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"Not that difficult, is it?"
This was the immediate reaction of all the students.
Shrek City was located in the center of the continent, while Mingdu was to the west. Even taking a soul-guided train without transfers would take three full days to reach Mingdu, meaning six days round trip. Even if they had to pass through ten cities, including Mingdu, and factor in transfer times, ten days was still achievable.
As for finding strong opponents to duel, most of them were only Great Soul Masters, but they felt capable of challenging Soul Honors-level opponents.
None of the students were fools; they quickly came up with numerous strategies in their minds.
However, as they were devising their plans, Wu Zhangkong paused for a long moment before finally revealing the strictest condition.
"The final requirement of this assessment is that before you leave, all your storage-type soul tools, communication devices, resources, and money will be confiscated. You will leave with nothing."
Leave with nothing?
The students' expressions stiffened.
Not just find people to challenge?
They also had to figure out how to handle food, clothing, shelter, and transportation?
Without storage soul tools or money, who would they fight?
Previously, most students had planned to pay others to spar with them.
Now, with their money confiscated, not only did they lack funds to hire opponents, but they also had no money for soul-guided train tickets.
"Additionally, you are not allowed to form groups. Each student must travel alone. Special teachers will accompany you to record your challenges. They will not intervene or reveal themselves unless you are in danger."
The students looked troubled, pondering how to make money quickly.
At this moment, Xu Yuan raised his hand.
"Teacher, my mech should not be confiscated, right?"
Upon hearing Xu Yuan's question, Wu Zhangkong frowned deeply.
He was genuinely conflicted.
That mech was practically a cheat tool.
A battle armor or mech made from spirit-forged alloy could indeed be removed from a soul master's body, but prolonged separation would affect the mutual nurturing between the soul master and the equipment, even if it didn't cause a complete disconnect.
If it were just one or two pieces of battle armor, it wouldn't be a big deal, but Xu Yuan had an entire mech.
Traveling from Shrek City to Mingdu in the mech would likely be faster than taking a soul-guided train. It could travel in a straight line without being restricted by schedules, offering great flexibility.
"You cannot use the mech's capabilities," Wu Zhangkong said after some hesitation.
"What about unexpected situations?"
"What kind of unexpected situations?" Wu Zhangkong asked, puzzled.
"For example, a terrorist attack."
"In the event of unforeseen circumstances outside the scope of the academy's assessment task, using the mech is permitted." His tone was indifferent.
Though he said this, Wu Zhangkong didn't believe such a thing would happen.
After all, this was a law-abiding society.
---
The next morning, the students of Class One, Grade One were stripped bare of everything—every resource, every storage soul tool, and every communication device was confiscated by the academy.
"Sigh, working hard for half a lifetime, only to return to square one," one student joked.
"Hmph, good luck living to forty."
"..."
"Brother Xu, we're completely broke now. How do you plan to make money?" Tang Wulin asked curiously.
Wu Siduo and others gathered around Xu Yuan, hoping to learn from him.
They began discussing ways to earn their first pot of gold.
"For me, it's simple."
Xu Yuan remained calm and collected.
He walked to the entrance of the Outer Court.
Tang Wulin and the others watched from afar.
With no tools at all, what could he possibly do?
They saw Xu Yuan stop a passing student.
"Hey, do you need Thousand Refinements Grade-One metal?"
"Can you forge Thousand Refinements Grade-One metal?" The student stopped—a fourth-year senior—who scrutinized Xu Yuan skeptically.
"Senior, you've been here longer than me. Let's cut to the chase—I'm a first-year student undergoing an assessment."
The senior immediately understood.
Clearly, he had been through this himself and knew Xu Yuan's current situation.
"No loans allowed."
The academy strictly forbade lending money, especially at this critical juncture.
"I'm not asking for freebies. I'll forge one piece of Thousand Refinements Grade-One metal for you in exchange for 100,000 Federal Credits."
100,000 Federal Credits for one piece of Thousand Refinements Grade-One metal?
And the rare metal had to be provided by the client.
It was actually a bargain.
But—
"I'm Xu Yuan."
Xu Yuan spoke calmly.
The senior's eyes widened slightly as he recalled the recent uproar at the academy. After carefully observing Xu Yuan, he realized the description matched.
"Alright, I trust your forging skills. But didn't they confiscate all your equipment? Traveling to the Forging Association now would waste a lot of time," the senior said, crossing his arms with interest.
He kindly reminded Xu Yuan, "Let me warn you—the association has been very strict lately. Without ID credentials, you won't even be able to access your exclusive forging room. If you want to use the association's equipment, the fastest route would be to register as a social forger, take the assessment, get ranked, and then upgrade to at least Level Four to apply for a forging room."
This senior was quite considerate.
Xu Yuan smiled faintly. "These aren't problems."
He waved his hand, and a brush appeared in his grip.
Black-and-white base, adorned with green patterns, its bristles shimmered with five colors intertwined.
The senior's pupils contracted.
Four purple soul rings rose beneath Xu Yuan's feet.
Four rings—a Soul Ancestor.
A male first-year Soul Ancestor—his identity was almost confirmed.
But what did he summon his martial soul for?
The senior grew wary.
Having experienced much, he knew there were juniors who would foolishly resort to force to borrow money.
Xu Yuan showed no intention of fighting, which slightly eased the senior's tension. Curious, he watched Xu Yuan's actions.
Xu Yuan held the brush and sketched in midair.
In the blink of an eye, a pair of forging hammers and a massive forging table emerged from his drawing.
His third soul ring flashed, and the items he had drawn materialized into reality.
The senior's eyes widened in astonishment.
You can do that?!
Flames roared within the forging table, raising the surrounding air temperature significantly.
"Senior, you should have some rare metals on you, right?"
Snapping back to reality, the senior hesitated for a moment before retrieving a piece of rare metal from his storage soul tool.
"Blue Pregnancy Copper?" Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, looking at the senior.
(T/N: These names are weird af. They used 蓝孕铜 which directly translates to 'Blue Pregnancy Copper. How in the world am I supposed to translate that without it sounding awkward)
"That'll cost extra."
Forging Blue Pregnancy Copper was far more difficult than ordinary rare metals.
Moreover, it was one of the indispensable materials for crafting battle armor cores.
100,000 Federal Credits for this?
"Junior, don't worry about the money. I'll give you 500,000 Federal Credits. Additionally, I've collected three pieces of Blue Pregnancy Copper. Successfully forge one for me, and any leftovers are yours."
Xu Yuan nodded.
That was acceptable.
He took the Blue Pregnancy Copper from the senior and tossed it into the forging table.
From afar, Tang Wulin and the others were utterly dumbfounded.
This...
The academy confiscating his equipment truly meant nothing!
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