The sheer momentum, coupled with an overwhelmingly aggressive assault, actually forced Mu Gui Wuxin to retreat for a good while. In the end, he had no choice but to unleash his power, exceeding his current level to repel Qian Jin. Otherwise, he would have suffered a truly humiliating defeat this time.

Qian Jin’s entire body was surging with excitement. Although Mu Gui Wuxin had suppressed his strength, his imposing aura as a powerhouse remained undiminished. Facing him was like confronting a peerless, ferocious beast. Withstanding that brutal, overbearing presence and still managing to deploy his strongest combat skills and techniques was an excellent form of training in itself. It was just a shame that he hadn't witnessed many of Mu Gui Wuxin’s actual combat skills this time.

“Interesting… very interesting…” Mu Gui Wuxin recovered from his surprise, nodding repeatedly. His gaze slid from Qian Jin to Duan Feng Bu Er, then to Fen Tu Kuang Ge and Checkford: “You few, are you also friends of Qian Jin?”

Fabredis stepped forward and whispered in his ear, “That one habitually smoking a cigarette and carrying a gun—he’s one of the Seven Demon Quelling Fighters. His Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline is awakened to the first level. Rumor has it he hasn’t joined any City War Fortress yet. And that one is from the Fen Tu family—at the peak of the Three Demon Quelling Fighters, ready to break through again at any moment. He hasn't joined any War Fortress either. That kid is named Checkford; he’s also at the peak of the Three Demon Quelling Fighters. The way he kills people is absolutely ruthless! Also not affiliated with a War Fortress…”

In an instant! A smile unlike any seen before spread across Mu Gui Wuxin’s rugged face. His eyes shone with the fervor of a man who hadn't seen a female creature for several lifetimes.

These people—every single one of them was a treasure! Mu Gui Wuxin rubbed his hands together repeatedly. He was rich! Rich! This time, I’ve truly struck it rich!

“Gentlemen, have any of you considered joining a War Fortress?” Mu Gui Wuxin smiled, snatching several application forms from the hands of a warrior following behind him. “My Hong Liu War Fortress is also one of the Eight Great Powers of Yongliu City! There are many benefits to joining our fortress, for instance…”

Mu Gui Wuxin hadn't finished speaking, hadn't even listed a single benefit, when he saw the four young men boldly sign their names on the membership application forms.

This… Mu Gui Wuxin was stunned on the spot. The situation of the Hong Liu War Fortress couldn't be hidden; moreover, Qian Jin and the others had spent time with Zeng Chuan Dong, meaning they knew the fortress’s circumstances. He had been worried about how to lure them, never expecting them to be so agreeable.

“You give them letters of introduction,” Fabredis pointed at Qian Jin and Checkford. “Write one for each, recommending them to enroll at the Conquest War Academy.”

“The Conquest War Academy?” Mu Gui Wuxin was taken aback. “With their strength, they could sweep through the entrance exams. They can’t pass the exams? Oh! Right! They were in the Outlands… they missed the exams! No problem! Many graduates from the Conquest War Academy end up joining the Hong Liu War Fortress. In a sense, our fortress is superior to the Conquest Academy. Recommending two people poses no issue.”

“Is that kid’s fake identity sorted out yet?” Fabredis looked back at Checkford.

“Fake?” Mu Gui Wuxin glared dismissively at Fabredis. “I only ever deal in the real thing! The Dynasty’s population records now have names for every person!”

Listening to Mu Gui Wuxin, Qian Jin realized that this Warrior’s Guild, which Aibijia had described as having declined significantly, was actually quite capable. At the very least, creating an identity out of thin air for someone wasn't something just any power could achieve.

“Right!” Mu Gui Wuxin leaned close to Qian Jin again. “I heard you’re also a Fourth-Level Blacksmith?”

Qian Jin looked helplessly at Fabredis. Before leaving the Hong Liu Ten Warriors in the Outlands, this Guardian of Oakland had repeatedly instructed him to inform Mu Gui Wuxin that he was a Fourth-Level Blacksmith, while hiding his status as a Forging Master just to enjoy the show.

“Ah, old friend,” Fabredis reappeared before Mu Gui Wuxin with an expression of sympathy. “Your intelligence is always so outdated. Let me tell you something; don't be shocked.”

Mu Gui Wuxin rolled his eyes at Fabredis. “I am the Guild Master of the Hong Liu War Fortress, the leader of one of Yongliu City’s Eight Great Powers. When I was adventuring everywhere, what haven’t I seen? I’ve died countless times on the Human-Demon Battlefield! Even if His Majesty the current Emperor suddenly appeared here, I wouldn't bat an eyelid. What could possibly shock me?”

“That’s right, that’s right. You are the leader of one of Yongliu City’s Eight Great Powers; you’ve seen everything,” Fabredis nodded repeatedly, flattering him. Mu Gui Wuxin listened, nodding along, feeling curious—why was Fabredis being so complimentary today?

“Exactly. I believe even if I told you that Qian Jin became a Forging Master at such a young age, you wouldn't be surprised.”

“That would be…” Mu Gui Wuxin habitually replied halfway through, then his eyes suddenly bulged, and his breathing became as heavy as a wild ox after running dozens of kilometers. He thrust his large head close to Fabredis and asked, “What did you just say?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Fabredis waved his hand nonchalantly. “As the Guild Master of the Hong Liu War Fortress, what haven’t you seen? You’ve died several times on the Human-Demon Battlefield, and you wouldn’t even blink if the current Emperor was here. Would you really be surprised that Qian Jin is a Forging Master?”

Mu Gui Wuxin’s vision suddenly went black. He staggered but managed to steady himself. His eyes, wide as those of a massive ox, stared blankly at Qian Jin beside him. “You… you… Fabredis… is what he said true?”

Seeing Mu Gui Wuxin’s expression of near-fainting shock, Qian Jin kindly refrained from adding that he was also a top-tier Alchemist, and temporarily concealed the matter of the mysterious potions and inscriptions. He merely nodded slightly to confirm his status as a Forging Master.

Observing Mu Gui Wuxin’s stunned face, Qian Jin genuinely feared that if he accidentally slipped up and revealed the truth about Miao Ti, he might actually scare the Guild Master of the Hong Liu War Fortress into a seizure. That would turn into a massive joke. The life and health of the Hong Liu War Fortress Guild Master were quite valuable, after all.

Mu Gui Wuxin stared blankly at Qian Jin, his mind a total void. When he first heard that Qian Jin was a Fourth-Level Blacksmith, he couldn’t believe it and was overjoyed for days. They would finally no longer be entirely constrained by the Blacksmiths’ Guild; they would have leverage for negotiations with them. The ore produced by the fortress’s mines wouldn't have to be sold to the Blacksmiths’ Guild at such drastically low prices. Perhaps they could even raise the price a little.

Now… now…

Mu Gui Wuxin suddenly realized that if Qian Jin was truly a Forging Master, it wouldn't just be about having leverage for negotiation with the Blacksmiths’ Guild; they wouldn't need to be constrained by the Blacksmiths’ Guild at all!

Damn the Blacksmiths’ Guild! Damn selling ore cheap! Sell to your mother! I wouldn’t sell it to you for any amount of gold! Mu Gui Wuxin swayed violently, his face beaming. The strongest blacksmith in Yongliu’s Blacksmiths’ Guild [Skyfire Forge] was only an Eighth-Level Blacksmith at best. Our Hong Liu War Fortress has a Forging Master! A Forging Master!

“Right!” Mu Gui Wuxin forcibly pulled himself out of his ecstasy, remembering a crucial question. “Which discipline of forging are you a master in? And in the discipline you are least proficient in, what level of forging are you at?”

“Least proficient?” Qian Jin looked troubled, thinking hard for a long time. If he had even one discipline he wasn't proficient in at Uncle Black’s place, he wouldn't have become a Forging Master, so…

“I don’t think I have anything I’m not proficient in,” Qian Jin scratched his neck. “I am a Forging Master across all disciplines. From a complete set of heavy cavalry armor down to a single horseshoe, even the rivets on the battle armor are at the Master level.”

Thump!

Mu Gui Wuxin finally couldn't stand anymore. His massive, bear-like body crashed down, landing heavily on his rear end on the ground. Staring at the standing Qian Jin, he even suspected he was dreaming—a very beautiful, very happy dream!

In these past few years, the days of the Hong Liu War Fortress in Yongliu City had gone from bad to worse. The Blacksmiths’ Guild was only willing to purchase the metal extracted from their mines at the absolute lowest prices, and if the price wasn't agreeable, they would refuse to forge weapons and equipment for the Hong Liu War Fortress.

Selling ore at rock-bottom prices while having to pay exorbitant prices for weapons and equipment forged by the Blacksmiths’ Guild forced the Hong Liu War Fortress to take on missions for the other major powers in Yongliu just to raise funds; even the Hong Liu Ten Warriors had gone out on such errands multiple times.

There were many reasons Fabredis left the Hong Liu War Fortress back then, one of which was his inability to tolerate the situation. He found an excuse, beat up the President of the Blacksmiths’ Guild, and sent the biased Xiuzidake to the hospital for half a year.

The Blacksmiths’ Guild used Fabredis’s expulsion as a condition, agreeing to slightly increase the purchase price of the ore and lower the price of weapons and equipment.

When Fabredis learned of this later, he deeply regretted it! He regretted not knowing the situation earlier; he should have just beaten up every single member of the Blacksmiths’ Guild. Perhaps the Blacksmiths’ Guild would have offered the excellent condition of 'expelling Fabredis, and we'll give you weapons and equipment for free.'

Fabredis lifted his foot and kicked Mu Gui Wuxin squarely in the back, sending the bear-like body sprawling onto the floor. The few new warriors of the Hong Liu War Fortress standing outside the door watched with shock! What a fierce man! Dares to kick the Guild Master? Doesn't he value his life?

Didn't this person know the Guild Master’s temper? When he truly flew into a rage, he was terrifying!

When the Guild Master couldn't secure funds but had to purchase equipment for the Hong Liu War Fortress, he would suit up in armor, grab his battle axe, and charge alone into the Blacksmiths’ Guild to play the rogue—goods first, money later! I don't have the money right now, but if I don't pay, I’ll fight you to the death!

That kind of reckless, berserk behavior made even the City Lord step aside. This person dares to kick the Guild Master? Alas… this person is probably…

“Why are you sitting on the floor? Get up once you’ve thought it through,” Fabredis looked down at Mu Gui Wuxin lying on the ground. “These are a bunch of treasures, right? I can tell you, they are also a group of rather troublesome young people.”