Douluo Dalu 3: Legend of the White Fox

Although Yun Ming was not a blacksmith, as the number one expert of the current era, he still had a basic understanding of forging.

Saying that Xia Yi had no forging talent—Yun Ming truly didn't know how Feng Wuyu could say such a thing.

Feng Wuyu took a deep breath and smiled bitterly. "Boss, I know the Pavilion Master has always wanted to take Xia Yi as a disciple. Having me take Xia Yi as a disciple was just a way to help him gradually integrate into Shrek Academy and create an opportunity for the Pavilion Master to accept him as a disciple."

"Oh? You've learned to complain now, have you?" Yun Ming shook his head and said indifferently, "Everything you said is true, but that doesn't change the fact that Xia Yi is an excellent blacksmith."

"Boss, do you really not know, or are you just pretending not to know? Normally, a blacksmith needs to be at least a four-ring Soul Ancestor to even attempt spirit forging. Fine, let's say Xia Yi is as gifted as Tang Wulin and can become a fifth-rank blacksmith while still at the Soul Elder level. But look at these spirit-forged Life Crystals! Do you think a fifth-rank blacksmith could produce something like this?" Feng Wuyu slammed a piece of spirit-forged Life Crystal onto the table. "Boss, you're not a blacksmith, so you don't understand. Life Crystals are too fragile—one tap, and they shatter. Even a sixth-rank blacksmith wouldn't dare attempt spirit forging on them. Yet this spirit-forged Life Crystal is flawless, even by my standards. Do you really believe Xia Yi forged this?"

Yun Ming suddenly laughed and said, "I understand now. You're trying to say that the Pavilion Master deliberately forged this Life Crystal and lied to you about Xia Yi being the one who made it just to trick you into accepting him as a disciple. You've got some nerve, daring to question the Pavilion Master like this."

"Boss, you know very well that both the Red Dragon and I admire Yali, but we still find it hard to accept her as the Sea God Pavilion Master." Feng Wuyu suddenly changed the topic.

Yali was not originally from Shrek Academy—Yun Ming had forcibly brought her into Shrek.

Entrusting Shrek Academy to an 'outsider' was something that many of the academy's traditionalists found difficult to accept.

It wasn't that they disliked Yali.

Rather, they couldn't accept the idea of an outsider leading the Sea God Pavilion.

Their opposition was to the matter itself, not the person.

"So this is what you really wanted to say," Yun Ming's gaze turned sharp. "Do you think Yali wants to be the Pavilion Master? It's not like she had a choice. Let me warn you—everyone here is working for the good of Shrek Academy. If I find out you're secretly making things difficult for her, don't blame me for being merciless."

"Relax, Boss, I was just venting. I know how to separate personal feelings from duty." Feng Wuyu shook his head confidently. "The reason I don't want to take Xia Yi as a disciple has nothing to do with my feelings about Yali. It's because of this Life Crystal. I swear on my life—this was not forged by Xia Yi. If he really has that level of skill, never mind taking him as a disciple—I'd be willing to acknowledge him as my master."

"Do you think you're an idiot, or do you take Yali for one? If she really wanted to deceive you, do you think she'd let you see through it so easily?" Yun Ming shook his head, not angry at all. "Instead of wasting time questioning Yali, why don't you just grab Xia Yi and have him forge something in front of you?"

"Fine, I'll find time to test him." Feng Wuyu reluctantly nodded.

He still couldn't believe that Xia Yi was capable of forging Life Crystals.

"Remember the Pavilion Master's orders—use any means necessary. Trick him, threaten him, bribe him, whatever it takes." After saying this, Yun Ming turned and returned to the Sea God Pavilion.

He hadn't expected Xia Yi's forging skills to be this terrifying.

Even to the point where Feng Wuyu would rather believe Yali had tricked him than accept that Xia Yi was truly that skilled.

"How is it? Did you find anything?" Seeing Yun Ming return, Long Yeyue and the spirit of the Golden Tree immediately asked.

"No. Both Xia Yi and Tang Wulin appear to be perfectly normal." Yun Ming shook his head, then looked at the Golden Tree's spirit. "Old Jin, is your energy still draining?"

"It's still draining at an insane rate! I've already lost nearly half my energy!" The Golden Tree's spirit spoke grimly, unsure of how to stop it.

"Half?" Yun Ming and Long Yeyue were both stunned.

They knew very well just how much energy the Golden Tree contained.

Half of its energy would be enough to make a Hyper Douluo explode!

"I'm certain—it has to be Xia Yi. He swallowed the Ice God's Heart and survived. If he can do that, then absorbing half of Old Jin's energy without dying makes sense," Long Yeyue said solemnly.

At this moment, Xia Yi was drifting in a golden sea. No matter how he tried, he couldn't find a way to leave.

Just as he was at a loss, a sudden sensation of vertigo overwhelmed him.

The next moment, before he could react, he found himself in a forging room.

"You're awake. I was just about to wake you up." A red-haired man stood before him, his face stern—Feng Wuyu.

"Who are you?" Xia Yi asked while examining his body.

While inside the Golden Tree, he hadn't noticed anything.

But the instant he woke up—

He could feel it.

His Martial Soul had evolved.

But he hadn't followed the Ice God's instructions to absorb the Golden Tree's energy—so how had his Martial Soul evolved?

"I also absorbed a portion of the Child of Nature's power. I need to go into seclusion to refine it," the Ice God's Heart spoke in his mind.

Even it didn't know why, but as soon as it returned to Xia Yi's body, it found that it contained a portion of the Golden Tree's energy.

But whatever the reason—

Refining the Golden Tree's energy came first.

"I am the president of Shrek Academy's Blacksmith Association, the Red Dragon Douluo," Feng Wuyu said, once again taking out the Life Crystal. "Did you forge this?"

"Yes. What about it?" Xia Yi asked casually. He immediately recognized it as the Life Crystal he had forged for Shen Yi.

"Good. Forge another one for me." Feng Wuyu took out a raw Life Crystal and said, "If you can spirit-forge it, I will take you as my disciple."

"I don't have that kind of free time." Seeing the Life Crystal, Xia Yi's face darkened. "Is your Shrek Academy Blacksmith Association always this stingy with rare metals?"

The Life Crystal Feng Wuyu had provided was only about half the size of a fist.

Even smaller than the one Shen Yi had given him.

Forging such a tiny piece—unless he had nothing better to do, why would he bother?

"Young people shouldn't be too ambitious. I just don't want you to waste materials," Feng Wuyu said.

"I'll forge it, but forget about the apprenticeship. Just pay me in contribution points." Xia Yi thought for a moment before responding.

"Fine. Name your price." Feng Wuyu said indifferently.

"Ten thousand." Xia Yi answered without hesitation.

"Ten thousand?! Why don't you just go rob someone?" Feng Wuyu nearly jumped in anger.

Tang Wulin had already scammed him once.

Now Xia Yi was trying to scam him too.

And he was even worse than Tang Wulin!

"As the president of the Blacksmith Association, you should know how difficult Life Crystal forging is," Xia Yi said indifferently. "Sure, forging such a small piece doesn't require that many contribution points—but that's your problem for providing such a tiny piece. If you want, you can give me a larger one instead. I guarantee the result will be just as good as the one you showed me. If I fail, I'll take responsibility."

"Such arrogance…" Feng Wuyu frowned, contemplating for a moment. "Fine. If you can spirit-forge it, I'll give you ten thousand contribution points."

"Payment first. Forging after," Xia Yi said.

"Fine! Take it! If you fail, I'll make you regret it."