Over The World, Beyond Heaven

The four City Governors' conversations caused the people who heard them to have different expressions. Because their words seemed simple, but they were not. It sounded terrifyingly ferocious, but not too much. It seemed funny, but it was funny in a weird way. However, their overall appearances gave off a formidable feeling to anyone who saw them.

So, no one dared to interrupt while the four of them were talking. Everyone just sat there and acted as if they knew nothing. Until the forgers from the four clans walked into the arena.

Whoa! Whoa!

"Du Clan, fighting!"

"Xie Clan must be number one!"

"Hong Clan will not be defeated by anyone!"

"Lin Clan, … fighting!"

People cheered for their favorite clan. But Lin Clan's reputation was not that good. Therefore, their cheers were quieter than the other clans'. However, everyone in the Lin Clan did not give up or feel worried at all. Because they came that day not because of the contest, but to completely kill the Demon Race.

"It looks like your Lin Clan isn't very famous!"

At that moment, Zheng-Fu said to Lin-Jun, who was keeping a solemn face and ignoring the noise of the surrounding people.

"Siiiigh! It's because our Lin Clan has been losing for many years in a row. How can we be famous, Young Master? But this time it will be different. With a high-quality and wonderful ore like Heavenly Sound Arranging Metal Ore that you gave us, Lin Clan will definitely not be defeated by any clan!"

Lin-Jun immediately felt depressed as soon as he heard Zheng-Fu. He explained to Zheng-Fu the reason why the Lin Clan had not been famous for forging lately. But then his spirits lifted as he spoke of the Heavenly Sound Arranging Metal Ore that Zheng-Fu had given him. Because that type of ore could be forged into Deity Weapons or Armor. Therefore, he was very confident in that year's victory.

"If that's the case, that's good! But don't forget our main purpose. As soon as the contest starts, we'll also start dealing with the outlying guard. And when all the guards are eliminated…"

Flap!

"Hello and welcome everyone! Today, as Black Rock City Governor, I'm delighted to have you all gathered here to witness the winners of our city's Annual Weapons Forging Contest. And for this year's winner, the prize is three Immortal Pills and a year-long tax exemption. For second and third places, the rewards are reduced in descending order. But for that last place…, not only will he not receive any rewards, but he will also have to pay double the taxes for three months!"

Before Zheng-Fu could finish speaking, the Black Rock City Governor announced his welcome to the honored guest, and those in attendance in a loud and firm voice. At the same time, the City Governor also explained the prizes for that year's contest.

However, the energy-boosting pills were not what everyone was most interested in, but it was about a year-long tax exemption. Not having to pay taxes throughout the year would greatly help the winning clan to develop. It was better than getting three Immortal Pills. However, the loser would suffer heavy losses. Not only did they not receive any rewards, but they were also punished. That was intended to make the competition fiercer, as no one wanted to lose and pay more taxes.

"...and in order not to waste time, I hereby announce the start of the contest!"

Hey! Hey! Hey!

A loud cheer sounded throughout the entire square as the Black Rock City Governor's announcement ended. Everyone was waiting anxiously for the forging contest. They hoped to see the ultimate weapon. Because every participating clan had prepared the most special materials.

At Du Clan's seating area...

"All of you, do your best. This year we'll only get first place, remember! Every step must be done with the utmost care. Because the Savage Devil Flame Ore is not easy to obtain!"

Du Clan Leader warned the clan's main forger participating in the contest. That forger was actually an elder of the clan who had a high ability in forging. Even the clan leader himself was less skilled than him in this field. Since the clan leader had to focus on increasing his strength level, he did not have much time to practice his forging skills.

"Yes, sir, Clan Leader! You can trust me. I'll definitely not disappoint you!" Du Clan's forger replied confidently. He believed that his skills, combined with the rare magic ore like the Savage Devil Flame Ore, would allow him to easily forge a Deity Weapon.

"Good! Then do your best. If you can get first prize, I'll give you what you asked for. But if not, your reward will be reduced. And if you lose and our clan comes in last place, you know what you'll encounter!" Du Clan Leader nodded to the forger before reminding him of the punishment and reward he would receive.

"I understood!"

At Xie Clan's seating area…

"This year, I heard that Du Clan obtained the Savage Devil Flame Ore. With that ore, they would definitely forge an excellent Deity Weapon. So, no matter what happens, you must do better than them. Because we also have the Rainbow Sun Ore, which has the same qualities as the Savage Devil Flame Ore. Therefore, the quality of the weapons made from the two ores can be equal!"

Xie Clan Leader also had expectations for his forger. However, he could not help but be worried because the ore his clan used was as special as Du Clan's ore. As for the Hong Clan's ore, they still did not know what type it was. But for the Lin Clan, who had always lost, the Xie Clan Leader did not pay much attention. He thought that no matter what, the Lin Clan would lose again like usual.

"Master Leader, trust me. Even though the quality of ore is the same, my skills are definitely better than theirs, sir. Otherwise, last time we wouldn't have won and gotten first prize!" Xie Clan forger replied. He was even more confident than the Du Clan forger. Because last year he was able to make the Xie Clan win and get first prize.

Umm!

"Then we must be number one again this year!"

Ha ha ha!

As for the Hong Clan's members, they did not say much. Because they had already prepared and discussed everything while at the clan before coming there, furthermore, they wanted to keep the type of ore they used for forging a secret for as long as possible. To shock and excite everyone who saw it.

However, the members of the Lin Clan were different. They had fun talking together. But what was said had nothing to do with the forging contest at all. Most of their talking topics were trivial and general matters. Their idle talk attracted a lot of attention from the people around them.

"Look at the Lin Clan people! They don't seem serious about the contest at all."

"That's right! It seems that they're thinking of giving up this year because they've lost for two years in a row."

"That's right, they've lost quite a bit recently when they had trouble with the City Governor's nephew."

"But I think maybe they have a secret trick. And they're doing this because they wanted to make their enemies think that they had surrendered!"

Hah!?

Umm!

It might be possible!

People had different opinions. Most thought the same way, that the Lin Clan had given up from the beginning. But they joined the contest because it was the duty and honor of the major clan. However, some thought that the Lin Clan was just pretending to be a sick tiger, waiting for the wolf to come close before slaughtering it.

At Lin Clan's seating area...

"It's all just as I said. If it weren't for that incident, I probably would have had dozens of wives by now, ha ha ha!"

"Master Lin-Jun is the best. You're very different from me, who cannot have."

Zheng-Fu and Lin-Jun had been chatting nonsense for a while. This talk, however, was just a cover for their real talk, which was made through telepathy. Because if they were to sit quietly and telepathically talk, it would be suspicious. So, they pretended to keep talking.

"By the way, have the maggots you said been taken care of yet?"

"That matter has already started. But it seems there are more maggots than I thought. However, that's not a problem. Because I have the best insecticide. It won't be long before those maggots will be completely wiped out!"

"If that's the case, that's good. I also want to live in fresh weather."

The two of them continued to talk without paying attention to how anyone looked at them.

And soon after, all forgers were called to the arena. There were three rounds of the contest. The first round was to create weapons as specified with the ore that the City Governor had prepared for them. The second round was creating armor, with the materials and elements also provided. As for the third round, it was unspecified forging. That was, they could forge weapons or armor, but the materials used had to be their own.

Therefore, in the first two rounds, everyone would be judged purely on their skills. And in the past, the forgers of every clan did it well. But in the final round, the Lin Clan often performed poorly. Because their ore was often of inferior quality to that of other clans. The cause of this was conflicts within the clan. But this time it would not be like that anymore. They received a lot of help from Zheng-Fu. Whether it was a top-quality ore that was hard to find, a forging method that was beyond description, or a unique design concept that no one had ever thought of, Zheng-Fu had given them all.

Therefore, the chances of Lin Clan winning first place were several times greater than before. Even though there was constant pressure from all around them, everyone tried hard and ignored it.

"Start the contest!"

Cleng! Cleng! Cleng!

As the contest began, the forgers swung the hammers in their hands hard and rhythmically, and none of them delayed. Because they were not only competing with others, they had to also compete against the limited time they had.

It's started!

Hey! Hey! Hey!

"Place your bets here! Xie Clan 1:1 Du Clan 1:1 Hong Clan 1:2 Lin Clan 1:3 Come on! Come on!"

Of course, for a big event like that, gambling was bound to happen. There were betting tables set up by the City Governor's people, along with many merchants and wealthy people in the city. As for the odds, the Xie Clan and the Du Clan were even, that was, one-to-one. But the Hong Clan and the Lin Clan were not. Especially the Lin Clan, who had lost for two years in a row, their odds were extremely low, one-to-three.

"I bet on Xie Clan ten thousand Eternal Coins!"

"I bet on Du Clan one hundred thousand Eternal Coins!"

"Me too!"

"I bet on that side too!"

Soon, chaos ensued. People had fun betting. They mostly bet on the side of the Xie Clan and the Du Clan. Because those two clans had a high chance of getting first place this year. As for the Hong Clan, there were some bettors, but not many. However, no one bet on the Lin Clan's side. Everyone thought that Lin Clan would definitely lose again.

"I'd like to bet on Lin Clan ten million Eternal Coins!"

Hah!?

But suddenly, a young man shouted. And he caught the attention of people all over the arena. That was because he bet on Lin Clan's side with a whopping ten million Eternal Coins. It was a very high amount of money. And if Lin Clan won, that young man would receive a stake of thirty million Eternal Coins. But what shocked everyone was not the amount of money; they were shocked by the clan that the young man chose to bet on.