Douluo Continent: Speaker above, Dragon God kneels to receive orders

Mingdu, the most bustling commercial street in the Federation, has a private restaurant called "Lao Tao Zhai".

Inside the private room, the original solemnity of the Federation's highest power center had vanished. Mo Runshu was devouring a bowl of stir-fried noodles in front of him without any regard for his image, as if he were charging into an army of the abyss, each bite carrying the momentum of "whirlwind sweeping away clouds".

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." Yue Mianmian sat to the side, elegantly wiping the corner of her mouth with a tissue, her eyes full of helplessness and doting. "If the Speaker of the Federal Parliament were photographed like this, tomorrow's headlines would be guaranteed."

"Headline?" Mo Runshu swallowed the last mouthful of noodle soup, letting out a satisfied burp, but his eyes instantly sharpened. "Let them film it. Perfect, I also want to see what kind of expressions those old fogies from Shrek Academy will have when they see this 'unkempt' Speaker."

He put down his chopsticks and tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound.

"Mianmian, you've eaten your fill, it's time to get back to work."

Yue Mianmian's smile faded, her expression turning solemn: "You mean... Heavenly Dou City?"

"Hmm." Mo Runshu stood up, straightened his collar, and said, "We're obligated to pay for this meal, but we'll have to use Shrek Academy's 'face' to cover it. Let's go to Heaven Dou City to see that 'Divine Craftsman.' If Zhenhua is willing to come out of seclusion, our chances of winning against Shrek Academy will increase by at least 30%."

……

Tiandou City, headquarters of the Federal Blacksmiths Association.

The building is incredibly luxurious, with a huge forging hammer symbol standing in the center of the hall, showcasing its wealth and status as a mecca for blacksmiths.

Mo Runshu and Yue Mianmian appeared instantly at the association's entrance. Without alerting anyone, the two strolled into the hall as if taking a leisurely walk.

"Please wait, gentlemen. This is the headquarters of the Blacksmiths' Association. Unauthorized personnel are not welcome here..." The receptionist was about to stop them, but when she saw the two crossed golden scepters and swords on Mo Runshu's epaulets, she was speechless.

marshal!

The receptionist was so frightened she almost collapsed to the ground. She was about to bow when Mo Runshu stopped her with a look.

"We're here to find someone, no need to announce our arrival."

The two walked straight inside. A few minutes later, in the guild's private forging room deep within, they met the legendary man.

He was a composed middle-aged man, sitting behind a metal desk processing documents. His arms and hands were far larger than normal, a characteristic that only comes from years of high-intensity training.

Hearing footsteps, the man looked up.

"Mu Chen also said that there are geniuses, which is true. I didn't expect the Speaker to bring people here personally."

The man stood up, his gaze falling on the empty space beside Mo Runshu—as if someone was standing there, but ordinary people couldn't see them.

"Master craftsman Zhenhua," Mo Runshu said calmly, "I've long admired your name."

Zhenhua bowed slightly, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant: "Speaker, Vice Speaker, what brings you here?"

"I need you to come out of seclusion," Mo Runshu said bluntly. "Go to Donghai City."

Zhenhua frowned slightly: "Donghai City? Speaker, I am the president of the Blacksmith Association, and Tiandou City cannot do without me. Moreover, my junior brother Mu Chen is already in Donghai City..."

"Mu Chen can't teach him," Yue Mianmian interrupted coldly. "Only you can."

With a wave of her hand, a holographic projection appeared in the air. The image showed a thin boy wielding a forging hammer, each strike carrying a strange rhythm.

"Tang Wulin." Mo Runshu looked at the boy in the picture, "The power of the Golden Dragon King lies dormant within his body. His forging is not only forging weapons, but also for tempering his flesh and guiding his bloodline."

Zhenhua stared at the screen, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Golden Dragon King bloodline? No wonder... his power is so domineering. But Speaker, my four-word battle armor still needs..."

"Resources are unlimited." Mo Runshu interrupted him directly. "I'll double the budget for the Heaven Dou City Blacksmith Association. The Federal Legion will prioritize supplying you with rare metals. I want you to personally go to Donghai City and become Tang Wulin's teacher. Not just in name, but personally."

Zhenhua remained silent.

As a master craftsman, he had an almost obsessive pursuit of forging. Tang Wulin's talent and the legendary Golden Dragon King bloodline held a fatal attraction for him.

"Okay." Zhenhua took a deep breath. "I agree. However, I have one condition."

"explain."

"I want the position of president of the Donghai City branch association. I want to personally train him." Zhenhua's eyes gleamed with fanaticism. "I will pass on all my secret techniques to him."

"Deal." Mo Runshu smiled. "I want to see you in Donghai City first thing tomorrow morning."

……

Donghai City, Donghai Academy playground.

The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the iron-making furnace in the corner.

Tang Wulin stood there alone. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his hands trembled slightly from the long hours of intense forging, but his eyes were more determined than ever before.

"One hundred...two hundred...three hundred..."

He mechanically swung the forging hammer in his hand, each strike producing a dull thud.

The scene of being humiliated by Mo Runshu last night was branded into his mind like a brand. That sense of powerlessness, that despair of being crushed by a single finger, made him feel suffocated.

"I'm not weak... I'm not weak!"

Tang Wulin roared, his soul power surging wildly within him.

Suddenly, a strange feeling welled up inside me.

The forging hammer in his hand seemed to have become lighter, yet also heavier. With each strike on the metal, he could clearly feel the internal textures of the metal pulsating, rejoicing, resisting, and surrendering.

"This is……"

Tang Wulin's eyes widened.

In his perception, the originally hard refined iron had become as soft as water. With each hammer blow, impurities were gradually removed, the metal's density increased, and its internal structure underwent some wondrous change.

"Thousand Refinements? No, this is... the prototype of Spirit Forging?"

A calm and authoritative voice suddenly rang out behind him.

Tang Wulin was startled, and almost dropped the hammer in his hand. He turned around abruptly and saw a middle-aged man with a calm demeanor and large hands standing not far away, staring intently at the metal in his hand.

"Who are you?" Tang Wulin asked warily.

Zhenhua ignored his question, but strode forward, grabbed the still warm piece of metal, examined it for a long time, and finally exclaimed in admiration.

"Good lad! Although he hasn't had any systematic training, his feel for it, his strength... he was born to forge."

"My name is Zhenhua." The middle-aged man looked at Tang Wulin, a smile playing on his lips. "From today onwards, I am your teacher."

"Zhenhua? The master craftsman Zhenhua?!" Tang Wulin stared in shock.

He had heard this name from Master Mangtian; it belonged to a man who stood at the pinnacle of the Federation's forging industry!

"What? You don't believe me?" Zhenhua casually picked up a forging hammer next to him and flicked his wrist.

Om-!

A piercing sonic boom suddenly echoed through the air.

"Watch closely! This is true forging!"

Zhenhua's forging hammer became a blur, striking the air eighty-one times in an instant. Each strike landed precisely on the same spot, the force layered upon layer. When the final blow landed, a piece of scrap iron next to him shattered into dust!

"This..." Tang Wulin was dumbfounded.

"Want to learn?" Zhenhua put away his forging hammer, looking at him with a half-smile. "If you want to learn, tomorrow morning at five o'clock, at the Donghai City Forging Masters Association. If you're even a second late, you can go back to your academy."

After saying that, Zhenhua turned and left, leaving behind only a dashing silhouette.

Tang Wulin stood there, holding the forged metal, feeling the residual warmth on it, his fist clenched tightly.

"Tomorrow... at five o'clock..."

……

Donghai City, a high-end residential area.

The night was as still as water, and the moonlight shone through the French windows onto the girl's long silver hair, giving it a cool glow.

Gu Yue sat by the window, her purple eyes as deep as the sea, as if trying to see through the endless night. In her hand, a silver dragon scale emitted a faint ripple.

"The Silver Dragon King...has been resurrected..."

She murmured softly, her voice cold and clear, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

Suddenly, her gaze softened, her straight back relaxed slightly, and a sweet smile appeared on her lips.

"Wu Lin..."

Na'er's personality emerged.

"Sister, can you feel it? Wu Lin is very happy today." Na'er clutched her chest, where a warm current seemed to be flowing. "That bad guy named Mo Runshu bullied him, but he also awakened his fighting spirit. Wu Lin has become stronger, he's amazing..."

"His becoming stronger is both a good thing and a bad thing for us."

Gu Yue's voice coldly echoed in her mind, forcibly suppressing Na'er's joy.

Gu Yue regained control of her body, her eyes returning to their icy gaze: "Mo Runshu and Yue Mianmian, the strength of these two is unfathomable. Their interference in Tang Wulin's growth is not merely to cultivate a genius. They are plotting something, a plot targeting soul beasts, even targeting the entire Douluo Star."

"But sister, Wu Lin is innocent," Na'er's voice trembled with a sob. "He's ours...ours..."

"He is the heir to the Golden Dragon King's bloodline," Gu Yue coldly interrupted. "The Golden Dragon King and the Silver Dragon King are two sides of the same coin of the Dragon God. If he grows up, he will either devour us or be devoured by us. This is destiny; there is no such thing as innocence."

"No! I won't allow you to hurt him!" Na'er became agitated, and a struggling silver light flashed in Gu Yue's purple eyes. "Wu Lin is my brother, my only family in this world! If he dies, I don't want to live either!"

"Foolish." Gu Yue snorted coldly, forcibly suppressing Na'er's emotional fluctuations. "For the revival of the Soul Beast race, for the glory of our Silver Dragon King, any obstacle must be eliminated. Even... him."

Although she said that, Gu Yue's fingers holding the dragon scale turned slightly white.

She stood up, walked to the mirror, and looked at the stunningly beautiful girl in it. The black hair and black eyes were Gu Yue's disguise, while the silver hair and purple eyes hidden deep within her soul were the true face of the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yue Na.

"No matter who you are..." Gu Yue looked in the mirror, a ruthless glint in her eyes, "Mo Runshu, Yue Mianmian, you want to use Tang Wulin to deal with me? Then let's see who uses whom in the end."

Just then, the cell phone on the table suddenly rang.

The screen displayed two characters: Wu Lin.

Upon seeing those two words, the fierceness in Gu Yue's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a hint of panic. She took a deep breath, adjusted her expression, softened her gaze, and then answered the phone.

"Gu Yue, are you asleep?" Tang Wulin's slightly tired but unusually excited voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Not yet. What's wrong?" Gu Yue asked softly, her voice as gentle as water.

"I...I met an amazing teacher! He's the master craftsman Zhenhua! The most skilled blacksmith in the Federation!" Tang Wulin's voice was filled with excitement. "Gu Yue, do you know? He wants to watch me forge! He said he'll teach me the true secrets! I'll definitely be able to forge the most powerful battle armor to protect you in the future!"

Hearing Tang Wulin's excited words, a corner of the ice in Gu Yue's heart melted.

"Really? That's great. Congratulations, Wu Lin."

"Hehe, thanks Gu Yue. By the way, I have to get up early tomorrow morning to go to the Blacksmith Association, so I probably won't be able to have breakfast with you."

"It's okay, go ahead. Good luck, I believe in you."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Yue leaned against the window, looking at the moon in the sky, a complex smile appearing on her lips.

"Become stronger, Wu Lin. Only by becoming stronger can you survive in this cruel world... and only then... be worthy of me."

Na'er's voice rang in his mind again, tinged with a hint of smugness: "See, sister? Wu Lin has me in his heart, and you in his heart too. We are inseparable."

Gu Yue did not refute, but silently clenched the dragon scale in her hand.

……

Donghai City, the branch tower of the Spirit Transmission Tower.

Tower Master Guan Yue (not Guan Yue of the War God Temple, but the same name) was sitting in his office, looking at a top-secret document that had just been sent to him, his face as pale as paper.

The document contained only a single line of text, yet it bore the red seal of the Federal Supreme Command:

"From this day forward, all resources of Donghai City shall be fully coordinated with all actions of the Divine Craftsman Zhenhua. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

The signature reads: Federal Speaker, Mo Runshu; Deputy Speaker, Yue Mianmian.

"The master craftsman... Zhenhua?" Guan Yue's hands were trembling. "Why would he come to Donghai City? And why is he going to cooperate fully? How much money is that going to cost?!"

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

"It seems that the landscape of Donghai City is about to change."

He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, is this the Legion Commander? This is Guan Yue. Yes, I have an emergency to report..."

……

Ten thousand meters above the ground, a heavenly palace atop the clouds.

Mo Runshu and Yue Mianmian have returned to the office.

"Has Zhenhua made all the arrangements?" Mo Runshu asked while processing the mountain of documents.

"It's all arranged." Yue Mianmian stood in front of the holographic map, her finger lightly tracing the location of Donghai City. "Zhenhua is very interested in Tang Wulin's talent and will impart all his knowledge to him. Moreover, Huo Yuhao's divine sense has already penetrated Tang Wulin's spiritual sea. As soon as Tang Wulin begins to cultivate, Huo Yuhao will guide him and help him unseal the Golden Dragon King's bloodline."

"Hmm." Mo Runshu nodded. "The Golden Dragon King's power is too strong. If it's not guided, Tang Wulin will surely die once it awakens. Huo Yuhao is a spirit-type soul master, so he's the most suitable person to be this 'nanny'."

"And what about you?" Yue Mianmian turned around and looked at Mo Runshu. "You gave Tang Wulin such a strong drug, aren't you afraid he'll hate you?"

"Hate?" Mo Runshu put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, a hint of vicissitude flashing in his eyes. "Hate lasts longer than love. Only hate can make him remember his lesson, can give him the motivation to become stronger. In this cruel world, without strength, you don't even have the right to hate."

He stood up, walked to Yue Mianmian's side, and gently put his arm around her waist.

"Mianmian, do you think what we're doing can really change the future?"

Yue Mianmian nestled in his arms, closing her eyes: "I don't know. But I do know that as long as we're still here, no one can hurt our child, and no one can destroy this world."

"Yes." Mo Runshu looked at the starry sky outside the window, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Now that I'm back, it's time for me to rewrite the fate of this world."

"The Abyss Dimension? The Holy Spirit Cult? And that lofty, supreme divine circle..."

"This time, I, Mo Runshu, will make all the gods and Buddhas in the heavens bow down to me!"