novelhk Chapter 380 Subduing the Divine Craftsman Lou Gao
Chapter 380 Subduing the Divine Craftsman Lou Gao
Chapter 380 Subduing the Divine Craftsman Lou Gao
Gengxin City is located in the southwestern hinterland of the Star Luo Empire, a little over a thousand kilometers but less than two thousand kilometers away from Star Luo City in the north.
If you travel from Xingluo City by horse-drawn carriage at full speed, it will take about twenty days.
Because it was within the Star Luo Empire, the border checks were quite strict. However, Ye Qifeng had the Spirit Hall's token, so his passage through the borders was relatively smooth.
After all, no matter what, the Spirit Hall is the most powerful spirit master force in the entire Douluo Continent. Although it is not well received in the Star Luo Empire, no one dares to provoke it without cause.
It was only because of the cruel and harsh competitive environment of the Star Luo Empire that the competition was even more intense in places far from the Star Luo Imperial City, and the world was somewhat chaotic and not peaceful.
This caused some delays in the trip, resulting in a slight postponement.
When Qi Feng and his group of four arrived in Gengxin City that night, it was already a month later.
During the journey, Ye Qifeng gave Feng Xian some pointers on his cultivation.
He also passed on to her the martial spirit knowledge, combat skills, techniques, and movement methods that he had previously taught Mingyue and Ruiwen.
Feng Xian was extremely intelligent and quick-witted, no less so than Ming Yue and Rui Wen. She quickly mastered what Ye Qifeng had taught her.
…………
A month later.
The group of four finally arrived outside Gengxin City.
From a great distance, Gengxin City was already in sight.
Ye Qifeng and Nihuang led Qin Lan and Feng Xian, mother and daughter, off the carriage.
Looking around, the towering city walls of Gengxin City immediately came into view.
The walls of Gengxin City are entirely made of metallic iron gray, unlike the walls of other cities. They are not made of bricks and stones, but cast metal.
It looks like it has a strong visual impact.
Although the metal walls are not as tall as those of other cities built of brick and stone, they are many times more powerful in terms of defense.
Although they had not yet entered Gengxin City, Ye Qifeng and his companions could already clearly feel the metallic aura and the scorching fire-attribute aura emanating from within the city.
Gazing at the metal city, the four of them had different expressions, but they all felt the same sense of awe.
Ye Qifeng smiled, a glint of light flashing in his clear, dark eyes, carrying a hint of something inexplicable.
Nihuang's posture was as languid and elegant as ever. Her beautiful oval face carried a hint of charm, with a faint smile on her red lips and her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, as if she were enjoying herself.
This place, filled with fire-attribute energy, was the perfect cultivation environment for her, essentially a fire-attribute simulated cultivation ground, which greatly benefited her cultivation.
Moreover, in places with abundant fire element, her strength can be greatly amplified.
Of course, it would be even better if it didn't have that strong metallic feel.
Gengxin City possesses a vast quantity of various metals, exuding a rich metallic aura.
Therefore, this city is also an excellent training ground for Soul Masters who possess weapon-type Martial Souls.
For example, Feng Xian's martial spirit, the Fangtian Halberd, belongs to the weapon category of martial spirits.
At this moment, her small face was filled with shock, but like Nihuang, she also felt a sense of enjoyment.
Qin Lan's expression was similar to her daughter Feng Xian's, with her beautiful eyes wide and her red lips slightly parted.
Her gentle and beautiful face was filled with shock.
It was as if I was only just learning that such a uniquely built city existed in the world.
This was the first time Qin Lan and her daughter Feng Xian had traveled so far from Xingluo Imperial City. They followed Ye Qifeng and Nihuang and learned a lot along the way.
…………
Not long after.
The group successfully passed through the checkpoint and entered Gengxin City.
Blacksmith shops are almost everywhere in Gengxin City, and blacksmiths can be seen everywhere forging iron. Almost 99% of them are men, and they are muscular, rough old men.
Of course, there are some female blacksmiths, but they are very rare, like phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
The women in Gengxin City were mostly the families of blacksmiths, helping out in the blacksmith shops, selling forged tools, and managing the business.
The carriage traveled through the streets of Gengxin City, the clanging and hammering sounds all around were the main melody of Gengxin City, the sound of blacksmithing.
Besides.
And there are also ubiquitous, ever-present cries of vendors.
In this city, you can find everything that is made of metal, whether it is weapons, armor, other utensils, tools, or even decorative handicrafts.
Of course, if you need certain custom-made items, then you'll need to order them.
As for the cost, it depends on the rarity of the materials, the difficulty of crafting, and the level of the blacksmith hired.
The more skilled the blacksmith, the more valuable the items they create, and naturally, the higher the hiring fee.
Blacksmiths are generally divided into seven levels.
From lowest to highest level, they are: Junior Blacksmith, Intermediate Blacksmith, Senior Blacksmith, Master Blacksmith, Master Blacksmith, Grandmaster Blacksmith, and Divine Blacksmith.
Generally speaking, you can order custom-made items from any blacksmith shop in the city.
The blacksmiths of Gengxin City all belong to the Blacksmiths' Guild.
Even if the blacksmith shop you find is not capable of forging the item you need, it will be reported to the blacksmith association and handed over to a higher-level blacksmith to forge it, so you don't have to worry about not getting what you want.
Unless what you want is too far-fetched, doesn't exist in reality, lacks the necessary materials, or is too exquisite, powerful, or mysterious, beyond the comprehension of a master craftsman.
Otherwise, there would be nothing that the Blacksmiths' Guild couldn't forge.
As for buying and selling metals, the same applies; transactions can be conducted at any blacksmith shop.
If the quantity is large, we'll have to start with the three forces in Gengxin City.
The metal resources of Gengxin City are controlled by three powerful forces: the Blacksmith Association, the Spirit Hall, and the Star Luo government.
The majority of these were naturally the blacksmiths' association.
Gengxin City is, after all, a blacksmith's paradise; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a city of blacksmiths.
Whether it's rare metals or common metals, the Blacksmiths' Association controls at least 70% of the market.
As the most powerful soul master force in the Douluo Continent, the Spirit Hall wields considerable influence even in the remote Gengxin City, controlling 20% of the city's metal resources.
As for Xingluo official
Because the Star Luo Empire did not value the status of blacksmiths, the Star Luo government, as the local power, was actually the weakest party, controlling less than one-tenth of the metal resources.
However, when it comes to rare metals, both the Spirit Hall and the Star Luo government only buy them and don't sell them. Only blacksmith associations with large quantities of rare metals will put them up for trading or auction.
Therefore, if you want to buy rare metals, you can only try to find a way through the blacksmith's guild.
…………
Walk along the street.
Ye Qifeng and his group of four were headed to the Martial Soul Main Hall, located in the center of Gengxin City.
Ye Qifeng was going to meet the resident bishop of the Martial Soul Main Hall in Gengxin City.
Obtain information about Gengxin City, the Blacksmith Association, and the Divine Craftsman Lou Gao, and also settle Qin Lan and her daughter Feng Xian in a safe place.
Qin Lan was just a frail woman, and the long journey inevitably left her physically and mentally exhausted.
Although Feng Xian was already a Great Soul Master, she was still a little girl, and it was inevitable that she would feel a bit tired after riding in a carriage for so long.
We should find a place for the mother and daughter to rest first.
Gengxin City itself is not very large.
It didn't take long.
The carriage stopped in front of the Martial Soul Main Hall in Gengxin City.
Ye Qifeng led Nihuang and Qin Lanfeng and her daughter, Fengxian, off the carriage and paid the rental fee.
Later, in front of the main gate of the Martial Soul Hall in Gengxin City.
Nihuang took out her elder token from the silver storage ring she was wearing and threw it to the main temple knight guarding the gate.
Soon, Ye Qifeng and his companions were led by one of the temple knights to the reception room in the main hall to wait.
The priest then left the reception room to inform the resident bishop.
Upon learning that an elder from the Spirit Hall had arrived, the garrison bishop rushed over to meet Ye Qifeng and Nihuang.
The resident bishop of the Martial Soul Hall in Gengxin City is an old man named Chris, who possesses the cultivation level of a Soul Saint. He is not Miles, who was brutally killed by Tang San on a dark and windy night.
As early as six months ago.
Pope Bibi Dong had already begun internal reforms at the Spirit Hall.
The first step in the internal reform was to clean up the Spirit Hall, remove the malignant tumors, and restore order and clarity to the Spirit Hall.
Those parasites, scoundrels, and cancers will naturally be the first to be affected.
The Spirit Hall has been established for too long, and its problems have accumulated over time, leaving it riddled with flaws.
After a long period of preparation, covert investigation, and reconnaissance.
Having gathered substantial evidence of wrongdoing, Pope Bibi Dong immediately issued orders to launch a massive purge within the Spirit Hall.
They thoroughly cleaned up the treacherous, corrupt, and malignant elements that were secretly lurking in the Spirit Hall.
Miles, the former resident bishop of the Martial Soul Main Hall in Gengxin City, was on the cleanup list.
Taking advantage of his position as the bishop stationed at the Martial Soul Main Hall, Miles tyrannized Gengxin City, amassed wealth for personal gain, bullied men and women, and plundered the people.
This caused a deterioration in the relationship between the Spirit Hall and the Gengxin City Blacksmith Association, damaging the Spirit Hall's positive image among the people of Gengxin City. It is no wonder that they died.
In the end, Miles and his gang of tyrannical followers were all captured by the Spirit Hall's enforcement team.
He was publicly tried, his crimes were announced, and he was executed.
The Spirit Hall managed to salvage some of its reputation.
After Miles was executed, the resident bishop of the Martial Soul Hall in Gengxin City was replaced by Chris, a more gentle, kind, and clean-background old hand.
Because there was a task specifically assigned by the Pope.
During his six months in office, Chris worked diligently and conscientiously to manage the business.
This finally reversed the negative image of the Spirit Hall among the people of Gengxin City, eliminated the resentment and hostility in the hearts of the blacksmiths, and improved the relationship with the Blacksmiths' Association.
Because of his kind nature and his eloquent and shrewd nature, Chris quickly gained the approval of the blacksmiths' association's senior members.
Not only did he get along exceptionally well with them, but he even treated them like brothers.
…………
After meeting with the resident bishop Chris.
Ye Qifeng obtained the information he wanted and also settled Qin Lan and her daughter Feng Xian.
Then, led by Chris, they rode in a carriage with Nihuang towards the Blacksmiths' Guild headquarters, which was also located in the city center.
The Blacksmiths' Association headquarters is only two or three streets away from the Martial Soul Main Hall.
It didn't take long.
The carriage stopped in front of a tall building.
"Your Highness, Ninth Elder, we have arrived at the Blacksmiths' Association headquarters. Please alight from the vehicle."
Once the carriage had come to a stop, Chris was the first to alight, and he respectfully lifted the curtain and spoke.
Ye Qifeng got out of the car first, and at Nihuang's smiling gaze, he reached out and took her hand as well.
After getting off the bus, the two looked up at the tall building in front of them.
The enormous building was at least thirty meters tall and covered a vast area.
Above the building hangs a dark iron plaque with no words on it, only two raised patterns: a hammer and a chisel.
Undoubtedly, this tall building is the location of the headquarters of the Blacksmiths' Guild.
The architectural style of the Blacksmiths' Guild headquarters is tall, rugged, and bold, without any ornate decorations, and there isn't even a guard at the gate.
The three doors were wide open, and crowds came and went in an endless stream.
Even from a great distance outside, you could hear the bustling noise coming from inside.
Chris led the way, guiding Ye Qifeng and Nihuang towards the headquarters of the Blacksmiths' Association.
As we walked in...
Before Ye Qifeng and Nihuang could speak, Chris had already introduced them:
"Your Highness, Ninth Elder, please allow me to introduce you two."
"The Blacksmiths' Guild is divided into five levels."
"The first floor is the trading area, mainly for blacksmiths to consign various finished products and trade metals. The items sold here are relatively expensive, but the quality is guaranteed, after all, it is the headquarters of the Blacksmiths' Association."
"The second floor is the high-end trading area, where more advanced and expensive items are sold. For example, rare metals are traded on the second floor."
"The third floor is the blacksmith registration and assessment area, a dedicated area set up specifically for blacksmiths to conduct level assessments."
"The fourth floor is the VIP area, which is also the auction area. Some particularly precious and rare castings, as well as rare metals, are regularly auctioned there."
"The fifth floor is the office area of the Blacksmiths' Association. The president of the Blacksmiths' Association, whom the Holy Son and the Ninth Elder are looking for, is named Divine Craftsman Lou Gao, and he works there."
At this point, Chris looked slightly embarrassed:
"Your Highness, Ninth Elder!"
"Lou Gao has a rather eccentric temperament. He is rarely seen and seldom goes out. I heard that he spends all his time holed up in his forge, researching forging techniques and crafting things."
"In the six months I've been stationed in Gengxin City, I've only seen him a few times. I can't guarantee whether I'll see him today."
Ye Qifeng didn't seem to care much upon hearing this. A confident smile graced his handsome face as he smiled and said:
"It's alright."
"After all, Lou Gao is a master craftsman; it's normal for him to have a temper."
"Just lead the way, I have a way to make him come out to see me on his own."
Ye Qifeng knew what Lou Gao, a pure craftsman, wanted and what he was interested in.
He had prepared for these things long ago.
I believe that once Lou Gao has seen him, he will be interested and will take the initiative to meet him.
It wouldn't be unreasonable to even make Lou Gao submit to this.
Of course, Ye Qifeng's goal for this trip was not only to subdue the master craftsman Lou Gao, but also to take over the thousands of blacksmiths under the Blacksmith Association and the metal resources controlled by the association.
Thank you [Kefei] for the 200 Qidian Coins!
(End of this chapter)