After finalizing the details of the Association's reform, Su Ming and his two senior brothers left Gengxin City to help Duan Jin obtain his fourth Spirit Ring.
Duan Jin's target had been locked in early.
The reason he could have such a good target in advance was, of course, thanks to their teacher, Zhu Jiuyang.
While searching everywhere for Spirit Beasts, entering various major Spirit Beast habitats, he would pass through areas with lower-year Spirit Beasts and happened to come across that Wild Ape.
Six thousand years—perfectly suitable for Duan Jin, who had consumed Thousand-Year Whale Glue.
"Roar!"
A furious roar suddenly echoed through the沉寂的 (silent) rocky terrain.
The Wild Ape疯狂拍击 (frantically beat) its chest with its fists. Thick earth-attribute Spirit Power弥漫 (permeated the air), condensing around its fists. Then, it leaped into the air.
"Be careful, that's its ultimate move, Raging Thunder Diamond Fist," Su Ming reminded from the side.
Huo Lie, alerted, nodded.
But he did not dodge.
Today's task was to beat the Wild Ape into submission, making it easier for Duan Jin to persuade it later.
Even though it wasn't Duan Jin who subdued the Wild Ape, Huo Lie spent a lot of time with him, which could provide a good environment for Duan Jin and the Wild Ape to build a relationship.
After all, it was a Spirit Beast species not adept at using its brain, and not yet ten-thousand years old, its intelligence wasn't high.
Huo Lie also let out a roar, his entire body suddenly growing taller.
A single horn emitting a metallic sheen sprouted from his head. His body became covered in dark red scales burning with fierce flames, the flames coalescing into a dragon-like shape.
Unicorn Rage Dragon.
"Fifth Spirit Skill, Invincible Golden Horn!"
The horn on Huo Lie's head rapidly grew larger and thicker, with intense metal-element fluctuations emanating from it. Simultaneously, the flames around him converged, forming a drill-bit-shaped vortex of fire around the horn.
Huo Lie roared, stepped forward, and met the Wild Ape's descending fists head-on with his horn.
Boom!
The earth shook.
Su Ming and Duan Jin instinctively gritted their teeth.
Dust billowed from the ground, and debris flew everywhere.
In the next instant, a figure was sent flying backward.
The Wild Ape flew over ten meters before crashing heavily to the ground. Its fists were wreathed in blazing flames, and the entire ape seemed stunned unconscious.
Huo Lie walked slowly out of the dust cloud.
The golden horn on his head gradually shrank back to its normal size.
"Little Ming, inscribe the array."
"Right away."
Su Ming took out a complete set of array foundations.
Placing the array foundations in six positions, he used Spirit Power as a guide to connect them, forming a hexagram pattern.
Huo Lie stepped forward, gave the Wild Ape another thorough beating, then dragged the utterly defeated ape into the hexagram array.
"Second Senior Brother."
Duan Jin looked at Su Ming, not understanding his meaning.
"Release him from his misery."
The Wild Ape turned its head, looking at Duan Jin with anticipation.
"I understand."
Duan Jin released his Martial Soul and brought his hammer down on the Wild Ape's head.
Su Ming couldn't help but cover his eyes.
So brutal?
After the Wild Ape died, a purple Spirit Ring condensed. In the center of the purple ring, a illusory spirit gradually coalesced.
The Wild Ape hovered confusedly within the Spirit Ring.
"Sign the contract."
Duan Jin stepped into the hexagram array to receive the Spirit Ring.
The Wild Ape was drawn into Duan Jin's body along with the Spirit Ring.
Five hours later.
The three left the Savage Beast Mountain Range.
"The Wild Ape was easier to talk to than I imagined," Duan Jin said.
"It's just more afraid of me," Huo Lie said.
He rubbed his nose, feeling the initial strategy might have been a mistake.
Shouldn't it have been admired him after being beaten up?
"Then change the plan. Senior Brother, you and Second Senior Brother should separate for a while," Su Ming said.
Gengxin City.
Forging Master Association.
"Teacher, you're back!"
Upon returning to the Forging Master Association, the three heard the news that Zhu Jiuyang had returned and went straight to his forging room.
Zhu Jiuyang looked in good spirits, his Spirit Power fluctuations more oppressive than before.
Seeing this, Su Ming couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, did you find a Spirit Soul?"
"Hehe, had some good luck."
Zhu Jiuyang chuckled and recounted his experience.
"Nothing beats the Star Dou Great Forest. The variety of Spirit Beasts is rich, and the situations are diverse. It allowed this teacher to find a Flame Lord gravely injured and near death from a fight."
After finishing his story, he said to Su Ming, "You have a kind heart. This opportunity to have Sword Douluo assist, see if it can be used next time."
"Next time?"
Zhu Jiuyang explained, "This Flame Lord had eighty-thousand years of cultivation. Even obtaining my ninth ring from it would be very suitable. So, this teacher won't need Sword Douluo's help for the ninth ring. However, the Forging Master Association's reforms will inevitably attract covetous eyes. Although you cooperate with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the deterrent effect isn't enough. Having the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Sword Douluo intervene once at this time would have an immediate and obvious effect."
"But will they agree?"
"They will definitely agree." Zhu Jiuyang was confident about this. "The reforms within the Association won't have much external impact for now, but the appearance of Spirit Metal will attract the attention of interested parties."
Interested parties?
"The Spirit Hall in Gengxin City will be the first to react. Given Miles' greedy nature, he will make a move against the Association. This teacher wil step forward to negotiate with him," Zhu Jiuyang said. "At that time, you can communicate with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. They won't refuse to help."
Su Ming understood Zhu Jiuyang's meaning.
For the Association to develop, it couldn't rely solely on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. It needed recognition from all major powers and a certain degree of independence.
The Spirit Hall was the easiest major power to win over at this stage. Due to Zhu Jiuyang's connections, this could be achieved effortlessly.
"Teacher, you and the Spirit Hall..."
Zhu Jiuyang noticed Su Ming's odd expression.
"Did Huo Lie tell you? Don't worry, there is no conflict between this teacher and the Spirit Hall."
Besides, the current Spirit Hall Pope wasn't even from the Qian family.
Zhu Jiuyang didn't dwell on this topic with Su Ming, changing the subject.
"Now, both this teacher and your second senior brother have Spirit Souls. It's time to learn the Spirit Infusion technique."
Su Ming, under Zhu Jiuyang's gaze, felt a bit awkward.
Junior brother teaching senior brother.
Disciple teaching master.
Upside down hierarchy.
He could only brace himself and begin the lesson.
Zhu Jiuyang and Duan Jin both had high forging talent. Zhu Jiuyang, with his rich experience, had a more harmonious relationship with his Flame Lord Spirit Soul. Additionally, the Flame Lord's higher intelligence allowed for better cooperation. In just three days, Zhu Jiuyang mastered the Spirit Infusion technique.
Subsequently, he spent another three days, experiencing thirty-two failures before succeeding in Thousand Refined Spirit Metal on the thirty-third attempt.
In less than a week, Zhu Jiuyang successfully advanced from a former Grandmaster-level blacksmith to a Master-level Forging Master.
"It has to be Teacher; he learns so quickly," Su Ming couldn't help but praise.
...
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(End of Chapter)