The Role of Blacksmiths

"For over 70% of Soul Master on the Douluo Continent, a defensive tool is always more desirable than a weapon!"

When he said this, Ling Yi's eyes were filled with strong confidence.

Upon hearing Ling Yi's resolute statement, Lou Gao's expression turned serious. His previously comical, round figure, unable to get up, suddenly became light and agile. He sat up and stared intently at Ling Yi, who was sitting on the ground in front of him.

Ling Yi smiled calmly, his gaze sharpening as he looked up at the Lou Gao. His tone was unhurried and persuasive:

"Senior Brother Lou Gao, you should know the status of Soul Master in the Douluo Continent."

Each of us, upon awakening our Martial Soul at the age of six, will possess a unique Martial Soul, whether it be Beast Martial Soul or Tool Martial Soul!

"For the vast majority of Soul Master, their Martial Soul is the best and most suitable weapon for them!"

"Although some Tool Martial Soul may initially be inferior to those forged by Blacksmith, even highly skilled Hundred Refinement, with the improvement of Soul Master's strength and the enhancement of Soul Ring, even the most ordinary wooden stick can become comparable to a fine iron or steel stick!"

"The growth potential, self-repair capabilities, and ability to be stored within the body of Martial Soul are characteristics that no ordinary blacksmith's meticulously forged weapon can match—"

Upon hearing Ling Yi's words, Lou Gao's expression shifted between light and dark, a sense of oppression, resentment, and unwillingness brewing within him—for himself, for his master, and for the blacksmithing profession.

You should know that his master, Tie Futu, the Weiyi Divine Craftsman in the world, still had to say flattering words to a Tang Family boy whose name he didn't even know, against his will.

Outside of Gengxin City, in the Star Luo Empire, and anywhere on the Douluo Continent, the courtesy Lou Gao received was not because he was Grandmaster Blacksmith, nor because he was a direct disciple of the Divine Craftsman Tie Futu, but simply because Lou Gao was a Soul King!

However, Lou Gao knew that if he were to actually fight, as a Soul King, he could only beat up some ordinary Soul Ancestor Masters. If he encountered other normal-level combat Soul King, he probably wouldn't last many rounds before being defeated.

Each time Lou Gao displays his strength, he only needs to reveal his luxurious Soul Ring Configuration of two yellow, two purple, and one black rings, and there will basically be no further actual fighting.

After all, he was just a blacksmith traveling across the continent, searching for his own path to becoming Divine Craftsman, not a combat-type Soul Master who went around sparring with others.

Blacksmiths are truly not highly regarded in the Douluo Continent.

At least, that's certainly true in the presence of Soul Master!

Lou Gao had always understood this, which was why he so wanted to elevate the status of blacksmiths and hope that they would gain recognition from the world.

He truly loves the profession of blacksmithing and the crafting of all kinds of tools. The satisfaction and sense of accomplishment he feels when he sees perfect works of art come to life in his hands is something that Martial Soul battles and Soul Power enhancements cannot give him.

After spending more than half a year together, Lou Gao knew what a genius this boy, who was still two months shy of his fourteenth birthday, was.

They often have a keen eye for things and can summarize a series of patterns in things anytime and anywhere, and find a path and direction that is beneficial to themselves.

It can be said that as long as Ling Yi is given a goal, a starting point, and enough time, this young man will definitely be able to reach that goal!

Now, listening to Ling Yi's words, Lou Gao realized that the young man in front of him seemed to be talking about the relationship between blacksmiths and Soul Master, and the significance of blacksmiths to Soul Master.

He Lou Gao able to become Grandmaster Blacksmith around the age of forty, and in the future, he would even be recognized by the Tai Tan Soul Douluo as the King of Divine Craftsman. His somewhat comical, round head must have possessed extraordinary sharpness of mind and exceptional wisdom.

"You mean that Soul Master often use their own Martial Soul as their weapon, so they don't have a great need for external weapons, but rather prefer defensive armor?"

Lou Gao spoke, a light gradually appeared in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yi smiled and nodded, continuing, "From the age of seven, when I entered ' Wood Plant City ' and enrolled in the [Green Leaf Junior Soul Master Academy], I became a disciple of a master and formally began learning forging. From then on, I paid close attention to every Soul Master who came to customize weapons and tools, and I also asked my teachers and classmates at the academy what kind of tool they would prefer as an aid when using their Martial Soul— "

"Seven years old..." Lou Gao blinked, his expression turning strange.

Ignoring Lou Gao's change in expression, Ling Yi continued calmly, "When I was ten years old, I obtained my first Soul Ring and successfully became a Soul Master. After that, I applied to graduate early and asked my master to introduce me to Fu Shan, Blacksmith worked in the military of the Duchy. Then, with Blacksmith 'Fu Shan letter of recommendation, I came to this Cold Wind Grand Camp and stayed there for three years..."

"Over the past three years, I have observed more than 20,000 people in the Cold Wind Grand Camp, from soldiers, squad leaders, platoon leaders... to captains, colonels, and even the camp's commander, Marquis of Cedar, General Song Yao!"

"Of these 20,000 people, the ratio of Beast Martial Soul to Tool Martial Soul is 4.5:5.5, and less than one-tenth of them have Soul Power."

Leaving aside those without Soul Power, among the nearly two thousand people with Soul Power, the demand for weapons and equipment is relatively greater for Beast Martial Soul Master than for weapon -Tool Martial Soul Master, but not by much.

Because their Soul Ring and Soul Skill often require them to be possessed by their Martial Soul and used to unleash their abilities, they themselves are powerful weapons!

"For Soul Master with Tool Martial Soul, it's even more obvious. Their first choice of weapon in battle is definitely their own Martial Soul, not the weapon forged by us blacksmiths."

Take Captain Jiang Yuan as an example. Although he wields his spear better than many Grand Soul Master with spear-type Martial Soul, and is even no weaker than those spear-type Martial Soul Elder, he still uses his "Iron Refining Gauntlet" Martial Soul in battle.

Only the "Iron Refining Gauntlet" Martial Soul can unleash Captain Jiang Yuan's full potential!

"So..."

Upon hearing this, Lou Gao's round face showed a mixture of joy and sorrow, and his voice was somewhat hoarse as he continued, "So, for Soul Master, the role of us blacksmiths should be supportive, mainly producing defensive equipment to compensate for some shortcomings when Soul Master use their Martial Soul?"

"That's right!" Ling Yi nodded and said seriously, "Blacksmiths are not combat-related professions, and we are not suitable to compete with those Soul Master who specialize in combat to see who is better at fighting."

We can consider ourselves as a support-type Soul Master, just like Healing System Soul Master or Food System Soul Master. We can be a Defense System Soul Master who doesn't need to be on the field but works from behind, or even a support-type Soul Master enhances attack power...

Sorry for the delay.

I'll take a nap first, then finish my work this afternoon and continue writing tomorrow's stuff tonight.