"Why didn't you tell me earlier? I originally planned to find a few more pieces for you, but I didn't expect that there were really only two left. I practically turned the entire Shrek Blacksmith Association upside down," Feng Wuyu complained as he cast a glance at Gu You.
Gu You couldn't shake the feeling that Feng Wuyu was looking at him like he was some kind of prodigal son. But there was no way he would believe Feng Wuyu's words. Only two pieces of Starfall Iron left in the entire Shrek Blacksmith Association? Who was he trying to fool?
If even Shrek's Blacksmith Association didn't have any of this metal, then it might as well not exist in the world.
Based on the level of scarcity Feng Wuyu was implying, Starfall Iron was practically an extinct resource. In reality, this metal was highly sought after for military applications, and the Federation had been aggressively mining it every year. In fact, due to the demand, the Federation had even established a specialized space research institution dedicated to developing small spacecraft for the specific purpose of mining this mineral in the vast reaches of outer space. Though the annual yield remained low, it was still sufficient to meet demand.
The Federation strictly controlled the distribution of Starfall Iron to civilian markets due to its military significance, making it a tightly regulated resource.
"If you're serious about focusing on forging, I'll request a two-month leave from the academy for you," Feng Wuyu said as he got up to leave. He still had many other matters to attend to.
Gu You nodded and then added, "Find me four types of spirit herbs when you get the chance."
"What herbs?" Feng Wuyu asked. He realized he didn't know Gu You as well as he thought. The once prideful and arrogant young man was now looking for medicinal herbs? On top of that, he had put considerable thought into the materials for his battle armor, even incorporating Starfall Iron.
"Millennium Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum…" Gu You listed them one by one.
Feng Wuyu frowned upon hearing the list. The other three herbs were relatively manageable, but the Millennium Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum was a real problem. There were only two possible sources: auction houses or the Tang Sect exchange system. As a member of the Tang Sect, he could exchange for one using his contribution points, but Tang Sect regulations strictly stated that only members could access its exchange resources.
Gu You had his own thoughts about joining organizations, and Feng Wuyu knew this well. The issue was that Gu You wasn't a Tang Sect member. That meant the only real option was acquiring it through an auction. However, a thousand-year-old Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum was an extinct herb. Finding one, let alone purchasing it, would be incredibly difficult.
"Is there a problem?" Gu You asked.
"A bit, but nothing too bad. Two months should be enough to get everything. You just focus on making your battle armor. Once it's done, I'll get an eighth-ranked soul tool array designer to set up the battle armor's formation for you," Feng Wuyu replied with a smile.
No matter how hard things got, Gu You couldn't be shortchanged. It wasn't just him—Shrek's inner cabinet and even the various major factions of the continent placed immense hopes on Gu You. At this point, Gu You was undeniably the strongest among his peers. There wasn't a single Limit Douluo who could confidently claim that they could kill Gu You in a fair fight.
To put it simply, if Gu You wanted to, he could apply to become a ruling figure in the Federation. No matter how rare a resource was, as long as it existed on the Douluo Continent, he could get it.
But why did all four of these herbs seem to be… supplements for enhancing vitality?
The Millennium Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum—strengthens the limbs, increases power, and fortifies the body.
The Millennium Pine Lingzhi—also known as Scarlet Lingzhi, is warm and rich in medicinal properties, nourishing the five internal organs. Among lingzhi mushrooms, it wasn't the absolute best, but it was the most balanced and neutral, allowing it to harmonize with and temper even the most intense medicinal properties. While not as valuable as the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, it wasn't far behind. The Shrek inner cabinet's treasure vault even contained some of an even higher age.
The Millennium Shengsheng Fruit—named for its meaning of "endless vitality," this fruit only grew in barren deserts and was considered the most precious jewel of such environments. In the desert, travelers often died from dehydration, but a single Shengsheng Fruit could keep someone alive for ten more days. Additionally, consuming one provided a temporary power boost.
The Shengsheng Fruit was truly a wonder of nature. No one understood how such a life-rich fruit could exist in the barren desert, but perhaps that was just one of nature's many mysteries.
The last one was a spirit wood rather than a herb—the Millennium Purple Cloud Wood. Harder than rare metals, this wood had an extremely peculiar trait: it was highly toxic. If absorbed into the body, its metallic toxins would infect the bloodstream, posing a life-threatening danger even in tiny amounts. Moreover, it was incredibly hard, making it nearly impossible to consume.
However, for soul masters, the Millennium Purple Cloud Wood was a priceless treasure. It could enhance the toughness and elasticity of the skin. Once refined and absorbed with soul power, its toxins would undergo a strange transformation, making the body more resilient and flexible.
At first, Feng Wuyu wouldn't have thought much about any single herb on its own. But when looking at all four together… wasn't this just an over-the-top vitality boost?
Feng Wuyu shot Gu You a weird look. "Hey, tell me the truth. Have you been messing around outside?"
Gu You was caught off guard. "Old Madman, what are you going on about? What could I possibly be involved in?"
Feng Wuyu awkwardly cleared his throat and dropped the subject.
Watching the old man leave, Gu You was still somewhat puzzled.
Forget it—he had work to do.
The battle armor had almost completely melted. No matter how advanced the soul tool formations were, they couldn't withstand the intense heat of over 50,000 degrees Celsius.
The smelting furnace rose up, and Gu You could clearly feel the terrifying heat radiating around him.
This was the life of a blacksmith—spending every day surrounded by fire and wielding a hammer.
A transparent gleam flickered in Gu You's eyes as he carefully cooled and solidified the melted battle armor into a massive chunk of spirit-forged mixed metal. At the same time, he placed a piece of Life Essence Ore into the furnace to burn.
While waiting for the Life Essence Ore to process, he wasn't just going to sit around.
Gu You took out a special alloy he had developed earlier, setting it aside while preparing several raw materials. He also brought out the two pieces of Starfall Iron, preparing for a three-way fusion forge.
If successful, this would be a top-tier rare alloy. Even if someone else obtained the formula, they wouldn't be able to replicate it because the required minerals were simply too scarce. For most people, getting their hands on the formula alone would be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement.
Gu You focused his mind—his forging session was about to begin.
He neatly arranged the three minerals on the forging platform, using the external flames of the forging furnace to heat them until they reached a workable state, then placed them back onto the platform.
His hands suddenly moved—like playing a delicate melody on a grand instrument...
(End of Chapter)