Undercurrents

The romantic imagery of swords from his past life’s culture flashed through his mind for a moment.

But Bai Xuan quickly shook his head.

Redemption Strike required a heavy, forceful momentum.

Concussive Field relied on solid impact and the transmission of vibrations.

The Goldsand Iron rod in his hand had been with him through the life-and-death struggle when he first arrived in this world. Its heavy feel and the trajectory of power transmission during a swing were already etched into his muscle memory.

Switching to a longsword?

That would be setting up obstacles for himself at a critical moment.

Moreover, carrying two primary weapons with such vastly different forms would be cumbersome and far too conspicuous.

Switching them from a Space Ring during combat?

In the blink of an eye between life and death, that moment of delay would be a slide toward the grave.

“The conventional path won’t work.”

Bai Xuan stood up and slowly paced the room.

Sacred Martial Radiance gave him a dual nature, possessing both healing and striking capabilities.

So why couldn't his weapon also serve two purposes?

What he needed wasn't two tools.

It was a highly unified instrument.

A weapon that was both a magic staff and a combat rod.

It could be an inconspicuous support in the hands of a gentle Healer, or it could instantly transform into a hammer of judgment to tear through the darkness.

The life-affinity properties of Emeraldshade Gold would be integrated into the shaft to guide healing power.

The sturdiness of Kunyuan Heavy Iron, along with the spiritual conductivity and resilience of Goldsand Iron, would ensure it wouldn't break during the most violent strikes and would fully release the power linked by Sacred Martial Radiance.

Bai Xuan stopped walking.

The logic was sound.

Of course, turning the concept into reality required good materials.

His gaze swept over the shimmering rare items inside his Space Ring.

More importantly, he needed a skilled blacksmith whose prices were somewhat reasonable.

Bai Xuan tidied his clothes and pushed open the door.

The wooden stairs creaked under his feet.

Aunt Martha was leaning over the counter, checking ledgers, the tip of her quill scratching against the paper.

Hearing the creak of the stairs, she looked up, her face immediately breaking into a smile. “Mr. Bai Xuan, going out so late?”

“I have some business to attend to.”

Bai Xuan walked to the counter. “Aunt Martha, I wanted to ask, which blacksmith shop in Blackcreek Town has the best craftsmanship?”

“Oh!”

Martha put down her pen and wiped her hands on her apron.

“Why didn't you ask just now when my son was here? He runs around outside all day and knows much more about these things than I do!”

She thought for a moment and continued, “I only heard him mention it once. He said there's a ‘Matthew's Blacksmith Shop’ on West Street in the Outer Town. Their sign has an anvil pattern on it, and it's a place the Hammerfall team visits often.”

“I don't know much else, but they say the prices are fair and the craftsmanship is good enough for regular adventuring.”

Bai Xuan noted the information about the anvil sign on West Street and nodded. “That’s plenty. Thank you.”

Leaving the inn, Bai Xuan headed toward West Street according to Martha's directions.

He considered that while a shop the team frequented should be fine for daily adventuring, what he needed was not a conventional weapon.

The battle staff he envisioned required the fusion of several rare materials, placing extremely high demands on the blacksmith’s skill...

It was worth a look anyway; at the very least, he could get a sense of the market prices and basic level of craftsmanship.

...

In a corner of the Big Skewer Tavern.

Oil lamps flickered, and the clamor was wrapped in the aroma of ale and roasted meat.

Kieran squeezed past two large tables crowded with drunken adventurers and returned to the wall-side spot his team usually occupied.

Several large mugs of frothing ale and a half-empty wooden platter of roasted meat sat on the table.

Captain Owen sat at the innermost seat, leaning against the wall, his eyes appearing calm in the dim light.

To his left was Karl, who was carefully wiping a dagger. Opposite him was the female swordsman, Lily, her red hair tied neatly behind her head, the muscle lines beneath her leather armor clearly defined.

There was also the silent, hulking Shield Warrior, Simon, who was currently dealing with a massive meat bone.

“Captain,” Kieran sat down and grabbed his mug, taking a large gulp.

His voice carried a hint of irrepressible excitement. “I found out. That Healer we met at the Wazhuang Post House is in town right now, staying at my mom's inn.”

Owen’s fingers, which had been tracing the rim of his wooden mug, paused. He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Oh? What a coincidence.”

“Isn't it?!”

Kieran leaned forward, his elbows propped on the greasy tabletop. “I ran into him while I was talking to my mom. It seems she likes him quite a bit and even told me to look out for him. We’re on good terms.”

Karl looked up, his blade flashing a sliver of cold light in the lamplight.

He grinned. “Not bad, kid. With that connection, our chances of successfully inviting him to join us are much higher.”

Owen didn't respond immediately, turning his gaze to Lily.

The female swordsman was using the tip of her dagger to pick up a piece of charred, fragrant meat from the wooden platter.

“Lily,” Owen’s voice was steady, “what have you heard about the rumors in town these past few days?”

Lily popped the meat into her mouth, chewed quickly, and swallowed. Her expression turned serious.

She glanced at the noisy crowd around them and lowered her voice. “Something’s not right. Glay Dungeon... it's becoming more and more chaotic.”

“There are rumors that the seal seems to be loosening. Shadow Lurkers and Shadow Imps, which used to only appear occasionally deep in the third or fourth floors, have been spotted in the passageways of the second floor recently.”

“Several Bronze Rank teams have suffered heavy losses; less than half of them came back. They all say the terrain down there feels like it's changed.”

The tavern’s noise seemed to be filtered out for a moment as the atmosphere at the table grew tense.

Simon set down the bone he had gnawed clean and pressed his heavy palm onto the table.

Lily continued, “Also, about three days ago, the Inner Town made a huge scene. They welcomed a distinguished guest from Myriad City—a young woman with a massive entourage.”

“That old man from the Cross family personally led the whole family to bow at the city gates.”

“The news is being kept tight, but I managed to scrape some scraps from a supplier I know in the Inner Town. That young lady is here for Glay Dungeon. It doesn't seem like a simple training exercise or a treasure hunt.”

Owen listened quietly, picked up his mug, and took a slow sip.

The golden liquid of the ale reflected a spark of light in his eyes.

“The dungeon is in chaos, and a big shot has arrived...”

He set down his mug, his voice devoid of much emotion. “Either there’s some treasure buried down there, or there’s some trouble. Or... both.”

His gaze slowly swept over his teammates before finally landing on Kieran’s face.

“That Healer at your inn arrived at quite the opportune time.”

Owen tapped the table lightly with his finger. “Kieran, maintain the relationship. But don't be too obvious about it, and don't rush to mention joining the team. Let's see how things play out first.”

He leaned back against the wall again, shadows partially masking his face, though his eyes remained clear.

“Things are becoming increasingly restless in this town.”

Owen looked at the flickering, dancing fire in the center of the tavern and said to his teammates, “We in Hammerfall are here for profit, not to throw our lives away. We need to keep our eyes sharp for our next move.”

He raised his mug.

“Come on, let’s finish today’s drinks first.”

Several stoneware mugs clinked together with a dull thud.