Chapter 32: The Six-Year-Old Master Blacksmith

After the three finished speaking, they all turned their gazes toward Xu Zhao.

"Martial Soul grades are merely human constructs, and since my Martial Souls are all mutated—" Xu Zhao said in a low voice, "I don't know exactly which tier they fall into, but they are certainly at the ceiling of top-tier Martial Souls."

"As for 'super' Martial Souls, I have complete control over mine, which doesn't fit the world's definition of a super Martial Soul."

"'All' of them?"

The perceptive Xue Liushuang caught the keyword again and asked in an extremely faint voice, "Boss, you don't happen to have... more than one Martial Soul, do you?"

Since they were all his own people, Xu Zhao saw no reason to hide it. Considering they were in a classroom, he didn't answer aloud but quietly held up two fingers.

Two? He has two? It really was a twin Martial Soul!

While the three felt even more admiration, they also felt deeply discouraged. One Martial Soul was already stronger than them, and now he had another of the same caliber. How could there be such a massive gap between people?

Yet sometimes, the gap between individuals can indeed be that vast. Some Soul Masters have a first soul ring with only a ten-year lifespan. However, the protagonist of destiny, Huo Yuhao, could have a million-year first soul ring, and with the help of the Skydream Iceworm, he could conjure a second Martial Soul out of thin air, along with half a third Martial Soul bestowed by Electrolux.

A million-year first ring for the first Martial Soul, a four-hundred-thousand-year first ring for the second, and a pseudo-god-tier ring for the unique third Martial Soul. Such an unprecedented achievement, unmatched by any before or after, was unique to Huo Yuhao. Had the heavens not dropped a "dog leash" to restrain him, his potential would have been truly limitless, given all those heaven-defying opportunities. At the very least, he could have easily trampled the "pure and noble" God King.

...

Time flowed like water. Before one knew it, the entire month of September had passed. During this time, Xu Zhao gradually grew accustomed to his campus life at the Primary Department of the Shrek Academy of Sun-Moon Imperial Soul Engineering.

His daily schedule was packed: in the morning, he studied various theoretical subjects at the academy; in the afternoon, he learned forging from Zhen Hua at the Blacksmith's Association; in the evening, he received guidance from Mu Ye at home, practicing innate secret techniques; and at night, he practiced soul power through meditation instead of sleep. On weekend mornings, Xu Zhao did not idle either, sparring with Xu Yucheng, Xue Liushuang, and Weng Daimin to improve his combat experience.

Such a schedule was undoubtedly tiring, but Xu Zhao found it fulfilling.

September slipped away. October 1st, Monday.

Sun-Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Primary Department. Grade One, Solar Class. Today was the day for the election of the four class committee members and the challenge matches for the class monitor and vice-monitor positions. The students, who usually preferred to arrive at the last minute, had all arrived at the classroom early, waiting in anticipation.

"It seems everyone is quite excited." When Zhang Xuanfeng walked into the classroom, he saw all thirty-six students seated. "Since that is the case, I won't waste time. Follow me."

He gestured for them to follow and led them into a more spacious classroom on the second floor. Once everyone was inside, Zhang Xuanfeng said, "The challenge matches will come later; let's hold the election first. Now, those who wish to run for Forging, Mecha Manufacturing, Mecha Design, or Mecha Repair, please step out and form four separate lines."

As he spoke, he designated four areas. Of the thirty-six students in the Solar Class, thirty-three stepped out and moved to the different zones. Mecha Repair had the most, with eleven people. Mecha Manufacturing followed with nine, and Mecha Design with eight. Only Forging had the fewest, with just five.

Zhang Xuanfeng was not surprised by these numbers. The three students who remained seated all came from commoner families and had only begun learning about these four sub-professions after starting school; they were not on the same starting line as those from Soul Master clans. While they might catch up after a few years of talent, the three years of preschool education the clan children had received could not be bridged in a mere month.

"The content for this selection will be basic theoretical knowledge. Practical application will be an extra credit project," he announced, looking at the students. "Of course, if any of you have already achieved a formal rank, you are exempt from the selection and will be directly appointed as a committee member. If multiple ranked students appear for the same profession, a practical competition will be held."

The four professions of Forging, Mecha Manufacturing, Mecha Design, and Mecha Repair were each divided into nine levels, with one being the lowest and nine the highest. A six-year-old achieving a formal rank—even in the simplest field of Mecha Repair—was a super genius. A six-year-old First-Level Mecha Repairer appeared at the academy only once every few decades. A First-Level Mecha Manufacturer appeared once every hundred years or so, and a First-Level Mecha Designer once every few centuries. As for a six-year-old First-Level Blacksmith, not only had one never appeared at the academy, but one had never appeared in the entire history of the Federation.

Zhang Xuanfeng’s gaze swept across the Mecha Repair area. No one... no one... no one... no... wait?

He widened his eyes, staring at Xu Zhao who had stepped out of the line. Trembling, he asked, "Blacksmith, you—you have achieved a rank?"

"Yes, teacher, I have achieved a rank," Xu Zhao replied calmly under the homeroom teacher's gaze. He reached into his pocket and took out a badge. It had a yellow background, a slightly raised black hammer pattern in the center, and a yellow star engraved nearby.

"This is my First-Level Blacksmith badge. If you don't believe me, teacher, you can log into the Blacksmith's official website to verify it; my information is there. Of course, if that is too much trouble, I can demonstrate it on the spot by forging a piece of hundred-refined metal."

"No, no need," Zhang Xuanfeng waved his hand repeatedly. "I believe you." Although it was hard to believe, as the grandson of the Xu family, there was no reason for Xu Zhao to lie about this. Since he had produced the badge, a quick check on the official website would confirm its authenticity.

"Student Xu Zhao, may I ask who your forging teacher is—which senior in the forging world?" Zhang Xuanfeng asked, already guessing which of the two Eight-Level Saint Craftsmen in Mingdu it might be. He instinctively ignored the God Craftsman Zhen Hua. Although news of Zhen Hua moving his headquarters from Dou Tian to Mingdu had spread, years of ingrained thinking made him assume the God Craftsman was still far away in Dou Tian City, so he hadn't included him in his guesses.

"My master is the God Craftsman, Zhen Hua," Xu Zhao said, his tone calm, as if he were stating something entirely ordinary.