Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3340: Need A Dao Forge

Lin Mu stood quietly for a moment, absorbing the dwarves’ declaration.

A Dao Forge.

The phrase alone carried a weight he had never encountered before, even in all his travels.

He finally broke the silence. ”Then tell me. What exactly is a Dao Forge?”

The dwarves straightened. Even the soot on their faces seemed to shift into solemnity. Borin Flamebraid placed a hand on his chest and spoke with reverence.

”A Dao Forge is the pinnacle of forging. The apex of what smithing can become. It is not made of metal or stone or flame. It is not something crafted by mortal hands. A Dao Forge is created from the Dao itself.”

Lin Mu’s brow rose. ”From the Dao itself. You mean... Dao Embryos?”

All five dwarves nodded heavily.

Grundar Brightsteel stroked his beard. ”Yes. Dao Embryos. Every dwarf who walks the path of the hammer will eventually form a Dao Embryo related to forging or metal. For most dwarfs, their Dao Embryo is simply the guiding principle of their craft. A foundation that keeps their Dao steady. But for the extremely talented, the ones who reach great heights and near the end of their lives, there is a choice.”

Thalgar Ironfuse took over. ”These dwarfs, using our oldest ancestral techniques, can infuse every last drop of their cultivation into their Dao Embryo. They refine it, shape it, and anchor it. Then they allow their physical bodies to pass on. But their Dao Embryo remains. It becomes a pure, crystallized form of the Dao of Forging.”

Dorgun Halfsmoke pointed toward the massive central furnace in the cavern. ”A Dao Forge is built entirely from these Embryos. They are arranged, aligned, refined, merged, and elevated into a supreme forging apparatus. It is not a metal structure. It is not a tool. It is a Dao in the form of a forge.”

Rikkan Emberetch added with pride, ”The moment a Dao Forge is completed, it becomes eternal. It does not decay. It does not cool. It does not break. It is fire, will, and Dao condensed into a form that lets even the impossible be shaped.”

Lin Mu slowly nodded. ”So the Dao Forge remains even after the dwarves who created it have long passed on.”

”Exactly,” Borin said. ”And that is why its value is beyond anything you can imagine. But that alone is not enough for your material.”

Lin Mu tilted his head. ”What else is required?”

Grundar held up a finger. ”A Dao Forge is only the first requirement. The dwarves who work on such a forge must also possess their own Dao Embryos. Not ordinary ones, but powerful ones that are compatible with forging. The Embryos must resonate with the Dao Forge itself. Without that, the forge will reject the user.”

Lin Mu exhaled slowly. ”So to work with this material, the smiths need Dao Embryos and a Dao Forge.”

The dwarves all nodded.

He looked at them calmly. ”Then who can help me achieve this? Where do I find such a forge?”

This time, the dwarves became visibly uncomfortable.

Borin Flamebraid cleared his throat. ”This is... complicated.”

Lin Mu remained silent, allowing them to continue.

Thalgar Ironfuse finally spoke. ”To forge something out of your material, not just any dwarf will do. Not even the Mountain Dwarfs. Not even the Fireforge Dwarfs. You will have to go to the Ancestral Forge.”

Lin Mu’s eyes widened. ”The Ancestral Forge of all dwarves?”

Grundar nodded gravely. ”Yes. The oldest and greatest forging site in all existence. Crafted by the ancestors of every dwarven race.”

Daoist Chu let out a low whistle. ”I have heard myths of it. But I thought it was a legend.”

The dwarves puffed their chests with pride. ”Most races think that.”

Lin Mu asked, ”Can I go there? And will the dwarves help me?”

A smirk spread across Borin’s face. ”Help you? Of course they will. With a material like this, every dwarf alive would beg to take part. None would refuse. Your only problem is reaching the Ancestral Forge.”

Daoist Chu leaned forward. ”Why is that difficult? Is it sealed?”

The dwarves exchanged glances.

Rikkan Emberetch finally said, ”The Ancestral Forge is not in a fixed location.”

Lin Mu frowned. ”What do you mean it is not in a fixed location?”

Borin Flamebraid crossed his arms. ”I mean exactly that. To protect the Ancestral Forge from humans, from rival races, from immortal beasts, and from disasters, the united dwarven elders made a decision long ago. They removed it from any inhabited world. They removed it from any star system. They placed it somewhere no one would find it.”

Daoist Chu blinked. ”Where?”

The dwarves answered together.

”On a rogue planet.”

Silence filled the cavern.

Even Little Shrubby, usually unfazed, let his ears droop. Cattaleya’s eyes narrowed slightly. Meng Bai nearly dropped his talisman that he was about to switch.

Lin Mu slowly repeated the words. ”A rogue planet. A wandering planet not bound to any star.”

The dwarves nodded confidently.

Thalgar Ironfuse elaborated, ”Rogue planets travel through the space without orbiting any sun. They drift through the universe, pushed by cosmic tides and gravity from passing stars. They are nearly impossible to track.

They can vanish for centuries, then reappear somewhere else entirely. That is where the Ancestral Forge resides. A wandering world containing the greatest forge ever built.”

Meng Bai groaned. ”Finding that sounds impossible.”

The dwarves shrugged in unison.

”Almost,” Borin said.

Lin Mu folded his arms. ”Then who can help us locate it?”

The dwarves exchanged looks again before Grundar spoke, ”Only one of the Clan Elders can locate the rogue planet. They alone have the coordinates and the methods to track it. That means you must go to one of our major bases. A hidden dwarven stronghold.”

Lin Mu nodded slowly. ”Where is this base?”

Borin looked impressed. ”You really are calm about all of this.”

Lin Mu shrugged. ”I have seen worse.”

Thalgar chuckled. ”Very well. The base you need is located in the territory of the Eastern Immortal Court.”