Eternal Saber-Chapter 294 - 18: Old Blacksmith

Chen Tang gradually quickened his pace.

Soon, he saw a seven-story building standing at the side of a crossroads, quite conspicuous amidst the surrounding one- and two-story houses.

At this moment, the afterglow of the sunset cast a huge shadow on this building on the road.

In this shadow, the three large words "Shadow Tower" loomed into sight!

There was no plaque above; the door was tightly shut, almost deserted.

However, as soon as Chen Tang arrived here, he noticed that many Hermits were gathering nearby.

These Hermits had long been integrated with the whole city, some busy making a living, some haggling at the stalls, and some shouting and wandering nearby...

More Hermits were gathering near the Shadow Tower than Chen Tang encountered on his way here!

More importantly, among these Hermits, quite a few had their temples slightly bulging on both sides, clearly already cultivated to the Fourth Grade!

Fifth Grade and Fourth Grade Martial Artists both belong to the Middle Concealment!

Are they here to deal with him?

Chen Tang gradually slowed his pace, not daring to be careless.

But he hadn't gone far before he discovered that the eyes of these Hermits would unconsciously glance towards the entrance of the Shadow Tower.

Some would look at the shadow on the ground, seemingly calculating the approximate time.

These people seemed not to be looking for him.

Chen Tang brushed past a few Middle Concealments.

These Middle Concealments didn't even glance at him.

Perhaps the task information concerning him hadn't been updated yet, or perhaps these Middle Concealments hadn't taken the task, or maybe they had other tasks on their bodies...

Chen Tang still didn't relax, remained extremely cautious, and slowly approached the blacksmith shop next to the Shadow Tower.

The blacksmith shop had no facade, in a half-open state, with a variety of hidden weapons and dark weapons hung dazzlingly on three walls.

An elderly man, half of his hair and beard white but body scrawny, was half-lying on a rocking chair, holding a round bamboo fan and resting with his eyes closed.

Chen Tang came to the front of the blacksmith shop and asked, "Excuse me, if I provide the materials, can you craft armor here?"

The Old Blacksmith didn't even open his eyes, seeming not to hear.

Chen Tang hesitated for a moment, taking out a gleaming Hidden Coin from his bosom and placing it on the forge table, which emitted a slight crisp sound.

The Old Blacksmith raised an eyebrow, slowly opened his eyes, just squinting them into a slit, first sized up Chen Tang from head to toe, then glanced at the Hidden Coin on the forge table.

"You're not a Hermit."

The Old Blacksmith said indifferently.

Chen Tang replied, "But I have Hidden Coins."

The Old Blacksmith seemed not too willing to take this business, saying, "There are armors on the wall, pick any one you like. If you want me to customize armor, that's going to be expensive."

"How many Hidden Coins?" Chen Tang asked.

"That depends on what materials you bring." the Old Blacksmith said.

Chen Tang pondered for a moment, still took down the package from his back, looked around, and kept his ears sharp, ready to respond to any sudden situation.

Seeing Chen Tang so nervously, the Old Blacksmith tapped the forge table with the fan, saying, "Fighting is forbidden in the Shadow Tower and related shops."

"Oh?"

Chen Tang was slightly startled, a bit skeptical, asked again, "As long as I'm in the blacksmith shop, all Hermits can't attack me?"

The Old Blacksmith said, "Even if you have one foot in my place, all assassinations must immediately stop."

At this moment, a young man bleeding from his abdomen staggered through the crowd, running to this place and plunging into the blacksmith shop.

A Hermit who had been chasing him stopped immediately upon reaching this place, merely staring coldly at this person without stepping forward.

"What do you want to buy?"

The Old Blacksmith looked at the person, asking without expression.

"I..."

The young man showed hesitation, a hint of panic in his eyes.

As an observer, Chen Tang could tell that this person probably didn't have any Hidden Coins on him.

The Old Blacksmith waved his fan.

The young man swallowed, seeming quite intimidated by the Old Blacksmith, hesitated for a moment, but still slowly backed out of the blacksmith shop.

No sooner had he left the blacksmith shop than the Hermit struck.

Thunk!

The man couldn't last long before being slain by a single slash!

This Hermit severed the young man's head, wrapped it in black cloth, and turned around to enter the Shadow Tower nearby.

The people around had long been accustomed to this, unfazed, the crowd didn't even show a hint of panic.

Two people draped in gray robes walked over, and after passing by the headless corpse, the body unexpectedly disappeared from the ground!

Chen Tang was about to look for the traces of those two gray-robed individuals when he heard the Old Blacksmith ask in a ghostly tone, "What do you want to buy?"

Chen Tang untied the package on his back, took out the Flood Dragon Skin from inside, handed it to the Old Blacksmith, and said in a deep voice, "I want to have armor custom-made from this skin."

The Old Blacksmith wasn't very interested initially, but upon taking a look, he couldn't help but let out a subtle exclamation.

"Is this Flood Dragon Skin?"

The Old Blacksmith reached out to take it, examining it closely.

This old guy indeed had some skills, recognizing the origin of the skin at a glance.

For an average blacksmith, they probably wouldn't know.

Moreover, trimming Flood Dragon Skin required extremely sharp tools, which an ordinary blacksmith shop couldn't handle.

"What a pity, what a pity."

The Old Blacksmith shook his head and sighed twice after spreading the entire Flood Dragon Skin.

Chen Tang asked, "Pity what?"

"This Flood Dragon Skin was originally complete, but it was mostly scorched."

The Old Blacksmith visually measured Chen Tang's body shape, saying, "It's impossible to make a full-body armor, but I can make you an inner armor that protects the torso."

"Fortunately, the remaining part of the Flood Dragon Skin is from the most durable area on the Flood Dragon's back, ideal for making inner armor."

"Okay."

Chen Tang nodded.

The Old Blacksmith's eyes swept over, noticing the Flood Dragon Tendon at Chen Tang's waist, and asked, "Is that a Flood Dragon Tendon at your waist?"

"Yes."

"That's good stuff too."

The Old Blacksmith said, "Give it to me as well, and I'll find some good ore to forge a supreme bow base. Paired with this Dragon Tendon, it will be a peerless Flood Dragon Bow!"

Chen Tang stated candidly, "I don't have many Hidden Coins on me."

"No matter."

The Old Blacksmith said, "One Hidden Coin will do."

"One?"

Chen Tang asked, "One for the inner armor, or..."

"Both the inner armor and the Flood Dragon Bow together, one Hidden Coin."

The Old Blacksmith impatiently interrupted.

Chen Tang hesitated somewhat.

Since the Old Blacksmith was so enthusiastic, he was a bit unsure.

But after pondering for a while, Chen Tang still took down the Flood Dragon Tendon and handed it to the Old Blacksmith, asking, "How long will it take to craft these two pieces of equipment?"

"Both together, about a month."

The Old Blacksmith said.

Then he swiftly stored away the Flood Dragon Skin and Flood Dragon Tendon, accepted that Hidden Coin, and then waved his hand, saying, "Off you go, shop's closed for the day."

Chen Tang glanced outside.

More and more Middle Concealments were gathering near the Shadow Tower, seemingly waiting for something.

"What are those Hermits gathered outside doing here?"

Chen Tang asked.

The Old Blacksmith replied without even raising his head, "None of your concern—it's all about that girl from the Divine Land, a two million bounty! Purgatory level, with six Hidden Coins—tsk, tsk..."