Sword Among Us

With time, Thunderous Battle had gained further understanding of Heartless Iron and learned why Heartless Iron had a slightly higher rate of success in refining equipment compared to normal people.

Heartless Iron’s ancestors were famous ironsmiths. Even though there was no longer any creation of weapons during peaceful times and there were more creations of machinery through the use of technology, the people in Heartless Iron’s generation still inherited the craft. It might not be much, but he had inherited the unique method to create weapons as something of a hobby.

He was known as the Iron Striker in town.

It was because of indulging in the art of smithing for a long time that Heartless Iron knew the feeling of refining all sorts of metals much better than other ironsmiths. He had a much better instinct compared to the others.

It was what allowed him to avoid many risks. Hence, his success rate when refining equipment was higher!

It was especially so after he noticed that he could use the feeling he had when he refined metal in reality after he had refined various equipment for a long period of time. After that, Heartless Iron felt that he finally had a chance to use his hard work over the years in the game, and his interest grew.

Thunderous Battle’s full support allowed Heartless Iron to reach the level of a Forgemaster very quickly, even though it was something that normal people found very difficult to reach.

However, Heartless Iron’s greatest wish right then was to take on the challenge of making a third-echelon masterpiece!

As of then , there were more than fifty third-echelon equipment in the game!

As more refined equipment appeared, their price also gradually became unified.

The most popular and common equipment became second-echelon masterpieces. First-echelon masterpieces were not very popular, because the success rate was more than 50% for everyone, and the consumables required for it were rather cheap, so the price for masterpieces went from one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand, though weapons were slightly more expensive.

Second-echelon equipment required the owner to take risks twice, and the chances for the equipment shattering were very high. The price for masterpieces and the ingredients would usually be three times the price of first-echelon equipment. Armor was around five to six million, while weapons were even more expensive. Swords and weapons were the highest priced of them all, so players were not able to buy them without eight million.

As for the third echelon, the ingredients for one single refinement alone cost more than six million. If they were refined three times, the success rate was lower than 20%, which meant that there was a possibility that a few masterpieces would be broken during the process. Countless unrefined masterpieces, first-echelon masterpieces, and even second-echelon masterpieces, as well as ingredients were sacrificed. Their numbers could not even be counted.

Hence, the price for third-echelon equipment had always been very high. There was no way a player could buy anything with less than fifty million.

Third-echelon grade one masterpieces were even more terrifying!

But it had to be said that once anyone succeeded in making them, they would definitely obtain tremendous benefits. Hence, most sects pooled their resources together to gather a lot of masterpieces and refine them together!

Their success rate seemed to be higher when they did that.

Heartless Iron had already created at least two hundred second-echelon high-grade masterpieces for Mu Clan. There were armor and weapons among them, and his success rate was 20% higher than that of other ironsmiths.

Once he became a Forgemaster, his senses became even stronger, and his skills better. His success rate also increased by 5%, so Heartless Iron could not wait to try and attempt to create third-echelon weapons.

There were nearly one hundred unakites in the clan storage, and there were also more than two thousand Stones with Water. They had more than one thousand high-grade masterpieces, along with thousands of second-echelon masterpieces.

Heartless Iron had been waiting to make use of them for too long.

Thunderous Battle knew just how much Heartless Iron longed to create third-echelon masterpieces. When he heard Heartless Iron hastily request for second-echelon masterpieces, their ingredients, and third-echelon ingredients, he smiled mysteriously.

“I’ve brought the ingredients for you.”

Heartless Iron’s eyes lit up. He rubbed his hands subconsciously and said, “Give them to me!”

“But they’re not second-echelon weapons.”

Thunderous Battle brought out a weapon from his Universe Bag, and Heartless Iron’s eyes instantly fixed on it. He felt a noble, luxurious, and aggressive air charge at him, and his heart stopped for a few seconds.

“Nation Protecting Divine Sword!”

When Heartless Iron registered the situation, he lost his composure for the first time. He rushed in front of Thunderous Battle and took Nation Protecting Divine Sword from his hands. Then, as if he was observing a matchless artwork, he caressed the blade with sparkling eyes. He watched it for a long time, feeling beside himself with joy.

“Clan master, are you sure I can refine grade one masterpieces now?!” Heartless Iron mumbled while stroking Nation Protecting Divine Sword. Then, for the first time, his expression grew nervous and solemn. “I heard that the price of Nation Protecting Divine Sword is more than fifteen million. If I fail…”

“Don’t worry. Refinement has always had its risks. Even if you fail, it’s fine. As long as you successfully forge one, we’ll succeed, but even if you fail with all of them, we can treat this as an investment. I think you can gain quite a lot of experience even if you fail in refining grade one masterpieces. It can help you become a Great Forgemaster.”

While speaking, Thunderous Battle brought out three more Nation Protecting Divine Swords. Right under Heartless Iron’s nearly frozen stare, he placed them on his forging table one after another.

The three Nation Protecting Divine Swords and the Nation Protecting Divine Sword in Heartless Iron’s hands contrasted with each other and shone brilliantly!

The luxurious and noble presence, the unique brilliance, and the long blade all released a brilliant aura. It practically made the entire forging room as bright as day. Heartless Iron’s breathing became disorderly, much to his disappointment, and he only managed to calm down after a long while.

Four grade one masterpieces!

They were four masterpieces that were publicly acknowledged as the most high-end masterpieces. They were four Nation Protecting Divine Sword which had the chance to reach the same rank as divine vessels!

Heartless Iron felt as if his heart was about to burn up from excitement and exhilaration.

“I heard that Nation Protecting Divine Sword has a chance of becoming a real divine vessel. Are you sure there’s no problem with me refining them?”

“You just need to refine them. There aren’t that many divine vessels in the world anyway, and in truth, there aren’t that many ironsmiths who have gained the essence of grandmasters either,” Thunderous Battle spoke at the perfect moment.

“But I have to say, I can’t quite control myself when I face these four Nation Protecting Divine Swords. I can’t steel my heart to let you refine them either… but some twenty days ago, Happy told me that as long as you become a Forgemaster, he will immediately give you a batch of grade one masterpieces so that you can attempt to create third-echelon equipment. I can only be considered as being generous in his place.”

Heartless Iron was stunned for a moment before he swiftly understood what he meant.

‘That’s about right! Aside from Happy, who else in the game could gather Nation Protecting Divine Swords?

‘Besides Happy, who else can bring out four Nation Protecting Divine Swords in one go?

‘So, there’s a person that I should have noticed standing right behind Thunderous Battle…’

Heartless Iron sucked in a deep breath before calming down once more. “Clan master, don’t worry, I will definitely do my best.”

As he spoke, he moved the Nation Protecting Divine Swords and three groups of ingredients Thunderous Battle had placed in the forging room into his pouch. He only left one set on the table.

“I look forward to good news from you.”

Thunderous Battle might have acted based on Happy’s orders, but when he saw that Heartless Iron had heated up the fire and was prepared to refine the weapon, he could not help but be nervous.

“If you succeed, we will not be at a loss. Heartless, at that time, Happy might let you refine the entire Golden Armor Set…”

Heartless Iron had finally managed to calm his heart down when ripples spread through it once more. He smiled wanly and shook his head. “Clan master, you should go out.”

“Ah, sorry, I’ll leave.”

Thunderous Battle knew that during refinement, the forgemasters ha to remain absolutely calm, so it would be a little inappropriate for him to stay. He smiled bashfully, drew the curtain, and left.

Heartless Iron was the only one left. As he faced the luxurious Nation Protecting Divine Sword and the dazzling, dark blue unakite on the refinement table, he closed his eyes slowly.