"We survive by relying on our technology. Why wouldn't they cooperate with us?" Zhu Jiuyang retorted to Ning Yuan.
Ning Yuan was left speechless.
Spirit Metal would have a significant impact on the spirit master world, but could it really be that immense?
In the end, he still didn't understand where Zhu Jiuyang's confidence came from.
Ning Yuan's imagination was still insufficient.
Chen Xin, standing aside, however, had a guess. Although he didn't yet know to what extent the forging techniques mastered by Zhu Jiuyang and his disciple had advanced, he could infer a thing or two from Zhu Jiuyang's plans for the future and his tone.
Clearly, Zhu Jiuyang had ample confidence.
Forging technology could influence all areas of the spirit master world, including low, middle, and high-level spirit masters!
"Everyone, if you have any other opinions, please voice them now."
Zhu Jiuyang looked towards Lou Gao and the others.
Lou Gao narrowed his small eyes, staring intently at the map Zhu Jiuyang had spread open, looking at the cities marked on it, ultimately turning into amazement.
"There's nothing to be picky about."
As long as their steps were steady enough, there was no need to worry about being swallowed up by Spirit Hall.
Time passed.
Two days later.
Spirit Hall Main Hall.
Yueguan sat in Miles' original seat, staring expressionlessly at the Spirit King before him.
This Spirit King had been the second-in-command of the Main Hall, highly valued by Miles, and had been managing major affairs in the days since Miles' death.
Now, the second-in-command Spirit King reported every recent event in detail.
Despite reporting everything exhaustively, he was still trembling all over.
The fact was, Miles' death still hadn't been conclusively determined. Until a final conclusion was reached within Spirit Hall, none of them dared to relax.
Yueguan placed his hand on the table in front of him, slowly raised his index finger, and tapped it on the table.
"You're saying the Blacksmith Association confirmed that Titled Douluo was Tang Hao?"
"Yes, at that time, Sword Douluo confronted him briefly, then the unfamiliar Titled Douluo retreated. Shortly after, the Blacksmith Association informed us of his identity."
Yueguan stopped asking questions, closed his eyes alone,his index finger continuously tapping the desktop.
The second-in-command Spirit King kept his head lowered, the sound of tapping echoing in his ears, cold sweat streaming down his back.
After an unknown length of time,a wave of coldness swept over him, causing the second-in-command Spirit King's body to tremble involuntarily.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a black shadow pass by him.
"Old Ghost, what's the situation?"
"Zhao Tieshan's account is the same. He saw Tang Hao with his own eyes, was then knocked unconscious by Tang Hao, and later sent back to the City Lord's mansion by people from the Blacksmith Association."
Yueguan waited a long moment before asking his next question.
"Can you confirm if he's still in the city or not?"
"He should not be."
The corner of Yueguan's mouth twitched.
Should?
"With Chen Xin here, and the two of us together, Tang Hao can't cause much trouble," Gui Mei said.
Yueguan took a deep breath, feeling some regret about coming here.
Tang Hao being here was something he had never expected.
If Tang Hao joined forces with Chen Xin, he and Gui Mei might really not make it back.
Of course, that possibility was very, very small, unless the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan truly wanted to be annihilated.
The Clear Sky Clan could seclude themselves after Spirit Hall came knocking, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could not.
"What's puzzling now is what Tang Hao's goal was," Gui Mei said, his tone grave.
Tang Hao wasn't dead and was active.
This put immense pressure on them.
"Perhaps it's the same as us, because of Spirit Metal," Yueguan said, narrowing his eyes.
He seemed to remember something and looked at the second-in-command Spirit King.
"Miles auctioned two pieces of Spirit Metal back then. Where did the other piece go?"
"Reporting, Your Eminence, the other piece disappeared along with Lord Miles' death."
"Hehe..."
Yueguan pressed his left hand, fingers forming an orchid gesture, against the corner of his mouth and laughed.
"It seems my guess is correct. He was after Spirit Metal."
Gui Mei was puzzled. "Is Spirit Metal that important?"
"Yes. Metal that has gained spirituality has its special effects developed, but that's only the surface. The real key is that the spiritual part has extremely high compatibility with a spirit master's Spirit Power. It can completely serve as an extension of the spirit master's body."
Gui Mei motioned for Yueguan to continue.
"When His Holiness the Pope had me feel that piece of Spirit Metal, I had a hypothesis: treating Spirit Metal as part of a spirit master's meridian system, letting Spirit Power flow through it and back into the body, could bypass a portion of the meridians."
Gui Mei's eyes revealed confusion.
What was the significance of that?
Even for their cultivation as Titled Douluos, having Spirit Power circulate once through the body's meridians was troublesome enough. Circulating it outside the body too? Wasn't that superfluous?
Wouldn't it be better to spend that time expanding the meridians within the body?
"Hmph, for us normal spirit masters, the significance isn't great. But what about for someone with damaged meridians?"
"Hisss~" Gui Mei drew a sharp breath, wary. "So, that Tang Hao is trying to use Spirit Metal to heal his injuries?"
"Pretty much. Since he left, he probably obtained a sufficient quantity of Spirit Metal." Yueguan snorted coldly. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan learned about Spirit Metal early and actually cooperated with this side ahead of time. A year of reforms... they probably started cooperating right from the beginning."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has always been wealthy. Their disciples likely carry quite a bit of Spirit Metal equipment. Coincidentally, Tang Hao exposed himself by kidnapping two Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan members, angering Chen Xin. After being exposed, he left decisively, most likely having scavenged enough Spirit Metal from those two disciples."
In just a few words, this Titled Douluo had reconstructed the entire sequence of events.
The second-in-command Spirit King listened, unable to help but feel admiration.
No wonder they could cultivate to the Titled Douluo level and also thrive within Spirit Hall.
Martial Spirit talent is one thing, but this kind of intellect is also essential.
"Shall we go talk to the Blacksmith Association now?"
"Talk. After discussing cooperation, we should return to report. After all, His Holiness the Pope also said to go early and return early," Yueguan said.
Gui Mei showed confusion.
When did the Pope say 'go early, return early'?
Blacksmith Association.
"The arrival of the two Eminences truly brings honor to our humble Blacksmith Association."
Lou Gao led Yueguan and the other to his own forging room.
"Please, Your Eminences, have a seat. President Zhu and President Su are already on their way."
Shortly after, Zhu Jiuyang and Su Ming arrived. They sat opposite Yueguan and Gui Mei, while Lou Gao withdrew.
Yueguan looked surprised towards the door.
According to his knowledge, Lou Gao was the former president of the Blacksmith Association, deeply loved by the blacksmiths within the association. Even after the reforms, he was still the association president.
He hadn't expected that even in such a cooperation negotiation, the other party had no intention of being present.
Did he look down on the two of them?
That was certainly impossible.
So...
Yueguan looked at the two people opposite him, focusing his observation on Su Ming.
Unfortunately, no matter how he observed, he couldn't see anything peculiar about Su Ming. In the end, he could only fix his gaze on Zhu Jiuyang.
"Zhu Jiuyang, long time no see. This young friend is..."
(End of Chapter)