Divine Smith Lou Gao (Part 1)

"Please continue. I won't mind being weak." Dugu Bo's voice was somewhat gritted.

Ning Rongrong also knew that Old Poison wouldn't get angry over something like this.

"Well, then I'll continue..." Ning Rongrong smiled awkwardly.

"The current Pope, Bibi Dong, is a Level 97—perhaps even Level 98—Titled Douluo, and she is also an inheritor of the Rakshasa God's divine legacy."

"Bibi Dong too?" Dugu Bo looked astonished.

"Yes." Ning Rongrong nodded.

Holy shit, two inheritors of divine legacies. Is Spirit Hall trying to unify Douluo Continent?

No wonder Ning Rongrong was being so cautious. She had no choice but to be cautious.

"Other than the Pope, Spirit Hall and the Worship Hall together have at least ten Titled Douluo at Level 95 or above—perhaps even more."

Dugu Bo: "..."

Spirit Hall was that powerful?

For the first time, Dugu Bo felt just how weak he was—a mere Level 92 Titled Douluo.

"Well, there's no need to worry too much about that." Ning Rongrong clapped her hands. "Since Qian Renxue promised in her own name that she wouldn't touch the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the sect will be fine for the time being."

"And..."

"For a sect, benefits are eternal."

Amid one shock after another, the three of them finished every dish on the table.

After eating and drinking their fill, they stayed in the city for the night.

The next day, the three headed for their final destination, Gengxin City.

Beyond the range of Ning Rongrong and the others' perception.

Atop a high platform.

Two people quietly watched them.

"Uncle Ci Xue's injuries have finally stabilized." Listening to She Long's report, Qian Renxue's tone carried a trace of excitement. "You've worked hard, Uncle She Long. I was too willful before."

"No. If Miss has changed her mind, I think the Great Enshrinement will be very pleased."

Qian Renxue shook her head. "Grandfather is Grandfather, and you are you. You were the ones who made me see that I'm not as cold-blooded as I imagined."

"Miss, are you preparing to return?" She Long asked in surprise.

"Yes, it's time to go back for a visit." Qian Renxue nodded. "But Uncle Ci Xue still cannot be moved freely. I'll have people sent over to treat him. We'll wait here until Uncle Ci Xue wakes up."

"You truly don't need to do this," She Long said.

"No." Qian Renxue shook her head. "You are both people who care about me, and also... my family. If not for you and Uncle Ci Xue, I probably would have died in the Star Dou Great Forest!"

"Miss..."

"Then it's decided." Qian Renxue said, "Once I return to the Worship Hall this time, I'll reevaluate my plans. That woman..."

"There's no need to care about her anymore."

"Even if the Worship Hall must take action, we need to seize the Heaven Dou Empire as soon as possible." Truthfully, if Spirit Hall had not been keeping things balanced from the middle, the Heaven Dou Empire would have long since been wiped out by the Star Luo Empire.

She had spent so much time for an Imperial Throne. It simply was not worth it.

"What about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Qian Renxue said, "I promised Ning Rongrong that I would protect the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Besides, Ning Fengzhi is also my teacher."

"But his relationship with Xue Ye..."

"Ning Fengzhi is a smart man. He will stand with us. Our next task is to gain as much control over the army as possible."

"A coup? Isn't that a little hasty?" She Long asked in surprise.

"Not a coup. We'll cut away some unstable forces."

"Aren't Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing trying to hide?" A cold gleam flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes. "Then I'll sever their forces completely. Let's see what waves they can still stir up afterward."

"Come to think of it, I should thank Ning Rongrong. Otherwise, I truly wouldn't have known that Xue Beng had been hiding right under my nose for so long."

Gengxin City.

A city known as Metal City, and also a paradise for blacksmiths.

Gengxin City's walls were iron-gray, as though they had been forged from metal.

"So this is the city of blacksmiths? Even the street vendors are selling weapons and armor." As they wandered the streets, Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and the others saw quite a few interesting things, though there was little that was useful to Soul Masters.

"I remember that Lou Gao, known as a Divine Smith, lives near the center. The building he lives in should be quite conspicuous as well." Dugu Bo rubbed his chin, recalling his impressions of Gengxin City from many years ago.

After walking for a while, Ning Rongrong and the other two arrived before a massive building.

It was thirty meters tall and covered an enormous area.

Most conspicuous was the hammer on its signboard.

The entrance at the base of the building had three open doors, and the three of them walked straight inside.

The place was filled with dazzling displays of armor and weapons.

"Senior Dugu, let's use the most direct method," Ning Rongrong said to Dugu Bo behind her.

This building was so huge. There was no way she was going to search for someone floor by floor!

Dugu Bo understood at once.

In an instant, oppressive pressure blanketed the entire floor.

Soul Rings slowly rose one after another.

Two Yellow Two Purple Five Black.

Everyone on the first floor was stunned by the sudden pressure. Someone trembled as he muttered:

"A... a Titled Douluo!"

"Get someone in charge here and take us to see Lou Gao. We have a big deal to discuss."

Hearing Dugu Bo's words, the people present finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At first, they had thought someone had come to cause trouble, or that someone here had offended a Titled Douluo and been tracked down. As it turned out, they had come to discuss business.

If they wanted to discuss business, then discuss business. Was there really a need to make such a huge commotion?

Amid the crowd, a rather slender man squeezed his way out.

"Your Excellency, hello. I am..."

"Take me to Lou Gao. Our time is tight."

"Uh, alright." The man showed no displeasure at being interrupted. He quickly waved his hand, signaling for everyone to make way, then led Dugu Bo and the other two from the front.

He took them all the way to the fourth floor, knocked thirty-six times, opened a hidden door, and brought them directly up to the fifth floor.

After a brief conversation, they roughly learned that the fifth floor was a private residence.

Usually, only master-level blacksmiths could live here. During their conversation, Ning Rongrong also learned that the man before them was called Si Long, a Soul Saint.

However, since he made his living as a blacksmith, he seemed to possess little combat ability.

The moment he fought, he would be exposed.

Si Long led the three to the innermost Number One Forging Room. He stood respectfully beside the door and reached out to knock on the metal door.

"Didn't I tell you already? Don't come disturb me if there's nothing important." A somewhat irritable voice came from inside.

"A Titled Douluo has come to see you. There's a big deal to discuss."

"A Titled Douluo?" A mutter came from behind the door. "Please wait a moment, Your Excellency. I'll tidy up and come out."

About ten minutes later, the broad iron door slowly opened.

It revealed a brightly lit room. The brightness did not come from sunlight, but from the huge chandelier overhead.

"A Soul Tool?" Ning Rongrong murmured.

After the door opened, an elderly man walked out. He was around one meter sixty tall, broad and fat, with a pair of tiny eyes that gave him a rather shifty appearance.

"What does Your Excellency need from me?" Lou Gao was also a Soul Master, so he naturally noticed the Soul Power fluctuations that Dugu Bo had not fully withdrawn.

"I'm not the one looking for you. My Young Sect Master is." Dugu Bo indicated Ning Rongrong with his gaze.

Ning Rongrong stepped forward, sizing up the Divine Smith before her. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Senior Lou Gao. I am from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I once heard of your accomplishments from my father."