As dawn spread across the lattice windows of the Blacksmith Association's loft, Tang San and Lin Zhixia followed Lou Gao into his forging room. The moment they pushed open the door, they saw neatly stacked metal blanks filling the room, while the central anvil still retained the warmth of last night's work. Most conspicuous of all was a familiar object laid out on the wooden table—an ebony-bodied crossbow with seven poisoned bolts set into its groove. It was the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.
Lou Gao strode to the table, picked up the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, and ran his fingers over it, his eyes brimming with fascination. "Young friend Tang, look at this hidden weapon—the mechanism is exquisitely designed. It can fire all seven bolts at once and reload automatically. I've studied it for three days, yet I still haven't figured out the spring mechanism inside. I bought it from some minor lackey of Spirit Hall. I heard it's called the Godly Zhuge Crossbow. You've seen much, so do you know who made it?"
Tang San looked at the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, amusement flickering in his eyes. Though the words "Tang Sect" carved inside the crossbow's body had been worn faint, they were still recognizable. He stepped forward and gently pressed a hand against it, his voice carrying quiet certainty. "President Lou, there's no need to guess. I made this Godly Zhuge Crossbow."
"You?!" Lou Gao abruptly raised his head, nearly dropping the Godly Zhuge Crossbow in his hand. His white-haired head shook like a rattle drum. "Young friend Tang, don't joke around! Even I need half a day to figure out something with such complicated craftsmanship. You're so young..."
"I'm not joking." Tang San took out another unassembled set of Godly Zhuge Crossbow parts from his Soul Tool. His fingers moved