Chapter 005: Magical Weapons

The magic circle sealed by high-level alchemists can store more magic; however, who among the high-level alchemists would be willing to create such a simple magical weapon? Therefore, ordinary storage artifacts typically can only store three to five spells

Although it is useless, a miraculous tool is still a miraculous tool

Bomos looked at the departing Kunta, feeling a wave of disappointment in his heart, and sighed while shaking his head

The tranquility of Wangshan City in the early morning was shattered by a series of thunderous roars that echoed across the sky. Some residents, still lost in their dreams, were startled awake, bouncing out of bed and landing on the floor. Those heading to the morning market scattered in panic, screaming and fleeing. The city defense forces rang the alarm bell, and amidst the urgent clang of the bell, the disheveled soldiers of Wangshan City, with ears that were merely for show, rushed out of their barracks in a haphazard manner, swarming towards the city wall. The people in front ran while pulling up their trousers, and those behind stepped on the pant legs of the ones in front, causing a domino effect as they fell one after another.

As for Ge Zheng, he had long forgotten about Bomos. Even if he remembered, he would not necessarily greet such a past client

In the midst of the chaos, an archer accidentally loosed a stray arrow. Lord Bamos, the commander of the city defense forces, had just rushed out of his home wielding a massive sword. With a whoosh, a gust of air rushed past his ear. Turning around, he saw an arrow embedded in the main gate, vibrating with a metallic clang. The sudden shock caused Lord Bamos to lose his composure immediately.

Higher-level magical weapons, in which alchemists integrate magic circles into the weapons, rely on the magical cores or magic crystals embedded in the weapons to provide magical power, referred to as "enchanted equipment"

Most people use glass to make utensils, but no one has yet had the audacity to replace an entire wall with glass

The renowned Paracelsus, known as Quintus, upon hearing Esger's words, quickly changed his tone and said: "In that case, our purpose for coming here is hardly worth mentioning"

Esger understood this very well: "So, teacher, you want to find this person?" "Indeed, I am very interested in how he merges two completely opposing elements into a single weapon"

With two loud bangs, two of them flew straight out, falling five steps away, struggling for a moment and unable to get up. All five were elite guards from the lord's mansion, consisting of two Level 3 warriors and three Level 4 warriors. The two who were just knocked away in a single encounter included one Level 3 and one Level 4 warrior. The remaining three were momentarily stunned, realizing that even if they charged forward, their fate would not be any better than that of the two.

Ge Zheng is not particularly proficient, but he has a great fondness for the "Cannon Punch" in Tai Chi. Among the 42 forms of Tai Chi, there are only five forms of Cannon Punch: the Side Punch, the Advancing Block Punch, the Elbow Under Punch, the Covering Arm Punch, and the Advancing Plucking Punch. Ge Zheng is extremely interested in the vigorous and unparalleled power of these punches, practicing them until he masters them thoroughly and with great attention to detail

"Master, Dean Ramir has sent the second magical letter, urging us to return to the academy," said Eges. At that moment, a noise was heard as Kunta entered: "Master, as you expected, that brat Bomos was unable to find another swordsmith." Master Aquinas sighed, feeling a wave of melancholy: Is this truly fate? The breakthrough was so close, yet he was destined to miss the title of Master. Kunta entered again, saying, "Master, as you expected, that brat Bomos was unable to find another swordsmith." Master Aquinas sighed, feeling a wave of melancholy: Is this truly fate? The breakthrough was so close, yet he was destined to miss the title of Master. Paracelsus, is it truly an insurmountable mountain?

Bomos did not dare to struggle; he was simply being held by the back of his collar, which made his throat feel very uncomfortable. In a hoarse voice, he pleaded, "Lord Kunta, could you please let me down first?" Kunta snorted, loosened his grip, and Bomos fell to the ground.

Ge Zheng never expected that lighting a firecracker would cause such a great disturbance to the entire Wangshan City. Fortunately, this firecracker only had a little over 1,000 bangs, and it was finished in a moment. If it had been several thousand bangs, lasting for several minutes, wouldn't it have terrified the entire population of Wangshan City?

As Bomos joyfully followed Master Aquinas out of Wangshan City, Ge Zheng happened to emerge from the shop he had just rented. The shop was located next to Old Hans's, and it had a small courtyard at the back, which could serve as a bedroom and laboratory. With the addition of this courtyard, Ge Zheng decided to give up his previous residence.

From the perspective of the warrior assessment standards in the Star Refinement World, his current strength is at most that of a Level 6 warrior. Dealing with three Level 4 and two Level 3 enemies is quite a challenging task. However, the disciples of the Ge Men have practiced martial arts since childhood, using internal alchemy to strengthen their bodies.

Since we have decided to take action, we must proceed with a practical approach. Although Wangshan City is a small town, the competition here is also minimal. Starting from here, we will develop and grow step by step, and then gradually advance to larger cities; this is the right path.

Bomos searched everywhere for Ge Zheng, visiting all the alchemy shops, big and small, in the city. This was also the first time Old Hans had seen Ge Zheng, so he could not provide Bomos with any valuable clues, which left young Bomos quite disappointed

As Bomos stepped out, he saw Kunta standing at the entrance like a black iron tower. He instinctively ducked back, but Kunta had already spotted him. With a swift motion of his five fingers, a bluish-green light enveloped Bomos, pulling him towards Kunta.

The practice of alchemy is divided into external and internal elixirs. External elixirs involve the refinement of medicinal substances and tools, while internal elixirs pertain to the cultivation of oneself. The ultimate goal is to naturally form the Golden Elixir, ascend during the day, and achieve immortality.

However, Ge Zheng also admitted that it was his first time making firecrackers, and he lacked experience. He put in a bit too much gunpowder, resulting in a rather loud sound, but you all need not make such a fuss about it

The next day, Hans looked in astonishment at the new boss next door, and without even having the chance to greet him, he dashed off to report to the Bormos residence, only to be informed that the young master had already gone to study at Dongsheng Academy and would not be returning for three years

"Was that fire magic you just cast?" The lord of the city pointed with his whip and asked coldly. Ge Zheng was taken aback for a moment, but quickly understood. He honestly nodded and said, "It was me." "Hmph, good. Seize him!" Behind the knights, five guards rushed out and surrounded Ge Zheng.

However, it is indeed worth the price. Any adventurer who has visited this place, when faced with life-and-death situations, will undoubtedly find that excellent equipment has saved their life. They will certainly scrape together some funds from their expenses on drinking and hiring prostitutes to patronize this small shop again

Quiet, too quiet. It seems as if the entire Wangshan City is holding its breath.

The basic goods in the alchemy shop are well understood by Ge Zheng, consisting mainly of potions and equipment. The potions primarily include: Warrior Berserk Potion, Healing Potion, and Mana Potion. As for the equipment, there is a wider variety, including long spears, short swords, large axes, and heavy hammers. It is impossible to produce everything all at once; first, some items will be crafted to maintain appearances, and later, they will be gradually supplemented.

Higher-level magical weapons can replenish their magical power autonomously, without the need to use expensive magic cores or magic crystals to provide magical energy, referred to as "magical equipment"

Every adventurer dreams of possessing a piece of "magical equipment"; however, the price of such magical equipment and books is beyond the means of most adventurers. Therefore, Ge Zheng has focused his business on affordable and practical magical storage equipment

The five methods of cultivating the Inner Elixir of Ge Men are: inhalation and exhalation, food energy absorption, energy circulation, energy refinement, and fetal breathing. The nine levels of attainment are: entering tranquility, forgetting oneself while sitting, inner observation, guarding the orifices, guarding the one, focused contemplation, preserving thought, refining the spirit, and heart fasting

Due to Ge Zheng previously casting a series of "fire magic," although the destructive power of these spells is not yet visible, the ability to unleash so many spells in succession should not be underestimated. Everyone instinctively regarded Ge Zheng as a formidable individual. Although it is well known that mages possess frail physiques, high-level mages can cast spells instantaneously. Therefore, the five individuals sent to apprehend him are all outstanding members of the city lord's guard.

Ge Zheng's cultivation of the method has reached the third stage of Qi circulation, yet his realm remains at the third level: internal vision. This is not due to a lack of coordination between Ge Zheng's practice and his realm; rather, the first three stages of the method are relatively easy to complete, while the transition from Qi circulation to Qi refinement presents a significant hurdle. The ancients often said that those who practice Qi refinement in certain mountains, having understood the methods of Qi refinement, have already entered the threshold of internal alchemy cultivation.

Kunta is a ninth-level warrior, and the aura of his fighting spirit is bluish-green. In the Star Refining World, warriors are classified into twelve levels, each with a distinct color of fighting spirit. The lowest level has a white fighting spirit, followed in order by: red fighting spirit, orange fighting spirit, yellow fighting spirit, green fighting spirit, blue fighting spirit, cyan fighting spirit, purple fighting spirit, bluish-green fighting spirit, multicolored fighting spirit, silver fighting spirit, and the twelfth level's golden fighting spirit. It is said that those who surpass the twelfth level become war gods, and their fighting spirit returns to its original state, transforming back into colorless energy. The sequence continues as follows: red fighting spirit, orange fighting spirit, yellow fighting spirit, green fighting spirit, blue fighting spirit, cyan fighting spirit, purple fighting spirit, bluish-green fighting spirit, multicolored fighting spirit, silver fighting spirit, and the twelfth level's golden fighting spirit. It is said that those who surpass the twelfth level become war gods, and their fighting spirit returns to its original state, transforming back into colorless energy

The two greatest contributions of alchemists to Chinese civilization are, firstly, medicine, and secondly, gunpowder, which is one of the four great inventions of China renowned worldwide. The earliest recorded formula for gunpowder is found in the alchemical work "Collection of the Most Precious Treasures of Lead and Mercury" written by Qing Xuzi during the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty. It contains the method "Fuhuo Fanfa": 2 taels of sulfur, 2 taels of saltpeter, and 3.5 qian of Aristolochia. These ingredients are to be finely ground and mixed, then a pit is dug to place the mixture in a jar level with the ground. A piece of heated flame the size of a marble is then placed inside, smoke gradually rising. Cover it with four to five layers of damp paper, press down with two pieces of bricks, and mound it with earth. After waiting for it to cool, it can be taken out.

The lowest level of magical weaponry involves directly sealing magic within the weapon itself. Such a weapon can release a number of spells corresponding to the number of magic seals contained within it. Once all spells are released, the weapon becomes an ordinary one. To release magic again, one must seek an alchemist to re-seal the magic. In simple terms, it is akin to a gun requiring bullets.

The wind lantern hangs high, and now that it is daytime, there is no need to light it. Below, a long banner flutters in the wind, displaying the two large characters: Ge Men.

Although his skills are commendable, in a world filled with strong individuals, they may not be considered exceptional. Engaging in activities such as robbing the rich to help the poor is likely unfeasible. To gather the substantial funds needed to purchase materials, opening a small alchemy shop seems to be a good idea

If Master Ge Yuan, who is far away in another time and space, were to know that his disciple has used the prestigious name of their sect as the name of a small shop, would he not be so enraged that he would spit blood

Kunta was obedient to Master Aquinas, and he generally did not concern himself with the methods of completing the tasks assigned by Master Aquinas. Once again, like an eagle catching a chick, he held the poor Bomos in his hand and coldly asked: "Have you found the person who forges swords?"

Of course, there are even more advanced magical weapons, namely the artifacts found in legends and illustrated books

Ge Zheng emerged from the home of Bomos, clutching four hundred gold coins. He suddenly realized that being an alchemist was such a lucrative profession, and the problems that had troubled him seemed to have been resolved.

"Let us return." Aquinas said with a hint of disappointment. "The intercollegiate competition among the five academies is about to begin, and the Alchemy Department must have me at the helm." He pondered for a moment: "Bring Bormos along; after all, he has completed the task I assigned him. Find him a suitable mentor within the academy, Eges, this matter is entrusted to you." "As you command."

Bomos returned home only to find that Ge Zheng had already left. "He left? How could you let him go, a bunch of useless fools!" The servants who were scolded were baffled, and one bold servant cautiously asked, "Young Master, did he steal your gold coins?"

This aligns perfectly with Ge Zheng's viewpoint, which is why he has been spending these days in the city-state weapon shop... A double-bladed battle axe costs 20 gold coins, a knight's lance costs 40 gold coins, and a cross shield costs 15 gold coins

Ge Zheng's alchemy invariably incorporates some techniques from the Ge sect's elixir path. The creation of magic storage weapons is actually quite simple; it involves a straightforward synthesis formula that seals a magic array within the weapon. This magic array serves no other purpose than to store magic and does not discriminate based on the attributes of the magic.

After a series of firecracker sounds, the soldiers of the city defense army finally stumbled onto the city wall. They raised their eyes to look outside the city, where all was quiet. The wind blew through the wildflowers, and seeds resembling dandelions danced in the air.

"Why haven't you found him yet?" Kunta was clearly dissatisfied. Bomos helplessly replied, "That master might just be a wandering alchemist passing through. I have searched the entire Wangshan City and still haven't found him." Upon receiving the answer, Kunta turned to leave. Bomos hurriedly chased after him, saying, "Lord Kunta, please say a few good words for me in front of the master. I really want to enter the Dongsheng Academy..." Kunta waved his hand, pushing Bomos aside. How could Bomos keep up with the speed of a ninth-level warrior when he tried to chase again? Bomos hurriedly chased after him, saying, "Lord Kunta, please say a few good words for me in front of the master. I really want to enter the Dongsheng Academy..." Kunta waved his hand, pushing Bomos aside. How could Bomos keep up with the speed of a ninth-level warrior when he tried to chase again?

Dwarves are very united. The dwarven craftsmen who emerge from the Dwarven Hills never compete with one another. In large cities, there is only one dwarven weapon shop per block. In smaller cities, such as Wangshan City, there is only one dwarven weapon shop. If other dwarven craftsmen wander here, they will not open another weapon shop to compete with their own kind. They will continue to wander until they find a piece of land that belongs to them.

Ge Zheng found the magic circle too complicated; the chaotic lines were indeed troublesome to depict. It was far more convenient than Ge Men's "Naling Array," which could be drawn with just a few gestures of a spell and a bit of mental energy. Moreover, the storage capacity of the Naling Array was much greater than that of the magic circle.

Ge Zheng pushed down the street-facing wall and replaced it with a glass wall. In this world, glass is not only a favorite of dragons, second only to gems, but even surpasses gold. However, dragons are not fools; those "warriors" who attempted to exchange cheap glass for gold coins have already fallen victim to the terrifying breath of the dragons

Kunta said from the side: "But Master, we came here to..." Esger interrupted him before the Master could respond: "Kunta, you do not understand what this sword means to an alchemist. If the Master can master this skill, then he will be able to reach the heights of Paracelsus"

The lord's office received a report and issued an emergency mobilization order for the entire city. The people of the Star Refining World are not unfamiliar with the sound of explosions, as fire magic often causes such blasts. However, it is the first time that such a dense sound of explosions has echoed in the skies of the Star Refining World

A rumble of thunder rolled through the street directly opposite the city lord's mansion, and in the blink of an eye, it arrived in front of Ge Zheng's shop

Ge Zheng rented a small courtyard, busy crafting magical weapons. The weapons are not forged by alchemists, although they sometimes dabble in blacksmithing. A more convenient method is to purchase high-quality weapons from the dwarves and then enhance them, transforming them into magical weapons, thereby significantly increasing their value

Ge Zheng decided to stay and open his own alchemy shop. With 400 gold coins as startup capital, although not abundant, it was sufficient.

This type of magical weapon is referred to as "magic-storing equipment." Most adventurers prefer to choose this kind of weapon. It is inexpensive, of high quality, and when the magic is depleted, it remains a fine ordinary weapon. Supplementing the magic only when needed makes it economical and practical for adventurers with limited funds

Further up, there are weapons that integrate two or more magical elements, capable of unleashing spells of two or more attributes, referred to as "Magical Spirit Weapons"

The glass refining technology was nothing remarkable for Ge Zheng; he personally crafted two large panes of glass, which he used to create a glass curtain wall. Everything inside the shop could be seen from the street. With Ge Zheng's skills, the sturdiness of this glass wall was on par with bulletproof glass found on Earth. However, considering the prevalence of violent individuals in this world, Ge Zheng made some modifications to the glass wall to prevent potential break-ins.

The five individuals spread out to encircle Ge Zheng, circling around him for a couple of steps before suddenly pouncing on him all at once

Bomos, in a state of exasperation, took people to the streets in search. Although Wangshan City cannot compare to the super metropolises on Earth with populations in the millions, it is a city that has developed over a century, with roads crisscrossing and residential and commercial areas intertwined, making the search for a person akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Moreover, Bomos is merely a wealthy young master, not the powerful son of a city lord. After searching all day without any results, a weary and dejected Bomos returned home, feeling disheartened as the opportunity to enter Dongsheng Academy seemed to slip quietly from his grasp, leaving him filled with reluctance.

These martial arts do not contain any secret teachings; they are mostly easily learnable forms such as Tai Chi and Xing Yi, and do not constitute the main curriculum for disciples of the Ge school

The merchants who had just opened the door called out to their assistants to hurriedly close the door, and then propped a wooden stick against it from behind... They then gathered their valuable belongings and, along with the gold coins, dug a pit in the courtyard to bury them

The renowned "Dwarven City-State Weapon Shop" in Wangshan City is known for its outstanding quality and high prices. The owner, Feore, is a highly skilled dwarf master, whose age is unknown, but his beard is longer than his height. Feore firmly believes that you get what you pay for; dwarven weapons are expensive, but they are definitely worth the price.

Aquinas paid no attention to the dispute between the two attendants, continuously playing with the longsword in his hand, his gaze entranced, as if he were a passionate libertine, intoxicated among the peaks and valleys of his beloved.

Bormos, who had been in despair, did not expect to have the opportunity to enter Dongsheng Academy. It is known that the five major academies have strict selection processes, and those who pass the entrance examination are the best among their peers. In Wangshan City, Bormos is the first to enter one of the five major academies. As they passed each other, Bormos was overly excited, surrounded by his relatives and friends who came to see him off, offering their advice and reminders. Unfortunately, he was so preoccupied that he did not notice that the person he had just brushed past was the alchemist who had forged a sword for him.

As for the flying sword, given Ge Zheng's current level, he would likely be unable to maintain its use for even the duration of an incense stick. Moreover, such a treasure, while it may astonish Paracelsus, would be viewed quite differently by others; an innocent man may bear the blame for possessing it. The flying sword is Ge Zheng's means of self-preservation, and it must not be employed unless absolutely necessary at the last moment.

... ...

In the various schools of alchemy, the methods of producing gunpowder differ significantly, and there are numerous sects that have developed various powerful firearms. Most of the famous ancient Chinese firearms, such as the fire crossbow, thunder cannon, and the fireball, originated from these sects. However, the firearms produced in large quantities for military use naturally do not possess the same immense power as those secretly crafted by the alchemical sects.

The ability to unleash such a dense barrage of "fire magic" must indicate that the enemy is pressing in with overwhelming force, and it is only possible for the mage to be cloaked in flowing robes like clouds.

Although Ge Zheng was exceptionally intelligent, he was mischievous and restless since childhood. While he made rapid progress in external alchemy, internal alchemy had always been his weakness. It took him a full three years to barely achieve the state of "entering tranquility." The subsequent "sitting in forgetfulness" consumed an additional six years. It was only two years before he descended the mountain that he finally attained internal vision.

An ordinary person who practices only the forms without cultivating their internal energy, once they have mastered and thoroughly understood these few techniques, can still strike someone several steps away with a single punch. What more can be said of Ge Zheng

Such a sign can be seen from afar, and it is unique and eye-catching within Wangshan City. According to Chinese tradition, it is customary to set off firecrackers to celebrate a grand opening. Under the cloak of the Goddess of Wisdom, Ge Zheng had already transformed the formula for gunpowder into one suitable for this world while competing with Paracelsus, and the firecrackers he created frightened Miss Dou Dou so much that she did not dare to approach Ge Zheng for several days

Ge Zheng ordered a total of ten items commonly used by adventurers, including battle axes, two-handed greatswords, one-handed cross swords, and shields. After some haggling with Feore and employing the skill "Praise Feore's Beard," he successfully reduced the price from 300 gold coins to 250 gold coins

A peculiar little shop appeared before Lord Steka, whose face, originally fierce behind the lion-shaped mask, transformed into one of astonishment upon arrival. Although Ge Zheng presented him with an unexpected surprise, this could not deter the resolute determination of the esteemed lord to punish the troublemakers.

The lord of the city donned armor that had not been touched for decades, and in the long-standing peace, Wangshan City had already forgotten the taste of war

Magical weapons are also categorized into several tiers

Ge Zheng's alchemy shop is unique; he personally erected a flagpole at the entrance, on which hangs a lamp. This lamp is an ancient "Qi Si Feng" lamp crafted by Ge Zheng from his memory. Below it, there is a cloth banner inscribed with two large characters: Ge Men

According to the market conditions in Wangshan City, the selling price of a piece of magical storage equipment ranges from 70 gold coins to 100 gold coins. After deducting the cost of the weapon itself, the profit is approximately 150 percent, making it indeed a highly lucrative industry

Ge Zheng conducted an experiment, making some minor adjustments to the Spirit Gathering Array, which allowed it to store magical energy. This act of laziness significantly increased his efficiency. As a high-level alchemist, he was already adept at crafting these low-level magical weapons, and the improved efficiency only added to his advantage. In just half a day's time, all ten weapons were transformed into magical storage tools.