldly, arms crossed, though her aura weakened a bit—after all, she was talking to an inner court senior.
At Shrek, strength is everything. There were only sixty or seventy inner court students left, all at least Soul Kings. She was only at level forty, still some distance from the inner court test.
Plus, these inner court students also served as team leaders—this outing was an inner court mission.
The inner court was a circle. Geniuses had their own pecking order. Among themselves, they were equals, but toward the outer court "rookies," they were more arrogant.
In fact, Xiao Bai was the only outer court student bold enough to speak up.
Even high-level students in black uniforms didn't dare approach.
To them, these inner court seniors were powerful and sacred.
Only those who'd experienced the harsh inner court selection understood. Most had no hope of passing, and those who did were monsters among their peers. These inner court seniors had spent years honing their strength—beating up outer court students was as easy as pulling carrots.
"Zhang Leng," Jiang Nannan frowned, glancing at the man.
"Hahaha... just joking," Zhang Leng smacked his lips.
"Sister Nannan is still the best! So gentle and beautiful. If I were a man, I'd be fighting for you," Xiao Bai clung to Jiang Nannan's arm coquettishly.
"You…" Jiang Nannan sighed, a gentle look in her eyes.
Xiao Bai didn't come from a poor family—frankly, in all Shrek Academy, you could count the poor students on one hand. It was a "noble" academy in disguise.
She was from the Bai family, with the martial soul Breaking Soul Spear—a young lady, but she liked sticking to Nannan.
They got along well.
Jiang Nannan was happy to look after her little junior.
"I heard Senior Sister is leading the team this time?" the boy next to Zhang Leng said as he polished a soul tool gun.
"That's right... Senior Sister is now Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department, probably already a Title Douluo by now. With our talent, it'll be tough to catch up."
"Is it really that hard...?" the boy replied calmly.
"Alright, I'll admit your Soul Tool Department has it easier…" Zhang Leng shrugged. "Raising soul power with pills can't compare to us taking it step by step as traditional soul masters."
"Pfft, have you heard about the Forging Department and Soul Tool Department's collaboration, country bumpkin?" the boy sneered. "The Soul Tool Department isn't what it used to be. This soul tool enchanted gun I'm holding is made of rare metal after thousand-fold refining. It's a level-five soul tool, but its power rivals a full-force blow from a Soul Emperor. Want to take my shot head-on?"
"Let's fight in the Soul Battle Arena!"
"Fine, I'm not afraid!"
"..."
Seeing the two Soul King inner court seniors about to clash, Xiao Bai lowered her voice, eyes full of curiosity.
Forging and soul tools combined?
Could they really be that powerful?
The outer court students nearby fell silent, nervous that the two inner court seniors would come to blows.
Jiang Nannan, however, was used to it and sighed helplessly.
The Soul Tool and Martial Soul Departments were always like this.
Arguing from the outer court to the inner court, and even among teachers.
And these two were in the same year…
"What are you arguing about?"
A leisurely voice sounded, laced with amusement.
"None of your damn business!" Zhang Leng snapped, his temper flaring. The voice didn't sound like a junior sister, but rather a junior brother—so he swore without hesitation.
To mediate, you needed strength.
If Jiang Nannan spoke, they'd listen. But some unknown junior? Who are you to butt in?
"Tsk, what a temper." Su Wen smiled, stepping forward. The space around him rippled, as if he'd torn open the void.
Beside him was Wang Dong'er, her pink-blue hair loose, looking around curiously.
"Hiss…"
"S-Senior Su!!"
Outer court students might not know Su Wen, but inner court students... unless they were always away on missions, all recognized him.
That handsome face was at the top of the honor roll, worshipped by all.
If he died, they'd probably build a statue—he was already a legend, destined for the history books.
Zhang Leng broke out in a cold sweat, trembling.
"You don't recognize my voice?" Su Wen asked in surprise.
"I didn't attend the special training..." Zhang Leng swallowed nervously. "I-I just got back from home recently."
Translation: he hid.
After all, few could endure Su Wen's hellish training, and many inner court students didn't want to join.
"That's fine." Su Wen stretched lazily.
He wouldn't hold it against him—he wasn't petty.
"Oh right, Zhang Leng... After this mission, report to the Sea God Pavilion Inspection Team's training camp," Su Wen said casually. "You've got good potential—don't waste it."
Zhang Leng wanted to cry.
He was done for!
The boy next to him, though looking calm, was actually sweating bullets—he'd been about to mouth off to Su Wen too...
But Su Wen beat him to it.
Soul Tool Department inner court students also joined the inspection team, which was under Su Wen's direct command.
In other words, even the king of heaven couldn't save him.
No escape.
"Soul Tool Department?" Su Wen nodded at the gun in the boy's hands.
"Oh, yes!" The boy swallowed, hurriedly handing it over.
"Fire and wind dual attributes?" Su Wen raised his brows. "Controlling fire with wind... kind of like a flamethrower, but with bullets storing the energy. Looks like you modeled it after a fixed-mount soul tool."
"Dual-core formation, one fire, one wind, though the connection's a bit rough. Some power loss in soul power transmission, but for you, it's not bad."
"You understand this?" the boy blurted out.
Wasn't this guy the Vice Dean of the Forging Department?
And supposedly from the Martial Soul Department too?!!
How could he see through everything at a glance?
"Hehe, the first Ice-Fire Enchanted Sniper was forged by me—do you think I'd recognize it?" Su Wen tossed the gun back, smiling.
"That was your work?!!" the boy gaped.
He'd seen that soul tool once, borrowed for teaching by Director Hongchen. It had a dozen core formations, all at level nine—just looking at it made his head spin, never mind fully engraving it.
"You—you're a level nine Soul Engineer?"
….