Chapter 18 of 100
Chapter 18
11 min read2,649 words
A series of footsteps echoed from another entrance of the cave, and a group of people, like stars surrounding the moon, escorted a young girl into the large cave.
The girl was dressed in a simple cotton skirt, with red gardenias embroidered on the hem and an ancient tripod pattern on her chest. Her black hair was tied up into a bun.
Zhou Lu and Sister Huan in the green dress turned their heads to look at the sound.
In Zhou Lu's eyes, the girl, dressed in a simple and elegant manner, had a pair of curved smiling eyes that gave a bright and approachable feeling. However, at this moment, her face was clearly quite haggard, showing signs of mental and physical exhaustion. It was evident that she had expended a great deal of energy for today's furnace opening.
The threefold fusion of Xuanjin (mysterious metal) is extremely difficult to achieve in metal refining. If the purification is successful, the purity and sharpness of the threefold Xuanjin will undergo a transformative change. The famous ancient swords that could cut hair and slice through iron like mud were made primarily from threefold Xuanjin.
To successfully purify threefold Xuanjin, a large amount of auxiliary ore is required. First, other metals are used to fuse with Xuanjin, and the resulting alloy is much weaker in strength, allowing it to be melted by the furnace fire. Then, more refined Xuanjin is extracted from the fused alloy. This process of three fusions and three forges is considered successful.
Mastering such complex material science in alchemy is almost a dividing line in terms of strength for an alchemist.
When the other alchemists in the cave saw the girl enter, they all eagerly gathered around her.
"Xiao Luan, have you prepared all the materials you need?"
"Oh, if you successfully refine the threefold Xuanjin this time, you can advance to the rank of Array Pattern Master and finally learn the art of array patterns."
"Yes, yes, if you succeed today, Xiao Luan, you will be the most brilliant Array Pattern Master in our clan. There are only a few recorded in the *Chronicles of the Wilderness* who achieved the rank of Array Pattern Master before the age of twenty."
The enthusiastic voices drowned out the girl.
Sister Huan in the green dress glared at Zhou Lu with hatred, no longer in the mood to argue with the lecherous fat man. She picked up the wooden tray containing the red gold, turned her face away, and avoided looking at the marks Zhou Lu had left. She frowned and carried it over, but smiled pleasantly at Xiao Luan:
"Xiao Luan, the red gold is ready for you. By the way, have you found the explosive crystal? My master said that the explosive crystal can instantly raise the temperature of the furnace. Using it at the final moment should help you break through the most difficult third forge."
Xiao Luan smiled wearily and nodded gratefully:
"Sister Huan, thank you for your efforts. I searched for many days and finally found this little thing a few days ago."
Xiao Luan casually pulled out a pebble-sized colorful stone from her sleeve and carefully placed it on the wooden tray next to the red gold.
Sister Huan nodded in satisfaction and called out loudly: "Everyone, quickly help Xiao Luan prepare. I think everyone knows the importance of today's furnace opening. We must ensure that Xiao Luan succeeds without any mistakes."
More than ten alchemists responded with a loud chorus.
Zhou Lu stood at a distance, looking at the pebble-sized colorful stone Xiao Luan had placed on the wooden tray, and felt a sudden shock in his heart.
The surface of the colorful stone had a spiral pattern, looking rough and hard, as if it would be difficult to break even with a large hammer.
The demonic fire in Zhou Lu's dantian (energy center) flickered.
Zhou Lu was mentally connected to the demonic fire, and through it, he faintly sensed an extremely violent fire energy inside the explosive crystal. This fire energy was confined in a very small space, and if the colorful stone were to be refined and opened, the energy inside would likely be difficult to control.
Although Zhou Lu did not recognize the small thing, he knew it was probably a rather terrifying existence.
Zhou Lu was filled with shock and doubt: "Is that also going to be used in the tripod furnace for refining? It's very dangerous."
But then he thought: "The alchemists must have used these things many times and have methods to control that violent energy. What do I, an outsider, know?" Zhou Lu laughed at himself.
Just as Zhou Lu was engrossed in his thoughts, a proud man walking beside Xiao Luan turned his head and saw Zhou Lu standing there foolishly. His prominent eyebrows immediately furrowed, and he quickly stepped out of the crowd, looking coldly at Zhou Lu with a voice full of killing intent:
"Who are you? Who allowed you to come in?"
Seeing a stranger appear at such an important moment for Xiao Luan's furnace opening, the man was quite enraged.
Zhou Lu hurriedly turned around, his face pale, as if he were too scared to speak.
At that moment, Manager Qi finally ran back in a panic, and seeing this scene, he was also startled. He quickly ran to the man and smiled apologetically:
"Third Senior Brother, what's wrong? This fat man is someone I brought in from outside. Since Xiao Luan is opening the furnace, I was afraid I wouldn't have enough hands, so I temporarily found a laborer from the Eagle Wing Army to help move the ore."
The expression of Third Senior Brother softened somewhat, and he nodded coldly:
"I see. Old Qi, today's furnace opening is too important. We must ensure there are no mistakes. Before you let this boy work, you must teach him what to pay attention to..."
Suddenly, a murderous look appeared in Third Senior Brother's eyes, and he sternly said: "And tell him that if he causes any trouble and disturbs Xiao Luan, he will know the consequences."
The cold and stern voice of Third Senior Brother made Zhou Lu shiver.
Manager Qi laughed: "Third Senior Brother, I will explain it to him." Then he secretly kicked Zhou Lu from behind, urging him to respond quickly.
Zhou Lu was seething inside: "What a show-off, helping you work as if it's a favor to me? Do I need to be grateful to you?"
But to see what the tripod fire was, Zhou Lu decided to endure it for now.
Zhou Lu smiled and bowed to Third Senior Brother: "I will definitely not make any noise, and I will be very obedient."
Manager Qi forcibly pulled Zhou Lu away.
Next to the large cave was a small passage, and at the end was a small cave filled with piles of ore. The cave was filled with the smell of iron dust from the mine.
Manager Qi, with a serious expression, pulled Zhou Lu into the small cave and lowered his voice to instruct him:
"Fat man, I think you can see the importance of today's event. Remember, do exactly what I tell you to do, and don't make any mistakes. Don't touch anything that isn't yours, and don't go anywhere you shouldn't. Some things, even if you sold yourself, you couldn't afford to replace. If you cause any trouble, I will send you directly to the clan tribunal for ten to twenty years..."
Zhou Lu's eyes widened in terror, and his body trembled like a sieve: "So serious? I could be sent to the clan tribunal? Oh no, I'm scared, I won't do it..."
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---