Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

A look of surprise flashed in the apprentice's eyes.

He put on thick leather gloves, first inspected the tip of the gun, and then tapped along the shaft inch by inch.

The crisp echoes continued to ring out.

"The main body of the gun is made of a high-toughness, extraordinary alloy, which may contain red gold and soft iron from the seabed."

"The forging technique is very ancient."

"The tip of the gun is harder than the shaft, but there are several hidden wounds inside."

As he said this, he looked up at Xilun.

"Do you often use highly explosive marksmanship?"

"Yes."

"If you continue using it like this, the spear tip can withstand a maximum of twenty more full-force bursts."

The apprentice's judgment was more accurate than Siren had anticipated.

The Red Star Spear places an immense burden on the weapon.

In the past, the Golden Spear could withstand the force of its own material, but as Xilun's strength increased, the power of each burst of power became stronger.

Weapons do not regenerate on their own like the human body.

Cracks will only accumulate gradually.

The apprentice then looked at the black cloth behind Xilun.

"And the other one?"

Xilun untied the black cloth and placed the Blue Tide Sword on the stone platform.

As soon as the curved blade was exposed to the morning mist, tiny ripples appeared on the surface of the water in the nearby cooling tank.

The once peaceful workshop suddenly fell silent for a moment.

The young apprentice stared at the Blue Tide Sword, his mouth slightly agape.

The burned man also walked quickly from the entrance.

"This is……"

He reached out to touch the sword hilt, but his hand stopped in mid-air.

"Blue Tide Sword?"

Several disciples put down the iron tongs they were holding and gathered around the stone platform.

"It really is Hogger's sword."

"I've seen it in the bounty brochure. The sword spine is made from the spine of a Tide Ridge sea beast, and it's mixed with deep blue mithril."

"Wasn't it said that Hogger died in Blackfathom Deepwood?"

"This person is Xilun."

Someone recognized him.

"It was he and Elena who brought back Hogg's body and were promoted to the Inner Court."

The surrounding gazes suddenly became complicated.

Curiosity, surprise, and an undisguised envy.

A complete Tier 3 weapon is an unattainable treasure for many inner court disciples.

The Blue Tide Sword, in particular, is considered a top-grade weapon among tier-three weapons.

If it's put up for auction, it can fetch at least 800 pounds. If it gets snatched up by someone who practices water-based swordsmanship, the price could even exceed 1,000 pounds.

The burned man looked intently at Xilun.

"How do you want to smelt it?"

"Integrate this sword into the golden spear."

Xilun reached out and pressed down on the gun.

"Retain the original flexibility and weight of the spear, and use the Blue Tide Sword to enhance the water affinity and toughness of the spear body."

The disciples watching changed their expressions slightly.

Someone couldn't help but speak up:

"The entire Blue Tide Sword melted away?"

"Yes."

"That's such a waste."

The disciple frowned.

"Both of these weapons are complete Tier 3 artifacts. Forcibly fusing them may not only damage the internal array patterns, but also cause one of the materials to lose its original properties."

Another older disciple from the weapon workshop also shook his head.

"The spine of the Blue Tide Sword and the crimson gold in the Golden Spear are not entirely compatible."

"If it's just about reforging the spearhead, we can give it a try."

"Ordinary furnace fire cannot be used to fuse the entire sword into it. Even if it is managed to melt it, it may not be possible to truly fuse the two."

Siren was not disappointed by their refusal.

Forging weapons is not as simple as melting two weapons together.

Every extraordinary material retains different properties.

Some repel each other, some lose their power under high temperatures, and some will explode violently if not handled properly.

The Blue Tide Sword belongs to the water element.

The golden spear, having undergone long-term nurturing by the Crimson Star Spear Technique, has absorbed a great deal of intense heat.

Water and fire clash, making them inherently difficult to manage.

"Is there anyone in the workshop who can make it?"

"Perhaps."

The burned man hesitated for a moment.

"But we need a master to help."

How much does the master charge?

"It's not about the money."

The older disciple standing to the side smiled wryly.

"The masters in the weapon workshop all have their own affairs to attend to. Ordinary third-tier weapons are not worth them specially opening a furnace for.

"Besides, what you're asking for isn't a simple recasting."

"The water-based materials incorporated into the spear are indeed suitable for the water-based power in the Azure Thunder Spear Technique, but your spear lacks thunder-based materials, so it still cannot withstand the true power of Azure Thunder."

Xilun understood what the other person meant.

Even if the Blue Tide Sword is successfully integrated, the Golden Spear will only change from being biased towards red fire to being a mixture of water and fire.

This still falls short of the dual nature of water and mine required for the Cang Lei Spear Technique.

Unless another sufficiently precious lightning-type material is added.

"Can lightning-struck wood be used?"

"Ordinary lightning-struck wood won't work."

The older disciple shook his head.

"Wooden materials can be used as gun cores, but they cannot withstand the power of a third-tier extraordinary being."

Lightning-struck wood that's over a hundred years old would work, but those are extremely expensive; it's better to have a new weapon custom-made.

The people in the neighborhood were talking about it.

Some people felt sorry for the Blue Tide Sword, while others suggested other ways to modify it.

The young apprentice squatted beside the stone platform, sprinkling a silver powder on the spine of the Blue Tide Sword.

Upon contact with the sword, the powder quickly turned into flowing water droplets.

The more he looked, the more surprised he became.

"The spine of the Tide Ridge Sea Beast is very well preserved; Hogg should regularly nourish it with its blood."

"If it's just a matter of removing the hilt and re-grinding the spine into a gunblade, the success rate is very high."

"What a pity."

Xilun remained silent for a moment.

Transforming the Blue Tide Sword directly into a gunblade was not the result he wanted.

The greatest advantage of the Golden Spear is its flexibility.

It can be wrapped around the waist on ordinary days, and can quickly return to a straight position in battle.

If an excessively long section of sea monster spine is attached to the spear blade, the original balance of the spear will be disrupted, and it will no longer be able to be wrapped and carried.

Moreover, the tidal power in the Blue Tide Sword is mainly concentrated on the spine and the patterns on the blade.

A simple disassembly only allows you to utilize a portion of it.

Just as Xilun was about to retrieve his weapon, a deep voice suddenly came from the depths of the weapon workshop.

"Who says it can't be integrated?"

The sound wasn't loud.

Yet the sounds of hammering, furnace crackling, and steam engine roaring were clearly heard.

The disciples surrounding the stone platform froze and turned around.

A tall old man came out of the innermost stone house.

He wore a gray robe stained with sparks, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing two muscular arms.

His gray hair was a little messy, and his face still had the dark red marks left by the high temperature.

It was Elder Swain who had given a lecture at Thunderclap Cliff a few days earlier.

The old man did not mention the mottled iron spear.

At this moment, he held a ball of blazing white flame in his right hand.

The flames appeared to be only the size of a fist, yet the surrounding air was violently distorted.

With each breath he took, the flames contracted and expanded, like a beating heart.

The burned man immediately bowed his head in respect.

"Elder Swain."

The other disciples also made way for them.

Xilun withdrew his hand from the Blue Tide Sword and bowed slightly.

"Elder."

Swain did not respond to the crowd.

He walked to the appraisal table, first looked at the golden spear, and then picked up the Blue Tide Sword.

Just as the moisture around the sword was about to gather, it was evaporated by the blazing white flames in his palm.

laugh!

A thick white fog rose instantly.

Swain pinched the blade between two fingers and flicked it lightly.

The Blue Tide Sword emitted a long, drawn-out hum.

The water in several cooling tanks in the workshop rippled simultaneously, as if drawn by some force.

"Blue Sword Hogg's weapon."

Swain lifted his eyelids.

"Why is it in your hands?"

"During the Black Abyss Forest mission, Elena and I killed Hogger, and the loot is mine."

Xilun did not hide anything.

"After bringing them back to the monastery, the mission room has already completed the registration."

Swain glanced at him.

"So you are Xilun?"

"Yes."

"Were the holes in the spear stakes at Thunderclap Cliff also left by you?"

"Yes."

The old man nodded slightly.

He seemed to already know the answer, but was simply confirming it himself.

"Seven-day introductory course to the Azure Thunder Spear Technique."

"He has decent comprehension and is also quite courageous."

The surrounding disciples reacted in various ways upon hearing this.

To receive a "not bad" from Swain is already a very high compliment.

He was extremely strict when teaching his disciples.

Even Bruno's personal disciples often only received the words "barely passable" in his presence.

Swain lowered his head again.

He slowly ran his palm along the golden spear, his fingertips lingering for a moment on the few cracks at the spear tip that were barely visible to the naked eye.

"Nice gun."

"Unfortunately, the original blacksmith only considered flexibility and explosiveness, and did not take into account the strength attribute."

"Your past spear techniques were more fire-based?"

"The Red Star Spear"

No wonder.

Swain tapped the gun barrel with his finger.

"I have heard of the Crimson Star Spear, which seeks a burst of power in an instant, while the Azure Thunder Spear Technique requires the continuous flow of water."

The two spear techniques are not mutually exclusive, but the forces exerted on the weapons will be more complex.

He pointed to the Blue Tide Sword.

"This sword is water-resistant, and the material is tough enough."

"After being integrated with the spear, it can indeed replenish the water's momentum."

"But it's still not enough."

Xilun nodded.

"Lack of materials with explosive potential."

"It's not simply a lack of explosive materials."

Swain looked up at him.

"The two properties of naval mines must be balanced."

"If the lightning is too strong, the water will be torn apart. If the water is too heavy, the lightning's power cannot be unleashed suddenly."

"Ordinary lightning-struck wood and lightning silver stone can only imbue the gun with lightning properties, but cannot change according to your strength."

"The final product, while seemingly complete in all aspects, is actually full of conflicts."

Xilun seemed to be deep in thought.

The core of the Azure Thunder Spear Technique is not simply the simultaneous use of water and thunder.

Instead, it uses water to contain and conceal the thunder.

Weapons must do the same thing.

Otherwise, the spear would simply become a water-based weapon capable of releasing lightning, unable to adapt to different moves and allow the lightning energy to flow within the water.

"Elder, do you have a solution?"

Swain did not answer immediately.

He placed the Blue Tide Sword back on the stone platform, then opened his palm.

The blazing white flame in his palm slowly died down.

Deep within the firelight, a bluish-purple stone about the length of a thumb was revealed.

The stone's surface was rough, yet inside it seemed as if countless tiny lightning bolts were moving about.

Each collision of lightning produced a very faint crackling sound.

When the surrounding water vapor approaches it, it is not evaporated.

Instead, it forms a thin film of water that envelops the stone in the center.

The Thunder Spirit within Xilun's chest suddenly awoke.

A bluish-white electric current climbed up the ribs, crashing into the shoulders and arms. If the power of the Overturning Sea Technique hadn't penetrated deep into the tendons and stopped this agitation in time, the lightning would have almost burst forth from the palms.

Thunderstone.

Even before Swain spoke, Siron recognized the material.

There were records of them in the book of marine animals and minerals in the library.

Thunderstones are born from special ley lines that are constantly bombarded by lightning, and they can absorb, store, and regulate lightning power on their own.

Its true value lies not in how much thunder it contains.

It lies in the word "spirit".

It can automatically change the speed at which it releases lightning, depending on the strength of the external force.

Swain stared at the stone in his palm, a trace of memory flashing in his eyes.

"This piece of Thunder Spirit Stone was taken from the Thunder Mountain Range in the north."

"There are nearly two hundred lightning strikes there every year. The mineral veins in the mountain's belly undergo hundreds of years of tempering by lightning before a small piece of Thunder Spirit Stone can be born."

"When I got it, it was the size of my palm."

"To remove the internal impurities, I roasted it with subterranean fire for three years and then repeatedly tempered it with deep-sea cold springs. In the end, only this section remained."

The disciples of the surrounding weapon workshops all breathed much more lightly.

Some even had a distinct burning desire in their eyes.

This material is beyond the capabilities of ordinary Tier 3 artifacts.

If a true master craftsman were to create it, it could even serve as the core of a fourth-tier weapon.

Swain placed the Thunderstone on top of the golden spear.

A bluish-purple lightning bolt made contact with the gun.

hum!

The spear trembled violently.

The Blue Tide Sword on the table also lit up with a deep blue water light at the same time.

Water vapor, lightning, and the crimson patterns remaining inside the golden spear intertwined, forming an extremely fine cloud of water and lightning on the stone platform.

"The Blue Tide Sword is a water vein."

"The Thunder Spirit Stone serves as the Thunder Heart."

"The original spear retains the Red Star Burst and flexibility."

Swain said calmly:

"By combining these three elements, you can barely produce a gun that suits you."

reluctantly.

The disciples around him twitched at the corners of their eyes.

If this configuration is barely acceptable, then the weapons they possess are probably not even worth scrap metal.

Xilun was not blinded by the precious materials before him.

"What price is required?"

Thunderstone is not something that can be measured in hundreds of pounds.

Moreover, Swain himself would be the one to open the furnace.

This price could very well exceed everything that Xiren currently possesses.

"I have only one request."

Swain put away the Thunderstone and calmly looked at Xilun.

"Become my disciple."

The workshop fell silent instantly.

Even the knocking sounds from the distant furnaces had stopped at some point.

Many disciples looked at Swain in astonishment.

Some people even doubted that they had heard correctly.

As one of the strongest fourth-tier members in the monastery, Swain has always been picky about accepting disciples.

There are many people in the inner courtyard who want to become his disciples, including many third-level cultivators from prominent families with pure foundations.

Koswein only plans to select two from his six non-apprentice disciples this year.

No one expected that he would speak directly to Xilun in the workshop.

Xilun was also stunned for a moment.

He couldn't understand why Swyman valued him so much.

The fact that he mastered the basics of the Azure Thunder Spear Technique in seven days truly demonstrates his comprehension.

However, this alone should not be enough to persuade a top-tier fourth-order elder to take out a Thunder Spirit Stone.

Perhaps Swain has already investigated his background.

But none of that matters.

It is common for inner court disciples to become disciples of elders.

Having a top-tier fourth-order monk as a teacher not only provides more comprehensive guidance, but also elevates one's status and resources within the monastery.

Tinos was able to run rampant in the inner court because he had the support of the elders.

Xilun had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, Swain was willing to use the Thunderstone to personally forge a weapon that best suited him.

If one hesitates and refuses at this moment, it would not only appear ungrateful, but also disrespect an elder in public.

Xilun took a half step back and bowed solemnly.

"This disciple is naturally willing."

"Thank you, teacher."

Swain's serious expression softened slightly.

He raised his hand to support Xiren's arm, preventing him from continuing the deep bow.

"The monastery doesn't adhere to those complicated formalities."

"From this day forward, you will be my third personally taught disciple."

"If you have time tomorrow, I'll go to my place to complete the registration."

The third person's personal mentor.

Xilun's heart stirred slightly.

Bruno was clearly one of them.

As for who the other person is, he doesn't know yet.

The surrounding disciples finally came to their senses, and their gazes toward Xilun had completely changed.

Previously, they were merely envious of Siren for obtaining Hogg's spoils.

At this moment, there was a clear sense of awe.

Elder Swain's status as a direct disciple carries far more weight than a third-tier weapon.

"Teacher, how long will it take to finish this gun?"

"It depends on the smelting process."

Swain picked up the Blue Tide Sword again.

"The spine of the Blue Tide Sword is well preserved, and it will take a day to disassemble it. The Golden Spear has many hidden injuries inside, and it will also need to be re-examined."

"Seven days at the fastest."

"It will take at least half a month."

Xilun frowned slightly.

"I will be escorting the caravan tomorrow."

"Where to?"

"Baishi River and Chenwan Lake".

"Where have the sea monsters been spotted recently?"

Swein had obviously heard about it.

"Yes."

"The caravan contained a batch of lightning-struck wood, and there may also be lightning-inducing sea monsters in Shenwan Lake."

Xilun briefly explained what he knew, without concealing the fact that the Thunder Pattern Scale had molted.

Swain's expression remained unchanged after hearing this.

"The people from the White Whale Trading Company are dishonest."

"However, the Thunder-type Sea Beast is indeed useful to you."

"Tomorrow, bring a standard iron spear from the weapon workshop. Weapons are just an extension of your hands and feet. Even without this spear, you won't completely lose your spear skills."

"Disciple understands."

Swain picked up the golden spear.

The gun, which was over two meters long, felt weightless in his hands.

"Go back and prepare."

"I will start the furnace today."

"The Blue Tide Sword, the Thunder Spirit Stone, and your original spear will all be incorporated into it."

"When the gun is completed, the two properties of water mines will naturally be balanced."

"Whether you can truly unleash its power depends on yourself."

Siron bowed again.

"Thank you for your help, teacher."

Swain said nothing more, took the two weapons, and turned to walk deeper into the workshop.

The stone gate opened.

A fiery red light poured out from the crack in the door, illuminating the old man's back as if it were covered in flames.

Boom!

As the stone gate closed, a dull tremor came from the ground beneath the workshop.

Several previously still copper pipes simultaneously emitted white steam, and the array patterns in the center of the square were lit up one after another.

The underground fire is being introduced into the furnace.

Swain is ready to start the furnace.

Xilun stood there, gazing at the tightly closed stone door, a rare hint of anticipation rising in his heart.

The golden spear accompanied him through many battles.

From the colonies of the Southern Continent to Star Ring Island, it has pierced the chests of extraordinary individuals and shielded them from fatal attacks in dire straits.

Now, the old guns will be melted down again.

The water-based properties of the Blue Tide Sword, the thunderous intent of the Thunder Spirit Stone, and the residual power of the Crimson Star within it will eventually be forged into a weapon truly suited to him.

The thunder is hidden in the tide.

The red star erupted in an instant.

Once the new gun is completed, his strength will surely improve further.