After forging the needle, Zhen remained standing beside the anvil for a moment, letting his breathing settle. Fine beads of sweat rolled down his temples as he wiped his forehead with his sleeve. The faint metallic scent of refined ore and heated steel clung to his clothes, mixed with the lingering warmth of the forge. Only after carefully inspecting the needle one final time did he straighten his posture and walk toward Ling Hao.
With both hands, Zhen respectfully handed over the finished needle. "Mr. Hao, I have forged the needle you wanted," he said. His voice was calm, steady, and carried a quiet confidence born from familiarity rather than arrogance.
Ling Hao accepted the needle and raised it under the hanging lamp. The thin body of the needle reflected a sharp, cold gleam as he rotated it slowly between his fingers. Its surface was smooth, its balance precise, and its aura faint yet stable. After a moment, Ling Hao nodded in clear satisfaction before shifting his gaze to Zhen.
"Well, Zhen," Ling Hao said with a smile, "before coming here, you were clearly lost in thought and rather disturbed." He let out a soft chuckle. "But look at you now… hmm. You're looking quite motivated."
Hearing this, Zhen felt his ears grow warm. He raised a hand and rubbed the back of his head, a shy and slightly awkward smile appearing on his face. "I suppose… forging helped clear my mind," he replied quietly, his gaze drifting briefly toward the forge.
Ling Hao laughed heartily, his voice filling the hall. A moment later, Zhen joined him, and the sound of their laughter echoed across the blacksmith hall, blending with the fading heat of the forge and the gentle creaking of cooling metal. For Zhen, it felt like a weight had been lifted, if only for a short while.
As night slowly descended upon the academy, Zhen left the blacksmith hall and met up with Lei Wei, Shi Feng, Gu Na'er, Bing Xue'er, and Yu Xiatao. Together, they walked toward the training field—the familiar place they visited almost every night. Lamps lined the path, casting long shadows across the stone ground, while the cool night air felt heavier than usual.
Most of them walked in silence, their expressions tense and subdued. Thoughts of the Holy Battles, the academy's harsh rules, and the looming pressure weighed heavily on their minds. In contrast, Zhen felt unusually light-hearted. His steps were steady, his breathing calm, as if the rhythmic sound of hammer striking metal still echoed within him.
His friends couldn't help but notice the difference.
"Why does Zhen look so energetic?" Lei Wei muttered, glancing sideways at him with suspicion.
Shi Feng narrowed his eyes slightly. "Yeah… it's strange. He should be just as stressed as the rest of us."
Zhen only smiled faintly, offering no explanation.
When they finally reached the field, they saw Long Yi already standing there. Her arms were crossed, her posture straight and imposing, as she waited beneath the open night sky. Even without releasing her aura, her presence alone carried pressure.
"You little demons have finally arrived…" Long Yi said calmly, her voice carrying unmistakable authority.
Everyone hurried forward and greeted her in unison. "Greetings, Teacher Long Yi."
Zhen stepped slightly ahead of the others and bowed more deeply. "Greetings, Master."
Long Yi's sharp eyes swept over each of their faces, pausing briefly on their gloomy and tired expressions. "You all look quite stressed and demotivated tonight," she said bluntly, wasting no words.
No one dared to respond.
She raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. Is it because of the Holy Battles happening in the academy?"
At her words, everyone nodded without hesitation.
Shi Feng finally gathered his courage and spoke. "Yes, Teacher Long Yi. After learning about the laws of the Holy Battles in class, we've been feeling a lot of pressure." He hesitated for a moment before adding honestly, "But Zhen doesn't seem stressed at all."
Hearing this, the others turned toward Zhen with curious and questioning expressions.
Long Yi followed their gazes and smiled faintly. "To release his stress, Zhen did what he loves the most."
Gu Na'er's eyes lit up in realization. "Zhen, did you forge something today in the blacksmith hall?"
Zhen smiled lightly and nodded. "Yeah, I did. Mr. Ling Hao asked me to forge another needle for his work, so I completed it."
The moment he finished speaking, his friends exclaimed together, "So that's why!"
Their laughter rang out, and some of the tension that had been weighing on them finally eased. "After all, Zhen really loves the sound of metal," Lei Wei added with a grin.
After allowing them a brief moment to relax, Long Yi spoke again, her tone turning serious. "Now then, for today's training…"
She deliberately paused, letting the silence stretch and suspense build. "I want all six of you to increase one rank tonight."
The words struck them like a thunderbolt.
Yu Xiatao exclaimed in disbelief, "But Teacher Yi, Zhen is already at Rank 19, and the rest of us are only at Rank 18!"
Bing Xue'er frowned, shaking her head slightly. "Our ranks won't increase just by running around the field."
Long Yi smiled knowingly, her eyes glinting with absolute confidence. "I'm well aware that simple laps won't help you break through."
Everyone leaned forward without thinking. Their hearts beat faster, a mix of excitement and fear rising inside them. "So…?" they asked together.
Long Yi's smile widened slightly, carrying a dangerous edge. "I'll release a small amount of my dark aura pressure on all of you."
She continued calmly, a small devilish smile appearing on her face as she spoke, "You will endure my aura… and keep running around the field until I tell you to stop."
For a brief moment, silence filled the air—heavy, oppressive, and suffocating.
Then Shi Feng and Lei Wei's jaws dropped simultaneously.
All six of them shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the training field.
"WHAAATTT?!!"