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"Really…?"
"Is that actually possible?"
Tang Wulin was momentarily dazed. A Spirit Grandmaster only half a step from being a Spirit Elder seemed like an insurmountable mountain. Could the Golden Dragon King bloodline ticking inside him truly bridge such a gargantuan gap?
"A Spirit Grandmaster is strong for you now, but not unbeatable," Old Tang replied, his voice echoing in Wulin's consciousness. "Right now, you must focus on the immediate future. You need a hundred-year Scarlet Blood Fruit, a hundred-year Ice Spirit Fruit, and ten drops of hundred-year Spirit Beast essence blood."
"Once you safely unlock the first of the eighteen seals, the benefits the Golden Dragon King bloodline brings to your physical body and soul power won't be something any ordinary two-ring Spirit Grandmaster can compete with."
Old Tang spoke with calm authority, but inwardly, even he was shaken. A nine-year-old Rank 29 Spirit Grandmaster? He marveled that such a genius existed in this era. At that age, he himself had only just begun his journey under the guidance of Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.
"This promotion match is an opportunity," Old Tang continued. "If you can defeat these opponents, the academy leadership will value you more, providing the resources you'll need to solve the even more dangerous second and third seals. It is a virtuous cycle."
Tang Wulin nodded. The seals were a death sentence if left alone, but a godsend if conquered. "But how am I supposed to get those Heaven and Earth Treasures?" A bitter smile flashed across his face. Treasures of that caliber were expensive. If he'd had that kind of money, his first spirit soul wouldn't have been a mere ten-year "broken" soul.
"The first step is always the hardest. Haven't you already joined the Blacksmith Association?" Old Tang suggested. "Perhaps President Mu Chen is exactly the benefactor you need right now."
President Mu Chen? Tang Wulin's face fell further. The man had been kind, but how could a new apprentice ask for such a massive financial favor? "Sigh… we'll see. I'll focus on forging. If there's really no other way, I'll have to ask."
He pushed the worry aside and sprinted toward the Association. He couldn't let his parents down. Every difficulty was just a stepping stone.
Meanwhile, in Mu Chen's Office…
"Uncle Mu, I'm here."
Xie Xie stepped into the top-floor office, greeted by the rhythmic, heavy clang of metal.
"Xiao Xie, you're here. Have a seat for a bit," Mu Chen called out from the forge. "I'm guiding your Sister Mu Xi through her Thousand Forging practice." He didn't look up, his focus entirely on his daughter's striking technique.
Xie Xie sat on the sofa, watching the two of them work. He saw Mu Xi struggling with a Hundred Refinements hammer, and he felt a pang of sympathy. Having lived with the Dragon King bloodline for years, he often forgot that what was effortless for him was a grueling labor for others.
After a short while, Mu Xi set her hammer down, sweating and exhausted. She collapsed onto the sofa beside Xie Xie. "Thousand Forging is so hard," she groaned. "Younger Brother Xie Xie, I envy your talent every single second. How do you make it look like a walk in the park?"
"Maybe I'm just lucky," Xie Xie answered with a straight face.
"Say that again and I'll hit you!" Mu Xi ground her teeth. Forging aside, Xie Xie's cultivation was almost at her level despite her being six years older, and his Blacksmith Rank was three levels higher.
"See? Comparing yourself again," Mu Chen walked over, wiping his brow. "Competing with Xiao Xie is just asking for misery. However, there is a new kid who arrived recently. His talent isn't as 'monstrous' as Xiao Xie's, but he's already a Second-Rank Blacksmith at your age."
"The kid Mu Chen just mentioned... is that the friend you wanted me to meet?" Xie Xie asked.
"Exactly. His name is Tang Wulin," Mu Chen said. "He's gifted. He could easily become a Saint Craftsman, maybe even a Divine Craftsman, in the future."
Just then, the office door burst open. A boy with big, bright eyes and a delicate face ran in, panting. He wore a simple white top and was about half a head shorter than Xie Xie.
"Perfect timing, Wulin," Mu Chen said, gesturing for him to come over. "Let me introduce you. This is Xie Xie, an outstanding blacksmith. And Xiao Xie, this is Tang Wulin. Since you both attend Donghai Academy, you should get to know each other."
"Hi, I'm Tang Wulin. Pleased to meet you!" Tang Wulin offered his hand with a bright, earnest smile.
"I'm Xie Xie," the blond boy replied, shaking it.
"Xie Xie…?" The name echoed in Tang Wulin's mind. Suddenly, he froze. The folder Teacher Wu had shown him flashed before his eyes. Xie Xie. Rank 29 Spirit Grandmaster. Class One's strongest student. This was the very person he was supposed to defeat in the promotion match.
"Something on your mind?" Xie Xie asked, noticing the boy's sudden hesitation.
"No, no," Tang Wulin stammered. "I just… didn't expect you to be a blacksmith too."
"You know him?" Mu Xi asked, surprised.
"Not exactly," Tang Wulin admitted, his face turning a shade of embarrassed red. "Teacher Wu mentioned him today."
"Oh? What did your teacher say about our Xiao Xie?" Mu Xi asked curiously.
Tang Wulin looked down at his feet, his voice dropping to an awkward whisper. "He said… he said I have to beat him."
The office went silent. Xie Xie couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. The gears of destiny were truly in motion.
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