Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3336: The Dwarven Forge

The one with the half burned beard stepped forward and took the letter with both hands. He sniffed it, inspected the seal, and tapped it with the back of his hammer. Another dwarf leaned over and tasted the air near it. A third examined the runic impressions left by the seal.

In perfect harmony, all five nodded.

"This is real."

The lead dwarf let out a grunt. "Fine then. We will talk."

Meng Bai whispered to Cattaleya, "So attacking Lin Mu was normal. But sniffing a letter is the real check."

Cattaleya snickered. "Welcome to dwarven logic."

Daoist Chu simply nodded. "It is surprisingly consistent."

Lin Mu rubbed his shoulder, even though he had not felt a thing. "Thank you for finally calming down. Now, shall we discuss why we came here?"

For the first time since the encounter started, the dwarves looked fully ready for conversation instead of hammer testing.

Though one of them still murmured softly, "He really ate gold. I knew it. Beautiful."

Lin Mu pretended not to hear.

After a minute they finally calmed down before the five dwarfs exchanged a few glances, then motioned for Lin Mu’s group to follow. The earlier hostility was long gone, replaced by the brisk confidence of craftsmen in their element.

They led the group down the final tunnel, the only path they had not yet explored.

The tunnel curved left, then dipped down sharply, taking them deeper and deeper into the volcano’s fiery heart. The temperature rose with each step, but the dwarfs walked as casually as if strolling through a cool autumn morning.

Lava glow flickered against their soot stained beards, giving them a perpetually smoldering presence.

After several minutes of descending through the winding passage, the group reached a large stone archway. The dwarven leader pushed aside a slab of stone carved with intricate runes, revealing a vast cavern that left Lin Mu’s entire group stunned.

They stepped onto a narrow ledge overlooking a cavern so enormous it could have housed an entire palace and its ground. It stretched nearly ten kilometers across, the ceiling so high that smoke and flames swirled up into darkness like distant storm clouds.

The sight was breathtaking.

Lakes of lava bubbled in several places, bright and molten like rivers of light. Lava falls poured from high cliffs, cascading down in glowing streams. Fumes rose from vents, but instead of filling the cavern, they were perfectly guided by thin shimmering arrays toward dozens of chimney like channels carved in the ceiling. Every plume of smoke flowed upward with precise discipline, never spilling into unwanted areas.

The most astonishing sight of all dominated the cavern’s center.

A colossal furnace, the size of an entire mansion, stood surrounded by a lake of lava. Runes covered its surface, pulsing faintly like the heartbeat of a giant metal beast. Large arrays drew heat and energy from the magma lake and channeled it into the furnace. Around this titanic centerpiece spread hundreds upon hundreds of smaller forges, each glowing with its own rhythmic fire.

Stacks of ores, metals, rare alloys, and unusual stones filled the surrounding platforms. Unfinished weapons lay scattered about, some half forged, some barely shaped, others nearly complete. Hammers, tongs, molds, quenching pools, anvils of every size, and far more bizarre tools filled the workstations.

But what grabbed Meng Bai’s attention was a protected region on the far right of the cavern.

It was guarded by a large barrier array that kept the heat away, leaving the entire section cool and dry. Inside were shelves and shelves of formation materials, rune plates, foundational cores for formations, pre carved arrays, inscribed metals, and even rare trace materials used for high grade array crafting.

Meng Bai’s jaw dropped. His eyes shined like a child in a candy store.

Daoist Chu also paused to admire the collection. Even for him, a master of formations, it was an impressive treasure trove.

The leading dwarf puffed out his chest proudly and swept both hands toward the cavern. "Welcome to our humble smithy."

Meng Bai managed to find his voice. "If this is humble, then what is a real smithy supposed to look like?"

One of the dwarfs blinked at him, genuinely confused. "A real smithy would not be in such a tiny place. It would take up at least an entire city. Maybe two if you want to be comfortable."

Daoist Chu chuckled and nodded. "That is accurate. At least for dwarves."

All five dwarfs nodded with absolute seriousness, proud and pleased.

They began descending a long set of stone steps carved into the cavern wall. Each step was warm to the touch. The dwarfs walked without hesitation, but Meng Bai practically hopped from one foot to the other until he hurriedly slapped a protective talisman beneath his boots. Daoist Chu and Elyon did the same. Lin Mu, Cattaleya, and Little Shrubby walked as if strolling on normal stone.

Little Shrubby even seemed to enjoy the heat.

Once they reached the furnace ring platform, the dwarfs gestured toward several stone benches. The benches glowed with residual heat.

"AHHHH! MY BUTT! HOT HOT!"

Meng Bai yelped as soon as he sat, leaping several feet into the air. He slapped a talisman under himself before trying again. Even then, he grimaced.

Cattaleya sat down without a reaction. Lin Mu sat like he was at home. Little Shrubby curled comfortably beside him and soaked in the heat like a happy house cat. Elyon and Daoist Chu seated themselves with the poise of seasoned immortals, though they too used talismans to avoid scorching their backsides.

Once everyone was settled, Lin Mu raised a hand. "The letter has already explained we come with goodwill, but now we should speak directly. You may read it."

The dwarfs unrolled the letter and read carefully.

Each one inspected the seal, traced the ink with their fingers, and nodded along with growing satisfaction. The letter clearly stated that Lin Mu and his companions were trusted guests of the Shanhu Clan, and that the dwarfs were politely urged to provide assistance if possible.