Visiting the Strength Clan (1)
Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, a dark wooden box appeared on the stone table in the lakeside courtyard.
The box is small, made entirely of ebony, with brass trim around the edges. Inside, several meticulously crafted blueprints are neatly stacked.
The drawings, marked with fine ink lines, depict the complete disassembly of the three types of Hidden Weapon. Every dimension, angle, and detail of the mechanism's engagement is clearly marked, even specifying the materials used and the quenching process.
Lin Chen ran his fingertips along the edge of the wooden box, and after confirming that the blueprints were correct, he closed the lid.
With a slight movement of his Soul Power, the Chaos Space opened, revealing neatly arranged materials that had been delivered from the Azure Wind Sect in recent days: top-grade refined steel ingots gleaming with a cold silver light, black iron ingots as heavy as ink jade, and several palm-sized fragments of meteorite iron, their surfaces covered with natural meteorite iron patterns, heavy and weighty in the hand.
These are all excellent materials for crafting basic Hidden Weapon; production volume is sufficient, costs are controllable, and they are suitable for mass production.
"Did you bring everything?" Xiao Wu skipped out of the house, half a piece of sugar cake still dangling from her mouth, and asked in a muffled voice, "Are we really going to that Strength Clan? Can their blacksmiths make those little things you mentioned?"
"The Strength Clan is renowned for its forging capabilities; they have a very solid foundation." Lin Chen closed the Chaos Space and stood up. "These intricate Hidden Weapon shouldn't be difficult for them, as long as the blueprints are available."
What he wants to do is never a one-off deal.
The Sand-Containing Shadow-Projecting, the Silent Sleeve Arrow, and the Flying God Claw are all small items with ingenious structures, high practicality, and relatively low difficulty in production.
For low-level Soul Master, it's a life-saving trump card; for Support System Soul Master, it's a powerful weapon for self-defense; even ordinary soldiers in the army can greatly enhance their combat power by equipping themselves with it. The market is huge.
For the initial collaboration, we'll provide the materials and blueprints, Strength Clan provide the labor and sales channels. We'll start with a batch to test the waters. If it works well, we'll gradually expand, leveraging Strength Clan's network to distribute these materials, build connections and resources, and subtly build a closer relationship with the Strength Clan.
The two left the academy and headed south of the city.
The late spring breeze, carrying the scent of wheat, swept across the fields outside the city. The further south one went, the fewer people there were, but the more blacksmith shops appeared on both sides of the road, with the clanging of hammers echoing everywhere, and the air filled with the smell of charcoal and iron filings.
After walking for about twenty miles, a wide basin appeared ahead, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with only one valley entrance for entry and exit. On either side of the valley entrance stood two stone sculptures of Great Strength Gorilla, each about ten feet tall.
Carved from dark rock, the gorilla's posture of pounding its chest and roaring is lifelike, with bulging muscles and a fierce face. It has been exposed to the sun and rain for countless years, and its surface has developed a thick patina. It can be seen from a distance and is particularly eye-catching.
"This is it." Lin Chen looked up.
Iron Hammer Valley, the ancestral home of the Strength Clan.
As soon as we reached the valley entrance, a deafening roar erupted from within, mingled with the clanging of metal being hammered, and was remarkably clear.
"You little brat! Stop right there!"
It was a rough, powerful male voice, full of energy, and brimming with barely suppressed anger.
Then came a series of thumping footsteps, followed by a younger voice, pleading with a sob, "Dad! Stop hitting me! I know I was wrong!"
Lin Chen and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.
Dust billowed at the valley entrance as a burly man carrying a massive iron hammer chased after a boy.
The burly man was over eight feet tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, with dark skin and bulging muscles on his arms. He wore a coarse cloth jacket and was covered in iron filings and charcoal ash. He was none other than Tai Nuo, the leader of the Strength Clan. He ran with great speed, swinging his iron hammer with a whooshing sound, and it looked like he was about to smash something down.
The boy running ahead was younger and stronger; it was Tai Long. He was bruised and swollen, limping as he ran, constantly turning back to beg for mercy, looking utterly pathetic.
"You still have the nerve to beg for mercy?!" Tai Nuo roared like thunder, "The heir of the Strength Clan, Power Attack System Soul Elder, engaged in close combat with a thirteen-year-old Control System Soul Elder, and got beaten black and blue? If word gets out, you'll have completely disgraced me!"
It turns out that a couple of days ago Tai Long returned to the valley on vacation and drank with his brothers of the same generation in the clan. After drinking too much, he couldn't keep his mouth shut and blurted out the story of how he had sparred with Tang San at the academy and been beaten up by Tang San in close combat. It was just a joke among peers, but it eventually reached Tai Nuo's ears.
"Dad! It's really not my fault!" Tai Long shouted as he ran, "That Tang San is truly strange! Not only is his control over the Blue Silver Grass incredibly tight, but his close-range techniques are even more ruthless—pulse-locking, joint-dislocating, every move is cunning! I'm no match for him, and no one could have done it!"
"You still dare to talk back!" Tai Nuo was even angrier, slamming his hammer on the ground with a loud "bang," the ground shook. "Control System Soul Master are useless in close combat! You can't even beat a piece of trash, and you still have the nerve to talk back? I'm going to break your legs today!"
As the hammer was about to fall, Tai Long shrank back in fear.
Just then, a calm voice came from the valley entrance.
"Excuse me, is this Iron Hammer Valley of the Strength Clan?"
The hammer in Tai Nuo's hand suddenly stopped in mid-air.
He turned his head and saw a young boy and girl standing at the entrance of the valley.
The boy was dressed in a plain, fitted outfit. He was tall and straight, with a handsome face and a calm expression. His aura was completely concealed, making it impossible to discern his true strength.
The girl stood beside him, her bright eyes and lively expression showing her curiosity as she looked at them.
The two men looked quite young, yet they exuded a maturity beyond their years.
Tai Long rubbed his eyes, then looked again, let out a "whoosh" sound, and suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, "Lin Chen! Xiao Wu! The Chen Wu Duo from the Imperial Fighting Team! I watched your match at the Great Soul Arena!"
His voice cracked with excitement as he pointed towards the valley entrance, forgetting all about the beating he'd received. "Dad! Dad! Look! That's Lin Chen! The one I told you about, the one whose Soul Skill renders everyone immobile! The personal disciple of Poison Douluo!"
"Lin Chen? Which Lin Chen?" Tai Nuo asked suspiciously.
"Which Lin Chen could it be?!" Tai Long stamped his foot anxiously. "It's Lin Chen from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy! A thirteen-year-old Four-Ring Soul Ancestor! A genius personally praised by Prince Xue Xing! The Imperial Fighting Team swept the Bronze Soul Fighting Arena, and all members advanced to Gold Soul Fighting Master! Have you forgotten? Just half a month ago, my son and I were drinking under the big tree at the valley entrance and talking about this!"
Tai Nuo's hand trembled, and the hammer almost smashed into his own foot.
Lin Chen from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?
The successor of Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, the rising star of the Heaven Dou Empire, and the most promising young Soul Master in the Great Soul Arena—he just appeared at their doorstep like that?
He didn't bother to discipline his son, casually tossed the hammer aside, and strode forward to meet him.
A smile had already spread across his rugged face, and his voice had softened, carrying a rare hint of politeness. "Please forgive me! I was disciplining my unruly son just now, and I hope you two won't laugh at me! May I ask, is this young master truly Lin Chen of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"