Ou Yangming had learned the power from the big yellow dog. It was a mighty skill, but it was far from the one performed by the dog without using the equipment.
However, if the two powers were included in the equipment, it would be an entirely different matter.
If every Supreme Great Ancestor was equipped with armor with the Indestructible Defense skill and a weapon that could release penetrating stone awls…
The scene would be unimaginably wonderful.
Chapter 393 - A Rune’s Secret Code
“Of course the power comes from the equipment.” Ou Yangming smiled. He looked around with bright eyes and added, “But you probably know it’s not easy to smith magic tools, so it’s even harder to attach these unique powers on them.” The other people looked at each other strangely.
It sounded right because the smithing of magic tools was indeed not a simple task. Apart from Ou Yangming, it seemed like nobody else in the world could do it with ease.
Nonetheless, when they thought about how Ou Yangming easily smithed more than 20 magic tools in his carriage during their journey here, they could not agree with the statement.
A thing would be easy for one who could do it but difficult for those who could not. In this case, the smithing of magic tools would not be much harder for Ou Yangming than the smithing of ordinary pieces of equipment.
Even so, the other powerhouses kept the thought to themselves as they dared not say it out loud.
Bai Shixue chuckled. “It’s naturally difficult to smith magic tools. If they’re also attached with unique skills… Brother Ou, how many of these can you smith?”
“I can only promise to try my best, but I can’t guarantee the amount.” Ou Yangming smiled bitterly. He looked at the others and said, “Besides, everyone’s talent and strongest ability are different, so the same equipment won’t be suitable for everyone.”
“You’re right. These two skills are powerful, but they’re not what I want,” Wu Hanning expressed and asked after a pause, “What do you want us to do?”
“I’m aware that your clans have inherited lost arts, which can either activate your potentials or drastically increase your strengths in an instant.” Ou Yangming nodded and raised a finger as he continued, “I promise to smith a piece of equipment for everyone, and I’ll try my best to attach attributes on them according to your requests, but I need your cooperation.”
Woo Lejia raised his eyebrows and was about to volunteer to be the first candidate when Wu Hanning uttered without any hesitation, “I’ll go first!”
Everyone at the gate fell silent. The other people exchanged glances but did not say a word.
“Your Highness, I know you want to help the consort, but isn’t this too obvious?’ Woo Lejia smiled bitterly, but he quickly composed himself and asked, “Brother Ou, since Her Highness is willing to try, what do you think?”
Ou Yangming suddenly realized that Ni Yinghong’s palm had become sweaty.
The young lady looked like she was pretending to be tough, but she was definitely feeling a lot of pressure at the moment.
Ou Yangming turned around to flash an assuring smile at Ni Yinghong, who was stunned for a while before she subconsciously felt at ease.
Following that, Ou Yangming announced loudly, “Since Her Highness has spoken, I’ll do as she asked.”
On the other hand, Bai Shixue attracted everyone’s attention as she walked gracefully toward Ni Yinghong and asked, “Elder Sister Ni, it’s my first time here in Changlong County. Am I lucky enough to have you show me around the city?” “Elder Sister Bai, you’re being too polite. You’re our guest, so that’s my duty as the host.” Ni Yinghong grinned and let go of Ou Yangming’s hand, then she said to Bai Shixue, “Please come with me.”
With that, two beautiful ladies conversed happily and entered the city, forgetting about the powerhouses outside the date.
The big yellow dog blinked and twitched its nose as it sniffed. It somehow looked excited.
Ou Yangming immediately sensed its change, so he glared at the dog but found it strange. ‘Is this fella interested in gossis too?
‘Has he really become a spirit?’
Big Yellow shook its body to remove the big pieces of equipment from its body, then it widened its mouth and sucked them into its stomach.
It looked proudly at the crowd because its special ability, which was similar to an interspatial bag, was truly rare.
Nevertheless, some of the powerhouses could not help but lament at the sight of its shockingly large pieces of equipment. They figured that if the big yellow dog was slaughtered, not only would they be able to feast on the half-spirit beast’s meat, but the magic tools’ raw materials would also make them incredibly rich.
Wu Hanning approached Ou Yangming in a poised manner and said, “Brother Ou, please go ahead.”
Ou Yangming nodded and said, “I’ll prepare a smithing workshop.”
“There’s no need for you to do that. The governor’s residence has the best smithing workshop in the city. Your Highness, after you,” Deng Xiyuan informed them right away. He glanced at Ou Yangming but did not know how he should address the young fellow, so he just let it be.
After all, the three ladies had gathered in the same city, and Ou Yangming had also held Ni Yinghong’s hand in public. If Deng Xiyuan were to address the young fellow as the consort, he would not be flattering him but would be courting his death instead.
Although many people had come from the capital, appropriate arrangements were made as soon as they entered the prefecture.
Even though some people’s interests were affected, nobody dared to say anything at this moment. They knew the powerhouses had come all the way from the capital and were here to risk their lives.
Needless to say, all Supreme Great Ancestors were given the best treatments. They connected with different clans in the prefecture accordingly and stayed in luxurious residences provided by the aristocratic families.
Despite that, the day did not end just like that because everyone was discussing what Ou Yangming said. The young fellow, who was publicly acknowledged in the smithing industry as the best master, had clearly told the powerhouses that he would smith a magic tool each for them. Moreover, the tools would be attached with skills.
It would not be so startling if they were simply magic tools, but they were going to be attached with skills.
Everyone became fervent because of that, and their enthusiasm could not even be quenched by biting-cold snow during a severe winter.
‘But how are we supposed to cooperate with Master Ou?
‘It sounds like it’ll involve our most profound secret techniques…
‘Should I choose to keep my clan’s lost art a secret, or should I exchange it for a fitting magic tool?’ All of a sudden, qualified powerhouses had inner conflicts as they made the most painful decision in their lives.
Once Ou Yangming and Wu Hanning arrived at the smithing workshop, Deng Xiyuan closed the door for them.
Next, the man and the lady were the only ones left in the sealed secret room.
Ou Yangming felt anxious for some reason. He was at ease in public because he was not guilty of anything, but when the two of them were left alone, the strange atmosphere prevented him from having peace of mind.
Wu Hanning looked deeply at Ou Yangming. Just as he thought the princess would take the opportunity to say something, she asked a simple question, “Can we start now?”
The young fellow was dumbfounded, and he looked at Her Highness in shock. He noticed arrogance and stubbornness in her sharp eyes. Given that Wu Hanning was Her Royal Highness from the imperial family, she was naturally proud, hence she would neither shout hysterically nor curse in public like a sharp-tongued woman. The princess had expressed herself through her way multiple times, so she submitted herself to her fate for the outcome. She would not bother lowering herself to compromise for the sake of general interests.
When Ou Yangming opened his mouth and sighed
a breath of relief, he somehow felt melancholic.
“Brother Ou,” Wu Hanning repeated.
As though having awakened from a dream, Ou Yangming quickly replied to the princess, “Ah, Your Highness, we may begin.”
Wu Hanning did not ask why he was in a daze just now. She turned her wrist and withdrew her longsword.
Ou Yangming had a warm look in his eyes when he saw the weapon. He had revamped the equipment in the past, thus it gave him great memories.
“Brother Ou, I wasn’t aware of your skills back then, so I thought the longsword’s limit is at the peak of Fine Grade. Now, I’d like it to be upgraded into a magic tool while its attributes are retained,” Wu Hanning expressed in a deep voice.
“I’ll give it a go,” Ou Yangming responded after some thought. He accepted the longsword and began to think, then he enveloped the weapon with his Military Fire.
In actuality, he had confirmed several things after feeling about for some time.
If skills were to be attached to a magic tool, suitable rune paths were required. Only by inciting the paths through his essential Qi could the wonderful effect be made.
Ou Yangming had not grasped many runes yet and very few could be applied to magic tools.
Therefore, he made such an announcement in public and did not hesitate to let the big yellow dog show off its suit. He wanted the powerhouses from different aristocratic families to remember how mighty the magic tools were so that they were willing to do anything in exchange for the greatest magic tool.
Ou Yangming was elated when he held the princess’s longsword. All along, he had been extremely interested in the Freeze Combo’s power.
As the Military Fire wrapped around the longsword, the weapon’s properties were clearly displayed to him like a reflection in the water.
The longsword carried many properties, but only one truly surprised or frightened Ou Yangming. Ou Yangming slowly searched with his sea of consciousness and finally found after tremendous effort the structure that matched that specific ability.
However, Ou Yangming furrowed his eyebrows when he sensed the rune path, which he discovered as his Military Fire burned.
He cursed, ‘Who did this? How could anyone add countless useless fine lines on the path? They’re interconnected with the official rune paths, so I can’t distinguish them at all.’
The fine lines were like a secret code on top of the right rune paths, so an outsider, who did not understand the secret technique’s setup, could not learn the specific carving method from observing the equipment’s rune paths.
Chapter 394 - Icy Sword
Ou Yangming frowned and cursed, ‘What’s going on?’
Although he had temporarily absorbed the longsword’s attributes through the Military Fire’s power when he previously smithed it, he withdrew them all together and put them back accordingly.
As for the mysterious attributes, especially the Freeze Combo, he did not know how they could be released.
In a way, Ou Yangming’s mental power was not that great yet at that time, hence he was not so ambitious. He never looked deeper into active skills even if he stumbled upon them, but it was different now. As the young fellow sensed the complicated and strange rune paths, his heart itched as though it was being tickled.
Nonetheless, Ou Yangming was not confident about breaking the protective barrier on the rune paths. If he attempted it regardless of the costs, the longsword’s active skill would likely be destroyed and could not be recovered.
Ou Yangming pondered for a long time before he was struck with an idea.
The young fellow would not get to the bottom of it since he could not do so. In any case, he had apprehended the natural smithing technique, thus he could utilize nature’s power to learn the rune paths.
He looked up and asked the princess with a smile, “Your Highness, can you do me a favor?”
Wu Hanning asked him in return, “How would you like me to cooperate?”
“Your Highness, I upgraded your weapon to Fine Grade while retaining its original attributes, but a magic tool is different. I’m not absolutely confident that I can achieve the same result,” Ou Yangming explained, then he continued after a pause, “I’d like you to perform your equipment’s skill here so I can understand it better to solve the problem.”
“You want me to do it here?” Wu Hanning asked without any hesitation.
TYes.”
“Okay.” Wu Hanning stepped forward and grabbed her longsword in the Military Fire without any delay.
She was quick and did not dilly-dally at all.
Ou Yangming was taken aback. Fortunately, he had adjusted his fire’s temperature, or the consequences would have been unbearable.
Nevertheless, he asked in shock when he realized that something was off, “Your Highness, have you perceived my Military Fire?”
Wu Hanning answered, “I’ve learned the path of equilibrium from Uncle Hongxi, so I know your Military Fire isn’t at a high temperature.”
Ou Yangming was puzzled. “You’re not gifted in smithing art, so why did you learn the path of equilibrium?”
“The path of equilibrium is one of the ways of nature, so it’s not only meant for blacksmiths. This was what Forefather told me, but I agree with it very much,” Wu Hanning responded.
“Your Highness, please.” Ou Yangming curbed his thought and inhaled deeply.
His energy, essence, and spirit were instantly increased to their maximums, and the incredibly mighty mental power in his sea of consciousness surged such that it was going to burst out.
Wu Hanning fixed her gaze on the longsword and released her essential Qi all of a sudden, causing a frightening cold-intent to be unleashed.
Ou Yangming widened his eyes. He knew the equipment’s chillness would be unpleasant, but it was not until it was released he truly experienced how fearsome it was.
The cold intent could not only freeze his body but also his consciousness.
When a person was in an exceptionally cold state, one’s body quality would decline as a whole, and one would not be able to think anymore.
If Ou Yangming was attacked by such an intense chill in the past, perhaps he would have been frozen right away and ended up in a vegetative state. However, he had now gained 99 points of mental power. What kind of concept was that? It was an unimaginable height in this world.
The young fellow’s surging mental power froze for a brief moment but quickly relaxed again. It eventually adapted to the chillness and returned to a normal state in a split second.
Ou Yangming dared not delay the matter, so he immediately gathered his mental conception and began to probe with his Military Fire.
Next, he sensed a set of lit-up rune paths in Wu Hanning’s longsword. The runes merged with her essential Qi and achieved a mysterious yet indescribably change.
Ou Yangming could not be bothered to explore the theory behind it; he simply began to record the rune paths.
Before the Freeze Combo skill was performed, the right rune paths were hidden among more paths. They were interconnected, thus it would be impossible to separate them bit by bit.
Once the skill was incited, the changes and the functions of the paths became visible. With that, they could not be hidden from Ou Yangming anymore.
Two peculiar runes slowly took shape in Ou Yangming’s sea of consciousness. One of them was, of course, the Freeze Combo Rune while the other was the disorganized yet orderly Concealing Rune.
Ou Yangming did not know where the Concealing Rune came from, but he realized that it was extremely useful. He had a habit of keeping useful things, so he could use them for his own in due course.
He had decided to always leave marks similar to the Concealing Rune on pieces of equipment with Skill Runes in the future.
That way, it would be difficult for anyone to learn the runes even if the magic tools were studied after a long time.
As for the method Ou Yangming adopted to crack the Concealing Rune… He did not belie
ve that every blacksmith could fathom the natural smithing technique.
After all, he had only managed to comprehend it when his mental power increased to 99 points and with the purple Military Fire’s help.
Even if other people possessed great mental power, it would be difficult for them to work out the method without the purple Military Fire.
“Cluck, cluck…”
At the spur of the moment, a weird sound was heard coming from Ou Yangming’s mouth.
He was startled when he realized that his body had shuddered due to extreme cold, where his teeth chattered and made odd sounds.
Wu Hanning’s face changed. She curbed her essential Qi at once, then the ice-cold chill in the room slowly disappeared. Ou Yangming exhaled deeply. After withdrawing his mental conception from his sea of consciousness, he noticed that his body had almost become frozen. Needless to say, the damage level was not worth mentioning at all for a powerhouse at the peak of Yang Grade because one only could quickly recover by circulating one’s essential Qi
Without warning, a warm body embraced Ou Yangming, who had nearly become a frozen man. At the same time, a hand went around his waist and stopped in front of his dantian, where warm essential Qi was slowly channeled into his body.
Ou Yangming tensed up a little, then he nodded at Wu Hanning. With help from the essential Qi’s power, his body became warm again.
Even though his body was harmed to a certain extent this time, it was not a big deal since he gained the Freeze Combo Rune and the Concealing Rune. Besides, his heart was somehow pounding when he sensed Her Highness’s warm body and her essential Qi.
Wu Hanning gently let go of him after some time and withdrew her hand. On the other hand, Ou Yangming suppressed his urge and thanked the princess without turning to look at her at all, “Your Highness, thank you.”
“Do you really have to be so polite?” Wu Hanning asked after some thought. “Your Highness, I’m confident about upgrading your weapon into a magic tool now, so wait for my good news,” Ou Yangming responded but avoided her question. Following that, the Military Fire burned again as he turned his wrist.
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