This plunged Su Ming into deep thought.
"So, the two Zhen Huas actually have the same aptitude. Two completely different timelines, yet when evolved to the end, the corresponding person is still that same person?"
The insights of one Zhen Hua could perfectly correspond to another Zhen Hua.
This wasn't a coincidence.
That meant Zhen Hua was the same Zhen Hua, just split into countless copies? As long as a timeline's evolution needed him, it was the same template?
Su Ming was astonished by this.
But upon carefully recalling Zhen Hua's experiences, it seemed he indeed played an extremely important role in history, the key to the Blacksmith Association's transition from maintaining the status quo to further expansion.
A Sacred Blacksmith, offering public teaching sessions at least once a month—not in some small, reserved classroom, but right in the first-floor lobby of the association building.
Moreover, whenever he discovered techniques more suitable for lower-ranked blacksmiths, he would share them.
It could be said that Zhen Hua single-handedly doubled the number of low-rank blacksmiths in the entire Blacksmith Association.
And this was the result after Shrek Academy built its own exclusive association over there.
It was hard to imagine how much the Blacksmith Association would have declined in the Douluo 3 era without Zhen Hua.
Sensing Zhen Hua's confidence, Su Ming didn't discourage him. Instead, he directly let him attempt Spirit Refinement.
He didn't interfere at all throughout, quietly observing his forging.
Zhen Hua's foundation was very solid. His chances of succeeding in this Spirit Refinement attempt were not small.
Boom!
Boom boom boom!
As he got closer and closer to success, Su Ming also began pondering how to secure the favor of the Will of the Plane for Zhen Hua.
This was indispensable for Heaven Refinement.
Otherwise, if the elemental heavenly tribulation ignored you, what could you do?
If you refined your technique to its peak but couldn't summon the elemental tribulation, wouldn't all that hammering be for nothing?
As for refining the technique to a level surpassing the peak, capable of summoning the tribulation without needing the Will of the Plane—that wouldn't be a Sacred Blacksmith anymore.
"Let's first check the current distribution within the Will Space."
Su Ming entered the vast white space.
Tang Hao was lying there as usual, in a deep sleep.
Su Ming knew this Tang Hao was different from the incompetent husband in his real future. This Tang Hao could be roused if disturbed.
He tried to move as quietly as possible, looking towards the spot where A Yin normally resided.
"The Golden Ancient Tree is gone, and A Yin isn't here either. I wonder if I hunted her for a Spirit Ring."
Failing to find A Yin, Su Ming looked at the other areas.
Within the entire Will Space, there were only three regions.
One belonged to Tang Hao.
One belonged to the Sea God.
One belonged to Spirit Souls.
Among them, the Sea God's region was entirely dependent on the sea and had no connection to the Federation's Spirit Master world because Su Ming had severed Tang San's faith foundation there.
The Sea God and Tang Hao were jointly suppressing the Spirit Soul region.
However, the Spirit Soul region not only symbolized Su Ming's faith but also incorporated Spirit Beasts.
The Sea God's faith foundation lay with Sea Spirit Beasts, so its oppressive effect on Su Ming wasn't very pronounced. Tang Hao's faith foundation was the Clear Sky Clan, whose Spirit Masters couldn't completely avoid using the Spirit Soul system.
This resulted in a situation where, despite each of them individually having a higher share than the Spirit Soul region and teaming up to suppress it, they still hadn't succeeded.
"So, as long as I take control of this region now, I would essentially be considered a one-tenth Lord of the Plane."
One-tenth was too little.
Although Tang Hao only held two-tenths, he had the recognition of the Sea God's seven-tenths.
So he effectively possessed nine-tenths.
To achieve the Sacred Blacksmith status, Tang Hao's recognition was also crucial.
"Now it's different. I'm here. This Spirit Soul region is no longer masterless."
"As for fighting one against nine, there's no need to panic at all. The advantage is mine."
Su Ming looked towards the Sea God region.
In the previous Will Space, the only region with an owner was Tang Hao's. The Sea God region was amiable towards him, so he could use it to jointly attack the Spirit Soul region.
Now, with Su Ming's true consciousness here, the Spirit Soul region also had an owner. The only remaining masterless region was the Sea God region.
"Is the Sea God region yours to just team up with?"
"Spirit Souls include Spirit Beasts. The Sea God region includes Sea Spirit Beasts. And I hold the Sea God's faith. The seven-tenths of Will Space occupied by the Sea God should rightfully be under my, Su Ming's, control!"
Su Ming looked at the slumbering Tang Hao and began making small moves around him again.
Time flowed, and in the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.
Back then, Zhen Hua succeeded in his first attempt at Spirit Refinement, becoming the youngest Sacred Blacksmith on the continent. He was highly regarded by the Blacksmith Association, which poured all its resources into nurturing him.
The only thing that worried the association was Zhen Hua's faction.
He belonged to the faction within the association with the deepest ties to the Body Sect.
In other words, Zhen Hua was in open opposition to the Clear Sky Clan.
Over these ten thousand years, because the Lord of the Plane held the threshold for becoming a Sacred Blacksmith, the Blacksmith Association was forced to have a faction remain as neutral as possible, maintaining a relationship with the Clear Sky Clan.
"Zhen Hua, you are currently the most promising candidate to inherit the Sacred Blacksmith position, but..."
Mu Ye looked at his friend, unable to hold back a sigh.
The reason Zhen Hua was in the Body Sect faction was, of course, due to their friendship since their youth.
While Mu Ye was sighing, Zhen Hua maintained a calm expression.
"Don't worry. I already have an idea about how to achieve Heaven Refinement."
He chose to trust that mysterious spiritual entity in his Sea of Consciousness.
At least, ever since he was still at the Grandmaster level, the other had been guiding him.
His understanding of forging had always been ahead of Zhen Hua's, capable of teaching him, a Sacred Blacksmith, according to his aptitude.
With this level of teaching ability, wasn't it impossible unless he was a Sacred Blacksmith himself?
Perhaps he was the remnant spiritual power of a previous Sacred Blacksmith?
Enduring hardships, relying on Tang Hao to become a Sacred Blacksmith, then seeking ways to bypass Tang Hao, paving the way for future generations?
Su Ming was working both sides.
On one side, he was learning from Teacher Zhen Hua with his main body in the real future. On the other, he was going to the timeline to impart Heaven Refinement techniques.
And so, Zhen Hua completed the accumulation before Heaven Refinement.
He was about to begin his attempt at Heaven Refinement.
"Ah, what a pity."
Within the Blacksmith Association, the elders sighed one after another.
They didn't believe Zhen Hua could succeed.
Without Tang Hao's support, how could one achieve Heaven Refinement?
At this moment, within the Will Space, Tang Hao was also alerted.
The eyes of the entire continent converged on the Blacksmith Association headquarters in Heaven Dou City.
Zhen Hua's gaze was resolute. He prepared the six types of rare metals he was most skilled with.
These six rare metals, plus his three Spirit Souls—the fusion of nine spiritual essences—would form the best foundation for Heaven Refinement.
This was also one of the reasons for his confidence in attempting Heaven Refinement.
Boom!
On the forging platform, flames surged.
The six rare metals were instantly engulfed by the flames.
Zhen Hua gripped his heavy hammer and slammed it down onto the forging platform with a resounding bang.
"Perfect."
The Sacred Blacksmiths observing up close couldn't help but be entranced.
Every strike from Zhen Hua was flawless in their eyes.
The landing point was precise, the force appropriate. Even the spiritual resonance within the metals harmonized with this forging session.
Will Space.
The slumbering Tang Hao opened his eyes.
He stood up, holding the Clear Sky Hammer.
"Sacred Blacksmith? You... will not succeed."
With nine-tenths of the Plane's Will in hand, the entire Douluo Plane was under his command.
Tang Hao was about to suppress the laws of heaven and earth, dispersing the elemental heavenly tribulation.
However, when he mobilized his power, he was shocked to find his strength somewhat lacking.
What was going on?
He turned around and saw that the seven-tenths of Sea God Will behind him was very far away, seemingly deliberately maintaining a boundary.
Tang Hao: ???
Finally met again during the daytime.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 50+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!
(End of Chapter)