If you ask Zhenhua how he feels since becoming a Divine Craftsman... it can be summed up in three words, tired, painful!
There are many major forces seeking his help. Ordinary titled Douluos are manageable; given that he is the only Divine Craftsman, no one dares to force him.
But for those at level 98 or 99... he has to give them face!
Among them, the Spirit Pagoda has the most of such powerhouses. He has endured countless heavenly tribulations because of them.
If this continues, he fears he won't even find a suitable disciple before losing his ability to perform Divine Refinement.
Zhenhua sighed inwardly.
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing that Divine Refinement of the Ice Extreme Divine Crystal was impossible, Snow Empress glanced at Huo Yuhao and, after a moment of contemplation, asked, "What about Eternal Jade Silver?"
Spirit Refinement can imbue metals with spirituality, granting them certain characteristics, such as self-repair or enhancement of specific effects. Eternal Jade Silver is a rare alloy that pushes self-repair to its limits, it does not wear over time and can gradually recover as long as there is soul power. Incorporating this metal into a four-word battle armor can significantly enhance its self-repair capabilities.
Moreover, it also retains the physical and elemental attack enhancements of Jade Silver, making it a viable option for Huo Yuhao.
Yes, Snow Empress was already preparing for Huo Yuhao's four-word battle armor.
After all, no one knew when Zhenhua might be struck by a heavenly tribulation and lose his ability to perform Divine Refinement. If he retired without a successor, it would be a major problem.
It was better to prepare the Divine Refinement materials for Yuhao now and use them later. As for the Divine Refinement of the Ice Extreme Divine Crystal... they would have to find another way.
For her four-word battle armor, only Divine Refinement-grade Ice Extreme Divine Crystal could provide a significant boost. Spirit Refinement-grade Ice Extreme Divine Crystal already surpassed some Divine Refinement metals in ice attribute enhancement.
If it were to undergo Divine Refinement, the enhancement effects on her four-word battle armor would be even greater.
The same applied to Yuhao.
"Eternal Jade Silver?" Zhenhua nodded upon hearing this. "Of course, that's possible."
As long as you don't mention Ice Extreme Divine Crystal or Life Gold, those rare metals that are nearly impossible to obtain, we can still be friends.
He couldn't refine those, nor was he willing to use them for Divine Refinement practice.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered, and he sent a soul transmission to Snow Empress: "Is Dark Phoenix Douluo trustworthy?"
Snow Empress glanced at Leng Yulai and shook her head lightly: "She still harbors unresolved feelings. To untie the bell, the one who tied it must be involved. Over the years, she has been avoiding Atlas Douluo, seemingly putting the past behind her, but perhaps it's just evasion. Otherwise, she wouldn't have stayed in the Execution Department all this time."
Of course, even if she came to terms with it, Dark Phoenix might not be able to leave the Execution Department.
Soul Suppressing Douluo stayed in the Execution Department out of habit, but Dark Phoenix Douluo was truly forced into it.
She was the first core member in the history of the Spirit Pagoda who nearly became an evil soul master, and it was because she violated ancestral teachings. She's too much of a cautionary tale.
Even if she resolved her feelings, she couldn't be easily let off!
Huo Yuhao: "..."
That's not the kind of question I was asking.
Snow Empress and Huo Yuhao exchanged a glance, and she understood his thoughts. She smiled and turned to Leng Yulai, who was sitting nearby: "Yulai, could you fetch some of the rare metals involved in Eternal Jade Silver? Let's not trouble Master Zhenhua."
Leng Yulai: "..."
Although Snow Empress's tone was gentle, and the reason seemed plausible, not like she was trying to send her away, Leng Yulai still felt targeted.
Really? In Snow Empress's eyes, she's less trustworthy than two kids?
Just because she almost became an evil soul master?
I've changed!!!
Under Zhenhua's puzzled gaze, Leng Yulai stood up expressionlessly and left the room.
For her, Snow Empress had a life-saving grace and was also a senior. Her orders held even higher authority than Qian Gu Dongfeng's.
"Yuhao, go ahead," Snow Empress said after Leng Yulai left. She then sat quietly to the side, supporting him as she had in the past.
Zhenhua looked curiously at Huo Yuhao, wondering what Snow Empress was up to.
What could a child possibly have to discuss with him?
As for Huo Yuhao, he had just taken out two items from his storage ring when Gu Yuena, who had remained silent until now, suddenly looked up, glanced at Snow Empress, and then turned her gaze to Huo Yuhao.
"Yuhao, let me handle it!"
Huo Yuhao turned to her and shook his head, causing Gu Yuena's eyes to dim. She instinctively grabbed her skirt, "Yuhao, I..."
She wanted to help too.
Huo Yuhao's gentle voice interrupted her, "What's the point of playing the trump card first? Besides, give me a chance to show off, or I'll seem useless... Na'er."
He paused midway but still uttered the last two words.
Gu Yuena was stunned, staring blankly at Huo Yuhao beside her. He smiled, "If you don't like me calling you that, I can go back to the previous way?"
"No, this is fine!"
Gu Yuena quickly shook her head. The unease in her heart was soothed by the more intimate address, and a relieved smile appeared on her face. "Yuhao, go ahead."
Huo Yuhao nodded and then turned to Zhenhua, who was looking at him with an amused and teasing gaze. "Little friend, what do you want to tell me? Don't embarrass yourself in front of your friends. And this young lady, what talents does she have?"
Though he said this, Zhenhua didn't think the two had anything that could surprise him. He was just asking out of respect for Snow Empress.
The two were probably around ten years old. Even if one of them was a blacksmith, they would at most be a second-level blacksmith. Snow Empress likely wanted him to give them some guidance.
It seemed these two were quite favored by Snow Empress.
Huo Yuhao smiled, "Master Zhenhua, you must have a deep understanding of the essence of metals. So, do you recognize this?"
As he spoke, Huo Yuhao opened the box he had taken from his storage ring. Inside were two glass bottles containing blue and black liquids.
Zhenhua, who had been indifferent just moments ago, widened his eyes upon sensing the aura from the bottles.
"Metal essence?!"
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow, "So that's what you call it."
Within the Federation, these were referred to as metal springs, but outsiders wouldn't know that. After all, it involved the twelve-level god-slaying soul tool artillery shells, and some information had been sealed.
Even when Tang Wulin became a Divine Craftsman, he didn't know about it until someone told him.
Zhenhua didn't answer, his eyes fixed on the two bottles. He wanted to ask Snow Empress, but seeing her sitting quietly with a smile, he turned to Huo Yuhao in disbelief.
"Did you extract this?"
As blacksmiths, their craft involves refining and altering metal essence. This was a conclusion he had drawn based on his experience. Most blacksmiths didn't even know this. Yet, a child had mastered the technique of directly extracting metal essence? How was that possible?
Facing Zhenhua's shocked and suspicious expression, Huo Yuhao smiled. He took out a piece of unrefined rare metal and, under everyone's watchful eyes, inscribed a highly complex soul tool inscription array on it. Then, he poured a bottle of metal essence onto the metal.
In everyone's sight, the inscribed rare metal absorbed the metal essence, and its color gradually changed...
Zhenhua stood up uncontrollably, his heart surging with shock.
"A new spiritual alloy?!"
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