[Flying through the air all the way.]
[Soon, Tang Chuan followed Tang Xiao and arrived at Gengxin City.]
[Looking down from high above, as the famous City of Metal, Gengxin City's walls were a metallic iron-gray, looking as if they were cast from solid metal.]
[The entire city was laid out in a neat grid, with streets crossing one another.]
[Shops and workshops hanging hammer signs could be seen everywhere, and the clanging sounds of forging echoed from all directions, as if the entire city was playing an endless song of iron and fire.]
[Led by Tang Xiao, the two landed in front of a magnificent building in the center of the city.]
[This was indeed the headquarters building of the Blacksmith Association.]
[A massive five-story building covering a vast area and standing over thirty meters tall.]
[A dark iron plaque hung above the main entrance, bearing no words, only reliefs of a hammer and a chisel, gleaming with a heavy metallic luster in the sunlight.]
[A total of three large doors were wide open, with a bustling, endless stream of people flowing in and out.]
[Led by Tang Xiao, Tang Chuan stepped into the first-floor lobby.]
[The spacious area was divided into two sections.]
[On the left was the exhibition area.]
[On rows of wooden shelves, various blacksmith creations were displayed.]
[From farming tools and cookware made of refined steel, to finely crafted swords and armor, to cleverly designed mechanical parts, the dazzling array was enough to make anyone interested in forging stop and linger.]
[On the right was the special metal trading area.]
[Behind several rows of glass counters lay various rare Ores and metal samples, where several appraisers were introducing the quality and value of the metal Materials to customers who came to trade.]
[The entire hall was filled with an endless flow of people, from ordinary blacksmiths in coarse cloth tunics to decently dressed merchants and nobles, bustling but not chaotic.]
[After passing through the trading area, Tang Xiao led Tang Chuan straight to the staircase entrance leading to the higher floors.]
[As a forging Grandmaster and the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Xiao was clearly well-known and held a high status in the Blacksmith Association.]
[Seeing Tang Xiao, the guards at the entrance quickly saluted.]
["Greetings, Sect Master Tang Xiao!"]
[Tang Xiao waved his hand and asked directly, "Is President Lou Gao here? I have business with him."]
[The guard quickly nodded in response.]
["Yes! President Lou Gao is in the forging room on the fifth floor."]
[Saying this, he prepared to lead the way himself.]
[Tang Xiao waved his hand, indicating it wasn't necessary, and led Tang Chuan straight up the stairs.]
[The two went all the way up to the fourth floor.]
[At the entrance leading to the fifth floor, there were also two guards, both of whom were Spirit Saints.]
[Upon seeing Tang Xiao, the two Spirit Saints immediately recognized him and cupped their fists in salute.]
["Greetings, Sect Master Tang Xiao!"]
[Tang Xiao nodded slightly, recognizing the two as well.]
["Ah, so it's Si Long and Si Yu! I have some business with your teacher. Could you ask him to come out for a meeting?"]
["We will go inform our teacher right away!"]
[Among them, the Spirit Saint named Si Long quickly replied respectfully.]
[After speaking, he instructed his companion beside him.]
["Si Yu, take Sect Master Tang Xiao and this Young Master to the Heaven-grade Lounge Number One to wait! I will go to the forging room to find teacher!"]
["Alright!"]
["Sect Master Tang Xiao, and this Young Master, please follow me!"]
[Si Yu nodded in response, stepped aside to lead the way, and guided Tang Chuan and Tang Xiao onto the fourth floor, all the way to a room with a sign that read 'Heaven-grade Lounge Number One'.]
["Please wait here for a moment, the two of you. Teacher will be here shortly."]
[With Si Yu's hospitality,]
[the two walked into the lounge, sat down on a sofa, and waited while drinking tea.]
[About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed.]
[From outside the door, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps approached.]
[Immediately after, the door was pushed open.]
[A short, stout old man, only about 1.6 meters tall, walked in briskly.]
[The old man had prominent, fan-like ears, small eyes, and a messy mop of short hair that looked as if it hadn't been tended to in a long time.]
[He wore a loose, coarse cloth robe, with fine metal dust clinging to his face and clothes. The cuffs of his sleeves were even singed with several charred holes from sparks.]
["President Lou Gao, long time no see!"]
[Seeing the old man, Tang Xiao smiled, stood up, and cupped his fists.]
[Seeing Tang Xiao, Lou Gao scratched his messy short hair, his small eyes filled with confusion, and asked,]
["Sect Master Tang Xiao, what wind blows you here? It truly brings honor to our Blacksmith Association!"]
[Although Tang Xiao was a registered blacksmith of the Blacksmith Association,]
[as the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, and with the Clear Sky Sect having been in seclusion for many years,]
[the number of times Tang Xiao had personally visited the Blacksmith Association could be counted on one hand.]
[It was fine when he was young, but since Tang Xiao took over as the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, he had only visited three times in over ten years.]
[To this, Tang Xiao did not answer immediately. Instead, he chuckled and gestured to introduce Tang Chuan beside him.]
["President Lou Gao, let me introduce someone to you first!"]
["The one beside me is the famous Sect Master of the Qingdi Sect, the Imperial Preceptor of Heaven Dou, and the Blue Silver Prince of the First Rank—Tang Chuan."]
["He has an important matter to discuss with you, President Lou Gao, so he asked me to introduce him."]
[Hearing this, Lou Gao was startled. He turned and carefully sized Tang Chuan up.]
[Lou Gao had naturally heard of Tang Chuan's reputation long ago. Not daring to be disrespectful, he cupped his fists.]
["Greetings, Sect Master Tang Chuan!"]
["May I ask what brings Sect Master Tang Chuan here today?"]
[To this, Tang Chuan got straight to the point, smiling faintly as he spoke.]
["The situation on the continent is currently in turmoil. My Qingdi Sect wishes to assist the Heaven Dou Empire in resisting foreign enemies, and we urgently need weapons to prepare for war."]
["I have heard that your association excels in forging and has the largest number of blacksmiths in the World. Therefore, I have come in the hope that President Lou Gao can lead the Blacksmith Association to join my Qingdi Sect."]
[At Tang Chuan's direct solicitation, Lou Gao was momentarily stunned. Then, stroking his messy beard, a complex look flashed through his small eyes.]
[After a moment of silence, Lou Gao slowly shook his head. His tone carried a hint of apology, yet was extremely firm.]
["Sect Master Tang Chuan, this old man thanks you for your high regard."]
["However, the Blacksmith Association has a Legacy of over a thousand years. We have always maintained neutrality, never participating in any political or military disputes, which is how we have survived intact to this day."]
["The situation on the continent is indeed chaotic right now, but precisely because of this, I cannot drag the association's thousand-year foundation and tens of thousands of blacksmith brothers into this muddy water. I hope Sect Master Tang Chuan can understand."]
[Hearing this, Tang Chuan smiled faintly. He was not surprised, merely raising his teacup to take a gentle sip.]
[After setting it down, he spoke in a leisurely manner.]
["President Lou Gao, I understand your concerns."]
["But if I may speak frankly, now that the Spirit Empire has been established, Bibi Dong's ambitions are plain for all to see. It is only a matter of time before she initiates a war to unify the continent."]
["When that time comes, the entire continent will be engulfed in the flames of war."]
["Although the Blacksmith Association is neutral, can you truly remain uninvolved?"]
["Once the Spirit Empire gains control of the continent, will they allow an uncontrolled organization with tens of thousands of blacksmiths to remain free?"]
[Lou Gao's brow furrowed slightly, and he did not immediately refute.]
[To this, Tang Chuan continued,]
["Moreover, my invitation to you this time, President Lou Gao, is not just to make use of the Blacksmith Association's manpower."]
["More importantly, I hold in my hands a weapon capable of determining the future fate of blacksmiths, which I call: firearms!"]
["I believe you will certainly be interested, President Lou Gao!"]
[Saying this, the corners of Tang Chuan's mouth curled up slightly, his tone filled with confidence and certainty.]
["Firearms?"]
[Lou Gao raised an eyebrow, gently stroking his beard with a trace of dismissiveness in his tone.]
["This old man has spent his entire life studying forging and has seen countless weapons."]
["What kind of new weapon is this 'firearm' you speak of, Sect Master Tang Chuan? To think it could decide the future fate of us blacksmiths!"]
["That is impossible!"]
["It is impossible for such a weapon to exist in this World!"]
["Any weapon, in the end, relies on people to use it!"]
["I, Lou Gao, cannot possibly disregard the association's thousand-year foundation and the safety of tens of thousands of blacksmith brothers just because of some so-called new weapon."]
["If Sect Master Tang Chuan came here solely for this purpose, then please return!"]
[Lou Gao waved his hand with a look of utter disbelief.]
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters on - P@tr3on "RinBlaze"]
[Every 15 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]