A City Belonging Only to the Blacksmith Association

How long until "Xue Qinghe" arrives?

"It should take three days. He will come with the Lord of Suotuo City. After we discuss the cooperation, the Heaven Dou Royal Family will not interfere with the establishment of the association. We can directly contact the Lord of Suotuo City."

"Is this the intention of the Heaven Dou Royal Family?"

"It was Ning Fengzhi who secured these conditions; the Heaven Dou Royal Family had no choice but to agree to them before any negotiations even began."

Su Ming curled his lip.

"What helplessness? We were powerless to begin with. Suotuo City is located in the Balak Kingdom, and the Heaven Dou Royal Family's control over the Balak Kingdom has long since declined. The so-called concession is just going with the flow."

Zhu Jiuyang suddenly realized what was happening.

He hadn't expected that; he thought Ning Fengzhi was just returning the favor after he had been teaching Ning Tianya recently.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Su Ming finished his work ahead of schedule.

He was really looking forward to the upcoming meeting.

The newly vacated meeting room Fifth Floor.

Su Ming sized up the travel-worn and disheveled Xue Qinghe opposite him.

He hadn't expected "Xue Qinghe" to participate in the meeting in this guise.

"We were attacked by some bandits on the way, which caught us off guard and caused a slight delay. I apologize."

"We appreciate Your Crown Prince's willingness to travel so far from the Star Luo Empire to Gengxin City to negotiate with us. As for the timing, it was exactly as agreed, so Crown Prince Highness need not feel any pressure."

Xue Qinghe stood up and introduced the three people behind him.

"These two are my guards, responsible for my safety on this trip. This is Shen Quan, the city lord of Suotuo City."

He did indeed bring the lord of Suotuo City.

"."

After lengthy and tedious negotiations, the two sides initially agreed on the content of the cooperation.

Similar to the treatment of the Star Luo Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire also had to hand over 50% of its Rare Metal directly to the Association, which would then distribute some to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Hall. In the end, the Heaven Dou Empire could only obtain 20% of the Rare Metal mined within its own territory.

Su Ming noticed that Xue Qinghe's expression wasn't unpleasant.

"His Crown Prince seems quite satisfied with this agreement."

"The Heaven Dou Empire can accept these terms, but there's one thing I hope the Blacksmith Association can meet."

"Oh?"

Su Ming looked at Xue Qinghe with curiosity.

Xue Qinghe showed an apologetic expression.

"I apologize for making this a laughing stock for your association. My attack by bandits this time was likely due to my whereabouts being exposed, probably related to the Balak Kingdom. Therefore, if your association encounters any obstacles from the Balak Kingdom when establishing a new branch, you can entrust this matter to the Heaven Dou Royal Family. We will give your association a satisfactory answer."

Su Ming's gaze flickered.

Qian Renxue is quite the schemer.

Was the entire trip to Gengxin City for negotiations just a pretext for this scheme?

Since she won't die, we can take this opportunity to attack the Balak Kingdom.

"If we encounter any obstacles, then we may have to trouble Your Crown Prince."

Su Ming thought for a moment and did not refuse Xue Qinghe's request.

It wasn't that he started being nice to "Xue Qinghe" for no reason; it was simply that the association itself didn't have that much extra energy.

There are Soul Douluo -level powerhouses in the Balak Kingdom. Within the entire Blacksmith Association, only Zhu Jiuyang is a Soul Douluo. If the Balak Kingdom were to obstruct the establishment of the association's branch, it certainly wouldn't waste a Soul Douluo for that reason.

Thank you for your understanding.

After expressing his gratitude, Xue Qinghe took his leave.

Su Ming watched him leave, then took a deep breath.

"I've long heard that the current Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Emperor is quite capable, and seeing him today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved," Zhu Jiuyang said.

"Teacher, the association is currently short-handed. Who should be sent to Suotuo City to oversee the association's establishment?"

"Your teacher—" Zhu Jiuyang stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

He wanted to say he could go, but then he realized that if he went to Suotuo City, what would happen to Gengxin City?

"Who do you think should be sent?" Zhu Jiuyang asked. "You're not planning to go yourself, are you?"

"I'm not going."

Su Ming rolled his eyes.

That place is too dangerous.

Having just learned that Tang Hao was targeting him, he still went to Suotuo City?

Tang Hao may have been traveling around during the six years Tang San studied at the Nuoding Academy. Some people think he was simply accompanying Ah Yin, while others think he would occasionally travel to various parts of the continent; it's impossible to be certain. However, his location during the period when Tang San finished his studies at the Nuoding Academy and went to the Shrek Academy is certain.

There are still six months until Tang San enrolls at Shrek, but who knows how long it will take to establish the association there?

"If you don't go, and I don't go, then who will go?"

"Who was the spokesperson for the group of Soul Master who joined the association from the Star Luo Royal Family organization?"

"Dai Weisi, he is the current Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire. Although his cultivation is somewhat lacking, he commands immense prestige."

Su Ming nodded.

"Let him go. Let him oversee the construction of the Suotuo City Blacksmith Association," Su Ming said. "The disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, including the batch of Soul Master that the Heaven Dou Royal Family is preparing to send, will all come to Gengxin City. The Soul Master sent by the Star Luo Royal Family will be sent to Suotuo City."

Zhu Jiuyang's eyes lit up slightly after hearing what Su Ming said.

That's a good idea.

Now the association is divided into factions. Their faction is the most core, possessing the core technology, followed by the Heaven Dou Faction, the Star Luo Faction, and the Spirit Hall and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School factions.

Under Su Ming's arrangement, the Heaven Dou Faction remained in Gengxin City, which is within the Star Luo Empire territory, while the Star Luo Faction faction went to Suotuo City, which is located within the Heaven Dou territory!

This directly places the Grand Formation within the territory of the opposing empire.

"Good idea."

"The Star Luo Empire, for the safety of its own people, will also help us establish communication between the two associations."

There are no other cities between Gengxin City and Suotuo City; the line connecting them is the border between two great empires.

Establishing two association branches and ensuring information exchange between the two associations is crucial, so bridging the information gap between the two cities is very important.

According to Su Ming's plan, the two great empires can take the initiative to push the association to connect the two cities.

Su Ming's gaze You You.

That's not all; there was another reason for sending Dai Weisi to Suotuo City.

Dai Mu Bai is over there; if Dai Weisi is sent there, conflict is inevitable.

At that time, Xue Qinghe can take action to deal with the Balak Kingdom, Su Ming can also take the opportunity to extort some money, such as by establishing a city on the border.

A city that belongs solely to the Blacksmith Association!

At that time, he will then work on bringing the two branches together and merging them back into one association.

As for Lou Gao's insistence that Gengxin City is the birthplace of the association?

Ha, the association has long since changed its ways.

Su Ming had already shown the blacksmiths the utmost respect in the past.

However, for the sake of the association's development, Su Ming could not keep backing down.

"This is a long-term plan. By the time this city is built, the teachers will at least have the combat power of a titled leader, and the association will have the confidence to have a city as its base."