Folca felt like crying but had no tears.
'Then why did you show it to me? Are you a sadistic or something? Is it funny to see others suffering?'
Of course, he only thought it in his mind. He decided that since his Clan got the formula to make Steel, he might use it to research new weapons. Perhaps Rean's Spiritual Kaz Sword was made based on the Steel crafting process.
He wasn't completely wrong since Rean's Steel was made based on his knowledge as a metallurgist back on earth. However, the main secret behind his Spiritual Kaz Sword was not present in the Steel Weapons, which was how to transform a Spiritual Metal into an Element Gathering One.
There are types of natural ores out there that already have Elements on them. But those would not gather the Elements to them like Rean's sword. Instead, they would make it easier for the Cultivator to use that ore's specific element on the weapon. For example, it would be much easier to use Fire Element on a weapon made with a Fire Elemental Ore. However, it doesn't mean that the ore will gather Fire Element by itself. That's something that Rean invented by matching Spiritual Energy and his knowledge as a metallurgist from his previous life.
"Alright. It seems like your blacksmiths already got the principle behind forging Steel. Do you need an anti-Spiritual Sense formation to hide the forging process? I can ask the Zafa Bank to send someone to deal with it."
Folca snorted after hearing that.
"Hmph! Who do you think we are? A blacksmith clan of our size obviously has its own forging secrets. We had long since built those formations to prevent them from leaking out. Besides, since the Zafa Back has 30% of the profits, no one will dare to steal from them. Even if someone is idiot enough to do that and succeed, he would never be able to sell Steel Works in Sasamil Empire. That being said, our business is pretty much safe."
Rean nodded, satisfied.
"Very well. I will leave the price of the Steel Weapons and Armors up to your judgment. Just don't forget that Astreg City and the surroundings are off-limits. Oh well, I doubt your Weapon Store would open a shop in such a remote place anyway."
Folca nodded.
"Indeed, we have no interest in a place so far away. But that is also good since we can put higher prices for the Steel Weapons and the others would buy anyway. It is not worth traveling all the way to Astreg City to buy them. Also, we will make a few enhancements with our own techniques, so our Steelwork will be different from them to start with."
Rean didn't mind. Folca is a very experienced blacksmith, so he didn't need to teach him more than necessary.
"Very well. As per the agreement, Zafa bank has 30% of the profits, your Shop has another 30%, while I have 40%. However, don't waste your time gathering Rank One Spirit Stones. Just trade them directly into Rank two if you can. I know that although the exchange rate is said to be 10 Rank one for 1 Rank two, the fact is that you will need at least 12 Rank one Spirit Stones for it. Still, I don't mind. As long as it doesn't surpass 13 Rank one Spirit Stones, you can trade it straight away."
Folca nodded. 12 Rank one Spirit Stones was the average price. If he can even use 13, then it will be easy to trade them.
Rean then continued.
"However, if you wish so, you can pay me with High-Level Spiritual Ores and other forging materials. I need to start working on a stronger weapon since my Spiritual Kaz Sword is reaching a limit. I even saw a few of the kids in the Dalamu Sect Entrance Exam using High-Level Spiritual Weapons, so I can't fall behind."
Folca wanted to say that Rean's Spiritual Kaz Sword is already equivalent to a High-Level Spiritual Equipment. However, Rean definitely knows that already, so there was no need to point it out.
"Very well. You can leave all the crafting process with us. In at most a month, everyone in the cities we have branches will know about the Steel Weapons."
Rean nodded and was just about to leave when Janariz spoke once more.
"My offer is still valid. Any price is negotiable for the secret of the Elemental Gathering Metal."
Rean smiled and finally left. It was not that he didn't want to share the secret, but that it was too early. Steel Weapons were as good as Low-Level equipments. Still, ultimately, they would be used by Foundation Establishment cultivators as most. Any Core Formation or higher would definitely use High-Level Spiritual Weapons and Armors.
However, if the Elemental Gathering Metal appeared in the market, maybe even the Dalamu Sect name wouldn't hold the greedy ones back. This kind of weapon can totally change the way Foundation Establishment Cultivators and above do battle. Before Rean gets strong enough, it was better to not spread it. Having Folca Janariz knowing about it to prepare the terrain for the future was already good enough. That man is smart, and won't open his mouth easily.
As Rean left the Janariz Weapon Store, he put his hand inside his bag to pretend to take something. But in fact, he was accessing the Soul Gem Realm to take a few Spirit Stones. But only then he remembered something.
"Oh, right! I can't access the Soul Gem Realm if Roan is too far away from me. Such an annoying system..."
Rean was planning to stay in the city another two or so days but decided against it in the end. He spent quite a few Spirit Stones during the contract process, so he was pretty much broke until he could reaccess his Soul Gem Dimensional Realm.
'I guess Roan is also in the same dilemma at the moment, I better go back.'
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Author's note: If you like the story so far, consider leaving a few Power Stones to help the story. =)