449: Chapter 449 The Serious Lu Zhen!

His movements were as light as if he were holding a fragile treasure, his eyes filled with solemnity and an irrepressible fervor.

"creation divine iron... It's actually creation divine iron..."

Lu Zhen murmured to himself, his hands gently stroking the metal's surface, feeling the texture of every line and the quality of every indentation.

A look of intoxication gradually appeared on his face.

It was a deep, heartfelt immersion.

He had forged spirit weapons his whole life; from Great Master to Grandmaster to Great Grandmaster, he had seen countless Materials and handled innumerable treasures.

But—

He had never come into contact with spirit weapon Materials of the creation divine iron level!

This was a legendary divine material, a supreme treasure that countless Artifact Refiners dreamed of but rarely saw in their lifetime.

To an Grandmaster of Artifact Refining, the attraction of a top-tier forging Materials was countless times stronger than that of a peerless beauty to a lecher!

Lu Zhen just closed his eyes, his hands gently stroking the creation divine iron, completely immersed in it.

The expression on his face shifted from solemn to relaxed, from frowning to smiling.

Qin Yan, standing aside, was somewhat dazed by the sight.

He turned to look at Lu Youyou, his eyes filled with inquiry.

Lu Youyou was also looking at her grandfather, a complex expression on her face.

She certainly knew why her grandfather was acting this way.

For someone obsessed with Artifact Refining their entire life, she could understand the excitement and intoxication of encountering a legendary divine material.

But...

This flushed face and entranced appearance was simply...

Lu Youyou couldn't help but cough lightly.

"Ahem."

No reaction.

Lu Zhen still had his eyes closed, immersed in that profound sensation.

Lu Youyou coughed again, her voice a bit louder.

Still no reaction.

Lu Youyou sighed helplessly and shouted directly:

"Grandfather!"

This crisp, loud shout finally woke Lu Zhen from his intoxicated state.

Lu Zhen snapped his eyes open, looking around blankly at first before realizing he had just lost his composure.

He gave a light cough, regaining his usual dignity as a Great Grandmaster, but the flush on his face hadn't fully faded, and a hint of lingering desire remained in his eyes.

"This... ahem..."

He cleared his throat dismissively and said with feigned composure:

"creation divine iron is indeed a rare and precious good Materials."

Lu Youyou couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Rare and precious?

The way you looked just now could hardly be described as just "rare and precious."

"Grandfather, can you refine this?"

Hearing this, Lu Zhen shifted his gaze from the creation divine iron to Lu Youyou's face, then looked at Qin Yan, his eyes darkening slightly.

"I can."

Those two short words made the heavy stone in Qin Yan's heart drop.

"Then I shall trouble you, Senior," Qin Yan said.

"Give me the design of the spirit weapon you want to forge."

Lu Zhen spoke, regaining the dignity and composure of an Grandmaster of Artifact Refining.

Hearing this, Qin Yan immediately reached out.

A long spear appeared in his hand.

It was the ink trace Version 3.0—the shaft was slender and a deep ink color throughout, the tip was incomparably sharp, and the shaft was covered in fine patterns, marks left by countless battles.

Holding the entire spear in his hand, there was an indescribable sense of familiarity, as if it were an extension of his arm, a continuation of his body.

"Senior, please forge it into this form."

Qin Yan presented the Ink-Marked Spear with both hands.

From ink trace 1.0 to 2.0 and now to the current Version 3.0, this Ink-Marked Spear had accompanied him through countless days and nights and experienced numerous battles.

Using it felt the best and most natural.

His natal spirit weapon should naturally continue in this form.

Lu Zhen took the long spear, examined it carefully for a moment, and nodded slightly.

"A good design. The lines are smooth, the center of gravity is reasonable, and the curvature of the tip is very precise."

Lu Zhen put the long spear away and looked at Qin Yan again.

"Alright, then come find me in ten days."

"Forging this creation divine iron is quite difficult; even with my level of forging skill, it will take some time."

Ten days should be about right."

Qin Yan silently calculated the time in his head.

Today is September 5th, so ten days later would be September 15th.

There is still a full half-month before the departure for the Yellow Springs Galaxy on October 1st. There is plenty of time.

"Thank you, Senior." Qin Yan bowed again.

Afterward, Lu Zhen asked about some details—the length of the shaft, the thickness of the spear, the shape of the tip, and so on.

Qin Yan answered them one by one.

Lu Zhen nodded as he listened, occasionally asking follow-up questions.

Thus, fifteen minutes later, Lu Zhen left the courtyard with the creation divine iron and the Ink-Marked Spear.

His pace was brisk, clearly impatient to study that divine material.

Inside the room, only Qin Yan and Lu Youyou remained.

Qin Yan turned to Lu Youyou and said sincerely, "Senior Sister, thank you."

This thank you came from the bottom of his heart.

He knew very well that without Lu Youyou's intervention, a common student like him would have no right to ask an eighth-rank Grandmaster of Artifact Refining to act.

Even if he had divine Materials like creation divine iron, finding an Artifact Refiner willing and able to take the job would be extremely difficult.

Not to mention, Lu Zhen not only agreed but also asked so many detailed questions and considered everything so thoroughly, clearly taking this commission seriously.

All of this was because of Lu Youyou.

"We're fellow disciples, no need to be so polite."

Lu Youyou smiled and waved her hand, her casual manner no different from the lively and bubbly girl she usually was.

After chatting for a while longer, Qin Yan took his leave.

Lu Youyou escorted him to the entrance of the Lu Residence.

"Goodbye, Junior Brother!"

Lu Youyou stood by the vermilion gates, waving vigorously at Qin Yan's departing back with a bright smile on her face.

Not until his figure gradually disappeared at the end of the street did Lu Youyou withdraw her gaze and turn back into the estate.

...

Artifact Refining Tower, seventh floor.

This was one of the tallest buildings in the entire Lu Residence and Lu Zhen's exclusive Artifact Refining room.

The room was wide and spacious, with a massive refining furnace standing three zhang tall in the center. The flames inside were a ghostly blue, emitting terrifyingly high temperatures.

The surrounding walls were covered with various spirit weapon samples—sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks—a dazzling array.

Normally, no one was allowed inside except for a few close individuals.

Lu Youyou pushed the door open and saw her grandfather standing by the window with his hands behind his back, facing away from her.

"Grandfather, did you want to see me about something?"

Lu Youyou spoke softly, a faint smile still on her face.

Lu Zhen turned around.

His face no longer held the indulgence and helplessness he usually showed his granddaughter; instead, it was replaced by an unprecedented seriousness.

"Youyou, I have something to discuss with you."

Seeing this, Lu Youyou felt a slight chill in her heart.

She knew her grandfather too well.

Usually, her grandfather was completely indulgent with her, but once he showed such a serious expression, it meant that what he had to say was not simple.

She put away her smile, her expression also becoming serious.

"Grandfather, go ahead."

(Update plan: A total of three chapters are currently owed; the last three days of this month will be used to make them up~)