BUG-Level Calamity Poison Body! Gengxin City, Subduing the Blacksmith Association? (Seeking Reads!)

"Calamity Poison Body... truly inconceivable."

Dugu Bo stared at his granddaughter, who had been reborn before his eyes, muttering to himself as the shock in his heart refused to subside.

Drinking poison like water, and even gaining cultivation from it.

For the Dugu Clan, who were born carrying the Jade Phosphor Snake Venom.

This was simply a bug-level ability!

"Alright, Old Poison Freak, stop spacing out."

Yu Nan's voice interrupted Dugu Bo's musings:

"Since Yan Yan has already absorbed the Soul Bone and her constitution has fully awakened, the training here can come to a temporary end."

"Next, we should head to the next location."

"The next location?"

Dugu Bo snapped back to reality and hurriedly asked:

"Senior, where is it this time?

Could it be that there is another Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone waiting for us to pick up?"

Having tasted the sweetness, Dugu Bo was now completely obedient to Yu Nan, even wishing that Yu Nan would point out a few more "treasure lands."

"In your dreams."

Yu Nan said with a huff:

"Are Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones Chinese cabbages?

How could there be so many for you to just pick up.

The place we are going to this time is Gengxin City."

"Gengxin City?"

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance, both feeling puzzled.

"Isn't that place known as the 'City of Metal'?

Aside from having a few more blacksmiths, there doesn't seem to be anything special about it, right?"

Dugu Bo frowned.

Previously, Yu Nan had asked Dugu Bo to inquire with Yang Wudi about information regarding Gengxin City.

But Dugu Bo hadn't taken it to heart.

He didn't have much interest in those who hammered iron.

In Dugu Bo's view, the world of Soul Masters ultimately relied on Soul Power to speak; those lumps of iron were at most just auxiliary tools.

"Blacksmiths?"

Yu Nan chuckled:

"Old Poison Freak, you underestimate blacksmiths too much."

Although Yu Nan did not have the flashy hidden weapon blueprints that Tang San possessed.

He knew that future wars would not just be wars of Soul Masters, but wars of equipment and resources.

"Gengxin City possesses the continent's top-tier forgers and the richest reserves of rare metals.

If we can hold this city in our hands, or at least win them over, it would be equivalent to possessing an inexhaustible logistics supply base."

"Furthermore..."

Yu Nan paused, his tone becoming somewhat profound:

"There is an old fellow there named Lou Gao, a Godsmith.

Although his temper is a bit foul, he holds quite a few good things in his hands.

If we can get him to tailor a few top-grade Soul Tools or armor for Yan Yan, her combat effectiveness could rise to yet another level."

"Subdue Gengxin City?"

Dugu Yan hesitated:

"Senior, although Gengxin City is remote, it is ultimately within the sphere of influence of the Star Luo Empire.

And although the Blacksmith Association is loosely organized, that Lou Gao is a tough nut to crack; I've heard he doesn't even give much face to the Martial Soul Hall.

Relying only on the two of us, wanting to subdue them, I'm afraid..."

Although she was confident, she was not blind.

She understood the principle that a strong dragon does not suppress the local serpent.

"Who said we were going to 'subdue' them?"

Dugu Bo suddenly stroked his beard and smiled, a flash of cunning in his eyes:

"Yan Yan, you are still too young."

"Sometimes, if you want someone to work for you, it isn't strictly necessary to make them your lackey."

"Oh? Grandfather means..."

"Cooperation! An alliance!"

Dugu Bo said, brimming with confidence:

"We aren't going there to make them our dogs, but to invite them to become members of our 'alliance.' Tell them that in this alliance, everyone's status is equal, and it is mutually beneficial."

"Think about it, what do those people in the Blacksmith Association lack the most? Isn't it status and protection? Martial Soul Hall has always suppressed them, treating them as lowly craftsmen. But we—a Title Douluo and a future super powerhouse—are willing to provide them with absolute military protection in this chaotic world, while respecting their craft and granting them equal status."

"For that Lou Gao, who has always wanted to elevate the status of blacksmiths, this is a fatal temptation!"

"As long as we handle Lou Gao, won't the entire Gengxin City be in our hands?"

After hearing this, Dugu Yan felt there was some logic to it, but she still shook her head, not feeling very optimistic:

"Grandfather, that may be true, but those blacksmiths are all as stubborn as mules. And that Lou Gao is even more famous for his eccentric temper; he only follows his own rigid logic. I don't think a few empty words will be enough to move him."

"Empty words certainly won't work."

Yu Nan interjected, his tone carrying a hint of mystery:

"That is why we must bring a little something for a first meeting."

"A gift?"

"Exactly."

Yu Nan said indifferently:

"Old Poison Freak, don't you have quite a collection of rare ores? And Yan Yan, beneath your Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, there are plenty of top-tier metals tempered by extreme cold and heat buried there. Just dig up a few pieces to bring along; that will be our stepping stone."

"As for whether it will succeed..."

Yu Nan sneered:

"If kind words don't work, then we can only reason with our fists. In any case, that Lou Gao admires the strong most of all. As long as we beat him into submission and let him witness what true power is, won't he have to listen obediently?"

"Let's go! Destination: Gengxin City!"

"Understood!"

Several days later.

Within the borders of the Star Luo Empire, the City of Metal, Gengxin City.

This was a city filled with the texture of metal. The towering city walls were built entirely of hard granite, even reinforced with a layer of poured molten iron, shimmering with a cold, chilling light under the sun.

As soon as they stepped through the city gate, a wave of heat rushed toward them. It was the heat gathered from the burning furnaces of countless blacksmith shops. The clanging of hammers rang out one after another, like the pulse of this city—strong and vigorous.

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan walked along the wide streets without attracting much attention. After all, there were many soul masters coming and going here, most of whom were there to purchase weapons and equipment.

"Grandfather, are we going straight to the Blacksmith Association headquarters?"

Dugu Yan asked, looking at the dazzling array of blacksmith shops on both sides of the street.

"No rush."

Dugu Bo waved his hand, his gaze sweeping through the crowd before finally landing on a rather luxuriously decorated building not far away:

"Let's scout the path first."

"That is the main branch of the Martial Soul Hall in Gengxin City."

"Since we intend to win over the Blacksmith Association, we must first resolve some of their troubles, and while we're at it... present Lou Gao with a 'pledge of allegiance'."

A flash of ruthlessness crossed the eyes of Dugu Bo.

Miles, the person in charge of the Martial Soul Hall in this city, was a notoriously greedy ghost who had bullied the Blacksmith Association more than once.

If he could conveniently slaughter this fellow and present his head as a gift to Lou Gao.

Then the matter of this alliance would be half-accomplished!

"Let's go, Yanyan, Grandfather is taking you to kill someone!"

The main hall of the Martial Soul Hall in Gengxin City.

Two guards clad in silver armor stood at the entrance, bored, their eyes scanning passersby with arrogance.

"Halt! What is your business?"

Seeing an old man and a young woman walking straight toward the main gate, one of the knights leveled his spear and shouted sharply:

"This is a restricted area of the Martial Soul Hall; idlers are not permitted to approach!

If you have business, go to the side entrance and queue up!"