"I don't care about the others—Fang Yang, you will forge One-Word Battle Armor," Wu Zhangkong's voice cut like ice—absolute, unyielding.
"Huh?!"
Xie Xie gaped, eyes wide as saucers.
"Huh what? Forge your armor!"
Wu Zhangkong's gaze pinned him—sharp as blades.
"Understood, Teacher Wu," Fang Yang replied calmly, tone flat.
For him, forging One-Word Battle Armor was trivial.
Wu Zhangkong nodded: "Dismissed."
"Yes, Teachers Wu and Shen—we'll take our leave," they bowed, exiting the classroom.
Xie Xie wiped phantom sweat from his brow: "Teacher Wu's demands are brutal…"
Fang Yang smirked: "Not for us."
The others grinned—confidence blazing.
---
After they left, only Wu Zhangkong and Shen Yi remained.
"Senior Brother—isn't this too harsh for them?" Shen Yi worried, voice soft.
"One-Word Battle Armor isn't easily forged."
Wu Zhangkong stared out the window, gaze distant:
"Trust me—it's no challenge for them. Their talent dwarfs your imagination."
"I see…" Shen Yi mused, then hesitated.
"Xiaoyan, Wulin, and Xie Xie will enter Inner Court without issue… but Fang Yang's group…"
"I know your concern," Wu Zhangkong cut in, frustration flickering.
"They refuse to join the Tang Sect."
He'd invited them repeatedly—each time, politely rejected.
Shen Yi fell silent, mind churning.
Inner Court selection weighed loyalty as much as talent. Without Tang Sect ties…
The room filled with wind's whisper—tension thick, unspoken.
---
Back at the Dorms
"Wulin—how's the Battle Armor blueprint?" Fang Yang asked en route.
"Ready!" Tang Wulin pulled out schematics, grinning.
"My father designed these three years ago—per your request!"
Tang Ziran—Eighth-Tier Mecha Designer—had crafted custom blueprints for all six.
"We owe your dad big time!" Xie Xie marveled at the intricate designs.
"We're comrades—no need for thanks," Tang Wulin chuckled modestly.
"Our armor's guaranteed!" Zhang Yangzi whooped; Wang Jinxi nodded fiercely.
"Don't celebrate yet," Fang Yang warned.
"Blueprints are just a foundation. We must refine them to match our martial souls."
"Agreed," Tang Wulin said earnestly.
As apprentice to Eighth-Tier Saint Artisan Mu Chen and Feng Wuyu, he knew armor must harmonize with one's martial soul.
"Understood," the others vowed.
"One more thing," Fang Yang added.
"Gather your rare metals swiftly. Once ready: Gu Yue and Xiaoyan—optimize the schematics, Wulin and I—forge, Xie Xie and Yangzi—construction."
"Got it!" they chorused, eyes alight.
---
Forging Room
Fang Yang and Tang Wulin arrived first.
Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi sorted tools; Wang Jinxi logged notes.
Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan studied soul-guided arrays.
"Fang Yang—what metal will you use?" Tang Wulin asked.
All eyes turned to Fang Yang.
He fell silent.
His Heavenly Flame martial soul and Golden Dragon King's core would incinerate ordinary metals.
"Let's smelt first," he said.
Black Flame erupted in his palm—heat scorching the air.
His spiritual power guided eight rare metals into the inferno:
Sinking Silver, Magic Silver, Star Iron, Adamant, Spirit Iron, Cloud Titanium, Frostheart Iron Essence, Titanium Gold.
HISS!
Metals melted instantly, coalescing into luminous liquid.
Fang Yang focused—refining, purifying, fusing.
As the final seal struck—light blazed.
"Done!"
He spat a mouthful of essence blood into the alloy.
The metal solidified—radiating blinding light.
"This…"
All stared, awestruck.
"God Alloy!" Tang Wulin gasped, disbelief shattering his voice.
Fang Yang had forged a legend—without a hammer!
"Wulin—help me craft the belt," Fang Yang ordered.
"On it!" Tang Wulin summoned his martial soul—Slaughter Hao Tian Hammer.
Blood-black hammer strikes rang clear—each blow shaping God Alloy.
Fang Yang fed the black flame—keeping metal at perfect forging heat.
Belt forged—Xie Xie and Zhang Yangzi took over precision work.
"These engravings need finer detail," Xie Xie murmured, sweat beading on his brow.
"Steady soul power—this node's conductivity is critical," Zhang Yangzi guided.
Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan optimized soul-guided arrays.
Sparse runes grew dense—interlocking, resonating—forming complete arrays.
Finally—the One-Word Battle Armor Belt was complete.
Nine-colored light swirled—the air trembling with soul force.
"We did it!" Xie Xie leapt up.
Fang Yang stepped forward, soul power enveloping the belt—imprinting his will upon it.
A profound bond formed—the belt became an extension of his flesh.
Its glow shifted from nine-colored to crimson-gold.
"So this is Battle Armor…"
Fang Yang whispered, soul power flicking toward the belt.
It flashed—flying to his waist—fusing into crimson-gold armor.
He named it—"Ash!"
(Author's Note: Battle Armor crafting is hard to write…)
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