Ling Cage, pick up Lu Mingfei at the start.

Lu Mingfei got up very early today. Instead of washing his face with water, he used facial cleanser to clean his face for the first time ever. While washing his face, he wet his hair and used a hairdryer to give himself what he thought was a cool hairstyle. Finally, he put on a black trench coat that he had bought from Rensheng Dashi before.

Since the day Lu Mingfei first opened his Golden Eyes, his body has undergone subtle changes. The same cultivation and training allowed him to grow muscles more efficiently than others. Compared to his bean sprout physique when he first arrived, his muscles have become incredibly prominent, but they are not the kind of explosive, bulky muscles. Instead, they are refined and well-proportioned. Recently, under Bai Yuekui's lavish feeding, his height has also increased. This trench coat fits him almost perfectly, firmly supported by his now broad shoulders, making him look like the eldest son of some unparalleled noble family.

Lu Mingfei couldn't wait to get to Bai Yuekui's house. In the past, he would just push the door open and walk in. Bai Yuekui's door had long been unlocked for him. But today, he was going to knock on the door and make sure Bai Yuekui opened it and saw his carefully dressed appearance.

squeak-

Beautiful silver hair first appeared through the crack in the door, followed by Bai Yuekui wearing an apron. Before opening the door, she was wondering who had come to see her so early. She hadn't expected it to be Lu Mingfei. If it were him, she would have just pushed the door open and come in.

The moment the door opened, Bai Yuekui saw who it was and froze for a moment. That familiar and exquisite face was now serious and tense. Long eyelashes drooped down, casting shadows that covered the eyes that were as black as ink. The black trench coat fit the person perfectly as if it were tailor-made. The shoulder line was so straight that it looked as if it had been cut with a ruler, while the waist was perfectly fitted. Any more would be too tight, any less would be too loose. This person really looked like a peerless young master.

Bai Yuekui came to his senses and his gaze met those inky black eyes. Although the face was tense, the eyes conveyed the message, "Praise me, praise me!"

"Wow, what's the good news today? You look so handsome." Bai Yuekui knew that Lu Mingfei had dressed like this specifically to retrieve his weapon, but she was still amazed when she saw him, and she didn't hold back her praise.

Upon hearing the answer he wanted, Lu Mingfei's carefully maintained composure immediately broke into a wide smile. Although Bai Yuekui had simply complimented him on his good looks, to him it was the highest praise in the world. He smiled and said, "Today I'm going to get my weapon, so naturally I should dress more formally."

"Alright, alright, stop standing at the door and come in to eat breakfast." Bai Yuekui turned around and went into the kitchen. He first brought out his own bowl of two ounces of noodles, and then brought out a basin of noodles. That's right, a basin. This was the amount of noodles Lu Mingfei ate for breakfast.

Lu Mingfei took the chopsticks from Bai Yuekui. Perhaps because there wasn't enough time last night, Bai Yuekui only made a simple hot noodle soup. But this morning's noodles were made with great care. It was still made with the golden chicken soup brought from Fan Shi Gang Restaurant. The mushrooms in the soup added even more flavor to the rich broth. Bai Yuekui added plenty of meat slices to the noodles. Lu Mingfei was never shortchanged when it came to food.

Soon, Lu Mingfei's gentlemanly demeanor vanished. Because he ate a lot, Lu Mingfei certainly wouldn't eat as elegantly and in small bites as Bai Yuekui. For him, taking a big bite of food would instantly unleash all the deliciousness.

Bai Yuekui watched Lu Mingfei devour his food with gusto, and helplessly covered half of her forehead. It was rare for him to look so handsome today, but he still couldn't change his true nature.

Lu Mingfei finished eating quickly, even though Ming Yuekui only had two ounces of noodles in his bowl, he was still a minute slower than Lu Mingfei.

Lu Mingfei stood up, pulled out a tissue from the table and wiped his greasy mouth clean. "Boss Bai, I'm leaving."

Bai Yuekui stared at Lu Mingfei's departing figure, feeling a moment of disorientation. The pathetic kid who was chased by the Devouring Beast and almost had to use his hands and feet had now grown into a tall and confident man. But when he looked down at the empty stainless steel basin in front of him, he felt that Lu Mingfei hadn't changed at all.

……

Lu Mingfei quickly arrived at Belikov's forge. Along the way, many people praised Lu Mingfei's attire, and the villagers' compliments made him even happier, feeling that his efforts this morning had not been in vain.

As Lu Mingfei approached the forging workshop, the first thing he heard was a series of crisp forging sounds. Walking inside, he saw a burly man with a Russian appearance, holding a steel cable in each hand and performing a rope chest press. Surprisingly, the ends of the cables were connected to a huge metal forging hammer. Lu Mingfei was completely dumbfounded. What kind of operation was this? Working out and working at the same time?

When Belikov saw Lu Mingfei, he naturally noticed his attire. If it were anyone else, Belikov might have said he was dressed in a flashy way, but this was Lu Mingfei, the great hero of Dragon Bone Village who turned the tide in the shielding tower mission, restoring his most respected Boss Bai to his peak condition, and who, after returning, saved countless families at the medical center. Therefore, Belikov's eyes were naturally full of admiration when he looked at Lu Mingfei.

"They're here?" Belikov's voice boomed as he slowly opened his arms, allowing the giant hammer to land steadily, causing the ground to tremble slightly. He casually grabbed a rough cloth to wipe his sweat, grinning, "You look sharp today! Impressive!"

Lu Mingfei was pulled back from his thoughts by the shocking forging method. Hearing the praise, he smiled a little shyly and stepped forward earnestly, saying, "Today I've come to collect the weapon you painstakingly crafted for me. I dare not be negligent, so dressing formally is also a sign of respect for your craftsmanship."

These words struck a chord with Belikov. His admiration deepened, and he waved his hand, "Good lad! You know your manners! Sit here for a while, I'll go get it for you!" He pulled a sturdy iron stool over and placed it beside Lu Mingfei, then turned to head towards the stairs deeper into the workshop. He'd only taken two steps when he remembered something, turned back, and called out gruffly, "Konova! Come out and help me greet them!"

Konova? Lu Mingfei had heard the name before and knew she was Belikov's daughter, but he had never seen her. However, according to Belikov, Konova was here today, but why hadn't he seen her?

Just as he was thinking this, a well-built figure emerged from behind the huge forging hammer, wearing a protective mask. Only then did Lu Mingfei realize that there was someone else here, but no wonder he hadn't noticed him because he was hiding behind the forging hammer.

"You're Lu Mingfei? Hello, I'm Konova." Konova took off her protective mask and extended her hand to Lu Mingfei.

Lu Mingfei subconsciously reached out his hand, ready to make a polite handshake. However, just as his gaze fell on the face revealed from under the mask, his movements, along with his breathing, paused almost imperceptibly for a beat.

It was a striking beauty that blended the best of East and West, possessing a sculptural quality.

Her face had a clear, defined contour, inheriting some of her father's sculpted bone structure. Her cheekbones were slightly high and distinct, yet not jarring; instead, they added a touch of masculinity to her face. Her jawline was beautifully curved and sharply defined, but this Western-style sculptedness was subtly balanced by an Eastern refinement and delicacy. Her skin wasn't pale, but rather a healthy honey color, radiating vitality from years of exposure to the elements, smooth and firm, like the finest velvet. Her eyebrows weren't the trendy thin arches, but rather slightly darker in color, naturally long and arched, slanting upwards towards her temples.

"Hello, Konova. I'm Lu Mingfei." He heard his own voice, which was calmer than he had expected, although only he could hear the pounding of his heart. This was the most beautiful woman Lu Mingfei had ever seen in Dragon Bone Village, even more beautiful than Boss Bai. In Lu Mingfei's memory, only Su Xiaoqiang, the little angel in his high school class, could barely compare to her.

Konova was also observing Lu Mingfei. He was a head taller than her and so handsome that she blushed slightly. The boy's features were exquisite but not effeminate, and his skin was like the first snow of winter, fair and translucent, as delicate as mutton fat jade, making her feel inferior.

"Why haven't I seen you in the village before?" Lu Mingfei didn't know what to say, so he could only try to make conversation.

"Because I was stationed at the Steel Fortress for a while, of course you didn't see me," Konova said with a smile, her eyes squinting as she laughed.

Steel Fortress? Lu Mingfei had certainly seen it once. That was the day he was picked up by Bai Yuekui and taken to Dragon Bone Village shortly after he transmigrated. He was sitting in a car when the vehicle drove straight through the fortress's massive steel gate. And that was the only time he had ever seen it. Lu Mingfei only remembered that the fortress was very large, and didn't have much of an impression of it.

"What are these?" Lu Mingfei suddenly noticed some red-hot things in the melting pool next to him. Why do they look like bones?

Lu Mingfei felt something was strange.

"These are the bones of the Devouring Beasts," Konova said casually.

"The bones of a Devouring Beast!" Lu Mingfei exclaimed in surprise. He never expected that these were actually the bones of a Devouring Beast. "Why are the bones of a Devouring Beast here?"

"Forging weapons," Konova said, then added, "Oh, you don't know this, do you? Many weapons and armor in the village are made from these bones. These bones are both hard and tough. Shattered Star's bow is made from these materials."

"As for why we don't use metal, you know the reason." As if she could see that Lu Mingfei still had doubts, Konova smiled and said helplessly, "Since the disaster broke out, the steel mill has been closed for a long time. Even if we have mines, we don't have the capacity to mine and refine them on a large scale. Steel or precious metals are all brought back from the city by the villagers when they go out on fieldwork."

Lu Mingfei nodded, seemingly understanding.

At this moment, Belikov came down, holding a long spear in his hand, the weapon that Lu Mingfei had longed for.

"You two have a good chat. Young people should exchange ideas more often." Belikov overheard their conversation from upstairs, which pleased him. Actually, he had a selfish motive: what if something happened to his daughter during a mission? If he could get on good terms with Lu Mingfei, Lu would prioritize saving his daughter.

"Here, your weapon, the same one as Maido's." Belikov handed the spear to Lu Mingfei, and Konova stood aside with a smile.

Lu Mingfei looked at the large gun and almost reverently held it in his hands, examining it closely.

This is a modern weapon made entirely of steel, with a slender, subtly curved, triangular armor-piercing tip. Three ridges radiate from the tip, which, after being quenched, has a bluish-black hue that devours light, except for a single, piercing silver star at the tip.

The hammer marks are faintly visible at the neck of the spear, and the forged shaft is a matte dark gray, covered with fine spiral patterns that shimmer like iridescent machine oil under the cold light. The butt of the spear tapers into a fierce triangular ferrule, echoing the tip of the spear.

The entire gun exudes a suppressed, violent beauty. Every curve of its lines is optimized for thrusting, and every distribution of its weight is calculated for balance. It is silent, yet it resembles a black thunderbolt forged into shape.

Lu Mingfei gently stroked the gun; he was very satisfied with it and couldn't put it down.

"Does it also have that high-voltage electric pulse?" Lu Mingfei asked excitedly.

Belikov laughed heartily: "I already said it's the same style as Maido's, how could it be missing this?" With that, he took the Six Harmonies Spear, twisted it at a certain point, and in that instant, the spear tip immediately emitted a golden thunderbolt like the simultaneous cry of a thousand birds.

"I heard you have golden eyes," Konova said naturally, looking at the dazzling golden sparks with admiration and a professional assessment in her eyes. "So when my father designed the energy circuit and pulse activation mode, he specifically referred to them..."

Her words came to an abrupt end.

Because at that very moment, perhaps stimulated by the thunder that was so similar to the gold in his eyes, yet even more violent and outward-flowing, Lu Mingfei, in a state of extreme focus and excitement, unconsciously and naturally...

It ignited his golden eyes.

In that instant, it was as if two miniature suns awakened and burned in his eye sockets!

A blazing, pure, and majestic golden light replaced his once-dark pupils, flowing and swirling like molten gold. The light wasn't dazzling or diffused, but it carried an indescribable, ancient pressure that reached the depths of his soul—magnificent and awe-inspiring. He was completely focused on the golden lightning crackling at the tip of his spear, not looking at Konova.

However, just from her profile, just from that fleeting glance, and from the invisible, pervasive sense of oppression emanating from the very source of her blood, Konova's remaining words were abruptly choked in her throat.

A strange, primal chill and tremor, stemming from an instinctive life force, surged up her spine to the back of her head. The feeling wasn't the life-or-death crisis she felt facing a powerful Devouring Beast, but rather more like… a crushing defeat in terms of status, the involuntary awe and trembling that a lower life form feels when it catches a glimpse of a celestial being patrolling the clouds. Her breath caught in her throat, and her body instinctively wanted to retreat, to avert her gaze—a primal reaction of a creature facing an incomprehensible being of a higher power.

However, her gaze was firmly fixed on him.

If you ignore the chilling intimidation, those eyes... are so beautiful.

How pure and fiery that gold was! It seemed to condense the essence of all light in the world, all glory and antiquity submerged within it, burning quietly. Unlike the violent outward display of lightning at the tip of a spear, it was far more profound and restrained, containing unimaginable vastness and mystery. The focused gaze was like the finest golden mandala blooming in silence, carrying a breathtaking, otherworldly magnificence.

Belikov also immediately noticed his daughter's unusual behavior and the sudden, faint pressure. He followed Konova's gaze and met Lu Mingfei's burning golden eyes.

"Hiss—" Even with Belikov's courage and experience, he gasped instantly, his heart leaping. He had heard the legend of those eyes before, but hearing about them and seeing them with his own eyes were two completely different things! It wasn't just a peculiar eye color; it was more like... a manifestation of power, a proclaiming of a higher level of life!

"Lu, Lu Mingfei, your eyes..." Belikov composed himself and carefully reminded him, his voice unconsciously lowering.

"Huh?" Lu Mingfei snapped back to reality, realizing he had lost control. The gold in his eyes faded rapidly like a tide, returning to their original pitch black. He quickly explained with an apologetic smile, "Sorry, sorry! I got too excited and lost control. I don't know how I turned it on again... Did I scare you?" He genuinely felt embarrassed; the "side effect" of these eyes always bothered him.

The father and daughter then felt the invisible pressure around them quietly dissipate. Belikov waved his hand, still shaken but mostly amazed: "It's alright, it's alright! Seeing is believing, this old man has truly broadened his horizons today! It seems I really didn't make a mistake in choosing the color of this high-voltage pulse; it matches your golden eyes quite well!"

Konova slowly exhaled, recovering from the subtle shock. Her gaze towards Lu Mingfei held not only admiration but also a deeper curiosity and inquiry, unconsciously carrying a sigh of praise: "Your golden eyes are truly beautiful."

This was the first time Lu Mingfei had been complimented on the beauty of his golden eyes, and he scratched his head shyly, saying, "Thank you."

Belikov handed the Six Harmonies Spear, with its pulse turned off, back to Lu Mingfei. Lu Mingfei took it, stroked it again with great affection, and then, following the method he had learned from Maiduo, skillfully located several mechanisms on the shaft. After some manipulation, the nearly two-meter-long spear made a slight "click" sound and cleverly folded into a short metal rod less than a meter long, making it easy to carry.

"Alright, you've got the weapon, so I won't keep you any longer. Come visit often, and if anything gets damaged or needs adjusting, just come find me!" Belikov patted Lu Mingfei's shoulder, quite forcefully.

Lu Mingfei nodded repeatedly, about to thank him and take his leave, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to the giant forging hammer lying quietly on the stand and the thick black steel cable hanging on the ground. A thought grew wildly in his mind like weeds.

His appetite has increased dramatically recently, perhaps he really has "returned to life," and his strength has almost been fully restored. The heavy weight of the spear he held just now seemed effortless in his hands. So... can he now shake these terrifying forged hammers before him?

"Uncle," Lu Mingfei pointed to the pair of giant hammers, his eyes gleaming with eagerness, "Can... I try this?"

Belikov was taken aback. He glanced at Lu Mingfei's upright but less robust physique than his own, then at the pair of forging hammers whose heads alone were comparable to small millstones. He chuckled, "Kid, you're quite curious, aren't you? Okay, you can try it! But be careful, these things aren't light, don't strain your back." He was simply assuming the young man was curious and wanted to experience it; he didn't believe Lu Mingfei could actually pull them. These forging hammers weighed several tons, and only Lu Mingfei's awakened potential, which greatly enhanced his muscles, could pull them.

Lu Mingfei picked up the two steel cables, and mimicking Belikov's chest-clamping posture, pulled them forward with all his might.

hum-

The steel cable taut instantly! It emitted a sharp, grating thud!

That heavy forging hammer actually... rose up in response! Although it was only a few inches off the ground, and although Lu Mingfei's cheeks were slightly red from the effort and his arms were even trembling a little, the hammer head did indeed leave the support!

Belikov's smile froze instantly, his eyes widened like saucers, and his mouth gaped slightly. Konova also covered her mouth, her blue eyes filled with shock.

Lu Mingfei gritted his teeth, feeling the heavy, almost tearing pull on his muscles from his arms, and the surging heat within him, seemingly ignited by the challenge. He let out a low roar, exerting force in his arms again, actually manipulating the heavy forging hammer, slowly bringing it closer to his chest, and then, with difficulty but undeniably, pulling it apart, repeating this several times!

Although his movements were far less effortless, stable, and fluid than Belikov's, even appearing clumsy and laborious, he did it! He shook the monstrous forging hammer purely with the strength of his own body!

"Bang!" Finally, Lu Mingfei, exhausted, loosened the steel cable, and the forging hammer fell heavily back onto the support, making a dull thud that shook the ground slightly.

He was panting heavily, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his arms so sore and numb he could barely lift them, but his eyes shone with excitement and satisfaction. He had done it! Though it was a struggle, it meant just how strong his body had become!

Belikov was dumbfounded. He watched as Lu Mingfei pulled him up several times in a row. If he didn't know that Lu Mingfei could save people, he would have started to suspect that Lu Mingfei had also awakened the potential for muscle enhancement.

"Lu Mingfei, do you want to inherit my mantle?" Belikov looked at Lu Mingfei with shining eyes, as if he had discovered some treasure.

"Huh?" Lu Mingfei and Konova asked at the same time.

"I'm serious, Lu Mingfei, you're the second person besides me who can pull this hammer. I'm worried about not having a successor right now." Belikov looked at Lu Mingfei and liked him more and more.

"No, no, Uncle. I'm very grateful for the weapon you made for me, but I don't have that idea yet. I won't disturb your work any longer, I'll be going now." Seemingly afraid that Belikov would keep him there, Lu Mingfei finished speaking, walked to the door, waved to them, and left.

"What a fine lad, what a fine lad!" Although Belikov felt regret, he still looked at Lu Mingfei's back with admiration. Konova, standing beside him, was also full of admiration, her eyes filled with shock.