Chapter 412: A Deal with the Iron Sword Venerable
"A Dou Zun expert…"
Sensing the powerful aura of the elderly man behind the counter, Mo Yu was startled, and a subtle glimmer flashed in his eyes.
Although he couldn't determine the exact strength of this man, the sharpness of his aura was undeniably far stronger than that of a master blacksmith, even more terrifying than Old Bing.
Of course, this didn't necessarily mean the old man was leagues beyond Old Bing in terms of cultivation. While Old Bing was a two-star Dou Zun, his primary profession was as a weapon forger, so he wasn't particularly skilled in combat.
However, the elder before him emanated an aura like a sword, sharp and intimidating, clearly a warrior who had experienced many battles.
Although Mo Yu had anticipated that the third floor would be filled with powerful hidden figures, he didn't expect to encounter a Dou Zun expert so soon after finding a suitable piece of equipment.
But even though the other party was a Dou Zun, Mo Yu didn't panic. With a calm expression, he pointed at the piece of Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal and looked toward the elder not far away.
"Sir, how much is this piece of Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal?"
As soon as Mo Yu spoke, Feng Mu and Lan Yingying curiously gathered around, their eyes lighting up when they saw such a large piece of the crystal.
"If you want this Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal, you don't meet my requirements. Go somewhere else or ask your elders to come," the elder said coldly without even opening his eyes or showing any emotion on his stiff face.
Hearing this, Feng Mu and Lan Yingying exchanged bitter smiles, as if they had expected this response.
The third floor was the highest-level area of the Blacksmiths' Trading Conference, where only seventh-tier blacksmiths or Dou Zun experts and above were allowed.
Although the three of them had been allowed in thanks to their teachers' reputations, these Dou Zun experts wouldn't care about their background.
This stall owner was clearly a strong figure with a peculiar temperament.
Feng Mu had initially planned to just show Mo Yu around the third floor for fun, but Mo Yu suddenly became interested in buying the Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal, which put Feng Mu in a difficult position.
Patting Mo Yu on the shoulder, Feng Mu smiled wryly, "Junior Brother, if you really want that Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal, why not go back and ask our teacher? If he steps in, he might be able to strike a deal with this elder."
Hearing this, Mo Yu frowned slightly.
He was determined to get that Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal, but Old Bing had already helped him a lot, and Mo Yu didn't want to trouble him further with this matter.
Moreover, deep down, Mo Yu didn't believe he was unworthy of making a deal with a Dou Zun expert.
"May I ask for your name, sir?" Mo Yu continued to ask the elder before him.
Seeing that Mo Yu wasn't giving up, the old man frowned slightly, his stiff face twitching as he responded, "I've long forgotten my original name. Later, I took the name Iron Sword."
"Iron Sword? Could it be that you're the Iron Sword Venerable, who wiped out the Jade Sword Sect on your own a few years ago?" Lan Yingying's beautiful face immediately showed surprise, her hands covering her lips.
"Iron Sword Venerable…" Hearing this name, Mo Yu's heart stirred, and he felt it sounded somewhat familiar.
Though he had come from the Northwestern Continent, Mo Yu was well aware that the number of Dou Zun experts on the Dou Qi continent wasn't as rare as it seemed.
Apart from the factions like the One Hall, One Tower, Three Valleys, and Four Pavilions, there were countless other Dou Zun experts, though most people didn't have the opportunity to encounter them.
In fact, the number of Dou Zun experts Mo Yu had encountered far exceeded the number openly acknowledged on the continent.
For the Iron Sword Venerable to have earned such a title, he was clearly no ordinary person. Moreover, Mo Yu vaguely recalled that this person had appeared in the original story.
"Junior Xiao Huo greets Iron Sword Venerable," Mo Yu cupped his hands and bowed slightly to the elder before him.
Given the number of people around, Mo Yu continued to use his alias.
"I've already told you, you are not qualified to trade with me. However, if you're blacksmiths, there may be a chance for you to get the Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal—but only if you bring your elders," the old man called Iron Sword said without opening his eyes, his face still expressionless.
"A blacksmith, huh…" Hearing the old man's words, Mo Yu faintly speculated that Iron Sword Venerable seemed to be in dire need of a high-level blacksmith.
Thinking of this, Mo Yu's confidence grew.
"So the elder is looking for a high-tier blacksmith. While I'm not sure what exactly you need a blacksmith for, I might be able to help," Mo Yu said with a confident smile.
"You?"
The stiff-faced elder slowly opened his eagle-like eyes, scanning Mo Yu up and down before frowning slightly. A trace of irritation appeared on his face as if he felt deceived.
"Boy, I don't care who your elders are. If you dare to speak such nonsense again, I'll throw you off this floor myself!" the elder said coldly.
"Uh…" Hearing the elder's harsh words, Mo Yu was momentarily stunned, then smiled wryly.
The elder was indeed rigid and had no patience for the give-and-take of bargaining.
Feng Mu and Lan Yingying quickly pulled Mo Yu back, afraid that he might say something that would provoke the irritable elder even more.
While getting thrown off the third floor wouldn't be life-threatening, it would be highly embarrassing in front of so many people.
After realizing the elder's temper, Mo Yu didn't press further. Instead, he furrowed his brow thoughtfully before a slight smile appeared on his face.
He glanced at the elder and slowly formed a series of hand seals. As his hand movements quickened, a powerful wave of soul force suddenly surged out of him, like a violent storm, bringing an overwhelming sense of pressure!
The strong soul force spread across the third floor, drawing the attention of countless experts. Their gazes were filled with curiosity and astonishment.
Even Feng Mu and Lan Yingying were shocked by the sudden display of such powerful soul force from Mo Yu, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"This is…"
Feeling the force directly, the stiff-faced elder once again opened his eyes, his expression finally shifting. His calm gaze now showed a hint of shock.
"Elder, I am also a blacksmith of decent rank. May I ask if I now have the qualifications to trade with you?" Mo Yu said with a smile, releasing his powerful soul force.
Iron Sword Venerable didn't reply immediately but no longer flatly rejected him as before.
Clearly, the Dou Zun expert was taken aback by the fact that Mo Yu, despite his young age, possessed such a formidable soul force.
Seeing this, Mo Yu smiled slightly and retracted his soul force.
Although he had been focused on improving his Dou Qi recently, with the help of the Soul-Fusing Holy Cup, the Divine Heaven Soul Technique, and the Black Lotus Heart Soul Flame, his soul force had also advanced significantly, now reaching the later stages of the seventh rank.
With his current abilities, Mo Yu's soul force alone was strong enough to challenge a high-tier Dou Zong expert.
Though his soul force was still far weaker than that of a Dou Zun, Iron Sword Venerable clearly understood that someone with such powerful soul force wasn't just an ordinary blacksmith.
Even within the Blacksmiths' Guild, few elders could boast of such soul power.
Thinking of this, the elder stood up and slowly approached Mo Yu and his companions.
Seeing this, Lan Yingying and Feng Mu exchanged surprised glances. They hadn't expected the rigid elder to be swayed by Mo Yu after all.
They were also deeply curious about Mo Yu's current rank as a blacksmith.
Could he be at the sixth rank? Or even the seventh?
If Mo Yu were indeed a seventh-rank blacksmith, it would be an extraordinary achievement, given that even within the Blacksmiths' Guild, seventh-rank blacksmiths were rare and highly respected.
Even someone like Bei Hao, a low-tier seventh-rank blacksmith, was regarded as a rising star of the guild, and many veteran blacksmiths treated him with great respect.
If Mo Yu were also a seventh-rank blacksmith, it would mean that Old Bing's lineage had produced a banner-bearer for the future.
"You want this Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal?" The rigid elder looked at Mo Yu, this time addressing him formally.
"Yes, sir. Name your price, and I'll do my best to meet it," Mo Yu said with a calm smile.
The elder stared at Mo Yu, his calm eyes revealing a hint of doubt, but after a moment of contemplation, he sighed and said, "Fine, I'll trust you this once…"
With those words, the elder drew a wide, powerful sword from his right hand, its blade radiating a sharp, almost unbearable aura.
The sword was half a meter long and a foot wide, with a massive, imposing presence. Its edge gleamed coldly, indicating that countless foes had fallen before it.
However, at the center of the blade, there was a thumb-sized crack, resembling a black hole that was slowly spreading outward, eating away at the sword's strength.
Because of this crack, the sword, though mighty, seemed like a gravely ill patient teetering on the brink of death.
"This sword is called the Heavy Sword. It has accompanied me for decades in battle across the Central Continent. It started as an ordinary weapon, but after being nurtured by my Dou Qi for decades, it became a perfect match for me. Unfortunately, during the destruction of the Jade Sword Sect a few years ago, its leader self-destructed, severely damaging the Heavy Sword. I've since sought many blacksmiths to repair it, but none have succeeded."
At this point, the elder's face darkened as he caressed the Heavy Sword, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Hearing this, Mo Yu was stunned. Although the Heavy Sword seemed ordinary at first glance, after being nurtured by a Dou Zun for decades, it had far surpassed a normal weapon. While it couldn't quite be called a divine weapon, it was comparable to a peak-level seventh-rank weapon, not inferior to the Black Dragon Roaring Heaven Sword.
Moreover, because this sword had been nurtured by Iron Sword Venerable, it was perfectly attuned to him. In his hands, it could rival even an eighth-rank weapon.
Repairing such a sword would indeed be a challenge for ordinary blacksmiths.
"I remember that the Blacksmiths' Guild has an eighth-rank blacksmith, the Master Swordsmith. His forging skills are renowned across the continent. Since you're in Ten Thousand Weapons City, didn't you seek his help?" Mo Yu suddenly asked.
"Hmph, the Jade Sword Sect and the Myriad Sword Pavilion both once hired the Master Swordsmith as a patron, offering him great wealth each year. I've heard that the Master Swordsmith holds grudges. Since I destroyed the Jade Sword Sect and cut off his income, he harbors a grudge against me. How could he possibly help me repair my sword?" the elder snorted coldly, recalling the past.
Hearing this, Mo Yu was taken aback. He hadn't expected such a reason behind the situation.
Sensing an opportunity, Mo Yu's mind began to churn. Since the rigid elder and the Master Swordsmith had unresolved animosity, perhaps Mo Yu could take advantage of this.
He now remembered who the old man was: the Iron Sword Venerable, a character who had left a deep impression in the original story.
The rigid elder was a close friend of both Wind Venerable and Yao Lao. After Yao Lao was captured, Xiao Yan sought out Wind Venerable in the Central Continent to plan a rescue. The Iron Sword Venerable, in gratitude to Yao Lao, joined the fight in the Soul Devouring Mountain battle. When the Black and White Venerables appeared and the group attempted to flee, Iron Sword Venerable prepared to self-destruct to cover their escape, only to be rescued by the Three Elders of East Dragon Island.
In a world of strength and treachery, the Iron Sword Venerable was one of the rare few known for his loyalty and honor.
Remembering the man's noble deeds, Mo Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.
Carefully formulating his plan, Mo Yu glanced at the Heavy Sword and said, "Sir, after being nurtured by you for so many years, this sword is no ordinary weapon. Repairing it will likely be as difficult as crafting a new peak-level seventh-rank or even eighth-rank weapon. The value of a single piece of Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal alone wouldn't be equivalent to that of repairing this sword, don't you think?"
Hearing Mo Yu negotiating the value, Lan Yingying and Feng Mu exchanged astonished glances.
Repairing such a high-level sword was a task even their own master might not be confident in, yet Mo Yu seemed entirely sure of himself.
Could there really be such a gap between people?
Iron Sword Venerable was also surprised by Mo Yu's confident tone. After considering for a moment, with the attitude of "better safe than sorry," he asked, "In addition to the Bloody Demon Meteorite Crystal, what else do you want?"
Mo Yu smiled slightly and held up three fingers.
"I would like you, sir, to assist me three times when I'm in danger."
(End of the chapter)
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