Amidst respectful calls of "Holy Maiden," Qian Yuelong arrived outside the Martial Soul Holy City.

The two teams, totaling five hundred Holy Soul Knights, rode on armored warhorses, their uniform mithril armor gleaming sharply in the warm sunlight.

"Yuelong, you've arrived."

A woman's voice, filled with laughter, rang out.

Qian Yuelong took the reins from the knight leading the horse, nimbly mounted the horse, her slender and powerful legs slightly squeezing the horse's belly. The warhorse turned its head, facing another horse that was approaching on its hooves at the signal of its master on its back.

"Nana, is everyone here?"

Qian Yuelong asked as usual.

Hu Liena, who was approaching on her warhorse, nodded. She was more charming than before, yet her sharp features revealed a hint of blood-stained ruthlessness: "Everyone is here."

The paradox of gentleness and strength coexisting in one person, yet it doesn't feel out of place at all.

"Then let's go to Gengxin City."

Qian Yuelong turned her horse around and led the way, galloping ahead.

Hu Liena followed closely behind, followed by five hundred Holy Soul Knights.

The reason they had to ride horses was that these Holy Soul Knights were not Soul Masters, but ordinary people who were proficient in various weapon techniques and movement skills.

Although with their current physical strength, they could keep up even if they moved quickly, there was no need to waste their precious energy on trivial matters; they should save it wherever possible.

Gengxin City is the location of the Blacksmiths' Association headquarters and the largest metal ore trading market on the Douluo Continent, earning it the title of "Metal Capital".

It is located within the Star Luo Empire, in a region far inland. Although it is one of the Star Luo Empire's major cities, it is relatively low-key and not valued compared to other well-known towns, because the members of the Blacksmiths' Guild have the same status as commoners in the Star Luo Empire.

To become a blacksmith, one does not need to be a Soul Master; one can be an ordinary person. The only requirement is that one must be strong enough to work with iron.

Back then, Tang Hao, who lived in seclusion in Holy Soul Village, made a living in the village by working as a "blacksmith" without arousing suspicion from others.

The main base was located in the Martial Soul Holy City, which was situated between the two great empires. Even traveling day and night on horseback, it would take five days to reach Gengxin City.

Qian Yuelong went to Gengxin City because their Martial Soul Empire had expanded its territory to the area where Gengxin City was located. Under the three ironclad rules that Qian Yuelong forcefully promulgated—that those who surrender would not be killed, that soldiers must not indiscriminately kill civilians, and that civilians' property must not be plundered—the blacksmiths' association in Gengxin City firmly rejected the Martial Soul Empire's offer of amnesty.

The city lord of Gengxin City, who had already agreed to surrender, remained silent.

He wanted to curse, but many people in the Blacksmiths' Association were die-hards who believed that the Martial Soul Empire was using a strategy of slapping someone and then giving them a sweet treat.

The story of "slapping someone in the face" brings us to the person in charge of the Martial Soul Branch Hall, who was originally stationed in Gengxin City.

During his reign, he bullied men and women, and used his position and background to threaten the blacksmiths' association at auctions, claiming it was to "buy on credit" but in reality, he would steal all the auction items for free. He was notorious in the city and was nothing but a parasite.

After receiving intelligence that Gengxin City was severely divided and had not yet surrendered, Qian Yuelong investigated the Martial Soul Branch Hall personnel who were originally stationed there.

Upon discovering this reason, she directly threw the original person in charge into the "Slaughter City," which has now become a special prison. Other knights who aided and abetted the evildoers were treated the same, while those with more serious crimes were taken to the Knight Camp for punishment and reform. She also purged the entire Martial Soul Empire, strictly prohibiting any Soul Master within the Martial Soul Empire from engaging in any behavior that would damage or tarnish the empire's reputation.

The original person in charge and one of the high-ranking cardinals were related by nepotism.

But upon learning that it was Qian Yuelong who had started the trouble, he dared not voice any objections and did not even go to plead for her.

The saintess of today is not the same as the one of gentle and kind nature she once was.

Time can change a person.

The current saintess may appear gentle, but her methods are actually quite ruthless.

He dared not offend the saintess, lest he be implicated and punished as well.

The Spirit Hall, or rather the Spirit Empire, has never lacked powerful spirit masters.

He certainly has the foresight to have risen to the position of cardinal.

Five days later, the tall, iron-gray city walls could be seen from afar.

The entire city of Gengxin was like a giant steel beast that had wrapped itself up and armed itself, and was heavily guarded.

Although war was fast approaching and the city was filled with tension, there were still many people moving around, creating a lively atmosphere of daily life.

There are over a thousand blacksmith shops in Gengxin City, not to mention the number of blacksmiths, and even blacksmiths who come from other cities specifically to be assessed and learn.

The army's weapons, equipment, farm tools, buildings, furniture, and so on all depend on the blacksmiths' involvement.

However, in such an atmosphere where life is inseparable from blacksmiths, neither the Star Luo Empire nor the previous Heaven Dou Empire valued blacksmiths. In severe cases, nobles would even belittle and expel blacksmiths.

What Qian Yuelong couldn't understand was that even though Tang San's Tang Sect elder, Titan, the patriarch of the Force Clan, was the second-in-command of the Blacksmith Association and a close friend of the association's president, the Divine Craftsman Lou Gao, this decision to refuse to submit could potentially cost the lives of tens of thousands of blacksmiths.

Or do they think their Gengxin City is an impenetrable fortress, something their Martial Soul Empire can't break?

Qian Yuelong didn't know.

She decided to speak with the current head of the blacksmiths' association in person.

After all, blacksmiths are in high demand during wartime.

The presence of blacksmiths meant that all military supplies and equipment were available.

Having received the news early in the morning, the city lord of Gengxin City, who had been notified in advance, coldly welcomed Qian Yuelong and Hu Liena into the city and led the two, who were entering the city alone, straight to the headquarters of the Blacksmith Association.

The city lord's influence still holds some sway within the troublesome blacksmiths' guild.

Lou Gao's disciple, Si Long, who came to escort them to see the guild leader, calmly observed Qian Yuelong and Hu Liena, who stood behind the city lord with an air of composure. His muscles were tense, ready to defend against any trouble from the two.

Caught in the middle, the city lord of Gengxin City wiped away his sweat with a pained expression.

The three of them followed Silong to the door of the clothing alloy shop on the fifth floor of the association and knocked rhythmically on the door.

This is not a coded message, but rather a process of deciphering a mechanism.

The total of thirty-six taps, seemingly from the same spot, were actually delivered with varying points of force and placement by Silong's fingers each time.

With a soft click, the heavy alloy door revealed a reception room made of special materials.

Inside sat a short, stout old man, dressed in a loose robe, his chubby face covered with some metallic powder.

Hearing the door open, he stood up, and the five Soul Emperor-level blacksmiths behind the sofa also looked over with bright eyes.

"I never imagined that a mere blacksmith like myself could have the Holy Maiden of the Martial Soul Empire personally come to visit me. It is truly an honor to have you here."

The short, stout old man's loud and authoritative voice rang out, his gaze fixed on Qian Yuelong beside Hu Liena.