"Skip the flattery. What business do you have with me?" Lou Gao waved his hand dismissively.
Everyone knew the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was the wealthiest in the world. If they could mobilize a Title Douluo, they certainly weren't here for small talk.
As an organization of support-type soul masters, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan were naturally regular customers here.
"Well, this is my father Ning Fengzhi's formal invitation. We hope you can join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
Lou Gao took the letter and casually tore it open.
His initially casual expression gradually turned serious as he read the contents.
"You're inviting me to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to help manufacture so-called soul tools?" Lou Gao said after some thought. "You mentioned having samples. Did you bring them?"
"Yes, here it is." Ning Rongrong handed over the level one fire-type soul tool she had previously let Dugu Yan play with.
Lou Gao took the soul tool and after brief examination, his eyes lit up.
"Press the safety button below the activation device to disable the safety lock, then aim at the target and input soul power." Hearing this explanation, Lou Gao couldn't wait to rush back into his workshop.
Ning Rongrong and the others followed him inside.
Si Long, equally curious, also stepped into the room.
"Bang"
"Bang"
Two fireballs struck the target.
A bullseye target burst into roaring flames.
"Incredible!" Lou Gao's face was full of excitement.
He aimed at another target and continued channeling soul power into attacks.
"Wait! The soul tool can only be used about ten times—"
Before Ning Rongrong could finish, three more fireballs had already hit the target.
Then, with a loud explosion, the soul tool in Lou Gao's hands shattered into pieces.
"What... what happened?"
Lou Gao's soul power naturally protected him from harm by a mere level one soul tool's explosion.
But the soul tool's self-destruction still shocked him, leaving him both confused and heartbroken.
"Senior Lou Gao, this soul tool is just a prototype and still unstable. After about ten uses, the metal can't withstand the strain and self-destructs."
"What!" Lou Gao's small eyes widened dramatically. "Little girl, why didn't you say so earlier!"
"Senior Lou Gao, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has even more complex soul tools than this one. What we lack is a renowned divine craftsman."
"That's exactly why my father and I want you to join our clan."
"Here are the design blueprints for the soul tools." Ning Rongrong took out the design schematics for the fire-type soul tool from her bracelet and handed them to Lou Gao.
Lou Gao's hands trembled slightly as he received the blueprints.
When he saw the design concepts and array patterns, he slapped the table in admiration.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is truly remarkable!"
"Senior Lou Gao, our clan plans to establish a Soul Tool Pavilion with you as its director."
"And spread the concept of soul tools throughout Douluo Continent, restoring the blacksmith's reputation. What do you think?"
Lou Gao put down the blueprints and took a deep breath before asking: "What conditions must we fulfill to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
"Don't betray the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Soul tools must remain confidential for now due to their immense strategic value."
"There's one more thing..." Ning Rongrong added. "Sever all ties with the Clear Sky Sect and Tai Tan."
"Sever ties?" Lou Gao looked troubled. "I can promise not to reveal any soul tool information to Tai Tan and never betray the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"As for relations with the Clear Sky Sect, I understand your meaning. Since I'd be joining your clan, I naturally wouldn't maintain connections with them."
"Acceptable." Ning Rongrong nodded.
Lou Gao's close relationship with Tai Tan made complete severance difficult, but keeping soul tool information secret would suffice.
Total separation from the Clear Sky Sect was mandatory though - it wouldn't do for a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan member to maintain ties with them.
Lou Gao's joining proceeded without incident.
After seeing the soul tools, he recognized their tremendous potential if developed further.
Moreover, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had both wealth and appraisal expertise - wasn't this exactly what blacksmiths sought?
"By the way, I've heard your relations with the local Spirit Hall branch are quite poor," Ning Rongrong suddenly inquired.
"That's correct."
"Then leave this matter to us."
"You have connections with Spirit Hall too?" Lou Gao frowned. While he bore no particular malice toward Spirit Hall itself, his opinion of the local bishop was extremely negative.
"Yes. As Senior Lou Gao knows, major powers inevitably interact. As support-type soul masters, it's normal for us to have dealings with Spirit Hall."
After some thought, Lou Gao nodded in agreement.
Indeed, the Top Sects rankings were determined by Spirit Hall. On surface level, everyone maintained decent relations.
Except the Clear Sky Sect, of course.
After killing their Pope, how could relations possibly remain good?
Lou Gao needed time to prepare his departure.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong, Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan headed for the Spirit Hall branch.
Before visiting, they gathered information about Bishop Miles.
"How can someone like him become a Spirit Hall bishop?" Dugu Yan couldn't help exclaiming angrily. "It's utterly corrupt!"
"To be fair, Heaven Dou's nobility aren't much better," Ning Rongrong remarked.
In Douluo Continent, soul masters and ordinary people might as well be different species.
"Anyway, we'll just go kill him!"
"Then replace him with a new bishop."
"Uh..." Dugu Yan was stunned. "Won't that cause problems? Might it expose us?"
"We'll have the new bishop report everything to the Worship Hall. Qian Renxue's token is far more useful than any Elder Token."
The three entered the Spirit Hall branch together, with Dugu Bo releasing his Title Douluo pressure.
Faced with this, the staff quickly confessed everything.
Ning Rongrong pointed to a relatively young but upright-looking man to serve as interim bishop.
She instructed him to document all crimes and prisoners here and send the reports directly to Spirit Hall headquarters, preferably the Worship Hall.
The new bishop wisely recognized the situation.
After friendly discussions, he agreed to mutually beneficial coexistence with the city's blacksmiths.
Following Ning Rongrong's requests, he secretly helped Lou Gao's group pack their belongings for transport.
They had arrived as three, but would leave with an entire entourage.
Due to the large group, Ning Rongrong avoided taking the shortcut through the Great Star Dou Forest, instead detouring toward a major city.
Just then, from the direction of the Great Star Dou Forest...
Two terrifying auras erupted.
"What... what is that?" Even from this distance, Dugu Bo could sense the frightening power of those clashing energies.
The caravan's horses lay trembling on the ground, refusing to move under the combat pressure.
"It seems powerful experts are fighting in the Great Star Dou Forest." Ning Rongrong gazed at the sky where aurora-like phenomena shimmered.
Black and white radiance nearly blanketed the entire forest.
Title Douluo-level combatants.
This felt even more powerful than the Sword Douluo's aura.
Who could it be?
Could it be Qian Daoliu fighting against Di Tian?