Star Luo Royal Blacksmiths' Association

"Father, Master Lou Gao has personally promised to forge firearms for the Star Luo Empire. I also ask that you agree to raise the status and benefits of the blacksmiths!"

"Mm..." Dai Pojun nodded in deep agreement. "Indeed. Since the blacksmiths can develop such divine weapons, their benefits should certainly be improved. How about this? In a few days, I will personally travel to Gengxin City and announce my decision to the many blacksmiths of the Blacksmiths' Association.

At the same time, I will recruit blacksmiths from across Douluo Continent to manufacture Hand Grenades for us and arm the Star Luo Empire's army.

With such divine weapons, I'd like to see how those people from Spirit Hall can continue throwing their weight around on Star Luo Empire territory!"

By the end, Dai Pojun radiated an overwhelming, domineering aura, his imperial majesty on full display!

"That would be best."

Dai Weisi smiled. As long as they had enough firearms, the Star Luo Empire's overall strength would definitely rise to another level.

After bidding farewell to his parents, Dai Weisi went to the Zhu Family Residence to visit Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing. After greeting the two women, he returned to his own residence.

Now that he had brought the Blacksmiths' Association under his control, he needed to continue cultivating diligently. Firearms might be terrifyingly powerful, but they were ultimately external tools. Only his own strength could give him true confidence.

"I need to hurry and raise my Soul Power to level fifty." Having made up his mind, Dai Weisi entered a meditative state and silently cultivated his Soul Power.

A week later, Star Luo Emperor Dai Pojun personally traveled to Gengxin City with Empress Zhu Yaqin to meet Master Lou Gao.

This gesture left Master Lou Gao overwhelmed with gratitude. He had never imagined that the emperor of a nation would travel all the way from Star Luo City just to meet him.

It was not only him; everyone in the Blacksmiths' Association felt immensely honored as well.

At the entrance of the Blacksmiths' Association, Dai Pojun formally issued a proclamation to the world:

From this moment onward, the Blacksmiths' Association would officially be renamed the Star Luo Royal Blacksmiths' Association!

Anyone whose forging skill had reached the rank of "Blacksmith Apprentice" would be granted the title of "Novice Blacksmith" by the Star Luo Empire and awarded a royal medal.

Those whose forging skill had reached the level of "Blacksmith Master" would be granted the title of "Intermediate Blacksmith," and so on.

And if one's forging skill could reach the legendary level of a "Divine Blacksmith," they would be granted the title of "God-level Blacksmith"!

Furthermore, from then on, blacksmiths within the Star Luo Empire would enjoy the same status and benefits as Soul Masters, while the status of God-level Blacksmiths would be second only to the Star Luo Emperor.

They would answer directly to the Emperor and forge all manner of weapons for the Star Luo Empire.

At the same time, Dai Pojun announced that commoners across the continent would be encouraged to become blacksmiths and study forging techniques.

As long as they could pass the Blacksmith Association's assessment, they could join the Blacksmith Association, study more advanced forging techniques, and become honored blacksmiths!

The moment the announcement was released, the whole world erupted!

Many commoners picked up hammers and learned forging techniques from nearby blacksmiths. In particular, those who had awakened hammer Martial Souls but possessed no Soul Power had an innate advantage when it came to becoming blacksmiths.

Some people had become despondent and dispirited because they could not become Soul Masters, but this announcement undoubtedly gave them an opportunity.

An opportunity sufficient to change their fate!

Becoming a God-level Blacksmith was far easier than becoming a Title Douluo.

As more and more people learned forging techniques from the blacksmiths in their villages, the status of blacksmiths naturally rose as well. In order to become honored blacksmiths, those blacksmiths even began learning from one another and improving together.

It could be said that Dai Pojun's single official decree fundamentally changed the status of blacksmiths. Just like that, half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

In only half a year, blacksmithing became the second most popular profession on the continent, surpassed only by Soul Masters.

In fact, in terms of sheer numbers, blacksmiths already far outnumbered Soul Masters. After all, the number of Soul Masters had never exceeded six figures, while the number of blacksmiths on the continent had long surpassed seven figures.

Many whose forging skills had reached the level of "Blacksmith Apprentice" passed the Blacksmith Association's assessment and were granted the title and medal of Novice Blacksmith.

In just half a year, the Star Luo Empire gained one thousand Novice Blacksmiths, one hundred Intermediate Blacksmiths, and thirty Advanced Blacksmiths.

As for God-level Blacksmiths, there was currently only Lou Gao.

Every blacksmith who received a blacksmith title was taken away by Lou Gao. Near the Blacksmithing Divine Mountain Range southwest of Gengxin City, they worked with Dai Weisi to develop even more powerful firearms.

For now, only Dai Weisi, Dai Pojun and Empress Zhu Yaqin, along with the many blacksmiths, knew about the firearms. Their power was simply too great, so Dai Weisi had no choice but to take precautions.

Dai Weisi even asked his father to station a heavy guard at the entrance to the Blacksmithing Divine Mountain Range.

A force of ten thousand cavalry was hidden in the remote mountains and wilderness around the range. If they encountered anyone of unknown identity, they had the authority to execute first and report afterward.

It could be said that aside from Title Douluos of the Agility Attack System, no one could possibly infiltrate the secret firearms research base without a sound.

Just like that, the Star Luo Empire's weapons factory began operating smoothly. In only half a year, the number of Hand Grenades exceeded fifty thousand, and they had also developed more powerful Land Mines, with production continuing to expand.

Spirit City.

It was resplendent in gold and jade, dazzlingly colorful, and even at night, it shone brilliantly.

There were more than a dozen Title Douluos here. It was the sacred land in the hearts of all Soul Masters, as well as the strongest force on Douluo Continent, without question.

Within Spirit City, the most eye-catching structure was the Pope's Palace! The Pope's Palace towered into the clouds and was forged from gold. Outside the palace stood a noble and holy angel statue, said to be the legendary Angel God.

Passing Soul Masters would all worship before it.

Inside the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong sat upon her throne, her brows tightly furrowed as she looked at Ju and Ghost Douluo below.

As the Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong possessed a delicate, fair face, while her bright eyes resembled two glittering purple gemstones. Her sensual red lips made nearly every man want to steal a kiss.

A purple gown wrapped around her seductive and enchanting figure, while her pair of long, snow-white legs made people drool. Noble, elegant, aloof... it seemed every beautiful word could be used to describe her.

The identities of the two people standing below were equally extraordinary. One of them wore magnificent golden armor, displaying his noble status.

His golden hair fluttered behind him. Though he was a man, his face was fairer than a woman's. He was one of the two great Title Douluos, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan.

The Black-Clothed Man beside Yue Guan was Ghost Douluo Gui Mei. Compared to the noble Yue Guan, Gui Mei appeared far more understated. He wore black soft armor, and his expression was terrifyingly gloomy, like an evil ghost from hell.

"Elders, what do you think this Star Luo Emperor is up to?" Bibi Dong murmured. "Other factions are all recruiting powerful Soul Masters, but not him. Rather than win over Soul Masters, he is recruiting blacksmiths. What exactly is he trying to do?"