The eunuch Liu no longer continued with the previous topic. Holding the largest piece of goldstone, he weighed it in his hand and said, “This is roughly how much we need for the modifications. The rest, I’ll have to take with a bit of shame.”
Qian Ye naturally agreed without hesitation, arranging an entire floor for Eunuch Liu and strictly ordering that no one was to disturb him.
Eunuch Liu set down his backpack and began to pull out various tools. In a blink of an eye, he assembled an incredibly intricate mechanical workbench. He then took out several more tool bags, each containing a dozen or so tools of different sizes, with the smallest being as fine as a strand of hair. Just by looking at these tools, one could tell that Eunuch Liu’s craftsmanship was extraordinary.
Eunuch Liu said, “Modifying these two guns is no easy task, but fortunately, I brought enough materials this time. It should be done in three days. However, to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, please do not stray far, Qian Ye. If anything needs your assistance, I can notify you promptly.”
Qian Ye replied, “Of course, I will follow your instructions.”
Without further ado, Eunuch Liu pulled out a block of an unknown metal and cut off a finger-sized piece. He placed it into a small crucible, about the size of a teacup, and activated his origin power. Instantly, blue flames spewed from the crucible, slowly melting the metal.
After about fifteen minutes, Eunuch Liu added several more materials. Each material consisted of only a few grains, but he counted them meticulously. One of the grains was even sliced into a third before being added. The largest of these grains was no bigger than a sand particle, yet they still needed to be divided, indicating the precision required for the alloy formula.
Another fifteen minutes passed before Eunuch Liu poured the molten metal into a mold. Before it had completely cooled, he began to refine and carve it. With just one cut, Qian Ye was impressed.
At this point, Qian Ye’s combat skills were already quite formidable. His unique sword techniques all had a natural, seamless quality, and if presented in a high-ranking clan, they would be considered core inheritances.
However, when he saw the single cut Eunuch Liu made, he was awestruck. That cut seemed to harness every muscle in his body, working in perfect harmony, applying just the right amount of force. Throughout the process, he did not use even a hint of origin power, relying solely on physical strength.
In such forging, the environmental requirements were extremely strict. Any use of origin power might contaminate the materials. This was common knowledge in advanced forging, and Qian Ye had heard a little about it.
Yet, with that single cut, Eunuch Liu exerted an enormous amount of power, strong enough to cut into Qian Ye’s blood-tempered bones.
It must be noted that Eunuch Liu was not particularly skilled in physical combat. His body was quite ordinary, only slightly better than an average divine general. Yet, in that instant, he was able to unleash a power comparable to Qian Ye’s. In terms of body control, he had reached a truly unfathomable level.
Qian Ye had thought that his martial skills, if not at their peak, were at least close. But now, seeing Eunuch Liu, he realized he was like a frog in a well. Even a cursory comparison revealed that he had dozens, perhaps hundreds, of areas that needed improvement.
He instantly understood that this was a great learning opportunity. He immediately concealed his aura, activated his bloodline, and tried to create the most undisturbed environment possible, watching quietly.
When Qian Ye’s aura disappeared, Eunuch Liu’s aura also wavered slightly, indicating some inner disturbance. But he quickly regained his composure and focused on his work.
With meticulous attention to detail, Eunuch Liu completed each step, as if a student facing a teacher’s exam. Qian Ye watched silently. After a long while, Eunuch Liu finally produced a gear.
If Qian Ye hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have imagined that making a simple gear could be so complex. With his skill and technique, cutting such a gear would be effortless. He didn’t understand why Eunuch Liu went through such lengths.
Eunuch Liu, knowing Qian Ye’s thoughts, carefully inspected the gear. Satisfied, he said, “Zang Xin and Long Quan are both supreme treasures. To combine them is already difficult. Yet, I have some ambition. Not only do I want their power to remain, but I also want to enhance it slightly. This means that every part must be precise. These materials are hard to find, second only to the goldstone. If even a bit is wasted, I cannot afford it.”
Since Eunuch Liu said so, there was no doubt. This was just one part; the total materials for the full gun modification would be several times more.
Considering the losses, Eunuch Liu did not really gain much from Qian Ye. And he did not mention any additional compensation. A master craftsman’s labor alone would be astronomical. If seriously calculated, with Eunuch Liu’s unmatched skill, it would be far from cheap.
Feeling a bit guilty, Qian Ye took out more goldstones, but Eunuch Liu refused to accept them. In the end, he clearly stated that the goldstones he had received were just enough to make a set of armor, a short blade, and an origin gun.
These weapons were at the eighth level, not enough to attract the covetousness of top-tier experts, nor enough to let future generations rely on them. In Eunuch Liu’s eyes, this was just right.
The value of goldstones lay not only in their top-tier material properties but also in the unique connection that remained between pieces from the same original stone.
The larger the original piece, the stronger this connection. In the hands of a master like Eunuch Liu, this connection could be amplified, creating a set of weapons that resonated and greatly enhanced each other’s power.
The goldstones Qian Ye provided were taken from the throne of the Six-Armed General, and in the entire Evernight World, none could match their quality. Such quality naturally caught Eunuch Liu’s attention, which was why he allowed Qian Ye to watch.
Though it seemed like just crafting individual parts, every move Eunuch Liu made was a demonstration of the highest martial arts. Qian Ye, merely by observing, could grasp many principles.
On the path of martial arts, the journey becomes increasingly difficult. At Qian Ye’s current level, advancing further was as hard as ascending to the heavens. Many once-powerful figures were stuck at his current level, unable to progress. Eunuch Liu’s martial arts had reached the pinnacle of human achievement, and his control over his body was truly incredible.
Now, due to his status, Qian Ye had heard many rumors from the aristocratic clans. He couldn’t help but say, “The noble houses speak of Eunuch Liu as a hidden master, the foremost under the Emperor. Today, I see it is no exaggeration!”
His praise was genuine, but Eunuch Liu glared at him, his tone stern. “Those ignorant young men, with their limited horizons, can say such things. But if you, too, echo their words, that’s not right.”
Noticing Eunuch Liu’s serious tone, Qian Ye hurriedly asked, “Please, Eunuch, guide me!”
Seeing his sincerity, Eunuch Liu nodded. “You’ve been away from the Empire. Although Xi Tang is your godfather, his situation likely left him no time to guide you. At best, he could arrange some support for you. As for Cheng En Gong, there’s no need to mention him. Despite his exceptional talent, he lacked sufficient training on the battlefield. Now, his martial arts realm is at best on par with yours, and he has nothing to teach you.”
When speaking of Zhao Weihuang, Eunuch Liu’s eyes crinkled with a hint of a smile.
Qian Ye had also heard of the recent rise of Cheng En Gong’s fame, largely due to his efforts. But this matter was something Qian Ye could only keep to himself. Cheng En Gong was proud and, though he wouldn’t admit it, had surely done much for Qian Ye behind the scenes. The support from the Zhao Clan wasn’t entirely within Zhao Jundu’s capabilities.
Eunuch Liu seemed to realize his change in attitude and coughed a few times. “I’m old, and my kin and descendants are mostly inadequate. My craft may soon be lost. I see you have a good understanding. For the next three days, follow me and learn the basics of crafting. In these three days, you can learn as much as you can.”
While he spoke of crafting, he was actually imparting true martial arts. In three days, Qian Ye could learn much, and the rest would come with practice and experience.
Realizing the rare opportunity, Qian Ye set aside all other thoughts and focused intently on every move Eunuch Liu made.
Eunuch Liu then took out another unknown stone, and with a knife, cut a transparent layer. Qian Ye watched attentively, gradually entering a state of deep concentration.
Three days passed in a flash. When Eunuch Liu suddenly shouted, pouring his origin power into the newly forged origin gun, Qian Ye realized it was complete.
Eunuch Liu’s aura immediately weakened, and new wrinkles appeared on his forehead. The luster of his white hair dimmed slightly. Looking at the newly forged long origin gun, his eyes were full of affection, as if he were looking at his own child. It was clear he was deeply fond of this creation.
Qian Ye could see that Eunuch Liu had damaged his foundation to forge this gun and could only sigh inwardly.
After a moment, Eunuch Liu set the gun down. “When Long Quan was first completed, the entire Empire rejoiced, believing that after a thousand years, another legendary gun had been born. With Long Quan in hand, the Martial Ancestor, with his unparalleled martial prowess, would sweep the world. However, in that great battle, the Martial Ancestor, fighting three Great Lords, found that Long Quan could not withstand his overwhelming origin power and was damaged. The Martial Ancestor had to retreat, and the stalemate with Evernight resumed.”
Qian Ye said, “The Martial Ancestor, fighting three Great Lords and still managing to severely injure two and escape unscathed, is unimaginable!”
Eunuch Liu said slowly, “Not only did the Martial Ancestor fight three, but Long Quan also faced three. Those three Great Lords wielded Shattered Years, Deep Blessing, and Soul Cut.”
“Soul Cut?”
“Be wary of Soul Cut. It will be the nemesis of this gun.” Eunuch Liu handed the newly made gun to Qian Ye. Before Qian Ye could examine it, Eunuch Liu suddenly asked, “Do you know why Long Quan was damaged that day?”
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