Chapter 485: Silent Flame Hammer
Chapter 485: Silent Flame Hammer
"That sword was well made." Sun Luguo pointed at the blade shining on the stage, its bluish glow reflecting off the auction hall’s stone walls.
"The blacksmith knew exactly what he was doing. The Qi flow is well balanced, and the tempering seems to have been applied at precisely the right moment. Notice how the light refracts along the edge, there’s a uniformity that can only be achieved through years of practice."
He paused, watching the bids echo throughout the hall. The crowd below stirred, numbers being shouted from every direction as buyers competed for the weapon.
"But they’ve greatly overpriced it." Sun Luguo slowly shook his head.
"Three hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones? For that sword? It’s not worth more than two hundred thousand. The metal is of good quality, but the forging has minor imperfections. Look at that line near the hilt, it’s a sign that the blacksmith rushed the cooling process."
Kyrian observed the man beside him. Every word Sun Luguo spoke was a lesson, a window into knowledge accumulated over decades of work. The blacksmith didn’t merely see the weapon, he understood it on a profound, almost intimate level.
Shortly afterward, another item appeared. A suit of scale armor, each plate gleaming with a bluish-silver hue.
"That armor is sturdy." Sun Luguo tilted his head, his eyes examining every detail.
"The scales are fitted together well, and the protective formation has been properly applied. But it’s far too heavy. Anyone wearing it will lose a great deal of mobility. In a real battle, speed is often worth more than defense."
Kyrian simply watched. His violet eyes swept over each item, evaluating, processing, learning.
He absorbed Sun Luguo’s words like a sponge, each comment adding another layer to his understanding of blacksmithing.
He made no bids. None of those items truly interested him.
He already possessed sufficient resources for cultivation and pill refinement. His stockpile of alchemical materials was more than enough for his current level.
Nor did he need to replace his spear.
Time passed slowly.
Nearly half of the auction had already concluded. Dozens of items changed hands, some for modest prices, others for sums that would make any ordinary cultivator pale. The crowd below remained lively, bids echoing through the hall as valuable treasures found new owners.
Then...
The stage lighting changed.
The golden lights illuminating the stage intensified, and a bluish glow spread throughout the hall.
The noise of the crowd gradually faded as people leaned forward in anticipation. Something was about to happen.
Two men carefully carried out a stand made of black wood. The wood was so dark it seemed to absorb the surrounding light, creating an aura of mystery that contrasted with the golden glow enveloping it.
Resting upon it... was a hammer.
It wasn’t enormous. It wasn’t flashy. It bore no precious gems or elaborate ornaments. At first glance, it appeared almost ordinary, a tool rather than a treasure.
Its head was forged from a dark gray metal, polished until it shone like liquid steel beneath the lights. The metal looked ancient, carrying the patina of countless years of use. Yet there were no signs of wear, no chips, and no marks from excessive impacts. Only a sense of depth, of history accumulated over decades.
The handle appeared to be made of aged wood, reinforced with countless subtle runes. The runes were so tiny they could barely be seen from afar, but with his sharp eyesight, Kyrian could distinguish their patterns.
They formed a continuous spiral, winding from the handle all the way to the hammerhead like a vine of light carved into the wood.
But... the moment Sun Luguo saw the hammer...
His expression changed completely.
The relaxed smile he had worn throughout the entire auction froze on his face. His eyes widened slightly, his pupils dilating as though he had finally found something he had been searching for over many years.
The giant blacksmith’s eyes lit up.
A smile slowly appeared, unlike any Kyrian had seen on him that day. It was a smile of recognition, anticipation... and hunger.
"Finally..." Sun Luguo murmured almost to himself, his voice so low that Kyrian could barely hear it.
"This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for."
Beside him, Kyrian also focused all of his attention on the hammer.
Even without deeply understanding blacksmithing, even without knowing the secrets of the forge, he could sense that the object carried something extraordinary.
The true objective of the evening... had finally appeared.
The auctioneer slowly walked toward the black wooden stand.
Her steps were measured, every movement filled with theatrical grace. She knew the item was special, and her presentation reflected that.
Her fingers carefully touched the hammer’s handle before she began to speak. It was an almost reverent gesture, as though she were touching a sacred relic.
"Ladies and gentlemen..." Her voice echoed throughout the hall, clear and melodious.
"The next item is not a weapon. Nor is it an offensive or defensive treasure."
She smiled as her gaze swept across the crowd.
"But for any blacksmith, its value may surpass that of an Earth Grade weapon."
The entire hall fell silent. Even the cultivators with no interest in blacksmithing seemed curious.
The woman continued.
"This is the Silent Flame Hammer." Her voice was filled with reverence.
"A tool used for nearly one hundred and fifty years by the late Master Blacksmith Gu Shan."
The name fell over the hall like a stone dropped into a tranquil lake.
"Gu Shan?" A middle-aged cultivator in the front rows widened his eyes.
"That legendary blacksmith from the Central Territory?"
"They say he forged more than a hundred Earth Grade weapons..." another added, his voice filled with admiration.
"Some of them are among the finest weapons created in the last several thousand years."
The auctioneer nodded, confirming his words.
"Exactly." She paused, allowing the weight of the name to settle over the audience.
"After his death, all of his possessions were scattered among various buyers. His disciples, his heirs, and his associates, they all claimed pieces of his legacy."
She ran her hand across the hammer’s surface.
"This hammer remained missing for decades. Many believed it had been lost, destroyed, or taken to some distant region. Until it was recently discovered in an old residence belonging to one of his descendants."
She carefully lifted the hammer with both hands. The dark gray metal gleamed beneath the lights of the stage.