Douluo: This Legend of the Dragon King is not quite right

Tian Dou City, as one of the oldest cities in the Douluo Continent, has lost the extreme prosperity of Mingdu, the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, in the wave of Soul Guidance Technology, but it still retains its profound heritage and unique charm.

The headquarters of the Blacksmiths' Guild in the city is a sacred place in the hearts of all blacksmiths.

Deep within the headquarters of the Forging Association lies a forging room that only master craftsmen are qualified to use on ordinary days, equipped with the most advanced soundproofing and protective soul-guiding arrays.

The intense heat distorted the air slightly, and the dark red flames burned quietly yet fiercely inside the specially made furnace, reflecting off the simple, almost cold, hard metal walls of the room.

The rhythmic, thunderous tapping sounds continued to resound at a frighteningly steady pace.

"clang--!"

"clang--!!"

"clang--!!!"

Each strike was incredibly heavy, yet it landed precisely on the most appropriate point of impact, containing a unique rhythm and a soul-like tremor.

On the massive forging platform, a dark metal blank, yet subtly shimmering with a restrained, star-like luster, is being continuously deformed and extended under the weight of a forging hammer that appears ancient but is actually as heavy as a mountain. Its internal structure is undergoing a mysterious reconstruction.

The one wielding the forging hammer was a figure who was not particularly burly, and even somewhat thin.

He was wearing the most ordinary gray forging clothes, which were already soaked with sweat and clung to his body.

His hair was a little messy, with a few wet strands sticking to his forehead. His face was expressionless, except for his eyes.

He was staring intently at the metal beneath the hammer, his pupils reflecting the leaping furnace fire and every minute energy flow within the metal, his focus bordering on madness.

If someone familiar with the list of powerful figures on the mainland were here, they would probably be terrified.

Because the blacksmith who was concentrating on the legendary Heavenly Forging, sweating profusely, was none other than Gu Chenyu, the once infamous and feared expert of the Spirit Pagoda, who possessed the terrifying Blood Demon Martial Soul that could devour souls.

However, at this moment, he was neither a powerful figure from the Spirit Pagoda nor a Dark Blood Demon; he possessed only the purest focus on forging and a near-sacred devotion akin to creating life.

Here, he is the master craftsman, Gu Chenyu.

He has spent countless days and nights here, in this secluded forge.

For him, all the disturbances, power, and grudges in the outside world were nothing compared to the pleasant ringing of the metal in his hand as it was forged, nor to the thrill of witnessing a piece of ordinary iron transform into a divine metal with a soul in the flames and heavy hammer.

The process itself is the ultimate enjoyment in the world.

Just as the most skilled chef prepares the finest delicacies, or as a master artist creates a timeless masterpiece on a canvas.

Every hammer blow is a dialogue with the soul.

Every tempering process is a rebirth.

The thrill of creation and control far surpassed his desire for anything else.

"laugh--"

With the final hammer blow, accompanied by a clear, soul-stirring hum, the originally dark metal on the forging table suddenly burst forth with an incomparably soft yet dazzling seven-colored halo.

A halo of light flowed, as if a nebula was being born inside, and a galaxy was surging. A powerful yet restrained spiritual energy permeated the air, making the air in the entire forging room fresh.

Then came the process of undergoing the tribulation of seven-colored lightning.

But the Seven-Colored Lightning Tribulation was like an old acquaintance of the Divine Craftsman, and Gu Chenyu easily overcame it thanks to the strength of his own Martial Soul.

Heavenly forging, a success!
Gu Chenyu slowly retracted the forging hammer, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a fragile treasure.

He carefully used special pliers to pick up the brand-new divine metal, held it up to his eyes, squinted, and examined it carefully from every angle.

Sweat dripped from his chin, evaporating into white vapor on the scorching ground, yet he remained oblivious. The shimmering luster of the metal surface, the perfectly formed energy channels within, the faint, almost imperceptible, spiritual fluctuations—like those of a newborn infant…

Everything was just right.

A faint, extremely satisfied smile finally appeared on his pale face, as if an artist had completed a flawless work of art.

Just as he was completely immersed in the joy of this success, carefully appreciating every exquisite detail of the artwork in his hands.

Behind him, the heavy alloy door to the forging room had silently slid open a crack at some point.

A figure stood quietly at the doorway, not disturbing him, but simply watching his focused back.

Just as Gu Chenyu seemed to have finished admiring it and was about to place the metal into the cooling tank, the figure spoke softly, the voice not loud, but exceptionally clear:

"teacher……"

Gu Chenyu's entire focus was on the divine-grade metal in his hand. Hearing the sound, he didn't even turn his head. He even frowned impatiently and waved his free hand behind him with extreme annoyance, as if shooing away annoying flies.

"No appointments today, get out of here! Can't you see I'm busy?!"

His tone was harsh, tinged with displeasure at being interrupted:

"Also, unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering the master craftsman's forging area. Don't they even know the rules..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly stopped.

The waving hand froze in mid-air.

This sound...

Why does that sound so familiar?

A sense of familiarity that is extremely ancient yet deeply rooted in memory, like a stone thrown into an ancient well, instantly creates ripples.

He remained in the position of holding the metal, somewhat stiff, and turned his head extremely slowly.

The intense heat of the forging room illuminated the tall, imposing figure standing at the entrance.

Clad in white, as pure as snow, spotless.

A long, ice-blue sword hung at his waist, its scabbard ancient and simple.

His face was young and handsome, his expression calm, only a pair of ice-blue eyes were quietly looking at him, and deep in his eyes there seemed to be a very faint, almost imperceptible warmth.

Gu Chenyu's eyes, which were unusually deep and sharp from years of gazing at flames and metal, suddenly widened.

Deep within his pupils, that long-lost yet incredibly clear face was reflected.

He opened his mouth, and a short, somewhat dry syllable came out of his throat:
"...Mr. Lu?"

Gu Chenyu's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly the moment he saw the person's face clearly.

They scrutinized the young man at the door from head to toe.

Rough, calloused fingers, covered with tiny burn marks, unconsciously caressed the still-warm metal surface that had just been forged.

The metal, illuminated by the blazing furnace in the forging room, shimmered with a magnificent luster that blended dark gold with iridescent colors. The shimmering sweat on his forehead also made the beads of sweat on his forehead sparkle with tiny glimmers of light, slowly sliding down his sharply defined cheeks.

"You brat..." (End of Chapter)