NOVEL WEB Chapter 42: A Subtle Shock
Wang Meng, eyes filled with longing, spoke a name with a sense of reverence and queried Ling Yi.
"Tang Chen?" he asked, nodding, then shaking his head with confusion.
Even as his mind raced at the mention of 'Tang Chen,' Ling Yi maintained a bewildered expression. "When I visited Uncle Lu Yi at the【Hall of Spirits】, he mentioned someone named Tang Chen—could it be the same person you were referring to, Fifth Senior Brother?"
"【Hall of Spirits】?"
Wang Meng was momentarily stunned by Ling Yi’s words, recalling the first time Ling Yi visited him and was over two hours late that afternoon, having mentioned his trip to the main hall in the city to meet a senior steward named Lu Yi.
Agreeing, Wang Meng nodded thoughtfully, "If it was heard from a steward at the【Hall of Spirits】, then it must indeed be the same Tang Chen I just mentioned."
Ling Yi widened his eyes, black and white, as he looked at Wang Meng.
"Uncle Lu said that the Tang Chen you're referring to is known alongside the【Hall of Spirits】's long-serving elder, both of whom were dubbed the 'Two Peaks' of the soul master world. He has already become a peerless Rank 99 Douluo in recent years! Is that true?"
Wang Meng nodded vigorously, his face aglow with admiration and the awe of a child learning legendary tales.
"But..." Ling Yi tilted his head, casting another question towards Wang Meng. "What does this Tang Chen have to do with us, Fifth Senior Brother?"
“I've only heard Uncle Lu talk about it – his martial spirit is the 'Clear Sky Hammer,' renowned as the superior weapon spirit, rivaling those like the 'Angel' spirit from the Hall of Spirits and the 'Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon' from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.”
Due to his own martial spirit, the Eight-Cornered Heavy Hammer, Lu Yi was particularly interested in and collected tales about Tang Chen, the 'Clear Sky Douluo' whose might shook the continent. So when Ling Yi casually inquired, Lu Yi eagerly shared everything he knew.
Upon hearing Ling Yi’s question, Wang Meng's face broke into a grin identical to Lu Yi’s from a few days back.
It was a proud, excited smile, like one might wear when boasting about a famous person from their hometown.
“Heh heh~” Wang Meng chuckled, picking up a forging hammer from the side table. “Since you know 'Clear Sky Douluo' Tang Chen's martial spirit is the 'Clear Sky Hammer,' do you know what combat technique he initially relied on aside from his spirit rings and abilities?”
Ling Yi shook his head since this detail hadn’t been shared by Lu Yi previously, it wasn't something he would logically know.
“The Chaos Wind Hammer Technique—!”
Wang Meng didn’t keep him in suspense, and instead expressed his eagerness to share: “A powerful hammer technique that ensures each strike is stronger than the last, gathering energy until a final massive release!”
Ling Yi thought to himself ‘As expected,’ his face showing an amazed, shocked expression. His eyes brightened with urgency as he looked at Wang Meng. “So… Fifth Senior Brother, by telling me this, are you suggesting that Tang Chen’s Chaos Wind Hammer Technique has some connection with us blacksmiths?”
Wang Meng's silence was deafening.
His face grew increasingly distraught as Ling Yi continued his analysis. "Since they're all swinging hammers, and given that the ‘Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique’ can enhance the force of each swing, its effects in tempering metal materials must be extraordinary. Since Fifth Senior Brother specifically mentioned him, then..."
“That ‘Heaven Douluo’ Tang Chen, is he also a blacksmith, or rather, is he skilled in blacksmith forging techniques?”
“Or perhaps, this ‘Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique’ was originally a specialized method for blacksmiths to refine metal materials?”
To be able to forge, to master blacksmith techniques, does not necessarily mean one is a blacksmith, so Ling Yi added a clarification.
Hearing Ling Yi's analysis, Wang Meng was stunned, unable to respond for a long time.
Furthermore, Ling Yi’s deductions were so fluid and effortless partly because of the memories from his past life.
Without those memories, although Ling Yi’s flexible thinking developed in this life could still piece together the right inferences step by step, they might not have been as precise and immediate.
Additionally, in the worldview of the Douluo Continent, people generally have a low level of education, with no specialized cultural educational system for spirit masters and ordinary people.
In a world defined by extraordinary martial abilities, the primary focus of everyone is to master knowledge related to martial souls.
Those born with innate spirit power talents are eager to dedicate all their time to studying and honing their martial abilities. Matters such as cultural refinement, personal principles, strategic acumen, and socio-economic affairs are all relegated to a secondary position. Only nobles with less talent in martial souls have the opportunity to pursue such studies.
Similar to a technical school from Ling Yi’s previous life, here, everyone learns a particular skill as a means of livelihood, becoming an ordinary and replaceable cog within the human settlements across the Douluo Continent.
For instance, in the original timeline, when Tang Hao sent Tang San to the "Moon Mansion" to temper his easily volatile killing intent, who were the people there?
Those with notable talents in martial souls attended the "Heaven Dou Imperial Academy," while those learning noble etiquette and skills did so as tools for alliances through marriage—distinct from the common nouveau riche and lower social classes.
Tang Yuehua once remarked that Tang Hao lacked her wisdom; had she been in his place, the situation might have played out differently.
Indeed, if Tang Hao could have forged alliances with other sects or even the two empires, backing them with Tang Chen’s lingering influence, Qian Xunji wouldn't have dared to directly attack the "Clear Sky Sect".
Ultimately, being the most exceptional heir of the "Clear Sky Sect",
In the original timeline, whether it was the five great elders within the Haotian Sect or the four clans with single attributes, their intense dissatisfaction with Tang Hao mainly stemmed from the severe losses suffered under the frenzied retaliation of the Spirit Hall after Qian Xunji's death. Many close relatives and friends perished tragically, which fueled their resentment.
Of course, these things were already established facts in the original timeline, unchangeable, and no one could provide Tang Yuehua with an answer to the 'what if' had she been in a similar situation.
However, when one truly delves deep into the matter, if Tang Yuehua possessed Tang Hao's aptitude, could she still have the proud political finesse she now boasts? Could she, apart from her cultivation, still have the mind to learn noble etiquette or the arts of conversation?
These are questions beyond our grasp.
At this point, Ling Yi couldn't help but recall examples of two characters from films of the past life.
Xiàng Yǔ: Familiar with military strategies, "burning bridges", "attacking the weak points", "rescues response to attacks"…
The Western Chu Overlord: Unbeaten on the battlefield, invincible under heaven, with an army poised to strike, the advantage lay with me…
Superman: With his supermind, "What's my next move?"
In a world governed by perception and unseen forces, another entity was making its presence felt. "Use your extraordinary mind: apply your superpower." The message was brief, yet resounding.
It was a reminder, an invocation to tap into concealed potential that lay dormant within many. The air seemed to shimmer with anticipation.
(End of Chapter)
