Chapter 499: Luguo Forge
Chapter 499: Luguo Forge
Kyrian walked calmly between the arenas when he heard heavy footsteps behind him.
The sound was unmistakable, footsteps that made the ground tremble slightly, the stride of someone who had no need to hide. Even before turning around, he already knew who it was.
A massive hand landed on his shoulder.
Pat!
Then another.
Pat!
"Hahaha!" Sun Luguo broke into a broad smile, his voice echoing among the nearby buildings.
"You fought very well, kid!"
The two pats almost felt like blows because of how heavy his hands were. Kyrian felt the impact on his shoulders, but his body did not lose its balance. The Bone of the Heavens had strengthened his constitution.
Kyrian gave a slight bow, as he always did when addressing his new master.
"Thank you, Master."
Sun Luguo crossed his arms, his smile still lighting up his face.
"You surprised me," he said, his eyes evaluating Kyrian in a new light.
"I thought you would win, but I never imagined you would toy with your opponent like that. Wu Fan is experienced and has fought countless battles. Yet you turned him into a sparring partner."
Kyrian remained silent. There was not much to explain. His objective had never truly been to defeat Wu Fan quickly. He needed to stabilize his third core, and the battle had merely served as training.
Sun Luguo asked no further questions. He understood that every cultivator had their own methods and their own goals. It was not his place to question them.
"Enough." The giant man clapped one hand against the other, the sound echoing like a sharp smack.
"That’s enough competition."
He flashed a broad smile, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"It’s time for your first lesson."
Without waiting for a reply... he grabbed Kyrian by the arm, a friendly yet firm gesture.
"Let’s go."
The two of them headed once more toward the enormous gates of the Sky Caravan. The crowd parted before them as people recognized Sun Luguo and made way.
Throughout the journey, they spoke only about simple matters. Sun Luguo occasionally commented on several famous competitors he had seen, making observations about their techniques and fighting styles.
"That fighter in Arena Five has good Qi control, but his stance is terrible," he remarked at one point.
"If he doesn’t fix it, he’ll end up with back problems."
Farther ahead, he pointed at another competitor.
"This one relies too much on his arms and barely moves his legs. He’s losing half the strength he could have."
Kyrian simply listened, absorbing every observation. Every comment from Sun Luguo was a new lesson and a new perspective for him.
Meanwhile... his interest continued to grow. At last, he would learn true blacksmithing.
...
After nearly half an hour of walking through the bustling streets of the Sky Caravan, the traffic gradually began to thin. The streets became narrower, and the buildings older.
Sun Luguo stopped in front of a massive building made of dark stone.
The structure was solid and imposing, built to last for centuries. The stone was dark, almost black, with silver veins that shimmered beneath the sunlight. The walls were thick, clearly reinforced by spiritual formations.
Above the entrance hung a simple sign. There were no excessive decorations or luxurious ornaments. Only two words deeply carved into the wood, each character engraved with precision and care.
Luguo Forge.
Sun Luguo smiled, his eyes sweeping across the sign with satisfaction.
"We’re here."
He slowly pushed open the heavy wooden door. The hinges creaked softly, yet moved smoothly, showing that they were well maintained.
The moment Kyrian stepped inside... he could not help but let out a quiet sigh.
The entire interior of the shop resembled a true museum of weapons.
Swords of every size rested upon racks along the walls. Some were short and broad, ideal for close combat. Others were long and slender, designed for precise thrusts. Some had curved blades, while others were straight.
Sabers with broad, heavy blades capable of cutting through armor. Spears of various lengths, their spearheads shaped in different designs.
Enormous axes with handles made of spiritual wood. War hammers whose massive heads gleamed with a metallic luster. Daggers of every size, some engraved with runes upon their blades.
Longbows and composite bows crafted from spiritual wood and beast bones.
Metal chains, every link forged with precision. Weapons Kyrian had never even seen before were carefully arranged upon stands made of spiritual wood.
The walls also displayed complete suits of armor. Some were as black as obsidian, absorbing the light around them. Others were silver, gleaming like mirrors.
Some were covered in scales like those of a dragon. Others were made entirely of metal, with steel plates carefully shaped together.
Each set seemed to possess a personality of its own. A different Qi emanated from every piece, as though the weapons had absorbed the energy of their creators.
Some radiated warmth, as if they had only just been removed from the forge. Others exuded coldness, their metal appearing icy to the touch.
Some seemed unimaginably sharp, their edges slicing through the very air. Others felt as heavy as mountains, their immense weight making the floor tremble beneath their stands.
From some of them... an invisible pressure silently spread throughout the room. It was a feeling of restrained power, of strength waiting to be unleashed.
Kyrian walked slowly between the display cases. His violet eyes examined every detail, every finish, every curve.
’The quality is excellent.’
Most of the weapons on display were Spiritual Weapons. They ranged from the lower grade all the way to the peak of the Spiritual Rank. Nearly all of them possessed flawless craftsmanship, polished surfaces, perfect edges, and impeccable balance.
The runes had been carefully engraved, every line carved with surgical precision. The materials were of the highest quality, selected with great care.
’Earth-grade weapons aren’t here.’
Kyrian understood immediately. Sun Luguo was certainly capable of forging them. His reputation as the greatest blacksmith in the Sky Caravan was proof enough. But they were probably kept elsewhere, in a more secure location.
Or... perhaps they were only forged by commission. After all, very few cultivators possessed enough resources to acquire an Earth-grade Weapon. Even many experts of the Spiritual Awakening Realm wielded nothing more than peak Spiritual Weapons.
As he observed each piece, Kyrian failed to notice that he himself was being observed. Sun Luguo remained quietly behind him, his eyes following the young man as he wandered through the shop.
Before long, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Kyrian was not looking at those weapons merely as tools. There was something more in his gaze, a genuine appreciation for the art of blacksmithing.