Nana was intimidated by Lei Zhen's imposing aura.
This was her first tangible experience of the Body Sect's style.
Although Su Ming had taken her hunting before, it was only small-scale. Due to their strength limitations, their revenge always felt somewhat stifling and unsatisfying.
This time, the feeling Lei Zhen gave her was completely different. It was the feeling of finally having someone solidly supporting her from behind.
Nana glanced back at Su Ming.
If she remembered correctly, Su Ming had said they needed to wait for a suitable opportunity before moving against that stronghold.
Su Ming nodded at Nana.
"It's time for revenge."
Nana nodded firmly, then raised her hand to point.
The moment she indicated a direction, Lei Zhen took her and Su Ming and left the room.
An intangible energy spread out, enveloping the three of them and altering their appearances and forms.
Mingde Hall.
Jing Hongchen gazed at the piece of Spirit Metal before him, lost in thought.
Various thoughts raced through his mind, and his eyes occasionally shifted to Su Can.
Su Can, with a clear conscience, met his gaze.
Introducing the Blacksmith Association, and even introducing the Body Sect—these actions seemed perfectly normal to Su Can, warranting no guilt. Just as the royal family could introduce the Holy Spirit Cult, why couldn't the Body Sect be introduced? Why couldn't the Blacksmith Association?
Of course, he didn't state this outright.
Today, his visit to Jing Hongchen was merely to place a piece of Thousand Refined Heavy Silver in front of him.
Jing Hongchen pondered for a long time.
Finally, he let out a long sigh.
"Is this a new achievement from the three Douluo nations? You... have you been in contact with them for a long time?"
At this moment, Jing Hongchen had no idea what news he was about to receive or what plan Su Can was about to invite him to join.
Jing Hongchen's current train of thought was simple: this Spirit Metal was a product of research by the three Douluo nations, aimed at closing the gap in spirit tool technology. If their core formation technology lagged, they would compete on materials, hence this Spirit Metal.
Then, Su Can, or rather the Su family, had cooperated with the three Douluo nations, perhaps acting as spies for a time. Su Can obtained the Spirit Metal and used it to finally become a ninth-rank Spirit Engineer.
Now, having achieved ninth rank, Su Can's period of enduring humiliation was over. He was coming clean, hoping that he, the Master of Mingde Hall, could help devise an excuse to cover up the past.
This was the logical sequence Jing Hongchen had deduced after his long silence.
However, the moment Su Can opened his mouth, Jing Hongchen knew his entire thought process was wrong.
"No. The three Douluo nations do not possess this technology."
Jing Hongchen showed a surprised expression.
Not a technology from the Douluo nations?
Wasn't this smuggled?
Su Can didn't immediately resolve Jing Hongchen's confusion. Instead, he said something seemingly unrelated.
"Master, the number of Evil Spirit Masters in the Empire has become somewhat excessive in recent years."
Evil Spirit Masters?
Jing Hongchen's face darkened, his expression gloomy.
The higher-ups all had a good idea, a shared suspicion, about why the Holy Spirit Cult had grown so powerful.
But now, the royal succession situation was clear. Crown Prince Xu Tianran was likely the only heir left. Tearing off this fig leaf now would only plunge the Empire into greater chaos.
In such a situation, some spirit engineers defected, some refused to help, some...
Jing Hongchen looked at Su Can.
Some, like Su Can, were perhaps seeking another way out.
Not receiving a response from Jing Hongchen, Su Can didn't wait. He continued, "Just now, Master, you were probably wondering where this Spirit Metal technology came from and who I am cooperating with."
Jing Hongchen nodded, signaling for Su Can to continue.
"The Body Sect."
"The Body Sect?"
Jing Hongchen was astonished.
It was actually the Body Sect?
Then, a thought flashed through his mind.
"Su Ming joined the Body Sect?"
"Correct."
Su Can admitted it openly.
"What exactly are you trying to achieve?" Jing Hongchen asked solemnly.
The Holy Spirit Cult was still running rampant within the Empire, and now they were colluding with an external force? Could the Empire ever know peace?
"Looking across the continent, the Body Sect is a top-tier power, but it's also the one most likely to cooperate with us. That is the reality. Our Sun Moon policies define them as an external force, but in truth, the Body Sect's own tenets do not designate themselves as belonging to the three Douluo nations. It is we who have excluded them."
Reasonable.
Jing Hongchen had to admit that Su Can wasn't wrong at all.
And there was proof: Su Ming.
Su Ming had joined the Body Sect, received top-tier training, and the Body Sect had even allowed him to return to the Su family!
"So, you want to bring the Body Sect in to have them exterminate the Evil Spirit Masters?"
"Correct. However, the main force definitely won't be them, but us," Su Can declared loudly. "Master, it's better for us to solve the Empire's internal problems ourselves. The Body Sect is merely a catalyst."
"One thing I can guarantee is that the Body Sect will operate within the borders of the Sun Moon Empire but will not initiate any attacks against the Empire."
Su Can laid out everything: the Body Sect's stance, the establishment of the Blacksmith Association branch, and all related aspects.
"Master, I hope you can make a choice."
Jing Hongchen's face became pained.
"Aren't you afraid that after confessing all this to me, I might not cooperate and instead have you arrested?"
"Not afraid."
"Why not?"
"Because that would bring no benefit to you, Master, to Mingde Hall, or to the Empire."
Jing Hongchen sighed deeply.
He knew it was more than just 'no benefit'; there would be downsides.
He had resisted Xu Tianran for so many years. If he were to suppress the Su family now, it would be tantamount to aiding the Holy Spirit Cult. The Su family only needed to leave behind some clues and spread their 'sincere intentions,' and the spirit engineering world would surely be shaken to its core.
The Master of Mingde Hall taking a stance... Those spirit engineers who were still holding out, whether hiding or seeking another path, would despair.
He was now a benchmark for the remaining spirit engineers. He could not show any behavior that compromised with the Evil Spirit Masters.
"Master, the Body Sect's request is simple: to use my Su family to open a branch of the Blacksmith Association. The Association can establish a cooperative relationship with Mingde Hall."
"What's the point for them in doing this?"
"To recruit disciples, to take in all Body Martial Soul masters within the Sun Moon territory under their banner."
Jing Hongchen fell silent.
Put plainly, they wanted a legitimate identity.
This was really—
Quite straightforward.
"What is the output of the Spirit Metal?"
"One piece per day."
One piece per day...
Although it was very little, for a top-tier spirit engineer, one piece was precious enough.
A thought suddenly seemed to occur to Jing Hongchen.
"What is the state of the Body Sect's cooperation with the three Douluo nations?"
"They have not yet reached a cooperation agreement."
No cooperation yet?
Jing Hongchen breathed a sigh of relief at this.
From this, he sensed the Body Sect's sincerity.
"If we establish cooperation, how much Spirit Metal can my Mingde Hall obtain from the Body Sect?"
"After the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament concludes, the Blacksmith Association will negotiate uniformly with the four empires. For Mingde Hall, the Body Sect guarantees at least one piece per day."
The current output was one piece per day. After the tournament, they promise Mingde Hall one piece per day...
So, the Body Sect has newcomers learning this technique, probably expecting them to master it before the tournament.
Jing Hongchen took a deep breath.
"What if... I want the technology?"
***
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(Chapter End)