The journey south was a tranquil affair, a stark contrast to the violent circumstances that had brought their party together. Aboard Tempest's broad, pearlescent back, they soared through an endless sea of clouds, the world a distant, green and brown tapestry below. The biting winds gave way to the warm, humid air of the southern coasts, a tangible shift that heralded their arrival in a new and different land.
Li Yu spent most of the trip in quiet contemplation, reviewing the 'Soul Dominion' technique in his mind, trying to understand its principles even if he could not apply them directly. Xylia, ever restless, would often train on the leviathan's back, her movements a blur of controlled power as she practiced her close-quarters combat forms, the air whistling with the force of her gauntleted strikes.
Jian Xuan was the most still of the three. He sat in a meditative posture, his new, lesser sword across his lap, his full focus on circulating his spiritual energy, working tirelessly to widen the precious, hair-thin crack in his spiritual barrier. He was a man with a renewed purpose, and he would not waste a single moment.
After a quick and relatively uneventful trip, a new scent reached them on the wind—the smell of coal smoke, hot metal, and the salty tang of the sea. Below them, a massive city sprawled along the coastline, nestled in a wide bay. Its heart was a sprawling port, crowded with ships of all sizes, but its lifeblood was the constant, rhythmic thump-thump-thump of a thousand hammers, a sound that seemed to shake the very air. Plumes of black smoke rose from countless smithies and foundries, staining the sky. And looming over it all, built into the face of a great mountain that bordered the city, was a vast, fortified complex of workshops and forges that glowed with an inner, fiery light even in the bright afternoon sun. This was the Crimson Forge Sect, and the city at its feet was its domain.
Li Yu guided Tempest to a secluded cove a few miles down the coast. They disembarked, and he returned the great sky-whale to the Koi Sanctuary. Posing as nothing more than a trio of traveling cultivators—a young master and his two powerful guards—they made their way into the bustling, noisy city on foot.
The streets were a hive of activity. Burly men with soot-stained faces and leather aprons hauled carts laden with iron ingots. Merchants loudly hawked everything from rare, star-fallen ores to master-crafted spiritual weapons. The sheer variety and quality of metalwork on display was staggering. This was a city built on the art of the forge, and its prosperity was evident in every stone.
As they navigated the crowded streets, a familiar flag caught Li Yu's eye. It was flying proudly above a large, newly constructed warehouse near the main thoroughfare. It depicted a stylized golden shell, and behind it, a fierce, black crab claw. It was the flag of the Golden Shell Guild.
"Looks like Kui has been busy," Li Yu remarked with a grin.
They made their way towards the warehouse. As they approached, they saw a familiar, portly figure directing a team of workers with a loud, cheerful authority as they unloaded a massive shipment of dark, heavy-looking ore from a series of armored wagons.
"Careful with that! That's Grade 5 Ironheart Ore, worth more than your house! Put some muscle into it, you lazy slugs!"
It was Fat Pig.
"Fat Pig," Li Yu called out, his voice calm but clear.
The portly man froze mid-shout. He slowly turned, his eyes widening in disbelief, before his face split into a massive, joyous grin. "Wise Host! You're here! Hahaha! What brings you all the way down to this smoky pit?"
He bustled over, his steps surprisingly quick for a man of his size, and gave Li Yu a respectful but familiar bow. His gaze then fell on Xylia, and he grinned even wider. "Sister Xylia! Good to see you! Your men have been earning their keep, I'll tell you that!" It wasn't just the troops provided by the White Paw Company, the sect missions continued for disciples as well for guarding missions. Everyone was growing together.
He then looked at Jian Xuan, his cheerful expression becoming slightly more serious, his eyes sharp. He could sense the immense, restrained power in the quiet swordsman, a depth that even he, with his own recent advancements, could not begin to fathom.
"And this is…?" Fat Pig asked, his tone now a touch more respectful.
"This is Brother Jian Xuan," Li Yu said simply. "A new companion."
Fat Pig immediately offered a polite, formal bow. "An honor to meet you, Brother Jian. Any friend of the Wise Host is a friend of the Golden Shell Guild." He then turned back to Li Yu, his excitement bubbling over. "Come, come! Inside! Out of this heat. Oi! Bring us a platter of that roasted boar and a jug of the good stuff! The Ironbeard Ale! Be quick about it!"
He led them into a surprisingly plush and well-appointed office within the warehouse. As they sat, a worker quickly brought in a huge platter of sizzling, fragrant meat and a large stone jug of dark, foaming ale. Fat Pig dismissed the worker and personally poured them all a mug, his energy infectious.
"Wise Host, you won't believe the progress we've made!" he said, his eyes shining as he took a large gulp of ale. He then paused, a look of immense pride on his face. He focused his will, and a new, more potent aura of spiritual energy pulsed from him for a brief moment. It was the clear, stable aura of a 2nd level Core Formation cultivator.
"You broke through!" Li Yu cheered him.
Fat Pig beamed. "I did! A few weeks ago! It's all thanks to Brother Kui! The cultivation resources from the Guild… I've never felt stronger in my life! And it's all thanks to your leadership, Wise Host!"
Li Yu picked up a piece of the roasted meat and took a bite before shaking his head. "The success of the Guild has nothing to do with me," he said, his voice sincere and matter-of-fact. "This is your success. It is Kui's success, and Xylia's, and all the others who do the real work. I have done nothing at all. I don't understand the ways of business. I only trust the people I choose. You have all proven that my trust was well-placed."
The simple, honest praise meant a lot to Fat Pig, after Kui's recognition and then wealth, Li Yu's recognition was what mattered most. He felt a surge of pride, and he downed his mug of ale in a single, hearty gulp. "We won't let you down, Wise Host!"
He then launched into a detailed report of their operations in the south. "We set up shop here about a month ago," he explained. "This city is the heart of the weapon trade on the entire continent. The Crimson Forge Sect is our biggest customer, but there are hundreds of smaller workshops and clans here as well. They all need one thing: high-grade ore. And we are in the business of providing it."
He explained how they had used the Guild's vast network to ship in rare ores from the northern mountains and the central plains, becoming a major supplier in a remarkably short time. "Our warehouse is a hub, and we have a small shop in the city center for selling some of our goods, but the ore trade… that's where the real profit is."
As he spoke, however, his cheerful demeanor dimmed slightly. "It hasn't all been smooth sailing, though. This place is… competitive. And not everyone here plays by the rules."
He explained that their ore caravans had been attacked several times on the roads leading to the city. "Small groups of hooded men, well-organized. They don't try to steal the whole shipment, just a wagon or two. It's like they're trying to bleed us, to make our business unprofitable." He also mentioned attempts at sabotage—merchants being threatened, workers being bribed to cause accidents at the warehouse.
His expression then brightened again, and he looked at Xylia with a grateful smile. "But we've been holding our own. If it weren't for the mercenaries the White Paw Company sent us, we'd be in real trouble. Your people are worth every coin, Sister Xylia. Last week, a squad of five of your mercs fought off an ambush of twenty attackers. They didn't give up an inch of ground. Fierce as bears, every last one of them."
A slow, predatory grin spread across Xylia's face. It was a look of pure, unadulterated pride. "My people know who pays the bills and treats them right," she said, her voice a low growl. "They'd die before letting a shipment get touched."
Li Yu listened to it all, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling over him as he drank his ale. His system was working. His retainers were capable, loyal, and were building something impressive, all on their own.
Fat Pig, ever the gracious host, insisted they stay at the Guild's private residence, a large, secure courtyard house attached to the warehouse. He showed them to their rooms, the finest he had to offer.
That evening, as the sun set, Li Yu stood on the balcony of his room, looking out over the bustling, industrious city. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and the endless, rhythmic sound of hammering. In the distance, the great forges of the distant Crimson Forge Sect glowed against the dark bulk of the mountain, a man-made volcano that never slept.
His investigation was just beginning, but he already had a base of operations, a clearer picture of the local situation, and a powerful, loyal ally on the ground. The southern coast was a complex and dangerous place, but he was not walking into it blind.