Chapter 339: Lin Mo, the Big Shot, Is Working So Hard—I Need to Step Up My Game Too!

At the entrance of Thousand-Forging Street.

At an open-air barbecue stall.

The fragrance of cumin and chili, mingled with the smoky scent of charcoal fire, drifted through the air.

Although it was already deep into the night, the place was still packed with people.

Everyone sat bare-chested, laughing and chatting loudly.

At a small square table in the corner.

Zhao Meng and Li Qiang sat facing each other.

The table was covered with large kidneys, meat skewers, and empty beer bottles scattered haphazardly.

"Glug glug glug!"

Zhao Meng grabbed a bottle of beer, tipped his head back, and chugged half the bottle in one go.

"Bang!"

He slammed the bottle onto the table and wiped the foam from his lips.

His face was full of frustration.

"Damn it!"

Zhao Meng grabbed a skewer, bit off a large chunk of roasted meat in one bite, and mumbled:

"Old Li, what kind of situation is this!"

"I've been hoarding materials for so long, saving up money for so long, scrimping and saving."

"And the result?"

"I can't even get a glimpse of Elder Mo's apprentice!"

Saying this, Zhao Meng couldn't help but sigh.

Li Qiang sat across from him, holding a skewer of grilled chives in his hand, eating it slowly and methodically.

Looking at Zhao Meng like this, he smiled and said:

"Alright, Old Zhao."

"Just stop complaining."

"Who told you that person is Lin Mo?"

Li Qiang took a sip of beer and said with a bitter smile:

"What kind of status does Lin Mo have?"

"He's the future stabilizing pillar of our Dragon Nation!"

"A ruthless man who single-handedly took down the Seven Nations Coalition!"

"Not to mention Elder Mo, even the Five Elders of the Celestial Pivot Mansion have to treat him like a treasure."

"Besides, he's the one with the Divine Casting Stone in hand, and what he's forging is a Forbidden-tier exclusive weapon!"

"Whatever crappy weapon you're forging doesn't even count as a fart in front of him."

"Just accept your fate."

Hearing this.

Although Zhao Meng understood in his heart, he was still unconvinced on his lips.

"Accept my fate?"

"I'm just jealous!"

"Why does he get to enjoy top-tier treatment at eighteen?"

"When I, Zhao Meng, was eighteen, I was still being chased and bitten by wild dogs out in the wilderness!"

"How does his Lin Mo have such good luck! How can he have such high talent!"

Zhao Meng took another swig of alcohol, his face full of envy.

Just at this moment.

Boom——!!!

In the direction of Thousand-Jun Pavilion.

A sudden roar erupted.

Immediately following.

A dazzling, incomparably thick pillar of crimson light shattered the darkness of the night sky and shot straight into the clouds!

Within that pillar of light was contained an extremely terrifying energy of the earth's vein fire.

A wave of scalding heat.

Instantly swept across the entire street.

Everyone at the barbecue stall stopped what they were doing.

They all stood up, faces full of shock, and looked toward the direction of Thousand-Jun Pavilion.

"Holy shit!"

"What the hell kind of commotion is that?!"

"That's the Star Fire Furnace of Thousand-Jun Pavilion being driven at full power, Elder Mo is forging equipment."

"Damn, Elder Mo forging equipment? Who could make Elder Mo make a move... probably a Forbidden-tier exclusive weapon, right?"

"Forbidden-tier... it couldn't be Lin Mo, could it?"

"Probably is."

Zhao Meng sat in his seat, staring at that pillar of red light reaching to the heavens.

After a long while, he finally came back to his senses.

"What the hell…"

"This commotion… it's way too big…"

"Is this the spectacle of forging a Forbidden-tier exclusive weapon?"

Li Qiang's eyes were also filled with shock.

He had also never seen a Forbidden-tier exclusive weapon being forged.

He muttered to himself:

"Yeah…"

"A Forbidden-tier exclusive weapon — our Dragon Nation might not be able to forge even one in several years."

"Old Zhao."

Li Qiang turned his head and patted Zhao Meng on the shoulder.

"Think of it from another angle."

"Today, we can also say we've witnessed history."

"From now on, when you go out drinking and bragging, you can say — when big shot Lin Mo was forging a Forbidden-tier exclusive weapon, we witnessed it with our own eyes!"

"That boast is enough to last you a lifetime."

Hearing this, Zhao Meng curled his lip.

"So sour."

"Witnessing history is useless — the weapon isn't mine anyway."

"This Lin Mo — what luck, what fate."

"Forget about his heaven-defying talent — eighteen years old, just one month since class change, and damn it, he's already a Five-System Spell King!"

"His luck is heaven-defying too — enter a beginner battlefield and even get his hands on something legendary like a Divine Casting Stone."

"And now? Even his resources are this heaven-defying!"

"The Five Elders personally escorting him!"

"Dragon Nation's number one forger, Elder Mo, bringing five top-tier S-rank disciples, setting aside all their pride, joining forces to forge for him!"

"Damn, could this Lin Mo be the male lead of a power-fantasy novel?"

Hearing Zhao Meng's deflating words.

Li Qiang's expression, however, grew serious.

He stared straight at Zhao Meng.

"Old Zhao."

"I don't like hearing you talk like that."

"You can't say it like that."

Li Qiang took a deep breath, a hint of respect in his tone:

"You only see that Lin Mo has good luck, good fate."

"You only see him taking down the seven-nation coalition on the Ten Thousand Nations Battlefield, only see him enjoying top-tier treatment."

"But have you ever thought—"

"Behind all that, how much unimaginable sweat did he put in?"

Zhao Meng was stunned for a moment.

"Sweat?"

"Yeah."

Li Qiang sighed and turned his head to look in the direction of Mo Qianjun Pavilion.

Those eyes were filled with admiration.

"No matter how good the talent, that level, that experience — don't they have to be raised bit by bit, grinding monsters one by one?"

"Otherwise, you think Lin Mo's current level just blew in with the wind?"

Li Qiang turned his head, his gaze falling back on the still-dazed Zhao Meng.

"But I've heard—"

"When Lin Mo was at Capital University, almost every night he was out in the wilds grinding monsters — one grind meant an all-nighter."

"He was practically a superman!"

"Old Zhao, hand on your heart, ask yourself."

Li Qiang pressed him.

"What level were you one month after class change?"

"Think about it — to reach level 46 in one month, how many monsters would you have to kill? How many perilous Team Fuben runs would you have to grind?"

"How many all-nighters would you have to pull, not even closing your eyes once?"

Li Qiang pointed in the direction of Mo Qianjun Pavilion.

"You think the Ten Thousand Nations Battlefield is a vacation spot?"

"That's betting your life!"

Li Qiang looked at Zhao Meng.

"Just think about it and you'll know — the sweat behind him, the blood he's shed, the life-and-death he's gone through…"

"His talent is strong, sure, but you can't just deny his hard work like that!"

Hearing Li Qiang's words.

Zhao Meng felt as if a bucket of enlightenment had been poured over his head.

Yeah.

Eighteen years old, barely half a month into his first year of college, and already level 46.

How could that be the work of pure talent alone?

That was clearly the result of grinding day and night without sleep!

Big shot Lin Mo was seizing every second to get stronger, not even sleeping.

And what about himself?

Zhao Meng lowered his head and glanced at the large lamb kidneys and empty bottles on the table.

Instantly, a wave of intense shame washed over him.

"Old Li!"

"You're right!"

Zhao Meng shot to his feet.

A blazing fire of hot-blooded passion ignited all over his body.

"Someone ten thousand times more badass than me is grinding experience through the night!"

"What right do I have to sit here drinking beer and eating skewers?"

"What right do I have to sit here complaining that fate is unfair?"

Zhao Meng grabbed Li Qiang's arm in one swift motion.

"Stop eating!"

"If we can't get equipment, we'll wait a few days — but we can't sit idle in the meantime!"

"Come on, let's head outside the city to grind monsters right now!"

"If big shot Lin Mo can grind monsters without sleeping, then Zhao Meng can too!"

Li Qiang was still holding half an unfinished skewer of grilled chives in his hand, and Zhao Meng's yank made him stumble, nearly losing his footing.

"Hey hey hey!"

"Old Zhao! Don't drag me!"

"I was just casually venting my feelings — I haven't even eaten my fill yet!"

"Eat my ass!"

"Grind!"

Zhao Meng let out a great roar, forcibly dragging Li Qiang along as he strode out of Star Casting Town without looking back.