Chapter 84: The Temptation of the Dark Dragon

“No need, this one is enough!” Rod said firmly as he gazed at the set of armor. There was a constant pull drawing him toward it—a strange sensation, as if it were calling to him. Determined to obtain it at all costs, he didn’t care whether it would bring good or bad fortune; he would just fight for it. It might even be a treasure.

Lucia, Lawrence, and even Nicole, who had remained silent throughout, looked at Rod in confusion. They didn’t understand what was wrong with him—why he wouldn’t cherish such a good opportunity, why he wouldn’t choose fine armor instead of this pile of junk.

“Sir, are you sure you want this set of armor? The master is inside right now. He said if you really want it, you should go in and negotiate with him personally!” In less than a moment, the clerk rushed out, out of breath, and spoke to Rod. His eyes were filled with doubt and confusion, and he wondered inwardly—the master rarely came to the shop, and if he did, he left in a hurry. His identity remained a mystery, even to the clerk himself, let alone others. Having worked here since childhood, he had never seen the master meet anyone before. Could this man be incredibly lucky?

“Meet me?” Rod asked, frowning in confusion.

Lawrence, standing beside him, wore a peculiar expression. As a warrior, especially one with a certain status in the capital, who didn’t know the reputation of this blacksmith shop? Yet no one knew who the real owner was. Rumors claimed he was an extraordinary person—a top-tier master, an unparalleled warrior! It was said he had personally crafted divine weapons, and Grut was even his disciple!

Such a person wanting to meet Rod? He frowned and cast a puzzled look at the clerk, filled with doubt. Could this set of armor really be a treasure? After examining it again, he shook his head—absolutely not possible.

“Alright, take me there!” After some thought, Rod decided he had to go after all for this set of armor and agreed to the clerk’s request.

Under Lawrence’s puzzled gaze, Lucia’s confused look, and the clerk’s complicated expression, Rod slowly followed the clerk toward the interior room.

Entering the room, he found it completely empty with no one in sight. As he wondered what was going on, he saw the clerk press a button beside the iron frame. A deep voice sounded, and instantly the wall began to open slowly, revealing a long, winding tunnel that stretched far ahead—so far that he couldn’t see the bottom at all.

“Let’s go!” The clerk said slowly, exhaling and turning to look at Rod.

Led by him, Rod slowly followed inside. They moved forward along the sloping tunnel, guided by the faint light. After walking for a while, they sensed dampness. Looking back, the door through which they had entered now appeared as narrow as a hole.

After turning a corner, they soon arrived in front of a stone chamber. The clerk walked slowly to the stone door and said respectfully, “Master, he has arrived!”

“Hmm, let him in. You may go first.” Moments later, a deep voice came from inside the chamber. Then the stone door slowly opened. In such a confined space, the sound was particularly clear.

After the clerk left, Rod glanced inside the chamber. There, an old man with silver hair sat upright at a stone table. In front of him lay a long sword—a fiery red sword—that he was carefully polishing, paying close attention to it, yet never turning to look at Rod.

“Won’t you come in?” As Rod was puzzled, the old man suddenly put down the sword and asked lightly.

“I pay my respects to you, elder!” Rod hurried forward and bowed respectfully in front of the old man.

“Hehe, don’t be so formal with an old man like me. Tell me, what do you think of this sword?”

Smiling, he pointed to a chair beside him, signaling for Rod to sit down, then examined the sword on the table. Rod didn’t understand why he was being asked this. Wasn’t he here because of the armor? Still, he carefully studied the sword. It was entirely red, with a subtle sheen under the firelight, flickering slightly, giving it a mysterious appearance. The sword was three feet long, with a groove running through it from one end to the other. It had no elaborate design, just a simple, sturdy look. It was at that moment that a strand of Rod’s hair drifted down and brushed against the blade. Instantly, the hair was cut into two pieces, falling straight down without any delay.

His eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious instantly. The sword was incredibly sharp, yet judging from its appearance and its ability to cut hair so easily, it was undoubtedly a top-tier, peerless masterpiece. Upon closer inspection, one could sense a strong elemental aura—fire element, indeed! A powerful elemental presence.

“What a fine sword!” Rod couldn’t help but exclaim upon seeing it. To be honest, this sword seemed the most suitable longsword he had ever seen for himself, with matching attributes. Such a treasure was something every warrior dreamed of.

“Hehe, it is quite good. It was just forged and hasn’t undergone further refinement. I believe it will be another divine weapon—perfect for you, won’t it?” The old man smiled faintly, looking proudly at the sword on the table, and asked gently.

“It is indeed suitable, but sadly, I already have my own sword! I wonder what matter the senior has for me?” Rod smiled bitterly. Though it suited him well, he couldn’t possess it—firstly, its price would surely deter him.

“No money? Or what? What if I gave it to you for free?” Seeming to see through Rod’s thoughts, the old man pressed further.

“Ahem… Senior, please don’t joke with me. For free? A sword like this, once it appears, I’m sure many would be willing to pay an exorbitant price to acquire it. I’m not capable enough to hope for such a thing! Besides, I already have my own weapon—perfect for me and one I truly love. So even if this sword were better, I wouldn’t dare to desire it!”

With unprecedented seriousness, Rod looked at the old man and said solemnly. Indeed, although the Dark Dragon Sword didn’t match his attributes, it was still a peerless divine weapon. If he could awaken its sword spirit, it would likely be no worse than this one. Moreover, he knew the saying: “A man without fault is guilty for possessing treasure.” Wandering around with such a conspicuous sword without the strength to protect it would be seeking death.

“Hehe, not bad. You’re quite focused. I heard you’re interested in that set of armor?” The old man nodded and smiled, shifting the topic back to the main subject.

Hearing this, Rod breathed a sigh of relief. If they continued, he might be persuaded after all—after all, treasures were loved by everyone, just like a beautiful woman is desired by a gentleman.

Finally, it’s here, Rod thought anxiously. Then he said earnestly, “Yes, to be honest with the senior, I’m interested in that set of armor. It feels like it’s meant for me, as if it’s calling to me. That’s what drew me to it!”

“Calling?” The old man’s expression changed, and a glint appeared in his eyes. “So it’s indeed not an ordinary item. When Grut tried to remelt it, I refused—turns out I was right!”

After muttering to himself, he turned to Rod and said, “I’ve kept that set of armor for a long time, so it’s not really for sale. You can choose something else; anything in the store is yours to pick, with an 20% discount!”
“Elder…” Rod immediately grew anxious.
“Alright, let’s end this topic. Hmm, you said you have a sword. Show it to me as a thank you for giving me this information!” The old man said indifferently, glancing at the sword sheath behind Rod.
Facing the old man’s determined gaze and firm tone, Rod regretted mentioning it in the first place. He thought to himself, “I was such an idiot.”
His heart sank to the bottom. With a sigh, he slowly drew out Dark Dragon and handed it to the old man, while thinking about how to negotiate further.
“This sword is named Dark Dragon. It’s a family heirloom belonging to a master. I really valued it, and after much pleading, the master, seeing my sincerity, reluctantly gave it to me!” Rod introduced softly, seeing the old man’s serious expression as he held Dark Dragon.
“Dark Dragon… truly worthy of its name. It’s indeed a precious sword. Who is that master? To possess such a gem… Sword Spirit, haha, I never thought I’d see such a sword in my lifetime. It’s quite remarkable!
Even without its Sword Spirit awakened, it already exudes such power. Truly a divine weapon, Flame! I never expected you to encounter such a sword before you were even born. In front of Dark Dragon, Flame is just an ordinary weapon!
Young man, don’t you like that set of armor? I can give it to you in exchange for your sword. I’ll also give you Flame. Don’t worry, it hasn’t been fully refined yet. In a month, it will be ready. By then, it won’t be inferior to any other divine weapon, and its attributes will match yours perfectly—making it even more suitable for you! What do you say? Of course, if you’re not satisfied, I can offer you other compensation—any item in the store of your choice!”
A moment later, the old man exclaimed in shock. Dark Dragon had greatly changed his expression, and he stared at Rod with intense eyes, asking questions.
To be honest, at that moment, Rod was somewhat moved. The red sword was named Flame? What a great name—very fitting! It also suited him well. Combined with that set of armor and the other options, it was indeed tempting. He almost blurted out “yes.”
“No! Dark Dragon has been with me all this time; nothing else can compare to it! Moreover, it recognizes only me and cannot be exchanged. In that case, I have no choice but to take my leave. I don’t need that set of armor after all!” After hesitating for a long time and sighing, Rod said with a bitter smile. The conditions were tempting, but sadly, he wasn’t fortunate enough to enjoy them.

“Hey, wait! Don’t rush to leave. You can list any conditions—you can ask for anything as long as I can fulfill it. What do you say? Think about it; once you miss this opportunity, you won’t get another like it!” The old man urgently grabbed Rod, who was about to leave, speaking anxiously. His demeanor at this moment was in sharp contrast to his usual composure.