Chapter 337: Forging Ritual, Job Entry for Cauldron Forger |
Seeing Su Chen nod, Jiao Beiluo added, "The artifact body cast by the Forging Ritual cannot be maintained for too long, otherwise it will cause damage to the body."
"In other words, you must undergo Job Entry as soon as the Tripod Foundation is completed, thereby cooperating with your Profession Power to completely integrate the Tripod Foundation into yourself."
"Understood." Su Chen nodded. He had already known these detailed rules.
Luo Shuhang signaled the Rune Arrayists standing on both sides. They pressed their hands on the interfaces of the base, and the symbols on it lit up one by one. A glowing mist surged across the surface of the entire base.
Master Artisan Wang, who was relatively short, had already taken out the millstone-sized Desolate Dragon Heart and placed it on the metal platform in front of him.
Holding two short silver blades in his hands, their cold light restrained, the edges so thin they were almost translucent, like scalpels, the symbols beneath his feet lit up.
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His eyes narrowed slightly, and his fingertips moved slightly. The short blade sliced along the fleshy scales on the surface of the Desolate Dragon's heart, producing a dull Sound of Ripping Silk.
The heart, dark and heavy like bruised blood, trembled violently. A crimson fluid spurted out. The blood beads fell onto the metal platform but did not splash. Instead, they bounced up like living creatures, turning into threads of blood that spread towards Su Chen.
As the blood attached to him, Su Chen felt the surface of his skin gradually becoming scalding hot. But Master Artisan Wang's movements did not stop. The cut muscle fibers peeled off with a rustling sound, turning into scarlet particles smaller than dust, yet they did not fall.
Instead, they floated and danced in the steaming blood mist, wandering around Su Chen.
When the dissection of the Desolate Dragon Heart was halfway done, the Grandmaster Artisan on the other side also began to move. The brown-gray Heart of the Earth Core was similarly placed on the metal platform in front of him, its surface covered in dense, natural patterns resembling tree rings.
He held a small metal hammer only the size of a palm, its head gleaming with a faint blue cold light. With a slight flick of his wrist, the hammer handle produced a strange rhythm: dong, ta, ding.
Three sounds overlapped. Every strike landed with perfect precision. The brown-gray powder peeled off like morning mist with a rustling sound, and simultaneously, guided by the symbols under his feet, gathered together.
Mixing into the blood tide formed by the Desolate Dragon Heart, countless golden veins quietly bloomed in the darkness. The surface of the blood tide took on a strange brownish-gold luster, its viscosity climbing, and the originally surging tide turned into a heavy and sluggish rolling.
"This ritual is indeed wondrous." Su Chen watched their movements helplessly. The last time he encountered a ritual-type requirement was when he underwent Job Entry for the Wind Chaser Dancer.
At that time, it was not nearly as complex and meticulous. But this Forging Ritual before his eyes was infinitely more complicated.
Before he had time to overthink, his body suddenly tensed. The sensation brought by the Desolate Dragon Heart was originally just scorching hot, but after the powder of the Heart of the Earth Core was added, a needle-like stinging pain instantly spread all over his body.
At the same time, Jiao Beiluo finally made a move. His metal platform was somewhat different. As he clapped his hands on both sides, rolling Scarlet Flame spewed out, landing on the Starfall Meteoric Iron in front of him. Ripple-like dark red waves appeared on its surface.
He had already studied it carefully for two or three days and was thoroughly clear on the metallic composition of this Starfall Meteoric Iron. He controlled the heat perfectly.
In no time, its surface became red-hot and scalding, then melted into a magma-like red liquid, also spreading over via the symbols beneath his feet.
When this metallic juice of the Starfall Meteoric Iron mixed into the Desolate Dragon blood, a crimson halo rolled on the surface, and the steaming heat waves carried the smell of iron and blood.
Su Chen only felt his entire body hot, restless, and heavy, as if carrying a mountain.
"Get ready!" Guan Lin shouted loudly. Luo Shuhang's eyelids twitched violently. He saw this Grandmaster Artisan had already raised the Great Hammer in his hands, his muscles bulging. The black iron giant hammer suspended in mid-air was the size of a millstone, falling straight towards the top of Su Chen's head.
Even knowing that the process of this Forging Ritual was just like this, Luo Shuhang's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.
"Clang!"
Only a sharp metallic sound was heard. The large metal hammer landed on the top of Su Chen's head, less than a centimeter from his skull.
Tide-like ripples enveloped Su Chen's entire body. The mixed metallic liquid around him—composed of the flesh and blood of the Desolate Dragon Heart, the powder of the Heart of the Earth Core, and the melted Starfall Meteoric Iron—seemed to suffer a heavy blow in an instant and suddenly dissipated.
Countless fine red-gold threads shot out from the depths, tangling, tearing, and reorganizing the surface structure like living creatures, then condensing together again, becoming increasingly viscous and revealing a red-gold luster.
Su Chen only felt his scalp go numb. This hammer strike was no different from hitting his actual body; the muscles all over his body undulated like waves.
"Can you still hold on?" Guan Lin's voice rang in his ears. He frowned slightly, not knowing what Profession this was to have such high intensity at the 6th-Tier.
This Forging Ritual primarily applied to the 8th-Tier; even for 7th-Tier Professions, it was relatively rare. The burden on the body was truly too great. Moreover, the intensity of the three materials Su Chen prepared was not low. Although his physical strength was comparable to the 7th-Tier, Guan Lin wasn't sure if this Star Seed could really endure it.
"No problem," Su Chen took a deep breath. He had anticipated this situation and began to enhance the Mystic Tools fused into his body, quickly raising them to the 7th-Tier, and his physical strength climbed accordingly.
"Good, as expected of someone who can undergo Molten Casting Sacred Profession at the 6th-Tier." Guan Lin's eyes lit up. He looked at Su Chen as if looking at a piece of material of Flawless Perfection.
The Forging Ritual used humans as artifacts. Very few Grandmaster Artisans had this kind of experience. Since Su Chen could endure it, he wasn't going to hold back: "Then I'll continue!"
The Great Hammer danced, carrying an unshakeable force. If they were outside, this hammer strike could probably shatter mountains and cut off rivers.
"Clang!"
This time, changing direction, it landed on the right side of Su Chen's body. The liquid mixed with various materials still had no physical form, but it constantly shifted with his hammer strikes. The red-gold luster became richer and more viscous.
Guan Lin's movements didn't stop, and the muffled sounds of "Clang! Clang! Clang!" constantly rang out in the area.
"This—" Luo Shuhang's eyelids twitched as he watched. Every strike of Guan Lin's Great Hammer felt like it hit his own heart.
Although this Forging Ritual had precedents, it was the first time under his hosting, so he was somewhat apprehensive. The intensity truly wasn't something an ordinary person could withstand. If something happened to Su Chen, he would bear the primary responsibility.
Su Chen only felt his body go numb. In his ears was a continuous stream of metal striking sounds, merging into one. Every time it rang, his body convulsed violently, and his bones popped.
"Unimaginable..." Jiao Beiluo watched from the side and murmured, "The physical strength of a Sixth-Rank Professional can actually reach this level."
As time passed, the smell of iron blood and a strange fragrance floated in the air. Under Guan Lin's Great Hammer, the Phantom Image of a small cauldron with four legs and two ears, emitting a luster like flowing red-gold magma, emerged, forming a thin halo around Su Chen's body.
With every hammer strike, the cauldron body hummed and spun a circle.
Su Chen kept his eyes glued to the Status Panel. The moment "Completed" appeared after the requirements, he underwent Job Entry Without Hesitation.
"Stop!"
Jiao Beiluo, who was observing Su Chen's condition, suddenly shouted sharply. Guan Lin, who was just getting into it, paused his movements. He stopped abruptly with the hammer raised above his head, causing his body to stagger slightly.
He lowered his gaze and saw that the Phantom Image of the small cauldron coiled around Su Chen suddenly began to tremble violently. Then, it contracted inward, gradually sinking into Su Chen's body.
"Bang!"
The trembling sound of his heart pierced the eardrums like beating drums, carrying muffled thunder that made the bluestone floor ripple finely. The breathing of the several people present hitched.
A red-gold halo emerged around Su Chen. The sound of his blood flowing was actually like melted mercury pouring onto a jade plate. A translucent blood mist permeated the air—it was his Vitality erupting, almost condensing into physical form.
Master Artisan Wang, who specialized in biological materials, had a slight silver glint in his pupils, his expression filled with astonishment: "What drastic physical changes. Just what Profession is this? Do Professions that can be completed at the 6th-Tier have this kind of intensity?"
"What's going on?" Jiao Beiluo couldn't help but be curious.
Master Artisan Wang's eyes flickered. After pondering numerous professional terms, he finally spat out one sentence: "You can imagine that this Profession is forcefully turning a basin into a bucket."
"This hurts way too much..." Su Chen was Gnashing Teeth. He clenched his jaw, a bloody sweetness seeping between his teeth. His heart felt like it was forcefully filled with some substance, becoming increasingly robust. The blood vessels under his skin bulged out in knots, the dark green veins snaking around like living creatures.
He felt as if he could perceive the wail of every single cell being forcefully stretched to its limit.
He had carefully selected the three Professions used to synthesize the Cauldron Forger; all of them increased total Physical Stamina, so the modification to his body was quite drastic.
The blood mist boiled around him. It was only after a long while that it gradually subsided and withdrew.
【Cauldron Forger Job Entry successful. Acquired ability—Tripod Foundation: Physical Stamina increased by 600%.】
【Acquired extra Reward—Physical Stamina increased by 200%.】
The pain in his body gradually faded, replaced by rolling warm currents surging.
Looking at the text on the Status Panel, Su Chen felt that all the pain and torment he had experienced were worth it. This ability was truly simple and crude; combined, his total Physical Stamina had multiplied by a factor of eight.
He only felt that every cell in his body was incomparably solid. His limbs and bones felt as if a mountain had been poured into them, seemingly possessing inexhaustible strength. He even felt faintly unfamiliar with this body.
With an eightfold increase, at the very least, he wouldn't be a one-second man anymore. Even if he used Arcane Artifact Enhancement to raise a certain Mystic Tool to the 8th-Tier, he could still hold on for a while.
"I haven't even undergone Molten Casting Eternal Physique yet; I'm only short of Eldritch Divine Blood. I reckon Lao Qing will have to interrogate me again." Su Chen was joyful inwardly. He opened his eyes, and pairs of gazes converged on him, either curious or astonished.
He let out a long breath, stood up, and said loudly, "Thank you all for your help. Please wait a moment, allow me to prepare a small banquet to thank you for your assistance."
"You are too polite," everyone responded one after another.
The banquet included everyone, even the handymen brought by Luo Shuhang. Su Chen expressed his gratitude to them one by one, resulting in Joy for Host and Guest.
After it ended, Su Chen personally saw them off. The base for this Forging Ritual was left here; perhaps it could be used again in the future.
The small banquet took over an hour from start to finish. Until he saw the last person off, Su Chen opened his Comm-Bracelet, took a look, and frowned: "Why hasn't Lao Qing replied yet?"
He had even used the excuse of "a matter concerning the Ancient King," but Qing Cang still hadn't replied.
He was only short of Divine Blood to undergo Molten Casting Eternal Physique. Naturally, he wouldn't just wait dryly. He simply went out for a stroll to inquire about Qing Cang's whereabouts.
He looked in several places and got the answer from Wei Zhenghong here, but it surprised him.
"Escorted Qin Yun away from the Sect?" Su Chen couldn't help but frown, feeling helpless inwardly. He was one step too late...
But this matter was decided by the Ancient Kings; naturally, it was impossible to report to him, and the timing couldn't be perfectly synchronized.
Wei Zhenghong invited him to sit down, then said, "Indeed. Qing Shi had already escorted Qin Yun two days ago to the gathering place agreed upon by the Ancient Kings. And King Peng, that Hao Ri was also taken away."
He had only learned about the Spirit of the Vast Sun after returning and was astonished for quite a while.
Gathering place? A Slight Stir in One's Heart occurred, and he changed his mind, "I haven't necessarily missed it. The Ancient Kings also need to converge first, but the gathering place is at varying distances from the other Ancient Kings; they won't necessarily arrive at the same time."
"Moreover, Lao Qing also has to travel. With the power of an Ancient King, perhaps they can even arrive first despite setting off later."
"Do you have an urgent matter with Qing Shi?" Wei Zhenghong couldn't help but ask, seeing that Su Chen seemed somewhat anxious.
Su Chen glanced at him and said helplessly, "He promised to allocate a few drops of Eldritch Divine Blood to me earlier. Now that he's left, I'm worrying about who to ask for it."
"Eldritch Divine Blood?" Wei Zhenghong was somewhat stunned and asked subconsciously, "What do you need Eldritch Divine Blood for?"
"Uh..." Su Chen hesitated. Wei Zhenghong clearly had more tact than Qing Cang, or perhaps it was because he was of the same generation and not an elder. He immediately waved his hand: "I was just asking casually."
"However, if you want to mobilize Divine Blood, you can go to Senior Brother Chang. He is the Supervisor of Logistics. Let me take you there."
Manager Chang, Chang Youqi, was Chu Lingyuan's student. Speaking of which, the reason he could climb to this position had something to do with Su Chen.
The former Logistics Supervisor was Qin Yun's student, and because he secretly tried to kill Su Chen, he was personally executed by the Ancient King.
"Tsk, Lao Qing leaving might not be without its benefits; at least others won't interrogate me too closely." Su Chen followed Wei Zhenghong, muttering inwardly.
The reason he hadn't mentioned the Divine Blood the last time he met Qing Cang was because he had just mobilized some. If he mobilized five drops again all at once, Qing Cang would definitely ask this and that.
He had already prepared himself that if it really came down to it, he would let Qing Cang watch him undergo Molten Casting Sacred Profession; it shouldn't be a big problem.
But now, it seemed he didn't have to consider so much.
Wei Zhenghong brought him to the Copper Core's Logistics Department. To Su Chen's surprise, this Manager Chang was a lean, middle-aged man.
Why isn't he chubby? Su Chen was somewhat surprised.
Hearing Su Chen's purpose for coming, Chang Youqi's eyes flickered, and he asked doubtfully: "Five drops of Divine Blood? Martial Uncle Qing Cang didn't tell me before leaving. Moreover, this amount... is Junior Martial Uncle planning to undergo Molten Casting Sacred Profession?"
Su Chen raised an eyebrow. Just as he was about to explain, he heard the other party ponder: "Maybe he was in a rush and forgot."
Su Chen's mouth, which was just about to open, closed again. Raising one's status did have its benefits; others wouldn't suspect him of lying, or perhaps it was also because they didn't want to offend him?
"I didn't expect Junior Martial Uncle to advance to the 7th-Tier so quickly. Although it's a bit early to mobilize Divine Blood now, since Martial Uncle Qing Cang has already agreed, then please wait here for a moment, Junior Martial Uncle."
Just as Chang Youqi was about to leave, he suddenly added: "Then on the Registry, I'll write Molten Casting Sacred Profession."
Su Chen naturally nodded. After Chang Youqi left, Wei Zhenghong couldn't hold back anymore: "You're going to advance to the 7th-Tier? That's not right, didn't you just undergo Molten Casting Sacred Profession? Where did you get so many Professions to Molten Cast?"
"Keeping them in reserve, keeping them in reserve." Su Chen gave a Vague Prevarication.
Wei Zhenghong had Words Caught in One's Throat, but it wasn't good to ask more.
