Forced Buying and Selling? Divine Craftsman Lou Gao!
"Take a look! Don't miss it!"
"A masterpiece by the master craftsman Lou Gao, priceless and unavailable on the market, take a look!"
"Hey? Miss, take a look?"
A short merchant in a purple and gold outfit, with a triangular face, goatee, and glasses, waved to Ice Empress.
Ice Empress immediately took a liking to the hair clip; its streamlined, silver-white metal was polished smooth, and the edges were adorned with fine snowflake-shaped openwork patterns.
"That one is beautiful!"
The merchant immediately perked up, "This young lady has a good eye!"
"This is one of a kind in the whole world!"
"You have a refined and elegant demeanor, you are such a perfect match for me!"
Seeing that Snow Empress Ice Empress reached for her wallet and asked, "How much?"
The businessman smiled without saying a word and held up three fingers.
Bai Chenxiang exclaimed in delight, "Three Copper Soul Coin? Give me one too..."
"Three hundred Gold Soul Coin!"
Bai Chenxiang's voice abruptly stopped.
Her eyes widened. "Three hundred?!"
"You're selling a hair clip for 300 Gold Soul Coin?"
Why don't you just rob it!
The cunning merchant grinned wickedly, his face full of roguish charm. "Young lady, what are you saying? A masterpiece by a divine craftsman is only 300 Gold Soul Coin at a discount."
"If you think it's too expensive, there are cheaper options over there."
He kicked at the scrap metal on the ground with his toe. "Three Gold Soul Coin each, want one?"
"Xue'er," Ice Empress shook his head, "Let's go."
Ye Hua, being a man of conscience, paid them wages, over a hundred Gold Soul Coin each month.
This hair clip is worth three months' salary!
"We can't escape." Snow Empress shook her head.
The thugs around them, working in unison, surrounded them and blocked the road.
Bai Chenxiang stomped her foot in anger, "This is clearly a case of forced buying and selling!"
"Hahaha," the unscrupulous merchant laughed wildly, "So what if we force you to buy or sell?"
"You want to look at it but can't afford it? You'll have to pay for looking at it!"
"Not much, only one hundred Gold Soul Coin!"
"If I still can't afford it, I can take out a loan, borrow one and pay back two, how about that?"
Bai Chenxiang frowned, about to explode.
A dark light shot out from the side!
It hurtled through the air with a whoosh!
Thump!!!
The gang leader rolled his eyes, fell straight down, and a shiny bump bulged on the back of his head.
"You're allowed to defile the old man's life's work?"
The burly, sallow-faced man was also carrying another forging hammer.
The hammer handle Entanglement coarse cloth strips, and he was wearing black body armor.
The remaining thugs were terrified and scattered in all directions.
Seeing that things were not going well, the unscrupulous merchant turned to run away.
But the sallow-faced man grabbed him by the back of his collar with his iron-like hands and dragged him back to where he started.
"Let go! Let go! Si Long, are you crazy?!"
"Would it benefit you to ruin my business?!"
The unscrupulous merchant's two legs were kicking wildly in mid-air.
Si Long sneered, "You've defiled the old man's hard work, and you're blaming me?"
Snap! Snap!
Two slaps to the face.
The unscrupulous merchant's face turned pale and then red. "I have special permission from the Spirit Hall. If you dare to touch me, the Spirit Hall will come knocking on your door!"
"Oh?" Si Long's eyes were icy. "Then let them come!"
He slapped the unscrupulous merchant across the face!
The unscrupulous merchant screamed, covered his face, curled up into a ball, and rolled on the ground in pain.
Si Long didn't stop, kicking him wildly, treating him like a football!
"Ah!" The unscrupulous merchant clutched his head.
"Apologize to the guests!" Si Long said coldly.
"I'm sorry! I was wrong!"
"Sir, spare my life!"
The unscrupulous merchant was so frightened that he kowtowed to Ye Hua, only to be kicked away by Si Long.
Si Long turned to face Ye Hua, "Excuse me, excuse me, are you all tourists from out of town?"
"These scoundrels who engage in forced buying and selling, cheating and swindling, will go to hell sooner or later!"
"Don't say that," Ye Hua smiled, "I should thank you for your help."
"It was nothing," Si Long grinned, but seeing Ice Empress still eyeing the hair clip longingly, he said, "Miss, you can't take that hair clip."
"The ore contains many impurities, and the mineral materials used also have incompatible properties, causing skin ulcers after prolonged wear."
"If you trust me, young lady, I'll use the best materials to make you an exact replica today, for only three Silver Soul Coin."
Ice Empress's eyes lit up instantly, "Really?"
"Hey, the blacksmiths of Gengxin City keep their word." Si Long patted his chest.
Bai Chenxiang couldn't help but interject, "You're actually a pretty nice person!"
"They didn't even know us, yet they helped beat him up."
"This..." Si Long smiled bitterly, "It was him who ruined Master's reputation."
"I just went all out, I hope I didn't scare you."
"Oh, by the way, my master Lou Gao. You all need to come with me to the Blacksmith Association; all my forging tools are there."
Ye Hua remained calm, glancing at the Treasure-Seeking Compass. The indicator was steadily pointing to the Blacksmith Association at the end of the street.
[bite--]
[Key plot point detected, main quest triggered]
[Task Name: Recruiting Talent from High-Rise Lou Gao]
[Task objective: Persuade the master craftsman Lou Gao to join the Soul Tool Academy and assume the position of Elder in the Long Night Alliance]
[Quest Reward: Five types of high-level Soul Tool blueprints (all Level 8 Soul Tool)]
[Mission Description: Although the Master Craftsman lacks unparalleled combat power, he possesses the ability to transform the rotten into the miraculous.]
Well, since we're already here, let's get it all done in one go.
"Master Si Long," Ye Hua withdrew his gaze, "Could you please introduce me to the Divine Craftsman?"
Si Long immediately became alert. "What do you want? Master has a bad temper."
"You don't need to be on guard." Ye Hua revealed the Nine-Dragon Spirit Yang Staff and the Soul Ring.
Si Long was shocked. "You are the Night Alliance Leader?"
"I am Ye Hua," Ye Hua said, withdrawing his Martial Soul. "Could you introduce me?"
"No problem," Si Long readily agreed, "I wouldn't trust anyone else!"
"But you are the hero who repelled the monster island in the Far North Forest, I trust you!"
Si Long enthusiastically led the way; the interior of the Blacksmith Association was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside.
The smells of charcoal, quenching oil, and metal wafted hot onto my face.
Si Long informed Ye Hua that everything was alright, and then took the Ice Empress Snow Empress to select materials, leaving only Ye Hua with the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Bai Chenxiang inside.
The room was cluttered, with various unfinished weapon blanks hanging on the walls, some still emitting wisps of warmth.
An old man stood at the back, his beard and hair tied into braids, and he was as fat as a ball.
"Good afternoon, Night Alliance Leader," the old man said curtly, with a hint of displeasure, "What brings you here?"
Seeing his indifference, Bai Chenxiang pouted, but Ye Hua sat down without saying a word.
Ye Hua understood his displeasure at being interrupted during the forging process, so he simply got straight to the point.
"I want to establish Soul Tool Academy and would like to invite you to teach the forging of Soul Tool parts."
"If possible, I would also like to invite you to serve as Elder in the Long Night Alliance."
Lou Gao listened and fell silent, his face showing nothing but exhaustion.
Here we go again!
When will you powerful and privileged people ever stop?!
Six months ago it was the Spirit Hall, a month ago it was Dai Weisi!
The Spirit Hall went too far; they forged my work if I didn't submit!
They're trying to ruin my reputation!
"Ha," the fat old man laughed, "I've heard of the Night Alliance Leader's talent and potential for a long time."
"I've heard a bit about the Soul Tool Academy; it's definitely a new approach."
"But since this is a new approach, my old methods will only mislead people. You should find someone more capable."
After he finished speaking, he turned around, picked up the hammer, and prepared to continue hammering the metal billet.
Sky Dream Ice Silkworm shook its head at this.
He considered himself arrogant, the only Million-Year Soul Beast on the continent.
But even if you don't like the guests, you still have to finish your tea before they leave.
Such casual excuses are truly Pride.
"Mr. Lou," Ye Hua said, unperturbed, "You've never even seen Soul Tool, how do you know I can't teach you?"
"Oh," Lou Gao continued, still oblivious to his surroundings, "I've seen them all; they're all the same, mass-produced, standardized designs."
So that's where the frustration lay.
Ye Hua rubbed his forehead. "Low-level Soul Tool are indeed limited to the Three-Eyed Icefire Guns and the like, which have a high degree of duplication."
"But high-level Soul Tool are different; they embody the life's work of Soul Engineer. Why don't you take a look?"
After saying that, Ye Hua took out the Night God Needle and threw it onto the table next to Lou Gao.
The hand holding the hammer handle froze in mid-air, Lou Gao.
On the Long Night Divine Needle, he caught a whiff of his long-lost prey!
He slowly put down the hammer, squatted down, put his hands on his knees and looked closely, his nose almost touching the needle.
"How were those patterns carved in?"
"The Soul Power can still circulate; its power is considerable!"
"Nine-grade Soul Tool," Ye Hua said calmly, "My creation."
He gasped for breath from the Lou Gao and let out a long sigh.
He placed the hammer back on the anvil. "Night Alliance Leader, to be honest, it's not that I'm ungrateful."
"But it's me, I can't get away!"
"Are you worried that after you leave, Gengxin City will be left unguarded, and the Spirit Hall will take advantage of the situation?" Ye Hua shrugged.
Lou Gao was startled, his gaze sharp. "How did you know?"
"Just now on the street, I ran into someone selling counterfeit goods who claimed they were your work, and your apprentice Si Long, beat him up."
Seeing Ye Hua speak frankly, Lou Gao shook his head, "I'm asking you how you know Si Long."
"Blacksmiths have a low social status, their Martial Soul is related to forging, and their strength is not high."
"The Spirit Hall looks down on us, but fears our unity and rebellion, which is why they target us at every turn."
"Only with this master craftsman in charge will nothing go wrong!"
Ye Hua chuckled, "Actually, if you were to hold a position in the Long Night Alliance, everything would be perfect."
"The invention and manufacture of Soul Tool are inseparable from forging, and the status of blacksmiths will only become higher and higher in the future."
Lou Gao stared at him blankly, then looked back at the unfinished product on the wall.
It's better to be allied with the Long Night Alliance, which is willing to respect him, than with the Spirit Hall, which looks down on blacksmiths!
"Night Alliance Leader," Lou Gao stood up and cupped his hands, "Then I am honored by your honor!"
[bite--]
[Mission "Recruiting Lou Gao" Completed!]
[Rewards being distributed...]
[Level 8 Soul Tool Blueprint, already stored in the Azure Jade Bracelet]
Ye Hua looked around; they were all mysterious treasures.
He doesn't need them, but he can make them and distribute them to the girls.
Lou Gao carefully picked up the Long Night Divine Needle and returned it to Ye Hua.
"However, Night Alliance Leader Ye, I must wait two days before I can go with you."
"An old friend sent me a message saying he's coming, and I have to receive him."
"It's nothing, I was just strolling around Gengxin City anyway," Ye Hua said with a smile. "I just don't know who your old friend is?"
Lou Gao was about to answer when an announcement came from outside the door.
"Senior Lou Gao, Senior Tai Tan has come to see you!"
Ye Hua and Bai Chenxiang's expressions instantly turned strange.