The Calamity Poison Body, a Bug-Level Ability! Gengxin City and the Blacksmith Association

"Calamity Poison Body... Truly incredible."

Dugu Bo stared at his granddaughter, who had been completely transformed, and continued murmuring to himself. The shock in his heart refused to fade.

She could drink poison like water and even increase her cultivation.

For the Dugu Clan, born with Jade Phosphor Snake Venom...

This was a downright bug-level ability!

"That's enough, Old Poison Freak. Quit standing there dazed."

Yu Nan's voice cut off Dugu Bo's sighs.

"Now that Yan Yan has absorbed the Soul Bone and her constitution has fully awakened, we can bring our cultivation here to a temporary close."

"Next, we should head somewhere else."

"Somewhere else?"

Dugu Bo snapped back to his senses and hurriedly asked, "Senior, where are we going this time?

Is there another Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone waiting for us to pick up?"

Having tasted the benefits, Dugu Bo now followed Yu Nan's every instruction. He practically wished Yu Nan would point out a few more "treasure troves."

"In your dreams," Yu Nan said, exasperated.

"Are Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones cabbages? There aren't that many for you to just pick up.

This time, we're going to Gengxin City."

"Gengxin City?"

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan glanced at each other, both looking puzzled.

"Isn't it known as the 'City of Metal'? Apart from having more blacksmiths, there doesn't seem to be anything special about it."

Dugu Bo frowned.

Yu Nan had previously asked Dugu Bo to inquire with Yang Wudi about Gengxin City.

Dugu Bo hadn't thought much of it.

He wasn't particularly interested in people who hammered metal.

In Dugu Bo's eyes, the world of Soul Masters ultimately came down to Soul Power. Those lumps of iron were, at best, auxiliary tools.

"Blacksmiths?"

Yu Nan chuckled.

"Old Poison Freak, you're underestimating them."

Although Yu Nan didn't have Tang San's fancy Hidden Weapon blueprints, he knew that future wars wouldn't be fought by Soul Masters alone. They would also be wars of equipment and resources.

"Gengxin City has the finest blacksmiths on the continent and the richest reserves of rare metals.

"If we can bring this city under our control, or at least win it over, it'll be like having an inexhaustible supply base."

"And..."

Yu Nan paused, his tone turning solemn.

"There's an old fellow named Lou Gao there. He's a divine craftsman.

"His temper's a little foul, but he has plenty of good things in his hands.

"If we can get him to craft a few top-quality Soul Tools or suits of armor tailored for Yan Yan, her combat strength will climb another level."

"Bring Gengxin City under our control?"

Dugu Yan hesitated.

"Senior, Gengxin City may be remote, but it still falls within the sphere of the Star Luo Empire.

"Besides, although the Blacksmith Association is loosely organized, Lou Gao is a tough nut to crack. I've heard he doesn't even give Spirit Hall much face.

"If it's just the two of us, my grandfather and me, trying to bring them over, I'm afraid..."

She was confident, but not blindly so.

She understood that even a mighty dragon could not overpower a local serpent.

"Who said we were going to 'bring them under our control'?"

Dugu Bo stroked his beard and smiled, a sly glint in his eyes.

"Yan Yan, you're still too young.

"Sometimes, if you want someone to work with you, you don't have to make him your underling."

"Oh? You mean..."

"Cooperation! An alliance!"

Dugu Bo spoke with confidence.

"We're not going there to make them our dogs. We're inviting them to join our 'alliance.'

"We'll tell them that everyone in the alliance stands as an equal, and that we'll help each other and share the benefits."

"Think about it. What does the Blacksmith Association lack most?

"Status and protection, that's what.

"Spirit Hall has been suppressing them and treating them like lowly craftsmen.

"But we—a Titled Douluo and a future super-powerhouse—are willing to give them absolute military protection in these troubled times. We'll respect their craft and give them equal standing."

"For Lou Gao, who's always wanted to raise the status of blacksmiths, that's an irresistible temptation!

"Once we've won Lou Gao over, won't all of Gengxin City be in our hands?"

Dugu Yan saw some sense in what he said, but she still shook her head, unconvinced.

"Grandfather, that may be true, but those blacksmiths are all as stubborn as mules.

"And Lou Gao has an especially bad reputation for his temper. He only cares about his own principles.

"I don't think a few empty promises will be enough to sway him."

"Of course empty promises won't do," Yu Nan interjected, a hint of mystery in his tone.

"That's why we need to bring a gift."

"A gift?"

"That's right."

Yu Nan spoke calmly.

"Old Poison Freak, don't you have a collection of rare ores?

"And Yan Yan, beneath your Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well lie plenty of exceptional metals, tempered by extreme cold and heat.

"Dig up a few pieces and bring them along. They'll be our foot in the door."

"As for whether it works..."

Yu Nan gave a cold laugh.

"If sweet words don't work, then we'll have to use our fists to make our point.

"Lou Gao worships the strong, after all. Once we beat him into submission and show him what true power looks like, won't he fall right into line?"

"Let's go! Gengxin City is our destination!"

"Yes!"

Several days later.

Gengxin City, the City of Metal, within the Star Luo Empire.

It was a city steeped in the feel of metal.

Its tall walls were built entirely of sturdy granite, then even coated with molten iron, which gleamed with a cold light under the sun.

As soon as they passed through the city gates, a wave of heat washed over them.

It was the combined heat from the blazing furnaces of countless blacksmith shops.

The clang of hammer on anvil rang out from every direction, the city's very heartbeat—strong and vigorous.

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan walked along the broad streets without drawing much attention.

After all, plenty of Soul Masters passed through here, most of them seeking to buy weapons and equipment.

"Grandfather, should we go straight to the Blacksmith Association headquarters?"

Dugu Yan looked at the rows of blacksmith shops lining the street and asked.

"No rush."

Dugu Bo waved a hand, scanning the crowd before his eyes settled on a grand building nearby.

"Let's scout the place first.

"That's Spirit Hall's main hall in Gengxin City."

"If we want to win over the Blacksmith Association, we should first help them deal with some trouble—and, while we're at it... give Lou Gao a 'token of sincerity.'"

A ruthless glint flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes.

Miles, Spirit Hall's official in charge of the city, was notoriously greedy and had oppressed the Blacksmith Association many times.

If they could conveniently kill him and give Lou Gao his head as a gift, then they'd be halfway to sealing the alliance!

"Come on, Yan Yan. Grandfather's taking you to kill someone!"

The Spirit Hall main hall in Gengxin City.

Two silver-armored guards stood at the entrance, bored out of their minds. Their arrogant eyes swept over the passersby.

"Stop! What do you want?"

Seeing an old man and a young woman walk straight toward the entrance, one of the guards thrust his spear across their path and shouted, "This is Spirit Hall property. No unauthorized persons may approach!

"If you have business here, line up at the side entrance!"