Zhenhua's joke quickly boomeranged back and hit him.
Gu Yuena, who had been eagerly waiting, exchanged a glance with Huo Yuhao upon hearing Zhenhua speak, her eyes gleaming.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao smiled slightly and stood up, asking, "Shall we move?"
Understanding, Zhenhua nodded and led the group to a forging room.
They couldn't possibly forge in his office.
Before leaving, Zhenhua informed a staff member to have Dark Phoenix Douluo wait there upon her return.
"Here we are," Zhenhua said as he led them into a forging room.
The room was filled with various forging tools hanging on the walls, and several large metal ores were placed on the floor. In the center stood a massive forging table.
Zhenhua expected Gu Yuena to place a rare metal on the forging table, but instead, she walked to an open area, took out a piece of rare metal called Blue Copper, and with a flash of cyan light, the metal floated into the air.
Do modern forgers not even need a forging table?
Have I fallen behind the times?
Just seeing Gu Yuena's initial move left Zhenhua baffled.
When he noticed that Gu Yuena didn't take out a forging hammer but instead summoned four-colored elemental auras around her, with the elemental forces in the air beginning to stir, he couldn't help but look at Huo Yuhao and Snow Empress, asking, "What does this mean?"
Snow Empress also looked at Huo Yuhao, who calmly replied, "Since the essence of forging is to refine and alter the metal's source, why must we stick to traditional methods? Is a forging hammer absolutely necessary?"
Zhenhua shook his head, "That's not what I mean. Although I'm a forger, I'm not rigid about methods. How she chooses to forge is her business. But what she's doing now is strikingly similar to Heaven Forging..."
At this point, Zhenhua was at a loss for words, unable to articulate the shock he felt.
Manipulating the elemental forces of heaven and earth to forge, isn't that the method of Heaven Forging?
However, unlike his Heaven Forging, Gu Yuena didn't summon as much elemental power, nor did she carry the comprehension of laws, so there was no elemental tribulation.
But the infusion of heaven and earth's power into the metal was undeniably real!
While Zhenhua's mind was in turmoil, Gu Yuena flicked her fingers slightly, causing the surrounding elemental forces to vibrate mysteriously, refining the metal.
To improve precision, she only summoned the elements of wind, fire, earth, and light.
Gu Yuena's movements were light and graceful. Under her control, the metal began to change, its surface shimmering as it was reshaped by the elemental forces.
The metal gradually softened under the influence of the elements and began to take on a new form under her guidance. Each subtle vibration tightened the metal's structure, making it denser and more resilient.
Gu Yuena's gaze was intensely focused, as if she could see every detail of the metal, precisely controlling the flow of elemental forces. She even relaxed some of her own restrictions.
She wanted to do her best, better than before!
Time passed, and within a few minutes, as Gu Yuena's movements began to slow, Zhenhua opened his mouth to speak. But at that moment, a brilliant light suddenly burst from the floating Blue Copper, transforming into a blue-gold beam that shot into the sky!
Spirit Thousand Forging, Thousand Forging, First Grade!
Thousand Forging, First Grade, also known as Semi-Spirit Forging, is the stage where a forger imbues metal with spirituality, giving it a preliminary life force.
Metal treated with this skill can better integrate with a soul master, serving as a necessary step before mastering Spirit Forging.
Seeing this, Huo Yuhao looked at Gu Yuena with surprise.
She could break through on the spot?
If she could consistently achieve Thousand Forging, First Grade, she wasn't far from Spirit Forging.
Previously, Gu Yuena had only reached Thousand Forging, Second Grade at most. Who would have thought she could rise another level this time?
Truly one of the protagonists, unlike a fake like him.
"Using Heaven Forging to replace Thousand Forging... you kids are truly imaginative," Zhenhua said, his face twitching as he saw Gu Yuena successfully complete Thousand Forging, even Semi-Spirit Forging. "This girl's martial soul must allow her to control multiple elements, right? Not only that, but she's also comprehended the hearts of four elements!"
For an elemental soul master to comprehend the heart of an element, they typically need to reach the late-stage Spirit Sea realm of spiritual power, and even then, they usually only comprehend one element!
For Heaven Forging, both spiritual power and elemental affinity are crucial. Only when both reach a certain level can one harness the power of heaven and earth.
Soul masters who comprehend the heart of an element do have an advantage in their innate attributes and can more easily manipulate elemental forces, but comprehending just one element's heart still isn't enough for Heaven Forging.
Yet this girl was like a darling of the elements, with all elements obeying her commands, and the power of heaven and earth directly in her grasp.
As her spiritual power increased, she could summon more of the heavens' power, and once she comprehended the laws, she would naturally grasp the complete method of Heaven Forging!
While others learn Heaven Forging step by step, she's running from the finish line back to the start, a natural-born divine craftsman!
This was even more terrifying than the "seed of a divine craftsman" he had previously imagined...
At this moment, Zhenhua was filled with excitement and the desire to take Gu Yuena as his disciple.
Regardless of whether she was from the Spirit Pagoda, she was a seed destined to become a divine craftsman. Hesitating for even a second would be a disservice to the forging profession!
But as he glanced at Snow Empress, who was calmly observing, he felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him, cooling his enthusiasm. He could only sigh at the terrifying depth of the Spirit Pagoda's resources.
The Spirit Pagoda's higher-ups were filled with powerful soul beasts, with Super Douluo stationed in various regions. Below them were countless prodigies, ensuring the pagoda's enduring prosperity.
"Since you've shown me such ability, I assume it's not just to make me envious?" Zhenhua smiled as he looked at Snow Empress. "If it's her, I'm willing to set aside sectarian differences and teach Heaven Forging... even if she doesn't wish to join the Blacksmiths' Association."
Snow Empress chuckled and shook her head, "She's not my disciple; she's the disciple of the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo. I can't make that decision. It's up to her, or perhaps the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo."
Zhenhua raised an eyebrow, deep in thought. "So she's that one's disciple..."
After a moment of contemplation, he turned his gaze to Gu Yuena, who now stood with her hands behind her back in front of Huo Yuhao, her eyes shining.
Huo Yuhao: "..."
He smiled wryly, "Well done."
Hearing this, Gu Yuena nodded lightly, a satisfied smile on her face.
Zhenhua approached and said with a smile, "Using Heaven Forging to replace Thousand Forging is a wildly imaginative idea and a new path. Executing it is as difficult as reaching the heavens. Although you have the advantage of your martial soul, accomplishing this is no small feat. You must have trained for a long time, right?"
Gu Yuena was taken aback and shook her head, "It only took about three months. It wasn't that hard."
Zhenhua: "..."
Three months to cover what took me years, going from zero to mastering Thousand Forging? And even opening a new path?
Little girl, even if it's true, you don't have to say it out loud. That hurts...
For a moment, Zhenhua was caught between laughter and tears.