Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena did not return directly to the academy but instead made their way to the Mecha Association once again.
However, as soon as they arrived, they were intercepted in the hall by the new president, Xia Haoxuan.
"Yuhao, when are you planning to take the Level 4 exam?" Xia Haoxuan asked, looking at Huo Yuhao with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
"If you keep holding yourself back, don't blame me for pushing you forward. Everyone in the association knows your skills are more than sufficient, and no one would object."
This little guy truly didn't seem to care about advancing his professional level.
He could have upgraded long ago, yet he remained unhurried.
But while Huo Yuhao wasn't in a rush, Xia Haoxuan certainly was!
It was better to gain fame early. He was eager to introduce Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena to the teachers at the headquarters.
The more talented they appeared, the more resources they could secure.
After all, they were geniuses of the Spirit Pagoda, who would dare to mess with them? If anyone tried, things could get chaotic.
Huo Yuhao was momentarily taken aback, then smiled and replied, "Alright, let's do it today."
The staff and designers who had been discreetly observing the scene: "..."
A Level 4 professional at his age... If the association headquarters found out, some people might lose their minds.
No, in fact, some already had.
A few heads turned toward a corner of the room.
There, Xia Haoxuan's disciple silently made his way to his own manufacturing room, his thoughts in turmoil.
What would Teacher Xia Haoxuan say after today? Huo Yuhao was already Level 4. Was it time for him to make a breakthrough too?
But he couldn't do it!
Yet, he felt no pressure. Huo Yuhao was a monster, why compare himself to such a being? It was better to take things at his own pace, without rushing.
In the end, under Xia Haoxuan's watchful eye, Huo Yuhao completed the design and manufacture of a fourth-level soul guide and received two fourth-level professional badges from the president.
As for the rest of the Mecha Association, they took it all in stride.
After all, they were used to it.
…
Meanwhile, at the Blacksmith Association, Zheng Tianlin tried to focus on forging in his workshop but found himself unable to concentrate.
He had always been proud, and making excuses wasn't his style.
Besides, what was wrong with being a third-level manufacturer and the former president's disciple?
The gap between him and Huo Yuhao wasn't that large...
Thinking of this, Zheng Tianlin walked out of the forging room with a sullen expression. As soon as he stepped outside, he overheard a conversation from nearby.
"Have you heard? That Tang Wulin has completed the Thousand Refinements!"
"You mean the nine-year-old? How is that possible?"
"It's true! The president personally awarded him a Level 3 badge!"
Zheng Tianlin froze, staring at the Level 3 badge on his own clothes, his mind in disarray.
What were they talking about? Why couldn't he make sense of it?
Completing the Thousand Refinements at that age and becoming a Level 3 blacksmith... Was this some kind of joke?
Then what did that make him?
Mu Xi, who had just emerged from another forging room, also overheard the discussion. Her expression turned complicated.
Why did she always seem to run into monsters?
First, there was Huo Yuhao, then Gu Yuena she had heard about, a nine-year-old Level 3 designer and another genius.
And now, Tang Wulin, whom she had considered her rival...
Suddenly, she felt that comparisons were pointless.
There were too many monsters in the world, and she couldn't possibly measure up to all of them.
…
Tang Wulin walked out of the Blacksmith Association, clutching his Level 3 forging badge.
He thought back to the scene where Mu Chen had tried to persuade him to stay and the stiff expression on the man's face when he had refused. Tang Wulin felt a pang of guilt in his heart.
But now, he was a member of the Spirit Pagoda and had to maintain his own stance!
With this in mind, Tang Wulin glanced at the Level 3 blacksmith badge in his hand.
The Thousand Refinements, he could have achieved it long ago.
It was just that Teacher Mang Tian had advised him to hold back until he had sufficient strength, to avoid drawing the attention of unsavory individuals.
However, after joining the Spirit Pagoda, he had been assigned to study under a blacksmith, Teacher Wu Yu, who had quickly recognized his potential.
After a conversation between the two, Teacher Wu Yu had said a few words that stuck with him.
"We don't go looking for trouble, but we're not afraid of it either!"
"There's no need to hide your Thousand Refinements. Show your talent to the fullest! The Spirit Pagoda can naturally protect its geniuses!"
"You can go back and ask your forging teacher. He'll agree."
As Teacher Wu Yu had predicted, after Teacher Mang Tian learned that Tang Wulin had officially joined the Spirit Pagoda, his tone became complicated. Yet, he still spoke gently:
"Wulin, listen to him. Since you've joined the Spirit Pagoda, you should give it your all and stop hiding your talent! But be careful not to let complacency or vanity take hold of you!"
With that, Tang Wulin decided to stop holding back and went to the Blacksmith Association to obtain his Level 3 Blacksmith Badge.
"If we continue at this pace, we should be able to help everyone in a few years..." Tang Wulin muttered to himself, counting on his fingers.
According to Teacher Wu Yu, Teacher Mang Tian was a sixth-level blacksmith but had been taking on low-level tasks.
It seemed he had been injured during spiritual forging and needed natural treasures rich in vitality to heal the damage caused by the process...
Members of the Spirit Pagoda who reached a certain level could apply for the Water of Life, a treasure produced by the Star Dou Great Forest.
It might be able to help Teacher Mang Tian, but Tang Wulin needed to reach that level first.
The storage ring of the Soul Master uncle, the largest space storage soul guide, wasn't something he could afford yet.
But if he took on more forging tasks for the Spirit Pagoda, he could save up for a smaller one.
Then, he could find an opportunity to gift it to the man, making his life more convenient...
Captain Guang Long had joined the mecha brigade and needed a mecha. Perhaps Tang Wulin could help build one in the future.
Captain Guang Biao was already at the black level... Could he build the legendary red-level mecha?
At this thought, Tang Wulin suddenly smiled wryly and stopped himself.
He was getting ahead of himself. His teacher had clearly warned him not to become proud or complacent.
Arriving at the residential building near the Spirit Pagoda, Tang Wulin walked to his door and called out:
"Dad, Mom, I'm back."
His parents had moved to the staff quarters of the Spirit Pagoda and had secured jobs there.
Not far from the building stood the East Sea Spirit Pagoda. It was said that the Pagoda master was the only Titled Douluo in East Sea City!
This was the safest place in the East Sea, and his family would never face the kind of accidents they had before.
Tang Ziran opened the door, a smile on her face. "You're back? Come in, your mother has already prepared dinner. Eat first, then head to school."
Tang Wulin's eyes lit up. "Okay!"
The father and son entered the house together. Tang Ziran lingered behind, watching Tang Wulin's cheerful demeanor with mixed emotions.
In the end, they had to rely on Wulin to protect them. As a father, he couldn't help but feel ashamed.
Sighing inwardly, Tang Ziran spoke up,
"Wulin, you've been earning money. Is there anything you want to buy? Your mom and I are doing well at work lately and can help you out."
Tang Wulin paused, his expression stiffening.
Oh no, the Golden Dragon King's seal!
"I've been so happy here that I almost forgot about it!" he thought.
Quickly, Tang Wulin began calculating the money in his savings.
The money he'd earned recently, the subsidies from the Spirit Pagoda, the funds allocated for blacksmiths to purchase spiritual items to improve their physical fitness, the reward for being promoted to a third-level blacksmith... and so on.
After carefully tallying up his savings, Tang Wulin let out a sigh of relief.
The subsidies from the Spirit Pagoda were substantial, and combined with the money he'd earned from forging over the past few months, it would be enough to make the purchase later.
After all, the Spirit Pagoda was never short on resources, especially money.
"But if a senior from the Spirit Pagoda asks why I'm buying a spiritual item, how should I answer?" Tang Wulin wondered, feeling a bit conflicted.
"Old Tang" hadn't harmed him. He was just a poor man with amnesia. Would it be wrong to expose him?
Yet, Tang Wulin felt guilty about deceiving the seniors in the Spirit Pagoda who had treated him so well…