The goddesses attempted to gain my salvation.

Page 239

"Can't you see I'm starting a fire? The wind and snow outside will affect the temperature of the fire."

Ryan wasn't angry. He placed the hammer at his feet and closed the door.

He bowed slightly to the inner room.

"Sir, I apologize for entering without permission."

"However, I came here specifically because I heard that you are a very skilled craftsman."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ryan could clearly hear a very contemptuous snort coming from inside the room.

Then, after a series of heavy footsteps, an elderly man who was at least two meters tall, with a robust build and a long white beard tied in a braid, lifted the curtain and came out.

He wore a black eyepatch over his right eye, making him look like one of the Viking pirates in the movie.

Upon meeting him, Ryan immediately determined that the old man, even if not Fernandez's apprentice, was a very powerful magician.

The magic power within his body was abundant, and a kind of oppressive aura was faintly emanating from him.

Moreover, a flame was burning in his left eye.

It's not an adjective; there really were flames burning inside.

The old man glanced at Ryan, then looked towards the door, seemingly casually, and snorted disdainfully.

It turns out it was that little girl who brought it.

"Speak, what is it?"

Ryan didn't beat around the bush; with a flick of his wrist, the Lunar Eclipse Spear landed in his hand.

"I'm looking for a craftsman who can forge this kind of weapon."

Before he could finish speaking, the old man raised his right hand, grabbed at the air, and the Moon Eclipse Spear fell directly into his hand.

His left eye, still glowing with flame, swept over the spear, then he snorted coldly and casually tossed it to the ground.

Then, his sharp eyes fell on Ryan's wrist.

"It's nothing but a poor imitation."

"Making such a thing would only tarnish Master's reputation."

"As for the [Virtual Ark] on your wrist, that must have been a magical artifact made by my master before he died."

"However, if I remember correctly, the Void Ark should have been buried with Master when he died. Logically, it should still be on Master's wrist."

"And how did you obtain it?"

Ryan was startled.

The bracelet on his wrist was indeed his magical artifact.

The name, as he said, was indeed [Virtual Ark].

However, Ryan never told anyone about it.

The fact that he knew the name of this thing meant that even if he wasn't Fernandez's apprentice, he must be someone very familiar with him.

Now that the name of the Void Ark was known, Ryan saw no need to hide it anymore. After snapping his fingers, the Eclipse Spear on the ground vanished completely, turning into specks of magic.

Stroking the magical runes on the illusory ark, Ryan was about to explain.

The old man sighed and interrupted him.

"never mind."

You could see a hint of dejection and helplessness in his eyes.

"No matter what method you used, the fact that the Void Ark has appeared in your hands means that you have gained its approval. The Void Ark is different from other magical artifacts; it chooses its master."

"But... I might disappoint you."

Perhaps because he had seen the Void Ark, the old man's attitude towards Ryan softened slightly, no longer as sharp as before.

He sat in the chair, turned his head, and looked at the furnace on one side.

The fire crackled inside, adding warmth to the room.

Under Ryan's watchful gaze, the old man extended his left hand to test the temperature of the fire.

After a long time, he shook his head.

"I can no longer forge weapons."

Ryan asked, puzzled, "Why?"

The old man looked at Ryan and slowly removed his blindfold.

Inside, there was an empty eye socket.

Around the eye sockets were terrifying marks left by some kind of flame.

Just looking at it made Ryan feel a dull ache in his eyes.

"Because the hearth fire that rightfully belonged to me was taken away."

fire?

Before Ryan could ask any further questions, the old man raised his left hand, and the flame in his left eye suddenly ignited.

Then, a magic circle condensed in his hand.

A flame slowly burned in the center of the magic circle.

The flame was small, but the temperature in the room rose rapidly at a perceptible speed, making even breathing difficult.

Just as the old man was trying to make the flames grow stronger, a fluctuation occurred in the center of the magic circle, and then the flames became uncontrollable and eventually dissipated into the air.

The room temperature dropped instantly.

"The furnace fire is the soul of a craftsman."

"Without a furnace, how can weapons be forged..."

The old man got up and looked out the door once again.

"If you want to forge an exceptional weapon, you can let the little girl outside the door give it a try."

"She has a talent that is beyond the reach of ordinary people."

"It's just that he's too young and his personality isn't mature enough yet. He still has a long way to go before he becomes a truly first-class craftsman."

Ryan also glanced outside the door.

However, instead of responding to the old man's words, he opened his palm in front of the old man.

A blazing flame ignited in the palm of his hand.

"Old sir, if I can provide a furnace, could you forge a weapon for me?"

The old man glanced at the fire in Ryan's palm and shook his head.

"Your magic is incredibly powerful, and the intensity of your flames is also very strong."

"However, this magical fire is not the furnace fire used for forging weapons."

"The fire I want should be as hot as lava, yet as controllable as soft mud."

"But your flames, apart from the power of destruction... do not possess these characteristics."

Ryan continued to channel his magic, making the flames much calmer, burning quietly and slowly, just like the flames in the old man's palm earlier.

However, even Ryan noticed the difference.

Because the indoor temperature did not rise as much as it had before.

At that moment, Ryan understood what the old man meant by the hearth fire.

Ultimately, it all comes down to temperature and controllability.

From the old man's initial warning and his subsequent actions of testing the fire in the furnace, it's clear that he was very concerned about the temperature.

Only when the flames reach the temperature he envisions can the most perfect weapon be forged.

Ryan sighed and extinguished the flames.

"In that case, I'm sorry to bother you."

------

Annie listened quietly to the sounds inside the room from beginning to end, outside the door.

When she heard the old man actually praise her for the first time ever, she had very mixed feelings.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Ryan walked out looking disappointed.

Anne quickly stepped aside.

"What, were you eavesdropping the whole time?"

Annie hesitated for a moment, then said, "I...I wasn't eavesdropping!"

Ryan didn't argue.

Aren't you going in to check on him?