Douluo: I have too many clones

Chapter 780 Mini Game

"A master craftsman..."

Among the contestants, Tang Wulin, who went by the pseudonym "Yu Longyue", looked up at Lu Fa, who was suspended in mid-air, and a hint of undisguised envy flashed in his eyes.

That is the yearning for the highest realm of forging, the obsession etched into the bones of every craftsman who dedicates his life to forging metal.

"Heavenly Forging" is both the ultimate goal that all blacksmiths look up to and the insurmountable barrier between mortals and gods.

Since entering the forging profession, Tang Wulin has never stopped pursuing this level. From her initial cluelessness to her current status as an eighth-level master craftsman, every hammer blow and every flame rise carries her determination to get closer to "Heavenly Forging".

In fact, upon arriving in Mingdu, she made a special trip to the Forging Masters Association to visit her senior apprentice, Zhenhua, and earnestly asked him to enlighten her on the secrets of Heavenly Forging.

Zhenhua did not hold back because of the preciousness of the technique. Facing his exceptionally talented nephew, he taught him everything he knew, sharing his understanding and experience of forging without reservation.

However, the mysteries of Heavenly Forging were too profound. Even though Tang Wulin was already an eighth-level Saint Craftsman and possessed the cultivation of a Title Douluo, he was still one step away from that barrier and had never been able to grasp the true essence of Heavenly Forging.

However, every cloud has a silver lining. Guided by the mysterious seed of nature in her mind, she gained a completely new understanding of the combination of forging and the power of nature while studying the experience taught by Zhenhua.

Many previously perplexing bottlenecks have suddenly become clear. Although he has not yet reached the highest level, he has gained valuable experience to support him in moving towards a higher realm.

Zhenhua has mentioned more than once that, due to the dimensional rules of Douluo Continent, it is absolutely impossible for two Divine Craftsmen to be born in the same era. Lu Fa's appearance is an exceptional case among exceptional cases that breaks the norm, a miracle that is difficult to replicate.

However, Tang Wulin remained skeptical. The word "impossible" was never easily accepted in her dictionary. If her cultivation as a Title Douluo wasn't enough, she would strive to become a Super Douluo; if even that wasn't enough, she would attempt to become a Limit Douluo.

She was chosen by the Child of Nature and favored by the will of the plane. Tang San's bloodline flowed in her veins. This pride and confidence derived from her bloodline made her firmly believe that she would eventually break through that barrier.

Withdrawing his gaze from Lu Fa, Tang Wulin turned to the graceful, ethereal woman on the other side, his brows furrowing as he fell into deep thought: "The Chief of Staff of the Federal General Staff? Has the Spirit Pagoda's infiltration and influence within the Federation reached such a level?"

Tang Wulin knew very little about Fu Xuan before.

If it weren't for Qian Gu Dong Feng's introduction, she wouldn't have known that this elegant and refined woman held the powerful position of Chief of Staff of the Federal General Staff.

Although the Tang Clan's intelligence network has spread to every corner of the mainland and has a significant influence in the civilian and business circles, its reach within the military system has always been difficult to penetrate.

Especially in Mingdu, where the Federation headquarters is located, the intelligence resources that the Tang Clan can mobilize are extremely limited. As a result, there is no record of Fu Xuan in the Tang Clan's files, as if he appeared out of thin air in the core of the Federation's power.

"Such a powerful aura... The Federation is indeed a place where hidden talents abound."

Tang Wulin's expression gradually turned serious. Although she couldn't accurately discern Fu Xuan's specific cultivation level, she clearly saw the lieutenant general medal he wore on his chest.

The medal gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen in the sunlight, yet it carried more weight than any ornate decoration.

Tang Wulin had fought valiantly in the Blood God Legion and made outstanding contributions, but in the end, she only received the rank of Major General. She knew better than anyone what the Federation's Lieutenant General Medal meant.

That requires not only extensive experience, but also absolute strength to match. In the Federation's promotion system, this requires at least the cultivation level of a Title Douluo.

"No, her cultivation level is at least at the Super Douluo level."

The moment Tang Wulin's gaze fell upon the Chief of Staff, his intuition rang like an alarm bell. It was a warning stemming from the instinctive bloodline of the Golden Dragon King, a pressure felt on the level of his soul.

Based on this alone, she was certain that this seemingly young-looking chief of staff, with an ethereal air, was not just a pretty face, but a top-tier expert capable of turning the tide of battle.

"Everyone!"

Just as everyone's attention was still shifting between the divine craftsman in mid-air and the Federal Chief of Staff, Lu Fa, who was hovering above the forging machinery, suddenly spoke. His steady voice, carrying a faint fluctuation of soul power, clearly spread to every corner of the Mingdu Grand Stadium.

"I suppose there's no need for an introduction. All of you contestants here should already know who I am." Lu Fa's gaze slowly swept over the neatly arranged contestant seats below, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"Hmm." A chorus of responses rang out, and the arena, which had been filled with whispers, instantly fell silent as everyone's attention was focused on the figure in mid-air.

Lu Fa nodded slightly and continued, "Due to some special reasons, I will not participate in this martial arts contest to find a husband. I will only be here as a witness to ensure the fairness and transparency of the entire event."

This statement did not cause much of a stir, since a master craftsman like him would not need to prove anything through such competitions.

But Lufa changed the subject, his tone becoming more meaningful: "However, although I cannot participate in person, I would like to play a fun little game with all of you participants. As for the prizes... let me think about it for a moment."

In the moment he deliberately paused, the suspended cameras surrounding the stadium all turned their lenses, clearly transmitting his image to live screens across the mainland.

Millions of viewers held their breath, waiting for the unveiling of the "prize" mentioned by the master craftsman—anything that the master craftsman would consider a prize in a game must be extraordinary.

Lu Fa slowly raised a finger and said, word by word, "One spot. Whoever wins this little game will be granted the winner priority in forging a four-word battle armor."

"Whenever you meet the requirements to wear a four-word battle armor, you can come to me for forging with priority simply by using this quota."

The moment the words fell, the entire Mingdu Gymnasium seemed to be silenced. A few seconds later, suppressed gasps and gasps of cold air spread like a tide.

Especially those contestants whose cultivation had reached the level of Title Douluo, their previously calm eyes suddenly burst forth with a blazing light.

Priority will be given to those who forge four-character battle armor!

These few words carry enough weight to drive any Title Douluo crazy.

It should be noted that even among the Federation's top powers, the four-word battle armor is considered a strategic-level piece of equipment. Its core lies in the refining and fusion of Heavenly Forging Metal—and Heavenly Forging is precisely Lu Fa's unique skill as a master craftsman.

In the past, the supply of Heavenly Forged Metal was almost monopolized by super powers such as the Spirit Pagoda, the Federal Military, and the Tang Sect. Even if some powers could offer enough resources in exchange, they might not be able to find a channel for a Divine Craftsman to make a move. Not to mention, even if they could get in line, the waiting period, which could easily be measured in years, was enough to deter many Title Douluo from even trying.

Now that the master craftsman has personally promised "priority," what does that mean?
This means that we can skip the endless wait and directly get the chance to have the master craftsman do it himself! This value far exceeds any rare soul tool or soul bone.

Even those contestants whose cultivation was still at the Soul Saint or Soul Douluo level could not hide the eagerness in their eyes at this moment.

Although they have not yet reached the level of Title Douluo and cannot use the four-word battle armor in the short term, who hasn't dreamed of stepping into that supreme realm in the future? Once they are promoted to Title Douluo, this spot will become their strongest support and may even change the trajectory of their future destiny.

"May I ask, Master Craftsman, what exactly is this game?"

Finally, a titled Douluo dressed in military uniform, with a calm and composed demeanor, could no longer contain himself and raised his voice to ask. His voice was filled with barely concealed urgency, and it also expressed the thoughts of everyone present.

Lu Fa smiled gently and replied, "It's very simple. Since the theme of this tournament is 'martial arts contest for marriage,' the games will naturally be related to that."

"All participants, as long as you can overcome all the obstacles and finally reach the final stage of the martial arts tournament to find a husband, you will have the opportunity to spar with Princess Silver Dragon."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, taking in everyone's anticipation. "The rules of my little game are: whoever can reach the final level and defeat the Silver Dragon Princess in the battle will be granted the priority for forging spot."

"By the way, there is no limit to the number of places available. In other words, as long as you can make it into the final top ten and defeat the Silver Dragon Princess in the battle, you will receive this reward, regardless of how many people ultimately qualify."

Fighting the Silver Dragon Princess? And defeating her?
Many people subconsciously glanced at the stunningly beautiful figure beside the podium, a hint of hesitation flashing in their eyes. But for most, their eyes blazed with a burning fighting spirit.

Although the Silver Dragon Princess is beautiful, nothing is more important than the four-word battle armor that boosts strength. And not all the contestants here are here for her.

"As long as we defeat the Silver Dragon Princess, we can obtain a priority for forging a four-word battle armor. Defeating the Silver Dragon Princess is not difficult; the more troublesome part is figuring out how to break into the top ten." Some quick-thinking individuals immediately grasped the key point.

The promotional video for the Spirit Pagoda touted the Silver Dragon Princess in glowing terms. However, many contestants believed that while the Silver Dragon Princess possessed the strength of a Title Douluo, her combat power was likely not strong.

For a moment, it seemed as if an invisible flame was burning throughout the stadium, and everyone's eyes gleamed with a determined light.

For them, the significance of this martial arts contest to find a husband seemed to have subtly changed at this moment. Winning the favor of the Silver Dragon Princess was still the goal, but the promise made by the master craftsman had become a more worthwhile temptation to strive for.

……

On the platform, Qian Gu Dongfeng, who was sitting upright, paused slightly. The calm smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an undisguised solemnity.

As Lu Fa's words echoed in the stadium, his deep eyes suddenly narrowed, and he turned to Gu Yuena, who was sitting quietly beside him, and said in a deep voice: "Na'er, is there some kind of grudge between you and the Divine Craftsman?"

The question may have seemed abrupt, but it was not entirely unfounded.

As the master of the Spirit Pagoda, Qian Gu Dongfeng had been immersed in political intrigue for many years, and his insight into human nature far surpassed that of ordinary people. Lu Fa's seemingly casual "little game" sounded to him sharp and undeniable.

Indeed, the rules of the martial arts tournament clearly state that the top ten finalists will have the opportunity to spar with Princess Silver Dragon.

However, in the original competition design, the core meaning of this segment was "demonstration" - allowing contestants to show their strength and style in front of Gu Yuena, more like a ritualistic demonstration of strength than a life-or-death struggle.

After all, faced with a peerless beauty like the Silver Dragon Princess, most contestants who pride themselves on their gentlemanly manners would stop short of making a move, or even deliberately show weakness in order to gain fame and favor.

However, Lufa's words completely overturned the essence of this process.

Only those who defeat the Silver Dragon Princess can obtain a spot.

This short sentence was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake. What was originally a friendly exchange symbolizing grace and respect instantly turned into a battlefield where life and death had to be decided.

How tempting is the opportunity to forge four-word battle armor first? It's an opportunity that would make even titled Douluo set aside their pride and fight for it at any cost.

Faced with such temptation, so-called "gentlemanly conduct" is no longer worth mentioning. Contestants will inevitably go all out for that spot, and may even use their most secret skills.

This is hardly a "mini-game"; it's clearly forcing all the contestants who made it into the top ten to fight Gu Yuena to the death.

Can Gu Yuena choose to concede defeat?
Theoretically, it's possible, but if she actually did it, the image that the Spirit Pagoda had carefully crafted for her would instantly collapse.

Princess Silver Dragon, one of the four Spirit Transmission Envoys of the Spirit Transmission Tower, is described in the tower's records as a "genius that appears only once in a thousand years".

Before the martial arts tournament to find a husband began, the Spirit Pagoda promoted her talent and strength through countless channels, shaping her into a role model for the younger generation on the continent, and even subtly creating a rivalry with Tang Wulin of the Tang Sect.

If she easily concedes defeat in a competition—and concedes defeat to several competitors in succession—how will the outside world judge her?

"All show and no substance," "all show and no substance," "a carefully packaged vase of the Spirit Pagoda"... Once these labels are attached, they are hard to remove.

Gu Yuena's personal reputation will plummet, severely damaging the credibility of the Spirit Pagoda. After all, if even the most outstanding genius within the pagoda is so easily defeated, how will the world view the Spirit Pagoda's strength?

Not to mention, given Gu Yuena's pride, would it be even more difficult to get her to admit defeat repeatedly in order to avoid risks?

Gu Yuena shook her head slightly and said, "Tower Master, I had a few exchanges with Lu Fa when I was at Shrek Academy, but those were just student-era clashes, and Lu Fa was the ultimate winner. It shouldn't be enough to make him hold a grudge."

"Is that so?" Upon hearing this, Qian Gu Dong Feng turned his gaze to Lu Fa in mid-air, his heart filled with doubt.

If that's the case, why did the Divine Craftsman still do it? Was it just a whim, or was it intentionally targeting the Spirit Pagoda? But he believed that the Spirit Pagoda shouldn't have offended them.

(End of this chapter)