The Strongest Talent Tree

As they made their way to a small, distant grove of trees, Jin Li kept her head down in shy silence.

This made Feng Hao’s heart pound as his imagination ran wild. To be honest, Jin Li’s skin was a bit dark, but her figure and looks were absolutely stunning. Hers wasn’t a flawless, perfect kind of beauty, which suited Feng Hao’s tastes perfectly.

With a woman from any other race, Feng Hao would definitely be having improper thoughts, but facing Jin Li, he couldn’t bring himself to think that way at all.

Are you kidding? This mole-like beauty was one of the Earth Spirit Race People, possessing a nearly indestructible body. There was no way he’d dare to have any crooked ideas about her. Forget acting on them—the mere thought was terrifying!

However, it seemed his ominous premonitions were destined to come true. The moment they stopped walking, Jin Li’s first words scared him half to death.

She lifted her head shyly, her cheeks flushed crimson. With lovestruck eyes, she gazed at him and said, "Um... can you be my boyfriend?"

"What the— What did you say?" Feng Hao’s voice trembled.

"Oh, stop it," Jin Li said bashfully. "I asked if you could be my boyfriend."

Feng Hao nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood. It took him a long moment to process it. Staring at the shy Earth Spirit Race beauty before him, the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

’Imagine what it’s like to have a King Kong Barbie act cute with you. And what’s it like when that King Kong Barbie not only acts cute, but also confesses her love for you?’

All Feng Hao could feel right now was his asshole clenching shut. His little brother was crying for his mommy.

Seeing Feng Hao’s continued silence, Jin Li’s eyes filled with disappointment. "Am I not pretty enough?"

"No, no, no." Feng Hao shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Then his expression turned serious, and he adopted the posture of an upright gentleman. "I already have Yaoyao. In this life, I will only ever be devoted to her."

"I knew it." Jin Li shook her head with a bitter smile, her face pale. "Yaoyao must be very happy to have a boyfriend like you."

"Of course. I’m the prince of devotion, after all." Feng Hao bragged to himself without even blinking.

’Besides, it was all true. Even though my heart contains a whole forest and I’ve got a wandering eye, I’m still just hanging from this one tree called Yao Girl for now. And honestly, it feels pretty good.’

Jin Li gave a wan smile and sighed faintly. "Since that’s the case, there’s no need for me to tell you the secret of our Earth Spirit Race."

"Oh, really?" Feng Hao said, delighted. "Then what are we waiting for? Let’s hurry back."

With that, Feng Hao turned to flee. Are you kidding? He didn’t want to stay in this awkward and terrifying situation for a second longer.

"Wait." Jin Li pulled him back with a light laugh, her gaze teasing. "A Blacksmith is useful to our Earth Spirit Race for more than just one thing."

Feng Hao stopped helplessly, his expression exasperated. "Fine. Seeing as you’re such a diligent miner, as long as it doesn’t involve being your boyfriend, we can talk about anything else."

Jin Li smiled beautifully and asked, "What level Blacksmith are you right now?"

"I actually just started learning to forge not long ago, and I’ve been focused on forging metals. I’ve barely tried making weapons or equipment," Feng Hao said, a bit embarrassed. "In terms of pure forging skill, I’m at least at level five. But if we’re talking about forging weapons and equipment, I’m not that great."

"Hehe, your forging ability is exactly what I need." Jin Li’s smile was one of pleasant surprise, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

"Huh? Just my forging ability?" Feng Hao asked, confused.

"That’s right." Jin Li nodded and explained with a light laugh, "As everyone knows, the bodies of our Earth Spirit Race are like metal. Therefore, a Blacksmith can help us temper the strength of our flesh, expel impurities from our bodies, and maybe even awaken certain metallic properties."

"Now you see why I was so excited, right?" Jin Li asked, smiling with pressed lips.

Feng Hao nodded in sudden understanding. As an inheritor of a forging legacy, he of course knew the enhancing effect forging had on metal; he just never thought it would also work on the body of someone from the Earth Spirit Race.

"You mean you want me to forge your body?" Feng Hao asked, looking up.

Jin Li nodded with a soft laugh, her eyes filled with determination. "That’s right! Use your Forging Hammer to temper my body!"

"Are you sure?" Feng Hao asked again, hesitantly pulling out his Forging Hammer to confirm.

’Honestly, I have no idea what it feels like to forge a person. Besides, my hidden strength is no joke. What if I accidentally hammer her to death?’

Although dying in the Secret Realm only made you drop a level before being teleported back, Jin Li was a master miner. If she died and went back, who would make up for the loss of the Tri-color Crystal from before?

"Come on! Use your strongest forging skill and temper my body!" Jin Li shouted resolutely, her eyes squeezed shut.

"Alright, I’m starting. Cry out if you can’t take it."

Feng Hao wasted no more words. He swung the Forging Hammer and brought it down, imagining her as a piece of rare metal.

CLANG!

It turned out Feng Hao’s worries were completely unnecessary. The Forging Hammer struck Jin Li’s body with the sound of metal being struck, leaving not the slightest bit of damage.

Instead, a faint, dark-gold light rose from Jin Li’s skin. With each of Feng Hao’s hammer blows, she unconsciously let out a comfortable-sounding moan, which left Feng Hao completely flustered.

"Don’t hold back! My body is extremely tough. Use your full strength!" Jin Li’s voice was feverish and excited. Anyone who didn’t know what was happening would have gotten the wrong idea.

The corner of Feng Hao’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t help but increase the force of his blows, lamenting internally, ’The universe is vast and full of strange things, indeed. Who would’ve thought there’d be such a ’perverted’ race out there? Begging someone to hit you is one thing, but to look like you’re damn well enjoying it...’

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG...

The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the small grove, mixed with Jin Li’s excited cries.

And so, it wasn’t long before this attracted the nearby Xi Yueyao.

Hearing Jin Li’s strange noises, the young lady immediately charged over as if her life depended on it. Her voice arrived before she did. "Aieee! How dare you two start fooling around right under my nose! I’ll kill you, you shameless couple!"

Immediately after, Xi Yueyao appeared before them with reddened eyes. Without another word, she swept her long whip toward them.

Sirlius had also followed right behind her. Although he had anticipated something like this, he was still taken aback by the "commotion" Jin Li was making.

"Damn it!" Feng Hao hastily stopped his forging and dodged the whip’s attack. Seeing the young lady’s reddened eyes, he felt a pang in his heart.

He quickly shadow-stepped forward, explaining and comforting her at the same time. "Yao Girl, don’t cry. It’s not what you think."

"You’re lying! I definitely heard... you two getting it on! Waaaah~!" The moment she saw Feng Hao, the young lady could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down her face like a bursting dam.

"There, there, Yaoyao. Don’t cry, Yaoyao," Feng Hao said, his nose stinging as he comforted her tenderly. "Look, our clothes are perfectly fine. How could we have been... doing that?"

Only then did the young lady calm down. She looked up at Jin Li, then at Feng Hao, and said between sobs, "I guess you’re right."

Seeing this, Jin Li, who was standing to the side, felt a little envious. She stepped forward to help explain, "Little sister, you’re overthinking it. I just asked Feng Hao to help forge my body. It’s not what you think."

"Then why were you yelling so loud?" the young lady huffed between sobs.

"Well..." Jin Li’s cheeks turned slightly red as she said awkwardly, "For us in the Earth Spirit Race, having our bodies forged is a very... pleasurable experience. I couldn’t help myself."

Sirlius, who had arrived right after Xi Yueyao, saw this scene and shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.