"Yes." Yu Chenxiao nodded, his tone serious. "I want you to withdraw from the upcoming Blacksmith competition. More precisely, I want you to conceal your true forging talent!"
Lu Guan laughed when he heard that.
He leaned back against the sofa, folded his hands in front of him, and looked at Yu Chenxiao.
"Why? And what gives you the right to ask?"
Yu Chenxiao sat up straight and laid out his reasoning earnestly.
"I've experienced your talent as a Soul Master firsthand. Honestly, the word monster suits you better. No one in our generation can keep you down."
"But the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be battered by the wind."
"The Body Sect needs time to revive. Revealing all your trump cards now would certainly draw enormous attention, but it would also invite people to kill you."
"There are already more than enough powers on the continent today..."
Yu Chenxiao pointed at the star iron on the table.
"Once those hostile powers discover that your Body Sect has produced a ten-year-old Spirit Forging Master..."
After listening, Lu Guan tapped his fingers lightly against the table.
Of course he understood everything Yu Chenxiao had said.
Keeping a low profile while developing, taking steady steps forward-that was certainly a safe path.
But the returns from keeping a low profile were too low.
His original plan had been to use Spirit Forging to thrust himself and the Body Sect into the eye of the storm. As long as enough eyes were on him, no one would dare touch him!
The risks were high, but Eastsea City stood beside the sea, and Lu Guan knew the principle: the rougher the waves, the pricier the fish.
He knew very well how terrifying his cultivation expenses were.
His few teachers alone could never fill the bottomless pit that was him.
If he didn't demonstrate enough value, who would hand him resources for free?
Maximum visibility in exchange for maximum resources.
"You make a good point." Lu Guan stopped tapping his fingers. "But I'm not really the sort who likes hiding things."
"The greater the risk, the greater the reward. If I reveal my Spirit Forging abilities now, some people will certainly see me as a thorn in their side, but countless powers will also line up to give me money and resources, hoping to befriend me."
Lu Guan looked at Yu Chenxiao. "You want me to hide my talent. Who's going to make up for those lost returns?"
That was exactly what Yu Chenxiao had been waiting for.
"We will."
"We'll support your growth. We hope you'll conceal your forging talent and develop safely. Once you become a Saint Craftsman, or even a Divine Craftsman, you can give our forging requests priority!"
Lu Guan keenly picked up on the key word. "We?"
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan," Yu Chenxiao answered without hesitation.
As soon as he finished speaking, a clear female voice rang out from outside the door.
"And the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
The door hadn't been shut properly. Ning Susu pushed it open and walked in.
She had changed into a pale green dress and was toying with an exquisite Storage Soul Tool in her hand, smiling at Lu Guan.
Looking at the two of them, Lu Guan couldn't help laughing.
"Two of the ancient Upper Three Sects have shown up today. Why isn't the Clear Sky Sect here?"
Yu Chenxiao shook his head.
"The so-called Upper Three Sects-that name dates back ten thousand years. After ten millennia of change, each of us has taken our own path. There's long since ceased to be any real connection."
"Then how did you two get together?" Lu Guan pointed at Yu Chenxiao, then at Ning Susu.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has always secluded itself from the world. You hate getting involved in the continent's messes more than anyone. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, on the other hand, is deeply involved in worldly affairs and has built a commercial empire."
"How did your two factions end up joining forces?"
Ning Susu walked over, pulled out a third chair, and sat down.
"It's precisely because the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is so withdrawn that they need an ally sufficiently involved in the world to handle outside troubles for them."
"And our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect needs an ally with enough military strength to deter those coveting our wealth."
Ning Susu spread her hands. "We each get what we need. Our private alliance has been in place for many years."
Lu Guan accepted that explanation.
Coupled with the fact that the two had now come knocking on his door, it seemed these two great Families hadn't been content with their circumstances all these years either.
"All right." Lu Guan nodded. "Since this is a transaction, let's discuss the price."
"What can you give me to make me give this up?"
Ning Susu spoke first.
"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect may not have much else, but we have plenty of money."
She placed the Storage Soul Tool in her hand on the table and pushed it toward Lu Guan.
"There are fifty million Federation Credits inside, unregistered and available for use at any time. This is merely a token of our sincerity."
"Aside from money, we can also give you access to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's intelligence network. Whatever rare metals or heavenly treasures you need to find, we can keep an eye out for them."
"As long as you agree to conceal your forging talent, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will cover all the standard resources you need for your future cultivation."
"To be honest, our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect doesn't lack soul-forged metals. We can always buy them with enough money. What we're betting on is the possibility that you'll become a Divine Craftsman."
"A genius who can reach the threshold of Spirit Forging at ten is worth a heavy wager."
Ning Susu looked at Lu Guan, her tone sincere.
Over the years, their two great Families had indeed fallen on hard times. In terms of competitiveness, they were absolutely no match for powers like the Tang Sect, now blazing like the midday sun.
But the pride of their ancient glory remained etched in their hearts.
They hoped Lu Guan would keep a lower profile and, in the near future, become a second Divine Craftsman hidden from the world.
And give them priority when forging heavenly forged metal.
That way, their two great Families would possess additional four-word Battle Armor for a certain period!
Four-word Battle Armor would be a powerful weapon in revitalizing their Families!
Lu Guan didn't reach for the Storage Soul Tool.
Fifty million Federation Credits was indeed a huge sum.
But if he truly revealed his Spirit Forging abilities, that much money would amount to only a few pieces of work.
"Money is just a number to me right now. If I wanted it, I could take a few Spirit Forging commissions, or sell myself to the Spirit Pagoda. Their offer would definitely be far higher than fifty million." Lu Guan tapped the table.
"It's not enough." Lu Guan shook his head.
Ning Susu frowned but didn't argue.
It was true. The strategic value of a ten-year-old Spirit Forging Master couldn't be measured in money.
Just as she was about to raise her offer, Yu Chenxiao lifted a hand to stop her.
Yu Chenxiao looked at Lu Guan and leaned forward slightly.
Ordinary money and resources couldn't sway the fellow before him.
To make a genius like this cooperate willingly, they had to offer something with real weight.
"Brother Lu." Yu Chenxiao lowered his voice.
"Since you're a disciple of the Body Sect, I imagine you have an enormous need for all sorts of heavenly treasures and rare, wondrous herbs?"
"Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has also heard something of the Body Sect's cultivation methods. You focus on developing your bodies, which requires tremendous support from blood and vitality."
"Ordinary resources are a cup of water against a blazing cartload of firewood for you."
Lu Guan raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
Yu Chenxiao took a deep breath and dropped a bombshell.
"Brother Lu, have you ever heard of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?"
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