Forging workshop, Level 2.
Within the vast space filled with the scent of metal, ancient mechanical giants could be seen, controlled by the workshop masters. Their mechanical hands, which were half-giant in size and could solidify, change shape, and transform at will, were crafting awakened equipment.
These were the slightly more advanced green-tier equipment.
The ordinary, basic white-tier equipment was produced on an assembly line, which Old Wang Master had assigned to a group of apprentice trainees.
Beyond this outer workshop was the workshop and laboratory of Master Wang Chui.
Several assistants were busy inside.
Finished products were displayed on the side, each representing the most advanced technology of the "Xin Huo" organization.
There were silver stones engraved with azure runes, placed on the counter.
There were weapons resembling cannons, with gems embedded on their barrels.
There were broadswords, sabers, and crossbows.
Each piece was like a work of art, neatly arranged.
So, which one was what he wanted?
Oh, these were all his orders, so it was nothing.
"The silver broadsword, I've named it 'Mithril Greatsword.' It possesses a significant damage amplification against unclean entities like specters and cultists, but against ordinary awakened individuals, this peculiar weapon performs quite ordinarily."
"Its side effect is that it consumes silver, ah, meaning literally."
Old Wang Master introduced, then pointed to the next peculiar weapon, a blood-red saber.
It was called the Berserk Saber.
"The effect of this saber is that whether one is injured or inflicts damage on an enemy, it grants a berserker buff that intensifies with the duration of the combat. After the battle, the buff effect disappears for a period."
"The side effect is that it's easy to get carried away while the effect is active, ah, but one can maintain composure by using calming potions."
These two items were the latest research and development products from the forging workshop.
With Master Wang Chui's strength, forging peculiar weapons was not difficult, as long as he had the materials from the "gui" creatures. However, the peculiar weapons of the new era emphasized applicability, universality, and forging efficiency.
These two were carefully selected items that could be forged in a relatively "batch" manner.
But that was something for the future. Currently, the newly hired official workers in the forging workshop could forge green-tier equipment at best. Sometimes, when rushing orders, Master Wang Chui had to personally step in.
It would take a considerable amount of time for an official worker to be promoted to a 'senior worker' capable of forging peculiar weapons.
Overall, the future was promising.
"And this crossbow?"
"Hehe, didn't the mentor want me to develop a single-soldier long-range weapon? My initial idea was firearms, but firearms are structurally complex and not conducive to transmitting life energy. While I managed to create them, their lethality was rather awkward... specifically, it was equivalent to launching explosive fire beads."
"This rune crossbow is different. Its range and lethality can be increased with the user's strength, and it has no side effects... theoretically, this is a semi-peculiar weapon."
"It doesn't have specific ability effects, but it can exert different abilities depending on the type of bolts loaded. Currently, developed types include flame bolts, frost bolts, and hurricane bolts."
"Ah, but of course, there's still a small drawback, which is that it's a bit expensive. The price of one bolt is about equivalent to 10 explosive fire beads."
This was truly a pay-to-win weapon!
But one couldn't blame Master Wang Chui. The transmission of life energy by awakened individuals was a technical challenge. Overcoming the extension and compression of life energy was the key to creating awakened weapons, giving awakened individuals the combat power to directly confront specters.
As for long-range weapons, this already involved the issue of life energy detaching from the body.
Using a weapon to achieve spell range, or even exceed spell range, was a technological feat that outsiders couldn't fully comprehend, but they understood the difficulty.
For now, the rune crossbow's basic range of two hundred meters was quite impressive, and it could be further increased with the infusion of life energy.
Putting aside the cost of expenditure, this was an excellent peculiar weapon.
Even considering the cost...
"At least it's a good start, but Master Wang, the 'great treasures' you mentioned aren't these, right?"
Fang You's gaze fell on the remaining items.
Master Wang rubbed his shiny bald head and chuckled, "Indeed. Look at this 'Guijing Cannon.' This is something our forging department put a lot of effort into developing."
"We were stuck on its power for a long time, but later, after studying the 'Ancient War Machine' you sent, I gained significant inspiration and designed this new type of cannon."
When it came to the development process, Master Wang's words flowed like a river from a breached dam, ceaselessly.
Fang You could only understand bits and pieces. He looked up and saw the more than ten-meter-tall 'God Slayer Weapon · War Puppet · Shallow Red' squatting with its arms wrapped around its knees... He actually perceived a look of grievance and fear from the mighty God Slayer Weapon.
Old Wang Master, what did you do to the puppet?
Look at the child, it's about to cry.
"Ahem, I just wanted to try dismantling its palm cannon. If you let me dismantle it, the technology for the Guijing Cannon will definitely advance by two levels... Besides, it didn't get dismantled, did it?"
The puppet Shallow Red looked even more aggrieved.
It indicated that its entire body was integrated.
But Fang You felt that this was probably the reason why Old Wang Master couldn't dismantle it.
"And the current Guijing Cannon?"
He asked.
Master Wang continued his introduction, "Currently, two types of cannons have been designed. One has a fan-shaped attack range, which is the large-area destructive weapon you, the mentor, wanted. Although its energy is dispersed, making its power slightly weaker and its range slightly shorter, it's no problem to annihilate level two or three specters."
Fang You nodded.
In the future, with the arrival of the Gray Fog tide, a sanctuary would need to be established with the Dawn Lighthouse as its core, ushering in the era of base cities.
However, the more people gathered, the more they would attract specters.
By then, the number of specters on Blue Star would far exceed the present.
Relying solely on manpower, how many specters could be killed? Even An Jianyou, the "specter butcher," had specters who eventually grew exhausted.
Developing large-scale destructive weapons was preparation for this.
Foresight was key.
"The other type is a penetrating Guijing Cannon, which has strong lethality and a longer attack range. Theoretically, it possesses the ability to destroy or even instantly kill calamity-level specters, but this has not been verified."
Upon hearing Master Wang's words, Fang You nodded slightly.
These two types of Guijing Cannons were also easy to distinguish: one had a trumpet-shaped muzzle, and the other had a conical muzzle.
Another point, Fang You understood without Master Wang needing to emphasize it: cannons were incredibly expensive. The rune crossbow was only a minor expense; true pay-to-win items were the Guijing Cannons.
When there was an opportunity, he would take them out for a few shots.
The Guijing Cannon was one of the strategic weapons that Xin Huo needed. As for another item, Master Wang became even more excited.
"The Candela Manual you brought last time, ah~ I swear, it's absolutely the most precious book I've ever seen. The symbols and diagrams within are so beautiful, so incredibly beautiful. You have no idea, this book..."
Master Wang seemed to be on a long monologue, and Fang You had to stop him.
Seeing Master Wang reluctantly stop his torrent of words, he turned and said, "I haven't fully understood the contents of this manual yet, but based on the rune diagrams and manufacturing process within, I've already created the Teleportation Talisman Stone."
The silver stone, hexagonal in shape and about two fingers thick, placed in the cabinet, was it.
"Teleportation Talisman Stone · Small (Blue)"
"There are two ways to use the talisman stone: one is to use it directly, which will randomly teleport you to any location within a hundred-kilometer radius."
"The second is to bind a coordinate before using it. Upon use, you can directly return to the origin coordinate, but the distance cannot exceed one hundred kilometers."
"There's another point: this talisman stone can be used for multiple people to teleport, as long as they stand within the teleportation circle."
"The only drawback is... uh, it's still expensive."
Speaking of which, the drawback of every product today was its expense. Wang Chui worried that the mentor might find their forging department too much of a drain on resources.
He quickly said, "It's considered expensive because the primary material for the Teleportation Talisman Stone is the 'Void Stone' of blue grade."
In addition to this, there were several auxiliary materials of green and white grade, as well as the consumption of guijing during the manufacturing process, which was also not a small cost.
And the talisman stone was a consumable item, a one-time use item.
It was equivalent to a blue-grade peculiar weapon, at most a slightly cheaper item. Who could afford this?
However, as a life-saving item, Fang You felt it was acceptable.
It wasn't for saving his own life, but for the core strength of the organization exploring the "gui" world. Compared to their lives, the cost was insignificant.
Limited by materials, Master Wang had currently only created three talisman stones. Fang You, after a moment of thought, had an arrangement for how to use them.
Master Wang had done a good job; he deserved credit.
"Then can I exchange merit for a... chance to dismantle and research it?" Wang Chui's gaze drifted towards the distance.
The over ten-meter-tall child couldn't help but shrink back, hiding behind a machine tool.
Fang You couldn't help but laugh, "That's still not possible. Shallow Red is also a member of our organization."
"Ah, then let's exchange it for some research funds."
Master Wang Chui reluctantly averted his gaze, letting out a long sigh.
...
At the same time, on the other side of the ocean.
"Your Excellency, you can't be joking, can you?"
"Our world is facing its end. In a short while, the gray fog will completely engulf it, and Blue Star will truly enter an era of apocalypse?"
The leader in black leather narrowed his brows and looked at the man in the light blue robe opposite him.
The man spread his palms, "I can guarantee this in the name of our Wave Crest City-State. Besides, you already believe it, don't you, Human Leader of Blue Star?"