Because of the popularity of the Medicine King Pavilion, the forging workshop on the first floor also saw a surge in business. Many people came daily to purchase metals.
The most sought-after were the Level 7 Soul-Forged Metals crafted by Xiong Jun. Many powerful mech engineers and combat armor masters were eager to buy them.
Having some free time each day, and knowing that forging more could improve his understanding of metals to break through to Level 8 Holy Artisan, Xiong Jun forged for nearly ten hours every day.
With his formidable physique, ten hours of continuous forging was no challenge at all. If he didn't have to take time to teach other Dark Gold Fearclaw Bear apprentices, he might even forge for a few more hours. For him, forging was never tiring.
With such long forging hours and a Soul-Forging success rate exceeding eighty percent, he could create seven to eight pieces of Soul-Forged Metal daily.
Selling all of them brought in tens of millions in revenue. Along with other grades of metal, the daily income of the workshop could reach fifty to sixty million—probably one of the top forging revenues.
Artisans at the Holy Artisan level were extremely profitable, especially high-output Holy Artisans like Xiong Jun.
The metals he forged in a single month could equal what some Holy Artisans forged in an entire year. Of course, that generated massive profits.
The Dragon Phoenix Hall thrived in an orderly and prosperous manner. Everything was going smoothly.
Over these five months, Yun Ze's daily life was simple: reading in the morning, forging metals and building mechs in the afternoon, and training at night.
He typically trained until three in the morning. Nearly eight hours of training daily significantly accelerated his soul power growth.
In these five months, his soul power had broken through to Level 6, averaging over a level per month. Now, his soul power had reached Level 28, and he would soon break through another level.
One day, Yun Ze was as usual in the fifth-floor library, reviewing materials. He had already read all the books on soul-guided devices and mechs, and had covered most of the combat armor section.
But "reading" for him wasn't casual skimming—he memorized and fully mastered everything, so that once his soul power reached the required level, he could directly start crafting.
While he was focused on studying, a group of unexpected visitors arrived outside the Sun-Moon Royal Academy.
"Students of Sun-Moon Royal Academy, listen up! We five are from Shrek Academy, average age fourteen, and we have come to challenge the strongest among you under twenty. We are here today only to show you the gap between you and the strongest academy on the continent."
"Students of Sun-Moon Royal Academy, listen up…"
Their loud voices rolled like thunder, reaching inside the academy and the surrounding streets. Perhaps fearing that some wouldn't hear, they repeated their message several times.
The students inside the academy frowned. Some hot-headed students pounded on tables and stood up.
"How dare these fourteen-year-old brats come provoke Sun-Moon Royal Academy! Brothers, let's go teach them a lesson!"
"Let's go!" Many rose angrily, ready to respond and go deal with the troublemakers.
"Everyone sit down!" A middle-aged teacher on the podium shouted sternly, his voice infused with soul power. The command made the rebellious students tremble.
"Teacher, they're provoking us right at our doorstep! Should we just sit here?" the student who first stood up complained.
The middle-aged man's expression darkened—not at the students, but at the shouters outside.
From their arrogant words, he immediately recognized where they were from: Shrek Academy, long-time rivals of Sun-Moon Royal Academy, with a deep-seated feud.
Although he wanted to go out and teach them a lesson, he remained rational. He glanced at the angry students, feeling satisfied with their restraint, yet he sternly said:
"Didn't you hear me? Sit down. The academy will handle this matter—you don't need to intervene. I will count to three. If anyone doesn't sit, don't blame me for being impolite."
The teacher's authority was obvious. Hearing this, the students quickly sat down, causing desks and chairs to clatter.
Even the first student who had stood up hurriedly sat down after a glare, no longer daring to go outside and cause trouble.
Many students were enraged, but the teachers managed to suppress them, preventing a riot.
Gu Yue Na, working in her private laboratory on a soul-guided device, also heard the commotion and paused.
She walked to the window, drew the curtains, and looked toward the school gate with slight confusion, furrowing her brows.
"Why has the bloodline suddenly become restless?" Gu Yue Na murmured, then headed outside the lab.
At the academy gate, three boys and two girls stood in a row, all appearing fourteen to fifteen years old.
When the voices first sounded, many staff rushed out, and nearby people gathered to watch, whispering among themselves.
The academy's Dean of Discipline, Duan Jingliang, approached the five, his expression grim.
"From Shrek Academy?"
The boy in the center of the group stepped forward, nodding.
"We are from Shrek Academy's outer campus, Class One, First Year."
The boy stood over 1.7 meters tall, with a proportionate build that conveyed strength despite not being bulky. He was handsome, with a pair of large, striking eyes.
Facing a middle-aged man far stronger than himself, he remained composed, upholding Shrek Academy's reputation.
"Good, it seems that gaining admission to Shrek Academy has made you all quite arrogant. So you dare to disregard Sun-Moon Royal Academy?"
Duan Jingliang, enraged, laughed bitterly. He felt humiliated—when did even newly enrolled students from Shrek Academy gain the nerve to taunt them?
Tang Wulin smiled brightly and said earnestly:
"You must be joking. We came because we respect Sun-Moon Royal Academy, not because we're disrespecting you. We wouldn't bother challenging ordinary academies—it would be meaningless."
The four behind him nodded in agreement. If they didn't respect Sun-Moon Royal Academy, they wouldn't have come at all.
"Very well, then we do appreciate your regard," Duan Jingliang sneered.
When old experts from Shrek's Poseidon Pavilion said "appreciate," he could feel a bit better. But hearing it from these students was irritating.
"Follow me. Sun-Moon Royal Academy accepts your challenge," he said, turning and leading them into the academy.
Tang Wulin and the four hesitated for a moment, then followed. They weren't worried about any danger inside.
Firstly, the academy wouldn't deliberately harm a few teenagers.
Secondly, they were from Shrek Academy. Any harm would provoke Shrek Academy itself—they wouldn't dare.
Inside the first building, Duan Jingliang led Tang Wulin and the others toward the elevators.
(End of Chapter)