Outside Spirit City's western gate, two figures raced through the night.
Gui Mei's black robe snapped in the night wind, the shadow energy around him almost melding with the darkness. He glanced sideways at Tuoba Xuanfeng beside him, his hoarse voice carrying a note of urgency:
"Pick up the pace. The Great Enshrined ordered us to reach Gengxin City within three days."
Tuoba Xuanfeng's silver armor gleamed coldly beneath the moon, and the Arbiter Longsword on his back trembled with each stride. He nodded slightly, unleashing his peak Soul Douluo soul power without restraint. His footsteps actually left shallow impressions in the bluestone road:
"Rest assured, we won't delay matters. I simply never expected that maintaining our relationship with the Blacksmith Association would require an Arbiter to act."
Gui Mei gave a cold laugh, his gaze growing darker beneath his black robe:
"Don't forget His Holiness's words. Soul Tools concern the very foundation of Spirit Hall's future. If that Red-robed Cardinal really broke the rules, even his cardinal's robes won't save him from the Arbiter Hall's iron laws."
Neither spoke again as they pressed on at full speed.
Three days later, a city encircled by iron-gray walls appeared in their sight.
Chimneys crowded the city, billowing black smoke mingling with the morning mist. The sounds of forging rose and fell in the distance, and the air smelled of sulfur and scorching metal-this was Gengxin City, in the southwestern Star Luo Empire, the sacred ground of blacksmiths across the continent.
"Let's enter."
Gui Mei was the first to conceal his aura and assume the appearance of an ordinary traveling merchant. Tuoba Xuanfeng followed suit, and the two entered through the city gate with the crowd.
The city was even livelier than they had imagined. All manner of metal wares lined both