"Only lost one arm?"
Su Ming was quite disappointed.
Of course, disappointment was one thing, but after feeling disappointed, he still clapped and cheered.
In the current era, the Spirit Master cultivation system was very primitive, with extremely high requirements for bodily integrity. Unlike in later generations, where a Titled Douluo's power was concentrated in their Spirit Core, so even losing limbs wouldn't affect the Spirit Core's operation, and their realm wouldn't fall.
In Douluo 1, if a Titled Douluo becomes disabled, their Spirit Power will drop.
Especially for someone like Tang Hao, where a key Spirit Bone location was severed, a drop of ten levels in Spirit Power would be considered normal.
Spirit Power was secondary; the impact of losing the arm was greater. For someone like Tang Hao who uses a hammer, losing his right arm meant most of his hammer techniques were probably rendered useless.
Thinking of this, Su Ming breathed a sigh of relief.
"Looking at it this way, even with Ring Explosion, Tang Hao's strength is at most that of a Spirit Douluo?"
Su Ming glanced at Dugu Bo, who was cultivating intensively in seclusion not far away.
Although Dugu Bo was the weakest Titled Douluo, he was still a Titled Douluo nonetheless.
It's stable!
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
"That Bony Bastard struck well with his sword!"
Gu Rong listened cheerfully as Ning Fengzhi relayed the latest information.
Striking at Tang Hao and even severing his right arm—it couldn't be more satisfying.
They themselves held no fondness for the Clear Sky Clan.
Especially since the forging system emerged, the reclusive Clear Sky Clan sent out a group of disciples preparing to make a comeback. This was what displeased Gu Rong the most. They should have been turtles hiding in their shells for life. If they really wanted to make a comeback, they should settle the old accounts first.
That was Gu Rong's thought.
Ning Fengzhi felt much the same, as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had suffered significant losses because of the Clear Sky Clan back in the day.
However, Ning Fengzhi didn't show his emotions. He kept his thoughts to himself, only speaking after letting Gu Rong have his say: "The right arm bone on Tang Hao was a hereditary treasure of the Clear Sky Clan, its quality second only to a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone, and extremely valuable."
It could be said that the benefits obtained from trading this Spirit Bone with the Clear Sky Clan left even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan feeling quite satisfied.
"Fengzhi, do we still have to give that kid Su Ming a share of the rare metals we acquired through our methods this time?"
Thinking of this unhappy matter, Gu Rong felt depressed.
According to Ning Fengzhi's previous agreement with Su Ming, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had to give Su Ming ten percent of all the rare metals they acquired within ten years.
This time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan returning the hereditary Spirit Bone to the Clear Sky Clan wasn't free; it was an exchange of benefits. The Clear Sky Clan paid a considerable price, which included a thirty percent share of a rare metal ore vein.
That's right, the Clear Sky Clan actually controlled two rare metal ore veins, something Ning Fengzhi hadn't known before.
If they hadn't also wanted to use the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's manpower to vigorously mine the ore veins, the Clear Sky Clan probably wouldn't have exposed this and used a thirty percent share of one vein to trade for the hereditary Spirit Bone.
"Uncle Bone, haven't you seen it? The progress in forging technology is too steady." Ning Fengzhi exclaimed with admiration: "Spirit Infusion is undoubtedly a qualitative leap from zero to one, but isn't Spirit Refinement the same? And Fusion Forging? Su Ming consistently makes new progress at regular intervals; that alone makes him worth our investment."
Even though the previous cooperation specified ten percent of acquired rare metals, Ning Fengzhi had tacitly accepted it as ten percent of all rare metals obtained.
"Moreover, this time, Su Ming and his group were actually the key. Whether arranging for Tang Long and Tang Hu to assess Tang San was a case of good intentions leading to bad results, or purely born of ill intent, is truly uncertain."
Gu Rong found this headache-inducing.
All these messy schemes were too taxing on brain cells.
He wanted to change the subject.
But, thinking about it, Gu Rong felt even worse.
Recently, it had been all bad news.
"That girl Rongrong has run away too. Fengzhi, I'm telling you, it's so chaotic over there now, she should come back."
Ning Rongrong had still chosen to run away from home at this time.
"Uncle Sword is in Heaven Refinement City; flying by sword, he can reach Suotuo City in at least one hour."
"That still takes an hour. If something really happens, it could be over in minutes." Gu Rong said discontentedly.
"Haven't we also stationed a Spirit Sage at the Suotuo City branch association?" Ning Fengzhi said helplessly. "Uncle Bone, Rongrong will eventually have to face the wider Spirit Master world. If you truly want her to inherit my position as clan leader in the future, you should understand now that she must face these things."
Facing them now is better than starting to face them only after becoming clan leader.
Being the leader of a clan is no joke?
Without any ability to handle external crises, without even knowing what the Spirit Master world is like, how can she inherit the clan?
"Rongrong's biggest problem right now is her lack of respect for her peers. Letting her out to suffer a bit and learn how to get along with companions is also necessary."
Although Ning Fengzhi also felt heartache, he was decisive when needed.
Gu Rong fell silent.
He knew Ning Fengzhi was right.
An unknown valley.
Tang Hao and Tang San, father and son, lay unconscious for an unknown length of time.
When the father and son regained consciousness, they could still feel the pain throughout their bodies.
"Father!"
Seeing Tang Hao's empty right sleeve, Tang San wept bitterly.
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have gone to the Blacksmith Association to learn forging."
"No, it should be my fault. I was the one who guided you to join the Blacksmith Association. I just didn't expect them to assign Tang Long and Tang Hu specifically to assess you."
"They probably saw your Chaotic Whirlwind Hammer Method and thought you were a Clear Sky Clan disciple, so they assigned them to assess you..."
Tang San digested the information about his origins that Tang Hao revealed.
"Now that your identity is exposed, don't return to that Shrek Academy. Follow me and cultivate for a while."
Tang Hao stood up. Not yet accustomed to the loss of his right arm, he habitually tried to use it to balance his body but failed, stumbling.
Looking at his missing right arm, a flash of pain crossed his eyes.
Having lost his right arm, he had no hope of revenge.
He could only place his hopes on his son.
He looked at Tang San, repeatedly urging him not to forget the hatred he carried.
"Forging techniques must be learned. Since you can't enter the Blacksmith Association to learn now, I will find an opportunity to capture a high-ranking member of the Blacksmith Association. Even if we have to rob them, we will seize the forging techniques."
The association didn't封锁 (block/restrict) the techniques. As long as one's forging level was sufficient, they would be taught.
Although they weren't circulated publicly, it still lowered the difficulty for Tang Hao to obtain them.
In the blink of an eye, three months passed.
It had been a year since Su Ming entered the Ice Fire Two Eyes.
"Although Tang Hao's strength is not what it used to be, and the threat is greatly reduced, he's still too dangerous for me. I need to find a way to avoid him further."
Su Ming thought it over and actually came up with an idea.
"Tracking."
Create a tracking system. As long as he could track the father-son pair, Tang Hao and Tang San, he could travel normally in the future.
He could even, when in a good mood, report them to the Spirit Hall and let the Spirit Hall hunt them down.
But what could he use to track them?
***
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(Chapter End)