Death... and me

In the Garkan Clan Workshop, Omario Garkan, the clan head, was in a rage. Even the Chief Blacksmith, Jun Garkan, couldn't understand how the Steel was created at all.

"What do you mean you can't find how it was forged? Just cut it in half, see what is inside, do whatever! Or are you telling me that they found a new type of ore?"

Jun shook his head.

"I can't say, I have never heard about this type of metal before, let alone seen it. Even to cut it in half was as difficult as splitting a Spiritual Sword. Depending on the material, even harder. Still, it wasn't as I imagined it would be. There were no other metals inside. At first, I thought that some strong metal was hidden under the surface. But I was wrong, the entire Sword was forged with the exact same type of metal."

Omario couldn't accept this.

"Is there really no way to find how it was made without seeing it being forged."

Jun nodded.

"At least, not one that our Blacksmith Shop knows. However, I dare say that the Suferia and Watil Clans should be as perplexed as us. I doubt they would have a way to uncover its secrets by simply researching the Steel Swords."

Omario narrowed his eyes.

"In that case, we need to find their forging method by ourselves. Send some Foundation Establishment members to that Varen Workshop. Tell them to keep using Spiritual Sense all the time. Sooner or later, they will need to forge more of those Steel Swords. At that time, we will be able to see it first hand."

Jun nodded and then left.

In the other two Big Blacksmith Clans, the same type of scene was playing around. In the end, they could only do the same thing as the Garkan Clan and send some experts out to observe.

However, two days went by, and no new sword was forged at all. Other than sharpening some weapons that were brought now and then, the blacksmiths inside did nothing else. By now, they finally understood that the Varen Workshop had made a lot of Steel Swords before opening their doors. Simply put, they had no need to forge anything at the moment.

Juri had made Erkil, and his two apprentices forge a total os 300 Steel Swords. After an entire week selling them, they had got rid of 213. That meant they still had another 87 to send away before they start to forge more.

Ultimately, those clans sent their Foundation Establishment members inside the shop to pretend to take a look. But in fact, they all used their Spiritual Sense to find out how many swords the shop still had available to sell. Juri noticed the presence of those Spiritual Senses, but he didn't say anything. There is no law saying that one can't use their Spiritual Sense, after all.

At some point, they also tried to check all the materials inside the Workshop. But other than coal, iron, and some other standard tools and ores, there was nothing else there. Not to mention that they thought that the iron was there to forge those useless Iron Swords. In the end, they decided to wait for the time their shop sold all the Steel Swords.

"They still have 87, considering the speed those swords are leaving, it will take them at most three more days to sell everything. Let's wait and see."

They were right, the Steel Swords were selling like water in the desert. Who wouldn't want a weapon as good as a Spiritual Equipment but for a lower price? That result was more than expected. So it definitely wouldn't last more than three days.

However, even as the swords were leaving, no one started to forge anything.

"If they don't start forging now, they will run out before they can bring more. Could it be that the swords were forged outside and will be brought here? But if that is the case, we just need to follow those who come to deliver it. That might make things even easier."

Unfortunately for those observing, after the last Sword was sold, the Varen Workshop... closed! It left them all dumbfounded. There was only a plaque in the front.

"The stock has been emptied. Please come back another time."

They kept using their Spiritual Sense to check the Workshop, but no one started to forge a single Sword. If anything, the blacksmiths inside were simply having fun while playing some games, that's all.

Finally, the blacksmith clans lost their patience. They decided that they would break into the Workshop and force them to hand over the Steel Metal formula. The three big clans even joined together for the operation. After all, they are inside the city. There are laws in this place. They had to be fast and not leave any clues behind.

That night, six Foundation Establishment cultivators wearing black clothes appeared outside the Workshop during the night. The streets were empty, and there was only an occasional group of city guards patrolling. They waited for the signal of their other subordinates who were watching those same guards. Once that blank space during the patrols appears, that will be their moment to act.

Suddenly, the six cultivators heard a whistle. That was the signal they were waiting for. Immediately, a cold light flashed on their eyes, and they broke through the backdoor of the Workshop.

Boom!

The six men moved like the wind, going straight into the second floor where Juri and the rest were playing. They slammed the door of the second floor and quickly stepped inside. They soon saw Juri, Erkil, Erkil's two apprentices, and a few Energy Gathering Realm warriors of the Varen Tribe.

They weren't planning to stay long. Their target was Erkil and Juri. One of those would definitely know the Steel Metal Formula. Three men in black went ahead to stall the warriors. In contrast, the other three peak Foundation Establishment in their group went after Juri and Erkil. Even if Juri was in the Foundation Establishment too, he is only an Initial Stage one, so he wouldn't be able to hold for long.

But it was at this moment that they heard a snort.

"Hehe. To think that they really came. I guess this is a really profitable business, after all."