Chapter 701
Submission and Appearance?
Although Zhang Lingfeng issued an ultimatum in the name of Zhang Tianshi, he knew in his heart that the surrender of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion would not be so simple.
Given the nature of Shen Yuan, Shen Pengyun, and others, their so-called submission must be hiding resentment, scheming, or even a delaying tactic, with the intention of finding an opportunity to retaliate in the future.
"To ensure absolute safety and completely eliminate future troubles, the key lies in strength."
Zhang Lingfeng sat in the backyard of the Divine Craftsman's Shop, looking at the mere 13,000-plus points of "lying down" value remaining on the panel, his brows furrowed.
"I must shock everyone at the Divine Inscription Master Cultivation Conference with my absolute strength, and even win first place, so that everyone, including Shen Jiayun Zhongzi and even the entire White Emperor City, can see my power."
Ideally, after the conference, one should prove oneself as a fourth-level divine rune master, find the cultivation method for a god-king, and advance to god-king status.
At that time, all the schemes of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion will become a joke.
Unfortunately, he didn't have enough "lying down" points to meet his needs.
Advancing to the fourth level of a divine rune master requires a more advanced cultivation method and a massive amount of "lying down" points, while becoming a god-king requires a god-king cultivation method, which he doesn't even have a way of doing right now.
"However, the fact that the Shen family has taken the initiative to back down is an opportunity that can be taken advantage of."
Zhang Lingfeng pondered.
"Why not let Master Ma make contact and find out their strengths and weaknesses? If they can successfully take over the Divine Craftsman Pavilion, that would be best. If there is any trickery involved, we can take swift and decisive action to eliminate them completely later. It won't be too late."
But the initiative must be in our hands.
He summoned Commander Ma and shared his thoughts: "Master Ma, the Shen family has sent a reply. They seem to be afraid, but we cannot let our guard down."
Since the Shen family wants to submit, they should be made to show their sincerity.
They should take the initiative to come to your shop to negotiate and sign a formal agreement of submission.
To ensure the authority and binding force of the agreement, it is necessary to invite influential witnesses, such as the head of the Divine Inscription Master Guild and the city lord of Baidi City.
We could even... invite Master Yun Zhongzi to attend.
With these people present as witnesses and exerting constraints, the Shen family will have to carefully consider the consequences if they want to back out later.
After listening, General Ma wholeheartedly agreed.
He was initially agitated by Zhang Tianshi's domineering attitude and the sudden submission of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, but after being reminded by Zhang Lingfeng, he calmed down.
Yes, the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion has a history of thousands of years and its influence is deeply entrenched. How could it be willing to hand over its foundation to others?
There must be some trickery behind this, or at least it's a stopgap measure.
"Master Zhang has considered everything thoroughly."
General Ma nodded.
"I will reply to Shen Yuan right away, explaining our demands. If we want to talk, we should do it at Shenjiang Shop, and in the presence of the city lord, the guild leader, and Master Yun Zhongzi!"
Soon, a clear and specific reply was sent from the Divine Craftsman's Shop to Elder Shen Yuan of the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion.
Inside the secret chamber of the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion.
The atmosphere was as oppressive as frozen ice.
Shen Yuan held Marshal Ma's reply, his hand trembling slightly, not from anger, but from a deep-seated humiliation and powerlessness.
"They want us to go to the Divine Craftsman's Shop to negotiate, and they also want the City Lord, Chairman Huang, and even Master Yun Zhongzi to be there as witnesses."
Shen Yuan's voice was hoarse, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
"General Ma is going to make our Shen family and the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion kneel down and submit to him in front of all the prominent figures in the city!"
"Too deceiving!"
An elder with a fiery temper slammed his fist on the table and stood up.
"Elder, let's fight him! No matter how powerful that Celestial Master Zhang is, if the entire Divine Craftsman Pavilion unites as one and uses all its resources, we might just be able to..."
"Compete? What will we use to compete?"
Shen Pengyun interrupted him, his face still pale, but his eyes revealed a deathly calmness.
"How did Qiming die? In Qiming Hall, silently and without a trace, his soul scattered! We don't even know how the other side got in!"
If we fight to the death, the fish will definitely die, but who knows if the net will break?
Are we really going to risk the lives of all the core members of the Divine Craftsmen's Pavilion, just to see if that Celestial Master Zhang will be intimidated by us?
These words were like cold water, extinguishing the last glimmer of resistance from the crowd.
The thought of Shen Qiming's death sent chills down everyone's spine.
"You've seen the attitude of the city lord and the guild leader."
Shen Yuan slumped down in dejection.
"They were unwilling to get involved at all, and even... advised us to accept reality."
Now that Marshal Ma has proposed inviting them to witness, they will most likely agree, as this aligns with their desire to maintain stability and prevent the conflict from escalating.
As for Master Yun Zhongzi…
Shen Garden's bitter smile
"Although he is dissatisfied with Zhang Tianshi, he cares more about the showdown with Zhang Tianshi at the conference, and he may not completely break ties with the other party for our sake."
Having him witness it would probably just be for show.
"So...are we really going to go and be humiliated?"
Another elder's voice choked with emotion.
"Being humiliated is better than losing your life."
Shen Yuan closed her eyes, as if she had used up all her strength.
"At least, after the agreement is signed, the foundation of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, most of the blacksmiths and resources can still be preserved."
Even if Commander Ma becomes the Pavilion Master, he will still need the help of the Shen family to stabilize the situation in the short term.
We... still have time, we still have opportunities.
Where there is life, there is hope.
Let's convene a council of elders and vote on it.
The outcome of the elders' meeting was exactly as Shen Yuan had predicted.
Faced with the threat of death and the helplessness of reality, most of the elders chose to compromise.
They decided that Elder Shen Yuan and Elder Shen Pengyun would lead several core elders to the Divine Craftsman's Shop for negotiations.
At the same time, Shen Yuan personally stepped forward with an extremely humble attitude to address the City Lord of Baidi City, President Huang Youming of the Divine Inscription Master Guild, and Master Yun Zhongzi, who was temporarily residing in the VIP Garden of the City Lord's Mansion.
A sincere invitation was extended to them to visit the Divine Craftsman's Shop and witness the merger of the Divine Craftsman's Pavilion and the Divine Craftsman's Shop.
To Shen Yuan's surprise, all three important figures readily agreed.
The city lord replied: "Maintaining harmony and stability in Baidi City and resolving conflicts is my inescapable duty."
President Huang replied: "We share the same ancestry and origins, and cooperation will benefit both of us. The association is happy to see this happen."
Yun Zhongzi's reply was brief yet meaningful: "I'd like to see if that Celestial Master Zhang will show himself."
When the news reached the Divine Craftsman's Shop, everyone was in an uproar!
Ma Fei was so excited that he spun around in the courtyard: "Father! The city lord, the guild leader, and Master Yun Zhongzi are all coming to our Divine Craftsman Shop!"
My goodness, when has our Divine Craftsman's Shop ever had such an honor!
Master Yang, Master Wang, Master Liu, and others were also flushed, both excited and nervous.
They were just ordinary blacksmiths on the street. They never imagined that one day, several of the most important figures in Baidi City would gather in their small shop.
"Master Ma, we need to get ready quickly! Bring out the best tea leaves and clean and decorate the courtyard properly!"
Master Yang said hurriedly.
"Yes, yes, we mustn't be impolite!"
Everyone agreed. The entire Shenjiang Shop was mobilized, cleaning the courtyard, arranging the hall, and preparing tea and snacks. Everyone was full of energy, and their faces were filled with a sense of pride and excitement.
The pent-up frustration from being suppressed by the Divine Craftsman Pavilion for so many years seemed to be released at this moment.
Although they knew that all of this stemmed from the intimidation of the mysterious Zhang Tianshi, the fact that the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion could bow down and that the city lord and guild leader could personally come was an unprecedented honor for the Divine Craftsmen Shop!
General Ma's heart was also filled with turmoil.
He looked at the busy crowd, then at Zhang Lingfeng, who remained calm and even somewhat lazy, sitting in the corner drinking tea, and felt a mix of emotions.
All of this is because of this young man, or rather, because of his unseen master.
At this moment, Ma Dashuai's awe and curiosity towards "Master Zhang" reached their peak.
He was increasingly looking forward to whether the mysterious Zhang Tianshi would appear during the negotiations, as the Shen family had requested.
The appointed day arrived quickly.
On this day, Ma Street seemed to be cleared out, and all bystanders were told to stay away.
The interior and exterior of the master craftsman's shop were spotless, and the small hall was decorated in a solemn yet simple manner.
The first to arrive was Huang Youming, the guild leader of the Divine Inscription Masters Guild. He arrived in an ancient-looking airship, accompanied by two guild elders.
General Ma, along with Zhang Lingfeng, Ma Fei, and others, were already waiting at the door.
"Junior Commander Ma welcomes Chairman Huang with great honor!"
General Ma bowed respectfully, his demeanor both courteous and dignified.
Huang Youming's gaze swept over the crowd, lingering briefly on Ma Dashuai before focusing more on Zhang Lingfeng, the somewhat lazy-looking young man behind him.
He had already learned from Barkol and Murong Li that this boy was Zhang Tianshi's disciple.
"Master Ma, there's no need for such formalities."
Huang Youming smiled gently.
"I have come here today to witness a wonderful story. The Divine Craftsman Pavilion and the Divine Craftsman Shop were originally one family. If they can put aside their past grievances and merge into one, it will truly be a blessing for the forging industry of Baidi City."
"The president is absolutely right. We owe it all to the president and all the gentlemen for upholding justice."
General Ma welcomed Huang Youming to the head seat.
Soon after, the city lord of Baidi City also arrived.
He didn't make a big fuss, only bringing two personal guards, but the imposing aura of a half-step God King made the air in the entire Divine Craftsman's Shop a bit heavier.
"Greetings, Lord City Lord!"
The group bowed again.
The city lord nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd before finally bowing to Huang Youming and saying, "President Huang has arrived first."
"The city lord is extremely busy, yet he has taken time out of his schedule to come, which shows how much importance he attaches to this matter."
Huang Youming stood up to return the greeting.
The city lord took his seat and said calmly, "Peace and tranquility within the city are the most important things. If we can take this opportunity to resolve a long-standing grudge, that would be a good thing."
Finally, Yun Zhongzi arrived.
He was still wearing that black robe, his face was cold and stern. He led his disciple Mu Chen and stepped into the air. Although he did not deliberately release the aura of a third-level divine inscription master, it still brought a sense of oppression.
His arrival made the atmosphere in the hall even more subtle.
"Master Yun".
The city lord and Chairman Huang both nodded to him.
Yun Zhongzi simply cupped his hands slightly, then found a seat and sat down. His sharp gaze swept across the entire room, lingering for a moment on Zhang Lingfeng, a faint, cold smile seemingly curling at the corner of his mouth.
His purpose in coming here today is less to witness and more to see for himself who this "Master Zhang" is, who dared to refuse him and who made him feel somewhat wary.
Shortly after the three important figures arrived, the people from the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion arrived.
Led by Shen Yuan, Shen Pengyun, and the other three core elders of the Divine Craftsmen Pavilion, a total of five people, walked heavily into the Divine Craftsmen Shop.
They were no longer the arrogant people they once were; each of their faces was filled with solemnity, humiliation, and a hint of weariness and fear that were hard to conceal.
Former adversaries now have to humbly come to each other's territory to discuss "submission." This psychological gap is enough to shatter anyone's pride.
"Shen Garden of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion pays respects to the City Lord, Chairman Huang, and Master Yun Zhongzi."
Shen Yuan and the others bowed deeply to the three people in the main seats, their voices hoarse.
As for Commander Ma, they merely gave a stiff bow, unable to even utter the title "Master Ma."
"Please sit down."
The city lord spoke, his voice flat, revealing neither joy nor anger.
After everyone took their seats, the group from the Divine Craftsman Shop was led by Commander Ma, with Zhang Lingfeng, Ma Fei, and others sitting at the lower end.
The Shenjiang Pavilion side, led by Shen Yuan, sat opposite.
The three witnesses sat in the center, on a high seat.
The small hall was filled with all the key figures who would determine the future of Baidi City's forging industry, and the atmosphere was so heavy that you could hear a pin drop.
Shen Yuan took a deep breath and spoke first, his voice hoarse: "Today... my Shen family of Shenjiang Pavilion, following the instructions of Senior Zhang Tianshi, has come to discuss with Master Ma... Master Ma the matter of Shenjiang Pavilion's submission to Shenjiang Shop."
He emphasized the three words "Zhang Tianshi" very much, but his eyes couldn't help but dart around, as if searching for that mysterious figure.
"Elder Shen, please speak."
Ma Dashuai straightened his back and tried his best to keep his voice steady.
Facing an opponent he once looked up to, he was filled with complex emotions, but more than anything, he was determined. For the future of Shenjiangpu, he had to seize this opportunity.
Shen Yuan produced a document that had been prepared beforehand. The content was nothing more than that Shenjiang Pavilion recognized Ma Dashuai as the new pavilion master, all resources, personnel, and customer networks of Shenjiang Pavilion were merged into Shenjiang Shop, and the Shen family members accepted Ma Dashuai's leadership, and so on.
The terms seemed detailed, but in the eyes of the three witnesses, they were full of room for maneuver and uncertainty about the future.
"The terms of the document are roughly as described."
Shen Yuan handed the document to Commander Ma, while his gaze swept across the room again, finally settling on the three witnesses, his tone carrying a hint of probing and insistence.
"However, before we formally sign this agreement that concerns the foundation of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion for thousands of years, my Shen family has one more request."
"speak."
The city lord said.
Shen Yuan stood up, cupped his hands in front of the void, and said loudly, "We earnestly request Senior Zhang Tianshi to appear and meet us!"
The submission of the Divine Craftsman Pavilion was carried out on the orders of the venerable Zhang Tianshi.
Such an important matter, without the personal witness and approval of our seniors, we... would find it difficult to feel at ease.
I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize to my senior in person and beg for your forgiveness for the past offenses committed by the Shen family!
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes turned to Ma Dashuai and Zhang Lingfeng behind him.
A look of anticipation flashed in Chairman Huang's eyes, the city lord's face was ashen, while Yun Zhongzi snorted coldly, his eyes filled with even stronger fighting spirit.
General Ma was startled and subconsciously looked at Zhang Lingfeng.
Zhang Lingfeng, however, kept his head down, fiddling with the teacup in his hand, as if it were none of his business.
The hall was silent; everyone seemed to hold their breath, awaiting the response from the mysterious Level 3 Divine Inscription Master, "Master Zhang."
Will he show himself? (End of Chapter)