Chapter 486: Silent Flame Hammer (2)
Chapter 486: Silent Flame Hammer (2)
"He possesses no special abilities for combat." Her voice was clear and informative.
"Nor does he directly increase the strength of whoever wields him. There are no secret techniques hidden within his runes, nor any offensive formations embedded into his structure."
She slowly ran her hand along the handle, her fingers tracing the spiral runes.
"His true value lies in another characteristic." Her eyes gleamed.
"Over centuries of constant use, the hammer absorbed small amounts of Gu Shan’s forging Qi. The process was gradual, almost imperceptible over the years, but it accumulated into a significant amount."
The auctioneer paused, allowing the information to sink in.
"Although this will not automatically turn someone into a great blacksmith, there are no shortcuts to true mastery, the hammer has become extraordinarily compatible with forging techniques. Its Qi conduction is exceptional, as though the metal itself remembers the touch of its former master."
She raised the hammer slightly higher.
"Furthermore, its weight balance is considered virtually perfect. Gu Shan spent decades adjusting every detail, every gram, and every inch of the handle. The result is a tool that feels like a natural extension of the arm of whoever holds it."
Even several cultivators who knew nothing about blacksmithing began to observe the hammer with greater interest. Gu Shan’s name was known throughout the continent, and the thought of owning a tool once used by him was tempting to many.
Kyrian discreetly glanced at Sun Luguo.
The giant man kept his eyes fixed on the hammer. There was a rare gleam in his gaze. It wasn’t greed, nor possessiveness.
It was admiration.
It was exactly the same expression Kyrian usually wore when faced with a rare alchemy book or an ancient formation, the recognition of something truly extraordinary.
The auctioneer then announced,
"The opening bid..." She paused dramatically.
"Two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
Immediately, the bidding began.
"Two hundred and twenty thousand!"
"Two hundred and forty!"
"Two hundred and sixty!"
"Two hundred and eighty!"
"Three hundred thousand!"
The competition continued for several moments, the crowd growing increasingly excited. Several blacksmiths and collectors were among the bidders, each determined to take the hammer home.
Then... Sun Luguo finally spoke.
His deep voice echoed effortlessly throughout the hall, cutting through the murmurs like a blade.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones."
The entire hall fell silent.
Even the auctioneer did not speak immediately. She looked toward the VIP room from which the voice had come, her eyes widening slightly as she recognized its owner.
Several people exchanged glances, and whispers quickly spread.
"That voice..."
"It’s Master Sun."
"Master Sun came to the auction."
"Of course... it makes sense. Who else should own that hammer?"
An old man seated in the front rows smiled and shook his head.
"Who else should own that hammer?" he repeated aloud, as though answering a rhetorical question.
Another man simply shook his head, a resigned smile on his lips.
"If even Master Sun wants that tool... then it truly belongs with him. There is no blacksmith more worthy in the Caravan."
For several seconds...
No one spoke.
No new bids were made. The competitors who had fiercely contested the hammer moments before now remained silent. Some shook their heads, while others simply gave up.
The auctioneer slowly swept her gaze across the entire hall.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand..."
She waited a few moments, giving time for any competing bid.
Silence.
"First call."
Still silence.
"Second call."
No one responded. The decision had been made. The hammer would belong to Sun Luguo.
She then smiled, a smile of professional satisfaction.
"Third call."
"Sold!"
The small hammer disappeared from the stage, carried away by attendants who moved with quiet efficiency.
Sun Luguo merely let out a satisfied sigh, his shoulders relaxing as though a heavy burden had been lifted.
"We got it."
Kyrian noticed that the man truly seemed happy. Far happier than when he had purchased anything else that night. There was fulfillment in his eyes, the satisfaction of someone who had finally acquired something he had sought for a very long time.
A few minutes later, an attendant quietly entered the VIP room. He carried a dark wooden box, as dark as the stand that had displayed the hammer. Small containment formations glowed along its edges, keeping the item secure inside.
After confirming Sun Luguo’s identity, he carefully handed over the hammer and received the payment. The process was quick and efficient, as though everything had already been planned.
Once they were alone again...
Sun Luguo slowly opened the box.
The sound of the lid lifting echoed through the silent room.
He carefully removed the hammer, as though he were holding a newborn child. His fingers, so large they looked capable of crushing the tool, moved with astonishing gentleness.
He held it for several seconds, feeling its weight and its balance.
He ran his fingers along the handle, tracing the spiral runes.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"An excellent tool..." he murmured, almost to himself.
Then he simply placed it beside his chair, as though it were nothing special. But Kyrian noticed how his eyes repeatedly drifted back to the hammer over the next several minutes, as though he could not help checking that it was still there.
The auction continued.
Many more items appeared. A high-grade Earth Grade sword, its blade gleaming with a golden hue. A cultivation technique recorded on ancient scrolls. Extremely rare ingredients preserved inside jade containers.
A young spirit beast sleeping peacefully inside its containment cage. Formation plates, each engraved with intricate patterns. Rank Six herbs radiating dense spiritual energy.
Even a small spiritual armor designed for a child appeared, clearly crafted for the heir of some powerful family.
Sun Luguo merely watched. From time to time, he made a comment.
"That spear is well balanced." He pointed toward a long weapon.
"The weight is distributed perfectly. But the metal could have been better."
Or...
"That armor was poorly refined." His voice was critical.
"Look at how the plates don’t fit together perfectly. That creates weak points. A good blacksmith would never allow something like that."
Kyrian listened attentively. Every word was a lesson. Even without buying anything, he learned a great deal simply by listening to his new master analyze each piece of equipment. Sun Luguo possessed a unique ability to see beyond the surface, to identify the secrets hidden within every object.
Finally...
After more than two hours...
The auctioneer officially brought the event to a close. Her voice rose one last time, thanking the participants and announcing the next auction.