Swallowed Star
chapter-1052

The towering Craftsman Mountain shot up through the misty clouds. At the foot of the mountain, several hundred great beings of different races knelt. At first glance, Luo Feng could recognize a third of them as universe knights. The rest were undying great beings.

“Close to 200 universe knights kneeling,” Luo Feng said to himself. “The ability to create true treasures must be extremely desirable.”

“Hey! Why aren’t you going?” Bo Ni Sha, who was beside Luo Feng, asked out of curiosity.

“I do desire to learn.” Luo Feng smiled and lowered his eyes to look at Bo Ni Sha. “I certainly do want to learn the legendary skill of the Craftsman Master. However, I am not confident. Therefore, I’m here more for satisfying my curiosity… to take a look.”

“They are all here to try their luck,” said Bo Ni Sha. “Out of these 500 or more candidates, it will be a generous intake if two or three are accepted as disciples.” She pointed to the crowd of great beings of different races on their knees. These great beings, either in the life-form of energy, flesh and blood, or rock, were all down on their knees. All waiting wordlessly…

“How long have they been kneeling?” Luo Feng asked.

“Waiting, waiting till the Craftsman Master appears,” Bo Ni Sha said lightly. “Kneeling for thousands of years or even tens of thousands of years is commonplace. But the longest wait has yet to exceed 100 centuries. If one does not even have the perseverance to kneel for a long period of time, one is not worthy to learn the skill of making true treasures.”

Luo Feng nodded.

“I can’t accompany you any further,” said Bo Ni Sha. “I’m heading off to visit my friend.” She danced around Luo Feng before flying off into a deep blue building.

Luo Feng looked up at the towering Craftsman Mountain as he made his way toward it.

“So many different races,” he said.

He looked at the many buildings of different styles located quite a distance away. These numerous ancient buildings were abodes that great beings had constructed while here to seek an audience with Craftsman Master. The majority were vacated, but a sizable number of them were still occupied by great beings.

“They might be great beings from other races who are here to seek treasures,” Luo Feng said to himself. “The fourth black metal board can be found on Craftsman Mountain; Craftsman Master is on that mountain. Given his power, how am I going to obtain the fourth black metal board? Even if I did manage to steal it, Craftsman Master controls the space and time here. He could catch me easily.” He gazed up at the mountain. “How am I going to obtain it?”

While thinking, Luo Feng walked on, not realizing that he had already reached the foot of the mountain.

“Stop! My friend, stop!” A deep and melodious voice called out.

Luo Feng turned to look. Amid the crowd of over 500 universe knights and undying great beings, a handful looked over. Among them, there was a being with four hooves and a human body over 1,000 feet tall. He was watching Luo Feng with three golden eyes, and in a melodious voice, he said, “My friend, Craftsman Mountain is where Craftsman Master and his disciples reside. Any other great beings without prior permission from Craftsman Master will not be able to enter the region. Entering without consent would be showing disrespect to Master.”

“Oh,” said Luo Feng with a smile. “Thank you. I was too engrossed in my thoughts.”

“Are you also here for the purpose of asking Craftsman Master to take you in as his disciple?” The being shifted its gaze downwards to look at Luo Feng. Although he was kneeling, he was still taller than Luo Feng.

“Just curious,” Luo Feng said. “If there is hope for me to become a disciple, I will work hard.” At the same time, Luo Feng found himself wondering, What kind of life form does the knight belong to? Based on what he could recall, there was not a single race with a description that matched.

“That’s right!” Golden Eye Knight said with a laugh. “As long as there is hope, we should never give up. I am already able to make ordinary treasures, and before coming here, I was filled with confidence. However, upon arriving… I realized that when compared with the extraordinary geniuses from the many races of the universe—where everyone is so adept at making weapons—I am inadequate. You see that being of the demon race over there? He may only be undying, but at his level, he is already capable of making ordinary treasures. His chances of being chosen to be Craftsman Master’s disciple is far higher than mine.”

Luo Feng was dumbfounded as he looked over. Also kneeling was a beast that resembled a golden-haired ape. It had a weaker aura, an aura that was only at the undying level.

“Undying, yet able to make ordinary treasures?” Luo Feng blinked in disbelief. “Geniuses. They really are an omnipresent existence.” Luo Feng sighed to himself.

Golden Eye Knight sighed too, then said, “In the Ancestral God Secret Region, I am an honorable Weapon Master, but when I arrived here, I realized how lacking my skills were. Our unique life forms may seem very capable… but when it comes to making weapons, we are not in an advantageous position. You see, these undying beings, at their level, are already being brought by the great beings of their races to this Yin Fa Secret Region, the Craftsman Star. If they hadn’t possessed a certain level of skills, would they dare come here? These few hundreds of undying beings… I suppose the majority are already able to make pseudo treasures.”

Pseudo treasures? Luo Feng was baffled. What level would a “pseudo treasure” be at? It seemed there were some terms known only among weapon masters—or at least unknown to someone like Luo Feng.

“That’s all right, I’m not here to try my luck at being a disciple,” Luo Feng continued. Then he muttered under his breath, “If I were to do so, I would only embarrass myself.”

“You should give it a shot,” Golden Eye Knight laughed. “Craftsman Master has very stringent requirements when it comes to selecting disciples. Although talent matters, there are many other factors also taken into consideration. So long as you possess some skill in making weapons and you can make a pseudo treasure… who knows? You might be lucky enough to become a disciple of Craftsman Master. Take me, for instance. I have been persistent all this while.”

“I am just curious,” Luo Feng repeated. “Just curious, that’s all.”

******

Luo Feng immediately left the area packed with over 500 geniuses skilled in making weapons—all sincerely hoping to become disciples of Craftsman Master. Reaching the foot of the mountain, he built himself a courtyard house.

Making weapons? he thought. As if. I cannot even handle a weapon that is of a slightly higher caliber, much less a pseudo treasure. During the remodeling of the Yun Mo planet ship, when I needed to imprint engravings, I had to engage the help of internal personnel from the virtual universe company…

Luo Feng shook his head in resignation. He was a complete ignoramus when it came to weapons. He had zero knowledge. Compared to the numerous top-notch weapons geniuses gathered here from all over the vast universe, he could not help feeling ashamed.

Standing before the entrance of his courtyard, Luo Feng looked at over 500 kneeling figures of various races, then turned up to look at the towering Craftsman Mountain.

“My initial plan was to ask Craftsman Master to take me in as his disciple,” he muttered. “After entering Craftsman Mountain, I could take my time to craft a plan to obtain the black metal board. But now it seems that, other than Craftsman Master and his disciples, no one is able to enter the mountain. And becoming his disciple is out of the question… What should I do? How am I going to obtain the black metal board?”

Luo Feng was frustrated. But even without a feasible plan, he was not anxious. He waited patiently at the foot of the Craftsman Mountain, observing the activities that took place around the area fastidiously, seeking the perfect opportunity.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. During that time, Luo Feng made acquaintances with the great beings of other races who stayed in the buildings around him. The great beings of other races were all universe knights, and there were quite a few universe overlords, too! Those who had stayed to wait all sought true treasures from the great Craftsman Master.

A four-armed giant known as Chrysalis Knight, presently sitting cross-legged beside Luo Feng, sighed and lamented, “I am the leader of a race, so finding a variety of valuables for the race is my responsibility. Although I joined the Nine Territory Alliance, those of highest standing were universe masters. I am only a universe overlord, so the resources I have were far inferior. For great beings of races with universe masters, three top-tier series of treasures can be exchanged for an ordinary true treasure. For me? I will need four top-tier series of treasures!” Chrysalis Knight shook his head. “And this is only one of the many examples of unfair treatment… I am ever at a loss.”

Luo Feng nodded in sympathy as he listened.

“Things are different for the pinnacle races,” the four-armed giant said, shaking his head again. “The six pinnacle races—with their overwhelming power, countless valuables, and great beings—enjoy a blessed life. When they exchange valuables internally, no one experiences unfair treatment. But for races like mine, where I am the sole universe overlord… Humph! Remote Ocean Luo Feng, should there come a day that I am killed, please help me. Please help my ‘Silk and Rock race’ to live on and pass on its legacy.”

Luo Feng replied, “Chrysalis Knight, don’t talk like that. Should death befall you, the Nine Territory Alliance will resurrect you. But if you really need my help, I will reach out to you.”

Chrysalis Knight was one of the great beings here whom Luo Feng had come to befriend, and he was one of the few Luo Feng got along with fairly well. He was the honorable leader of the Silk and Rock race, and if he did fall, the entire Silk and Rock race faced the risk of dying out.

Chrysalis Knight needed to take care of his race. As such, he was unwilling to exchange his treasures with the Nine Territory Alliance for true treasures. He would only stand to lose.

“I can only approach Craftsman Master with my plea for help!” said Chrysalis Knight. “Craftsman Master, with various materials obtained from treasures, could make a true treasure. This would be much better than exchanging treasures within the race.” Chrysalis Knight sighed. “This way, I would still be able to retain a fair bit of resources for my race. With the race developing, I can also grow stronger. Only then will our future generations continue to grow… Aye…”

Luo Feng was full of admiration. His capability was considered strong, yet he did not have any such responsibilities. Humans, as a whole, were very much stronger and more dominating. Although there was little difference between him and Chrysalis Knight… Chrysalis Knight had to shoulder the rise and fall of his entire race.

Xi Luo Duo, who had the capability of a universe overlord, held a fate somewhat similar to that of Chrysalis Knight, thought Luo Feng. While Xi Luo Duo was with them, the Golden Horned race was able to stand as an independent race in the universe. Yet the moment Xi Luo Duo was killed, the Golden Horned race could only rely on stronger great beings for survival and became a vassal race.”

As Luo Feng and Chrysalis Knight were chatting, a voice suddenly exclaimed, “Look! Those are Craftsman Master’s disciples.”

“It’s Craftsman Master’s disciples!” someone else shouted.

Luo Feng and Chrysalis Knight stood up at the same time. From the palaces and buildings around them, knights of various races stepped out. They were all there seeking true treasures. The number of figures emerging, at one glance, numbered several thousand.

These great beings all yearned for the same thing: to engage Craftsman Master’s help in making true treasures. Such true treasures would be comparable to those obtained through trading within alliances but at a much lower price.

Thousands of knights—some burly and others petite, some hairy and others metal-plated—all flocked toward the figures approaching the ground.

The handful of figures landed.

“Dear brothers,” said a great being from the 500-plus great beings kneeling on the ground, speaking in a respectful demeanor. “May I ask, when will Craftsman Master meet us?”

“What’s the rush?” one of Craftsman Master’s disciples answered. “Master has gone visiting. He may not return for thousands or tens of thousands of years. Enjoy the wait.”

Following his response, the disciples rapidly transformed into rays of light and made a speedy departure.

“Visiting?” Luo Feng said, squinting into the distance. “Hmm…”