Chapter 416: The Weapon Forging Tournament Begins
In the quiet room, the moment Mo Yu's hands stopped moving, a sharp aura suddenly surged.
The fierce aura gradually spread out, and Mo Yu took a deep breath. His hands moved again, and an unusually broad heavy sword shot out from the furnace.
As he caught the heavy sword with one hand, a cold gleam flowed from its blade, as if it were a sharp sword being unsheathed, striking a deep sense of deathly silence into anyone who looked at it.
Feeling the terrifying killing intent within the sword, Mo Yu's expression faltered slightly. Immediately, a burst of Black Lotus Soul Lightning erupted, protecting his mind and suppressing the overwhelming killing intent.
"That was close... As expected of a sword nurtured meticulously by a Dou Venerate for decades. The killing intent within it is so fierce that an ordinary Dou Sect master would have already lost their mind."
Looking at the now-repaired heavy sword in his hand, Mo Yu was both shocked and relieved as he quickly stored it in his Beast Ring, murmuring to himself.
Unlike ordinary divine weapons, this heavy sword, though seemingly simple, had been nurtured by the Iron Sword Venerable for a long time. Within it was a remarkably strong sword intent filled with killing power.
In Mo Yu's estimation, the sword's powerful intent had probably claimed the lives of hundreds of Dou Sect and Dou King masters. There might have even been a few Dou Venerates who had fallen to its power.
In the original story, the Iron Sword Venerable was only a two-star Dou Venerate, but his self-destruction had shocked even the Six-Star Dou Venerate, the Black-White Venerable. No doubt, this sword's immense killing power was deeply linked to that event.
But these things were of little concern to Mo Yu. With the sword now repaired and his promise to the Iron Sword Venerable fulfilled, as long as Mo Yu didn't ask for anything outrageous, the straightforward Iron Sword Venerable would likely agree to anything he asked.
Thinking of this, Mo Yu smiled, adjusted his robes, and pushed the door open. Outside the room, he saw Feng Mu and Lan Yingying waiting anxiously.
"You finally came out! You've been locked in your room for days, and Senior Brother Feng and I thought something had happened to you," Lan Yingying sighed in relief, though she couldn't help but complain a little.
Feng Mu, standing to the side, nodded in agreement. But when he noticed Mo Yu's current aura, a look of surprise flickered in his eyes.
"It's only been a few days, yet our junior brother seems to have grown much stronger."
"Hehe, thank you both for your concern. By the way, when does the Weapon Forging Tournament start?" Mo Yu asked.
"It seems you really did lose track of time in seclusion. The tournament starts today. If you had stayed in there any longer, we were about to break down the door and drag you out!" Lan Yingying chuckled bitterly.
"So soon?" Mo Yu was slightly surprised. Time had passed faster than he thought, and the tournament was already beginning.
Putting aside the idea of returning the heavy sword to the Iron Sword Venerable for now, Mo Yu figured the venerable wouldn't leave the city during the tournament, so it would be fine to return it after the event.
"Let's go, we can still make it," Lan Yingying smiled.
"I've heard that this year's tournament will have the largest turnout ever. The competition grounds are already packed with countless participants, including some well-known veterans. It seems that even they want to get their hands on the rewards from the Heavenly Xuan Treasure Hall," Feng Mu remarked.
Mo Yu nodded slightly, already anticipating the fierce competition ahead. This year's tournament was not going to be easy.
But no matter what, he was determined to win the championship. No one could stop him!
Seeing the confident smile on Mo Yu's face, Lan Yingying and Feng Mu exchanged glances and smiled. It seemed like this tournament would indeed be something to watch.
And honestly, they were curious to see if Mo Yu, this formidable tiger, would encounter any real challengers in the tournament.
This Weapon Forging Tournament was bound to be a fierce battle of dragons and tigers!
As the three of them left the courtyard, the entire city of Wanbing erupted into excitement.
Today, Wanbing City would become the center of attention, with the eyes of the entire Western Region of Central Province focused on it, waiting for the one who would stand tall in the end.
Whoever emerged victorious from the countless talented weapon forgers from all over the continent would undoubtedly be hailed as the favored child of heaven!
Ever since the tournament's inception, the champion had always been courted by the major superpowers. If anything could allow someone to rise from obscurity and soar to the top, winning the Weapon Forging Tournament was certainly one way to do it!
The glory of this title was enough to drive anyone mad with ambition. After all, who in this life wanted to remain ordinary?
The Weapon Forging Tournament, the most prestigious event in the hearts of countless weapon forgers, was finally beginning today, setting the stage for the frenzy that would follow.
The tournament was being held in the northern part of Wanbing City, and that area had already been overrun with people days before.
When Mo Yu and his group arrived, they could only see an endless sea of heads, with deafening roars echoing into the sky and spreading for miles around.
Standing atop a building, Mo Yu and his companions gazed out at the scene. The competition grounds were a massive plaza nearly a thousand meters wide, with numerous stone platforms floating mysteriously in the air, faintly glowing with light.
"Those platforms are the seats for the contestants," Feng Mu pointed out with a smile.
"As expected of the Weapon Forging Tournament. The Equipment Alliance has really gone all out for this event," Mo Yu couldn't help but admire the grandeur of the venue.
"Indeed, as the grand event for weapon forgers, the tournament is renowned throughout the continent. Let's hope this tournament goes smoothly," Feng Mu said, though his expression turned a bit grim as if something was on his mind.
"Oh? Is Senior Brother Feng worried about something? With the Equipment Alliance in charge, what power would dare disrupt the tournament?" Mo Yu frowned.
"Senior Brother Feng is referring to... the Pill Tower, isn't he?" Lan Yingying interjected.
"The Pill Tower?" Mo Yu murmured. "Isn't that an organization of alchemists? Why would they..."
Seeing Mo Yu's confusion, Feng Mu smiled bitterly. "Exactly because they're an organization of alchemists, they've always held a grudge against the Equipment Alliance and weapon forgers."
"As the most prestigious profession on the continent, alchemists have existed since ancient times and have a long-standing legacy. Every alchemist sees themselves as the chosen ones of the world, which has made them incredibly arrogant.
"Meanwhile, weapon forgers are a relatively recent profession. In terms of history and reputation, we can't compare to alchemists. But with the rise of the Equipment Alliance in recent years, we've caught the Pill Tower's attention, and even faced suppression from them.
"In past tournaments, the Pill Tower would send powerful individuals under the guise of friendly competition, but they always had ulterior motives. Some of our past champions have mysteriously died, and our teachers suspect that the Pill Tower was behind it."
"Oh? So the Pill Tower resorts to such tactics..." Mo Yu was stunned and slightly shocked.
In the original story, the Pill Tower had seemed like a righteous force to Mo Yu, especially compared to the Soul Clan and Soul Palace, who were clearly the villains.
But Mo Yu quickly shook his head, realizing how naive he had been to distinguish between good and evil.
On the Dou Qi Continent, it was a world where the strong preyed on the weak, and strength was all that mattered. Concepts of good and evil were irrelevant and simply determined by perspective.
For the Pill Tower to have stood strong for thousands of years, it was no group of saints.
As weapon forgers rose in prominence, it was inevitable that they would encroach on the alchemists' standing, so the Pill Tower's actions were understandable.
This was a reminder for Mo Yu. If he won the championship, he would need to be cautious of the Pill Tower.
In the original story, the Pill Tower favored Xiao Yan because he was an alchemist. But Mo Yu, being a weapon forger, would surely face their hostility.
"Dong!"
As Mo Yu pondered these things, a clear bell suddenly rang through the air. The sound spread far and wide, silencing the roaring crowd with its sheer power.
With the bell ringing, the crowd grew quiet, and all eyes turned to the towering stone platform at the eastern side of the plaza. That was where the leaders of the Equipment Alliance would appear.
Not long after the bell sounded, the sound of the wind breaking filled the air, and space distorted slightly above the stone platform. A dozen figures slowly emerged.
Mo Yu's gaze swept across the figures before landing on the five people in the center. He recognized four of them—Old Bing, Master Swordsmith, Cai Ya, and Master Hui Shan.
The last one, standing on the far left, was an old man with dark skin and a stern, square face. His sharp eyes radiated authority, and Mo Yu knew this must be Master Yun Kong, the fifth elder of the Equipment Alliance.
As these five appeared, the entire area fell into an awed silence. Countless gazes filled with various emotions focused on these five figures.
The five elders of the Equipment Alliance—names known not only in the Western Region but throughout the Central Province. Their sudden appearance stunned the crowd.
"Hehe, I am Bing Li. On behalf of the Equipment Alliance, I welcome all weapon forgers here. In the coming days, this will be your stage to showcase your skills."
Old Bing stepped forward, his warm voice ringing clearly in everyone's ears.
Although the five elders were equals, due to his seniority, Old Bing typically presided over events like this. Even Master Swordsmith, an eight-star weapon forger, did not contest this.
The crowd remained silent. Even the most unruly and fierce individuals, including Dou Venerates, knew to restrain themselves in the presence of the five elders. After all, the elders, too, were Dou Venerates, and even though weapon forgers weren't typically skilled in combat, their prestige alone was enough to command respect.
"Everyone has traveled far to attend the Weapon Forging Tournament, so I won't waste time. Let me first explain that the tournament champion will not only earn the title of honorary elder of the Equipment Alliance but will also gain entry to the Soul Spirit Cavern for cultivation and a chance to enter the Heavenly Xuan Treasure Hall!"
The Heavenly Xuan Treasure Hall was a mysterious place that even the top members of the Equipment Alliance didn't fully understand. But they were certain that even a ninth-grade divine weapon could be found within its walls. "I wish you all the best of luck!"
As soon as Old Bing finished speaking, a massive uproar swept through the crowd. Countless weapon forgers' eyes turned bloodshot in their frenzy.
A ninth-grade divine weapon? Such a legendary artifact was beyond their wildest dreams. But if someone could obtain it and unlock its secrets, they might even become the first ninth-grade weapon forger in history!
This possibility held an irresistible allure for all the forgers present. Even non-forgers couldn't help but feel envious, wishing they had taken up weapon forging instead.
A ninth-grade divine weapon was so powerful that even a Dou Venerate could fight against others three or four stars stronger if they wielded such a weapon.
Seeing the intense emotions in the crowd, Mo Yu's eyes also glimmered with excitement. The Heavenly Xuan Treasure Hall was clearly not of the Dou Qi Continent. His curiosity about it was growing stronger.
On the high platform, Old Bing smiled faintly as he looked at the crowd's fervent reaction. He glanced at the sky before waving his sleeve, releasing an invisible wave that struck the air. A deep bell sound rang out again, echoing through the heavens.
"The time has come. All participants who are fourth grade or higher, please proceed to the competition platforms!"
Old Bing's hand pointed toward the massive plaza that Mo Yu had seen earlier, with its numerous floating stone platforms.
As soon as Old Bing's words fell, countless figures shot into the air like locusts, filling the sky as they rushed toward the competition grounds.
Watching the wave of people pouring into the plaza like a torrential rainstorm, Mo Yu and his companions exchanged glances and took a deep breath.
The Weapon Forging Tournament had begun!
(End of Chapter)
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