Chapter 945

At night, in the violet tent, Roland, exhausted from the day’s labor, couldn’t sleep—he lovingly polished his newly issued gear, studying the dragon-scale patterns on the blade, knowing now why it was called “Dragon Scale” steel core.

This weapon was forged from layers of varying hardness and toughness, balancing both properties, with an ultra-hard steel core sandwiched inside; according to Master Du Luo, this was just ordinary junk—he’d make better ones for them later.

Roland couldn’t help muttering: “This is ordinary? Then what’s ‘better’ going to be like?”

One of Roland’s men was also polishing his armor and replied: “I asked Lord Nage the Big Mouth Dragon—he said Dragon Scale steel core is just basic. You can add silver-threaded magic runes, clay-forging, gem enhancement, piercing enchantments, gravity reinforcement, magnetic modification, and primordial crystal plating.”

With every term Roland heard, his cheek twitched. The first few he understood—they were expensive—but the later ones he didn’t even comprehend, only sensing their power, clearly beyond the reach of penniless mercenaries like them.

“Hah, Lord Nage’s just teasing you,” Roland quickly shut him down. “Even this basic layered blade is beyond our budget—why dream of enchantments and enhancements? You’re dreaming.”

Don’t let them hear too much or they’ll get restless—these guys will keep demanding better gear, and where am I supposed to get it for them?

After polishing, Roland pulled out mutton fat to grease the blade against rust, but his man hurriedly said: “Captain, Lord Nage said no oil needed—he said the blade has self-repairing properties, gets newer the more you use it, won’t rust. That’s a basic trait of Du Luo’s alchemy—even ordinary junk has it.”

Self-repair is simple—just add bone powder. Every alchemical item Du Luo makes has this basic function. But to Roland, it left him speechless: “...This is ordinary?”

Even as he spoke those words, Roland thought to himself: Even the equipment he pulled out at random is so advanced—what kind of organization are these people from?

At that moment, footsteps echoed outside the tent. A group entered, lifting the flap: a Deathless Warrior, Lord Nage the Big Mouth Dragon, and Master Du Luo, the Alchemy King, draped in a cloak and hooded hat.

Huh?! A Deathless Warrior? Roland stared sharply at the figure, sensing a familiar aura: “Ancestor Grandpa?”

“Good boy,” came the voice of Zhiola from the Deathless Warrior.

Roland took a deep breath. The name “Deathless Warrior” rang thunderously through the Divine Light Alliance—and now echoed across the Filie Empire. Though their strength might not match the top-tier Silent Heat Sword or Filie’s mad God-Slayer, their numbers were overwhelming.

Known Alliance forces already numbered seventy-two, not counting those held by the Grand Councilor—no enemy could withstand the charge of dozens of Deathless Warriors.

Now, such a top-tier combatant stood before him—his own ancestor. Roland had thought his issued gear was excellent, but compared to Zhiola, it was nothing. What gear could rival a Deathless Body?

“Grandpa, this… this…” Roland wanted to reach out and prod it, but dared not move.

Du Luo casually tossed him a longsword: “You have Chaotic Energy. Try this crystal-plated blade.”

Crystal plating was a new technique Ange had learned after arriving here—coating other objects with Chaos Stone and Black Crystal to grant them primordial properties.

For example, Ange’s cultivation constructs were plated with Chaos Stone and Black Crystal, making their bodies incredibly hard, able to withstand the power of the Dragon God’s transformation.

As for the King, his bones were plated with Black Crystal, nearly as hard as a Black Crystal Body, only lacking in joint integrity and energy capacity.

Du Luo, upon learning this new plating technique, was ecstatic—he begged Ange to plate a batch of weapons for him, arranging all alchemical tools in a circle, then having Ange detonate Chaos Stone at the center, spraying crystal plating across them. Afterward, he flipped every item and did it again. Done.

This sword was plated with Chaos Stone—it seemed to amplify Chaotic Energy. Among those present, Roland had the strongest Chaotic Qi, so everyone gathered to have him test the blade.

Roland took the sword hesitantly, swung it a few times, then looked at Du Luo, puzzled.

Du Luo said: “Channel your Qi into the blade.”

Roland gripped the hilt tightly, pouring his Qi into the blade—and his eyes widened in shock as he involuntarily began swinging it.

“What do you feel?” Du Luo asked.

“It’s smoother—like the sword has become part of my body,” Roland said.

Du Luo tossed him another sword: “Try this one. Which feels smoother?”

“The second one,” Roland replied.

Du Luo said: “The second has crystal-plated core; the first has crystal-plated blade body—but the edge wasn’t plated. Try cutting and chopping again.”

As he spoke, Du Luo set up test stones of different materials: leather armor, iron plates, stone—but all were cleanly severed by Roland’s single strike.

“Which is better?” Du Luo asked.

“The second one,” Roland answered without hesitation.

Du Luo nodded: “So crystal-plated core is more effective than crystal-plated blade body. The crystal-plated steel core design is confirmed. Take it—fight your grandfather.”

“Huh?” Roland held the sword, glancing uncertainly at Zhiola. Should he strike his ancestor? That didn’t seem right.

Zhiola, however, was eager. He’d trained for so long in the sphere, targeting Deathless Warriors—yet only now had he gained a body. He wanted to know: what was the true power of a complete Deathless Warrior?

Soul flames flared; soul armor crystallized. Zhiola charged Roland, sword raised, and the two clashed—clashing blades rang out.

Both were skilled fighters, and since it was a sparring match, the fight was intense but not deadly.

Du Luo shouted impatiently: “Use more force! Don’t hold back! As long as you don’t smash their heads, I can revive you both. Use more force—otherwise you won’t test the weapon’s limits!”

Alright, Zhiola said: “Watch out—I’m speeding up.” His speed surged dramatically—he’d been holding back. Had he gone full speed, Roland would’ve been finished in seconds.

Roland remained unfazed. After warming up, he’d adapted to the sword’s smoothness. He poured his Qi forward and slashed—Zhiola’s arm flew off.

“???” Everyone stared at the arm on the ground, then at Zhiola’s shoulder, finally fixing on Roland’s sword—its red aura flickering erratically.

“This… this can cut off a Deathless Arm? Are Deathless Arms that fragile?” Nage exclaimed in shock.

Du Luo’s eyes gleamed: “No—it’s the crystal-plated sword unleashing the full power of Chaotic Energy. My theory was right. Chaotic Energy and crystal-plated blades are a perfect match. Forge two thousand of these for the Chaotic Great Swordsmen—we can cut down any number of Deathless Warriors.”

Is this the alchemist’s mindset? If numbers aren’t enough, make up for it with gear. If quality falls short, stack gear to even the score?