It's stable now!
Knowing this, Su Ming felt his plans were even more secure.
"President Lou Gao will definitely support this, but I lack the personnel to handle the subsequent operations. There's still no news from Teacher, so I was planning to discuss it with your senior brothers."
"Wouldn't Master Si Long work? He's managed the Association well these years," Duan Jin asked, puzzled.
"The several Grandmaster seniors are already Spirit Sages, but without the materials, they simply can't attempt Thousand Refined Spirit Metal. Once my technique is disclosed to the Association, they'll probably all go into seclusion to bitterly cultivate their Spirit Power," Su Ming said with a bitter smile.
Grandmaster-level blacksmiths were actually all capable of Thousand Refined Spirit Metal; it was just that this era lacked sufficient materials. Even if they had them, they couldn't guarantee success on the first try, but they would absolutely succeed within a hundred attempts.
This was the current standard for Grandmaster-level blacksmiths.
Therefore, once the method of using a Spirit Soul's spirituality to assist forging was released, these Grandmaster-level blacksmiths would try every means to meet the conditions.
Spirit Douluo seemed distant, but with gritted teeth, it was possible to attempt a breakthrough. Even if they failed, at least they would have no regrets.
"Then I'll do it," Huo Lie said. "If the Grandmaster seniors enter seclusion, we'll select from the Master level. I am a Master-level blacksmith, and my strength can surpass that of other Masters. Besides, the Spirit Soul method was pioneered by you, Little Ming. As your senior brother, it's perfectly justified for me to manage it."
"I thought the same, but it might delay your cultivation somewhat, Senior Brother."
"I've been stuck at level 59 for many years. What I lack is an opportunity, not bitter cultivation. As for whether my forging advances further, it's optional for me."
Hearing Huo Lie's words and recalling this senior brother's past, Su Ming's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but tease: "Senior Brother, you should really experience Thousand Refined Spirit Metal later. It might have an even better simulated cultivation effect."
Previously, Huo Lie persisted and threw himself into the blacksmithing industry because he could feel the simulated effect during forging.
What about Thousand Refined Spirit Metal?
What if it also provided him feedback? Then he'd have to eat his words again.
"That will have to wait until after I break through."
Huo Lie's expression remained calm.
Eat his words?
So what.
If it really meant eating his words again, then Huo Lie would be happy about it.
"When did you send the letter to the Teacher?"
"About half a month ago."
"Then there's no need for us to wait. Let's go find President Lou Gao directly."
Back when he incorporated Thousand Refined Metal into the armor, he had already considered cooperating with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Before Ning Yuan came to pay the price difference, he had tried to contact Zhu Jiuyang.
Unfortunately, there was no response.
Blacksmith Association.
Fifth Floor.
"What brings you three here together?" Si Long asked, surprised to see Su Ming and his two senior brothers approaching.
"Senior Si Long, it's you again."
Every time Su Ming came to the fifth floor of the Association, it was Si Long guarding it.
"Haha, it's fate," Si Long laughed. "I remember your teacher isn't here."
"It's fine. We're not looking for our teacher; we're looking for the President," Huo Lie said.
"Looking for the President?" Si Long glanced at the three but didn't inquire further, opening the door. "The President is inside. You can go straight in."
Lou Gao's forging room was large, over five hundred square meters, but also very messy. Piles of various metals occupied the areas on both sides. Su Ming scanned the surroundings, his mouth twitching.
Wow, so this is where most of the top-tier rare metals in Gengxin City disappeared to.
"What matter brings you to me?"
In the center of the room was a circular platform. A short, stout old man turned around to look at the three disciples.
The old man was only about 1.6 meters tall, with a waistline probably also around 1.6 meters, protruding ears, small eyes, and a head of messy, short hair.
Lou Gao wasn't busy at the moment and had heard the noise outside. He also recognized Su Ming and the others.
"President, we have some major matters to discuss with you," Huo Lie began.
"Major matters? What major matters?" Lou Gao's small eyes revealed a hint of confusion.
"How about this: let Little Ming demonstrate some forging for you first, President. That should give you a preliminary understanding," Huo Lie suggested, looking at Su Ming.
Su Ming walked directly to Lou Gao's forging platform and picked out a piece of Star Soul Iron from the disordered pile of metals nearby.
Excellent, Star Soul Iron.
This metal, exceptionally precious even in the Douluo 3 era, was here in Lou Gao's workshop, and there were three pieces!
Seeing Su Ming take one of the only three pieces of Star Soul Iron he had collected, Lou Gao wanted to say something, but stopped.
"Don't worry, President. I will forge this Star Soul Iron properly."
Su Ming chuckled and immediately began heating the Star Soul Iron.
Soon, the Star Soul Iron softened. Light flashed in his hands, and a forging hammer appeared in each.
Lou Gao's eyes lit up.
A flicker of confusion passed through his eyes.
Were those two hammers just taken out of a storage Spirit Tool?
However, these two hammers looked extraordinary, full of spirituality—
Wait, spirituality!
Lou Gao initially meant it as a description, but halfway through, he sensed something was wrong.
This wasn't just a description; it was real!
The forging hammers in Su Ming's hands actually had spirituality!
As a Divine Blacksmith who had personally forged Spirit Metal, Lou Gao was sure his perception wasn't wrong.
Hiss~
Where did he get Spirit Metal?
Although full of questions, Lou Gao forced himself to be patient and watched Su Ming forge.
Su Ming took a deep breath and slammed the hammer onto the Star Soul Iron.
The hammers in his hands were made from blood-sacrificed Thousand Refined Grade One metal, with the characteristic of Vibration!
As his hammer fell, the Star Soul Iron rapidly expelled large amounts of black impurities, its entire body emitting a brilliant starlight.
Simultaneously, as Su Ming's hammer descended, a small dark golden bear appeared above his head. The bear leaped and merged into Su Ming's forging hammer.
Everything happened too fast. Lou Gao's expression changed repeatedly.
By the time he reacted, Su Ming's hammer had already struck ten times, and the Star Soul Iron had begun to emit waves of spiritual fluctuation.
"Hiss—"
Lou Gao's face changed dramatically.
Spirit!
This piece of metal had gained a spirit!
And what was that incredibly spiritual little bear from earlier?
Lou Gao desperately wanted to interrupt Su Ming's forging.
But out of professional respect, he could only restrain himself.
He stared intently at Su Ming's forging, not missing a single detail.
"Marvelous!"
Every strike of Su Ming's hammer landed perfectly, utilizing the vibration characteristic of the hammer to its utmost.
Lou Gao had to admit that, apart from the unknown Spirit Infusion method, Su Ming's other techniques had also surpassed his own.
In other words, Su Ming had surpassed him in all aspects of forging.
And Su Ming was only ten years old!
Su Ming's forging was slow, yet also fast.
Two and a half hours passed, but Lou Gao remained utterly engrossed throughout.
"Roar!"
As the final hammer fell, a roar echoed through the forging room.
In the next instant, brilliant starlight transformed into a pillar of light, rising three feet high from the Star Soul Iron.
Lou Gao stared fixedly at the dazzling stellar light pillar, a look of rapt fascination on his face.
...
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(End of Chapter)