r18novel Chapter 93: The Phoenix's Illusion
Chapter 93: The Phoenix's Illusion
Thinking of this, Leng Yaozhu sighed softly and nodded:
"Alright, you have a point. I didn't think it through. It's safer for you to stay in Donghai City now."
"Anyway, your teacher is Wu Changkong. With his abilities, he's more than capable of teaching you to the Soul Master realm. Once you're admitted to Shrek Academy in the future, you'll naturally have more opportunities to come to headquarters."
"Thank you for your understanding, Master!"
Gu Yue breathed a sigh of relief, a sweet smile appearing on her face. Then, she asked with some curiosity, "By the way, Master, do you also know our dance teacher?"
"Of course, your dance teacher was also a prodigy back then. In his era, he should be considered one of the three strongest. If he hadn't suffered heartbreak, clouded his mind, and wasted his years, he would probably be a Title Douluo now."
Her tone carried obvious regret, as well as a faint trace of sympathy for those who were also "fallen from the same boat".
Clearly, Wu Changkong's experience also stirred up some unpleasant memories for her.
"So that's how it is..."
Gu Yue sighed softly. She didn't know the specifics of Wu Changkong's past, but hearing stories of geniuses falling from grace always made her feel a pang of sorrow. "Teacher Wu... he's so pitiful."
"Alright, those are things of the past. You children don't need to know that much yet."
Leng Yaozhu composed herself and steered the conversation back to reality, "However, since your teacher is Wu Changkong, he must have already emphasized the importance of a 'second job' to you, right?"
"Yes, Master."
Yu Chen took over the conversation and answered respectfully.
"Teacher Wu has explained in detail the crucial role of a second profession in becoming a Battle Armor Master in the future, and requires us to choose and begin to study our second profession in depth before the third year."
"Yes, he is very well prepared for his lesson."
Leng Yaozhu nodded approvingly, looked at Yu Chen, and spoke in a gentle but concerned tone.
"Yu Chen, do you have any initial ideas or have you decided on a direction regarding a second career?"
"If you have one, please let me know first, so I can find a suitable top teacher for you based on your choices, or personally introduce you to one."
She paused briefly and added:
"Of course, if you choose 'mecha design' as your second career, then I can teach you directly. I am myself a level nine mecha designer. However..."
Leng Yaozhu glanced at Gu Yue and gave her a meaningful smile:
"I actually don't recommend that you two choose the exact same second career. Gu Yue has already decided to study mecha design with me."
"If you choose another direction, such as mecha manufacturing or other secondary professions, the two of you can complement each other's strengths in the future, which will be more helpful for you to form a team and create your own unique battle armor."
This is indeed thoughtful advice from a long-term and teamwork perspective.
"Oh?"
A hint of surprise and curiosity flashed in Leng Yaozhu's eyes. "You already have one? Tell me, what's your profession? And who is the teacher?"
She didn't think Yu Chen could find a better teacher in Donghai City than the one she recommended, but her curiosity was piqued.
"Master, my second profession is 'forging'," Yu Chen replied respectfully.
"forging?!"
Upon hearing this, Leng Yaozhu frowned slightly, her tone unconsciously taking on a stern tone, exactly the same as Wu Changkong's reaction back then.
"Why would a Soul Master with such outstanding talent like you want to learn forging?"
"In my opinion, mecha manufacturing is the path that best utilizes your strengths and is most beneficial for becoming a top-tier battle armor master! Choosing forging is a waste of your talent and energy!"
Yu Chen was prepared. Faced with his master's sudden change in attitude, he remained calm and composed, and calmly delivered the key information:
"Master, please let me finish. I am currently a level four blacksmith. My blacksmithing teacher is Master Mu Chen, the president of the East Sea City Blacksmith Association and an eight-star master craftsman."
"A level four blacksmith? The teacher is... Mu Chen?"
As expected, just like when dealing with Wu Changkong before, the moment these two pieces of information were revealed, the stern look on Leng Yaozhu's face was instantly replaced by surprise.
While an eight-star master craftsman holds a prestigious position, it wouldn't be enough to shock someone like Leng Yaozhu too much.
But the name "Mu Chen" is different; it is closely linked to another resounding name—the continent's only master craftsman, a level nine blacksmith, Zhen Hua!
Mu Chen is Zhen Hua's junior brother, a fact well-known in the forging world and among high-end soul masters.
From this perspective, Yu Chen being accepted as a disciple by Mu Chen is itself a great recognition and an opportunity.
This means that if Yu Chen's forging skills continue to improve in the future, when he needs to forge high-level battle armor (especially four-word battle armor), he will be able to more easily access the highest resources and connections in the forging world, and the difficulty will be greatly reduced.
What shocked Leng Yaozhu even more was Yu Chen's forging level—ten years old, a level four forging master!
What a terrifying talent!
This means that his potential in forging is probably no less than his talent as a Soul Master.
In the blink of an eye, Leng Yaozhu had already weighed the pros and cons and updated her understanding.
The surprise on her face gradually turned into realization and relief.
"I see……"
She nodded slightly, her tone returning to calm, even carrying a hint of apology.
"This was my preconceived notion. Since you possess such exceptional talent in forging and have gained Mu Chen's favor, choosing forging as a second profession is indeed the most suitable and promising path for you. I will naturally give you my full support."
She further explained:
"Moreover, the fact that you were able to become Mu Chen's disciple is itself a great opportunity."
"With this relationship, it will be much easier for you to acquire rare metals or request support for more advanced forging techniques in the future."
"It will be of immense benefit to the creation of battle armor, especially the future four-word battle armor."
"Thank you for your understanding and support, Master!"
Yu Chen breathed a sigh of relief and bowed respectfully once again.
Looking at the perfect couple before her, Leng Yaozhu felt increasingly satisfied. One was exceptionally talented yet composed and measured, while the other was intelligent and deeply affectionate.
However, when her gaze swept over Gu Yue's eyes, which were fixed on Yu Chen and shone with undisguised trust and admiration, her heart trembled slightly without warning.
In that instant, Gu Yue's figure seemed to overlap with a distant and blurry shadow from the depths of her memory—
That was me, just as young, just as proud, just as eager to devote my whole heart and soul to a radiant figure.
Yu Chen's tall and straight figure and those golden eyes that shone like stars and contained infinite possibilities strangely overlapped for a moment with the figure in her memory that she once looked up to, followed, and ultimately...
"Exceptionally gifted, attracting worldwide attention..."
A faint, almost imperceptible sense of bewilderment and stinging pain, which even she herself hadn't fully grasped.
Like an ink droplet in icy water, it suddenly spread in the deepest corner of her heart.
"If back then... I could have been less stubborn and more gentle like Gu Yue is now... or if he could have shown the same protectiveness that Yu Chen showed Gu Yue... would the outcome have been different?"
The thought flashed through my mind like lightning, bringing a sharp but brief pang of sorrow.
But she is, after all, Leng Yaozhu, the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, and a powerful figure who holds the reins of the Spirit Pagoda.
That unwarranted weakness and assumptions were quickly and completely covered and smoothed out by stronger reason and the calmness accumulated over the years.
All that remained was a faint sigh, barely audible to herself.
She immediately composed herself, smiled gently, and then instructed:
"Alright, that's about all the information we needed to give."
"Remember to keep the token safe. If you encounter any problems, you can contact me at any time through the emergency contact information on it."
"Cultivate diligently in Donghai City, don't waste your talents, and don't... well, hold each other back."
She gave the two of them a meaningful look, and Gu Yue's cheeks immediately flushed red again. She lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly, while Yu Chen nodded solemnly.
"The affairs inside the Spirit Pagoda are very complicated, so I only took some time to come and take a look this time."
"Now that you are all safe and sound and have found your direction, I will return to headquarters first."
As Leng Yaozhu spoke, her figure seemed to begin to become somewhat ethereal, and subtle ripples spread through the surrounding space.
"We look forward to you shining even brighter at Shrek Academy and the Spirit Tower headquarters in the future."
As soon as she finished speaking, her figure seemed to blend into the air, quietly fading and disappearing.
All that remained was that instruction, which seemed to still echo in my ears.
Yu Chen and Gu Yue exchanged a glance, both seeing relief in each other's eyes.
The arrival and recognition of their master not only cleared away many potential obstacles for them, but also seemed to pave a smooth road for them to reach higher levels.
And their budding, still somewhat immature feelings seemed to have received a blessing and permission in some sense.
Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows, while a gentle breeze carries the fresh scent of grass and trees.