Those were a pair of strange crimson eyes. Gu You was momentarily stunned as he stared at them. It wasn't until he snapped out of it that he realized—it was Yuanen.
A strange feeling crept over him. From a distance, she looked normal enough. But up close, there was something captivating about her.
Still, Gu You instinctively looked away again. He didn't have a thing for heterochromia.
Even though he already knew the answer, Yuanen still found it hard to believe that Gu You could perform spirit refining. Throughout history, how many prodigies had truly mastered this art? And among blacksmiths, true geniuses were even rarer.
"One piece of spirit-refined metal. Five thousand contribution points. No subscription plan. Deal?" Yuanen looked straight at Gu You.
Five thousand? Gu You was genuinely surprised. That was even higher than the price listed at Shrek Academy's exchange system. This girl... was she out of her mind?
Gu You studied Yuanen for a moment and shook his head.
"I'm not short on contribution points. And you—you're a work-study student. Where would you even get that many?"
"I can find a way. Just promise me, okay? None of the refined ores from the academy suit me." Yuanen wasn't about to give up.
"You... fine. I'll agree. I won't charge you, but you'll owe me a favor later." Gu You's voice turned serious.
No charge? So she didn't even have to give him contribution points? Yuanen couldn't understand—what kind of favor could possibly compare to the value of several pieces of spirit-refined metal in the future?
"Thank you," Yuanen said quietly.
Gu You just chuckled. "I can't forge for you right away. I've got things to take care of. When I have time, tell me which metals you need. I'll forge something for myself, and do yours at the same time."
Yuanen nodded. He wasn't in a rush. From the current situation, he was clearly getting a huge bargain.
Just as Gu You turned to leave, a thought struck him.
"What exactly are you trying to forge?"
Yuanen paused for a moment. "I'm not too sure. I was thinking of a pair of gauntlets. Maybe you can recommend something?"
Gu You frowned. "Gauntlets? Planning to integrate them into your arm pieces when you build your battle armor later? Sounds clever, but it's not likely to work out."
"I did have that idea," Yuanen admitted.
"What's your martial soul? Do your hands change when you use it?" Gu You asked again.
"Titan Giant Ape," Yuanen said after a moment of hesitation.
Although he already knew Yuanen's martial soul, the thought of a girl using something as monstrous as the Titan Giant Ape inevitably conjured the image of a gorilla in a tutu.
Sure, Yuanen had a second martial soul—but anyone who knew the truth also knew it was a miracle she was even alive.
"That's not easy to work with," Gu You replied seriously. He wasn't exaggerating. The Titan Giant Ape, once a king among soul beasts in ancient times, generated such tremendous strength in short bursts that ordinary metals couldn't withstand it.
"So what should I do?" Yuanen asked.
"Then you've come to the right person. Other blacksmiths wouldn't cut it. The best solution is to use first-grade spirit-refined metal. Advanced spirit-refined metal will merge with your body. No matter how much your form changes, it will adapt along with you. But that kind of refinement requires one condition—your blood sacrifice."
Yuanen smiled with satisfaction. "Then I'll be counting on you."
Gu You waved it off. "It's nothing."
"Can I ask you something? What's the deal with us work-study students? Any secrets we should know?" Gu You hadn't really intended to ask this question, but curiosity got the better of him. Who could really remember all the details from the original plot anyway? Better to know than not.
Yuanen fell into thought. "We work-study students are kind of an odd bunch. The academy recruits us under special circumstances. Usually, if someone fails the entrance exam but has a special skill, they can become a work-study student. Same goes for those with unique traits. Shrek has seen many top-tier talents rise from the work-study ranks.
"For example, Elder Feng from the Shrek Blacksmith Association started out as a work-study student. He relied on his forging talent and didn't graduate from the outer court until he was thirty-four. Technically, he wasn't even eligible for the inner court. But that year, he broke through the sixth-level blacksmith barrier and created his first soul-forged item. He advanced to become a seventh-level Divine Blacksmith, and the academy made an exception to admit him into the inner court. Over the next twenty years, he went from a six-ring Soul Emperor all the way to a nine-ring Titled Douluo. Now, as an eighth-level Divine Blacksmith, he's the top blacksmith in the academy—his status is unmatched."
"In the eyes of regular students, we work-study types are not to be trifled with. No one knows what we're really capable of. Work-study students might fail to graduate, but once they do, thirty percent of us make it into the inner court—that's actually a higher percentage than regular students. Of course, we also face harsher challenges."
"When the work-study program was first created, it was meant to give students with unusual talents but weak overall performance a chance to enter Shrek. But over the years, thanks to all the work-study students who've come before us, the title of 'work-study student' has become synonymous with strength—even in the outer court."
It finally clicked for Gu You. He laughed quietly to himself.
"What's so funny?" Yuanen asked.
"Back then, they all said education was equal. Guess I've seen the truth now. Even at the continent's number-one academy, students are still divided into classes."
Gu You sighed.
"Even if it's for the sake of nurturing geniuses, it's still unfair to ordinary people. You divide the student body into groups, tell some of them they're special and shouldn't mingle with the rest. Then the others find out. How are they supposed to feel?"
The value of an ordinary person could never compare to that of a soul master. That was an unchanging law of the Douluo world—especially soul masters who were strong and talented.
If the Federation had to choose between saving a city full of civilians or one Soul Douluo, who do you think they'd pick?
And if it were up to you—what would you choose, faced with that same benefit?
"Any other questions?" Yuanen asked.
"Nope," Gu You said as he walked off.
Watching his retreating figure, Yuanen thought back to his words.
'Divided into ranks and classes...'
'He really is different.'
'Wait, how did I forget I'm a third-grade mecha designer? Maybe I could help him out somehow... then again, with his forging skills that high, why would he need a mecha designer? He probably has plenty on call already...'
Gu You made his way past the main teaching building and toward the work-study student dorms. Just as he passed through the forested path, he looked up and gazed in a particular direction.
Right at the edge of the woods, facing the dorms, someone was sitting quietly.
He wore Shrek Academy's green uniform, and his slick blond hair was neatly combed back.
The blond-haired youth looked up—and met Gu You's eyes.
"So, you're one of them too…"
(End of Chapter)
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