Damn you, Liedyoke! Leizhen’s eyes were green with fury. The Lei family had long been sending gifts and engaging in all manner of cooperation with the City Lord's household. Now, this Liedyoke openly supported Qian Jin?

The Lei family felt an urge to cast aside all pretense and simply unleash a torrent of curses. Just where did this Qian Jin get such immense influence? This was the Lei family! The undisputed ruler of Yongliu! The City Lord was completely disregarding the Lei family’s feelings for the sake of such a vulgar and base creature?

What kind of backing was this? Those quick-witted enough were already lifting their wine glasses and moving towards Qian Jin, hoping to seize this chance to establish a connection, perhaps moving closer to the esteemed City Lord later on.

“The City Lord is backing Qian Jin?” Lilizago shook his head repeatedly. “What on earth is going on? Nord, do you know?”

“Know? Know my ass!” Nordyoke could no longer suppress the anger boiling inside him. His own father wasn't backing him, but instead backing Qian Jin? Who was his actual son? Had his father gone senile to this extent?

“Qian Jin, is it?” Hongseryoke approached Qian Jin, a wine glass in hand, his face set in a smile. “A few days ago, my younger brother and my stepmother acted rudely toward you. I offer my apologies on their behalf and sincerely hope you will accept.”

Qian Jin lightly raised his wine glass and took a small sip. Instinctively, he always felt a deep resistance towards the City Lord’s eldest son. Every time he saw him, he felt like he was facing a viper hidden in the tall grass.

“The President of the Iron Workers’ Union of Yongliu City, Yun Xinghuisheng…”

The reception staff outside shouted at the top of their lungs, seemingly trying to shred their vocal cords, as they announced the name. The still somewhat dazed guests collectively shifted their gaze towards the main entrance of the hall for the first time.

Liedyoke, standing on the presiding platform, hurried down from the podium, his face beaming with a warm smile, and actively strode towards the main entrance.

One might not need to show excessive deference to the Vice President of the Crystal Magic Tower, nor perhaps too much to the Head of the Lei family, or even to Lei Guangming, the Vice President of the Blacksmiths’ Guild—but one absolutely could not slight Yun Xinghuisheng.

No faction in the city could afford to ignore this Master Blacksmith! After all, no faction was self-sufficient. Whether warriors or mages, everyone depended on equipment. This was especially true for warriors!

The City Lord commanded countless city guards. Although the Zhence Imperial Dynasty provided allocations, if he wanted to build a first-rate strong army to fight the Demon Race on the human-demon battlefield in the future, those funds would simply not suffice. He relied entirely on the assistance of the Head of the Yongliu City Blacksmiths’ Guild.

Mu Guwuxin also shed much of his previous overbearing aura, stepping forward to personally greet the forging master who had occupied the top seat in the Yongliu Blacksmiths’ Guild for many years! Rumor even had it that this master was already a true Forging Grandmaster!

The guests in the hall surged towards the door like a tide. If the City Lord himself was coming out to welcome someone, how could they possibly refuse to show face? Even if they didn't respect the old blacksmith, they still had to respect the City Lord’s gesture!

“President Yun, how could my humble birthday possibly cause you such trouble as to draw you out?”

Liedyoke looked at the Head of the Blacksmiths’ Guild standing at the entrance, Master Yun Xinghuisheng.

Dressed in coarse homespun cloth, his head covered in wild white hair, his face etched with nearly a hundred wrinkles, yet his eyes were piercingly bright, his back perfectly straight—his two hands, weathered by time but feeling like iron pincers—this was Yun Xinghuisheng’s first impression of Qian Jin.

“How could I miss the City Lord’s birthday banquet?” Yun Xinghuisheng smiled faintly and slowly descended the steps. Every movement exuded an indescribable, imposing aura that made many people feel a sense of reverence.

“Master.” Lei Guangming, a Master Blacksmith holding immense prestige in Yongliu City, hurried forward like an apprentice just beginning to learn smithing, bending low to reach out and support his teacher.

“Am I that old?” Yun Xinghuisheng lightly waved his arm, blocking Lei Guangming’s outstretched hands. “As a blacksmith, if I can’t even walk properly, how can I forge even finer weapons and equipment?”

Lei Guangming quickly stepped aside respectfully, nodding repeatedly. Yun Xinghuisheng glanced at Lei Guangming with an inquiring look, following his subordinate's line of sight to gaze into the distance, looking over everyone in the hall until his eyes finally settled upon Qian Jin.

Sensing the gaze directed at him by Yun Xinghuisheng, Qian Jin immediately bowed respectfully to the old man whose every gesture radiated the demeanor of a senior master.

“Young man, you are the one called Qian Jin?”

Yun Xinghuisheng raised a hand to push aside the crowd blocking his path and walked step by step toward Qian Jin’s position.

Who was Yun Xinghuisheng?

Perhaps the common folk did not know the capabilities of the Head of the Yongliu Blacksmiths’ Guild, but if one were to ask those in Yongliu City, or even those in the wider Yongliu Province who had contact with the upper echelons of society, nearly everyone could quickly recite the history of this Guild Head.

Yun Xinghuisheng was born in Yongliu Province, began learning smithing at age six, and became a Blacksmith by thirty. He was once hailed as the rising star of forging. By fifty, he had entered the ranks of the Master Blacksmiths. Now, at the venerable age of seventy-seven, his body remained remarkably robust. Outsiders speculated that this Master Blacksmith, who had never sought the title of Forging Grandmaster, was already fully qualified to hold that rank.

He was not the kind of Grandmaster posthumously recognized for contributions to the state, warriors, and the Blacksmiths’ Guild after death—he was one whose talent was genuine.

Lei Guangming watched his slowly approaching master with near-worshipful eyes, feeling an inexpressible joy; finally, Qian Jin was going to face trouble! Only those who truly understood the Master's power and influence knew how terrifying he was.

The Master was not just the Head of the Yongliu City Blacksmiths’ Guild; he was the true foremost authority in forging throughout the entire Yongliu Province! Even when traveling outside Yongliu City to other cities in the province, when meeting the Guild Heads there, he could calmly stand, accept their bows and salutations, and then directly take the seat of honor without any pretense of modesty to rest.

Even the Zhence Royal Family had extended multiple invitations, offering him far more generous terms than his position in the Yongliu Province Guild, but he had refused them all.

“I am a blacksmith, born among the blacksmiths of Yongliu Province. A blacksmith ought to remain within the Blacksmiths’ Guild. I should not only contribute to the Zhence Dynasty, but I must also contribute to cultivating the blacksmiths of Yongliu Province.”

Lei Guangming recalled these words of Yun Xinghuisheng, which countless blacksmiths in Yongliu held as a maxim. He always inwardly scoffed at his Master’s choice—why not enjoy a better life instead of wasting time here in the Guild, and why stop Lei Guangming from becoming the Guild Head?

Now, for the first time, Lei Guangming felt that it was an incredibly, extremely good thing that his Master had never left the Yongliu Blacksmiths’ Guild! With the support of every blacksmith in all of Yongliu, even the formidable Mu Guwuxin would not dare provoke Yun Xinghuisheng.

Unless the Hongliu War Fortress truly wished to cease existing! The Yongliu Blacksmiths’ Guild might not supply equipment to the Hongliu War Fortress, which could then source from other blacksmiths in the province, but if they offended Yun Xinghuisheng?

Lei Guangming dared to slap his chest and guarantee that Mu Guwuxin’s Hongliu War Fortress wouldn't be able to buy a single iron nail from any blacksmith shop in the entire Yongliu Province, let alone weapons and armor! Those brutes who only knew how to slash at demons and men—if they lost their weapons, how would they earn their living? For survival, they would have no choice but to abandon the Hongliu War Fortress and join other warrior guilds, or become adventurers or mercenaries.

When Mu Guwuxin saw Yun Xinghuisheng arrive, his previously pleasant mood vanished instantly. Without even sparing a courteous glance for the City Lord, he immediately fixed his gaze on Qian Jin with intense nervousness, staring at the Head of the Yongliu Blacksmiths’ Guild.

Nordyoke’s face, previously contorted in resentment, finally broke into a smile. He had heard that Lei Guangming from the Blacksmiths’ Guild had been humiliated and released after visiting the Hongliu War Fortress a few days prior. With Yun Xinghuisheng appearing in person this time, even his father wouldn't dare support Qian Jin so openly anymore!

Xiuzidake stood to the side with an air of watching an amusing spectacle, truly surprised that Yun Xinghuisheng, who rarely involved himself in Guild affairs anymore, would personally show up to support the Blacksmiths’ Guild today. It seemed that without him needing to intervene, Qian Jin wouldn't last long in Yongliu, and then Xiuzidake could easily take possession of those four... no! three beauties.

Xiuzidake shot a wary glance at Gu Yuejiaying. This woman was not a rose with thorns, but a saber disguised as a gorgeous bloom. Moreover, she had Fabreidis, a Martial Saint-level warrior, backing her. He would only start scheming to get her into bed if his own life had become too placid, if he were seeking thrills and a path closer to returning to the stars.

There were plenty of beauties! Xiuzidake eyed Luo Qingqing and the other two, his throat bobbing up and down again. Just managing to get one of them into his room would bring unimaginable pleasure. If he could get all three into his room simultaneously...

Xiuzidake felt his lower body hardening again. If not for the concealing coverage of his voluminous mage robes, perhaps everyone would notice his masculine stirrings.

The atmosphere in the hall shifted again with the sudden appearance of Yun Xinghuisheng. People held their breath, watching to see what action the idol of all blacksmiths in Yongliu Province would take. Everyone had heard bits and pieces about the trouble Lei Guangming ran into at the Hongliu War Fortress some days ago.

The motivation of the Guild Head, who long ago focused solely on researching higher-level forging techniques and rarely concerned himself with mundane matters, appearing here today, was certainly worthy of speculation.

“I am he.” Qian Jin placed the wine glass he held onto the long table draped with white linen and calmly walked towards Yun Xinghuisheng. “Elder, what business do you have with me?”

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