Immortal Refiner

Giant Rock City, Falling Stone Street.

No one noticed that a blacksmith shop had suddenly appeared on this street.

Clang, clang, clang Accompanied by the rhythmic clang of metal striking metal, Li Qing arranged the newly forged farming tools—sickles and crude weapons—on the shelves.

Having just arrived, Li Qing had instinctively opened a blacksmith shop, choosing to temporarily lay low in the city.

Miao Qi had helped him secure the shop. Although Giant Rock City was the largest city in the Black Wind Domain, its population remained relatively small.

A significant number of buildings in the city were vacant, so renting a shop for a blacksmith shop didn’t cost much.

The ordinary weapons and farming sickles filling the shelves had earned Li Qing nearly a year and a half of lifespan.

With everything set up, Li Qing found himself with nothing to do, suddenly idle.

Taking advantage of the free time, he focused on honing the Shadow-Seeking Footwork he had just learned.

This Lightness Technique, when combined with the Light Silk Leg Technique, produced unexpected results. He no longer needed to deliberately cultivate the Vital Energy in his legs.

Having practiced the Light Silk Leg Technique, he already possessed the foundation to learn this Lightness Technique.

With Li Qing’s current level as an Inner Strength expert, he could briefly control his entire body’s Vital Energy. This allowed his progress in the Lightness Technique to accelerate rapidly.

Thus, he practiced the Lightness Technique while passively gathering information about the city. Time flew by quickly.

In Giant Rock City, besides the City Lord’s Manor and the Red Fish Merchant Guild, there were numerous gangs of varying sizes.

For example, the street where Li Qing’s shop was located was controlled by the Sand Crocodile Gang. Every time the Dark Wheat Mushrooms matured, his shop had to pay the gang either some food or two Money Crystals.

The fee wasn’t excessive, and Li Qing had no objections. Whenever the Sand Crocodile Gang members came to collect, he paid without fail.

To Li Qing’s surprise, despite the presence of many gangs, Giant Rock City remained as tranquil as stagnant water. The gang wars and territorial disputes he had anticipated never materialized.

Even the Red Fish Merchant Guild and the City Lord’s Manor, the two top-tier powers, coexisted peacefully. Their relationship was surprisingly cordial, with no conflicts whatsoever.

This left Li Qing feeling somewhat helpless. If life truly remained this peaceful, wouldn’t he end up becoming a blacksmith here for good?

”Could it be that the Red Fish Merchant Guild is just an ordinary merchant guild after all? Then why have they been so conspicuously collecting beasts from the Sunlight Era?”

Li Qing muttered to himself, his eyes flickering slightly.

What intrigued him most, of course, was the Armored Pig, a novel species.

He didn’t believe the Red Fish Merchant Guild was collecting beasts to preserve their species. In this world, who would bother with such a thing unless they had nothing better to do?

After nearly a month of waiting, the stagnant Giant Rock City finally stirred with some unusual activity.

That day, several members of the Sand Crocodile Gang came to Li Qing’s blacksmith shop.

”Master Li, how have things been lately? Business doing alright?”

A few young men with rough, thug-like appearances entered the shop. Li Qing immediately recognized them as the low-level thugs of the Sand Crocodile Gang.

He had always looked down on these street thugs, who knew only a few half-baked martial arts moves.

Li Qing put on a show of humility: ”Oh, thanks to your patronage, I’m barely scraping by.”

”I don’t think it’s time to pay the Protection Fee yet. What brings you gentlemen here?”

The next words from the thugs made Li Qing’s heart stir.

”Hehe, we’re not here to collect money. We’re here to do business.”

”That’s right. The Sand Crocodile Gang wants to order a batch of ironwork from you.”

Li Qing remained calm. ”Oh? What kind of ironwork, and what will it be used for?”

”Bring it out and let Master Li take a look,” the leader gestured.

Soon, a rusty, dilapidated animal trap was placed before Li Qing. It was clearly old, covered in dust, and difficult to identify.

”So, Master Li, do you recognize this thing? It’s called an animal trap. Can you make it?” the leader asked expectantly.

Li Qing’s answer didn’t disappoint. ”Hmm, judging by the construction, it shouldn’t be too difficult. I can try. I should be able to make it.”

Hearing this assurance, the Sand Crocodile Gang members immediately said with satisfaction, ”I knew this newly opened blacksmith shop had real skill. It’s nothing like the other shops on the street that only forge farming tools.”

”Master Li, name your price. We need about ten of these animal traps. Can you give us a discount?”

Name your price?

Li Qing felt no sympathy for these bloodsucking parasites who made their living extorting protection money. He immediately made an outrageous offer: ”Including the waste from the trial production... fifteen Money Crystals each!”

He hadn’t gone completely overboard, just raised the price slightly above what was reasonable.

Claiming to account for the trial production waste, he was charging them a total of 150 Money Crystals. This wasn’t a small sum; it was almost enough to buy an Armored Pig from the Red Fish Merchant Guild.

The Sand Crocodile Gang members hesitated for a moment before finally agreeing.

”Alright, we’ll pay that price. Let us know when they’re ready, and try to make them as quickly as possible!”

With that, the Sand Crocodile Gang members left Li Qing’s blacksmith shop.

Li Qing watched their backs recede, his eyes flickering thoughtfully for a moment.

”Making animal traps? Are they planning to go hunting?”

The city currently had a stable supply of Armored Pig meat, which, though expensive, was still considered a decent source of protein.

Spending 150 Money Crystals to commission a batch of animal traps was a significant upfront investment.

After all, the Red Fish Merchant Guild typically paid only 300-400 Money Crystals on average for a wild beast from the Sunlight Era.

If they failed to catch anything, it would be a complete loss. Animal traps weren’t exactly valuable assets; they would rust and break down over time.

Just as Li Qing was about to inquire about recent events in the city, an unexpected visitor entered his blacksmith shop.

Miao Qi strode in, his face flushed with excitement. ”Brother Li, our Gang Leader sent a letter recently. He’s instructed me to station myself in Giant Rock City and assist you in any way possible. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll take care of it.”

Li Qing glanced at Miao Qi in surprise, then immediately burst into laughter.

Just when I was thinking about it, someone brought me a pillow!

”Perfect timing. Can you gather information? The Sand Crocodile Gang recently commissioned me to make a batch of animal traps. I need you to find out what they’re planning.”

”Be discreet and don’t be too obvious.”

Miao Qi’s eyes lit up. He nodded eagerly. ”No problem, leave it to me!”

With that, he quickly left the blacksmith shop, his body still trembling slightly.

Could it be... the Gang Leader has decided to extend our reach into Giant Rock City?

Miao Qi remembered how Li Qing’s clever plan had brought down the Yan Family, securing all of Blackrock City for the Righteous Gang. He knew the story intimately.

Could this finally be my chance to participate in such a crucial operation?

The thought made Miao Qi clench his fists, as if he could already see the wide, open road of his future stretching before him.

(End of the Chapter)

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