Chapter 1978 - 1560: Mining? Metallurgy? Or Mercenary?

"You! I really don’t know what to say about you anymore! You sure are comfy being a hands-off shopkeeper, aren’t you!" Gu Changsheng exclaimed, suddenly bursting with frustration upon hearing this.

It’s not a big deal if Baby Jin Bao acts as a hands-off shopkeeper, but it certainly makes things difficult for them!

They don’t have any Smelting Currency, making it impossible for them to live in this Smelting City, isn’t it?

Not only can they not afford to live, they also can’t afford the Smelting Currency needed to enter the depths of Divine Mount Qilian, isn’t it?

Having never experienced the life of a pauper, Gu Changsheng sincerely felt like crying, and wanted to give Baby Jin Bao a slap. As she thought about it, this is exactly what Gu Changsheng did!

However, after receiving a slap from Gu Changsheng, Baby Jin Bao had already learned her lesson. Seeing her raise her hand again, Jin Bao promptly hid behind Zhou Mu!

Zhou Mu, although he looked a bit intimidating with his dark complexion and cold demeanor, Baby Jin Bao had come to realize that this man was indeed Gu Changsheng’s Achilles’ heel, the one person present who could make Gu Changsheng restrain herself!

It must be said that Baby Jin Bao’s understanding had reached quite a level. Upon seeing Baby Jin Bao hide behind Zhou Mu, and then seeing her evildoer looking at her with a pained expression, Gu Changsheng immediately restrained her actions.

"Your health isn’t good, and your temper has become increasingly irritable. Listen to me, take it easy and wait a bit!" Zhou Mu held Gu Changsheng close and comforted her gently.

He regretted it.

He regretted not resisting the soft coaxing of the woman in his arms and agreeing to let her enter Divine Mount Qilian so swiftly. How could her body withstand such shocks?

Not to mention the conditions in Smelting City, but if she enters this Divine Mountain outside the city, it will inevitably be even more bumpy, and who knows whether she’ll be able to endure it!

"I’m fine, don’t worry." Gu Changsheng looked at her evildoer, blinking her large eyes. She naturally understood what was on her evildoer’s mind, but she’s already been away from her main troop and her son for several days and couldn’t delay any longer!

She needed to quickly understand matters in the Southwestern North Mongol, obtain the Cold Iron Key, and swiftly head to the North Mongolia Royal City to reunite with Borjigin Nian and her little meatball of a son!

"You..." Zhou Mu looked at the woman in his embrace, shook his head, and ultimately said nothing more.

Yuan Bao and Black Man Duo Shu returned quickly from gathering information; both brought news on Smelting Currency within the Smelting City!

"Madam, Smelting Currency was one of the conditions for Smelting City to open the depths of Divine Mount Qilian for people to seek treasures. To pass through Smelting City, enough Smelting Currency must be paid, one hundred Smelting Currency per person!" Yuan Bao wiped the sweat from his forehead, expressing his urgency.

"Yes, continue. Exactly how can one obtain Smelting Currency?" Gu Changsheng nodded upon hearing this. This point had been made clear by Baby Jin Bao earlier.

"The position of City Lord in Smelting City has been vacant for years, never seen appearing. Smelting City is jointly governed by the three major alliances, and if one wants to obtain Smelting Currency, it can only be achieved through these three alliances!" Black Man Duo Shu glanced at the panting Yuan Bao, shook his head, and spoke up in his stead.

The downside to being overweight is just this; even a little movement leaves him sweating profusely. It’s truly baffling how someone as peerlessly talented as Zhou Mu could have a useless fatty like Yuan Bao beside him. Black Man Duo Shu simply couldn’t comprehend this!

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng exchanged glances with her evildoer and Shi Wujue, signaling Shi Wujue to continue.

"To survive within Inner City of Smelting City, one must strive to obtain Smelting Currency! In Smelting City, there are three ways to obtain Smelting Currency. The first method is to join the Gold Mining Alliance implied by Smelting City’s alliance, then enter the mines to work and mine gold, earning two Smelting Currency a day!" Black Man Duo Shu lowered his gaze, relaying the information he had gathered.

Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng widened her eyes, "What? Become a miner? Are you kidding me?"

Asking her, Gu Changsheng, to become a miner?

Come on!

Even though Gu Changsheng hadn’t worked as a miner before, she had heard plenty about the tough lives miners lead in her past life!

Earning Smelting Currency as a miner is incredibly difficult for someone like Gu Changsheng, who has been accustomed to a comfortable life!

Moreover, she couldn’t afford to waste this time!

Two Smelting Currency a day, yet entering the depths of Divine Mount Qilian through Smelting City requires a payment of one hundred Smelting Currency per person. Doesn’t that mean they would have to be miners in the mines for fifty days?

No!

Gu Changsheng refused to accept such a reality!

"What is the second method?" Gu Changsheng took a long breath, waiting for Black Man Duo Shu to continue.

"The second method is to go to the Metallurgical Alliance to participate in metallurgical forging. The risk of metallurgy is relatively lower compared to gold mining, so the reward is one smelting currency per day!" Black Man Duo Shu lowered his head and continued.

One smelting currency per day, meaning they would need a hundred days to gather enough smelting currency to enter the mountain!

What a joke!

"What is the last method?" Gu Changsheng suppressed his anger and coldly asked.

"The third method is to join the Mercenary Alliance and become mercenaries. This way, you can follow the employer into the depths of Divine Mount Qilian, and the smelting currency required for mercenaries to enter the mountain is borne by the employer!" Black Man Duo Shu looked up immediately upon hearing, but he added, "However, we are not familiar with Divine Mount Qilian, and your health isn’t good, nor is my master’s, so I don’t suggest we join the Mercenary Alliance. Going into the mountain ourselves, we still have some ability to protect ourselves, but if we bring others, being hindered and having to protect their safety, it becomes too dangerous!"

Black Man Duo Shu’s words made sense, but Gu Changsheng shook his head, pondering, "Considering the current situation, if we want to pass through Smelting City quickly and head to Divine Mount Qilian to find the Divine Weapon Forging Tower, the only way is to join the Mercenary Alliance! We can’t afford to delay such a long time to earn those smelting currencies!"

"But..." Black Man Duo Shu responded, looking worried, wanting to advise against it.

"You don’t need to worry. Although we are not very familiar with the situation in Divine Mount Qilian, we have Jin Bao!" Gu Changsheng raised a hand to stop Black Man Duo Shu from continuing, turned his head to look at Baby Jin Bao, squinting his phoenix eyes threateningly, "Jin Bao, born in this mountain, raised in this mountain. If you dare tell me you are not familiar with the situation in Divine Mount Qilian, do you believe I’ll hit kids?"

Upon hearing this, Baby Jin Bao immediately raised his hands to cover his head, "Familiar! Familiar! That’s what I’m very familiar with!"

What do you mean believe or not believe this woman would hit kids?

She clearly already has, hasn’t she?

Baby Jin Bao was quite resentful, so his response was very quick!

"Very good!" Gu Changsheng was very satisfied with Baby Jin Bao’s answer.

With little to worry about, Gu Changsheng turned again to look at his evildoer, looking as if he could be reasoned with, "You heard them, none of us are cut out to earn smelting currencies, joining the Mercenary Alliance is our only option, and we have only this choice to enter the mountain in the shortest time!"

Zhou Mu heard this, exchanged a glance with Shi Wujue, and a hint of helplessness flashed in both of their eyes.

Indeed, as Gu Changsheng said, joining the Mercenary Alliance is the best way for them to save the smelting currency needed to go deep into Divine Mount Qilian!

"Even if we join the Mercenary Alliance, we can only take on simple tasks. Let’s not forget, our goal is just to find the Divine Weapon Forging Tower!" Zhou Mu looked at the young woman beside him, cautiously reminding her.

"Alright! I understand!" Gu Changsheng nodded upon hearing.

The group then turned and walked towards the location of the Mercenary Alliance in Smelting City.

Along the way, naturally, Yuan Bao held Baby Jin Bao, but this time, ever since Baby Jin Bao heard the group’s conversation and knew their destination was the Divine Weapon Forging Tower, his small face was full of thoughtful expression, not knowing what he was thinking...

The Mercenary Alliance in Smelting City, as one of the three major powers of Smelting City, was built magnificently, with two huge Guangong Stone Towns at the entrance, imposing and majestic, giving off a solemn feeling just by looking!

Fortunately, the Mercenary Alliance is open day and night; in fact, almost the entire Smelting City operates without day and night division, with alchemists continuously refining metals, and those in mountain caves mining gold not resting even by day!

Before them, the Mercenary Alliance stood as a three-story high building forged from bronze and iron, its roof towering, majestic in appearance!

"Good day, are you here at the Mercenary Alliance to join as mercenaries?" At the front of the Mercenary Alliance, a young man in iron armor saw Gu Changsheng and his companions and immediately asked.

"Yes indeed." Zhou Mu answered.

The young man standing on the steps then sized up the newcomers, who looked impressive, but their skin was a bit too dark, truly marring their appearance!

Of course, being a guide for the Mercenary Alliance, the young man had seen much and wouldn’t judge by appearance; the Mercenary Alliance always valued strength first!

However, the young man’s gaze quickly stopped on Yuan Bao, or more precisely, on Baby Jin Bao in Yuan Bao’s arms!

The young man’s expression slightly changed, reassessing Gu Changsheng and his group, a look of displeasure flashing across his face. He couldn’t help but shake his head, saying, "You all look unfamiliar; it seems it’s your first time at the Mercenary Alliance, and you don’t know its rules!"

"The Mercenary Alliance is the highest-paying alliance in Smelting City, but it is also the most dangerous place. As mercenaries, everything is for the employer first, even if it means death, you must ensure the employer’s safe return from the depths of the Divine Mountain. Among you, having women is fine; there are women in the world who surpass men, but you even bring a child! Take my advice: you’d better go to the Gold Mining Alliance or the Metallurgical Alliance to find a job and earn smelting currencies; the Mercenary Alliance is not where you should be!"