Chapter 11: Qian Duoduo

So that's how it is; I didn't expect Tang Wulin, at such a young age, to already have learned this way of making money—truly impressive!

I'm telling you, you've been following me all the way, even to the Hun Dao Qi Shi Yan Qu—aren't you going back?

Of course, I said I'd be hanging out with you from now on, right? So I definitely need to cozy up to you.

……

Twenty minutes later, the two arrived outside the Hun Dao Qi Shi Yan Qu.

Looking at Zhou Sichen's shameless grin, Tang Wulin felt a deep sense of helplessness well up in his chest.

He had no interest in being Zhou Sichen's big brother, but no matter how many times he refused, that guy always had this expression.

This was still his first encounter with someone like this; he felt that no matter what he said, the other person seemed not to hear him at all.

Zhou Sichen laughed and patted his shoulder, saying, "All right, I've latched onto you—just give up."

……Fine, do as you please.

Tang Wulin sighed, stopped trying to persuade Zhou Sichen, stepped forward and said to the gatekeeper of the Hun Dao Qi Shi Yan Qu, "Hello, I heard you can make money by forging here—is that true?"

?

Looking at Tang Wulin, who looked younger than the enrollment age, the gatekeeper gradually had three question marks appear above his head.

"Where did this kid come from? Hurry back and don't cause trouble!"

"Ah, this... I..."

Just as Tang Wulin was about to explain, Zhou Sichen chimed in from the side.

"Hey, don't say that, big brother gatekeeper—I'm Zhou Sichen from Freshman Class 7. I can guarantee with my reputation that Tang Wulin is a student of Shilake Academy; give him a chance."

"You guys……"

The gatekeeper frowned, about to lecture these two brats who came from nowhere, when two sturdy men walked out of the Hun Dao Qi Shi Yan Qu.

As the two were speaking, upon seeing Tang Wulin, they both froze.

"What's going on?"

Upon seeing those two sturdy men, the gatekeeper quickly stood at attention and said, "Dean Qian, this child was just insisting on coming here to forge and make money; I'm terribly sorry for disturbing you—I'll send him back right away."

The arrivals were precisely the Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, Qian Duoduo, and his right-hand man, Fan Yu—to this lowly gatekeeper, either of them was someone he could not afford to offend.

He now had to quickly send Tang Wulin away, otherwise if these two adults complained that he wasn't doing his job and fired him, where could he go to plead his case?

However, something unexpected happened—Qian Duoduo frowned and scolded:

"What are you saying? Since this child wants to work here, we ought to give him a chance—not even giving him a try isn't the style of our Soul Tool Department; you'd better not interfere."

Then, ignoring the gatekeeper's stunned stare, he smiled and looked at Tang Wulin.

"Kid, what's your name?"

Tang Wulin answered honestly.

"Tang Wulin."

Qian Duoduo's smile instantly grew richer.

"Tang Wulin? What a great name—come on, bring your friend inside."

While saying that, he gestured with his eyes to Fan Yu, who nodded silently, opened the door, and led everyone into the Hun Dao Qi Shi Yan Qu.

As he led Tang Wulin forward, Qian Duoduo enthusiastically introduced himself: "Wulin, I'm the Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, my name is Qian Duoduo; the one leading the way ahead is my capable assistant, Fan Yu; if you often come here to forge in the future, I can also introduce you to the Dean of our Soul Tool Department, Xianlin'er."

"……" Tang Wulin silently nodded.

For some reason, he always felt Qian Duoduo was overly enthusiastic toward him, as if they had known each other beforehand.

But he was just a first-year freshman—how could the Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department possibly take notice of him? So he suspected he was overthinking.

In fact, Tang Wulin still underestimated the significance of an Ultimate Soul to Shilake Academy.

After he entered the academy through Mu En's connections, soon Dean Yan Shaozhe and Dean Qian Duoduo learned of his news.

Upon hearing that an Ultimate Soul had reappeared after thousands of years, and moreover it was the Golden Dragon, the progenitor of strength, the four deans of the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department exploded in excitement.

They all declared they wanted to snatch Tang Wulin away.

However, at first Qian Duoduo actually didn't hold much hope.

After all, the Martial Soul Department has been suppressing the Soul Tool Department for years, making it hard to poach talent from the Martial Soul Department's grasp.

This time, it was mostly just going through the motions.

However, something unexpected happened—Mu En, who was Teacher Yan Shaozhe's instructor, spoke up, saying that during the first year they were forbidden from actively making moves to poach people, and that Tang Wulin should experience academy life on his own and make his own choice.

This remark completely changed the situation.

Qian Duoduo and Xianlin'er were naturally overjoyed, after all this meant they had a slim chance to snatch Tang Wulin from under the Martial Soul Department's grasp.

This time Qian Duoduo came here specifically to instruct Fan Yu to find a way to get Tang Wulin into their hands.

Who would have thought that before they could take the initiative, Tang Wulin himself showed up at their door?

Qian Duoduo couldn't help but burst into wild laughter in his heart.

Old Yan, old Yan—although I haven't really beaten you in this lifetime, at least this time fortune is on my side.

Soon, the few people arrived at their destination.

"Wow——"

Upon seeing the sight of the Hun Dao Qi Shi Yan Qu, Tang Wulin couldn't help but widen his eyes.

The interior of the Hun Dao Qi Shi Yan Qu was far more spacious than he imagined; countless soul tool masters were here crafting and testing soul tools, the fervent shouts, explosive booms, and the crisp clang of hammering on metal vibrated Tang Wulin's eardrums, the place filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder, letting one truly feel what work here entails.

Tang Wulin had never seen such a magnificent sight, and for a moment he stared blankly.

Seeing Tang Wulin's shocked expression, Qian Duoduo smiled proudly.

"How about it, impressive? Welcome to the Shilake Soul Tool Experiment Area—this is the largest soul tool research base on the Douluo Continent, originally belonging to the Three Kingdoms, and it will certainly not bury your forging talent."

Saying that, he led the few people to a forging bench, pointed at the metal on the table, and said, "Come, show your ability, Tang Wulin—pick any metal on the table."

Tang Wulin swallowed a mouthful of saliva, nodded, and came to the forging platform.

In terms of precision, this forging platform from ten thousand years ago is certainly far inferior to the era Tang Wulin previously lived in, but the metal placed on this table are all excellent, and many of these metals are ones Tang Wulin had only heard of but never seen before.

Although Shrek Academy in the field of rare metal resources is far inferior to the Ri Yue Di Guo, it is, after all, the place with the highest level of soul tool technology among the original three kingdoms, and can still provide many resources for Tang Wulin's forging.

However, Tang Wulin's goal this time is not these rare metals he has never seen.

He reached out and grabbed a piece of heavy silver.

Undoubtedly, this is the metal he is most skilled at forging.

It is also the metal he is most confident will make Qian Duoduo look at him with new eyes.

(End of chapter)