Inviting a Master Craftsman to Forge Soul Tool Might, Seeking Immortal Herbs to Lay the Foundations of Alchemy

"A soul tool."

Qian Daoliu touched the core rune on the blueprint with his fingertip.

"It can gather soul power from within a ten-li radius, creating a soul-gathering domain that triples cultivation speed."

Golden Crocodile's pupils abruptly contracted.

A note of regret entered Qian Daoliu's voice.

"Today's Soul Master World values soul power but neglects soul tools. Blacksmiths have low status, and the techniques for crafting soul tools have long since been lost."

He paused, then added:

"However, there is one person who might be able to make this Soul-Gathering Array Disk."

"Who?"

"Lou Gao."

Qian Daoliu spoke the name.

"The last top-tier blacksmith on the Douluo Continent. He's said to be in Gengxin City, the Metal Capital."

[Congratulations, host. Mission triggered: Invite Lou Gao to sincerely join Spirit Hall.]

[Mission details]: Travel to Gengxin City and invite Lou Gao to join Spirit Hall.

[Mission reward]: One random Level 9 Soul Tool blueprint.

The system notification sounded at just the right moment. A trace of amusement flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes-it was exactly what he wanted.

Qian Daoliu said to Golden Crocodile:

"The value of soul tools far exceeds your imagination. If we can get Lou Gao to serve Spirit Hall and produce soul tools in batches, we'll have another trump card, whether we're facing the Clear Sky Sect or any other force that might emerge."

Golden Crocodile fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"You're right, big brother. But as a top-tier blacksmith, Lou Gao is likely stubborn. He may not be willing to join Spirit Hall."

A confident smile curved Qian Daoliu's lips.

"Lou Gao has devoted his life to pursuing the pinnacle of soul tools. The blueprint in my hands is enough to tempt him. Once we bring him under our banner, Spirit Hall will have another ace in the competitions to come."

"That's why I must go there in person."

Qian Daoliu walked to the window and gazed toward Heaven Dou City.

"We'll return to Spirit City first, then head to Gengxin City. It will also be a good chance for Dong'er, Xiao Wu, and her mother to see the sights of the Metal Capital."

He paused before continuing:

"We'll make the arrangements then and depart in three days. Let Guang Ling and Jiang Mo familiarize themselves with their new cultivation techniques first."

"All right."

Golden Crocodile agreed, his breathing much heavier than when he had arrived-he realized that the shock these soul tools would bring far surpassed that of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The entire continent would change.

Qian Daoliu looked at the unfurled blueprint of the Soul-Gathering Array Disk, tapping lightly on the spot marked "Core Array."

The revival of soul tools would be the key to reshaping the Douluo Continent, and Lou Gao was that key.

He looked at Golden Crocodile, emphasizing his words:

"Think about it. What if support soul masters with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could use offensive soul tools and wield the strength of a Titled Douluo? If we could produce them in batches, Spirit Hall's fighting strength would double outright!"

Golden Crocodile's pupils abruptly contracted. He had never imagined that a blacksmith's craft could mesh so closely with a soul master's power, and for a moment, he was lost in thought.

"Let's return to Spirit Hall first and see how Yue Guan's research into the pill formula is progressing."

Qian Daoliu put away the blueprint.

"Then we'll head to Gengxin City. We must bring Lou Gao back."

"All right!"

Golden Crocodile finally came to his senses, his voice brimming with barely concealed excitement.

As the two were discussing matters, a knock came at the study door. Yue Guan's eerily alluring figure appeared in the doorway, his expression somewhat grave.

"Great Enshrined, I have an important matter to report."

The door opened.

Qian Daoliu raised his eyes and saw Yue Guan holding a jade box. A faint medicinal fragrance escaped from within, clearly indicating new progress in his pill research. Yet the gravity on his face stirred something in Qian Daoliu's heart-this was probably about more than the pill formula.

Yue Guan bowed, his scarlet formal robes with their gold and silver patterns sweeping across the blue bricks of the floor, his manner cautious.

"Great Enshrined. Enshrined Golden Crocodile."

He raised the jade box above his head. The pill fragrance seeping through the gap beneath the lid was crisp and rich, and as it lingered around their noses, even their soul power faintly stirred.

"I have fulfilled my duty and successfully refined the Thousand-Year Soul Ring Age Pill according to the formula."

Qian Daoliu gestured for him to enter the hall, while Golden Crocodile stepped forward to take the jade box.

The moment it opened, three perfectly round, vermilion pills lay quietly on the velvet lining, a faint glow flowing over their surfaces. They were the finished pills capable of increasing a soul ring's age by a thousand years.

"Good."

Qian Daoliu nodded. Pale golden soul power from his fingertips gently brushed over the pills. After confirming the purity of their medicinal effects, satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"It seems your talent for alchemy is no less impressive than your martial soul."

Qian Daoliu praised Yue Guan without reservation, then took out the formula for the ten-thousand-year soul ring age pill and handed it to him.

"Take a look at this formula."

Yue Guan accepted the formula and began reading it. A flicker of delight had barely appeared on his face before it faded, and he spoke hesitantly:

"Great Enshrined... while studying the Thousand-Year Soul Ring Age Pill formula, I discovered that several of its main ingredients-such as Icefire Dragon Saliva Grass and Netherworld Ghost Vine-have probably long since vanished. Even Spirit Hall's medicinal gardens contain only dried specimens."

He paused, lowering his voice further. "I remembered that you once said I could come to you if any medicinal ingredients were missing, so I took the liberty of coming to Heaven Dou City."

"And this new formula requires even more medicinal ingredients than the previous one... so..."

Qian Daoliu tapped lightly on the tabletop, his gaze settling beyond the window-the scarcity of medicinal herbs was indeed a problem. Rare varieties needed for high-grade pills, in particular, often grew only in dangerous places and were exceedingly difficult to harvest.

If this continued, refining ten-thousand-year soul ring pills would be out of the question. Even the supply of thousand-year pills was already restricted.

[Congratulations, host. Mission triggered: Resolve the medicinal herb supply crisis.]

[Mission details]: Find a reliable way to obtain rare medicinal herbs and ensure the continued refinement of soul ring pills.

[Mission reward]: Ancient Medicinal Herb Seed Compendium (includes cultivation methods for medicinal herbs that have vanished).

The system notification sounded at the perfect moment, and a trace of understanding flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes.

He looked at Yue Guan, his tone calm yet certain:

"I have my own solution for the medicinal herbs. Return to Spirit Hall with us first. In the meantime, compile a list of all the scarce medicinal ingredients."

Yue Guan froze briefly, not expecting Qian Daoliu to agree so readily. But seeing his composed expression, he asked no further questions and bowed.

"As you command."

With that, he turned and left with the empty jade box, his scarlet figure soon disappearing into the morning light.

"Big brother, you have a way to find those vanished medicinal herbs?"

Golden Crocodile could not help asking. Although he was no expert in alchemy, even he knew that herbs like Icefire Dragon Saliva Grass had vanished during the wars a hundred years ago.

Qian Daoliu gathered a wisp of soul power at his fingertip and traced the phantom outline of an herb resembling dragon saliva in the air.

"I have a few ideas. When the time comes, we may be able to cultivate them ourselves."

A faint smile curved his lips.

Qian Daoliu mused inwardly, The seed compendium rewarded by the system might allow those medicinal herbs found only in ancient texts to reappear on the Douluo Continent.

Golden Crocodile's pupils contracted slightly before excitement spread across his face.

"If that's the case, Spirit Hall's pill supply will no longer face any restrictions!"

"Not only that."

Qian Daoliu gazed out the window, his eyes deep.

"Controlling medicinal herbs means controlling part of the foundation of the economy's lifeblood. Whether it's the Clear Sky Sect or the two great empires, sooner or later, they'll have to rely on our herb supply-this is far more effective than simply suppressing them through force."

"Golden Crocodile, do you remember Dugu Bo?"

Morning light streamed through the window lattice, casting dappled patterns across the floor and stretching their shadows long.

The sounds of Guang Ling and Jiang Mo sparring drifted in from outside the hall, accompanied by the crisp clash of weapons, adding a sense of coiled anticipation to the medicinal herb plan about to unfold.