Han Tianyi walked into Qian Gu Dongfeng's office.
"What matter brings Elder Han here today?"
"Tower Lord, Zhang Tianyang submitted an application yesterday to strengthen cooperation between the Spirit Transmission Pagoda and the Blacksmith Association. Why did you reject it?"
Hearing Han Tianyi's challenge, Qian Gu Dongfeng's face instantly darkened.
He had felt something was off while watching the live stream earlier.
He could make the connection that Zhang Tianyang's application from yesterday was related to this broadcast, but yesterday he had thought Zhang Tianyang was just trying to ride the wave of popularity.
Now, with Elder Han coming out to hold him accountable, it was clearly an elaborate setup. Zhang Tianyang and the Blacksmith Association must have already made private contact, agreed on cooperation, and were now just going through the formalities of submitting the application.
"The application was vague. I couldn't even see the point of cooperation between the two parties, in what field they planned to collaborate. How did you expect me to approve it?"
Qian Gu Dongfeng snorted coldly, still self-righteous.
Cooperation was possible, but the project needed to be disclosed to everyone.
Han Tianyi, seeing Qian Gu Dongfeng's attitude, had anticipated it.
"Cooperative projects are discovered gradually. Qian Gu Dongfeng, because of your family's actions, the relationship between the Spirit Transmission Pagoda and the Blacksmith Association has been frozen solid for a long time. Establishing cooperation now is already a great boon for the entire Spirit Transmission Pagoda. I hope you won't make any more trouble. Otherwise, don't blame the other factions within the Pagoda for no longer tolerating you as Tower Lord."
Qian Gu Dongfeng's pupils constricted.
Han Tianyi's words were very severe.
So, refusing this cooperation would mean sabotaging the chance for reconciliation between the Spirit Transmission Pagoda and the Blacksmith Association?
Really knows how to pin a label.
"My stance remains: without seeing a specific project, I will not approve it."
"And my stance remains: the Spirit Transmission Pagoda and the Blacksmith Association have had no common ground for a long time, all thanks to your Qian Gu family. We must first attempt contact, then find suitable projects."
Qian Gu Dongfeng cursed inwardly.
How could there be no project?
This Zhang Tianyang and the Blacksmith Association were making eyes at each other; they definitely had something in mind.
And Han Tianyi actually showed up personally. This cooperation must be very important.
No good. Headquarters must secure this cooperation!
"I will send—"
"Zhen Hua explicitly stated he will not cooperate with Headquarters," Han Tianyi said coldly.
Qian Gu Dongfeng felt pressure.
Immense pressure.
One must understand, the Spirit Transmission Pagoda also had several Limit Douluos. Besides them, there were also a few Super Douluos stuck at the ninety-eighth rank bottleneck.
These individuals all had demands for Four-Word Battle Armor.
Previously, the Qian Gu family had offended Zhen Hua, causing the relationship between the Pagoda and the Association to freeze. However, due to Zhen Hua's position, he couldn't unilaterally refuse to forge Heaven Refined metal for the Pagoda either. After all, the Spirit Transmission Pagoda was spread throughout the Federation. If they truly acted ruthlessly, they could potentially cut off the Blacksmith Association's sources of rare metals and Spirit Souls.
Cutting them off completely was impossible, but reducing supply quotas and passing off inferior goods was absolutely achievable.
During this period, anyone needing Four-Word Battle Armor had to report it to Qian Gu Dongfeng as Tower Lord. Then, Qian Gu Dongfeng would negotiate the forging with Zhen Hua in the name of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda.
One piece of Heaven Refined metal per year, and all other cooperation between the Pagoda and the Association would continue as usual.
Of course, the relationship was still poor.
This twisted situation had persisted for over a decade.
Now, the Limit Douluos saw another path.
That's right. From Qian Gu Dongfeng's perspective, Han Tianyi's insistence and aggressive tone today were because he saw an opportunity to connect with Zhen Hua through Zhang Tianyang.
It wasn't just Han Tianyi; probably other factions would also gradually support Zhang Tianyang because of this.
Monopoly was absolutely something people found reprehensible.
"He dares to say such a thing?"
Explicitly stating he wouldn't cooperate with a superpower like them clearly also violated the constraints of his identity as the Divine Blacksmith.
"Under normal circumstances, he couldn't say that. But what if his personal disciple is also Zhang Tianyang's disciple?" Han Tianyi retorted with a cold laugh.
This was the first time Qian Gu Dongfeng learned of Su Ming's identity.
He was Zhen Hua's personal disciple, the developer of Spirit Infusion, now recognized by numerous blacksmiths. Even before public opinion fully fermented, Qian Gu Dongfeng could predict that the youth would soon be bestowed with the title of the next Divine Blacksmith.
He hadn't expected Su Ming to also be Zhang Tianyang's disciple.
This was far too unexpected.
In the end, Qian Gu Dongfeng held his nose and accepted it.
He retrieved yesterday's application, changed the result to 'Approved', and recorded this cooperation in the Spirit Transmission Pagoda's system as a high-level confidential matter.
Han Tianyi obtained the approval and didn't linger further.
Before leaving the office, he paused and left behind a final sentence.
"Qian Gu Dongfeng, you would do well to be careful."
Previously, he had used too many tactics to maintain autocratic control, making the entire Spirit Transmission Pagoda obey his commands. But such methods were easily susceptible to backlash.
Now, Qian Gu Dongfeng was about to face that backlash.
Shrek Academy.
Sea God Pavilion.
"Everyone, what are your thoughts after watching it?"
Yun Ming sat at the head, looking at the various Pavilion Elders, waiting for their opinions.
"Our Shrek Academy has always had a good relationship with the Blacksmith Association. A breakthrough in forging technology should be a good thing," Feng Wuyu spoke first.
As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the spirit tool screen, and he was also smacking his lips, giving the impression he might start drooling at any moment.
Yun Ming and the other Pavilion Elders were speechless.
That was the most superficial level of impact.
"Advancing to Level Five Blacksmith might not become easier, but it will definitely become less stressful, removing much of the financial pressure. Simultaneously, the number of Spirit Refinement Grandmasters will see an explosion. Furthermore, the forging system itself will become richer and more complete. Within the next hundred years, the number of Sacred Blacksmiths will also increase," Cai Yue'er analyzed.
"Hmph, how is that any different from what I said?" Feng Wuyu asked, glaring.
Zhuoshi sneered.
"Fool, you only care about forging. We have to consider much more," he said. "An increase in high-level blacksmiths will lower the threshold for Two-Word and Three-Word Battle Armor. For our Shrek Academy, that amounts to a weakening."
True Shrek members, meaning Inner Court disciples, never had to worry about the production of Two-Word or Three-Word Battle Armor. This was also why Shrek possessed the strongest force on the continent.
But what if other factions caught up?
Others improving was equivalent to a relative weakening of one's own position.
"So what? If everyone's strength improves, then we hone our skills and refine our Core Formation designs," Feng Wuyu said dismissively.
Zhuoshi sneered again, but upon seeing the change in Yali's expression, he wisely chose not to continue speaking.
Yun Ming spoke at this point.
As he began to speak, the various Pavilion Elders present stopped their random thoughts and listened attentively.
"Cooperation is essential. Elder Feng, after the meeting concludes, please make a trip to the Blacksmith Association and see if you can learn this Spirit Infusion technique."
"Yes."
"An increase in high-level Battle Armor Masters in the outside world does not necessarily mean a weakening for us. On the contrary, it represents a comprehensive enhancement for our Shrek Academy."
***
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(Chapter End)