Strongest Businessman of the Cultivation World

The very next morning after returning to Birch City, Ikasa went to find Blacksmith Gu.

He wanted to consult Gu Dan on a few things; The Profession Manual 1,2,3… Sword Ready, and the metal obtained from the Steel Beasts in the rift.

Most importantly, he wanted to erase another clue that might expose him to the Mu Family.

"Blacksmith Gu, do you think you can melt this sword and make a good weapon from its remains?"

Ikasa took out the sword named 'Tyranny' from his bracelet and asked the only Blacksmith in his Gold Heart Business Group.

Gu Dan carefully received the weapon and weighed it in his hand.

"This has excellent balance!"

The Blacksmith exclaimed as he adjusted his grip to find the most comfortable holding posture. He gently ran his finger on the spine of the sword and flicked the tip and listened attentively to the sound vibrations.

"The smelting was completed in one go. The edges are two separate pieces of metal joined together."

An appreciative gaze flashed across his eyes as he admired the masterfully crafted sword in his hands. The more he learned about it, the more his awe towards the maker of the sword increased.

"This alloy of Silver Iron and Cold Spirit metal must have been melted using some Mystic Fire…."

The Blacksmith spoke a bunch of terms, most of which made no sense due to lack of context. Still, he was awed by the man's skills.

'One can find so much about a sword by just flicking on the blade?'

Ikasa thought, left speechless by the older man's actions. He looked at the man stroking the sword like it was his lover. Seeing his antics, Ikasa cleared his throat, reminding the old man of his presence.

"Ahem! Blacksmith Gu, can you melt the Sword and reforge it into a  weapon for me?"

Blacksmith Gu looked at Ikasa, slightly sighing.

"Boss, did you not hear anything I said? This sword is a work of some Master Forger. How can you expect me to melt it and create a better sword for you?"

"So, no?" Ikasa asked, narrowing his eyes. He could see the reluctance in Gu Dan's eyes.

Ikasa did not care if the sword was made by a Master Craftsman. Since he could not use this sword due to fear of the Mu Family, he might as well melt it and use the material to forge a slightly better-quality weapon.

Or else the sword would only occupy the limited space he had in his storage bracelet.

"Boss, I am reluctant, yes, but it is also impossible to melt this blade with the fire we have. It needs Mystic Fire born in nature to make the temperature high enough and at the same time preserve the special properties of the metal."

The detailed explanation satisfied Ikasa but it also compelled him to learn more about the so-called Mystic Fire.

"I understand that you need Mystic Fire but what is it? And where can we find it?"

The knowledge about Mystic Fires was an open secret amongst the professions related to forging and refining.

As a Blacksmith, Gu Dan also knew about the Mystic Fires. He started to tell Ikasa all the information he received from his peers and superiors.

"There are many types of Mystic Fires born in nature. Depending on the place of their birth, their attributes vary. Different attributes mean they are useful for different professions. Of the many, I only know of the two fires useful for Forging and Blacksmithing."

Ikasa nodded to Gu Dan to continue as he digested the information he received.

"The Earth Core Flame is the most desired flame among the Blacksmiths. As long as you can provide enough energy to this flame, there is nothing it cannot melt in this world."

"It would not be the most desired Mystic Fire of Blacksmiths if it only had this ability?"

Ikasa probed further when Gu Dan stopped. From his interactions, he knew that the Blacksmith had an annoying habit of stopping in the middle of explaining.

"You are right, Boss. Smelting ores with this flame also has a chance to enhance the material's intrinsic characteristics. If metal is extra hard, this fire can make it even stronger."

This sounded like a much more reasonable reason for the Blacksmiths to desire this Mystic Fire. Ikasa made a mental note to be on the lookout for this flame and asked Gu Dan to continue.

"The second most preferred fire is the Vajra Fire. It has purification properties and has a chance to add Thunder attribute to the Mystical Artifact forged with this fire."

Ikasa saw a strong desire in Gu Dan's eyes as he talked about the Vajra Fire. He saw the old man's eyes quickly dart to his Storm and Thunder hammers.

"Is this the preference of the Blacksmiths at large or your own personal preference?"

Caught, Gu Dan rubbed the back of his head and avoided the mischievous eyes of Ikasa. In a defiant tone, he justified his preference.

"I do like it but it is also not a bad Mystic Fire for other Blacksmiths. Any attributed weapon can fetch a sky-high amount. Thunder Attribute Weapons are even rarer."

The Vajra Flame was still far inferior in utility compared to the Earth Core Flame but that was just Ikasa's thought. He nodded and asked Gu Dan for information about any other flames.

"I only know two fires related to other professions but I am not too sure about their utility. The Alchemists love the Verdure Spirit Fire and the Array Masters are always on the lookout for Illusory Demon Heart Flame."

Ikasa made note of the four different types of fires he heard in his mind.

'The Earth Core Flame. The Vajra Flame. The Verdure Spirit Flame and the Illusory Demon Heart Flame.'

After considering their names and occupations that desired them, he reached a conclusion.

'Any type of Mystic Fire is precious. But some properties make them more desirable to one profession than the others.'

The knowledge of Mystic Fire was vast and impossible to be covered in just a few sentences. Ikasa and Gu Dan chatted for a while more about the conditions for their birth and their appearance.

The information was so detailed that Ikasa became doubtful. He could not help but ask Gu Dan, "Have you studied these Mystic Fires extensively?"

Gu Dan smiled and shook his head.

"You mean this is all common knowledge amongst the Blacksmiths?"

"The knowledge of the Earth Core Flame, the Vajra Flame, and a few other Mystic Fires is spread among all Blacksmiths."

After taking a brief pause, Gu Dan continued.

"Other professions also spread the detailed knowledge of Flames useful to them to the lower tiers of their professions."

This information baffled Ikasa. It went against his common sense. Knowledge was precious and the people at the top always hoarded it.

Then, why would the higher tiers of all Professions spread knowledge of the Mystic Fire to the lower tiers?

Ikasa tried to find a suitable explanation but he came up with none.

"Even if those at the top spread this knowledge to benefit more young talents by using the Mystic Fire, why would the middle tiers play along?"

"Wouldn't it be better for them to monopolize it?"

Verbalizing his thoughts often helped Ikasa when he was stuck on a difficult puzzle. This time he did the same and his thoughts were heard by Gu Dan.

"The answer is simple. The higher-ups are using us as informants."

Ikasa was surprised by Gu Dan's answer. He did not expect him to reply to his rhetorical question; Not to mention call himself an informant for the Higher Tiers of his profession.

It did not satisfy his logic so Ikasa questioned Gu Dan's assumption.

"Then what if these lowest tiers, their informants, found the Mystic Fire and absorbed it?"

Gu Dan shook his head with a bitter smile. He looked far to the left as he spoke. Ikasa had a feeling that he was speaking from experience.

"Any of these Mystic Fires is violent and hard to control. Usually, only Path Finders or those who have surpassed that level of Cultivation can assimilate the flame and use it. So, even if the lowest tiers of the profession find the flame, they would die if they try to absorb it."

This was the key that Ikasa was missing. He didn't know the conditions for absorption and use of these Mystic Fires. Still, he did not buy into Gu Dan's pessimistic view.

"If you find a Mystic Fire, why should you report it? You should just keep it hidden until you are strong enough to use it yourself."

Gu Dan again shook his head. Ikasa was getting annoyed by this routine. Just when he thought he had received the full information, he came to know that it was not complete.

He motioned Gu Dan to speak with an exasperated sigh.

"The Mystic Fire grows stronger the longer it is left alone. After a time it grows so strong that the Absolute of Fire assimilates the fire to prevent it from causing trouble."

Ikasa knew that this addressed just half of his problem. He still did not know why the lowest tiers of professions should report the news of the Mystic Fire to the Higher-ups and be treated as free labor.

So, even after Gu Dan stopped, he waited with folded arms before his chest. His fingers tapped impatiently on his elbow to make the Blacksmith hurry up and complete his answer.

"The lowest of tiers in our profession suffers from a severe lack of resources as you have seen."

Gu Dan opened his arms wide, showing Ikasa the pitiful condition of his shop. Ikasa didn't need to be a genius to realize that this old man was just asking him for some funds!

Ikasa narrowed his eyes in displeasure and Gu Dan quickly continued his explanation.

"In exchange for the location of the Mystic Fire, those at the top offer us guidance, techniques, and materials that we can use immediately to advance our tiers."

With this, the final question in Ikasa's mind was solved.

When he got all the answers he needed, he realized he had spent too much time talking about Mystic Fires.

He immediately took out the two other commodities he had brought to show Gu Dan.

Holding a giant silver paw in one hand and a black-covered book in the other, Ikasa asked, "What do you think of these?"