After Lu Feng and Ning Xiang were brought to the reception hall, it was not long before three burly men, bare-chested and wearing leather aprons, approached from afar.
All three had closely cropped hair. Their bare skin gleamed with oil and was beaded with sweat the size of soybeans, as though they had just stepped out midway from being "smoked and roasted" by the furnace in the Refining Room.
The man in front walked up to Lu Feng and cupped his hands. "I am Bao Xiuwu. Our Hall Master is currently forging a blade and cannot leave for the moment. May I ask what brings you here, esteemed guest?"
Lu Feng rose and replied, "Your sect rescued my disciple in the Sword Ruins. I have prepared a modest gift to express my gratitude, and I have also come to take him home."
As he spoke, he took three head-sized lumps of metal from his storage artifact.
Universe West Iron, Dragon Tiger Gold Essence, Steel Cutting Treasure Sulfur Stone!
The eyes of all three burly men widened at once, then eager smiles spread across their faces. They had not seen such rare forging materials in many years. Any one of these pieces alone was worth more than the most precious material currently held in their hall—yet three had appeared at the same time.
The leading man was so excited that his voice trembled. "May I ask which disciple of yours it is? I will bring him here at once."
At that moment, another man beside him leaned close and whispered a few words.
The smile on the leading man's face suddenly froze. He said softly, "Hurry and summon the Hall Master."
Then he turned back to Lu Feng with a genial smile. "Please wait a moment, esteemed guest, until our Hall