Chapter 730: No Junk Anomalies, Only Junk (Part 1)

So, this smithing technique that burrows straight through the heart of the earth—you learned it from me?!!!

After receiving a confirmed answer from Li Ang, the third-generation director felt a deafening roar erupt in his skull, as if a thousand bronze bells had been struck by massive hammers, their clanging, crashing, booming echoes thundering from within to without, shaking his soul into frantic tremors.

My physical body has been dead for how many years, and yet someone still manages to ruin my reputation? If other smiths saw this technique of his, how could I possibly dare call myself the strongest smith?

No! This absolutely won't do!

Looking at the scroll that clearly sealed a powerful great demon but was useless except for translating names, the square-headed old man gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and snatched up two more items, hurling them into the cauldron as his face flushed with rage:

"Keep going! Follow my movements! Do exactly what I do—not a single deviation allowed!"

"Third-generation Director… maybe you could just skip the instruction?"

After glancing at the 【Beautiful Feet】 and 【Demon Catalog】 in his hands, Li Ang truly didn't want to waste these precious materials any longer, and couldn't help but sincerely suggest:

"I probably really don't have the talent for smithing secrets. You've gathered all these materials with great effort—using them up on me is too wasteful. Besides, I'm the one giving up, so you don't need to feel like you've broken your promise…"

"Shut your mouth! Get to work!"

The square-headed old man stamped his foot, veins bulging as he roared:

"This isn't about any promise! Right now, the most important thing is my reputation!

Damn it! Even if I have to throw every single material into this pot, I'll teach you— Zhishaodebanijiaodebiyitouzhuqiang ！ Buranlaozizaiduanyejiedemingshengjiutamahuile ！"

"But…"

"No buts!"

The square-headed old man, face twisted in fury, threatened with flailing limbs:

"If it weren't for the fact that everyone knows you're my student, I'd kill you right now! Get moving! Follow every step I taught you! Not a single tremor in your wrist—I'll fight you over it!"

"But… in Third-Generation Golden Ox's memories, you once concluded that anomalies are born from the power of the mind, and the mind has no 'correct answer'—a good smith shouldn't obsess over technique or environment, only follow the guidance of the heart…"

"To hell with guidance!"

Directly rejecting the smithing philosophy he'd upheld his entire life, the square-headed old man exploded in rage:

"That's for chasing the upper limit! First, stabilize your lower limit! Hurry up! While the Whispering Wolf's mane hasn't shattered yet, stir clockwise exactly fifty times! Not one more, not one less!"

"…"

Alright then…

Though heartbroken over the wasted precious materials, seeing the third-generation director's look as if he wanted to swallow Li Ang whole, Li Ang abandoned any attempt to reason with him and began smithing methodically under the old man's shouts.

First, stir clockwise fifty times, then smash the white stone settled at the bottom of the pot, then stir counterclockwise fifty times—until the cauldron…

No! Until the ingredient pot glowed with a moonlike sheen, then pour your will into it, imagining a full moon falling into the pot, re-solidifying the shattered stones into a small vessel, drawing each strand of gray wolf hair swirling within into it…

…

【Name: Wolf Witch Elixir Vial (Sorcery, Flesh）】

【Appearance: A palm-sized pale-moon-colored vial that automatically fills under moonlight during a full moon】

【Ability: Witch's Secret Incantation, Flesh Mutation】

【Cost: The elixir tastes terrible, like a wolf-dog's bathwater】

【Archive: Secret Art Heir Li Ang Lian, combining two Cleaning Bureau secret arts, using Moon River Fluorite and Whispering Wolf mane as materials, strictly following the procedures of the "Sorcery Secret Scroll" and a touch of imagination to forge this unique anomaly.】

【After drinking the elixir, the user's neck will sprout a thick ring of dense dark-gray wolf fur, and their voice will become deep and charismatic】

【Evaluation: The most worthless sorcery artifact in history—and by far】

【Contamination Level: 0. (Max Contamination: 32)】

"…"

"How about… we stop for today?" "Shut your mouth! Keep going! This time I'll prep the blank for you—you just add the auxiliary materials!"

"Oh…"

【Name: Mirror of Noon (Memory, Reflection）】

【Appearance: A strange mirror always veiled in a thin mist, its frame smeared with odd broth】

【Ability: Memory Reflection, Historical Image】

【Cost: May induce hunger after use】

【Archive: Secret Art Heir Li Ang Lian, using a pre-polished "Mirror of the Afterlife" as base, adding a small amount of Sun-Blocking Mist gathered near the solar orbit, forging this unique anomaly while distracted by hunger.】

【When sitting before the mirror at lunchtime, the mist on its surface clears, revealing a reflection of the meal the user last ate at noon】

【Evaluation: The most worthless memory-type anomaly in history—and by far】

【Contamination Level: 0. (Max Contamination: 41)】

"…"

"How about…"

"Shut up! I've done every step in advance—your job is just to sign your name on it!"

"Damn it! If this still turns out garbage, then I give up!"

"Then I'll try…"

【Name: Li Ang Lian's Food-Memory Secret Scroll (Knowledge, Memory）】

【Appearance: A stack of edible blank reed-paper scrolls, with a large living root system at the end; once all paper is consumed, bury the root in soil and water it to regrow】

【Ability: Knowledge Infusion, Memory Recording】

【Cost: Due to abnormally coarse fibers, ingestion causes violent abdominal pain, indigestion, and rapid expulsion】

【Archive: Secret Art Heir Li Ang Lian, slightly modifying the finished "Food-Memory Secret Scroll"'s title page with Golden Ox's secret art and signing his own name, forging this unique anomaly.】

【After writing valuable knowledge on the scroll and eating it, the knowledge is directly etched into your memory, unforgettable until the scroll is naturally expelled】

【Evaluation: Though the resulting anomaly's effect still pales compared to the dead-swamp Soul-Scattering Magic Reed used as material, this is now the most practically useful artifact ever created by anomaly smith Li Ang Lian】

【Contamination Level: 0. (Max Contamination: 51)】

"…"

"…"

"…"

In deathly silent stillness, watching the square-headed old man clutch the 【Food-Memory Secret Scroll】, his body trembling slightly, Li Ang scratched the back of his head and muttered awkwardly:

"I think… I might've improved a little?"

"…"

"Get out! Take these garbage things and get out! Never let me see you again in this lifetime!!!!!!!"

(End of Chapter)