Chapter 411: The Blacksmiths' Trading Conference
With the arrival of the Master Swordsmith and his disciple Bei Hao, the atmosphere in the room became tense and strange.
"Hmph! Swordsmith, you entered my office without my permission. Do you think that just because you've broken through to an eighth-tier blacksmith, you can disregard me?!" Old Bing narrowed his eyes and snorted coldly, clearly displeased with the uninvited guests.
Though the status of a blacksmith within the Weapon Alliance is often determined by their rank, and the Master Swordsmith, as an eighth-tier blacksmith, outranked Old Bing, both of them were also Dou Zun-level fighters. As two of the most powerful figures within the Weapon Alliance, the Master Swordsmith couldn't simply overpower Old Bing with his rank alone.
Unfazed by Old Bing's cold reception, the Master Swordsmith's expression remained calm. His cloudy old eyes scanned the room like an eagle, finally landing on Mo Yu with an imposing gaze.
"Who is this young man? I've never seen him before. As a high-ranking elder and enforcer of the Weapon Alliance, I believe I have the right to investigate any outsider who enters headquarters," he declared.
Under the oppressive gaze of this eighth-tier blacksmith and Dou Zun-level expert, Mo Yu felt a heavy pressure, like a mountain bearing down on him, making it difficult to breathe. However, despite the intense pressure, his expression remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic.
"Swordsmith, this is not a place where you can act recklessly!" Old Bing stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Mo Yu, and unleashed a powerful aura, scattering the Dou Zun energy that had been pressing on Mo Yu.
"This is Xiao Huo Huo, a friend of my father's and also my teacher's disciple," Lan Yingying spoke up, explaining to the Master Swordsmith. "He hasn't joined the Weapon Alliance yet, which is why you haven't seen him before."
"Oh? Xiao Huo Huo? And he's a disciple of yours, Bing Li?" The Master Swordsmith narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he scrutinized Mo Yu.
Ever since learning that his disciple Sun Wuji had been killed by someone named Mo Yu, the Master Swordsmith had harbored a deep desire for revenge. Unfortunately, Mo Yu had proven elusive, and his background seemed complex. Mo Yu had even managed to gain the favor of the Golden Warhorse Clan, which made it difficult for the Master Swordsmith to act against him.
However, recent intelligence suggested that Mo Yu had likely left Golden City and arrived at Ten Thousand Weapons City. Now, with this sudden appearance of a strange young man connected to Bing Li, the Master Swordsmith became suspicious. After all, Sun Wuji had died during a competition with the Lan family, which was backed by Lan Yingying's family. If it weren't for Bing Li's intervention, the Master Swordsmith would have destroyed the Lan family long ago.
Staring at the ordinary-looking young man before him, the Master Swordsmith furrowed his brow. Although he had never seen Mo Yu in person, the descriptions from the Tang family and Myriad Sword Pavilion didn't match the appearance of this "Xiao Huo Huo."
"Bing Li, do I need your permission to bring my disciple into this place?" Old Bing's expression darkened as he stood firmly in front of Mo Yu, staring down the Master Swordsmith without any sign of retreat.
As the two men locked eyes, the tension in the room thickened. The Master Swordsmith's face grew increasingly grim, and the wrinkles on his forehead deepened as he took a slow step forward.
"Bing Li, that Mo Yu killed my disciple and has ties to your lineage. Whether this boy is connected to Mo Yu or not, I'll be taking him in for questioning!" the Master Swordsmith declared, his words breaking the silence like a sharp sword, sending a powerful wave of Dou Qi energy crashing through the room, filling it with oppressive pressure.
"Hmph!"
In response, Old Bing let out a cold snort and took a step forward, unleashing an overwhelming wave of energy that immediately suppressed the Master Swordsmith's aura.
"Swordsmith, you're only a one-star Dou Zun. If you think you can take Xiao Huo Huo from under my nose, you're dreaming! Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Old Bing laughed coldly.
Hearing this, the Master Swordsmith's expression darkened. While he surpassed Bing Li in blacksmithing skill, his strength was only at the one-star Dou Zun level, whereas Bing Li was a two-star Dou Zun.
"Now, now, gentlemen. You're both esteemed figures in the Western Region and Central Plains, so there's no need to escalate things over such a small matter."
Just as the situation was about to erupt into a full-blown conflict, a mature and alluring voice echoed from outside the room. Moments later, two striking women entered gracefully.
The unexpected interruption broke the tension in the room, and Mo Yu turned to see the two beautiful women approaching.
The younger one on the left exuded youthful charm and beauty—it was Lu Qing'er, whom Mo Yu had met before. The woman on the right was a mature beauty, radiating an irresistible allure like a perfectly ripened peach, making hearts skip a beat.
"The one on the right is Master Cai Ya, and the one on the left is her disciple, Lu Qing'er. Master Cai Ya is one of the five elders of the Weapon Alliance, a peak-level seventh-tier blacksmith," Lan Yingying whispered to Mo Yu.
Mo Yu nodded slightly. The moment he saw Lu Qing'er, he had already guessed the identity of the mature woman by her side.
What surprised him, though, was the powerful aura emanating from Cai Ya. She was also a Dou Zun expert.
It seemed that all five elders of the Weapon Alliance were Dou Zun experts. If the alliance were more unified, it might rival the Four Pavilions and even approach the power of the Three Valleys. However, judging by the relationship between Old Bing and the Master Swordsmith, it was clear that the Weapon Alliance was far from harmonious.
With Cai Ya's arrival, the tension between Old Bing and the Master Swordsmith began to ease.
While they disliked each other, both knew that a full-blown fight would only result in mutual destruction.
"Hmph! Bing Li, I hear your disciple will be participating in the upcoming blacksmithing tournament. Let's see whose disciple is stronger, yours or mine!" the Master Swordsmith said coldly before casting a deep glance at Mo Yu. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he left with his disciple Bei Hao.
Before leaving, Bei Hao shot a mocking glance at Feng Mu and Lan Yingying. Although their blacksmithing skills were decent, they were still far behind him.
Turning his gaze to Mo Yu, Bei Hao's face showed clear disdain.
As for Old Bing's newly introduced disciple, "Xiao Huo Huo," Bei Hao didn't even consider him worth acknowledging.
Mo Yu's face remained expressionless, but a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
It seemed that, whether it was Sun Wuji or Bei Hao, anyone from the Master Swordsmith's lineage was unpleasant.
"Sigh, Old Bing, both you and the Master Swordsmith are senior members of the Weapon Alliance. You should try to get along," Master Cai Ya said softly, watching the two leave before turning to Old Bing.
"That feud has lasted for decades. The only way it'll end is when one of us is dead," Old Bing waved his hand dismissively, his tone indifferent.
After saying this, Old Bing seemed to remember something and pointed to Mo Yu. "By the way, Cai Ya, add my disciple Xiao Huo Huo's name to the list for the upcoming blacksmithing tournament. He missed the registration deadline, so I'll need you to help me pull some strings."
"Haha, no need to be so formal, Old Bing. You're my senior and have taught me much. This is a small favor. I'll take care of it," Cai Ya said with a smile.
As she glanced at Mo Yu, her curiosity was piqued. After all, this young man had sparked a confrontation between Old Bing and the Master Swordsmith.
"So, Xiao Huo Huo, huh? I've never seen you around Old Bing before, but for him to personally request an exception, you must be quite skilled in blacksmithing," she remarked, testing him.
Mo Yu gave a polite bow, his expression calm as he replied, "Master Cai Ya, you flatter me. I'm just here for the experience."
Seeing how carefully Mo Yu responded without revealing much, Cai Ya raised an eyebrow but smiled again. "Well, since you're Old Bing's disciple, I'm sure you have some talent. I look forward to seeing how you perform in the blacksmithing tournament."
With that, Cai Ya and her disciple bid farewell, leaving the office.
After the series of disruptions, Old Bing seemed to realize this was not the place for further discussion. He turned to Mo Yu and the others and said, "The blacksmithing tournament begins in three days. Until then, you should all rest. However, today the Blacksmiths' Trading Conference is taking place. Feng Mu, why don't you take your junior brother and sister to check it out?"
Feng Mu nodded, then smiled at Mo Yu and Lan Yingying. "Haha, come on, let's go explore the Blacksmiths' Trading Conference."
...
Standing before a large and impressive building, Mo Yu looked up at the sign, its characters written in a bold and lively style. His interest was piqued.
"Blacksmiths' Trading Conference."
As Feng Mu explained, Mo Yu learned that this event, also supported by the Weapon Alliance, was second only to the blacksmithing tournament in importance within Ten Thousand Weapons City.
Countless blacksmiths and powerful figures would gather here to trade, providing an opportunity to find rare treasures and meet like-minded individuals.
The area around the conference was bustling with people. Blacksmiths wearing robes passed through the heavily guarded entrance, drawing envious glances from the crowd.
"Is this the place?" Mo Yu asked, glancing at Feng Mu.
"Yep," Feng Mu smiled and nodded.
With their destination confirmed, Mo Yu smiled and the three of them walked toward the entrance.
Recognizing Feng Mu and Lan Yingying, the guards at the gate quickly stepped aside and bowed as the trio passed.
Beyond the gate was a wide, cool corridor, and as they walked through, a wave of lively voices greeted them, flooding their ears.
Standing at the entrance to the main hall, Mo Yu's gaze swept across the vast space before him.
The hall was filled with neatly arranged stone platforms, each resembling a market stall. Behind the platforms sat figures who looked like vendors, but they appeared more like warriors, sitting lazily and showing no signs of typical merchants.
Inside the hall, the crowd was massive, with most people wearing blacksmith robes, marking them as blacksmiths themselves.
Many blacksmiths wandered around, stopping occasionally at platforms to examine the displayed items closely. If something caught their eye, they would begin negotiations with the vendors to trade.
"Haha, the trading conference is divided into different levels. This is just the third-tier area. The second-tier area is on the second floor, and the first-tier area is at the top. However, getting to the higher levels requires certain qualifications," Feng Mu explained, smiling at Mo Yu from behind. "To access the second floor, you need to be at least a sixth-tier blacksmith. As for the third floor, only seventh-tier blacksmiths or Dou Zun experts can enter. But since we're the disciples of a respected elder, we have the privilege of entering."
Hearing this, Mo Yu's interest was piqued. "Let's take a look at the third floor then."
Both Lan Yingying and Feng Mu were momentarily surprised by his request, exchanging wry smiles.
Although they had the qualifications to enter the third floor, the items and people there were clearly on a different level. For Feng Mu and Lan Yingying, it felt like aiming too high.
However, since Mo Yu was interested, they agreed to accompany him.
Upon reaching the third floor, the bustling noise quieted significantly. The area was just as large as the floors below, but the crystal tiles covering the floor sparkled like mirrors, almost blinding in their brilliance.
The items displayed on the crystal platforms were clearly far superior to those downstairs, with just a glance revealing their extraordinary quality.
The people on this floor were far fewer, but their demeanor was much more refined. They calmly examined their chosen items and quietly discussed trade terms with the vendors.
Mo Yu's gaze wandered over the various crystal platforms until he finally stopped in front of one. His eyes landed on a jade box on the platform.
Inside the box lay an oval-shaped, blood-red crystal, radiating an eerie energy.
It was a Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal, an extremely rare material that absorbed the blood essence of powerful beings, forming deep underground. It was highly prized and hard to find.
Seeing the Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal, Mo Yu's heart skipped a beat.
Ever since his Divine Might Black Thunder Spear had been shattered by the Ghost Staff Elder, Mo Yu had been looking for materials to repair and upgrade it. Unfortunately, he had yet to find the right materials.
But this Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal was exactly what he needed. With it, Mo Yu was confident he could raise the Divine Might Black Thunder Spear to a peak seventh-tier or even eighth-tier level!
His eyes then shifted to the vendor behind the platform.
Sitting there was an old man with a stiff expression. He sat perfectly upright, like a spear, radiating an aura so sharp and intimidating that it felt as though he wasn't a person but a sword exuding an icy, lethal energy.
Sensing the old man's aura, Mo Yu was startled and muttered to himself, "A Dou Zun expert…"
(End of the chapter)
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