Chapter Twenty-Three: The Blacksmiths’ Guild

"Gengxin City is known as the city with the most blacksmith shops; only here are blacksmiths truly respected. It's said that within Gengxin City alone, there are over a thousand blacksmith shops, with blacksmiths numbering in the tens of thousands. Many blacksmiths from other cities come here specifically to take the blacksmith examinations. If they manage to pass the advanced blacksmith test, they can remain in the city. Simply put, this is a paradise for blacksmiths."

As the saying goes, money makes the world go round. Upon entering Gengxin City, Xiao Yu and his companions quickly hired a local ruffian to guide them by offering a bit of cash.

As a local, this guide’s greatest skill was reading people. The attire and bearing of Xiao Yu’s group clearly indicated their extraordinary status. More importantly, the guide himself was a soul master with a spirit attribute martial soul. When he exchanged glances with Hui Huo—the silent figure trailing behind Xiao Yu—his martial soul sent him a wave of overwhelming terror, like standing before a legendary beast. He instantly understood that these people were not to be trifled with.

As such, he treated Xiao Yu and his companions with utmost enthusiasm, eagerly introducing the city: “Although blacksmiths aren’t highly valued by the two great empires, military weapons, farming tools, buildings, and furniture all require their skills. The higher the blacksmith’s rank, the more valuable their creations.

Blacksmiths are generally divided into seven ranks, from lowest to highest: Apprentice Blacksmith, Intermediate Blacksmith, Advanced Blacksmith, Blacksmith Artisan, Blacksmith Master, Blacksmith Grandmaster, and Divine Blacksmith.

Currently, Gengxin City has only one Divine Blacksmith—the president of the Blacksmith Association, Master Lou Gao. However, he is known for his aloofness and rarely forges for others. If you need anything, I can recommend a few excellent shops under the names of Masters Si Long and Si Yu, both direct disciples of Lou Gao and Grandmaster-level blacksmiths. Their work is of the highest quality and will surely satisfy you, honored guests.”

“Thank you!” Xiao Yu smiled politely but shook his head. “Our purpose here is to visit Master Lou Gao. Please lead the way.”

“Certainly.” Realizing that Xiao Yu was the leader, the guide ceased his chatter and led them toward the city center.

Gengxin City itself wasn’t very large, and before long, they arrived at the heart of the city.

“Honored guests, this is the headquarters of the Blacksmith Association.”

Following the guide’s gesture, Xiao Yu and his companions beheld a towering, imposing structure. It was a massive, rugged, spherical castle, devoid of any ornate decorations. Three large doors stood open, with a constant stream of people coming and going.

Xiao Yu’s group entered the grand hall with the crowd, and the guide promptly continued his introduction: “The headquarters is divided into five floors. The first floor is the trading area, where blacksmiths display their proud creations or pieces of metal for trade. Of course, there are also merchants specializing in various metals. To the left, you’ll find blacksmiths consigning their finished goods; to the right, the metal trading zone. The association takes a five percent commission from each sale, so most consigning blacksmiths are at least artisans.

Though prices here are higher than outside, the quality is guaranteed. Every item is evaluated and appraised by the association before being priced. If you wish to purchase finished goods or rare metals, you can do so with complete confidence—the Blacksmith Association would never sully its own reputation.

Outside, while prices may be lower, quality is hit or miss; finding a good deal is entirely a matter of luck.”

Xiao Yu nodded. The rules of commerce are the same in every era—if you want quality, you have to pay for it. Chasing bargains blindly only leads to pitfalls.

The guide went on, “The second floor is the advanced trading area, where rare metals are usually exchanged. The third floor is for blacksmith registration and examinations. The fourth floor is the VIP and auction area, where especially precious items are sold at auction from time to time. The fifth floor houses the offices of the Blacksmith Association, including Master Lou Gao’s forging chamber.”

Xiao Yu glanced around the hall. After months of studying soul tools, he had developed a basic understanding of rare metals. Even at a glance, he spotted six different mid- to high-quality rare metals.

However, he didn’t rush off to make purchases; he had his own considerations. If he could successfully recruit Lou Gao and win over the Blacksmith Association, perhaps he could enjoy their friendship prices. Although he carried a significant sum, without a stable source of income, his sect was still burning through its reserves. Better to save where possible. As for making the association foot the bill, he wasn’t quite that shameless.

Having made up his mind, Xiao Yu headed straight for the stairs.

In the original story, Tang San and Tai Tan were checked by guards at nearly every floor. But Xiao Yu encountered no such obstacles. He guessed that, after the Soul Hunt incident, Spirit Hall had accelerated its efforts to take over the Blacksmith Association. That bishop, Miles, was an ignorant, brutish scoundrel, likely capable of nothing but sending troublemakers to harass the association, thus forcing it to tighten security.

Without interruption, Xiao Yu ascended to the fourth floor, where he was finally stopped by the association’s guards—understandably so, as the fifth floor was the association’s office area, with every Grandmaster-level blacksmith possessing a private forge there. It would be unreasonable for such a place to lack security.

“Hello, we’re here to visit Master Lou Gao and hope he can craft a divine weapon for us. Here are the blueprints,” Xiao Yu said politely, retrieving a blueprint from his storage soul tool—a copy of a level-seven soul tool design. In the original story, Tang San won Lou Gao over with the blueprint for the Storm Pear Blossom Needle; Xiao Yu figured the same approach would work on a genius so obsessed with forging.

But to his surprise, the guard barely glanced at the blueprint before tossing it aside like rubbish. “What nonsense! Get out of here! Don’t sully Master Lou Gao’s eyes with this trash.” He then stepped forward, attempting to drive Xiao Yu and his companions back downstairs.

Xiao Yu’s expression darkened. Looking at the impatient guard before him, he wondered if every protagonist was doomed to encounter these blind, snobbish types when venturing out.