Divine Doctor Mommy Is A True Big Shot-Chapter 500 - 501: The Forging Workshop on Wei Mountain
Clopping clopping clopping clopping, a series of urgent hoofbeats echoed. πππππ¨π²πππ¨π―ππ.ππΌπΊ
Several swift horses flew past like arrows.
All the way across the vast and boundless plain, the riders were covered in dust and dirt.
Elder Liu from the Underworld Market, Changsun Rou, Master Lu, and others had been rushing through days and nights, and by coincidence, their destination was also in the direction of Qinghe City.
However, their purpose was not Mercenary City, Qinghe City, but a dead volcano fifty li away from Qinghe City.
Following closely behind them was a procession of Heavenly Stone carriages.
That night, after the auction at the Underworld Market ended, Master Lu informed Changsun Rou that there was a problem with the remaining Heavenly Stones.
Within the several thousand jin of Heavenly Stones, not a trace of Heavenly Iron was to be found.
Upon learning this, Changsun Rouβs mood, originally delightful with the anticipations of profits of tens of millions of taels, instantly evaporated.
She immediately led people to Wei Mountain, which is the dead volcano they were about to reach.
After rushing for several days, they finally arrived at the edge of the volcano. Under Master Luβs arrangements, the Heavenly Stones from the Underworld Market were transported near the volcanic crater.
Due to the volcano, the climate in this region was hot and dry, with no rainfall throughout the year, and the area was sparsely populated. Needless to say, itβs challenging for vegetation and animals to survive here.
But such an environment was the best for refining the Heavenly Stones.
The wealthy Underworld Market impressively dug several channels around the mouth of the volcano, diverting the lava from the crater to the mid-mountain.
Near the mid-mountain, several stone houses were built, where a Forging Workshop stood.
The irregular Heavenly Stones, once thrown into the boiling lava, would slowly melt, and the Heavenly Iron contained within would be precipitated and purified, then forged into weapons and equipment.
After a few more days and nights of non-stop operations, those Heavenly Stones were finally all refined.
The remaining several thousand jin of Heavenly Stones, as Master Lu said, did not contain a speck of Heavenly Iron.
"How can this be possible. The Three Kingdoms dare to deceive us! Even us in the Underworld Market they dare to deceive, Iβll make them regret it."
Changsun Rouβs face turned pale with anger.
Without a doubt, it must have been the military from those three countries that tampered with the stones, passing off waste stones as Heavenly Stones.
Changsun Rou, of course, would not think that the Heavenly Stones had turned into waste stones because of the Amber Spider.
"Thereβs something mysterious about this, young master. Itβs better not to jump to conclusions just yet. Itβs better to wait until after the head of the family ends his seclusion before we discuss this."
Master Lu was a bit more level-headed. He felt something was amiss. When he inspected those Heavenly Stones before, he remembered that the content of Heavenly Iron was much higher than what it was now.
The Underworld Market could become the number one chamber of commerce under the heavens largely due to Zhangsun Sheng, the head of the Underworld Market and father of Changsun Rou. He started from scratch, had full mastery of both literary and martial skills, was versatile and especially adept at commerce. Half of the Imperial merchants in the Ten Countries belonged to the Underworld Market.
Zhangsun Sheng was over fifty years old, a mighty figure holding both the Wuji Wood Seal and the Wenhua Fire Seal. Recently, there had been signs of a breakthrough in his Wuji Seal, and so he had been in seclusion for half a year, striving for that breakthrough.
Once Zhangsun Sheng successfully breaks through, the reputation of the Underworld Market on the continent would rise to even greater heights.
"What would Master Lu suggest then?"
Changsun Rou held much respect for Master Lu, after all, in terms of identifying and appraising, Master Lu was gifted and unparalleled.
"It wonβt take long to find out whether the Three Kingdoms tampered with the Heavenly Stones. The second batch of the Colorful Sky Stones that we ordered is due to arrive at Qinghe City soon. This place isnβt far from Qinghe City; we might as well personally inspect the shipment."
Master Lu planned to check the second batch of Heavenly Stones.
If there is any issue with this batch as well, they can directly question the Three Kingdoms.
"Master Lu is right. Thereβs another thing, young master. That Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, coveting our stone gambling profits, had the audacity to go to the military camps of the Three Kingdoms to buy Colorful Sky Stones. As a result, they were driven away by the Three Kingdoms."
Elder Liu burst into hearty laughter, not even considering what kind of relationship the Underworld Market has with those Three Kingdoms, how could the people of the Three Kingdoms dare to sell Heavenly Stones to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce?
"Overestimating themselves; even if the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce managed to buy the Colorful Sky Stones, what of it? They donβt have a great expert like Master Lu who can refine and develop the Heavenly Stones. When the time comes, the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce will suffer a loss and not recover their capital."
Changsun Rou said with sarcasm.
If Heavenly Stones cannot be developed, they are nothing but Waste Stones.
"Young master should still be cautious. The Phoenix Chamber of Commerce is not to be underestimated. I heard from people in Qinghe City that they have already opened a branch there. Is it not for the Competition Among Ten Countries?"
Seeing Elder Liu and Changsun Rou looking down on the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Master Lu couldnβt help but get worried.
In Chu City, Master Lu specially visited the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
He had never seen the goods in the chamber of commerce before, and heard from the people there that the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce would also set up branches in other places and countries.
"Master Lu, no need to borrow trouble. Besides, even if they open branches, itβs useless; we have five-hundred-year-old Purple Ginseng and Low-grade Heavenly Iron Weapons, and mercenaries in Qinghe City only recognize us, the Underworld Market."
Changsun Rou was full of confidence.
"We should not delay; letβs set off for Qinghe City right now. If we estimate the morning time, it will take about ten days for the Great Chu Representative Team to reach Qinghe City."
Changsun Rou thought of the Competition Among Ten Countries, her gaze involuntarily drifted towards the distant direction.
While Master Lu went to the Forging Workshop to check on the weapon forging, she asked Elder Liu in a hushed tone.
"Elder Liu, how goes the search for the person I asked you to find?"
Elder Liu smiled flatteringly.
"Young master, rest assured, your subordinates remember what youβve tasked us with. I have already found five strong, healthy men similar in build to Prince Wu. When the time comes, we can immediately remove their kneecap bones for Prince Wuβs use."
"Dugu Wu is still being stubborn right now. When the Competition Among Ten Countries begins, he will know that only I can help him."
Although she was rejected by Dugu Wu, Changsun Rou did not give up.
She was waiting for Dugu Wu to fall into a desperate situation, at which time, he would undoubtedly come to her.
From the direction of Chu City, the Great Chu Representative Team has been traveling west since leaving Chu City.
The Alpha and Beta teams were one after the other.
After a stretch of the official road, the horse carriage turned towards the woods.
Because Dugu Xiaojin had volunteered to ride with White Wolf in the same carriage, Feng Bailing had to share one with Dugu Wu.
Inside the carriage, Dugu Wu furrowed his brows; he had some questions to ask Feng Bailing, about the Six-character Daming Mantra.
But obviously, Feng Bailing wasnβt giving him the chance.
For these past few days, Feng Bailing has been as busy as a spinning top due to the business affairs and matters of Xinqi Village, falling asleep as soon as she boarded the carriage.
Every time the horse carriage jostled, her pretty head would roll from one end of the carriage to the other, eventually resting on Duguβs shoulder.
He sighed lightly, moving Feng Bailingβs head from his shoulder to his lap.
