I can receive unlimited protection; my parents handed me over to the state.

Qian Sen's finger pointed steadily at Lu Yuan.

When the words "It's him" were uttered, it was like a final judgment, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

Time seemed to have been paused at that moment.

The entire research and discussion room fell into an absolute silence that was more eerie and suffocating than ever before.

The air froze.

The sound disappeared.

At this moment, everyone's thinking completely crashed.

Gu Tianye's face showed anger and disdain, Xiang Batian's face showed arrogance and fighting spirit, Mu Bingli's face showed coldness and aloofness, and Lin Ziling's face showed indifference and intellect...

Everyone's expression froze into the same blank look, filled with utter absurdity, shock, and complete incomprehension.

Their minds were blank.

It was as if a bolt of primordial lightning had struck them from the top of their heads, shattering all their knowledge, common sense, and logic about the world that they had built up over the past decade or so, leaving not a trace behind.

he?

That F-rank blacksmith?

That "connected person" in their eyes?

That guy they despised as "trash," someone who wasn't even worthy of speaking to them?

Just ...

Those two items instantly annihilated "Void Nightmare," changed the entire course of the Northern War, and are legendary artifacts worthy of being recorded in history...

The Forger?

No.

impossible!

That's absolutely impossible!

This is a million times more absurd than telling them that a pig suddenly grew wings, flew into the sky, and turned into a dragon!

This is no longer a matter of subverting common sense.

This is insulting their intelligence! It's treating them like fools and making a fool of them!

"Dean Qian... Dean Qian..."

Gu Tianye's lips trembled. He wanted to laugh and say, "Your joke is not funny at all," but he found that his throat was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and he couldn't even utter a complete syllable.

His body was trembling violently and uncontrollably.

It wasn't because of anger, nor because of excitement.

Rather, it is a kind of trembling that comes from the depths of one's soul when a mortal suddenly glimpses a corner of the divine!

He turned his head sharply and stared intently at the boy sitting beside him, who had remained unusually calm throughout.

He wanted to see a hint of panic, a hint of guilt, and a hint of embarrassment at having his lie exposed on Lu Yuan's face.

However, he saw nothing.

Lu Yuan's face remained calm and indifferent.

He even nodded slightly to Gu Tianye, as if to say, "That's right, it's me."

That nod was like an invisible hammer, striking Gu Tianye's heart hard.

"boom--!"

Gu Tianye felt as if something in his mind had completely shattered.

His proud SSS-level talent, his overwhelming strength that could crush his peers, his unparalleled glory as a chosen one of heaven...

At this moment, before the calm gaze of this F-rank blacksmith, everything seemed so laughable and insignificant.

He suddenly remembered what he had said to Lu Yuan before.

"An F-rank blacksmith! A piece of trash who's not even worthy of carrying our shoes!"

"Our 'God-Making Project' won't support useless people!"

"Is his talent even more noble than our SSS-class talent?"

Looking back now, every word he said felt like a resounding slap across his own face.

Burning pain.

waste?

Who the hell is the real trash?

Would someone who can casually forge legendary artifacts and change the course of a national war be a waste?

Then what about those so-called SSS-level geniuses who can't even scratch that "Void Nightmare"?

Is it garbage among waste?

Gu Tianye's face instantly turned a deep liver color, then turned from red to white, and finally became a ghastly sight.

He felt like a clown jumping around.

A ridiculous clown who jumps around and flaunts his pitiful strength in front of a true god.

"Thump."

His legs buckled, and he could no longer support his weight. He collapsed to the ground in a disheveled state.

His breakdown was just the beginning.

Xiang Batian, that arrogant and unruly S-rank [Titan Bloodline] genius, now seemed to have all his bones removed, standing there blankly, his eyes vacant, unconsciously muttering to himself:

"It's fake...it's all fake...how could it be..."

His proud, unparalleled strength—enough to shatter a lava giant lizard with a single punch—appeared so childish and laughable in the face of the astonishing power of the two divine artifacts on the screen.

What he pursued was the ultimate violence.

But now he realizes that there is a power called "rules".

In the face of "rules," his so-called "violence" is not even worthy of carrying someone's shoes.

And the person who created this "rule" was sitting right in front of him.

One of them, an F-rank blacksmith whom he had previously completely disregarded.

This immense sense of disparity and absurdity nearly crushed his pride completely.

Meanwhile, Mu Bingli, the S-rank [Ice Soul Divine Soul] genius who was as aloof and ethereal as a snow mountain goddess, also had a raging storm brewing in her beautiful ice-blue eyes.

She stared intently at Lu Yuan, her prized talent of seeing through the essence of souls now seeming like a colossal joke.

She had indeed sensed something different about Lu Yuan before.

But she thought it was simply because Lu Yuan's soul was more resilient and purer than that of ordinary people.

She never imagined that behind that purity lay such terrifying, overwhelming power, enough to create miracles!

She suddenly remembered that on the day of the recruitment fair in the capital, the silver-haired girl whom she thought was "chuunibyou" actually took the initiative to sit next to Lu Yuan.

She didn't understand at the time.

Now, she seemed to understand somewhat.

Perhaps only true "monsters" of the same level can smell the scent of their own kind at the first moment.

These so-called "geniuses" are nothing more than a group of foolish mortals who have been kept in the dark.

The entire seminar room was deathly silent.

Dozens of China's top geniuses were frozen in place, as if petrified, their faces filled with disbelief and despair.

Today, their worldview has been completely overturned and reshaped by Qian Sen and Lu Yuan in the most brutal and unreasonable way.

As the instigator of all this, Lu Yuan himself was feeling rather...awkward.

He looked around at the gazes that shifted from disdain and contempt to shock, horror, awe, and even... fanaticism, and felt extremely uncomfortable.

He disliked the feeling of being stared at like a monkey.

He originally thought that Qian Sen just wanted to teach these arrogant youngsters a lesson.

But he never expected that the old man would be so unethical, revealing all his secrets!

Even his two most treasured works, "Phoenix Cry" and "Soul Guardian," have been made public!

That's good now.

My plan to develop quietly has completely fallen through.

He could even foresee the kind of "fiery" situation he would face starting today.

"Um... Dean Qian..." Lu Yuan stood up, gave Qian Sen on the podium a smile that looked more like a grimace, "You see, the class is almost over, so how about... we call it a day?"

All he wants now is to get out of this troublesome place as soon as possible.

However, Qian Sen had not yet spoken.

A figure appeared before him as if by teleportation.

It's Kotenno.

The "Beast King" who had just been shouting and threatening to kill him, wishing he could devour him alive, was now looking at Lu Yuan with a fawning, even slightly shy, smile, rubbing his large, fan-like hands together.

"Um... Brother Lu! God Lu! No, no, Master Lu!"

Gu Tianye's voice was distorted with excitement.

"Do you...do you need a sidekick? Like, the kind who can fight, tank, shout '666' (a Chinese internet slang for 'awesome'), and even give you a leg massage and back rub—a personal henchman!"

"Do you think I'm suitable?"

Gu Tianye's sudden, 180-degree change in attitude, along with his shameless, obsequious manner, instantly shattered the eerie atmosphere in the seminar room.

Lu Yuan looked at the "Beast King" in front of him, who was over two meters tall and whose muscles were bulging like a prehistoric beast, but was now wringing his hands shyly like a little wife. His mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Dude, do you realize your public image has collapsed?

What happened to the dignity of your SSS-level Beast King bloodline?

Where did that domineering aura you had just shown, like you wanted to devour me alive?

Were they all eaten by the dogs?

"Master Lu...Master Lu!" Gu Tianye saw that Lu Yuan didn't speak and thought he was dissatisfied with him, so his expression became even more anxious. He was almost ready to kneel down and beg for his attention. "Please don't stay silent! If you think I'm not good enough, just tell me, and I'll change! I can change anything!"

"You think I'm too muscular and not delicate enough? No problem! I'll go home and get liposuction! I guarantee I'll be as thin as lightning within a month!"

"Or do you think I'm too noisy? No problem! From now on, I'll be mute! If you tell me to go east, I'll never go west! If you tell me to beat a dog, I'll never chase a chicken!"

"As long as you... as long as you can... can..."

As Gu Tianye finished speaking, a look of intense longing, even a hint of greed, appeared on his face. He lowered his voice and spoke in an almost dreamlike tone:

"Could you...forge me one too, like the [Soul Suppressor]...a divine weapon..."

When he uttered the words "divine artifact," everyone present held their breath.

Yes!

Artifact!

That's the key point!

Why did their attitude towards Lu Yuan change so drastically?

Isn't it because he is a living, breathing, walking craftsman who can create "divine artifacts" with his own hands?

For these combat-oriented geniuses, what is most important?

strength!

What constitutes strength?

Level, talents, and... equipment!

Levels can be trained, but talents are innate.

Equipment is the only thing they can pursue later, and it's the most direct way to improve their combat power!

A good weapon is enough to give an A-level talent the ability to challenge an S-level powerhouse!

A legendary artifact like the Phoenix Cry or the Soul Suppressor is enough to give an SSS-level genius the power to challenge the gods!

Faced with the irresistible allure of a "divine artifact" capable of altering one's destiny, what does dignity, pride, or face matter...?

That's all bullshit!

Can I trade it for a divine weapon?

No!

However, clinging to the coattails of this "master craftsman" in front of you is a sure thing!

Once everyone understood this, their gazes changed.

Their gazes toward Lu Yuan were no longer simply filled with awe and shock.

Rather, it is a kind of intense, green, and fiery light, like that of the hungriest wolf seeing the fattest lamb, filled with extreme desire and possessiveness!

"Get out of my way, you stupid bear!"

A shout rang out.

Xiang Batian, that arrogant and unruly S-class [Titan Bloodline] genius, seemed like a completely different person at this moment. He squeezed over with a big smile on his face and kicked Gu Tianye, who was still there professing his loyalty, aside.

"Master Lu! Don't listen to this muscle-bound idiot's nonsense! He's just a boxer, what does he need weapons for? It's a complete waste of your talent!"

As Xiang Batian spoke, he took out a large pile of rare materials that shimmered with various colors from his storage ring and presented them to Lu Yuan like a treasure.

"Master Lu! Look! This is all the wealth I've accumulated over the years! There's Grade A 'Thunderstone' and Grade B 'Windmill Copper'! Although it can't compare to the legendary materials you use, it's still a rare treasure!"

"If you would deign to forge me a battle axe! No, no, no, it doesn't need to be a divine weapon! Just an epic one will do! All these materials are a gift to you! If that's not enough, I'll immediately have my father send you the 'Titan Iron,' the most prized possession in our family treasury!"

Xiang Batian spoke with great enthusiasm, but where was the arrogance of an S-level prodigy? He looked more like a humble salesman hawking his products on the street.

"You bastard surnamed Xiang! Have you no shame?! You actually tried to steal the prize!" Gu Tianye, who had been kicked aside, immediately got up again and rushed over to fight Xiang Batian to the death.

"Master Lu is mine! I was the one who set my sights on him first!"

"Bullshit! Master Lu is a treasure belonging to all of humanity! Why should you, you stupid bear, monopolize him!"

The two "geniuses" who were just united against Lu Yuan are now about to fight each other over the right to "cling to his coattails".

And this is just the beginning.

"Senior Lu!"

A voice, clear and cold as ice and snow, yet carrying a barely perceptible hint of urgency, rang out.

Mu Bingli, the S-rank [Ice Soul Divine Soul] genius who was like a snow mountain goddess, untouched by worldly affairs, also put aside her aloofness and walked over quickly.

Her beautiful, icy blue eyes were fixed on Lu Yuan. Although her voice remained cold, it was full of sincerity.

"I... I can also provide materials. In my family's treasury, there is a piece of 'Ten Thousand Year Mystic Ice Soul,' a top-tier legendary material of the ice attribute. If... if you can help me forge a magic weapon... I can agree to any condition."

When she mentioned "any conditions," a faint blush appeared on her perpetually icy face, a rare occurrence.

This scene made the male geniuses around them green with envy.

I rely on!

Even an ice queen like Mu Bingli is throwing herself into his arms?

Is there any justice in this world?

In an instant, the entire seminar room was in complete chaos.

"God Lu! Look at me! I'm an SSS-rank [Time Walker]! I can help you accelerate the material's incubation time!"

"Brother Lu! Pick me! Pick me! I'm the [Mechanical Overlord]! I can build you the most awesome auxiliary robotic arm! Guaranteed to save you time and effort when forging iron!"

"Lu Yuan! I'm Lin Ziling! I'm proficient in the theoretical knowledge of all elements, and I can help you analyze the material's property compatibility!"

The once arrogant and disdainful prodigies who looked down on Lu Yuan now surged towards him like sharks smelling blood.

They all rushed forward, introducing themselves and their talents, desperately trying to demonstrate their worth, hoping to become familiar to this "master craftsman" and leave a good impression.

The scene was a hundred times more exaggerated than even the most frenzied fan events.

Surrounded by this group of enthusiastic "geniuses," Lu Yuan felt utterly overwhelmed.

He felt like Tang Sanzang had fallen into the Spider Cave, surrounded by demons who wanted to "devour" him.

He wanted to leave, but he couldn't squeeze out at all.

Gu Tianye and Xiang Batian, two tall and burly men, blocked him from both sides like two gatekeepers, with "amiable" smiles on their faces.