Chapter 325: The Heavenly Profound Treasure Hall and News of the Vast World
"Senior Sister, Lan Yingying?"
Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Mo Yu was momentarily taken aback. He recalled the beautiful and mature woman he had met during his time in the Mulan Empire. He quickly nodded and said to his subordinate, "Bring her in."
"Yes, Lord."
Following Mo Yu's command, a graceful, curvaceous figure clad in blue slowly appeared in the grand hall.
"Hehe, I never thought that the renowned leader of the Yuan Mansion would actually be you, little junior brother." As soon as the blue figure entered the hall, a charming and playful voice filled the room.
Moments later, a woman in a blue dress stepped in. She was incredibly attractive, with a well-proportioned body accentuated perfectly by the flowing gown, radiating a mesmerizing allure unique to a fully mature woman.
"Haha, Senior Sister Lan, it's really you! What brings you to the Black-Corner Domain?"
This woman before him was none other than Lan Yingying, whom Mo Yu had met in the Mulan Empire. Although they weren't truly senior and junior disciples, Mo Yu had accepted the title because she had once helped him. After all, it was just a name.
"Little Junior Brother, it's been a while, and you've grown even more handsome."
Years had passed, and Mo Yu's appearance had changed slightly. He had transformed from a youthful boy into a mature and handsome young man. However, his mysterious silver eyes still allowed Lan Yingying to recognize him immediately.
If a few years ago Mo Yu was just a handsome youth, now, at about twenty years old, he stood at the peak of youthful vigor, perfectly embodying what it means to be strikingly handsome.
Hearing her words, Mo Yu was momentarily surprised. He hadn't expected that this charming and mature senior sister would tease him right from the start.
Shaking his head, Mo Yu chuckled softly and said, "Senior Sister Lan, you've become even more beautiful. But why have you left the Mulan Empire and come to the Black-Corner Domain?"
Hearing Mo Yu's question, Lan Yingying smiled sweetly. Instead of answering immediately, she looked around the luxurious hall in amazement and said, "Junior Brother, I could tell back in the Mulan Empire that you weren't destined to stay in one place. I knew you would one day soar to great heights. Still, I didn't expect that in just a few years, you would make such a name for yourself in the Black-Corner Domain.
When I first heard the name Mo Yu here, I thought it was someone else with the same name. But when I heard that the leader of the Yuan Mansion was a young man with silver eyes, I became suspicious. Now that I see you in person, I still can't believe you've built such a powerful force.
You're no longer the same person who was being chased by the Mulan Valley. In fact, your Yuan Mansion is probably even stronger than the Mulan Valley now."
Lan Yingying's eyes were fixed intently on Mo Yu, her red lips exhaling a faint fragrance as she flirtatiously gazed at him.
Back then, Mo Yu was just a young man wandering the world with the strength of a Great Fighter. In the vast Northwest Continent, he was like an ant that could be crushed at any moment, even in the Mulan Valley.
At the time, what she valued most about Mo Yu was his extraordinary talent for forging weapons.
But to her surprise, in just three or four years, Mo Yu's status and position had undergone an earth-shaking transformation. The Yuan Mansion he founded wasn't just the strongest force in the Black-Corner Domain; it controlled 80% of the region's weapon trade, extending its influence to other countries in the Northwest Continent.
As a weapon forger herself, Lan Yingying was naturally very interested in a rising force like Yuan Mansion, capable of producing a vast quantity of high-quality weapons.
And when she found out that the leader of this force was the junior brother she had casually acknowledged back in the Mulan Empire, she was stunned for half a minute.
Facing this alluring and mature woman, Mo Yu smiled faintly without showing any change in expression. "Senior Sister Lan, I doubt you came all the way to the Black-Corner Domain just to see me."
Mo Yu knew Lan Yingying's true identity. Though she was publicly the head of a local branch of the Forging Guild in the Mulan Empire, she was also a member of the Device Alliance.
Although the Device Alliance wasn't as famous as the Pill Tower and wasn't as powerful, it was still a significant force in Zhongzhou.
Zhongzhou, being the land where the most powerful fighters on the continent gathered, meant that any force capable of standing its ground there could not be underestimated. Compared to the forces of the Northwest Continent, the Device Alliance was a top-tier existence.
Hearing Mo Yu's words, Lan Yingying was momentarily stunned, then laughed seductively. "Junior Brother, you're as sharp as ever. I was just passing through the Black-Corner Domain, but when I found out you were here, I couldn't resist stopping by."
"Passing through?" Mo Yu raised an eyebrow, then asked, "Senior Sister Lan, are you heading back to Zhongzhou?"
"Haha, nothing escapes you, Junior Brother." Surprised by how quickly Mo Yu figured it out, Lan Yingying nodded and said, "Yes, I've finished my training in the Northwest Continent. It's time for me to return to Zhongzhou. In two years, the Device Alliance will hold its once-every-eight-years Forging Tournament, and my teacher has already sent me a letter asking me to prepare for it."
"The Forging Tournament?"
Hearing this, Mo Yu was intrigued. He asked, "Senior Sister Lan, what's the Forging Tournament?"
Lan Yingying wasn't surprised by his question. Smiling sweetly, she explained, "The Forging Tournament was established by the Device Alliance to promote the exchange of skills between weapon forgers across the continent. It's a competition where weapon forgers can showcase their abilities, aiming to advance the development of forging techniques and raise the status of forgers."
"Oh? Using competition to motivate forgers and improve forging techniques?"
Mo Yu was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected that the forgers of the Device Alliance would go to such lengths for the development of their craft, showing a strong sense of mission.
"Senior Sister Lan, hosting such a grand tournament can't just be about the title. What about the rewards?" Mo Yu, now quite interested in the tournament, asked curiously.
"Hehe, of course, there are rewards. And they're substantial!" Lan Yingying chuckled.
"What kind of rewards?" Mo Yu's silver eyes lit up.
Seeing his reaction, Lan Yingying paused for a moment, then smiled playfully. "What's this? Are you interested too? Well, that makes sense. After all, you founded the famous Hundred Weapons Hall in Yuan Mansion. With the popularity of the weapons you produce, your forging skills have improved significantly."
Mo Yu smiled lightly, neither overjoyed nor proud of her praise. "That's nothing. The Hundred Weapons Hall mostly makes low-grade weapons. Now, tell me about the rewards for the Forging Tournament."
"Hmph, so boring!" Lan Yingying wrinkled her delicate nose, momentarily revealing a girlish demeanor that contrasted sharply with her mature allure, catching Mo Yu's attention for a brief moment.
"The rewards for the Forging Tournament are plentiful. Besides money and fame, there are three particularly coveted prizes," she said, her beautiful eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"The first is the honorary position of Elder in the Device Alliance. The champion of the Forging Tournament will enjoy all the privileges of an Elder."
"Elder? That sounds impressive…" Mo Yu, though unfamiliar with the full power of the Device Alliance, knew it was the largest organization of weapon forgers on the continent. Earning an Elder's position there was a significant reward.
"The second reward is that the champion will be granted three days of cultivation in the Soul Spirit Cavern," Lan Yingying said, her eyes filled with expectation.
"Soul Spirit Cavern? What's that?" Mo Yu asked curiously.
Lan Yingying smiled and explained, "It's understandable you haven't heard of it. The Soul Spirit Cavern is an ancient cave that the Device Alliance accidentally discovered. Though damaged, it still contains remnants of powerful ancient formations that can directly enhance a person's soul strength. This is highly sought after by both forgers and alchemists.
Even the Pill Tower has coveted its power to enhance soul strength. If the Soul Spirit Cavern weren't so far from their territory, and if our leaders hadn't promised to provide the Pill Tower with high-quality cauldrons every year, they would have seized it long ago."
At the mention of the Pill Tower, a trace of anger flickered in Lan Yingying's voice.
"An ancient cave that boosts soul strength…" Mo Yu stroked his chin, a hint of interest stirring within him. Though he had many unique methods to enhance his soul strength, progressing in this area grew slower the more advanced one became. The Soul Spirit Cavern could help him break through this bottleneck.
Suppressing his excitement, Mo Yu asked, "And the third reward?"
"The third reward is access to the Heavenly Profound Treasure Hall," Lan Yingying said, her voice lowering. "Junior Brother, do you believe that there were once Imperial-grade Weapon Forgers on the continent in ancient times?"
"Imperial-grade Weapon Forgers?" Mo Yu was stunned. Imperial-grade? That was on par with Imperial-grade Alchemists and even Dou Emperors.
Given the continent's emphasis on alchemy, how could an Imperial-grade Weapon Forger have existed?
Seeing the doubt on his face, Lan Yingying continued, "At first, even the Device Alliance didn't believe there had been Imperial-grade Weapon Forgers on the continent. After all, forging weapons was never as prestigious as alchemy. But the discovery of the Heavenly Profound Treasure Hall made us question that belief.
The hall is an ancient relic the Device Alliance stumbled upon. Though its exterior is damaged, the interior remains intact, housing countless weapons. Many of these weapons are beyond the abilities of our top forging masters to replicate.
There's even speculation among the upper ranks of the Device Alliance that an Imperial-grade weapon may lie hidden deep within the hall."
"An Imperial-grade weapon?" Mo Yu's expression shifted. Such a weapon was only a step away from being truly Imperial-grade—a level that even he couldn't reach in his past life.
Thinking back to the Imperial-grade Pill in Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's cave, which sparked a bloody conflict among the ancient clans, Mo Yu could imagine the chaos an Imperial-grade weapon would cause.
"Senior Sister Lan, if the Heavenly Profound Treasure Hall is so remarkable, how come it's not widely known across the continent? And why haven't the major powers tried to seize it? After all, with the strength of the Device Alliance, you wouldn't be able to stop them…"
Mo Yu didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear. If the Heavenly Profound Treasure Hall really contained such valuable weapons, not even the Pill Tower could protect it from the major forces.
Smiling wryly at Mo Yu's tactful words, Lan Yingying explained, "You're right. Ever since the hall's discovery, countless forces, including some hidden and powerful ones, have tried to claim it.
But for some strange reason, the hall seems to repel outsiders. Anyone who forces their way in, even powerful Dou Supremes, is forcibly expelled. Only weapon forgers are allowed to enter without being thrown out.
As for the Imperial-grade weapon, it's just speculation by the higher-ups in the Device Alliance. Over time, the interest of the continent's major forces waned, and the hall remained in our hands."
"Only weapon forgers can enter?"
As Mo Yu pondered this, a thoughtful expression crossed his face.
Lan Yingying's story made him suspect that the Heavenly Profound Treasure Hall didn't originate from the Dou Qi Continent but from the vast world beyond it.
Mo Yu knew that the Dou Qi Continent wasn't the only plane of existence. Beyond it lay countless other worlds, making up the vast expanse of the Great Thousand Worlds. The Dou Qi Continent was just one of the lower planes.
If the hall came from another plane, it would make sense that it rejected the inhabitants of the Dou Qi Continent. Their power systems were fundamentally different, and gaining entry would naturally be difficult.
As for why weapon forgers were an exception, Mo Yu speculated that the rules of forging in the Dou Qi Continent might bear some resemblance to those in the hall's original plane, leading to this leniency.
He even suspected that the Heavenly Profound Treasure Hall might possess a form of sentience.
If it did, then its wariness toward outsiders was understandable, only allowing those who were somewhat familiar to approach.
In just a few moments, Mo Yu had considered many possibilities, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
The information this Senior Sister Lan had brought was truly unexpected. It seemed that within the next two years, he would have to make his way to Zhongzhou.
(End of the Chapter)
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