Chapter 34: Primordial Forge and the Purification Anvil

Below the "Broken Gear" tavern is not a damp, dark cellar, but a massive workshop bathed in light, filled with the smell of machine oil, the clatter of metal, and the hum of energy. It almost fully preserves an engine‑maintenance compartment of an "Ark" escort ship; huge energy conduits coil across the dome like giant serpents, and several clearly modified and reinforced industrial furnaces spew eerie blue plasma flames.

Mechanical priest Walker led Chen Mo and Su Yu straight to the deepest part of the workshop. There stood a furnace of extremely rustic, even somewhat rough metal, starkly out of place among the high‑tech equipment. Its surface was engraved with runes far more complex and profound than those on Su Yu's pendant, and inside the furnace chamber there was no flame, only a slowly rotating, nebula‑like chaotic energy emitting an aura older and more majestic than that of Primordial Blood.

"This is the 'Primordial Forge,'" Walker said with almost reverent zeal, his gaunt fingers lightly brushing the cold furnace wall. "According to ancient records, it was a miracle creation forged by the pioneers of the 'Ark' using samples of the first discovered Primordial Blood combined with unknown technology. It can melt rules and grant its creations the essence to resist Purple Corruption. Unfortunately… the core is missing, and it has lain dormant for too long."

His gaze shifted to Su Yu—more precisely, to the pendant at her throat—and to the crystal chip in Chen Mo's hand that stored research data.

"Girl, your pendant is both a key and a trigger. That data is the blueprint." Walker looked at Chen Mo. "Kid, put your axe and all the high‑purity demon cores, special metals you've gathered, especially that red crystal left by the Purification Society's leader, into it."

Chen Mo did not hesitate. He tossed his fine tactical axe, several LV10‑plus demon cores, a handful of rare metal ingots collected from the rusted zones and Rift Edge, and the red crystal that still held the residual power of an LV17 strongman, into the swirling chaotic energy nebula. The materials did not melt; instead they hovered like stars, drifting up and down within the nebula.

"Now, girl, channel your spiritual power through the pendant into the forge! Recall the portion of your mother's data concerning energy structures!" Walker instructed urgently.

Su Yu inhaled deeply, closed her eyes, and clasped the pendant. A pale blue aura spread from the pendant, enveloping her whole body, then a refined spiritual beam bearing a unique "Observer" vibration formed like a bridge, linking her to the ancient forge.

Buzz—!

The Primordial Forge shuddered violently! The chaotic energy that had been rotating slowly inside the furnace boiled instantly! The hovering materials dissolved at visible speed, turning into the purest flow of energy, which, guided by Su Yu's spiritual power and following an optimized structural blueprint from the data, began to reorganize and condense wildly!

The workshop's energy readings spiked off the charts! A blinding flash erupted from the furnace, accompanied by a deep, ancient rumble! The old‑era instrument dials on the walls swung wildly, some even exploding outright!

Walker trembled with excitement, chanting, "Exactly! Rules are being reshaped! The 'anomaly' that opposes Purple Corruption is being born!"

The process lasted nearly an hour. As the light and rumble gradually subsided, the energy nebula at the forge's core steadied. A brand‑new war axe hovered silently there.

It was no longer the relatively streamlined tactical axe of before, but a heavier, more rustic weapon exuding a savage sense of power. The axe head bore a dark, light‑absorbing metallic hue, while the blade shimmered with a restrained, breathing‑like flickering dark‑gold aura. The haft was wrapped in an unknown dark leather, cold and solid to the touch.

Most strikingly, at the junction of blade and haft a red crystal was set, its interior seeming to contain flowing lava that interplayed with the dark‑gold aura of the axe body.

Chen Mo reached out and grasped the haft.

At the instant of contact, a feeling of blood‑line connection surged. The war axe seemed an extension of his arm, and the power derived from Primordial Blood within his body resonated strongly with the rule‑power embedded in the axe. Information about the axe naturally surfaced in his mind:

【Primordial Certificate·War Axe (Unique)】

【Quality: Epic (Growth)】

【Attributes: Greatly increased physical damage, deals additional true damage to Purple Corruption derivatives (demons, aberrations, system constructs).】

【Effect 1: Rule Corrosion — attacks have an extremely low chance to temporarily strip part of the target's "system" buff.】

【Effect 2: Primordial Resonance — can consume own energy (HP/Energy) to unleash Primordial Force, dramatically boosting all attributes for a short time and strongly repelling the surrounding Purple Corruption environment.】

【Effect 3: Locked (requires absorbing more "Primordial" material or rule fragments)】

【Note: A miracle forged with "Observer" permission and Primordial material; it is a weapon, and also… a proclamation.】

Epic! Growth! True damage against Purple Corruption! Can even corrode system rules!

The value of this war axe is incalculable!

Just as Chen Mo was feeling the overwhelming power of the new weapon, the workshop's emergency communicator shrieked! Makusi's rough, urgent voice rang out: "Walker! Chen Mo! Everyone to the walls! The Purification Society's pups are coming! Damn, they're not a small force—at least three full combat squadrons, plus heavy gear! They're definitely after the wanted notice and the 'Observer'!"

Wo Ke! Chen Mo! Everyone, get on the city wall! The Purification Society's bastards have come! Damn it, the scale is not small—at least three full-strength combat battalions, plus heavy equipment! They're definitely here for the wanted order and the "Observer"!

A cold glint flashed in Chen Mo's eyes as he tightened his grip on the 【Primordial Certificate】. Perfect timing—use the Purification Society's blood to sharpen this rebel axe!

On the walls of the Iron Anvil Fortress, the atmosphere was heavy. On the distant wasteland horizon, a sky‑blocking dust storm rose. Dozens of modified off‑road and troop‑transport vehicles clad in dark‑red armor and equipped with energy weapons surged toward the fortress like a tide of red. In the sky, several snarling rotor attack aircraft painted with the Purification Society emblem circled overhead.

"Prepare for battle!" Makusi's voice boomed through the loudspeakers along the walls. "All gun positions charge! Shield generators overload! Let these Purple Corruption hounds taste the might of the Iron Anvil!"

The wall guards quickly took combat positions, and various live‑fire cannons and energy weapons emitted a charging buzz. The blue‑white energy barrier grew denser.

Chen Mo stood behind the wall parapet, the 【Primordial Certificate】 strapped to his shoulder, his cold gaze sweeping the approaching enemy. Han Qing donned a heavy tower shield hastily fabricated by Walker, standing beside him. Zhang Yang, Li Siwen and others each gripped weapons that had been simply repaired and reinforced by the Iron Anvil craftsmen, eyes resolute. Su Yu stood slightly farther back, her complexion still a bit pale but her gaze steady; she would be the battle's most critical "radar" and "interferer."

The Purification Society's convoy halted one kilometer from the fortress, fanning out. A commander dressed more lavishly, aura at LV16, stepped out of the command vehicle, shouted through the loudspeaker with a condescending, high‑ground tone:

"Ignorant ones of the Iron Anvil! Surrender the system‑wanted criminal, especially that 'Observer' girl! Otherwise today will be the day your ramshackle fortress meets its destruction! Under the will of Purple Corruption, all resistance is futile!"

The answer was Makusi's mainship cannon's deafening roar! Massive high‑explosive shells arced and slammed into the front of the Purification Society convoy, carving a huge crater and raising a dust wave like a tsunami!

"To hell with Purple Corruption's will!" Makusi roared across the walls. "Iron Anvil trusts only the hammer and wrench in its own hands!"

Negotiations collapsed, and the battle erupted in an instant!

"Open fire!"

The Purification Society commander, enraged, ordered a barrage. In an instant, countless dark‑red energy beams and solid shells poured down on the Iron Anvil's energy shield! The shield quivered violently, rippling densely as if about to shatter!

The wall's artillery returned fire at full force, shells and energy beams criss‑crossing in the sky, explosions flashing continuously. The entire wasteland trembled under the ferocious crossfire.

"Shield energy down to 65%! Can't hold much longer!" a technician reported anxiously.

"Chen Mo! Capture the thief by taking the king first!" Makusi shouted while operating the ship cannon, yelling at Chen Mo.

Chen Mo nodded and looked at Su Yu.

Su Yu understood, closed her eyes, and her perception flowed like liquid mercury across the raging battlefield, instantly locking onto the LV16 commander and the few guards with the strongest energy fluctuations beside him.

"Commander, LV16, likely talent 'Energy Amplification', four guards nearby: two LV14 heavy‑armor defenders, one LV15 agile assassin, one LV14 energy archer. Their left flank is relatively weak, the archer's shot has a 0.3‑second charge interval…"

Commander, LV16, talent suspected to be "Energy Enhancement", with four bodyguards: two LV14 heavy-armored defenders, one LV15 agile assassin, and one LV14 energy shooter. Their formation's left flank is relatively weak, and the energy shooter's shots have a 0.3-second charge interval……

"Han Qing, charge with me! Zhang Yang, Li Siwen, flank cover, disrupt the heavy‑armor defenders! Wang Hu, Zhao Lei, focus on that assassin!" Chen Mo barked commands at breakneck speed, inhaling deeply as the glows of 【Rock Skin】 and 【Bone Armor Technique】 circulated over his body.

In the next moment, as the wall's firepower delivered a synchronized volley that temporarily suppressed the enemy's fire, Chen Mo moved!

He did not choose a conventional strike; instead he leapt backward from the twenty‑plus‑meter‑high wall. During the descent, 【Shadow Step】 activated, his form flickering like a phantom several times, cleverly using the smoke and energy turbulence from exploding shells as cover, appearing as if teleporting directly into the weak left flank of the Purification Society commander's main formation!

【Primordial Certificate·War Axe】 surged forward with a tearing dark‑gold aura, like thunder from the heavens, slashing down! Its target: the LV14 energy archer who had just finished charging and was about to fire!

"What?!" the archer exclaimed, caught off guard, raising his weapon to block.

"What?!" The energy shooter never expected the enemy to appear in this way; in the panic, he raised his weapon to block.

Like a hot knife through butter, the 【Primordial Certificate】 sliced cleanly through his energy rifle, then cleaved him and his armor in two! 【Rule Corrosion】 triggered, the archer's "system" defense aura dimmed instantly and shattered!

【Successfully killed LV. 14 Purification Society elite shooter, gained experience…】

【Death Echo triggered! Successfully copied skill: Precise Sniper (LV. 2 passive)!】

【Death Echo triggered! Successfully copied skill: Precision Shot (LV. 2 Passive)!】

Chen Mo pressed on, the war axe sweeping, pushing aside the reacting LV15 assassin; he twisted his body like a fish, slipping through the hastily formed line of two heavy‑armor defenders, and the 【Primordial Certificate】 surged forward, thrusting straight into the heart of the LV16 commander!

"Arrogant!" the commander roared, his LV16 power exploding, a fist packed with highly compressed dark‑red energy slamming into the war axe with brutal force!

"Arrogant!" The commander was both startled and angry; his LV16 power erupted explosively as he threw a punch, his fist coalescing with highly compressed dark‑red energy, which slammed violently into the battle axe!

Boom——!!

A more violent explosion erupts! Dark red energy and dark gold axe light wildly erode and annihilate each other! Chen Mo is shaken, his qi and blood surge, he keeps retreating, while the commander also grunts, a deep wound to the bone appears on his fist, and the dark gold energy entwined around it continually hinders his healing!

The effect of the Primordial Origin Proof in suppressing the 'Purple Corrosion' energy is immediate!

"Kill him! Quickly kill him!" the commander roared, shocked and angry.

More Purification Society soldiers swarmed in. But at this moment, Han Qing charged in like a heavy truck from the side, his new tower shield bearing immense force, fiercely knocking back a heavily armored defender! Zhang Yang and Li Siwen also attacked from the flanks, restraining another defender and that assassin.

On the city wall, Su Yu endured the mental strain, once again spreading out interference waves, causing the soldiers besieging Chen Mo to momentarily stiffen and fall into chaos!

This is that moment!

A fierce gleam flashed in Chen Mo's eyes, no longer holding back! He let out a low roar, triggering the second special effect of the Primordial Origin Proof—Primordial Origin Resonance!

A massive surge of dark gold energy, carrying an ancient barbaric aura, erupted simultaneously from his body and battle-axe, forming a brief energy storm! His strength, agility, and spirit attributes instantly spiked! The Purification Society soldiers rushing at him were as if struck by an invisible hammer, their movements becoming sluggish, and the dark red energy on their bodies fluctuated violently and waned, as if encountering a nemesis.

"Die!"

With his attributes surging, Chen Mo was like a war god possessed! The Primordial Origin Proof turned into a dark gold storm of destruction; wherever it passed, Purification Society soldiers fell like wheat being cut! He locked onto that LV16 commander again and swung his axe, speed reaching its peak!

The commander tried to block, but under the suppression of Primordial Origin Resonance, his strength was reduced to less than half!

Pfft!

The axe blade sliced through his energy shield without hindrance, piercing his chest! The power of rule erosion instantly injected, completely dismantling all 'system' buffs within him!

【Successfully killed LV. 16 Purification Society Battlefield Commander (Elite), gaining experience points……】

【Death Echo triggered! Successfully copied skill: Energy Compression (LV. 3)!】

The commander stared in disbelief at the axe embedded in his chest, the light in his eyes quickly fading as his body slumped to the ground.

The leader fell, and the Purification Society's offensive collapsed instantly! The remaining soldiers, under the counterattack of the Iron Anvil Guard, fled in disarray.

Upon the city wall, a deafening cheer erupted!

Chen Mo leaned on the Primordial Origin Proof, standing beside the enemy commander's corpse, slightly out of breath. The dark gold energy gradually receded back into his battle-axe and body.

He raised his head, gazing at the blood-colored sky, as if engaging in a silent confrontation with the formless 'System'.

This is only the beginning.

Iron Anvil Fortress, with a clean and swift victory, proclaimed their existence and also verified the possibility of Primordial Origin power resisting Purple Corrosion.

The spark of rebellion has already ignited.