Zhou Shu was tired of arguing with Xiao Zongshui, Li Hongyuan, and the others.
He had only wanted to keep a low profile, do his job well, and avoid conflicts.
But these people didn't give him a chance. In that case, he wouldn't keep a low profile!
"If you want to compete with me, you have to follow my rules!" Zhou Shu shouted.
This time, he decided not to hide anything. Weren't these people targeting him?
Then he would show them that some people couldn't be targeted!
Zhou Shu's intention was very clear. Didn't Li Hongyuan want to compete? Fine, let him have a good competition once and for all!
Zhou Shu's demand for the presence of someone of sufficient status was his backup plan.
He planned to go all out this time. By doing so, he would have to find a way to ensure his safety.
Zhou Shu knew that his forging skills were very valuable to the apprentices and even to superintendents like Xiao Zongshui.
But in the eyes of the true big shots, they were nothing.
The true big shots wouldn't harm him just for the forging formula of a standard weapon.
On the other hand, those at Xiao Zongshui's level might kill for the secret forging formula of a standard weapon.
Furthermore, with a big shot present, Xiao Zongshui, Li Hongyuan, and the others couldn't deny their loss!
"Hmph, what arrogance." Li Hongyuan snorted. "If you want to compete with so many workshops, I can satisfy you. But if you lose—"
"If I lose, I will give you the secret forging formula of the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber!" Zhou Shu interrupted coldly.
"Really?" Li Hongyuan's eyes lit up!
Why did they cooperate with Xiao Zongshui?
It was purely because Xiao Zongshui had agreed to share a portion of the profits obtained from forging the Huben Sabers with them.
The Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber was far more valuable than the Huben Saber!
If they could get the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, the benefits to their workshops would be self-evident!
There were 108 workshops in the Forging Division, and there were different ranks. The higher the ranking, the greater the benefits. As for the ranking, it depended on how many secret forging formulas the workshop had.
"A word spoken is past recalling," Zhou Shu said coldly.
"Great!" Li Hongyuan shouted. "I will discuss this with the other superintendents. Come back here tomorrow at this time!"
Zhou Shu didn't say anything else. He turned around and left.
After leaving the 78th Workshop, Zhou Shu didn't return to the 0th Workshop. Instead, he left the Forging Division and headed for the capital.
The greatest benefit of being a workshop superintendent was that he had the freedom to utilize his time. Previously, when he was a Forging Apprentice, he couldn't leave the Forging Division arbitrarily.
After entering the city gates, Zhou Shu headed straight for his destination.
"Could I trouble you to notify that Zhou Shu of the Forging Division requests an audience with Divine Constable Sun Gongping?" Zhou Shu said to the gatekeeper after arriving at the door of the Divine Constable Bureau.
Unlike the Forging Division, which was located on the outskirts of the city, the Divine Constable Bureau was located at the core of the capital. Its gate was even more imposing than the office of the capital magistrate's gate.
The constable in the dark green uniform glanced at Zhou Shu. "What do you need Divine Constable Sun for?"
In the Forging Division, only ranked martial artists could be called divine constables. The rest could only be called constables.
"Divine Constable Sun and I are good friends. I have some personal matters to discuss with him," Zhou Shu said while cupping his hands.
The constable sized him up and said coldly, "Wait."
Then he walked into the Divine Constable Bureau.
After a while, Sun Gongping's loud voice came. "What brings you here, Old Zhou? Are you here to send me money?"
Sun Gongping swaggered out of the Divine Constable Bureau.
He came to Zhou Shu's side and put his arm around Zhou Shu's shoulders. "Let me tell you something. I've changed my mind recently. I no longer like the original weapon. I want a new one now. It's definitely worthy of me, but the price is a bit higher."
Zhou Shu rolled his eyes internally. Sun Gongping was always thinking about weapons. Zhou Shu didn't know why it was so difficult for someone of Sun Gongping's status to obtain a ranked weapon. He kept thinking of borrowing money!
If Zhou Shu didn't lend him money, Sun Gongping's address for him would decline from Brother Zhou to Little Brother Zhou. Now, it had changed to Old Zhou.
"We'll talk about this later. I need your help with something," Zhou Shu said.
"Tell me about it, and I'll see if I can help you," Sun Gongping said.
When the constable guarding the gate saw Sun Gongping's and Zhou Shu's arms around each other, he wiped away his cold sweat. Luckily, he hadn't deliberately made things difficult for Zhou Shu. He was really Divine Constable Sun's good friend!
Zhou Shu briefly explained what had happened and then continued, "My status is low, so I can't see Her Highness the Princess. Thus, I would like to ask Brother Sun to help me invite Her Highness to watch the competition."
"What's so interesting about a battle between a bunch of Forging Apprentices?" Sun Gongping pursed his lips.
In the eyes of ranked martial artists, only ranked weapons were real weapons. Standard weapons were just tools…
"However, good brothers are loyal. I will definitely help you…" Sun Gongping looked askance at Zhou Shu.
Zhou Shu rolled his eyes inwardly. This fellow Sun Gongping just wants my money. You're from a rich background. What's the point of gawking at my money?
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not taking advantage of you. I'm borrowing money. I'll pay you back," Sun Gongping said.
"I really don't have any money to lend you now. I don't even have enough to pay for the construction of the 0th Workshop." Zhou Shu smiled bitterly. "How about this? After I finish mass producing Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers, I'll be able to get my dividends. At that time, I'll lend you as much as you need."
"I knew you were loyal. I'll wait a few more days. I'm not in a hurry anyway." Sun Gongping chuckled. "Don't worry. Leave it to me. I guarantee that Xiao Zongshui and the rest won't dare play any tricks!"
"Then, I'll have to trouble Brother Sun. You must invite Her Highness." Zhou Shu cupped his hands.
Sun Gongping waved his hand, indicating for Zhou Shu not to worry. He, Sun Gongping, was reliable!
Zhou Shu trusted Sun Gongping.
Although his words were sometimes out of line, and he always wanted to borrow money from Zhou Shu, there was nothing wrong with his character. Otherwise, with his status, he could have gotten as much money as he wanted.
It was too easy to collect dirty money in the Divine Constable Bureau.
In addition, Zhou Shu could tell that Sun Gongping was a hot-blooded youth and a friend worth making.
Even if he couldn't invite Princess Wuyou, he would still be able to intimidate Xiao Zongshui, Li Hongyuan, and the others with his presence.
He was a ranked martial artist and a Divine Constable. Both of these statuses were higher than that of superintendents of Forging Division workshops.
Besides, Sun Gongping might have a stronger background.
Ordinary divine constables wouldn't be able to meet a princess of Great Xia casually.
After informing Sun Gongping, Zhou Shu felt a bit more at ease.
The craftsmen were still busy working when Zhou Shu returned to the 0th Workshop.
Zhou Shu had said that each of them would receive a tael of silver for every day they completed the work ahead of schedule.
These craftsmen wished they could work 24 hours a day!
One tael of silver was a considerable income for them.
The main construction of the 0th Workshop was almost completed. In another three to five days, the roof would be sealed.
Zhou Shu's two-story residence had already been built and was undergoing renovation.
There was no way Zhou Shu could stay there for the time being. But he had built a forging shed in his courtyard. It was already usable for forging.
Although he had built a large factory, Zhou Shu felt that some weapons weren't suitable for forging inside the factory, which was why he had built a work shed for himself. When the courtyard doors were closed, the Forging Apprentices wouldn't dare disturb him, and he could then forge whatever he wanted.
With a thought, the Legendary Armament Canon appeared before him.
On the page of the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, the number after the title was '37'.
In just a few days, he had forged so many Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Sabers!
Xiao Zongshui, Li Hongyuan, and the others have come with ill intentions. Although I don't know how they want to compete, they already know about the existence of the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber. It's unlikely that I can win with it.
It's best if the Legendary Armament Canon can show me the next weapon. This way, I will have another trump card. I can both attack and defend.
This matter has reminded me that the Forging Division's forging tasks are always a knife hanging over my head. If I don't solve this, I will be chased away sooner or later because of the forging tasks. Even if I become a Forging Master, I will still have forging tasks.
Unless I become a Grand Craftsman, absolute freedom is just wishful thinking. Even Grand Craftsmen can't have absolute freedom, but it might be possible for Divine Craftsmen.
Becoming a Forging Master isn't that easy. What do I have to do to escape the pressure of the Forging Division's forging tasks?
What if my 0th Workshop only does research and development and outsources the job of mass production to other workshops?
Zhou Shu had an idea in his heart, but he still had to consider carefully whether it was feasible or not. At the very least, he had to obtain the approval of the grand minister, Princess Wuyou.
He could only gain approval by proving that he had the ability to develop new weapons.
Xiao Zongshui, Li Hongyuan, I bet you didn't expect that you would create an opportunity for me.
Zhou Shu rubbed his chin in thought.
The most important thing now is to get the next weapon from the Legendary Armament Canon.
To do that, I have to fill the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber to one hundred. It's at thirty-seven now, so I'm still sixty-three short…
With Zhou Shu fully focused in his current state, it would take two hours to forge a Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber.
If I don't eat or drink, forging ten sabers a day is already the limit. Sixty-three sabers requires at least seven days!
It seems like I have to think of a way to delay the competition.
Zhou Shu pondered. He didn't think any further after making up his mind. He picked up a hammer and began to forge a Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber.
If he didn't die in silence, he would explode in silence.
Since he couldn't keep a low profile, he might as well amaze the world!
This time, Zhou Shu wanted to use his absolute strength to let the entire Forging Division understand that he, the superintendent of the 0th Workshop, was fully deserving of his title and couldn't be underestimated!