By afternoon, the sunlight grew especially scorching.
The longsword had been cleansed to a snowy brightness by the power of the Great Yin, its intricate frost-patterned engravings refracting a dazzling, mesmerizing light.
Li Mo was somewhat exhausted, leaning part of his weight against the "ice block" beside him as he let out a soft sigh of relief.
A weapon forged to fame—its hue like frost, its gleam like ice—resonated distantly with the Great Yin.
A masterpiece among famed weapons.
Moreover, this sword was built upon the foundation of the Star Anvil, whose exceptional quality meant it could be reforged even further in the future.
"So beautiful."
Princess Yuyang gazed at the freshly forged longsword, her eyes momentarily glued to it, unable to look away.
She owned many treasures—some even counted as Mystic Weapons, though most were Divine Weapons.
Mystic Weapons were worth fortunes, while Divine Weapons were priceless in the market.Yet now, she found that famed longsword irresistibly beautiful, surpassing even her finest collections.
"Elder Brother, the Crown Prince."
"Hmm?"
"I want that sword. With it, I can climb closer to you on the Hidden Dragon Ranking."
Yuyang's voice was soft, but only because she was speaking to Jiang Yu.
When she wanted something, she would stop at nothing to obtain it.
"He won’t give it to you."
Jiang Yu shook his head lightly, his eyes burning with desire yet tinged with regret.
This Li Mo was indeed a rare talent—young, with astonishing martial prowess, and now revealing such dazzling smithing skills.
He even wielded the Heavenly Artisan’s forging hammer.
Did that mean Li Mo might one day forge... a Heaven’s Fortune Artifact?
A pity the man was unruly, seemingly devoid of loyalty to throne or family, making him difficult to control... And worse, he had earned great merit in the Southern Frontier. The Southern Suppressing King, on the verge of breaking through to the Seventh Realm, had repeatedly praised him in court as a young hero.
Wait.
Jiang Yu glanced at the charming, noble Princess Yuyang.
"What do you think of this 'Hammer Tyrant'?"
"What do you mean?"
"As a man."
Indeed, Jiang Yu wanted to use Yuyang to test Li Mo.
At these words, Princess Yuyang’s lips parted slightly. As someone spoiled and headstrong, she instinctively looked down on all men—except her father and elder brother, the Crown Prince.
Yet when she recalled the sight of the bare-chested youth raising the divine weapon high, she found him dazzling. The sword she adored had been born from his hands.
Moreover, he was known to "bring fortune to his wife"—a topic often joked about in noble tea gatherings, where young ladies playfully spoke of taking him in as a son-in-law.
A "Fortune-Bringing Battle Soul" was a hot commodity among the young noblewomen of the imperial capital...
More importantly, he was currently leaning against that cold fairy who had once scolded her.
Princess Yuyang’s thoughts quietly shifted, her heart suddenly beating a little faster.
Now, she wanted both the sword and the man.
Even with the absurd power demonstration segment disrupting things, these were still the elite smiths of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Among them, five or six had forged top-tier famed weapons.
Half an hour later, the forging segment concluded.
Originally, the Smithing Assembly would have ended here, but since these weapons were to be used in the Hidden Dragon Tournament, a new "Weapon Testing" segment was added.
Naturally, not every weapon could be tested.
Only those rated "First-Class" by the judges would have their brilliance showcased.
Offstage.
Both Ice Block’s and Little Jiang’s swords had earned First-Class ratings, so Li Mo retreated to rest.
"Master Li!"
"When I first heard of a prodigy called the Hammer Tyrant, I laughed more than once. Now, I feel nothing but shame."
"But what about your own weapon?"
The other smiths waiting offstage now regarded him with deep respect, truly acknowledging him as a fellow artisan.
Young Master Li was tall, firm, and unyielding!
Handsome, skilled—who could resist?
Even the cold fairy couldn’t.
"Right, Brother Li, what will you do?"
From the crowd emerged two figures—one tall, one short, both bald.
"?"
Already exhausted, Young Li nearly failed to recognize them.
The elder monk was Hengyuan, who had taken a vow of silence. The younger was Murong Xiao, whose aura had grown significantly stronger since their last meeting—truly a genius in Buddhist cultivation.
"I’ll see if I can pick something during the testing segment. Though I doubt I’ll find a hammer. Are you here to choose a weapon too?"
"Not really. I came because I knew you’d be here."
Murong Xiao rubbed his bald head, flashing a grin with two rows of white teeth.
Confident. Powerful.
Seizing the moment, the two chatted while Old Monk Hengyuan stood silently to the side. After all, his vow of silence wasn’t complete, and with Li Mo and Murong Xiao talking at this speed, his hand signs would have to be as rapid as mudras—hardly befitting a master’s dignity.
"Brother Murong, aren’t you joining the Hidden Dragon Tournament?"
Li Mo asked curiously.
"I am."
"Then won’t you need a weapon?"
Murong Xiao assumed a solemn expression:
"Ah, the martial art I now practice is the Indestructible Vajra Body of the Unmoving King. It is a profound Buddhist doctrine, emphasizing compassion—neither retaliating when struck nor evading when cursed. One must cultivate kindness..."
"Speak human, Funeral Love Master."
"You son of a—cough."
"Hmm?"
"You’re especially handsome. A real looker, truly, Brother Li."
Murong Xiao coughed lightly and sighed.
"If I join the Hidden Dragon Tournament, I can’t hit others or dodge. I have to take every attack head-on."
Li Mo blinked. "What kind of nonsense technique is that?"
"It’s a divine art..."
"Oh, never mind then."
After a pause, Li Mo frowned again. "But even with a divine art, your physique isn’t as strong as mine. You’ll still get hurt."
"I don’t know what to do either." Murong Xiao was equally troubled.
"Then why not ask your master? Or do you just not want to?"
"..."
"Alright, enough joking. I do have an idea."
Murong Xiao’s eyes lit up. As everyone knew, Brother Li was a gentleman—and the Idea King of the Clear Abyss Sect. He might actually have a solution.
"What is it?"
"Why not try studying the divine intent of the sea cucumber clan? They can regenerate their bodies, though the downside is they can’t move while doing so."
"??"
"That way, not only will your defense be terrifying, but your recovery will be swift. If your opponents can’t outpace your healing, how will they defeat you?"
"????"
Murong Xiao stood frozen, his eyes gleaming with newfound wisdom.
The Buddhist beads in Old Monk Hengyuan's hand clattered to the ground as his face flushed crimson with suppressed emotion. The aged monk's reddened countenance seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words.
Just as Li Mo was preparing to engage in deeper conversation with Murong Xiao, the surroundings suddenly fell into silence. All eyes turned toward the graceful, noble figure approaching with swaying skirts.
"Young Hero Li, do you still remember this princess?" Princess Yuyang inquired with an artful smile playing upon her lips.