On the playground of East Sea Academy, a figure clad in violet was heading toward the Academic Affairs Office. Compared to this year's new students, her height was clearly greater, and she appeared to be a student from the upper division.
"It's already been nearly three years, and this place hasn't changed a bit?"
As she walked, the girl occasionally glanced around. Though her words were blunt, there was a trace of nostalgia in her eyes.
This person was none other than Heita. It had been over two and a half years since she last left the academy. During that time, just as previously agreed, she had gone with Mu Chen to the residence of the Divine Smith Zhen Hua, and studied under him.
Because Mu Chen was Zhen Hua's junior disciple, Heita naturally assumed the identity of Zhen Hua's niece. She also displayed an astonishing talent in forging in front of him…
Just past level 30, she was already capable of fusion forging, immediately activating Zhen Hua's instinct to cherish talent. He expressed his willingness to take Heita as a disciple and teach her everything he knew. But it didn't take long before Zhen Hua realized something was off—why was this child learning so fast?
He was forced to increase the intensity of his instruction. However, for Heita, the only thing that still interested her was Heavenly Forging. Thanks to Mu Chen, Heita's theoretical knowledge had already reached the level of nearly an eighth-rank blacksmith. If Zhen Hua didn't show some real skill, he'd end up a laughingstock as her senior uncle.
So, with no other choice, Zhen Hua personally demonstrated Heavenly Forging to Heita. After all, no amount of textbook knowledge could compare to witnessing it firsthand.
And then… Heita lost interest in forging.
Once she understood how Heavenly Forging worked, Heita knew that she had essentially reached the pinnacle of this path. The only thing left was to improve her soul power.
She could have used the power of the Star God to forcefully perform Heavenly Forging—but there was no need. Besides forging, she had plenty of creative inspiration she hadn't yet exhausted!
So, just like what had happened at East Sea Academy, Zhen Hua found himself in the same situation. Within just two months, he had nothing left to teach Heita and could only let her do as she pleased.
Thus, Heita was granted her own forging room at the headquarters of the Blacksmith Association—although "laboratory" might be a better term, because she really was doing everything.
During that time, she invented all kinds of fascinating things that left Zhen Hua utterly shocked.
For example… the spirit-forging production line!
No blacksmiths were required—just machines that could automatically and rapidly produce spirit-forged metals, with astonishingly high quality. The debut of this invention instantly turned all the old blacksmiths who had yet to reach spirit forging into laughingstocks. "I'm already mass-producing, and you still haven't hammered one out?"
At the same time, the assembly line machines had a massive impact on the blacksmith profession. If Zhen Hua hadn't suppressed the backlash, many would have likely withdrawn from the Blacksmith Association in despair…
For a time, the name Heita resounded across the Douluo Continent. Everyone was intrigued by the person who had invented such a machine. But unfortunately, no one could locate Heita—or even figure out who she was. Because Heita was still holed up in her lab conducting research. Whatever people outside thought had nothing to do with her.
Along the way, Heita also built her own set of battle armor, though she hadn't had much chance to use it due to ongoing experiments.
Aside from that, she created many small gadgets—most of which she didn't display. She casually tossed most of them into the association's storage cabinets to prevent them from causing harm if let loose.
Just like that, nearly two and a half years passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Yao Lan also received more divine power from the Star Gods, gaining the ability to create more clones. At the same time, with Heita reaching Soul Saint level and acquiring a three-word battle armor, she had gained far greater maneuverability.
Before she knew it, it was time for Heita to return to East Sea Academy. She bid farewell to Zhen Hua and planned to head straight to Shrek Academy upon receiving her recommendation letter. Whether that place could still teach her anything… was unknown.
"Teacher Wu, it's been a long time since we last met!"
Looking at the cold-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside teacher in front of her, Heita couldn't help but recall how he used to guide her three years ago—and how sorrowful he was when he took her to the cemetery… Though Heita's own abilities were limited at the time, she couldn't deny that he had been a dedicated and responsible teacher.
"Heita… I didn't expect that in just three years, you've already grown up."
Compared to the little Heita from three years ago, the current Heita was clearly a "medium Heita". In the near future, she might even evolve again—into a "big Heita"!
But that was for the future. For now, Wu Zhangkong clearly wanted to chat with her. "What level are you at now? Even I can't see through your strength anymore."
"Level seventy. Three-word battle armor master."
Just eight words—and Wu Zhangkong sighed once again.
"I used to think that no matter what you did, I wouldn't be surprised. But now it seems… I spoke too soon."
"Twelve years old. Level seventy soul power. A three-word battle armor master… The future of this continent likely belongs to you."
"To be honest, I'm not even sure whether you'll be able to learn anything once you get to Shrek Academy…"
Wu Zhangkong had never seen anyone with such an outrageous level of talent. In just three years, Heita had gained over forty levels and had become a rare three-word battle armor master… She had completely left him in the dust.
If Heita fought Wu Zhangkong now, he wasn't even sure he could survive half a move. After all, she used to spar with him across rank gaps frequently when she was just a child.
"Of course, that's something we'll only find out once I get there," Heita said with a slight smile. Then she leaned close to Wu Zhangkong's ear and whispered, "Teacher Wu, my 'Resurrection Experiment' has made some progress. I can now bring dead soul beasts back to life…"
"I just haven't tested it on humans yet. But if I succeed in the future, I hope you won't reject it."
As soon as those words left her mouth, Wu Zhangkong's eyes widened. He stared blankly at the girl in front of him, unable to utter a single word.
How could he not understand what Heita meant?
Resurrection… resurrection… So she was still working on something like that?
Wu Zhangkong had been about to say it was impossible—after all, reviving the dead went against the laws of nature. To overturn such a truth, one would need power that transcended everything. Ordinary people absolutely couldn't achieve such a thing. But…
Heita wasn't ordinary. She was a genius!
A once-in-a-lifetime genius, unprecedented in the world!
The words "impossible" were forcibly swallowed. Even Wu Zhangkong himself probably hadn't realized that deep in his subconscious, a sliver of hope had taken root.