The future could be changed.
Even if it caused so-called cognitive conflicts, making Douluo 3 Su Ming's experiences somewhat illusory, it was worth attempting—just not on meaningless trials.
"Douluo 1 me can mine rare metals using the information provided by Douluo 3 me. I'll pass."
Detecting rare metal veins was time-consuming and a lengthy task.
However, the current Douluo Continent was still an era before major development.
It wasn't exactly gold lying everywhere, but at least effort wouldn't go unrewarded.
Douluo 1 Su Ming could directly cheat-like find the veins, and similarly, after locating a few key veins, he could have the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan continue searching across the continent. The locations found would then be references for Douluo 2 Su Ming.
So this was equivalent to him having double the exploration efficiency.
"Elders, my idea is this. I've learned from Senior Sister Wei Na that this Blacksmith Association existed ten thousand years ago. It flourished for a time afterwards due to the Tang Sect's influence, was later abandoned, and gradually declined. It's now a lower-status organization but still has a wide membership. Given our Body Sect's status, we can completely take control of the Blacksmith Association."
"Controlling a subordinate force, especially one like the Blacksmith Association that can maintain a neutral identity, is very important for us. Our own expansion is limited due to disciple recruitment constraints, but we can increase our influence through the expansion of subordinate forces. Simultaneously, relying on subordinate forces will allow us to better recruit disciples from across the continent."
Su Ming's words resonated with the elders.
Recruiting disciples had always been the Body Sect's biggest headache.
Put it this way: for the Body Sect, while the position of the Body Martial Soul was indeed the most critical factor for a disciple's future success—the more important the position, the greater the potential—what if the disciple was only discovered at forty years old?
Equally important as the Body Martial Soul's position was the disciple's age.
If they joined the Body Sect right after awakening their Martial Soul, even if it was just an Arm Martial Soul, the Body Sect had the confidence to train them into an Eight-Armed Deity Demon.
Of course, it wasn't just a sect-level issue; the elders also found this painful because half of them didn't have disciples... Every time a talented disciple entered the sect and became Du Busi's student, they wished the Sect Leader would just drop dead.
It was too unfair.
He always managed to intercept the good disciples first.
If more good disciples entered simultaneously, then they would have a chance to choose.
"If the elders have no objections, I will take Su Ming to Gengxin City first to scout the situation," Du Busi said, his gaze sweeping over the assembled elders.
"Sect Leader, let me go with you. I can stay behind later to guard the association," one elder offered, stepping forward.
Du Busi looked at this elder and nodded in approval.
"I'll go too."
Elder Lei Zhen raised his hand.
"Good. Then Elder Eight-Arms and Elder Lei Zhen will accompany me."
Du Busi understood their reasons for going.
First, as they said, after negotiations with the Blacksmith Association were concluded, they would stay to oversee the association.
Second, these two elders were the most enthusiastic about learning forging techniques within the sect. Staying there would allow them to learn basic forging methods and first solidify their blacksmithing foundations.
After packing their bags, the four left Snow Devil Mountain.
Star Luo Empire.
Savage Beast Mountain Range.
"Little Ming, are you sure you still want to get your third Spirit Ring from the Star Tree Spirit Soul?" Du Busi said. "This teacher thinks there are quite good Spirit Beast resources within this Savage Beast Mountain Range. You should break through to the thirtieth level soon; when that happens, this teacher can take you spirit hunting here."
Su Ming shook his head.
"Think carefully. The biggest advantage of a Spirit Soul for you is assisting in forging. You aren't lacking Spirit Souls now. Relying on it further might indeed get you its second or third Spirit Ring, but that's meaningless. You've already absorbed its cultivation; the two Spirit Rings obtained later would only provide a basic single level each."
Du Busi tried to persuade Su Ming.
Given Su Ming's physique, which allowed him to absorb Spirit Rings beyond his level, wasting the opportunity and resting on his laurels would greatly affect his potential.
"Teacher, I will consider carefully before fusing the third ring," Su Ming said.
He couldn't directly tell Du Busi that he wanted to keep this slot open, to see if he could obtain that million-year Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.
Actually, he wasn't particularly motivated himself, as the chance was inherently small. This was Huo Yuhao's core opportunity; as long as Tang San was watching, he wouldn't let Su Ming successfully interfere.
Moreover, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm would exchange memories, which was a taboo for Su Ming.
Compared to the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, Electrolux was much more desirable.
Crucially, Electrolux was an outsider; his appearance was most likely an accident, so the possibility of Tang San forcibly intercepting him was small.
"Keep the third Spirit Ring slot open for now, if only to leave a sufficient reason for being present."
Gengxin City.
Su Ming felt somewhat sad looking at the dilapidated Metal City.
In the Douluo 1 era, even though the blacksmith's status was extremely lowly, it was still glorious, and Gengxin City was majestic.
The current Gengxin City was rather shabby.
"I really wonder what Gengxin City went through these past ten thousand years," Su Ming mused inwardly.
Entering the city, the tallest building was immediately visible. The plaque of the Blacksmith Association on it showed signs of years of erosion and countless patches and repairs.
"This Blacksmith Association is doing so poorly," Lei Zhen said.
For an association of a profession to fall to such a state...
"Let's find the Association President first."
Fifth floor of the Blacksmith Association.
Distinguished guests had arrived, and the President of the Blacksmith Association personally received them.
"What important business brings the four of you to our Blacksmith Association? We have the most top-notch blacksmiths and will do our utmost to meet your needs," Duan Lin said confidently.
"President Duan, please take a look at this piece of metal."
Su Ming stepped forward and took out a piece of Thousand Refined Spirit Metal.
Duan Lin looked surprised. He took the metal Su Ming presented, his eyes flashing with shock.
"This is Spirit Metal?" Duan Lin admired the Spirit Metal while muttering softly, "Association records state that metal is also life. Heaven and earth nurture metal. Some special metals are on the verge of developing sentience themselves. Under a blacksmith's guidance, they can be assisted in their transformation, their sentience drawn out, forging Spirit Metal. Furthermore, Spirit Metal has the hope of continuing to develop into a life form in a suitable environment, becoming a Spirit Beast."
"Life?"
Du Busi and the other two were slightly surprised.
They knew about Su Ming's Spirit Refinement, which granted metal life.
They didn't expect to learn similar information at the Blacksmith Association.
Curious, Du Busi asked, "Are there many of such Spirit Beasts?"
Duan Lin smiled bitterly and shook his head.
"Eleven thousand years ago, the first Divine Blacksmith had three works made of Spirit Metal. One of them transformed into a Spirit Beast after five hundred years but was hunted down early. In the following years, the successive Divine Blacksmiths of the Association produced about a hundred pieces of Spirit Metal combined. Unfortunately, only five of those had the opportunity to transform into Spirit Beasts."
Five pieces!
Su Ming was also slightly surprised.
That probability wasn't low.
Duan Lin smiled wryly.
"Those five metal Spirit Beasts were all placed back then, during the Tang Sect's peak period, in various earthly paradises suited to the corresponding Spirit Metal. Even so, the shortest time for a metal Spirit Beast to truly become one was two thousand years."
So, the first Divine Blacksmith's piece, which became a Spirit Beast in five hundred years, was still an exception.
"Are these five metal Spirit Beasts still around?" Lei Zhen asked.
...
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(End of Chapter)