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Su Wen was in no particular hurry.
Since Lin Tian hadn't mentioned any urgency on his teacher's part, Su Wen took his time. Along the way, he stopped at every city he passed, selling off the Soul Tools he had crafted and purchasing any rare metals that caught his eye.
While rare metals circulated throughout the continent, the specific types produced varied by region. Even with trade, there were massive disparities in local availability. Some metals that were technically obtainable in Ninghai City might only appear on the market once every few months.
During his two months in Ninghai, Su Wen had harvested plenty of common rare metals like Deep Silver to practice his craft, but he had managed to collect very few high-level metals worthy of a true collection. Now, on the journey from Ninghai to Radiant City, he systematically gathered the signature rare metals of every city along his route.
Whenever he encountered an exceptionally rare specimen, he would stop to craft several Mid-Level Soul Tools, selling them at premium prices to fund the acquisition of the raw metals. This was his standard operating procedure; naturally, if he encountered anyone who refused to play by the rules, Su Wen was more than happy to abandon them himself.
And so, half a month later, he arrived.
Radiant City.
Gazing upon the magnificent "Capital of Metal," Su Wen felt a genuine sense of awe. Compared to the modern steel metropolises of his previous life, Radiant City might not have been "advanced," but the sheer texture of the metallic architecture and the city gates—which loomed like the gaping maws of great iron beasts—offered a profound visual impact.
"The walls are bristling with Soul Tools," Su Wen noted.
As his mental strength swept outward, he detected a massive amount of soul power fluctuations embedded within the fortifications. These were the energy signatures of Soul Tools in a "semi-activated" state.
In this state, soul power is kept circulating within the device, ensuring the energy flow through the core formations never stops. This allows for near-instantaneous activation when the Soul Tools are called upon. Even for heavy-duty devices with long warm-up periods, this state significantly reduces the time needed to fire.
Maintaining such a vast array of weaponry in a semi-activated state required a staggering amount of soul power consumption. This was the reality of Radiant City: even without an immediate crisis, it poured immense resources into its constant defense. Of course, the current political instability only amplified this vigilance.
Su Wen entered the city.
The headquarters of the Sun Moon Imperial Cult sat atop the Sacred Mountain to the west of the city, but Su Wen was in no rush to head there just yet. Before that, he intended to finish his collection of rare metals and lay the groundwork for the future establishment of the Academy.
The Pavilion of Ten Thousand Treasures.
Established just a year ago, it was rumored to be backed by the Sun Moon Imperial Family as a direct rival to the Imperial Cult's "Sun Moon Pavilion."
As relations between the two factions soured and conflicts erupted across the land, the power balance shifted. In cities where the Cult triumphed, the Sun Moon Pavilion reigned supreme. However, in cities where the Imperial Family maintained control, the Sun Moon Pavilions were dismantled and replaced by the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Treasures. Once a single headquarters in Radiant City, it had now expanded across the continent.
Being a rising star in the rare metal trade, the Pavilion utilized various gimmicks to attract elite clientele—stocking incredibly rare materials, unique Soul Tool blueprints, and even top-tier carving knives.
On the Sun Moon Continent, the "Ranked List of Carving Knives" did not yet exist. There was no official census of all unique knives, but a general classification had emerged. Ordinary knives received no rating; those of superior quality were "High-Grade," usually providing a noticeable ease of use for an engineer.
Even more exceptional were the "Exquisite-Grade" knives. These possessed special properties that could increase an engineer's success rate or, when paired with specific techniques, allow one to turn "rot into magic." To a Soul Tool engineer, an Exquisite-Grade knife was a priceless treasure and a lifelong pursuit—comparable to a soul master's obsession with hundred-thousand-year soul rings and soul bones.
As Su Wen entered the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Treasures, a woman in a sharp, form-fitting uniform felt her eyes light up. She immediately smoothed her clothes and approached him.
"Greetings, My Lord. How may I assist you today?"
Su Wen simply stood there, yet he seemed to blend seamlessly with the world around him. He exuded an invisible aura of refined elegance and nobility—the unmistakable presence of a true powerhouse. In the absence of any deliberate effort to hide his stature, anyone meeting him would instinctively address him as "Lord."
"What types of rare metals does the Pavilion currently have in stock?"
"My Lord, our Pavilion of Ten Thousand Treasures boasts the most comprehensive collection of rare metals on the continent," the woman, Liu Ye, replied with a confident smile. "Whatever you require, we have."
"Oh? Truly any rare metal?"
"Indeed, My Lord. Whether it is a metal circulating on the open market or a precious, legendary rarity, our Pavilion maintains a reserve."
"Do you have Mithril, Fine Gold, Amethyst Crystal, Bright Silver, Magic Crystal, and Nether Iron?" These were the metals Su Wen had been unable to collect in sufficient quantities during his travels. Since the Pavilion claimed to have everything, he listed them all at once.
Liu Ye's smile faltered.
These were all extremely rare materials. Even High-Level Soul Tool engineers typically only used small amounts of these to alloy with other metals for specific properties. For this man to list them one after another—and with an expression suggesting he intended to buy in bulk—made her hesitate.
Could he be a soul master from the Sun Moon Imperial Cult?
To compete with the Sun Moon Pavilion, the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Treasures had been forced to dip into the Imperial Family's private reserves to drive their rivals out of business. But if the Cult sent soul masters to buy up all these specific metals, it would be a net loss for the Imperial Family.
Buying in bulk from the Pavilion would essentially allow the Cult's High-Level engineers to save time and effort by using the Imperial Family's own resources. While the Cult would be spending money, they would be buying time—effectively weakening the Imperial Family's strategic reserves.
Su Wen's direct inquiry made Liu Ye instinctively uneasy. However, business was business; one could not simply turn away a guest at the door.
"My Lord, the purchase of such rare metals is subject to certain limits. Furthermore, the metals you mentioned are... well, they are controlled substances. We must verify the intended use for these materials."
(End of Chapter)