"Let's leave it like this for now. I'll go back and study it more carefully, and slowly improve it later," Mu Xi said, nodding in satisfaction as she looked at the blazing Three Flames True Fire in front of her.
Ordinary furnaces couldn't possibly endure the Three Flames True Fire for long, but this one was specially crafted by Mu Xi, using the Three Flames True Fire to forge a soul-forged metal with intricate soul guide formations.
The internal soul guide formation was as complex as the four-word battle armor or the red mecha.
"I need to study the Three Flames True Fire a bit. Xi'er, you should go back and cultivate. Once you break through to the Title Douluo level, I'll talk to you in more detail," Zhenhua said with a fiery gaze.
Seeing Zhenhua's look, Mu Xi couldn't help but frown and reminded him again, "Master, you must not overexert yourself, and you must not forge in the Heavenly Furnace anymore."
"Xi'er, don't worry, Master will listen to you. You just focus on cultivating," Mu Chen said, waving his hand. He turned to Mu Chen and added, "Shidi (Junior Brother), you and Bao'er stay here at the headquarters. I'll appoint someone else to take over as the president of the Shrek City Forging Masters Association. Stay here with me to research the Three Flames True Fire and help me. I don't trust anyone else."
The Three Flames True Fire was of immense importance to forging. If other forging masters learned about it, it would undoubtedly cause a stir.
Thus, before Mu Xi's forging talent was fully revealed, Zhenhua didn't want the Three Flames True Fire to spread, as it could bring unnecessary trouble to Mu Xi.
"Alright!" Mu Chen agreed without hesitation, as he had no reason to refuse.
After staying at the Heavenly Forge Masters Association headquarters for a few more days, Xia Yi and Mu Xi returned to the Spirit Pagoda.
For Mu Xi, cultivating was the most important thing right now.
Even if she wanted to inherit the title of a divine craftsman, she needed to first reach the Title Douluo level.
What Xia Yi didn't expect was that when they just returned to the Spirit Pagoda, they encountered two unexpected people at the entrance.
Ye Xinglan and Yuan En Yehui.
"Why are you two here?" Xia Yi asked curiously. He and Mu Xi had just returned from the Heavenly Forge Masters Association headquarters in Tiandou City and were blocked right at the entrance. What a coincidence.
"It seems like you're not curious at all," Yuan En Yehui said, glancing at Xia Yi and then turning her gaze to Mu Xi. Her eyes grew more surprised as she couldn't see through Mu Xi's cultivation level.
"Curious about what?" Xia Yi shrugged.
"Don't you wonder why we're still alive?" Ye Xinglan's voice was as cold as always, but this time, it held less arrogance and more sharpness.
Her cold voice struck like a sword beam. Fortunately, both Xia Yi and Mu Xi were highly skilled; otherwise, they might have struggled to withstand it.
"We've known each other for a while, haven't we? You're already testing me right when we meet. Isn't that a bit rude?" Xia Yi shook his head with a smile. He could tell that Ye Xinglan didn't have any ill intent, just simply probing him.
He and Mu Xi stood still, letting the sharp sword-like aura sweep toward them. Neither of them changed their expression.
"I just want to know the gap between us. Ever since I lost to you in Donghai City, I've been training day and night, but I didn't expect to fall further behind," Ye Xinglan's blue eyes flickered with a complicated light.
"Now that's something I like to hear," Xia Yi chuckled. "If you want to surpass me, don't waste your energy. If effort alone was enough, then what would we need someone like me for?"
If this was before, seeing Xia Yi acting so smug, Ye Xinglan would have been unable to resist challenging him even if she knew she couldn't win. But now, she could only let out a light sigh. "I finally believe that what you said in Tianhai City was true."
"What did I say?" Xia Yi was puzzled. What had he said in Tianhai City that left such an impression?
"Hmph!" Seeing that Xia Yi had forgotten, even Ye Xinglan, with her cold nature, couldn't help but grind her teeth.
It was because of Xia Yi's words back then that she swore to surpass him no matter what. The motivation for her training over the years was also because of that sentence, and now Xia Yi had actually forgotten it.
"Forget it, Xinglan. Perhaps he's right. In his eyes, we really aren't much," Yuan En Yehui gently sighed, looking up at Xia Yi. She asked, "Even the Holy Spirit Lord was surprised that we're still alive. Aren't you at all curious?"
"What's there to be curious about?" Xia Yi shrugged and said, "Compared to why you're still alive, I'm more curious about how you two dare to show up right in front of the Spirit Pagoda in Shrek City."
Xia Yi smiled and asked, "Aren't you people from the Tang Sect?"
"The Holy Spirit Lord has already taken us to the Federation for a background check. The Tang Sect is gone, and Shrek Academy is disbanded. As long as we don't claim to be Tang Sect disciples or Shrek Academy students, the Federation won't trouble us anymore," Yuan En Yehui sighed lightly. There had been too many things happening recently, and she still felt it was somewhat unreal.
"Is that so? Then how did you know I'd be back?" Xia Yi nodded. It seemed that Yali wasn't that dumb and didn't hide them away.
The situation had changed. Now that Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect no longer posed a threat, Yuan En Yehui personally led her two juniors to the Federation for a background check. The Federation would show leniency, thanks to her influence, and wouldn't trouble Ye Xinglan and Yuan En Yehui too much.
"We didn't know when you would be back," Yuan En Yehui shook her head gently and looked at Xia Yi. "We've been waiting for you here for a week."
"A week? You've been waiting here at the Spirit Pagoda entrance the whole time?" Xia Yi stared at Yuan En Yehui in disbelief.
"Yes," Yuan En Yehui replied sweetly with a smile.
"I'm stunned. Didn't you meet the Holy Spirit Douluo? He has my soul guide communication device," Xia Yi said, feeling helpless.
"The Holy Spirit Lord said you're someone with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He told us to show a bit more sincerity," Ye Xinglan's cold voice rang out.
"Sincerity? What sincerity?" Xia Yi was taken aback.
"We want to participate in the Star Dou Battle Network competition and want to ask you to forge us two-word battle armor," Yuan En Yehui looked at Xia Yi and added, "My battle armor can only be upgraded by you."
Yuan En Yehui then took out a card and placed it in front of Xia Yi, continuing, "We know you're not lacking money, but this is all we have. Please forge two sets of two-word battle armor for us. Keep the extra money for when we forge three-word battle armor in the future."
"Damned Yali!" Xia Yi glanced at the card and saw the amount of money. He finally understood why Yali had asked them to show more sincerity.
"What's wrong?" Seeing Xia Yi's face twitch, Yuan En Yehui asked curiously.
"Want me to tell you the truth?" Xia Yi asked.
"The truth about what?" Yuan En Yehui asked.
"Who told you that this amount of money is enough to forge two sets of two-word battle armor with some left over?" Xia Yi said helplessly as he looked at Ye Xinglan and Yuan En Yehui. "With this amount, I can hardly do anything for you."
"Ah, no, that's not right. His Majesty the Spirit said there are still some sets left," Yuan En Yehui panicked a bit. From Xia Yi's tone, it seemed like they didn't have enough money for even a set of two-character soul armor.
This was all the savings she and Ye Xinglan had. In the Eighth King Domain, they had worked really hard to make money.
But if they couldn't even afford a set of two-character soul armor...
How would they compete?
Without the two-character soul armor, with the cultivation they wanted, their chances of achieving a good ranking in the upcoming Star Dou Battle Net competition would be slim.
"You're soul armor craftsmen too. Don't you know how much it costs to forge soul armor?" Xia Yi rolled her eyes.
"His Majesty the Spirit said you'd give us a discount," Yuan En Yehui muttered quietly.
"Did she really see through me?" Xia Yi was speechless, handed the card back to Yuan En Yehui, and said directly, "I haven't forged soul armor for others in a long time. Even if I do, with this amount of money, you can barely get half a set of two-character soul armor."
"Half a set? When did two-character soul armor become so expensive?" Yuan En Yehui couldn't help but ask. As Xia Yi said, they were also soul armor craftsmen, so they knew the prices. With the money they had given Xia Yi, they could have posted a task at the Soul Crafting Association to forge at least half a set of two-character soul armor.
Ye Xinglan had come along with Yuan En Yehui, thinking Xia Yi would give them a "discount."
Okay, even if Xia Yi didn't give them a discount, even though the soul armor Xia Yi forged was more durable, this was still too expensive.
"What's expensive? It's been the same price for many years, alright? Stop talking nonsense. We're soul armor craftsmen, and it's not easy for us. I don't just buy some metal and forge it for you. After so many years, you know how I forge. Every time, I give it my all. It's a great deal," Xia Yi said, looking at Yuan En Yehui and Ye Xinglan flatly. She continued, "Sometimes, look at yourselves. Has your salary gone up over the years? Have you been working hard to earn money? Alright, it's been the same price all these years. It's driving me crazy. Everyone should forge according to their needs, alright? Not everyone is suitable to come to me for forging, okay?"
"I... You... Xia Yi..." Yuan En Yehui and Ye Xinglan were both stunned, completely unsure of what to say.
Not just them, even Mu Xi, who was with Xia Yi, had a look of shock in her eyes.
She hadn't expected those words to come from Xia Yi.
If the situation hadn't been so awkward, she would have definitely muttered, "Xia Yi, you've changed."
"Alright, I'm off to go sightseeing. You can go back now." Xia Yi pouted and, with Mu Xi, turned to leave.
"Brother-in-law! You're back!" When they entered Leng Yaozhu's office, it wasn't Leng Yaozhu sitting at the desk, but Leng Yulai.
"Where's your sister?" Xia Yi asked.
"Sister went to a meeting. Recently, the Sun Moon Federation plans to develop a Star Dou Battle Net, and some issues need to be decided by the council, so she went," Leng Yulai explained.
"Star Dou Battle Net? What is that?" Xia Yi asked curiously, since Yuan En Yehui and Ye Xinglan had mentioned they were coming for this competition.
They had probably come back for this competition.
"Star Dou Battle Net is the latest technology developed by the Federation. It allows people to enter a simulation battle through a device called the Star Dou Pod. It's somewhat similar to the Spirit Pagoda's Ascension Platform. The Federation plans to hold a competition to promote the Star Dou Battle Net, and there will be special competition locations in every major city. This technology will cover the entire Douluo Continent, allowing all soul masters who want to participate to join. It can scan and simulate the abilities and physical condition of every soul master. It's completely fair, and it will be a huge help in improving a soul master's actual combat ability. As for the Eighth King Domain and Douling Continent, they will have to wait until the soul guide network is built before it can be covered. For now, they can only come to the Douluo Continent to participate." Leng Yulai took out a stack of materials and handed it to Xia Yi, smiling as he said, "This competition is open to all soul masters below the Title Douluo and soul armor craftsmen below the three-character level. This is because the system cannot yet support battles involving Title Douluo or three-character soul armor, as the external devices aren't strong enough. Even though the system can scan the body's state, the energy released during a battle by these high-level individuals would damage the system. So, only those below Title Douluo or those Title Douluo who do not use their soul armor can participate."
"Brother-in-law, why don't you and Mu Xi try it? Even if you don't use your soul armor, the championship is definitely yours," Leng Yulai said with a grin, looking at Xia Yi and Mu Xi. He had complete confidence in Xia Yi, and Mu Xi was also strong with her Three Flames True Fire.
"Star Dou Battle Net, sounds interesting," Xia Yi quickly flipped through the materials Leng Yulai gave him, already understanding roughly what the Star Dou Battle Net was about.
Although it was interesting, to say that he was interested in participating, Xia Yi really wasn't that excited.
The competition offered very generous rewards. The champion could even win all the resources needed to forge a red-grade mecha or a set of four-character soul armor's Heavenly Forging Metals.
For Xia Yi, it might not mean much, but for most soul masters, this was almost a game-changer!
Many extreme Douluo didn't even have four-character soul armor.
For example, Titan Douluo Yuan En Zhen Tian and Fierce Wolf Douluo Dong Zi An.
For a set of four-character soul armor's Heavenly Forging Metals, many newly promoted Title Douluo would have regretted not participating.
If they held back from breaking through, and participated with a peak Soul Douluo's cultivation, they'd have a high chance of winning the championship.
Even if they didn't win the championship, there were still rewards for making it to the finals.
"Xia Yi, I want to try it," Mu Xi turned to Xia Yi, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She had participated in many different competitions across the Douluo Continent, but except for the forging competitions, she had never won a top prize.
Now that her strength had increased significantly, this competition, which covered the entire Douluo Continent, was a perfect opportunity to test her skills and familiarize herself with combat using the Three Flames True Fire.
"You're now a three-character soul armor. If you enter the competition, you can't use your soul armor. Are you sure you've thought this through?" Xia Yi asked solemnly.
"I know," Mu Xi nodded and replied.
"Since that's the case, I'll accompany you. Let's have Yue'er join too. We'll take the top three for sure. Hehe," Xia Yi chuckled.
Gu Yue was now a Soul Douluo, so he wouldn't dare to make any promises, but with Gu Yue, even if they couldn't use their soul armor, the championship was definitely in the bag.
"Gu Yue..." Mu Xi swallowed nervously. Having Gu Yue in the competition—wasn't that a bit unfair?
"By the way, you should have run into those two earlier. They've been waiting for you for a week. Your sister hasn't dealt with them, so what are you going to do about it?" Leng Yulai grinned, looking at Xia Yi. Yuan En Yehui and Ye Xinglan had been waiting for a week, and Leng Yulai had already figured out what had happened.
"Xia Yi forging metals is a hundred percent fusion-forging. The price isn't something ordinary soul-forged metals can compare to. From a certain point of view, it's even better than Heavenly Forging Metals. The Holy Spirit Douluo obviously wants to take advantage," Mu Xi snorted coldly.
She didn't understand why Yali would think Xia Yi would agree to help with forging two sets of two-character soul armor for such a small amount of money.
"Well, how should I put it... Women, once they've had physical relations with a man, even if they don't want to admit it, when something happens, the first person they think of is always that man," Leng Yulai said with a mischievous smile.
(End of Chapter)