"Since you can improve level-seven and level-eight arrays, why not just improve the level-nine array? That way, the mecha created would be a red-grade mecha."
Gu Yuena's tone was cheerful, tinged with expectation. Letting a soul spirit directly reside in a red-grade mecha would be far superior to a black-grade one.
"I did simplify the level-nine array somewhat, but it's useless right now. Bear Lord still can't forge divine-grade metals, so there's no way to create a red-grade mecha."
To ask Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua to forge divine metals? No need. The favor owed would be heavy, the price high, and he might not even get a slot.
Rather than go through all that trouble, it was easier to just create black-grade mechas—quick, convenient, and without having to beg anyone.
Hearing Yun Ze put it that way, Bear Lord's face instantly turned red. Weakly, he muttered, "I'll soon become an eighth-rank blacksmith. I'm not far from ninth rank."
"So that's how it is." Gu Yuena nodded in realization. Then, delighted, she said: "That means you can already create soul tools comparable to ninth-rank ones?"
"Not yet. To make a ninth-rank soul tool, multiple arrays are required. I've only simplified three so far, so I can't produce one yet," Yun Ze explained.
"Keep working hard—I believe you'll be able to create a ninth-rank soul tool very soon." Gu Yuena's confidence in Yun Ze was unwavering.
Di Tian, Bi Ji, and the others exchanged strange looks. In front of the Young Master, their Miss was nothing like her usual cold self. She was just like a love-struck girl.
Yun Ze only smiled, not responding further, and smoothly changed the topic. "Contact your teacher Leng Yaozhu. Tell her that our Dragon Phoenix Hall is willing to purchase twenty ten-thousand-year soul spirits at thirty percent above market price. The quality must be the very best."
"No problem. I'll call her in a bit," Gu Yuena agreed readily.
Yun Ze nodded. He didn't specify that among those soul spirits, some needed to be ape-type—Gu Yuena would naturally understand without him having to say it.
With a flash of his storage ring, a golden dragon pearl appeared in Yun Ze's hand. He handed it to Gu Yuena.
"You finished absorbing all the energy inside in just three days?" Gu Yuena asked in surprise. She wasn't reluctant to part with its energy; she was simply shocked at Yun Ze's absorption speed.
"Not that fast." Yun Ze shook his head and explained: "Tomorrow I plan to obtain my second soul spirit, and at the same time visit the Spirit Ascension Platform."
"When that happens, a large amount of energy will accumulate in my body. For some time afterward, I'll mainly focus on refining that energy. This dragon pearl won't be useful to me."
"No point in letting it sit idle. Better that you absorb the Golden Dragon King's bloodline within it. Just remember to leave me some of the pure energy."
"Alright, rest assured. I'll only absorb the bloodline; the energy will all be yours," Gu Yuena said cheerfully.
To her, bloodline was far more important than energy. Even though this was only a fragment of the Golden Dragon King's bloodline, once absorbed, it would still be enough to transform her own bloodline.
Shrek Academy, Sea God Island, before the Golden Tree.
Yun Ming, Ya Li, and the rest of the Sea God Pavilion's members, along with Tang Wulin, stood solemnly before the Golden Tree, their expressions grave and respectful.
Tang Wulin's face was pale, his body weak and powerless, visibly frail. His blood energy had dropped to less than a tenth of what it once was.
He had awakened the day before yesterday, lying in bed for nearly two days before he could barely get up and walk.
At this moment, he looked terrible. His physical weakness was one thing, but the real pain lay in his heart—his bloodline power had been stolen.
To him, this was like a bolt from the blue, utterly unacceptable. Without his bloodline, he felt as though his life had turned to darkness.
Sea God Pavilion Master Yun Ming was communicating with the Golden Tree. Minutes later, the tree radiated golden light.
Sensing the Golden Tree's change, Tang Wulin immediately cast a hopeful gaze toward it—like a drowning man grasping a lifeline.
According to Teacher Feng Wuyu, it was the Golden Tree that had directed the Pavilion Master to save him. Since it was so miraculous, perhaps it could help him.
The Golden Tree released a golden beam of light that enveloped Tang Wulin. Everyone's eyes turned to him.
Suddenly wrapped in the warm glow, Tang Wulin froze, confused, instinctively seeking help from Feng Wuyu and Zhuo Shi.
"Don't worry. Elder Jin won't harm you," Zhuo Shi reassured him, though in truth, even he had no idea what Elder Jin intended.
Hearing this, Tang Wulin relaxed somewhat, letting the golden light pull him toward the Golden Tree, though still a little nervous.
"Ugh…" Tang Wulin groaned as his consciousness blurred. When he regained clarity, he was in a golden world of plants.
The ground was carpeted with golden flora swaying in the wind, brimming with vitality. The trees around him were towering and dense, blocking out the sky.
"What is this?" Tang Wulin looked around anxiously, though he kept his composure. This scene felt strangely familiar, reminiscent of when he had met Old Tang.
As he wondered, two figures condensed before him—an old man and a beautiful woman.
The old man was hunched, his entire body a reddish-gold. His hair and beard trailed down to the ground, and his eyes shone with pale golden light.
The woman wore a white gown, her long blue hair cascading behind her. She was stunning, her face flawless.
"Who are you?" Tang Wulin instinctively stepped back a few paces, though his voice remained polite.
"I am the spirit of this Golden Tree. They all call me Elder Jin. You may do the same," the hunched elder said.
"Nice to meet you, Elder Jin," Tang Wulin greeted politely.
The woman said nothing at first, only gazed at Tang Wulin with gentle eyes. After looking him over, she smiled beautifully. "You look more like your father."
Her words stunned Tang Wulin. "You… know my father?"
The woman nodded with a smile. She had appeared before Tang Wulin precisely to tell him about his origins—no beating around the bush, just the truth.
When she finished, Tang Wulin stood frozen, his heart surging with waves of shock, unable to calm down.
His father was actually the legendary Sea God Tang San—the founder of the Tang Sect, who had led Shrek to glory and left countless legends across the continent?
"This… this isn't a trick, is it?" Tang Wulin looked doubtfully at the woman, who claimed to be his grandmother.
"Would I have any reason to lie to you about this?" A Yin replied seriously.
"I know discovering that your true father is a legendary figure feels unbelievable. But it's the truth—you must try to accept it."
"Originally, we hadn't planned to reveal your parentage yet. It was too soon. But the disaster you just suffered forced us to tell you earlier."
"Because now, we must help you awaken the bloodline within you—the bloodline of God King Tang San."
"If you don't awaken it, after losing part of your Golden Dragon King bloodline, not only will you decline into mediocrity, but you could even lose your life. That's something neither I nor your father wish to see."
If Tang Wulin didn't grow stronger quickly, when the eleventh Golden Dragon King seal broke, it would mean certain death.
"God King bloodline?" Tang Wulin's spirit lifted. The gloom that had weighed him down seemed to vanish instantly.
"Yes," A Yin nodded with a smile. "As the son of God King Tang San, your bloodline is naturally extraordinary."
"Normally, you would awaken at least one of the Blue Silver Emperor or Clear Sky Hammer martial souls. The chance of twin martial souls is very high."
"Just like your sister Tang Wutong—she has two martial souls. And with the divine sense granted by your father, it could even be considered three."
"But my martial soul is only Blue Silver Grass…" Tang Wulin's eyes dimmed. Saying he didn't dislike it would be a lie.
"That was because the Golden Dragon King's bloodline suppressed your innate bloodline, causing you to awaken only the Blue Silver Grass."
"Without the Golden Dragon King bloodline, you would certainly have awakened a martial soul at the level of the Blue Silver Emperor," A Yin explained.
"Then now that I've lost the Golden Dragon King bloodline, and the suppression is gone, do I have a chance to awaken the Blue Silver Emperor or Clear Sky Hammer through a second awakening?" Tang Wulin asked hopefully. By now, he was half-convinced about being the son of a God King—there was no reason for her to lie.
"Of course. That's exactly why I'm here—to help you awaken your true bloodline. Both your father and I want you to grow strong. And the foundation of that lies in a powerful martial soul."
This was something she and Tang Hao had discussed, and they had decided she would be the one to awaken Tang Wulin's bloodline.
Only with a powerful martial soul could this child grow quickly enough to withstand the remaining eight Golden Dragon King seals within him.