Spirit City, the Imperial Armory.
The scorching heat baked the massive workshop as countless furnaces burned day and night without rest.
Hundreds of bare-chested blacksmiths swung their hammers, forging the repeating crossbows and Basic Soul Tools required by the Spirit Hall Empire.
On the second-floor platform of the workshop, Ning Fengzhi wore a coarse linen robe and sweated profusely as he checked the inventory ledgers in his hands.
To preserve what remained of his sect's lineage, the former foremost sect master could only obediently serve as a logistics supervisor now.
"Father, this batch of Fine Iron isn't pure enough. Have them melt it down and forge it again."
A somewhat childish voice sounded beside him.
Ning Rongrong, who appeared to be only seven or eight years old, wore a specially tailored miniature brocade gown. Sitting in a grand chair and swinging her fair little legs, she pointed at the production line below and picked out flaws.
At her age, she had only recently awakened her Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda martial soul.
The little witch of the former Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had now put her spoiled temper to work supervising the workers in the Spirit Hall Empire's military factory.
Ning Fengzhi gave a bitter smile and wiped away his sweat.
"Rongrong, the craftsmen haven't slept for three days. The purity may be a little lacking, but..."
"The Sovereign said that nothing from the Armory can have even the slightest flaw."
A chilly voice came from behind the platform.
Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong turned around. Zhu Zhuqing, dressed in black and wearing military boots, was walking toward them.
"Zhuqing? You're back from Sea God Island?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly jumped down from her little chair.
Looking at Zhu Zhuqing's voluptuous figure and commanding presence, her