Quest Maker of Soul Land

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"Is he the one?" The man looked at the receptionist as he nodded with a sheepish expression.

"Good day, Brother. I am Rao Yin." The middle-aged man introduced himself while cupping his fists as Ja Sun returned the greeting and stated calmly.

"Ka-ul."

"I am told that you wish to join the Blacksmith Association. Although this brat is a little capable, he may be wrong so excuse my doubt but will you display your ability in front of our President? That way, we can be certain of your capabilities."

Narrowing his eyes, Ja Sun crossed his arms, "If this brother here was only 'little' capable, would the President of the Association require my presence?"

Suddenly smiling and laughing, the Rao Yin laughed, "Hahaha, brother is astute and capable. This brat is named Si Long. He is the president's disciple and is currently undergoing training."

"Hello," Si Long cupped his fist.

"I am here for a simple matter." Ja Sun spoke softly, "If this process takes longer than an hour, I will be leaving."

"Does brother Ka-ul has any other appointments?"

"Yes."

"Then please come this way."

While Rao Yin led Ja Sun towards the floor, Si Long returned to the reception. Along the way, Rao Yin gave a simple introduction of the remaining level of the association since every level had different areas of activities. Aside from the market of finished products on the first level, the second level also conducted trade but for rare materials and a certain quality of finished goods. The third level tested the level of one's mastery of the crafts and accepted members. The fourth level was divided into a small auction house and a VIP area for the same. Finally, Rao Yin brought Ja Sun to the fifth level and the entire environment of the building changed.

From level one to four, everything was tasteful. Lavish. A certain, addictive scent of oil pervaded the previous levels despite their beautiful presentation and that particular scent was boosted on this floor by many times. The floors were no longer marbled. Thick blocks of stone with many, many forges working simultaneously.

*Klang*

*Klang*

The set-up wasn't as simple as forged laid down in neat rows and columns. A single central stoke with tens of masters on the same floor. Each strike of the hammer was followed by another and another until the chaotic sounds turned rhythmic. Aside from the most obvious feature— soundproofing, the floor also had rows of private chambers where the metal pipes entered suggesting that this presentation wasn't the peak of the Blacksmithing industry.

"This way."

Rao Yin led Ja Sun from the side and took him towards the secluded corner of the floor before knocking on the chamber's metallic entrance. Only then did he push it open. Thick metal-plated doors opened with a push of his palm without any sense of exertion.

Stepping into the room after Roa Yin's gesture, Ja Sun found an unkempt old man with more white in his hair than grey continuously scribbling something on a yellowed-out piece of parchment. A small forge set on the left side of the chamber while the right side held various books on a large layered shelf.

The old man had wrinkled bronze skin and the moment Ja Sun entered, his slightly protruding ears twitched.

"Hmm?"

"President, he is the one Si Long came to inform you about. He is called Ka-ul." Rao Yin's voice came from the other side.

Suddenly, the old man threw the parchment in Ja Sun's direction. He stared at Ja Sun intently, looking for what kind of move the masked-being in front of him would make when suddenly.

*Pac*

The parchment was slapped against the mask.

"Could you act your age, Sir?" Ja Sun calmly inquired while pulling the parchment. Gazing at the scribbled diagram, Ja Sun didn't understand a thing but he did see that the flow of the energy was described with complete description.

Though the old man felt his momentum losing put momentarily, unable to understand why the person in front of him, a youth, from the sound of it didn't move quick enough to catch the paper, he still coughed and barked, "Don't teach this old man. That brat said your array had a perfect conversion rate. Complete this array and—"

Ja Sun's stretched-out arm revealed not only the gauntlet, but also the beautiful pattern over their surface flashing a golden light.

"C-completed? Wait, that's Vajra Gauntlet! Yi?! Wingless Covers! Hurry, brat, sit! Disperse the array. It's perfect, perfect. Tell me where you found these boots and gauntlets."

The array dispersed and Ja Sun sat in front of the man without a hint of panic.

"My grandmother gifted them to me."

"Your grandmother?" The man frowned.

"Yes, before passing away, she called me her Ultimate Grandson and left me these pairs of gauntlets and boots."

"The truth!" the old man growled with a frantic expression as Ja Sun took out a small metal token with a sword pointing downwards and set it on the table.

"Calm down."

As if doused with cold water, the old man blinked at the token and then looked at the masked youth in front of him before clearing his throat and leaning back on his chair once again.

"Lou Gao, that's my name. I'm the president of the association and a Spirit Sage. Tell me, why would someone from Spirit Hall come to this 'low' place?" He stated with a cold expression.

"I told you. I want to join the Blacksmith Association."

With a snort, Lou Gao barked, "Not happening! It's because of your Hall that blacksmiths are oppressed!"

"I see," Ja Sun frowned with a sigh. If he had more time, he would have persuaded the man in front of him but every minute counted for him.

"That's a shame. Thank you for sharing your time with me."

With that, Ja Sun stood up and Lou Gao hurriedly asked, "Before you leave, tell me where you found these two items!"

With a bit of hope, Ja Sun lied, "Spirit Hall. It was given to me for my meritorious deeds."

"Spirit Hall? They would keep items like these two?" The old man sneered and Ja Sun turned back to look at the man who continued to give him opposite vibes time and again.

"Old Sir Lou, I am in a hurry. Please tell me if you are going to be cryptic all along."

Seeing the old man's frozen expression twist into an embarrassed cough, Ja Sun smirked internally while Lou Gao waved his hand with an upset expression, "Just sit. The two items you were are actually an ingenious mix of arrays and forging. No, it could be said that it is arrays taking the path of forging and developing these two items completely with the spirit energy as the hammer."

With a curious heart, Ja Sun took a seat once again and let Lou Gao continue.

"Look at my martial soul."

Lou Gao's fingers instantly twirled a small pen. In fact, the sleek golden pen was quite normal but when in Lou Gao's large palm, it looked too small.

"This is Sacred Molding Pen. The Martial Soul that allowed me to become one of the Continent's Divine Craftsman. Its ability allows me to cast yet I yearn for more arrays, do you know why?"

Lou Gao smirked. His bushy beard trembling slightly.

"No."

"Because it allows a blacksmith to appropriately use spirit energy. Enhancing the material with each strike.

Kid, what is your name?"

"Ka-ul."

Ja Sun replied once again.

"The items you wear are not important in value because they are strong. They are important because they are resilient. They will not block spirit energy at all. There are many other weapons that allow the spirit energy to pass but it is never transparent. Some of the spirit energy will be blocked and that is because... they are normal.

But with Arrays, you get armory like Vajra Gauntlets, and Wingless Covers. Naturally, the resources used to make them are too rare. Each alloy made of the rarest living metal essence."

"These are made of metals?" Ja Sun inquired once again with a frown as he looked at the flexible leather-like pair of gauntlets and boots. But he instantly realized his mistake. Something he had ridiculed his group about countless times.

He asked a stupid question.

And Lou Gao capitalized, "What's wrong with your ears? I say it's metal. Then it is metal. Your granny must be one blind... ehm, your late granny must have been one blind... lady. Lords, I still can't ridicule the dead. But you, you deaf son of a bitch, stop asking stupid questions!"

Ja Sun's ears rang a sharp piercing sound as Lou Gao have an extremely loud laugh followed by his insults. It was as if something heavy had been suppressing and blocking his heart but not anymore.

"Your quality of array is directly related to your spirit energy. Whoever taught you in that godforsaken holy land of yours must be one tough bird. I will allow you to join the Blacksmith Association. Do you have any blacksmithing skills?"

"I can lift a hammer," Ja Sun nodded.

"Hmm... a kid can lift a wooden mallet, too. Should I hire everyone into the association?" Lou Gao growled.

"I don't know a thing about forging. But I can assist with Arrays."

"No, arrays and Blacksmithing work side-by-side. A person who doesn't forge will not understand. But you can use arrays directly, too. The quality of the products will be different and better but the time consumed and spirit drawn will be equally high."

Instantly, Lou Gao shouted, "Rao Yin, get a token of Array Master with the seal of president engraved!"

Ja Sun's ears rung once again but Lou Gao continued without a care.

"In technique and experience, Blacksmiths have various ranks within themselves. Divine Blacksmith is the highest title possible to achieve. I'm one of the three divine blacksmiths of the continent. However, knowledge on Array is too exotic so we collectively categorize all Spirit Master with the talent for Array as Array Masters.

You can come and go as you wish. You will have a special 10% discount on general trade and a 5% discount on rare trade of materials.

Now, let's see your limits.

Can you create this array?"

Just like this, Ja Sun began to create arrays based on what Lou Gao drew.

According to Qian Daoliu, the trait one gain by reaching the realm of self is different for everyone. Even in the same category, one can have different results. For instance, one person can reduce 10% spirit energy consumption with the activation of skill while another can reduce 20%.

What Ja Sun achieved was perfect control. Or that's what Ja Sun called it. This trait allowed him to manipulate his spirit skills to the extreme, breaking the basic forms of skill into variations that gave him an edge against everyone. Meanwhile, he can also manipulate his spirit energy as he wishes.

It was only after three hours did Ja Sun reach his limit. Not in control, but in the reserves of his spirit energy.

"Y-you... what Ultimate Grandson? Your grandma was really a blind bitch! She let you join spirit hall!" Lou Gao hissed with an ugly expression. Parchments littered the floor as his right hand trembled momentarily.

"Then next time, you should call me grandson of a bitch," Ja Sun chuckled. Insults? Him? They will always fail.

"President, I have brought the token with me."

Saying this, Rao Yin stepped.

"Well? Give it to the kid!" Lou Gao mumbled with an extremely terrible expression and once Ja Sun gripped the silver hexagonal token with the word Array inscribed on it and the seal of the blacksmith association in red color below it, he felt the mission screen flash and he moved extremely swiftly.

"Old Sir Lou, I'm using your bathroom for a moment."

He entered the other door behind Lou Gao and locked the door.

[Objective: Join a certain craft present in Gengxin City.

Mission Rank: F

Mission Rewards: Blueprint of Molding Heat Array.]

A scroll appeared in front of him and on it was etched the same diagram that he saw on Si Long's desk. Just this time, it had a lot more description that at least allowed Ja Sun to understand what he did by 20%.

After a few minutes, he walked out. His spirit energy already recovering by 3% passively and he still hadn't used his external reserves.

By now, Ja Sun understood the worth of this ability within the Blacksmith Association. No, within Lou Gao's mind. It was time to find a place to settle in.

"Say, Old Sir Lou, I'm here for a week only. After a week, I will have to move because I'm constantly training. Where I have to go is not even known to me. For seven days, if the Blacksmith Association can support me then I will stay here. Since you're so full of praise for arrays, you must know how to create finished goods using them, too. Direct me and I will create finished products for you. Take me as a seven-day apprentice of yours."

Ja Sun knew better than to state his intentions to a person as direct as Lou Gao who would cuss a dead grandmother for letting a talented youth enter the Spirit Hall.

"You? My seven-day apprentice?" Lou Gao made a face but he then frowned. Beside Lou Gao, Roa Yin's expression turned pale for a moment. That frown... is bad news.

"Hmm... it is not possible to take you as an apprentice. Si Long is working as an Array Master and Forging. Your ability in making arrays is astonishing, but Si Long suits my path more. However, you raised the condition of being an apprentice. That means you lack knowledge. These seven days, stay in this chamber itself for all I care. For every two orders of mine, I will gift you a theory of array. Or a blueprint. Or even an entire tome for a specified line of Arrays. It all depends on the quality of your goods.

I will direct you once.

You ruin the goods, you pay for it. Don't think of shrinking back later once you accumulate losses because I can find you even if you hide in Spirit Hall."

Lou Gao's extremely stern expression only made Ja Sun lose his cloak as he rotated his shoulders.

Unknowingly, a small green token was already tied around his neck and stuffed into his robes.

"Well, come on, then. Don't think of shrinking your neck when I make way too much. I can find justice since my teacher happens to be a... heh, you know the ranks of elders, right? It's public knowledge who the elders are under the Supreme Pontiff."

This time, Lou Gao's expression changed. But he was more offended by the challenge itself.

---

"Did anyone find some prospective spirit master?" Bibi Dong inquired. They no longer met in a tavern but an Inn's room. Everyone sat around the bed or the chairs.

"Teacher, we tried to find them. We already knew that you would check with the Spirit Temple of the city so we started from the streets. There are a few notable spirit masters that have support-type skills but once we met with them, almost all of them had a 10-year-old spirit ring," Hu Lana smiled sadly.

"We usually meet spirit masters of our own kind. Most of them have optimal spirit rings. No need to feel so down," Bibi Dong smiled without too much worry. Although she knew that losing the tournament would cut her own part of the inheritance but that was just it. To her, spirit bones assigned in her training weren't worth losing the bigger picture. Victory, loss, at this moment, Bibi Dong wanted to soak in the experience itself. This was the lesson she took from the place where crimes never end.

"Next," but now, Bibi Dong's expression sunk instantly, "Did any of you find Ka-ul?"

"I checked all the sites in the red light district, he wasn't there at all," Xie Xan spoke up.

"No one in the city's inn saw him." Liu Erlong frowned.

"No one saw him leaving the city," Hu Lana mumbled.

"He's in the Blacksmith Association," Ah Yin stated.

"What?" Bibi Dong's head snapped towards Ah Yin's direction as the blue-haired woman nodded.

"Olivia found him today... she said that he's... making a sword float."

Ah Yin kissed the top of Olivia's head as she hooted and nodded.

"Making a sword float?" Xie Xan traced his chin, "He's really enjoying this vacation. Teacher, there are still two days left. If nothing else, can we stop looking for support masters and just rest?"

"It's quite alright. I'm curious as to why he's making a sword float," Bibi Dong leaned back on the chair.

"Probably a trick to mess with us later," Liu Erlong stated with a hint of certainty in her tone.

"How would that even affect us?" Hu Lana giggled.

"Could he be... training his control?" Ah Yin's voice was rather soft but as she spoke, both Ah Yin's and Bibi Dong's gaze met. There was a sense of sternness in their gazes.

"I'm heading back early for the night." Bibi Dong stood up.

"Me, too," Ah Yin exhaled and looked at everyone, "Get out. Go back to your rooms."

The trio's lips twitched as they left for rest themselves.

---

"Good, you won't die on me and leave me to fend Spirit Hall alone, right?" Lou Gao placed another three ores in front of Ja Sun as he continued to sit cross-legged with bloodshot eyes.

The more Lou Gao looked at Ja Sun's eyes revealed from his mask, the more frightened he felt internally. The only time Ja Sun took breaks was for the bathroom. But in reality, he hadn't eaten anything for the past six... no seven days. This, in itself, was frightening. Just what was he shitting without eating? Furthermore, Ja Sun's control never stumbled at all. All products were completed without any defects and aside from the first three products, the rest of them would be considered rare and sturdy enough to be sold on the second level.

Although Ja Sun hadn't created anything that can be auctioned yet, it was already quite amazing.

Picking up the piece of parchment next to the ores, Ja Sun gazed at the order's description. Next to him, there was a large stack of books. If Ja Sun stopped refining for a moment, then he only read the information taken directly from Lou Gao's book.

In the next moment, Ja Sun stretched both of his arms out. His palms gave a snow-white glimmer and a creeping pressure built within the room once again. From the corner of the room, Si Long peeked with eyes filled with stars.

Thick currents of spirit energy converged in front of Ja Sun in a pentagonal pattern with several fine lines of energy moving within. The strange array itself attracted the three fist-sized ores. Two of them were yellow with a muddy brown texture while the last one was blue.

'One last time... my all,' Ja Sun's eyelids shuddered. This was a different kind of ordeal. Not pain but exhaustion. He could tolerate pain but this exhaustion was like a slow poison that slowly gripped him. But thinking of everything he had gained while giving up sleep, Ja Sun couldn't stop now. He understood that after this, he won't have any strength to move and while the thought was somewhat dangerous, Ja Sun himself was amazingly pulled into refining. The rewards surely motivated him into entering this state.

Eyes closed, the array created by Ja Sun suddenly thrummed into life.

*Swish*

The three ores instantly entered the area between the array in three different positions.

Time and again, the array would pulse. It was in accordance with Ja Sun's heartbeat but it did not seem inconsistent at all, revealing Ja Sun's concentration and calmness despite his current state of extreme withdrawal. The Sigh of Immortal hanging around Ja Sun's neck continued to release the last remaining stock of energy into his body, instantly melting into his spirit sea and usable once again.

Lou Gao silently sat on his chair while beckoned Si Long to enter silently. The pair of master-disciple gazed at the array with an astonished look. Too great!

An Array could be found naturally. The naturally found arrays affected the elements perfectly, leaving a spirit master only with the choice of destroying them. However, Ja Sun's man-made array had the same effects. Ja Sun's arrays were comparable to the ones found in mother nature.

In blacksmithing, Lou Gao researched that aside from the molding array, there needed to be a quenching, and shaping array combined with it. Any array master worth his salt would be able to do it and Ja Sun did that, too. The difference, now, was that he knew what he was doing.

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