Forging Grandmaster
"Very well, everyone has their own destiny. This Demon Luo Scripture, since it can only go up to the Eighth Layer, must have its own reasons." As Great Emperor level being, Great Emperor Xuan Luo, although puzzled by Zhuge Xiang's Demon Luo Scripture remaining at the Eighth Layer, did not intend to force him to stay.
"Thank you for your help, Ancestor," Zhuge Xiang said. In any case, Zhuge Xiang was very happy to be able to raise the Demon Luo Scripture to the Eighth Layer in one go. In this way, his gains in the Asura Path would be truly great.
"Between you and me, there's no need for formalities. You've gained enough experience in the Sacred War, and the Demon Luo Scripture has been upgraded to the Eighth Layer. I wonder what your next move will be?" With a wave of his hand, Great Emperor Xuan Luo didn't take Zhuge Xiang's thanks to heart and instead asked Zhuge Xiang.
"The matter of the Asura Path is settled, but I'm still worried about the matters of the Cultivation World. So I'll return to the Cultivation World," Zhuge Xiang said after a moment's thought. His Master and the others had already started a war with the Great Qin Empire, and he had been away from the Cultivation World for some time. Now that his strength had greatly increased, he should go back.
"Very well, then go ahead. I believe we will meet again soon." Nodding, Great Emperor Xuan Luo felt that with Zhuge Xiang's current cultivation at the Fifth Layer of the Great Accomplishment Stage, it wouldn't take long for him to ascend to the Asura Path.
"Farewell, Ancestor," Zhuge Xiang nodded, and together with Mo Lingna, they left the Palace of Great Emperor Xuan Luo.
The matter of the Asura Path has been resolved, and it is indeed time for Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna to leave. However, Zhuge Xiang thought of the South Heaven Gate. So far, he has collected three pieces of the South Heaven Gate, which is considered most of it. Since one piece was found in the Asura Path, are there any more?
With this in mind, Zhuge Xiang took out Star Chart from his Bag Space. This Star Chart was perfect for finding things. He noted the aura of the South Heaven Gate component, and sure enough, the pointer on the Star Chart started spinning rapidly, then pointed directly in one direction...
"As expected? There are still parts of the South Heaven Gate in this Asura Path," Zhuge Xiang was overjoyed upon seeing the reaction of the Star Chart.
"Husband, what is this big, black iron block?" Mo Lingna asked curiously, watching Zhuge Xiang's actions.
For this seemingly insignificant piece of Great Black Iron, Zhuge Xiang actually made himself give up the jade pendant, which Half-Demon Artifact. Moreover, judging from its appearance, Zhuge Xiang himself already possessed two such pieces.
"Take a closer look, what is this?" Hearing Mo Lingna's curious question, Zhuge Xiang smiled and placed the three-part merged South Heaven Gate in front of Mo Lingna. The magnificent South Heaven Gate, although incomplete, had collected most of its parts, and upon closer inspection, its True Appearance of Mount Lu could be discerned.
"The South Heaven Gate? Could this be the legendary gate to the Immortal Realm?" Sure enough, although she had never seen it before, as Cultivator, Mo Lingna had heard of the South Heaven Gate. Therefore, when she saw Zhuge Xiang take out this incomplete South Heaven Gate, Mo Lingna couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, even though she was mentally prepared.
"That's right, this should be the South Heaven Gate," Zhuge Xiang nodded, put away the broken South Heaven Gate, and the two of them flew together in the direction indicated by the Star Chart.
"But isn't the South Heaven Gate the gateway to the Immortal Realm? Why has it become like this? And who could have done this to it?" Mo Lingna asked as she flew alongside Zhuge Xiang.
"I don't know either? When the First Generation Sea God ascended, I clearly saw that the South Heaven Gate was intact..." Zhuge Xiang's eyes were also confused. On the day the First Generation Sea God met the Golden Body Bodhisattva, after the misunderstanding between the brothers was resolved, the First Generation Sea God ascended in front of Zhuge Xiang. At that time, Zhuge Xiang clearly saw the existence of the South Heaven Gate.
"Perhaps? This South Heaven Gate is real, but it was destroyed, so the Immortal Realm South Heaven Gate it?" Mo Lingna guessed.
"Never mind, we can't guess these things. Let's collect the South Heaven Gate first," Zhuge Xiang said with a smile. These things can't be guessed out of thin air just by using our brains.
With the guidance of the Star Chart, and with the speed of Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna, it wouldn't take them long to cross the entire Asura Path. In just half an hour, Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna arrived at a remote mountain in the Asura Path. The dark red rocks gave people a somber feeling.
"According to the Star Chart, it should be inside this mountain." After checking the Star Chart, Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna slowly descended. At the same time, Zhuge Xiang spread his Divine Sense, enveloping the entire mountain. Soon, Zhuge Xiang sensed an extremely powerful being inside the mountain.
Following their Divine Senses, Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna arrived at a valley. This valley was shrouded in a Restriction Barrier that could block Divine Sense from detecting it. If Zhuge Xiang hadn't cultivated the Great Strength Bull Demon Technique to the Fifth Layer and greatly enhanced his Divine Sense, he probably wouldn't have been able to sense the existence of this Restriction Barrier.
The secluded valley only prevented Divine Sense from detecting them. Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna walked hand in hand and entered the valley. Soon, they saw several simple Thatched Cottage in the valley. Thatched Cottage were many forging tools such as forging furnaces and cooling pools.
Ding ding ding...
As you enter the valley, you can hear the sound of a foundry hammer striking the ground. The hammering is unhurried and deliberate, as if it has been deliberately measured. The intervals and intensity of each strike are exactly the same, without the slightest difference.
Following the hammering sounds coming from the forging process, Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna entered the Thatched Cottage. There they saw an old man with white hair and beard, bare-armed, wielding a huge forging hammer. Under his hammering, the blank of a long sword slowly took shape.
Before the longsword was fully completed, a Human Heart sharp aura emanated from it, even causing the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation to hum softly, almost flying out of its sheath to compete with it.
"This sword is so powerful..." Leaning against Zhuge Xiang, Mo Lingna's eyes were fixed on the sword blank that was being hammered and slowly taking shape, and she said softly.
"Not bad, at least Half-Immortal Artifact Grade weapon," Zhuge Xiang. Although he had given up much of his Life Profession, as Advanced Artifact Forger, he still had a keen eye. He could tell at a glance that the sword the old man was forging, if successful, would at least be Half-Immortal Artifact Grade. This old man, capable of forging Half-Immortal Artifact Grade, could he be Forging Grandmaster?
Having forged weapons that were at least at the Half-Immortal Artifact Grade, Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna did not disturb them, but simply watched quietly from the side. Although they had come for the components of the South Heaven Gate, being able to witness Grandmaster Artifact Forger forging a weapon was a rare opportunity.
Forging a weapon of Half-Immortal Artifact Grade is indeed not an easy task. Although the longsword is about to be completed, after three consecutive days, it has not yet completed the final step. The Sword Qi on it is becoming more and more fierce and spiritual. It seems to be like the legendary master painter who is painting a dragon. He is only one step away from finishing the painting and the dragon will be able to soar straight into the starry sky.
"No, this feels wrong, it's ruined..." However, just as the longsword was getting closer and closer to completion, the old man suddenly roared, and the forging hammer suddenly exerted force, smashing hard on the sword blank. The nearly completed Half-Immortal Artifact- grade longsword was ruthlessly smashed in two by him.
"Ah..." Unexpectedly, the old man suddenly broke the nearly finished sword in half as if he had an epileptic seizure. Mo Lingna couldn't help but scream in surprise. Even Zhuge Xiang was completely taken aback.
"Why did you destroy the sword you were almost finished forging?" Zhuge Xiang asked, puzzled, as he watched the old man smash the sword blank in two.
Forging a longsword to the Half-Immortal Artifact Grade is already considered a very successful forging, having taken at least ten to fifteen days of forging. How could he just destroy it without a second thought? Zhuge Xiang truly couldn't understand it.
"Almost done?" The old man put away his forging hammer, glanced at Zhuge Xiang, and shook his head, saying, "It's not almost done. The fact that you can't forge something to your satisfaction means there's already a problem. How can it be done?"
As they were talking, the old man ignored Zhuge Xiang's meaning and threw the broken sword blank into a corner. Only then did Zhuge Xiang and Mo Lingna see that there were actually dozens of Broken Sword piled up in the corner.
"May I ask your name, sir? With such skill in forging, you must be no nobody," Zhuge Xiang said.
"You were able to see through my illusionary Restriction Barrier, so you must have some skill. But as for me, this old man? I'm just a guy who hides away and studies forging techniques. I can hardly even remember my own name. If there's nothing else, you can leave now." Shaking his head, the old man took out a few more pieces of material, preparing to forge again.
"Star River Sand, Nine Heavens Meteorite Iron? Cloud Pattern Stone?" Zhuge Xiang exclaimed in a low voice as he looked at the materials the old man had taken out.
These materials are all considered rare and precious treasures. Zhuge Xiang knew even more that they were materials used to forge true Immortal Artifact. Any one of them could be a reward for being among the top ten in the Sacred War. Just how many such treasures did this guy possess?
Zhuge Xiang immediately named the materials, which surprised the old man. However, the old man didn't say anything, but instead ignited the highest-level Samadhi True Fire in azure, preparing to melt the materials.
"Wait, sir, actually I've come here to ask you something," Zhuge Xiang said, seeing that the old man wasn't paying attention to him. As he spoke, he took out the broken South Heaven Gate and said, "Sir, you should have a piece of the part I need here, right?"