Chapter 117 - The Obsession of the Divine Craftsman Lou Gao

Gengxin City is the metal capital of the Douluo Continent and a paradise for blacksmiths. The most advanced smelting and forging technology on the continent is gathered here.

Lou Gao is one of the three great master craftsmen on the continent and has long been stationed here. He controls the richest metal resources on Douluo Continent, especially rare metals. He is obsessed with forging and has long been disgusted by the fact that the Star Crown Sect buys large quantities of rare metals but does not forge them in Gengxin City. He stepped in to stop this when he could no longer tolerate it.

The Star Crown Sect must heed Lou Gao's opinion. Although he is only a Soul Saint, his status on the continent is no less than that of a Titled Douluo. In the field of metals and blacksmithing, his expertise even surpasses that of titled powerhouses.

After receiving the news, the Sect Master immediately informed Xu Mingxi. She is the one who understands soul tools best after having traveled to the Sun and Moon Continent, and she now commands the Star Crown Sect's giant vessel.

Currently, the rear mountain of the Star Crown Sect, with the Star Tree, the Star-Seeking Vines, and thanks to Xu Mingxi, has long become the ultimate cultivation ground for those with the Star Crown Martial Soul.

The essence of moonlight has a magical effect on their breakthroughs. If not for the limits of the human body, Xu Mingxi could elevate everyone in the Star Crown Sect to the level of Titled Douluo in time.

Originally, she was sitting cross-legged beneath the Star Tree to cultivate, and along the way, she infused a little starlight into the Star God Tree, which had sprouted small branches not far away, when she was interrupted by sect members who came to report.

Upon inquiry, she learned that this matter not only involved soul-guiding metals and the artisans of Gengxin City, but also another issue of equal importance.

Xu Mingguang had successfully broken through to level 90, and the sect had been searching for a 100,000-year-old soul beast for him. This time, they hoped Xu Mingxi would accompany him on the journey.

"Brother Mingguang, congratulations, you'll soon be a Titled Douluo."

"It's nothing. This time, I must ask for your help to hunt a soul beast."

"No problem."

Just as Xu Mingxi was about to turn and go prepare, Xu Mingguang pulled her arm.

"Mingxi, the soul beast found by the sect this time is a 150,000-year-old Kongming Demon Leopard. If the soul bone it explodes is compatible with you, you can absorb it."

"Are you joking, Brother Mingguang? You surely know the benefits of absorbing both a soul ring and soul bone from a 100,000-year-old soul beast."

"I know, but hear me out first. What our sect lacks now is an Extreme Douluo who can stand up to Qian Daoliu of the Spirit Hall. My growth is still a bit slow.

Your soul power should be close to level ninety-four. This soul bone might help you reach Super Douluo at level ninety-five.

Besides, I already have three soul bones, and the one from the Kongming Demon Leopard might not even suit me."

After staring at Xu Mingguang for a while, Xu Mingxi agreed. She knew what he said was true. The Star Crown Sect did not lack core strength or high-end power, but what it lacked was an unrivaled force that could make final decisions.

"Alright. If the soul bone suits me, I'll take it."

The two stopped worrying about the matter, packed their things, and headed straight for Gengxin City. They needed to resolve the issue there before they could proceed to the Great Star Dou Forest peacefully.

The Star Crown Sect had now intensified training in soul tools. The soul engineers, led by the grand elder, studied the soul tool diagrams brought back day and night.

The elder even took in a disciple, Huo Quan, who returned with them. This spirit master with an eye-based martial soul had great advantages in crafting soul tools and was highly favored by the elder.

Due to his broken arm, he might never break through to a level nine soul engineer in his life. Though others in the sect studied soul tools, they clearly focused more on soul power development. Only Huo Quan wholeheartedly followed the elder to learn about soul tools.

Therefore, the elder treated Huo Quan as his personal disciple and taught him all he knew about soul tools, hoping he could surpass the soul tool diagrams they had brought back and develop level nine soul tools.

The number of disciples in the Star Crown Sect was too few, and each loss was deeply felt by the sect master. Soul tools could arm these disciples, enhance their strength, and greatly increase their survival rate.

Xu Mingxi, dressed in black, took Xu Mingguang into the sky, flying toward Gengxin City. The supply of soul-guiding metals there was crucial to the Star Crown Sect and could not be lost under any circumstance.

Master craftsman Lou Gao — if you give him face, he's one of the top three craftsmen on the continent. If you don't, he's just a mere Soul Saint. No one is allowed to hinder the development of the Star Crown Sect.

At that moment in Gengxin City, the Eighth Elder's lips were dry from speaking, but Lou Gao remained indifferent, nearly forcing the honest elder to take action.

He had never seen such a person—holding goods but refusing to sell them. These soul-guiding metals were all yours, so why be so stingy?

Well, even though they didn't belong to Lou Gao, the sellers of rare soul-guiding metals were willing to give him face. A large amount of gold soul coins could impress them, but the Star Crown Sect didn't have much money. They weren't the wealthiest sect like the Qibao Glazed Tile Sect.

Now the continent's situation was chaotic, and the prices of rare metals suitable for weapon-making had skyrocketed. After all, the Star Crown Sect was still a semi-hidden sect without industry. The gold soul coins they previously spent were the accumulated wealth of their predecessors over thousands of years.

The sect leader often sighed when seeing the dwindling treasury. If the Star Crown Sect were to fail, he would be nailed to the pillar of shame in sect history.

"Lou Gao, what do you want? I'm just buying rare metals, not doing anything to your Gengxin City."

"I don't want anything. Rare metals are the lifeblood of blacksmiths. I won't let anyone waste them. Right now, Gengxin City has the highest forging technology on the continent. Only we can fully utilize these rare metals."

The Eighth Elder was furious. The news about soul tools was extremely secret. Even though the Star Crown Sect had recruited a group of blacksmiths, they only had them do basic processing of the soul-guiding metals. The core parts were completed by the sect's own soul engineers.

He couldn't reveal anything about soul tools to Lou Gao. The scene became awkward.

"Forget it. Just wait. Someone with real authority in the Star Crown Sect will arrive soon."

"Fine, I'll wait right here. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation, I won't sell you these rare metals."

The Eighth Elder flung his sleeves and left. He no longer wanted to waste words on this master craftsman. He had tried everything—pleading and threatening—but this man remained unmoved. It was truly frustrating.

Lou Gao looked at the elders of the Star Crown Sect in front of him with great interest. He wanted to see what excuse they would come up with to convince him.

Besides, what else could you do with rare metals other than make weapons and armor? These people from the Star Crown Sect were probably hiding something valuable, which was why they didn't forge them in Gengxin City.