Chapter 24: The Master Smith Joins the Sect

Chapter 24: The Master Smith Joins the Sect

Smack!

Before the guard could approach Xiao Yu, Xie Wu couldn't hold back any longer and struck out. The sharp sound of a slap echoed as the guard staggered back several steps.

"You, you... how dare you hit me!"

Xie Wu didn't hold back at all, and the guard was left reeling, clutching his face in rage.

"I hit you because you deserve it! You dare to disrespect the Young Master? It's only because of the Blacksmith Association that I didn't kill you!"

Xie Wu sneered disdainfully, glaring at the guard without fear.

"This is rebellion, absolute rebellion!"

The guard shouted furiously, "Brothers, come quickly! Someone is causing trouble here!"

As his voice faded, a flurry of hurried footsteps approached. Over a dozen robust, dark-skinned men charged down from the fifth floor, surrounding Xiao Yu and his group.

"Who dares cause trouble in the Blacksmith Association?"

The leader, a middle-aged man, shouted coldly. A wave of soul power, indicating a level above seventy, emanated from him as he stared at Xiao Yu's group. "I am Si Long of the Blacksmith Association. You all look unfamiliar, so I'll let it go this time. Apologize and leave quickly!"

"What if I refuse?"

Xiao Yu sneered. Although his purpose here was to recruit the Blacksmith Association, it didn't mean he had to be overly cautious. It was important to establish who was in charge from the start.

Without a word, Hui Huo, who stood behind Xiao Yu, stepped forward and released his soul power. The difference in levels immediately overwhelmed Si Long.

The immense soul pressure made Si Long feel a tightness in his chest, causing him to involuntarily step back a few paces. His face turned pale with shock. This kind of soul pressure was something he had only experienced from the Blacksmith Association's vice president, Tai Tan, who was at the Soul Douluo level. Clearly, this person was at least of Soul Douluo level, far beyond what he, a Soul Sage without combat skills, could handle.

"Is there a misunderstanding between us? We can discuss this calmly."

Fear made Si Long's voice tremble. Tai Tan was far away in Tiandou City; no one here could stop this Soul Douluo-level expert.

"First, make him pick up what he threw away!"

Xiao Yu pointed coldly at the guard from earlier.

"I'll pick it up, I'll pick it up!"

The guard, realizing he had provoked someone formidable, hurriedly picked up the design drawings he had discarded earlier and respectfully handed them to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu didn't take them but looked at Si Long and said, "Initially, I just wanted to invite Master Lou Gao to forge a divine weapon. But your men insulted us, threw away my designs, and tried to drive us away. That's why things escalated."

"So, it was all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!"

Si Long sighed in relief upon hearing this and glared fiercely at the guard before taking the designs from him. "However, esteemed guests, please forgive us. My teacher rarely forges items for others now, but if you don't mind, I can also..."

Si Long's eyes fell on the drawings as he spoke. Given his master-level forging skills, he assumed it wouldn't be difficult, but the next second, he froze, his eyes widening in shock. "This... what a genius design!"

"Can we meet Master Lou Gao now?"

Xiao Yu's lips curled into a triumphant smile.

"Of course!"

Si Long nodded eagerly. Such a brilliant design could make them esteemed guests of the Blacksmith Association. Moreover, as Lou Gao's direct disciple, Si Long knew his teacher was at a bottleneck. Creating those routine items was of no help to his teacher. Only innovative designs like this could inspire new insights in forging, helping him reach new heights.

Si Long immediately led Xiao Yu and his group to the fifth floor. Between the fourth and fifth floors, besides the guards, there was a metal door made of alloy. Without the proper method, it couldn't be opened unless a Titled Douluo used their full strength.

Si Long approached and rhythmically knocked on the metal door. Accompanied by a series of mechanical sounds, the door slowly opened, revealing a passage to the upper floor.

"Please, follow me."

Si Long led the way, guiding Xiao Yu and his group to the fifth floor, straight to the innermost forging room, where he respectfully knocked on the metal door.

After a while, the door opened slowly, and an elderly man, about fifty years old with a stout build, stepped out. He looked impatient. "Si Long, haven't I told you not to disturb me unless it's important?"

"Sorry, teacher!"

Si Long apologized respectfully before handing over the designs. "Teacher, please look at this."

"What is it?"

Lou Gao took the designs, and the next moment, his eyes widened like saucers. He grabbed Si Long's arm. "Where did you get this?"

Si Long had anticipated this reaction. He stepped aside, revealing Xiao Yu and his group behind him. "Teacher, it's from these guests. They want you to forge something based on this design."

"Is this your design?"

Lou Gao scrutinized the group, his gaze full of suspicion. Except for Hui Huo, the others seemed too young. But Hui Huo's position indicated he was a bodyguard, not the one in charge.

"Yes."

Xiao Yu nodded. "If Master Lou Gao is available, could we discuss this inside?"

"Come in, all of you. Si Long, you too!"

Lou Gao immediately invited them in, returning to his room.

Xiao Yu turned to Zi Long and Xie Wu. "Please wait outside and keep watch for me."

"Yes, Young Master!"

Zi Long and Xie Wu understood and nodded in unison.

Xiao Yu, along with Hui Huo and Si Long, then entered Lou Gao's forging room.

The forging room was quite messy but indeed spacious, over five hundred square meters, with various metals scattered around.

"Make yourselves at home, sit anywhere you like," Lou Gao waved his hand, returning to his worktable and plopping down in his chair.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu casually picked up a fallen chair, wiped the dust off, and sat down. Hui Huo followed suit and sat behind Xiao Yu. However, Si Long stood respectfully by Lou Gao's side.

"Young man, this design is for a soul tool, isn't it?" Lou Gao asked, looking at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu was surprised; he hadn't expected Lou Gao to recognize it.

"No need to be so surprised," Lou Gao said in a deep voice. "I once dismantled a storage-type soul tool for research. Your core array has many similarities to the one I dismantled. I just never imagined that there could be an offensive soul tool."

"Exactly!" Xiao Yu no longer hid the truth and nodded. "Master Lou Gao, this is indeed a design for a powerful offensive soul tool. And I'm not boasting, but if it were successfully created, it could even kill a Soul Douluo-level expert in an ambush."

"What?" Si Long exclaimed. "Soul tool technology was lost thousands of years ago. Except for a few storage-type soul tools, new soul tools are rarely seen on the continent."

"Just because it's lost doesn't mean it doesn't exist," Xiao Yu glanced at Si Long, then continued smiling at Lou Gao.

"You didn't come here just to ask me to forge it, did you?" Lou Gao, although a forging fanatic, had been a chairman for decades and wasn't completely unaware of human nature. "Soul tool technology has been lost for thousands of years. Even with just the design, this appears to be a high-level soul tool. I can't say I could forge it successfully."

"That's right!" Xiao Yu smiled warmly. "This design is merely a token to meet you, Master Lou Gao. My real purpose today..." He stood up and looked at Lou Gao seriously, "is to invite you and the Blacksmith Association to join my sect, the Nine Star Palace!"

"Kid, your tone is too grandiose!" Lou Gao shook his head. "You think one design can entice the entire Blacksmith Association? You're too naive. I admit this high-level soul tool design is attractive, but it's not enough for the entire Blacksmith Association to follow you. And as I said, soul tool technology has been lost for millennia. Even with the design, I can't guarantee its creation."

"As I mentioned earlier, this is just a token to meet you," Xiao Yu smiled. "As for the difficulty in forging it, I understand. Everything starts simple and gets complex. If you practice with several low-level soul tool designs, once you grasp the core technology, I believe you can forge this high-level soul tool effortlessly."

"You mean you have many low-level soul tool designs too?" Lou Gao's composure faltered, and he stood up, eyes gleaming as he stared at Xiao Yu.

"Not only design plans but also books on the history and core concepts of soul tools. Would these tempt you, Master Lou Gao?"

Xiao Yu continued like a persuasive orator. "Master Lou Gao, you understand the current state of the Blacksmith Association. While the headquarters in Gengxin City is relatively well off, blacksmiths elsewhere have low status. You know this well.

"The root cause is that most blacksmiths lack offensive power, so the Blacksmith Association lacks deterrence in the soul master world. Otherwise, a small disturbance wouldn't require Grandmaster Si Long, a Soul Sage, to personally intervene.

"Imagine, if offensive soul tools were developed, think of the future. Not only would many soul master sects beg for our products, but equipping our blacksmiths with them would drastically change the scene!"

Si Long's breath quickened; Xiao Yu's words had convinced him. He could envision the blacksmiths' status soaring.

Lou Gao also fell silent. Xiao Yu made valid points. In the soul master world, blacksmiths had the lowest status and were often bullied. Even in Gengxin City, the Blacksmith Association's headquarters, a mere Soul Emperor like Miles of the Spirit Hall could throw his weight around among several Soul Sages.

The Blacksmith Association did have powerful soul masters. Besides Lou Gao, the other two of the three great blacksmiths were Tang Hao and Tai Tan, both renowned in the soul master world. Tai Tan, known as the Hercules, had built a foundation for the Strength Clan in Tiandou City, and his strength could rival a Titled Douluo. Tang Hao, the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent, was a wanted man by the Spirit Hall but still idolized by many soul masters.

However, the soul master world never truly regarded them as blacksmiths. Even Tang Hao and Tai Tan themselves likely didn't consider themselves part of the blacksmith profession. Tang Hao was merely a nominal member, and Tai Tan, as the vice chairman, only occasionally visited to support the Blacksmith Association.

After a long while, Lou Gao finally spoke slowly, "Young man, I'll ask you one thing: Is it true that your sect has the lost soul tool legacy, or are you just trying to lure us in?"

"I can swear on my martial soul!" Xiao Yu looked directly at Lou Gao, solemnly saying. In Douluo Continent, swearing on one's martial soul was the most serious oath, as the martial soul was the foundation of one's being. Swearing on it meant no intention of advancing in cultivation.

After a pause, Xiao Yu added, "I also promise that if you join the Nine Star Palace, I will provide all soul tool-related books and designs to you without reservation!"

"Very well, if that's the case, then I'll follow you from now on!" Lou Gao slapped his thigh and agreed. He then turned to Si Long, "Si Long, what are your thoughts?"

Si Long immediately responded, "Teacher, this is a great opportunity to change the status of blacksmiths. I will follow you without hesitation, and I'm sure Si Yu and Si Di would feel the same."

Lou Gao nodded and turned to Xiao Yu, "Please stay in Gengxin City for a few days. Once we organize things here, we will join you."

"Thank you, Master Lou Gao!" Xiao Yu knew that the Blacksmith Association was a large organization, and it wasn't easy for Lou Gao and others to leave quickly. He then said, "Actually, I have another purpose for this visit. To manufacture soul tools, we need a lot of metals, so I need to purchase a large quantity of metals. Could you help with that?"

"That can be easily arranged!" Lou Gao laughed heartily. "I can even foot the bill if needed!"

"That wouldn't be appropriate!" Xiao Yu said seriously. "As the saying goes, there must be rules and regulations. The Nine Star Palace has its own rules and will not use any disciple's private property or harm any disciple's interests!"

Lou Gao nodded again, gaining more respect for the Nine Star Palace, a sect he still barely knew. He then instructed Si Long, "Si Long, handle this matter. Whatever metals the young master needs, coordinate with the association and waive the handling fees!"

(End of this chapter)

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