Heaven Dou Empire, Moonlight Pavilion.
Tang Yuehua sat poised before her zither, yet had no heart to play.
Holding the secret report delivered by her attendant, she read it three times, her fingertips trembling faintly.
"Jingzhe... Runic Forging..."
She rose, strode into her study, dipped her brush in ink, and wrote a secret letter.
The letter contained only a few short lines, but every word weighed a thousand pounds.
"Lou Gao of Gengxin has created Runic Weapons that can summon heavenly lightning and let a young child rival a Soul Elder. Sect Master, please emerge from seclusion and seek this forging method. Our towering Clear Sky may yet reach the summit!"
When Tang Xiao and Tang Hao traveled the continent in their youth, both had taken the blacksmith rank examinations.
Her Brother Hao was even a Divine Craftsman. If the Clear Sky Sect could obtain this, Spirit Hall would no longer pose a threat, and Brother Hao could also...
Her beautiful eyes flickered. She summoned a trusted aide and handed him the letter, sealed with wax.
"Take this there and deliver it personally to the Sect Master!"
"Understood!"
"..."
The Strength Clan estate.
"Clan Leader!"
A clansman scrambled into the hall, holding up a crumpled flyer-the promotional brochure for the auction's latest offerings.
"The Blacksmith Association... something huge has happened!"
Tai Tan frowned and took the flyer. One glance made his pupils contract sharply.
"Runic Weapons?!"
He sprang to his feet, knocking the chair behind him to the floor with a bang.
"That old bastard Lou Gao, how could he..."
He stared fixedly at the description of Jingzhe on the flyer, his eyes nearly splitting at the corners.
But the flyer spelled it out plainly, and the disciple delivering the news had witnessed it firsthand.
Tai Tan fell silent for a moment, then a complicated flame suddenly kindled in his eyes.
"It's time I, as vice president, went back to give those apprentices some guidance."
"Prepare a horse." He grinned, his voice booming like a great bell.
"Pass down the order. Put the entire clan on alert!"
"Lou Gao, just you wait. I, Tai Tan, am coming!"
"..."
The morning mist had yet to lift from Holy Soul Village.
On the third day after Tang San left with his pack and Old Jack, the fire in the drafty room's furnace, hovering between life and death, was sealed off.
Tang Hao draped a tattered black robe over himself and stood in the doorway.
He drew back the foot he had stepped outside with and glanced into the room, sorrow surfacing in his clouded eyes.
Farm tools, earthen walls, Blue Silver Grass in a chipped vase, and the little stool beside the forge that Tang San had stood on while hammering iron.
Ah Yin, Little San has great talent. He longs for the world of Soul Masters outside.
I'm a broken man, but our son needs my protection.
Goodbye.
He stepped outside, his hunched back straightening inch by inch. Beneath his unruly hair, his eyes snapped open, their murkiness vanishing, leaving only an edge that had lain dormant for years.
With one step, his figure dissolved into the lingering morning mist.
Three days later, a tavern in Silves City.
His face hidden beneath his black robe, Tang Hao sat in a corner, taking small sips of cheap liquor.
"Have you heard? That Divine Craftsman Lou Gao in Gengxin City came up with something called... Runic Forging!"
"That's not all! They say the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's master sent people to negotiate a trade, and they were turned away at the door!"
"Everyone's heading to the Blacksmith Association in Gengxin City now. Even business here has slowed..."
Tang Hao's hand froze in midair, still holding his drink.
Runic Forging?
He suddenly recalled Tang San's keen interest in forging and how skillfully he wielded the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer.
Tang Hao slowly drained the liquor in his cup and gently set it on the table.
Lou Gao. It's been a long time since I heard that name.
He rose and left the tavern. The daylight outside was dazzling. He followed the flow of people, the sunlight stretching his shadow so long that it seemed to reach all the way to the Blacksmith Association's doors.
Star Luo City, the Star Crown Auction House.
Lou Xu, Xiao Wu, and Xiong Jun had just emerged from the auction hall when a young guard bowed and stepped forward to stop them.
"My lord Earl, His Majesty has ordered me to invite you to the palace in his imperial carriage."
The guard spoke respectfully, gesturing toward the magnificent six-horse carriage that had been waiting behind him for some time.
After spending more than a month working with the forge every day, Lou Xu had nearly forgotten he was an earl.
"An invitation? What if I don't go?"
"Please do not worry, my lord. His Majesty said that for a talent such as yourself, if you are unwilling to visit him, he will come to visit you."
A mild smile rested on the guard's face as he lowered his head and bowed, showing not a trace of disrespect.
Lou Xu turned to look at Xiao Wu and Xiong Jun behind him.
He frowned. It would have been fine if Xiao Wu were not here, but now...
Seemingly noticing his concern, Xiong Jun said with a smile.
"This Bear Lord has never been inside that palace. Boy Lou, how about taking us in for a look?"
As he spoke, the two exchanged a glance.
Understanding dawned on Lou Xu, and he nodded his agreement.
The guard courteously led the three into the carriage, where an air of luxury and grandeur greeted them.
As expected of the Star Luo Emperor's carriage, its frame was fashioned from fine rosewood and lined with sable pelts. Eight luminous pearls shone overhead, velvet carpeting lay beneath their feet, and the delicate fragrance of ambergris danced at their noses.
All three had their horizons broadened.
The carriage traveled as smoothly as if on level ground. Along the way, Xiong Jun grinned and, under Xiao Wu's terrified gaze, raised a hand and patted her, concealing her soul beast aura.
Night had fallen, but the Imperial Study remained brightly lit.
Dai Weisi led the timid Dai Mubai in respectfully saluting Dai Changkong, who sat on the raised platform marking memorials in vermilion.
"Greetings, Father."
After a long while, Dai Changkong set down a memorial and gave a quiet hum without lifting his head. Only then did the two straighten, bracing their hands against their knees.
Neither brother knew why their father had summoned them. Seeing him still bent over the memorials, they could only stand silently to one side.
Then an attendant's loud announcement came from outside.
"Earl Lou Xu has arrived!"
Both turned at once.
The young man had handsome, refined features and an upright bearing. The girl holding his arm had a graceful figure and a lively step.
Behind them followed a burly blond man with a face full of ferocity.
At the sight of him, fear appeared on Dai Weisi's face. He quickly lowered his head, his gaze evasive.
It was indeed Lou Xu and his two companions.
Seeing Lou Xu enter, Dai Changkong tossed aside the half-reviewed memorial and looked up.
"Oh? Earl Lou is here."
His face lit up at the sight of Lou Xu. He hurried down from the platform, warmly took Lou Xu's hand, and led him to sit on the throne.
He then instructed the attendants to bring two armchairs for Xiong Jun and Xiao Wu.
Puzzled, Lou Xu studied the gentle smile on Dai Changkong's imposing face, so at odds with his domineering presence, and asked.
"What is the meaning of this, Your Majesty?"
"There are no outsiders here today. May I call you Little Xu?"
Only after Lou Xu hesitantly gave a slight nod did he continue.
"When I made you an earl, my ministers urged me to reconsider. Seeing you today, I am certain my judgment was sound!"
"Gifted with intelligence and harboring lofty ambitions-how could those pieces of rotten wood understand my intentions?"
His tone shifted, taking on a wistful note.
"Little Xu, the world says I rule with iron and blood, but who knows that I simply have no one capable to rely on..."
"Your Majesty, I'm still young and know nothing of court affairs. The guard said the palace has delicacies found nowhere else, which is why I came..."
Lou Xu's brows creased slightly, and a trace of wariness entered his gaze as he looked at Dai Changkong.
Wasn't this supposed to be a continent of romance? Why are you giving me Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio?
"Haha, I have been a poor host. Attendants!"
He summoned an attendant and gave a few instructions.
Before long, three servings of food were brought in.
Two low tables were set before Xiong Jun and Xiao Wu, with a large jug of fine wine thoughtfully placed on Xiong Jun's table as well.
Xiong Jun grinned and dug in without ceremony.
Remembering Lou Xu's instructions, Xiao Wu hesitated. After seeing his slight nod, she picked up her chopsticks and began tasting the food in small bites.
Dai Changkong roughly swept aside the memorials on the desk, personally arranged the dishes, and handed Lou Xu his chopsticks.
Meeting Dai Changkong's gaze, Lou Xu gently laid the chopsticks on their rest and spoke in a low voice.
"Your Majesty, please speak plainly."
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