Finishing his instructions, Dugu Xin turned toward a stone water basin set at the side of the forge, where the diligent female servant had prepared fresh water, perfumed faintly with cooling herbs.
Kneeling lightly, he dipped his small, pale hands into the cool water, washing away the soot and charcoal dust that clung to his skin. His movements were calm, precise — each motion a quiet reflection of the discipline instilled in him as the First Young Master of the Dugu Clan.
Standing once more, drying his hands with a clean cloth the servant presented, Xin faced the five blacksmiths, who stood still and silent, the weight of expectation pressing down on them.
His voice, soft yet unmistakably commanding, broke the heavy quiet.
"You must understand..." Xin said, his gaze sweeping across them. "The work you do here is of immeasurable importance — not merely for the future strength of our Dugu Clan, but for the very perception of Auxiliary System Spirit Masters across the continent."
The blacksmiths lowered their heads further in respect, yet in their chests, their hearts pounded with sudden, fierce excitement.
Xin's eyes glinted like stars hidden behind mist.
"A weapon that is not their Spirit itself," he continued slowly, letting the words sink in, "but one that resonates with their Spirit Power...
A weapon that can respond to and even amplify Spirit Energy, exerting force equal to or greater than a Spirit Skill in some cases."
He smiled faintly, an expression both dangerous and exhilarating.
"Such a thing would be... revolutionary."
The blacksmiths clenched their fists at their sides, breathing harder — not from fear, but from the thrill of standing at the edge of history itself.
Xin allowed the silence to stretch for a breath longer, then spoke again, briskly and efficiently.
"I will find someone to assist you in acquiring better meters and specialized materials — tools to measure temperature, density, carbon purity, and more. Precision will become your weapon."
He folded his hands behind his back, his youthful figure radiating unshakable authority.
"I also know," Xin said, voice hardening slightly, "that not all of you are Spirit Masters. Those of you who are not — report directly to Zhong Shan. Inform him that it is by my order. He will know what steps to take next."
The blacksmiths bowed deeply, pressing a fist to their hearts in the formal Dugu Clan salute.
"Yes, Young Master!"
Satisfied, Xin turned sharply on his heel, his two personal servants — Ichiji and the cleaning girl — trailing behind him at a respectful distance as he left the forge grounds.
The clang of hammers, the roar of flames — all seemed to fade behind him like the echoes of an earlier, smaller world.
As he walked through the long stone corridors back toward the inner estate, Xin's mind turned inward, thoughtful.
'The System is incredible,' he mused silently, 'but it only provides information when I physically interact with an object. It's limited by my reach.'
His sharp brows furrowed slightly.
'What we truly need... is a Spirit that can act as an extension of the senses. Something that can scan, inspect, and analyze at a broader level — a true auxiliary-type Spirit specialized in information gathering.'
As Xin walked slowly down the broad stone path, his fine robes swaying gently with each step, his mind remained preoccupied with new plans.
'Aunt Meiying is well-traveled...' he mused thoughtfully, hands clasped lightly behind his back, 'she must have encountered a wide variety of Spirit Masters and Spirits during her journeys. If anyone within the clan has knowledge of rare auxiliary-type Spirits, it would be her.'
The two servants — silent as shadows — followed a respectful distance behind him, sensing their young master's contemplative mood and wisely refraining from speaking.
Their destination lay ahead: the Great Library of Viremoor Keep, a towering structure of pale jade stone, its arched windows catching the light of the protective barrier overhead, casting shifting, rippling patterns onto the pathway.
As they neared the Library's steps, Xin's gaze momentarily drifted to his right — and he caught sight of a small, awkward scene unfolding near a fountain.
There, surrounded by a scattered group of servants and several young members of subsidiary branches, stood Dugu Gho — the Third Young Master.
At 6 years old, Gho was extremely small, his thin face framed by messy black hair. A pair of thin, gold-rimmed glasses perched precariously on his nose, evidence of his poor eyesight that had plagued him since birth.
He clutched a thick book awkwardly in one hand, his other hand gesturing helplessly as he tried to give instructions to the servants around him.
His status — now of the main branch — was too overwhelming for him to get used to among the brimming pride of young talents who now crowded the halls of the Dugu Clan.
Gho sensed it keenly. The sideways glances, the barely-hidden snickers.
the other young masters largely ignored him — an academic soul trapped in a house that revered strength above all.
But then — amid his confusion and quiet frustration — he looked up and saw him.
Dugu Xin.
The First Young Master, striding toward the Library like a young dragon cloaked in silk and power.
Gho's heart skipped a beat, and he straightened instinctively, nearly dropping his book in his hurry to bow properly, glasses sliding down his nose.
"Big Brother!" Gho called out, voice bright and hopeful despite the heaviness in his small chest.
Xin slowed, his sharp eyes studying the scene with a detached clarity.
'I know I should engage more with people my 'age' for social growth,' Xin reflected briefly, 'but my mental age is too far removed. It's not a matter of pride — it's simple reality. I can't force the innocence of youth onto a heart already tempered by two lifetimes.'
Still, as he observed Gho — clumsy, sincere, clearly overlooked by most — something stirred in him.
'A person like this... loyal, clever, marginalized by the arrogance of others...'
'They are often the ones who, when nurtured properly, become the strongest pillars.'
Xin's lips curved into a slight, rare smile.
He changed direction without hesitation, walking directly toward his younger brother.
The servants around Gho quickly lowered their heads, some even retreating instinctively from the sheer weight of Xin's presence. Even at his young age, the First Young Master had begun to develop an aura — subtle, yet heavy enough to make those of lesser spirit feel exposed.
Xin stopped a few paces from Gho and nodded gently.
"Third Brother," he said in a warm but measured tone, "what are you doing out here by yourself?"
The boy's face lit up, eyes shining with admiration. Clutching his book to his chest, he shuffled forward, trying not to trip over his own excitement.
"I was... I was looking for some books on metallurgy!" Gho said quickly. "I wanted to learn more after hearing about the blacksmiths working on the new project you announced! But... I got a little lost."
Xin's brow lifted slightly in interest.
'Metallurgy? At his age?'
'And without anyone telling him to do so?'
There was more to this little brother than anyone realized.
Xin made a swift decision.
"You've chosen well," he said, voice low but firm. "Come with me."
Gho blinked in surprise, mouth opening slightly — but then quickly nodded, practically stumbling to fall into step behind his elder brother.
The two of them, followed by the silent servants, ascended the marble steps toward the Library — a path now set that would quietly alter the fates of both young masters.
As they made their way up the Library's polished marble steps, Xin turned his head slightly toward his younger brother, who clutched his heavy book as if it were a life-preserving treasure.
"Third Brother," Xin said, his tone composed yet warm, "the blacksmiths need assistance — not just with technique, but with finding rare metals and other materials."
Gho bobbed his head quickly, his glasses sliding down slightly with the motion, forcing him to push them back up hastily.
Xin continued, his voice low and measured.
"Our clan, despite ruling such a vast domain, has no known mines within our territory. We have always relied on imported resources. That must change. If we are to rise beyond mere survival, we need to cultivate talents — people who can locate and extract what we require from our own lands."
Gho's face lit with an eager seriousness, nodding more fervently, though the heavy book remained stubbornly clutched to his chest.
Not long after, they entered the grand atrium of the Dugu Clan Library.
It was an awe-inspiring place — towering shelves lined with ancient scrolls and tomes, the scent of old parchment and ink heavy in the cool air. Thin beams of spirit light drifted lazily through the upper reaches of the domed ceiling, illuminating motes of dust that danced like tiny stars.
Near the center of the hall, they spotted her — Aunt Meiying.
She sat at a wide, low table, surrounded by floating books and scrolls, her massive Spirit Power casually manipulating them like planets orbiting a sun. Each tome flicked and turned at her mental command, pages fluttering like birds' wings.
Seeing the two boys approach, Meiying laughed lightly and retracted her power with a delicate wave of her hand, the books softly settling themselves into neat piles around her.
She greeted them with a dazzling smile that brightened the cold Library air.
"Boys!" she exclaimed warmly. "What a pleasant surprise. What are you looking for?"
At her bright greeting, Gho immediately took a half-step back, overwhelmed, his cheeks flushing red as he half-hid behind Xin.
Xin, by contrast, stepped forward calmly, bowing his head slightly in the respectful but confident manner expected of a First Young Master.
"I came seeking your wisdom, Aunt," Xin said politely. His clear voice carried a hint of hidden sharpness — the careful keenness of someone seeking not idle knowledge, but critical answers.
"I wanted to know," he continued, locking eyes with her, "whether you have ever encountered a Tool Spirit capable of inspecting or analyzing an item's properties — something that could discern qualities hidden to the naked eye."
Aunt Meiying tapped her chin thoughtfully, her brows furrowing ever so slightly. For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint rustling of distant scrolls.
Then she smiled, a glimmer of recollection lighting her expression.
"Yes," she said slowly. "Once, many years ago during my travels through the southern regions of the Heaven Dou Empire, I encountered a small merchant family."
She leaned forward, her voice lowering slightly as if sharing a secret.
"Their Spirit was known as Diamond Glasses — a Tool Spirit specialized in analysis and inspection. It allowed them to see the true qualities of goods, detect flaws, impurities, even hidden enchantments if any were present."
Gho's eyes widened behind his glasses. Even Xin's gaze sharpened slightly.
Meiying continued, her tone turning wistful.
"Unfortunately, their family was small, not affiliated with any major sect or clan. By now... they may have spread out, merged into larger trading groups, or hidden themselves. Finding a direct descendant would not be easy."
Xin nodded thoughtfully, absorbing every word.
'Diamond Glasses... a Spirit capable of inspecting the unseen.'
'Exactly what we need — or at least, a starting point for forging something even greater.'
Bowing his head respectfully, Xin spoke with calm sincerity.
"Thank you for your guidance, Aunt Meiying."
Beside him, Gho hurriedly mimicked his elder brother, clutching his book tighter to his chest as he bobbed in an awkward, but heartfelt, bow. His glasses nearly slipped from his nose again in the process, but he quickly pushed them back up, cheeks burning with a mixture of embarrassment and determination.
Aunt Meiying laughed softly, a warm, almost motherly sound.
"No need for thanks, little ones," she said with a wink. "Knowledge is meant to be shared — especially with those who know how to use it."
Xin straightened, his face composed but inwardly marked with a growing resolve.
One by one, the keys he needed were appearing.
Without wasting another moment, Xin gestured subtly with his hand, and the two young masters — trailed silently by their loyal servants — turned and departed the Library, their footsteps quick and purposeful against the polished stone floors.
Outside, the light filtering through the barrier over Viremoor Keep was soft and pearlescent, casting long, gentle shadows.
Their next destination was clear.
Their father — Dugu Bo.
As they walked, the cool air of the estate seemed charged with unseen currents. Servants and guards moved aside with quick bows as the young masters passed.
Xin's mind sharpened like a blade being drawn across a whetstone.
'Father must be informed — not just about the Steel Project or the Blacksmiths — but about the greater path. The necessity of securing resource lands. The search for rare Spirits like Diamond Glasses. If the Clan wishes to rise before the Rite of Resonance, everything must be woven together.'
Gho hurried beside him, small legs working double-time to keep pace, his heart pounding in nervous excitement. Though he didn't fully understand everything his elder brother intended, he could feel it — change was coming.
And somehow, he — Dugu Gho, the new Third Young Master — was walking at the side of its herald.