The Dwarves were renowned across the universe for their forging civilization, having crafted numerous Divine Artifacts.
However, the Dwarves themselves were not particularly strong in combat. As the saying goes, "A common man is innocent, but possessing a jade pendant makes him guilty." Consequently, they were frequently targeted by other races in the universe.
But with Asgard protecting them, other races feared Odin and could only glare impotently, never daring to strike.
Han Shaoqing, however, had no such qualms.
Now, he was the one pulling the strings in Asgard. The rescue Cui Wen had been hoping for was destined to never arrive.
The Dwarf population was small, with only about three hundred individuals on the entire planet. Now that they were under Han Shaoqing's control, Cui Wen knew he was powerless to resist and ceased his defiance.
"I need you to reforge a weapon for me."
As Han Shaoqing spoke, he made Esdeath's Asauchi fly before the Dwarf King, Cui Wen. "The request is simple: while preserving the sword's inherent characteristics, make it more powerful."
Hearing this, Cui Wen breathed a sigh of relief. The request wasn't too excessive. Compared to the safety of the Dwarf race, this demand was completely acceptable.
"What a peculiar sword," Cui Wen remarked. "Though its material isn't top-tier, it contains a unique energy fluctuation."
Cui Wen was a master smith himself, and he was naturally intrigued by forging techniques he had never encountered before. He began to examine the [Asauchi] closely.
Esdeath stood beside Han Shaoqing, her gaze cold as she fixed it on Cui Wen. "This blade was a gift from my Master. You'd best not damage it, or I'll make sure all you filthy dwarves are buried with it."
"You can insult my appearance," Cui Wen retorted, "but don't you dare insult my craftsmanship. Across the Nine Kingdoms, and even the entire universe, there are few smiths who can surpass me."
Cui Wen was immensely confident in his forging skills.
Han Shaoqing, of course, was well aware of Cui Wen's talent—otherwise, he wouldn't have sought him out. Seeing the smith's reluctance and lingering resentment, he spoke calmly, "There's no need for such pessimism. We are not bandits. If you can forge a weapon that satisfies me, I will grant you a single act of military protection to ensure the safety of the Dwarves."
"In that case, I thank you," Cui Wen replied. "I promise not to disappoint. However, this blade is quite peculiar. Please give me a few days to study and prepare so I can better unleash its true power."
Despite his words, Cui Wen still felt a twinge of resentment. But he was powerless against the overwhelming odds.
The man before him had seized the [Infinity Gauntlet] from Odin's Treasury; his power was bound to be immeasurable. Moreover, Asgard had yet to send the [Bifrost] to their aid. Cui Wen knew then that something must have gone wrong in Asgard.
Whether Han Shaoqing's words were true or not, he had no choice but to comply. His only hope was that the man would spare his people.
In truth, Cui Wen had long harbored the ambition to forge a weapon that would surpass both [Mjolnir] and [Gungnir]. It was a challenge to his own forging skills, but also a means to break free from Asgard's control. After all, living at another's mercy was a bitter pill to swallow.
He had almost gathered all the materials he needed, only to be confronted by Han Shaoqing's overwhelming force. To ensure his people's survival, Cui Wen dared not gamble. He had no choice but to surrender his life's work and play along.
Seeing the Dwarf King's resolute expression, Han Shaoqing would never have guessed the man's true thoughts if his [Telepathy] hadn't upgraded to hear the voices in others' minds. The Dwarf King was far more cunning than he appeared.
*It seems one can't judge a person by their surface,* Han Shaoqing thought.
*Rumors are just rumors after all. They can't be trusted!*
Han Shaoqing knew that forging a Divine Artifact was no easy feat, so he wasn't too strict with the timeline. "I'll wait for you up there. If you need anything, just ask. I'll do my best to provide it."
"We have enough materials, but if we had the Eternal Fire, forging the Divine Artifact would be twice as efficient with half the effort."
Cui Wen made a request, which was also a subtle test.
Han Shaoqing glanced at Cui Wen, then casually took out a clump of [Eternal Fire] and placed it into a container.
"Here's the item. Don't disappoint me."
With that, Han Shaoqing and Esdeath began strolling around Nidavellir, mainly looking for a suitable spot to take a commemorative photo.
Seeing this, Cui Wen instructed the other dwarves to return to their duties and not disturb the "distinguished guest."
Turning back to the [Eternal Fire], his eyes filled with a newfound gravity.
*First the [Infinity Gauntlet], and now the [Eternal Fire]. These are all treasures from Odin's Treasury. Now, Cui Wen wondered if Han Shaoqing had raided Odin's Treasury clean.*
Only after Han Shaoqing and Esdeath had walked far away did Cui Wen finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The pressure of standing before the two was simply too immense!
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Cui Wen gathered the top dwarven master smiths to study the [Asauchi] and discuss a plan for its reforging.
After all, the survival of their entire race was at stake; none of them dared to be careless.
As Han Shaoqing and Esdeath strolled around Nidavellir, he noticed that the planet was filled with nothing but forging furnaces, weapons, metals, and ores.
The entire planet was a smoggy, chaotic mess, showing that while the dwarves revered the art of smithing, they cared little for their living environment.
In Esdeath's words, the dwarves were truly a filthy race.
This filthiness was physical—they were slovenly, unkempt, and hadn't bathed in what seemed like ages, reeking from a distance.
When Han Shaoqing and Esdeath had been speaking earlier, they had used their Force fields to push away the foul odors, otherwise, the smell would have been absolutely unbearable.
After walking around for a while, Han Shaoqing stood atop the largest forging furnace.
[Ding! Host is currently above the forging furnace of Nidavellir, meeting the check-in requirements. Would you like to check in?]
Han Shaoqing's eyes lit up slightly as he silently thought, *Check-in.*
[Checking in... Countdown: 10, 9, 8... 3, 2, 1. Check-in successful. Congratulations, Host, you have obtained—the Synthesis Furnace in the Pocket World.]
[Synthesis Furnace: Can synthesize all things in the world. Usage: Place two items or creatures inside and click "Synthesize" for a chance to create a more powerful entity.]
[Note: The higher the compatibility and the lower the grade of the synthesized items, the higher the success rate.]
[Additionally, adding gold coins can increase the success rate. The more gold coins added, the higher the success rate.]
[Would you like to claim it?]
Seeing the system reward, Han Shaoqing didn't know whether to be happy or worried.
The [Synthesis Furnace] was a common feature in many games, but it was a notorious money sink. Especially for those with terrible luck, it was a nightmare they'd rather forget.
However, its effects were undeniably powerful and virtually limitless. As long as you had enough money or good luck, you could upgrade items to higher levels.
As for synthesizing living beings, Han Shaoqing had no intention of trying it.
If two living beings were synthesized, even if successful, what would the resulting more powerful entity be?
Would two consciousnesses share one body?
Would one consciousness be erased while the other took control?
Or would it be a completely new life form?
Such a method was inherently cruel. One should at least maintain a basic moral bottom line. Han Shaoqing had never been a mindless killer and held a certain level of respect for life.
Of course, that was provided you weren't his enemy.
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(End of Chapter)