Blue Silver Grass Strategy (Douluo Dalu Fiction)

There was no wind, no clouds. Under the scorching sun, 'Gengxin City' resembled a furnace, with the air shimmering in distorted waves.

The ubiquitous ironware, sun-baked, seemed like roasted sweet potatoes, their former hardness turning soft and pliable.

[The Blacksmith Association Guild Hall], fifth floor.

Standing at a height of 1.6 meters, with a waistline that matched his height, Lou Gao climbed the stairs, holding a brocade box in his hands.

Rows of thirty-six forging rooms lined up: yet only two or three emitted the sound of beads falling onto jade plates. A hint of desolation flickered in Lou Gao's eyes.

Soon after, he glanced at the brocade box in his hand, and his gaze became resolute and fervent once more.

He strode forward until he reached the door of the innermost No. 1 forging room, raised his hand, and knocked on the heavy metal door.

After a few moments, the silent forging room, which seemed uninhabited, had its metal door opened from within, revealing the figure of a white-haired elder.

“Master~” Lou Gao respectfully called.

“Hmm~”

The white-haired elder, none other than the divine craftsman Tiexufu, nodded with a look of satisfaction, saying, “Come in~”

“Yes!”

Lou Gao responded promptly, following the towering figure of Tiexufu into the forging room.

The forging room was expansive, covering over five hundred square meters. Along the corners of the walls, numerous metal ingots of various hues were neatly arranged. In the central left area stood a dark golden forge and a matching bellows, the fire within the forge blazing vigorously.

At the room's center, a few meters from the forge, lay a cylindrical platform, three meters in diameter and about a meter high, made entirely of metal. A mere glance at it evoked a sense of solidity and weight.

Lou Gao knew that just this metal platform alone weighed over ten thousand jin!

"So, tell me~," Tiexufu said as he stood in front of the forge, his foot operating the bellows' linkage system. "Why aren't you outside managing the association's affairs? Why did you come here?"

"Or is it that someone dares to disrespect the new president, and you need me to support you?"

Two years ago, in May 2605 of the Douluo Calendar, six months after leaving the Shui Mu Principality, Lou Gao ended his journey across the Douluo Continent and returned to the Star Luo Empire, to the Metal City 'Geng Xin City.'

Upon returning to the headquarters of the Blacksmith Association, Lou Gao merely greeted his master Tiexufu before diving headlong into the fifth-floor forging room, spending a full ten days there.

After those ten days, Lou Gao emerged from the forging room holding a golden, thin piece of armor, and approached Tiexufu.

That very day, Tiexufu announced to everyone at the Blacksmith Association Headquarters that his disciple, Lou Gao, had become the second great master craftsman on the Douluo Continent!

For those who doubted, they could come to Geng Xin City, to the Blacksmith Association Headquarters, and see for themselves!

Half a month later, after notifying many blacksmiths and above in the association, Tiexufu handed over his position as president to Lou Gao.

Tiexufu himself, after stepping down, moved to the number one casting room on the fifth floor of the headquarters, fully dedicating himself to the study of forging techniques and various materials.

Over the past two years, under Lou Gao's leadership, the entire Blacksmith Association has witnessed visible growth compared to Tiexufu's era, both in terms of the blacksmith members within the association and the overall economic situation.

In Tiexufu's eyes, Lou Gao, though a bit inexperienced in forging compared to this seasoned grand craftsman, is brimming with inspiration and will surely surpass his master in the future, surprisingly displaying exceptional leadership abilities!

Upon learning of the association's development and the enhancement of its various strengths, Tiexufu felt somewhat regretful.

Not regretful for passing the position of president to Lou Gao, but for not recognizing Lou Gao's talents earlier and transferring the presidency sooner.

Even though Lou Gao was not yet a grand craftsman at the time, with his master's backing, he could definitely display his full range of talents!

However, when Tiexufu expressed this sentiment of regret to Lou Gao, Lou Gao just shook his head, stating that if he had been put in charge of the Blacksmith Association earlier, things might have become a mess.

But merely this initial attempt has already revitalized the previously lifeless association, which had no clear path for the future. It seems to have found direction, with everyone now having hope and determination, beginning to flourish with vitality.

As a result, two years later, there isn't a single person in the Blacksmith Association, from Tiexufu’s peers to Lou Gao’s contemporaries, who doesn't sincerely admire him.

So, what Tiexufu initially said was merely a jest about this disciple, whom he takes great pride in.

Even if, as Lou Gao claims, he merely borrowed some ideas from Lingyi.

But having lived for so many years, maintaining the Blacksmith Association's survival amidst the various forces on the Douluo Continent, Tiexufu certainly has his own judgment.

Indeed, that young junior apprentice named Ling Yi was a genius of exceptional insight and high aspirations. But the one truly pushing Ling Yi’s ideas throughout the not-so-small Blacksmith Association and achieving remarkable results was my own disciple, Lou Gao. His leadership skills are undeniably excellent!

"Hehe~"

Lou Gao, in his thirties, resembled a child who had just received a new toy, chuckling playfully at his master, Tiexufu, with excitement gleaming in his eyes.

Placing the brocade box onto the solid metal round table, Lou Gao opened the lid and said to Tiexufu, "Master, Junior Brother Ling Yi sent me a gift through someone, and I've come to get your opinion on it—"

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Tiexufu's eyes flashed with a curious gleam, intrigued by the familiar name.

As they both looked into the opened brocade box, three items were revealed to them.

In the center lay a rolled-up sheepskin scroll, flanked on either side by a transparent crystal the size of a fist and a similarly sized silver-gray metal ingot.

Tiexufu did not look at the scroll or the crystal but instead fixed his gaze on the silver-gray metal ingot, hesitantly saying, "Is this... Deep Sea Sinking Silver?"

No sooner did the words leave his lips did he shake his head, dismissing his own thought, "No, that's not it!"

With that, he reached out to pick up the silver-gray metal ingot.

As soon as it was in his hand, Tiexufu's face reflected a knowing expression. Flipping it over, he placed the ingot on his palm and brought it closer for a meticulous examination.

First, he weighed it in his hand, then gripped it firmly, before loosening his hold to examine it from different angles.

He then bent his fingers on the other hand and tapped the metal ingot with his knuckles, listening to the ringing sound it made.

Finally, he scratched the surface of the ingot with his fingernail, then licked the nail, narrowing his eyes as he sensed something.

Standing nearby, Lou Gao watched Tiexufu’s series of actions without interrupting, patiently waiting with a smile.

Tiexufu savored the metallic scent in the air, his head slightly bobbing with realization.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and the palm holding the ingot began to emit a glow of soul power.

Under Tiexufu's control, the faint red soul power penetrated the silver-gray metal ingot.

A second later, Tiexufu’s eyes snapped wide open, aglow with light.

This 'glow' was not merely descriptive—actual light appeared.

The source? The metal ingot he held right in front of him!

Simultaneously, Tiexufu’s strong, steady hand momentarily dropped a few centimeters under the unexpectedly increased weight, then steadied, returning to its original position.

His gaze sharp and intense, he turned abruptly, locking eyes with Lou Gao:

"Tell me, just now, did glowing patterns appear on this?!"

(End of Chapter)