Quest Trigger

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'Can she read my mind or not? Lick me? I've got a hairless ass and so can you! Wait... do you even clean yourself down there?'

Once Ja Sun was out of insults and vile thoughts, he still saw Bibi Dong walking with a calm smile without any change in her expression. There were two possible answers to this.

First, she happened to have the same thought as his own. Or, she may even know the truth given that Spirit Hall is the holy land of spirit masters and may hold information that he had yet to learn about paths of cultivation surpassing mortal imagination. His knowledge was limited to the peak of spirit master cultivation rank 99 alongside all the boosts one can have to stand out naturally.

Second, and the more interesting one, Bibi Dong was truly capable of reading minds but she was currently holding her expression with extreme grit and sheer willpower. After all, Ja Sun had crossed many lines in his mind but there was not a single twitch from Bibi Dong's side. What interesting will be in this possibility is Bibi Dong's personality itself.

Sighing, his restless mind grew calm. Losing one's secret isn't scary. What truly scary is acting on misunderstanding and inconceivable information.

"Prince Dai, the culture of your Clan is always motivating," Ning Fengzhi smiled as Dai Taiyin narrowed his eyes with a smile, "Please, Brother Ning, what is motivating in Bloodbaths? We're merely tyrants. There's nothing wrong about it so I would rather not sugarcoat it," Taiyin snorted a chuckle while sadness flickered in Dai Mu's eyes.

"Brother Hao, you should discuss with Brother Ning about your achievements in smithing. I've heard that Brother Ning is a capable appraiser. I'm sure you both will have many things to discuss."

"Look closely," Bibi Dong's voice entered Ja Sun's ears, "In their early years, the current patriarch of Clear Sky Clan and Emperor Dai were companions that traveled the continent for experience. It is even said that out of the upper three clans, while the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan remains as neutral as possible, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan supports the Heaven Dou Empire and due to their past relationship, it has come to known that Clear Sky Clan prefers Star Luo Empire."

Ja Sun nodded slightly and gazed at the interaction forward. Being somewhat a smith, Ja Sun understood a little of what Tang Hao began to talk about. But mostly, the simple-minded bloke actually touched upon more technical topics such as weight distribution, pressure smithing, and many more concepts.

Even Tang Xiao and Tang Yuehua looked on with pursed lips.

It was at this moment Bibi Dong chuckled, "Seeing both of you talking about metals, I cannot help but ask you two include my student so he can learn from the two geniuses. He just spent a week of apprenticeship with the Divine Smith Lou Gao in Gengxin City and the Divine Smith has high expectations of him."

Tang Hao glanced at Ja Sun while he nodded but before he could look for an explanation, Tang Hao's eyes suddenly brightened. Light actually concentrated in his pupils as he focused on Ja Sun's gauntlets for the first time.

"Blood Weapon... a blood-bound extreme weapon! This quality," his breathing quickened for a moment and Tang Xiao's expression changed. He glanced towards the pair of dull dark-golden gauntlets with a sleek design and the more he looked, the more he looked, the more his expression turned dazed.

Even Bibi Dong didn't know her words would have such an effect. She just wanted Ja Sun to find more information on the two and given Ja Sun's deviousness, how would he not understand it in a few breaths?

By now, the group had reached a beautiful inner courtyard as Taiyin smiled, "It seems that Brother Hao found someone truly interesting. Congratulations for finding such a student, Sister Bibi Dong," Taiyin very naturally changed his manner of speaking and led the group into the courtyard where all of them were asked to sit as tea was poured for them.

"Where did you find a living essence?!" Tang Hao was calmer than before and inquired with barely suppressed excitement. Currently, except for Yue Guan and Chen Xin who refused to sit, everyone sat around a circular table with Tang Yuehua sitting on one of Bibi Dong's sides while Ja Sun at the other side and Tang Hao next to him.

"I don't want to disclose this information," Ja Sun looked at his teacup while Tang Xiao smiled, "Ka-ul, is it? No need, no need. Don't tell us the location. The experience itself is quite beneficial. How did you forge your body? I cannot understand just how someone can throw oneself in a burning forge."

Everybody's expression changed and Yue Guan frowned. Tracing his finger around the saucer, Ja Sun replied calmly, "I can tolerate pain. The experience was worth the result."

Bibi Dong's spine tingled as she recalled the benefits and she quickly sent the words not to say anything stupid. Of course, Ja Sun knew it. He may joke with the group he had grown familiar with, not outsiders.

"Pain of burning alive, too?" Tang Hao frowned, a little dissatisfied by the answer.

"Second Brother," Tang Yuehua whispered softly before shaking her head.

"I see... you said Lou Gao is quite praising of your talents. He is a divine smith, but he isn't alone in this rank. The Vice-president of the association, Tai Tan, is my friend, and teacher. A divine smith to the boot. How about we refine a metal. The most refined one wins. If you lose, please share your experience with me. I won't tell another soul, not even my Eldest Brother."

Ja Sun blinked.

This challenge would really be worth it.

"I'm afraid... others may not share your passion. Clear Sky Hammer... of course, you are interested in smithing. Instead of taking everybody's time, we should properly discuss it later."

His reply earned him praise and distress at the same time.

Praise only came from the two Titled Douluo standing under noon's harsh light, waiting for this charade to end. Distress came from those who wished to see Bibi Dong's disciple in action, even if smithing.

"Besides, it is inappropriate to make the Emperor wait—"

"No worries, Uncle Dai will understand," Tang Hao waves his hand carelessly as Tang Yuehua closed her eyes. It was painful to watch this conduct.

"If it is just refining, it should indeed take less time than casting a weapon," Tang Xiao smiled.

"We do have smiths in our Clan but seeing someone from Clear Sky Clan will really be eye-opening," Ning Fengzhi presented his agreement on the matter.

"Well," a little hesitant, Taiyin nodded, "I know one thing that Little Mu wants to see Brother Hao in action," Taiyin chuckled as Dai Mu blushed with puffed cheeks.

"Brother!" She whined as Tang Hao chuckled deeply.

"Ka-ul, come on. Everyone is eager."

Ja Sun thought for a moment.

"What if I win?" He narrowed his eyes.

"Hmm?" Tang Hao's expression froze before he grinned.

"If you win, I will teach you—"

"No, you won't," Tang Xiao calmly interjected and scoffed, "Hao, have you forgotten how much Old man beat us for losing 9000 coins for those cheap techniques? No, think calmly. What can you offer in return that isn't a Sect's secret," his voice was compressed and entered Tang Hao's ears.

"Ehm, let me think for a moment," Tang Hao closed his eyes.

Moments turned into minutes and his brows were deeply furrowed.

"No use, I don't have anything as valuable as the experience of Man-Weapon Body Forging," Tang Hao growled in dissatisfaction.

"Second Brother Hao, just share your reserves of metals and ores. Since both of you are competing in smithing, one betting his experience, then compare it with resources," Tang Yuehua smiled.

"Oh! I have something useful for you then!" Tang Hao smiled widely and produced a fist-sized crystal ore with rocky spots surrounding a golden crystal within.

'A Plate Crystal Gold?' Ja Sun narrowed his eyes. Why would that be useful for him? Ja Sun didn't know. In fact, his current knowledge of the benefits provided by body forging was too small. For instance, he still didn't know how was adding the gauntlets to his bloodstream any beneficial? Would the quality of Gauntlets increase with his own strength?

The information on this method was low but if Tang Hao meant that this ore was particularly useful for him, then it also meant that Tang Hao and the Clear Sky Clan had more complete knowledge about this process.

But unwilling to give away this weakness, Ja Sun gazed at the crystal before shaking his head.

"Instead of keeping yourself limited to metal, I'm more interested in a variety of things. Herbs, poisons, and much more. I'm sure that you have many rare items and that is why I don't want to bet in public."

Seeing Ja Sun being so tough about it, Tang Hao couldn't frown but he soon realized his meaning.

"You want to bet large?"

"Look at this," Ja Sun produced a crude fist-sized rock.

Back when he scammed the two brothers, he was rewarded 30 grams of Deep Silver Tungsten, a natural alloy formed under extreme pressure. Such a large chunk of valuable alloy, of course, wouldn't be the reward for an E-ranked mission. And the ore itself wasn't the Deep Silver Tungsten.

Tang Xiao's and Tang Hao's gaze naturally focused on the dark spots over the crude ore that gave a faint shimmer.

"Total of 30 grams," Ja Sun added quietly.

"This is... good. Better than my plate crystal gold. Why didn't you use it?" Tang Hao inquired meaningfully but unfortunately, Ja Sun wasn't aware of the meaning. Instead, he replied calmly, "I want to use something better."

Right now, maybe only Tang Xiao and Tang Hao understood Ja Sun's words. Even Ja Sun himself wasn't fully aware but if he can scam the siblings once, he can do it twice.

"Very well. Let's wait—"

"They want to discuss about the competition. The Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Spirit Hall. Each has its own representative. Let me accompany you back. We can have our bet while others handle more serious talks."

"Are you sure? Grandmaster wanted you to accompany the talk, I think," Bibi Dong's voice emerged in his ear and he gave a faint nod towards her.

"We'll do it like this."

Tang Xiao interjected and gazed at Tang Yuehua, "Don't let Hao be impulsive while betting. Help him through the negotiations at least."

The blue-haired girl nodded and smiled calmly.

---

Though unwilling, Ja Sun left under the gazes of many as Dai Mu led everyone towards the inner courtyard of the palace. The location of Tang siblings' stay.

Aside from Dai Mu, there were only Ja Sun, Tang Hao, and Tang Yuehua.

"Say, Lou Gao always scorns Tai Tan's manner of forging. Calling us crude and whatnot. What did he teach you?" Tang Hao spoke up while walking. If it was before, Ja Sun would have looked pitifully weak in front of the brawny Tang Hao but now, with his own robes slightly stretched out around his shoulders, Ja Sun matched his impressive figure.

"Old Sir Lou allowed me to self-study. The way he trained me is by helping him complete his orders," Ja Sun replied.

"Self-study? What are your blacksmithing skills then?" Tang Hao frowned.

"Array master capable of thousand refining metals."

"A-array? That method is so slow, but it sounds like that Old fatty Lou. Always focusing on delicate things, that guy," Tang Hao scoffed.

"Brother, can you not bad mouth an elder? Uncle Tai Tan praises his competitor but you..." She knocked his arm with a glare as Tang Hao gave an awkward chuckle.

Seeing this, Ja Sun and Dai Mu narrowed their eyes simultaneously. While interest flickered in Ja Sun's eyes, Dai Mu only felt distressed.

"So? Ka-ul, what have you planned for your body refined weapon?" Tang Hao inquired with burning curiosity as Dai Mu pouted and coughed, "Brother Hao! You don't even introduce us to this concept and keep on talking. At least, tell us what this is," she glared back but Ja Sun found her cute.

Why?

'Hahaha, the dumb broad actually helped me get information indirectly!' Ja Sun's eyes glinted with pleasure.

"My mistake, my mistake, Sister Dai—"

Under Dai Mu's glare, Tang Hao sighed, "Fine, whatever, Sister Mu. The origin of body refined weapons is much more scarce than useful spirit techniques. Legends say that a man, a genius blacksmith, fought the toughest of spirit beasts not with spirit skills, but with spirit weapons. He was later enshrined as the God of War because of his maddening lust for a fight. Among Blacksmiths, he is also called the Divine Spirit of Smithing."

Sighing deeply, Tang Hao smiled, "In reality, the elders of my clan think that the quality of his forged goods was no less than spirit bones. However, these were weapons at the end and not spirit bones and did not have any spirit skills. But with these weapons and genuine technique, the God of War reigned over an era."

"A spirit bone?" Dai Mu and Tang Yuehua gasped in surprise while Ja Sun was startled.

They all glanced at his Gauntlets as Tang Hao chuckled, "Once forged, they can only be used by the blacksmith. The era of the God of War was also the era of Blacksmithing. In a way, these weapons are not traditional spirit bones but external spirit bones. They grow with the user and can be refined again and again with the higher quality of metal. The increase in the quality of the weapon will increase the physical quality itself. Man and weapon as one.

This condition can only be found and not sought after!" Tang Hao's gaze burned with passion and Ja Sun's gaze flickered. He understood the latter portion for the most part.

His body can absorb metal and herbs now alongside poisons. Poisons directly affect his blood which will be shared by his body. The metals will directly affect the Gauntlets and the enhancement will be shared by the entire body once again.

However, the weapons will also be gaining the characteristics of the metal refined.

"This is amazing!" Dai Mu nodded, "Then why haven't we heard of it before?"

"Because it's rare for two reasons," Tang Hao's expression turned grave.

"A blacksmith needs a living metal essence. Living metal essence isn't a metal that is alive but a metal with the capabilities of life attribute but in traditional sense, it doesn't hold a lifeforce either. It's as if the essence is alive and dead at the same time. No matter how low, the slightest bit of this attribute will allow a person to begin body forging. These metals are too rare. Even the clan has never seen anything like it. We merely hold records.

And the second reason is... pain. Every body forging is a trial on its own and nobody knows concrete details of it. There are few records that say that the blacksmith has to jump into the forge himself. A few other suggests that a fatal trail lays in wait."

"Then, Brother Ka-ul, what was it like?" Dai Mu gave a cute smile, expecting a few words of knowledge on the matter.

"Like my arms shattered and my toes were sliced apart," Ja Sun replied honestly.

"What?!" Even Tang Siblings had an alarming reaction to this.

"It's true," Ja Sun shrugged.

---

Brought back to the Emperor's study this time, everyone sat calmly. Seeing the lack of Ja Sun's presence, Dai Laohu didn't inquire anything but instead smiled and looked at everyone present, "I'm aware that there are many scruples regarding my proposal about the finals of this wonderful event that the Supreme Pontiff suggested. This time, I'm willing to pay the appropriate price, too."

With that, he started with a smile and his words gave everyone a small shock. Even the two Titled Douluos had their lips slightly parted.

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