Upon hearing Ye Yin's words about Tang Hao, Tai Tan's expression changed dramatically. After a moment of internal conflict, he dropped to his other knee, fully prostrating himself on the ground.
"Grandmaster, as long as you're willing to accept me as your disciple and let me follow you to learn your forging techniques, I swear that from this day forward, I, Tai Tan, will have no further connection with Tang Hao. The Strength Clan will sever all ties with him as well."
Ye Yin offered a small smile but didn't immediately agree. "We can discuss the matter of an apprenticeship later. For now, you should focus on preparing the materials and forging the items I need. I can give you some pointers on the key difficulties of forging the core components, but whether you can actually succeed will depend on your own skill."
Hearing this, the flicker of disappointment in Tai Tan's eyes was instantly replaced by overwhelming joy. While he couldn't become a disciple just yet, receiving direct guidance from this mysterious grandmaster was an incredible opportunity in itself. His thick beard trembled with excitement.
"Thank you, Grandmaster! Thank you for your guidance!" he exclaimed. Although Ye Yin hadn't officially accepted him, he had offered to teach. As long as he performed well, becoming a true disciple was surely just a matter of time.
Ye Yin didn't hold back. He addressed the specific points where Tai Tan had failed in his earlier attempts to disassemble the crossbow and, combining his explanation with the demonstration, broke down the complex process into several simple yet profound key points. Each piece of advice was like a flash of lightning in Tai Tan's mind, opening up new pathways of understanding he had never considered.
The old patriarch listened with rapt attention. At times, he would slap his thigh in a moment of sudden realization; at others, he would fall into deep thought, his brow furrowed in concentration, only to begin gesticulating excitedly as a concept finally clicked into place. He was utterly and completely impressed by Ye Yin's mastery.
"Listening to the Grandmaster's words is worth more than a hundred years of my own hard work!" Tai Tan declared. "I'll go try again right now!"
With Ye Yin's guidance illuminating the way, Tai Tan finally managed to successfully forge one of the most difficult core components on his third attempt.
Ye Yin nodded in satisfaction and casually tossed a small, heavy pouch to the patriarch. "Here is a deposit of two thousand gold spirit coins. Once the full order is completed, come find me at Blue Tyrant Academy. My name is Ye Yin."
After saying his piece, Ye Yin didn't linger. He quickly left the Strength Clan's compound and made his way back to the academy.
A week passed. Blue Tyrant Academy was bustling with preparations, and classes officially began. During that time, Ning Rongrong had returned from her trip home. After seeing the incredible power of the hidden weapons, her father, Ning Fengzhi, had unhesitatingly agreed to a cooperation, though the finer details of their partnership still needed to be ironed out.
Once classes were in session, Ye Yin began to notice something odd. It was often said that female Spirit Masters were rare, yet here at Blue Tyrant Academy, they made up nearly half of the student body. He figured many of them had likely enrolled out of admiration for the fiery dean, Liu Erlong.
Although Ye Yin and his friends were still young, their immense power placed them all in the largest advanced class. As the bell rang, Ye Yin walked into the classroom. The moment he stepped inside, he felt dozens of eyes turn towards him. It wasn't surprising; he was handsome and clearly powerful—a combination that naturally drew attention.
His friends received a similar reception. Dai Mubai's striking double pupils, Oscar's delicate features, and Ma Hongjun's stout build made them stand out. Tang San, while having a more ordinary appearance, possessed a calm and steady aura that was intriguing in its own way. The three girls—Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong—attracted even more gazes, each possessing a beauty and figure far superior to their peers. As a group of eight powerful "transfer students" entering the advanced class together, they were impossible to ignore.
During the first lesson, many of the other students couldn't focus, their attention constantly drifting as they whispered amongst themselves about the newcomers. It was then that Ye Yin felt a distinct wave of resentment directed his way.
As soon as the class ended, a very muscular young man stomped over to their desks. "Hey, you," he said, pointing at Ye Yin. "Move. Go sit somewhere else. I want this seat."
Ye Yin glanced up at him. The boy had a faint resemblance to Tai Tan. Is he already making a move on Xiao Wu on the very first day?
"Fine, we can switch places," Ye Yin said calmly. He then stood up and led Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong to a different set of empty seats across the room.
The muscular guy, Tai Long, froze, his expression twisting in frustration. That wasn't what he meant at all. He had told the boy to move, not to take the beautiful girl with him! He stomped over to their new location. "Kid, you go sit somewhere else. I want to sit next to this pretty girl."
Ye Yin looked at him, his expression unchanging. "And what if I say no?"
"No?" Tai Long sneered. "Then you'll have to duel me. If you win, you'll have earned the right to sit here. Don't worry, I won't bully a kid like you. I won't even use my third spirit ability."
As he spoke, his already muscular body seemed to swell. The muscles on his arms nearly doubled in size, and his arms elongated, his hands now hanging down past his knees. A layer of coarse black fur covered his exposed skin.
"Tai Long, Spirit: Violent Ape. A rank thirty-seven, attack-type Spirit Elder1. Please advise."
"Ye Yin," he replied coolly. "No advice needed."
Before Tai Long could react, Ye Yin raised one hand, grabbed him by his shirt, and casually tossed him out of the classroom. With a loud bang, Tai Long's body crashed heavily onto the ground in the hallway.
The entire class fell silent, stunned. Without even releasing his spirit, he had thrown Tai Long out with one hand. What kind of monstrous strength was that?
"I'm not convinced! You ambushed me!" Tai Long roared from the floor, scrambling to his feet. "You just wait, I'll tear you to shreds!"
He was about to charge back in when four spirit rings rose from beneath Ye Yin's feet: purple, purple, purple, and black.
Tai Long's angry expression instantly turned to one of shock. A Spirit Ancestor2? And one with no hundred-year yellow ring, but a ten-thousand-year black ring?
Ye Yin's first and fourth spirit rings flashed faintly. Four invisible black rays of light shot out and struck Tai Long. A series of curses took effect: Slippery Feet, Lithe and Easily Toppled, and two mental curses that would make him shout at the sound of a bell and slap anyone who called his name.
Tai Long, who was just about to charge, suddenly felt his feet slip out from under him, and he fell to the ground with a loud thud. "What's going on?!" he yelled in confusion. He tried to get up again, but as soon as he got his feet planted, he lifted one slightly and his entire body immediately tipped backward, crashing to the ground again.
"What's happening?! What did you do to me?!" he shouted.
After struggling more than ten times, Tai Long finally managed to get to his feet, his head covered in lumps from the repeated falls. He wisely decided not to try walking on his own. "Someone help me up!" he yelled to his two friends in the classroom. "You two, come help me!"
His subordinates quickly rushed over. But before they could even touch him, a gentle breeze wafted through the hallway and over Tai Long's body.
"Ouch! Holy crap!" Tai Long yelped as he was knocked off balance once more, falling backward and landing squarely on his head. This was the effect of a Level 10 'Lithe and Easily Toppled' curse.
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