The next day, at the Town Hall, Rong Xi had just entered when someone came in and gave him a letter. This person was much more respectful and nervous than Shixuan, which made Rong Xi smile wryly 'It truly is a difference. The Lords younger brother, Junior Eunuch Ji Shixuan was much more arrogant and colder when he arrived. He didn't even bow or wait for me to read the letter before he left. If my ego was the same as that of my father, then I am sure I would have rejected without even reading the letter and made an enemy out of a benefactor.

I must truly thank mother for giving me her smarts and not the brains of my father, or else I might have never advanced and made our town a city. Just a few years, and we will become one of the mighty cities. None of the small cities can rival us, and even the medium sized cities will have difficulties.

We will take this chance and advance rapidly under the cover of the Eunuch Palace. We won't be needing anyone of a higher cultivation to advance, that will be taken care of by the Lord. As long as we contribute, the other elders might advance just as rapidly, and we will become a large city in less than a century! That will be the goal of all clansmen, I will make sure to fulfil each and every request!

That Shanmao Luo… he is very promising. I should tell Hu to build some good feelings. Although they won't be Master and Disciple, a teacher for a day is a father for life, isn't that what they say? As long as he had good feelings, even if he just throws us scraps later on, scraps of gold are still better than tons of iron! We will make sure to use this opportunity wisely.'

While having side thoughts, he still read the letter and answered the still bowing and nearly kneeling messenger "You may call forth your Lord. He can have the first audience of the day."

There were usually many others waiting for an audience in front of the Town Hall, but they accepted that it was important, so no one complained when they saw the young master of the Yi family go in first. They knew that he was of high standing and were sure that their Town Chief had his reasons.

But all of them didn't feel too good about him, as he had acted very arrogantly when no high person was around. Different from Ji Li's cold attitude that was seemingly indifferent to anything that wasn't about his Mission, Yi Minghua truly acted arrogantly. They heard from different people that worked in the competition that the smith that participated in the competition was screamed at.

If one believed the rumours, then Yi Minghua had faulted the smith for not working enough and for being too useless. Although it was normal to feel bad about a loss, the winner was clearly much better, and they should admire and ask for teachings instead of saying that the winner was lucky.

That went against the pride of the dwarfs, so although they didn't feel to bad, as the camaraderie between them and the smith was non-existent, they still didn't have an ounce of respect to anyone that didn't respect their life work.

…

Inside the Town Hall, Yi Minghua entered slowly and bowed at the end of the hall towards Rong Xi, that was sitting relaxedly without any nervous feelings. Seeing this Minghua thought that he had won and that the other side was just hiding their excitement, so he was happy and expectant.

The young master of the Yi family presented himself as very prideful to all the elders, but he still had basic mannerism and respect for them, so he didn't act too pretentious and asked "Town Chief of the Ferrarius Town, have you decided whether your Rong Clan will be joining the ranks of our Yi family? If that is the case, then I can guarantee that this town will soon become a prestigious city under the leadership of the Yi family, making it more prosperous than it has ever been!"

The words Yi Minghua chose couldn't be more wrong, and it made Rong Xi frown. His clan had been standing for centuries even before they joined the Emerald Brilliance Empire, they were one of the core clans of the Ferra Kingdom and had a lot of authority and more than enough strong smiths.

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The only reason for their current situation was because they lost a large part of their inheritance and were left alone as all their experts died out during their own war. Nowadays, although not much remained, their deepest secrets and the usage and plans for the several different sun smithing workshops still remained, and they just needed time and manpower to come back to prominence.

Hearing Yi Minghua comment on them like that hurt their pride over their long-lasting history, and even if they weren't recruited, they would still have rejected. In comparison to Ji Li, who know well about their history and even mentioned it before, the difference was just too big.

Rong Xi lost all interest to pretend and decided to end it directly. Although he planned to ask a bit, he didn't truly expect an answer, still, he made a last question "Young Master Yi, might you tell us why there is such a rush? For centuries, although servitude wasn't an option, alliances were always available to us. So, tell me, how come the Yi family has only shown interest now?"

Yi Minghua didn't really want to answer, but considering that it wasn't such a big secret, and he had already assumed that the invitation was accepted, he gave a simple answer "There was not much interest and we had more than enough smiths, but the competition has shown that the Rong Clan is truly a blessed one and deserves more attention."

Although he only gave a short answer in the first sentence, Rong Xi had already concluded that his assumption and deduction beforehand was correct. He nodded as he said "Then we must kindly decline your offer, young master Yi. We have thought about your offer and have concluded that it does not truly benefit us in the long-term, but we hope for cooperation if possible."

Rong Xi took on a respectful stance, but his words were a clear rejection, but still had a respectful tone when asking for cooperation. Even if their clan were Vassals to the Eunuch Palace, some cooperation with craftsmanship families such as the Yi family wasn't bad at all, and Rong Xi was sure that Ji Li had the same thought. Still, he was sure that he would be rejected, so he didn't feel bad.

Yi Minghua didn't expect that answer at all, he was just about to congratulate about the decision when he heard the rejection, which made him stop in shock as he thought 'Rejection? Rejection? What does he mean he has to decline? How can he take such a stupid step and not join our family? He would easily make the town a city in just a few years, HOW CAN HE REJECT US?'

He frowned deeper and deeper as he thought of this and couldn't help but ask angrily "Town Chief Rong Xi, what do you mean rejection? Have you misspoken? Do not make jokes, this is a serious discussion about the future of your clan, how can you throw it away like that? In just a few years, the town would become a city and prosper!"

Rong Xi didn't know what to say. He clearly already rejected politely, even though he expected that the young master wouldn't be happy, but how could he speak so rudely as to even mention his name? Not only that, but he clearly didn't think much of the clan.

"A few years to become a city? Young Master, I remember that you have promised the clan that there would be an opportunity in just a few weeks' time, how can you say that it would take years? Although we are secluded from the outside world, we still know what is happening.

In these turbulent times you ask us to wait a few years? Who knows whether our town is even able to stay together for a few more months, but you expect us to wait such a long time, don't you think you are asking for too much?"

It was true, the town would most likely be split up. The times were very heated, and they might have to send all their good smiths to large workshops where they would work on military goods for months at a time. That was another difference between a town and a city.

A city lord had a true and inheritable Noble title, making the whole city his fief. The fief of a noble could not be randomly confiscated, especially not the land on which his family resided. Yet a town chief was seen as a manager, their Noble title would only be of Knight, making them uninheritable.

If they waited for such a long time to announce their change from a town to a city, then they would only have a fief with no people. Not considering Rong Xi's amazing Talent, he would only sit on bare ground with nothing to offer and be just one of the countless barons that only have their rank because of their respective cultivation level, but have no foundation attached to the title.

Yi Minghua realised he misspoke but persisted as he had already offended the Rong Clan "How can you just reject us! We will see who suffers in the end!" with that, he left the premise and went out. Rong Xi and the elders were nearly fuming because of the disrespect they received, but no one commented too deeply, as that was a matter their Lord would have to manage.