Due to Si Long's reckless outburst and Ning Rongrong's rejection, the scene became somewhat awkward. Just as everyone fell silent, an angry roar echoed throughout the Blacksmith Association.
"I can't figure it out! I just can't figure it out!"
This, of course, was the divine craftsman Lou Gao. The blueprint in his hand was intentionally drawn by Tianlin to be half complete and half missing. It was like reading a novel and just as you reach an exciting part, the author stops. Lou Gao was driven mad by this incomplete design.
This was all part of Tianlin's plan—to stoke Lou Gao's curiosity.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs as Lou Gao dashed down at such a speed that even agility-type Soul Douluo Bai He and DragonDuke couldn't keep up.
His eyes bloodshot, Lou Gao scanned the surroundings, and when he spotted Tianlin calmly sipping tea, he could no longer hold back. He rushed up to Tianlin and shouted, "Quick, Sword Prince, tell me how this Soul Infusion Guiding Technique works! The blueprint you gave me is missing this most crucial step! Are you trying to drive me to my grave?"
"Senior Lou Gao, the Soul Infusion Guiding Technique is a secret method of my sect. I believe you know how precious it is. After all, it can forge divine weapons. Do you really think I'd just pass it on to outsiders?" Tianlin replied with a smile.
"Huh? Oh!" Si Long stood dumbfounded for a while. He couldn't quite process that the young Sword Prince who called him brother just become his grandfather's generation.
But etiquette couldn't be neglected. On the Douluo Continent, lineage and apprenticeship were very important. Si Long immediately bowed to Tianlin and Ning Rongrong. "Disciple-grandson Si Long greets Grandmaster and Grandmaster's wife!"
Tianlin never imagined such a scene even in his dreams. Ning Rongrong was even more baffled by these new grandchildren suddenly appearing. She wasn't even married yet and was already a grandmother.
What's more, the ones calling her grandmaster's wife were old enough to be her grandfather!
"Whoa, boss, you've overdone it!" Ma Hongjun gloated. "The kowtow is done, the titles are called, the rice is cooked into porridge—this disciple, even if you don't want him, you have to take him!"
"Senior, please get up! I don't need you to become my disciple. Isn't it enough if I just teach you the secret technique?" Tianlin was at his wit's end. Having an old man over eighty kneel and acknowledge him as master would surely shorten his life.
Lou Gao filtered out the first half and only heard Tianlin promise the secret technique, so he excitedly knelt again. "Thank you, Master!"
"Master, don't worry. Once I forge my first divine weapon, I'll dedicate it to you!"
Seeing Lou Gao so pleased, Tianlin felt his life turn grey. He never wanted to take disciples, and if he had to, his first should have been a cute little loli following behind him, sweetly calling him 'Master.'
Now, instead of a loli, he got an old man. That image was too much for him to bear.
...
On the other side, Meyers had returned to the Spirit Hall main hall, his face twisted with rage.
The first thing he did upon returning was to find Aqi, the one who tipped him off yesterday.
If it weren't for him, he wouldn't have provoked Jun Tianlin and suffered such humiliation.
Aqi was working hard atop a woman Meyers had given him when Meyers suddenly appeared behind him and shattered Aqi's skull with a palm strike.
He died on the woman's belly—one could say he died under the peony, but whether he'd be a romantic ghost was unknown.
Meyers glanced coldly at the terrified woman, but he didn't touch her further. She was at least somewhat attractive—he'd vent his anger later, but killing her would be a waste.
However, just killing Aqi wasn't enough to calm him. After all, the real culprit who offended him was still alive and well.
"Jun Tianlin! I'll make sure you die without a grave!" Meyers ground his teeth in hatred.
Quickly, he summoned the fastest flying soul master in Gengxin City's Spirit Hall to send news of Jun Tianlin's appearance back to Spirit City. Since he couldn't defeat Tianlin, a Title Douluo would be sent.
As long as Tianlin died here, he could redeem himself. Even if higher-ups heard about his humiliating words, this achievement would cancel it out.
...
Meyers's actions were exactly as Tianlin predicted. Now he just needed to wait a few days to meet the person he wanted.
Meanwhile, he could use the time to teach Lou Gao some of Shu Mountain's sword-forging methods.
Though things didn't go exactly as planned—Lou Gao didn't join the sect directly, but a master-disciple relationship was even closer, and as a renowned divine craftsman, Lou Gao would never go back on his word. Otherwise, it would disgrace the entire Blacksmith Association.
"Master, if I want to forge the Flying Pattern Splendid Sun Divine Sword, it seems I'll need to first forge a weapon called the Dark Star Sword, and then work further on it. But from what I see, 'Dark Star' means darkness that covers the sky, while 'Flying Pattern Splendid Sun' is a radiant divine sword. Their properties are completely opposite—why is that?" Lou Gao humbly consulted Tianlin, holding the blueprint.
"Excellent question. In truth, the Flying Pattern Splendid Sun Sword represents the supreme state of 'extremes meet, reality turns to illusion.' When hidden, it's like scrap iron, not attracting any attention, but once unsheathed, it shines like a rainbow piercing the sun, its sword aura dazzling beyond compare," Tianlin explained.
"Extremes meet, I see! So this sword inherits the Dark Star Sword's traits—usually hiding its edge, but unleashing full power when drawn, making it a divine sword focused on burst and offense!" Lou Gao quickly connected the dots, worthy of his title as a divine craftsman.
The two engaged in a Q&A for a long time, just like a true master and disciple.