Chapter 131: Master Lu

In the Yuanwu Continent, a blacksmith is someone who forges farm tools, kitchenware, and ordinary weapons; the more skilled can also forge first-rank weapons.

Of course, they cannot engrave magical arrays.

Because blacksmiths are all ordinary people, not cultivators; only cultivators and array masters can engrave magical arrays, and being able to forge first-rank weapons already requires strength like an ox.

A forger, however, is a cultivator who specializes in crafting weapons and treasure artifacts.

The weapons they forge are all ranked weapons; forgers of fourth-rank and above can engrave magical arrays, while forgers below fourth-rank must seek help from array masters to engrave arrays on their weapons.

The lowest rank for a forger is first-rank, the highest is ninth-rank, determined by the rank of weapons they can forge, which is not directly tied to cultivation base but is closely related.

One who can forge first-rank weapons is rated as a first-rank forger, typically with Warrior cultivation.

One who can forge ninth-rank weapons is a ninth-rank forger, and their cultivation must be at least Martial Emperor, otherwise they simply lack the strength to forge ninth-rank weapons.

Additionally, the ability to craft treasure artifacts does not affect a forger’s rank; crafting treasure artifacts is merely an added advantage.

Because crafting treasure artifacts is actually the specialty of array masters, and treasure artifact ranks are classified according to array master ranks, from high to low: Heaven, Earth, Mystery, and Yellow.

In crafting treasure artifacts, array masters only handle design and engraving of arrays; they do not forge, and this must be done by forgers.

Therefore, array masters working in the forging industry usually serve as assistants to forgers, holding a slightly lower status than forgers, unless they have produced exceptionally famous works—though at minimum, they must be able to craft Earth-rank treasure artifacts to be considered famous.

Of course, only high-rank forgers are qualified to have array master assistants.

Master Wang Zhonghu is merely a third-rank forger and has no array master assistant; if he wishes to engrave arrays on weapons, he must request assistance from array masters.

His master is a sixth-rank forger, the highest-ranked forger in Divine Weapon Workshop, and to increase his efficiency, the workshop naturally assigned him an array master assistant.

At this moment, Wang Zhonghu stared at Cang Luo’s blueprints, utterly stunned.

The armor design in the drawings did not appear to be a single piece, but rather assembled from individual armor plates—strange, but that was not why he was stunned.

He was stunned because he had never seen a design so intricate and complex.

A single armor plate had three different angled drawings, with critical areas individually enlarged and dimensions meticulously labeled—no wonder so much paper was needed...

Even the mechanical beast blueprints from Mo Family’s Mechanism City weren’t this detailed or complex, were they?

Which forger master designed this?

Wang Zhonghu felt he could not possibly forge this; even the slightest error would prevent the entire armor set from fitting together.

Only his master, a sixth-rank forger, could hope to succeed.

At this moment, the overseer He Jiu carefully picked up several sheets of blueprints to examine; though he did not handle forging nor knew how to forge, years immersed in this environment had made him an expert—otherwise he would never have become overseer of the weapon shop.

After a moment, He Jiu shouted: “Zhang Zi, go fetch Master Lu!”

Master Lu was Wang Zhonghu’s master, the sixth-rank forger!

Generally, only seventh-rank forgers are called “Master,” but since he chose to call him that, it didn’t matter.

After all, it’s our own forger—why not flatter him a bit?

The apprentice Zhang Zi responded and left; He Jiu hurriedly asked: “Young brother, whose master’s hands did these blueprints come from?”

Wang Zhonghu also exclaimed excitedly: “Where did you get these blueprints?”

Both immediately thought they must find the armor’s designer and hire him at great cost as a forger for Divine Weapon Workshop.

Then, Divine Weapon Workshop’s strength and reputation would surely rise dramatically.

But Cang Luo said: “I drew them.”

Both froze. Wang Zhonghu sternly said: “Young brother, you may eat anything, but don’t speak recklessly—if others mistake you for stealing blueprints, your life could be forfeit.”

He Jiu also said: “Young brother, we mean no harm. We’re awed by the master’s work and only wish to meet the master, to pay our respects.”

They flatly refused to believe Cang Luo designed this armor—a mere outer disciple of Xuantian Sect, seemingly only a Warrior in cultivation—how could he possibly design such intricate and complex armor?

Cang Luo frowned slightly, his thoughts racing.

The weapon design industry on the Yuanwu Continent seemed extremely backward—could he exploit this?

Open a weapon and armor design studio?

He had an incredibly powerful logistics team—blueprints were limitless...

No.

Too conspicuous—it might attract trouble. What if a powerful cultivator kidnapped him and forced him to design weapons?

Better wait until his cultivation is stronger.

After thinking, Cang Luo scratched his head sheepishly: “Actually... actually, it was my master’s design. I only drew the blueprints—he told me what to draw.”

Upon hearing this, He Jiu and Wang Zhonghu immediately wore expressions of “I knew it,” but then faced a dilemma.

He was a disciple of Xuantian Sect; his master was likely also from Xuantian Sect—perhaps an Elder?

Could they get an Elder of Xuantian Sect to work as a forger at Divine Weapon Workshop?

He’d never come!

He Jiu quickly asked: “Young brother, who is your master? Is he... an Elder of Xuantian Sect?”

Cang Luo did not answer immediately—he needed to carefully fabricate a nonexistent master...

As Cang Luo pondered how to deceive them, a tall, imposing white-haired old man suddenly stormed into the shop, followed by the apprentice Zhang Zi.

“He Jiu! Don’t you know I’m busy? If this isn’t important, I’ll peel your skin off!”

The moment the old man appeared, he launched into a furious tirade against overseer He Jiu.

He Jiu didn’t mind—and dared not mind—immediately stepped forward with Cang Luo’s blueprints and bowed respectfully: “Master Lu, please look at this!”

This old man was none other than Divine Weapon Workshop’s sole sixth-rank forger, Master Lu Zheng!

Seeing his master arrive, Wang Zhonghu quickly poured a cup of tea and offered it.

Lu Zheng had no time for tea—he was staring wide-eyed at the blueprints. He immediately recognized the drawing wasn’t armor, but didn’t know what it was; yet he didn’t care, because what was drawn didn’t matter.

What mattered was that he realized how ingeniously the armor plates connected—every joint used mortise-and-tenon joints; if forged with perfect precision, they would fit flawlessly.

He had never before seen mortise-and-tenon joints applied to weapons or armor—though simple, no one had ever thought of it.

It seemed... it seemed the armor could be reshaped?

Assembled freely?

This idea... was truly unusual!

Why had he never thought to design weapons this way?

After a long silence, Lu Zheng exclaimed: “Whose master designed these blueprints?”

He Jiu pointed at Cang Luo and whispered something in his ear.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly, smiling at Cang Luo: “Young friend, could you introduce me to your master?”

As he spoke, he noticed another stack of blueprints in Cang Luo’s bag and added: “Young friend, are those also blueprints in your bag? May I see them?”

Cang Luo nodded and handed over the blueprints for the spear and triangular throwing daggers.

He dared not refuse—the moment the old man approached, a wave of heat slammed into him, making it hard to breathe.

This was a cultivator of power?

A sixth-rank forger must have at least Martial Sovereign cultivation, right?

Cang Luo was right—Lu Zheng was at Martial Sovereign Second Layer. He took the blueprints and examined them again closely.

After a moment, he frowned: “This is a spear? The shape is unusual—what’s the purpose of the grooves on the spearhead?”

Cang Luo immediately replied: “It’s called an air-blood groove.”

“Air-blood groove?” Lu Zheng looked puzzled—he couldn’t fathom how grooves on a spearhead related to air or blood.

Cang Luo chuckled smugly: “The air-blood groove has two functions: first, it increases spearhead strength while reducing weight, acting like a spine or skeleton.

Second, when the spearhead pierces an enemy’s body, it prevents the blade from getting stuck due to thick blood and high surface tension, while also aiding blood loss and wound damage.”

After Cang Luo finished, Wang Zhonghu and He Jiu stared blankly—they understood little.

Lu Zheng, however, wore an expression of sudden comprehension.

He truly understood—yet he didn’t grasp what “surface tension” meant. He’d never heard the term before.

But he was too proud to ask—it would make him look incompetent, and he was a sixth-rank forger, a Martial Sovereign cultivator.

In some sects, he could be an Elder.

Lu Zheng nodded slightly: “This... air-blood groove design is excellent. Its blood-draining effect is far superior to serrations, and it greatly enhances the power of Gangqi clinging to the spearhead!”

He pointed at the triangular throwing dagger blueprint and smiled: “This weapon also has air-blood grooves, and tail feathers—intended to improve accuracy, right?

But I notice the tail feathers seem poorly designed—they’re not very sturdy.”

Lu Zheng looked at Cang Luo with a knowing, enigmatic smile.

Ha! I’ve found a design flaw! Look at how smug you were just now...

Cang Luo shook his head gently and smiled: “This weapon is called the triangular throwing dagger. The tail feathers are called tail fins—they’re not poorly made or a design flaw, because they’re movable.”

“Movable? Why...” Lu Zheng paused, then cut himself off.

Cang Luo continued: “The movable tail fins use principles of aerodynamics—they allow the dagger to change direction mid-flight, making it impossible for enemies to defend against!”

Lu Zheng: “...”

What the hell was “aerodynamics”?

How did air and power relate?

How could a few movable tail fins like feathers alter the dagger’s trajectory—without any array engraving or external force? Could it really change direction?

Earth’s science left Lu Zheng utterly baffled; behind him, overseer He Jiu and apprentice Wang Zhonghu were even more confused.

They grasped a little, but understood none of the principles.

Yet they knew one thing: the young brother’s spear, throwing daggers, and armor designs were clearly incredible!

Didn’t you see Master Lu’s furrowed brow, lost in deep thought?

After a long silence, Lu Zheng cleared his throat and resumed his masterly demeanor, smiling: “Young friend, is your master Elder Luo of Xuantian Sect’s Treasure Artifact Pavilion?”

In his mind, these weapons must have been designed by a seasoned seventh-rank forger.

The opponent is an outer disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect, so his master must also be from the Profound Heaven Sect.

The Profound Heaven Sect has only one forging master above seventh rank—the institutional Elder of the Treasure Artifact Pavilion.

Eighth-rank forging master Luo Tan!

Luo Tan is no ordinary man; he is not only an eighth-rank forging master but also possesses mastery in Earth-grade array arts, effortlessly crafting Earth-grade arrays and independently forging Earth-grade treasures.

Moreover, his own cultivation base is at the ninth layer of Wu Wang, just one step away from becoming a Wu Huang.

Once he becomes a Wu Huang, with his abilities, he might even forge ninth-rank weapons.

The Profound Heaven Sect is an Imperial-grade sect; if the sect could produce a forging master capable of crafting ninth-rank weapons, and equip every Elder with one...

Lu Zheng dared not even imagine it—a Wu Wang wielding a ninth-rank weapon, just three of them, could challenge a Wu Huang!

At that time, the Profound Heaven Sect would be like a tiger gaining wings!