"Father, Mother, I'm back."
The journey from the Starry Sky Forest to Dongyang City of the Sun and Moon Empire is indeed quite long.
Even with Mu Ye, a level 94 titled Douluo, traveling at full speed, it would still be more than half a month before Xu Tianming returned to Dongyang City.
Although it took some time, there were still gains.
Sensing Electrolux curled up asleep in his mental space, Xu Tianming's lips curled up slightly.
"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Kong Yue pulled her son to her side and looked him up and down.
Seeing that Xu Tianming was alright, a slightly relieved expression appeared on his face.
"Judging from your appearance, you must have gained quite a few benefits from this cultivation trip with Elder Mu."
That's why they say no one knows a son better than his father.
Xu Xiang only glanced at Xu Tianming's expression and knew he was in a great mood, so he couldn't help but tease him.
"hey-hey."
Xu Tianming scratched his head and chuckled dryly.
However, he still didn't explain what he had done on this trip.
"A message has arrived from Mingdu."
After exchanging a few jokes, Xu Xiang's expression turned serious.
"Our Crown Prince is truly a ruthless person."
With a slight sigh, Xu Xiang continued:
"In previous years, he was seriously injured by his own brother in a power struggle and ended up becoming disabled."
"I originally thought he would be defeated and never recover, but I never expected that over the years he would use every means to sideline my cousin and subtly take control of the entire Sun Moon Empire."
Xu Xiang's tone was somewhat complicated.
There was both a sense of lament over the infighting within the royal family and surprise at Xu Tianran's ability to completely control the situation.
"Now that you're of age, it's time for you to go to school in Mingdu."
Xu Xiang changed his tone and held up two fingers towards Xu Tianming.
"Currently, both the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Master Academy and the Mingdu Soul Master Academy have extended invitations to Mingdu. Which academy would you like to attend?"
Xu Xiang didn't ask Xu Tianming if he wanted to go, but instead gave him two colleges to choose from.
All three, including Kong Yue, knew very well that Xu Tianming's study in Mingdu was Xu Xiang's way of supporting Xu Tianran's takeover of power.
Although it doesn't sound pleasant, Xu Tianming's identity is actually that of a hostage.
[Ding~ Detected that the host is about to face a difficult choice. God-level choice activated. Please make a choice according to your own wishes!]
[God-tier Option 1: Study at the Royal Soul Master Academy of the Sun Moon Empire.]
[Reward: Forging Technique, "Heavenly Crafting Secrets"!]
[God-tier Option Two: Study at the Mingdu Soul Master Academy.]
[Reward: Soul Guidance Technology, "Advanced Manual for Level 9 Soul Masters"!]
The two choices Xu Xiang made triggered the system on Xu Tianming's body.
Hearing the voice coming from beside him, Xu Tianming hesitated for once.
"The Secret of Heavenly Forging" is clearly related to forging techniques, but he wasn't sure if it contained forging techniques from the Dragon King Legend era.
The "Advanced Manual for Level 9 Soul Masters" is easier to understand; it likely contains methods for people to break through to the level 9 Soul Master.
If one were to master the techniques of spirit forging, soul forging, and even heaven forging, one could undoubtedly make significant strides in the materials used in soul-guided technology.
It will even be of great help to future research on battle armor and mechs.
A level nine Soul Master represents the most powerful combat force in the world.
There are no more than twenty level-nine Soul Masters in the entire Sun Moon Empire, while there are no level-nine Soul Masters in Douluo Three Kingdoms and Shrek Academy.
This also shows how powerful and rare level nine soul masters are on the continent.
"Father, what do you think?"
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Tianming looked at his father.
"Since we're going to study in Mingdu anyway, we should naturally choose the best academy."
A look of reminiscence appeared on Xu Xiang's face.
"Your mother and I both studied at the Royal Soul Master Academy of the Sun Moon Empire, and that's where we met."
"The Royal Soul Master Academy of the Sun Moon Empire is also the best academy in our Sun Moon Empire. Compared to it, the Mingdu Soul Master Academy is still slightly inferior."
Upon hearing this, Xu Tianming immediately nodded and said:
"In that case, I will listen to my father and go to the Royal Soul Master Academy of the Sun Moon Empire to study!"
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for making your choice. You have received the reward: the art of forging, "The Secret Forging of Heavenly Craftsmen"!]
A flood of information rushed into Xu Tianming's mind, making him momentarily disoriented.
Fortunately, his current mental strength is incomparable to that when he first awakened his martial soul.
Otherwise, he would probably faint immediately if he were overwhelmed by this massive amount of information.
"Tianming, what's wrong?"
Noticing that Xu Tianming swayed slightly, Xu Xiang quickly stepped forward to support him.
"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."
Shaking his slightly aching head, Xu Tianming came up with an excuse.
"I imagine you've had a tough time these past few days."
Kong Yue, who was standing nearby, also walked over to Xu Tianming and said with concern:
"Go back to your room and rest first. I will personally escort you to Mingdu in a few days."
"Yes, Father, Mother."
After bowing slightly to the two, Xu Tianming slowly left the main hall of the city lord's mansion.
"Forging its form, forging its nature, forging its spirit, forging its essence, and forging its methods are all done by Heaven. Once form, nature, spirit, and methods are complete, the vessel can then become imbued with spiritual power!"
After leaving the main hall of the city lord's mansion, Xu Tianming did not return to his room, but instead went to a newly built building next to the back garden of the city lord's mansion.
"Indeed, this 'Heavenly Craftsmanship Secrets' contains forging techniques that only existed in the era of the Dragon King legend, ten thousand years later!"
"Fortunately, Elder Mu specially set up a forging room in the city lord's mansion so that I could temper my body."
Although Makino was not skilled in forging, he was, after all, a good friend of Zhenhua, the master craftsman from the Legend of the Dragon King.
He had never eaten pork, but he had at least seen pigs run.
In order to help Xu Tianming's blood and qi circulate freely and to strengthen his physique, Xu Xiang also built a forging room in the city lord's mansion according to his request.
However, without a master to guide him, Xu Tianming only used his brute strength on metal and did not master the art of forging.
But things are different now.
With the help of "The Secret of Heavenly Craftsmanship", many things I didn't understand about forging before have now become clear.
After lighting the flames in the forge, Xu Tianming took off his shirt, revealing his extremely muscular body.
Driven by the secret techniques of the Body Sect and his cultivation, his body was no longer like that of an eleven-year-old boy.
"By removing the dross and retaining the essence, examining the details and discerning the underlying principles, we can perceive the changes in the metal's texture down to the smallest detail, thus eliminating impurities, achieving uniform density, and revealing its original luster."
Xu Tianming stroked his chin.
"According to the 'Secret Forging of Heaven', I should have barely reached the level of 100 forgings by now."
As Xu Tianming reached out and grasped a pair of forging hammers made of tungsten steel beside the forging furnace, his aura instantly changed.
"It seems I need to reach the Thousand Refinement level as soon as possible before enrolling!"
(End of chapter)