Ikasa knew there was a severe lack of metal weapons in the third tier cities. Even the City Guards used wooden poles and staves, let alone other militias. The situation was the same in Birch City as well as Sal City.

He did not give it much thought and assumed it to be a common phenomenon in this world since no power was an exception. However, hearing Gu Dan’s agitated question, he changed his mind. He sensed a deeper reason behind the use of wooden poles in the militia.

“Blacksmith Gu, why is getting weapon-grade ores a problem?”

Gu Dan stopped his staring match with Feng Yan and answered his employer.

“Because one cannot purchase them with gold!”

When Ikasa looked confused by his reason, he started to explain the background.

“As you know, an ore needs a certain grade of purity before a weapon can be made from it.”

Ikasa nodded in agreement. He had a vague recollection of having read about it.

“We have very few deposits of weapon-grade ore in our Holy Wood Empire. These few deposits are owned by the Imperial Court.  Not a single ore goes out to the public from these deposits.”

“Then where did the Iron Ore you use to make Pei Yuan’s dagger come from?”

Feng Yan interrupted, doubting Gu Dan’s words. The Blacksmith looked at him with irritation and continued to explain to Ikasa.

“Most of the inferior quality ore used to make farming equipment is imported from the Furnace Fire Empire. They have abundant mineral resources. So, they export the inferior quality metal ores.”

“Sometimes one can find a weapon-grade ore that was overlooked in these shipments. I was lucky enough to get two weapon-grade ores.”

Gu Dan proudly announced, looking at Feng Yan. This statement had answered Feng Yan’s every question.

Ikasa looked thoughtfully at Blacksmith Gu.

“Is there no way to purchase Weapon-grade ore?”

As far as he knew, there must be a way to get access to these ores. He just was unaware of it. After all, everything in this world has a price.

“There is a way. If you have connections to the higher ranked nobles of our Empire, we can get Weapon-grade ore from them.”

Ikasa’s lips thinned from frustration. He had no connections in the Imperial Court, not yet.  He explored the other option.

“What about importing from the Furnace Fire Empire?”

Gu Dan shook his head.

“Our coins are not accepted in the Furnace Fire Empire. Neither do we accept their currency. To trade with other Empires, you need Spirit Coins.”

“Spirit Coins?”

Ikasa asked, rubbing his chin. He had heard of Spirit stones from Chinese dramas and novels, never Spirit coins.

“Yes, Spirit Coins. 1 Spirit Coin is worth 100 Gold. That’s all I know. I have never seen it. Maybe the City Lord can tell you more about it, Boss.”

Gu Dan calmly explained, dashing the hopes of Ikasa of finding alternate channels.

“How do you get your ores if you don’t transact in Spirit Coins?”

Feng Yan butted in, thinking Gu Dan was hiding something.

“I purchase them from Merchants of Tier 2 cities, with gold. Did you really think I would have enough purchasing power to make Merchants of Furnace Fire Empire come all the way to Birch City?”

Gu Dan explained, while glaring at Feng Yan. This caused Feng Yan to avoid his gaze. He quickly changed the subject.

“Look, we are back at the Herb Garden.”

Feng Yan said, pointing to the lush green farmlands. Many people had gathered at a small shop set up near the road.

“Please give me a Blood Leaf first, Manager Chu!”

“Physician Leong prescribed a Sneezing Grass concoction. Do you sell those?”

The long line of people waiting for their medicines was the result of Manager Chu’s hardwork and publicity. Seeing that line, Gu Dan had an idea.

“Master, the Furnace Fire Empire usually lacks common herbs. Maybe if we can scale our herb production, you can export them and earn a few Spirit Coins?”

Gu Dan’s idea immediately won Ikasa’s approval. He was just thinking about how to get his hands on this new currency. If Gu Dan’s idea was viable, he had no problem giving it a try.

“How high do you think we need to scale?”

Ikasa asked Gu Dan, the only man who had any sort of knowledge about trades between the Empires.

“Maybe if we can trade ten thousand stalks of Icy Blue Flower, we can get a merchant to come here. For other common herbs like Blood Leaf, we may need hundreds of thousands of them. I am not sure. But for any merchant to come, the trade volume should be at least worth 100 Spirit Coins.”

Ikasa wanted to punch Gu Dan. He had raised his hopes and dashed them again and again.

‘What 10 thousand stalks of Icy Blue Flower? Even if they planted only Icy Blue Flower in the entire Herb Garden, they can at most fit a thousand saplings. It would take numerous years to grow 10 thousand stalks of Icy Blue Flower.’

‘It is not as if I can buy any land and use it to grow herbs. Firstly, the stock of Energy Infused Water is almost finished. Calling Energy Storm with manuals is out of the question due to Path finder Zhi Yang.’

Once he had thought this through, he bid Gu Dan farewell. He left in his carriage without talking to the busy Manager Chu.

The events of the day weighed on his mind. Not only did he realize the importance of Weapons, he had no way of procuring them. Not to mention, he had seen the extent of support he could expect from his ally.

If he had not seen City Lord hesitate in the Clan Master Qing’s hall, he might’ve believed in his backing against Zhi Yang. However, the boundaries were made clear at that moment.

Unless City Lord profited big time, there was no way he would support Ikasa against a more powerful foe. This worried him as he faced a foe much bigger than a mere Path Finder Zhi Yang, the giant He Family.

‘I can’t blame him. This is how business partnerships are.’

Instead of feeling gloomy and sad, Ikasa’s brain overclocked to think of a solution. He started to think of possible ways that he could use to gain protection of the Zhen Family.

‘Should I reveal the Top Grade techniques?’

‘No! That would get me killed, not help me.’

Even after he sat down for dinner with the Kids and Xin Ruo, he had no answer to his conundrum.

Xin Ruo noticed his distress. She gently placed a hand on his arm drawing his attention.

“Was there some problem at the Hu Clan?”

She asked in a gentle tone. She had already received news of the happenings but she wanted to hear it from Ikasa’s perspective.

Mindful of the kids, Ikasa brushed off the complicated intricacies and regaled them with a heroic tale of his battle. Unknowingly, a smile crept on his face seeing the awe in their eyes.

“As soon as I get my dagger, I will also join you in fighting those Hu Clan and Monstrous Flame Sect rascals!”

Pei Yuan declared, waving his knife like a dagger.

“Yes, Big brother! I am already at Pinnacle of the Path Forging Realm. I can kick any bastard that dares to fight you!”

Not to be left behind, Luo Qiqi announced competing with Pei Yuan for attention.

“Brother Ikasa, your enemies are our enemies….”

In a rare show of camaraderie, Chu Qing the money hungry ghost showed his support. Just as Ikasa was feeling touched, he heard his next line and his eyes narrowed at Chu Qing.

“Your money is….”

Before Chu Qing could finish his sentence, Hei Ying covered his mouth with her palm.

“Big Brother, as soon as I learn to make weapons, I will forge the best weapons for everyone here.”

Yan Xiao promised with his fists clenched around his spoon.

“Brother Ikasa, we are all near the Stage 8 of the Path Forging Realm. Sister Xin Ruo and Luo Qiqi have even reached the Pinnacle of Path Forging. We will fight anyone for you. Right, Moony?”

Hei Ying spoke for everyone while caressing the little furball sitting on the table. At her question, Moony nodded sagely at Ikasa and again dived into the bowl of food before him.

Looking at the supportive faces, Ikasa felt his burdens lighten. He lacked a family on Earth but he had one here.

He was also amazed by their speed of progress. It was partly due to the resources he provided but their hard work could not be neglected as well. Sensing their conviction and speed of growth, Ikasa realized that all they needed was time before they would show their splendor.

‘Time… Yes! I just need some time! If I can somehow get the He Family to get off my back till I am stronger, wouldn’t all my problems be solved?’

As this thought flashed through his head, a plan began to take shape. A plan that would decide the course of his business.

——

“Damn it!”

In the City Lord’s manor, Zhen Wu hit his left palm with his right fist. The ambush in the Hu Clan had ruined his plans completely. Worse, he had been humiliated by the Clan Master Qing and Sect Master Yan.

To add insult to injury, his life had been saved by Ikasa. Someone he was ready to sacrifice.

‘Was my plan worth it?’

He wondered, thinking back to the events.

From nowhere, Ikasa had shown amazing battle prowess, ending the lives of two Sense Realm Experts.

Then there was Feng Yan. The most powerful fighter he had seen so far. If he could, he wanted to poach him but after knowing his relationship with Ikasa he gave up the thought.

The list did not end there. There was another Sense Realm expert in their group, someone his coachman recognized as the Blacksmith Gu Dan.

‘If things had gone as planned, would I have offended Ikasa?’

Thinking of the three powerful Sense Trainers, cold sweat trickled down his back. Then he remembered his hesitation in defending Ikasa and his disappointed look.

Zhen Wu panicked when he thought that he may lose such a reliable ally, all because he misjudged. He had to acknowledge that he had lost the war of information again today.

He had no idea about Ikasa’s prowess. He didn’t know of the Hu Clan’s plans. He didn’t even know the fact that Hu Clan had another powerful Sense Trainer as their First seat.

‘No, I have to do something to recover my prestige.’

City Lord thought, as he paced in his chambers. A spark flashed in his head. He rummaged through his drawers and found an old map. His eyes lit up upon seeing it.

‘This will guarantee me victory with minimum losses.’

He immediately clapped his hands twice. When a servant entered his room, he ordered.

“Call, Lu Shao!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep