Becoming a Saint From the Iron Armor Skill

Chapter 244: Chapter 142: The True Dragon Raises Its Head

The Luo Family’s estate was located in the southern part of the Inner City District, separated from the Zheng Martial Arts Hall by just a single main street. It consisted of several connected courtyards, but its total area was not as vast as the Zhou Family’s territory at Lotus Pier—not even half the size.

Of course, this didn’t mean the Luo Family was weaker than the Zhou Family. After all, land in the Inner City District was worth its weight in gold. An ordinary three-courtyard residence could easily cost thousands, or even tens of thousands, of taels of silver.

In terms of property value, the Luo Family’s estate in the Inner City was likely more expensive than all of the Zhou Family’s properties in the Lishui and Guangfu Districts combined.

But even so, within all of Linji City, the Luo Family was merely a mid-tier clan, not even ranking among the top.

The Luo Family had originally started out by opening a blacksmith shop. Over time, they gradually expanded and grew into a large business managing various goods. Most of Luo’s Shops were located in the Outer City District, primarily concentrated in the South City District.

Some of this information about Luo’s Shop came from Shu Xiuming’s explanations on the way, while the rest was news Chen Cheng had gathered from other channels.

The two rode in a horse-drawn carriage straight into the street where the Luo Family was located. They bypassed the main Luo residence and arrived at the Luo Family’s Blacksmith Shop in an alley behind it.

The blacksmith shop’s building was quite old, looking as if it had been around for many years. The front hall wasn’t very spacious, and a shopkeeper and his assistants were busy tending to the few customers inside.

Shu Xiuming exchanged a few words with the Shopkeeper, then led Chen Cheng into the back courtyard, to a room next to the Blacksmith Workshop area.

"Mr. Chen, Shopkeeper Liu from the blacksmith shop just told me that Master Luo has been getting drunk every day recently. I’m afraid he hasn’t gotten out of bed yet."

"Please wait here for a moment. I’ll go find the young miss to help make the arrangements."

"Alright," Chen Cheng replied with a slight nod.

Shu Xiuming ordered someone to serve tea before hurrying away.

Chen Cheng had always preferred to keep a low profile and didn’t want too many people to know he was having Inner Armor crafted, so he had specifically told Shu Xiuming not to make a big deal of it.

However, the Inner Armor Chen Cheng was commissioning required Black Gold, which had to be smelted with Profound Iron to create Profound Gold. This process demanded careful handling.

Shopkeeper Liu of the Luo Family’s Blacksmith Shop was Master Luo’s eldest disciple and also a True Inheritor of his blacksmithing skills, but he was ultimately no match for Master Luo himself.

Master Luo’s name was Luo Tiezhu. He was the first Patriarch of the Luo Family and, in his youth, had also been a renowned Master Blacksmith.

Now, he had passed the family business down to his son, Luo Mingyu, and was enjoying a peaceful retirement. He would only occasionally take on a project himself, and only for crafting valuable Weapons or Inner Armor.

"For Mr. Chen to forge Inner Armor from Profound Gold, it will naturally be a Top Grade piece. No matter what, we have to get Master Luo to personally wield the hammer and forge it." Those were Shu Xiuming’s exact words.

Furthermore, they also needed to speak with Luo Yunzhi. To persuade Master Luo, it would naturally be easier if his eldest daughter was the one to ask.

Chen Cheng was already a Tributor recruited by Luo Yunzhi. Coupled with his status as a disciple of Mr. Zheng from the Zheng Martial Arts Hall, having Luo Yunzhi ask Master Luo on his behalf would naturally not be very difficult.

Chen Cheng’s original plan was simply to add more weight for his training. Having Master Luo help forge it into a Top Grade piece of Inner Armor was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.

After a wait of about half a cup of tea, Luo Yunzhi and Shu Xiuming hurried over, but Master Luo was not with them.

Chen Cheng quickly rose and bowed in greeting. "Greetings, Sixth Madam."

Luo Yunzhi wore a form-fitting red dress with a longsword at her waist. Her features were stunning and her figure enchanting. Amidst her charm, she carried the sharp competence of a Martial Artist. As Mr. Zheng’s sixth wife, she truly possessed both beauty and wisdom. Even to Chen Cheng’s discerning eye, she was a rare beauty in Linji City.

The Luo Family’s rise to become an Inner City Clan was due in no small part to her influence, which was likely no less than that of the Luo Family Patriarch, Luo Mingyu, who was in the Bone Forging Realm. In a sense, Luo Yunzhi was the true leader of the Luo Family.

A faint smile played on Luo Yunzhi’s lips, and she seemed to be in a good mood. Her smile widened as she said kindly, "Ah Cheng, there’s no need for such formalities."

"I also have you to thank for helping Ah Hu acquire ten catties of Black Gold."

Her use of "Ah Cheng" invisibly closed the distance between them.

As Mr. Zheng’s Sixth Madam, how could she not know how highly Mr. Zheng regarded Chen Cheng?

After all, not just anyone was allowed to freely enter Mr. Zheng’s study, let alone be gifted a Low Grade Muscle Strengthening Pill by him.

She studied Chen Cheng carefully, noting his abundant qi and blood and his long, steady breaths. His Martial Arts Power seemed to have grown much stronger; she suspected he was already a Muscle Strengthening Realm Martial Artist.

Luo Yunzhi was inwardly shocked. ’To come from a Humble Family yet become a Muscle Strengthening Realm Martial Artist at nineteen... a person like that is an absolute genius among geniuses. I can’t even imagine how great his future Martial Arts Achievements will be.’

’Even if he can’t match my husband, Mr. Zheng, he could still easily surpass my brother, Luo Mingyu.’

Beyond her shock, Luo Yunzhi couldn’t help but feel a secret delight. ’Recruiting Chen Cheng as a Tributor for Luo’s Shop was truly an excellent move.’

’It was very likely that by befriending Chen Cheng, a future Martial Arts expert of Linji City, the entire Luo Family would grow even stronger.’

This was self-evident. The Luo Family had become an Inner City Clan precisely because they benefited from the backing of a Martial Arts expert like Mr. Zheng.

But Mr. Zheng was, after all, over fifty years old. To maintain their footing in Linji City in the future, they would have to rely on the younger generation.

Chen Cheng also smiled and said earnestly, "You’re too kind, Sixth Madam. Luo’s Shop has taken good care of me all this time. It was the least I could do."

Luo Yunzhi turned to business and asked, "Ah Cheng, my father got drunk last night and is still asleep."

"Are you in a hurry for this Inner Armor?" freewebnσvel.cøm

’Every day the Inner Armor isn’t forged is another day my weight training isn’t increased, and my Cultivation Progress on the Iron Armor Skill stalls.’

Chen Cheng was already very impatient. After a moment of thought, he said, "Linji City has been restless lately, so I am indeed in a hurry to have the Inner Armor made."