From Abyssal Invasion to Bursting Stars with a Single Sword-Chapter 122 - 109: Quenching Assessment, Distress Signal

Abyss Descent, five months in, the temperature had grown a bit cold.

Although Superpower Users like Constitution were generally more resistant to cold, Lu Heng still donned a down jacket at his mother's insistent urging.

Over the past few days, he had accumulated ten Quenching Orders for weapon forging.

Today, Lu Heng came to Quenching Castle, ready to complete these orders and earn some Crystal Cores.

When he entered Quenching Castle through the ninth bridge tunnel carrying two boxes, he was slightly surprised.

Because there were more people than usual in Quenching Castle today, a group of Superpower Users was gathered in the castle's forecourt, surrounding Gulu and doing something inexplicable.

Primarily, it was because Gulu was fairly short, and from a distance, it was impossible to see him.

But he could be heard.

"Try it, give it a taste."

Driven by curiosity, Lu Heng made his way over and peered into the crowd, only for his entire body to go numb.

Gulu was holding a basin, which was full of fried cockroaches.

A group of Superpower Users, their faces a mask of struggle, hesitantly reached out to grab the cockroaches from the basin and slowly put them into their mouths, their movements as slow as if they were under an Advanced Stasis Technique.

At that sight, Lu Heng was covered in goosebumps.

But to be fair,

the living conditions for Black Iron Dwarves in the Abyss were quite harsh, and indeed, they had a custom of eating insects, of course, the bugs from Abyss World.

Once Lu Heng realized what was happening, he felt his stomach churn with Overturning Rivers and Seas, nearly vomiting, and hurriedly quickened his pace towards the castle's interior.

As he swiftly passed the forecourt,

one of the Superpower Users held a fried cockroach for ages without managing to put it into his mouth. Upon noticing someone sidestepping the odd snack and heading in, the individual immediately pointed at Lu Heng and questioned, "Why doesn't he have to eat?"

Gulu turned his head and saw Lu Heng, holding up a basin of the "delicacy," and cheerfully asked, "Would you like to try? I added some really tasty seasoning."

"No, thank you." Lu Heng firmly waved off the offer and continued on his way.

Gulu didn't press further and carried on persuading others to have more tastes.

The other Superpower Users saw that Lu Heng did not partake yet was allowed inside, instantly feeling discontent, "Why can he go in without eating? Then I won't eat either."

Upon hearing this Superpower User's bold claim, Gulu's face darkened, and he promptly shooed the person, "Then out you go!"

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Hu Biao quickly explained to the Superpower User, "Mr. He, that man has privileges in Quenching Castle, you'd better just eat."

This questioning individual was none other than He Shangyong, known as a "Quenching Master," promoted by Chunshang Group.

Hu Biao had waited under Century Bridge for three days, finally securing entrance to Quenching Castle and successfully leading people in.

However, unbeknownst to him was who had established the rule that one must first taste some "delicacies" at the entrance to Quenching Castle.

Lu Heng hadn't expected that, as a result of a joke he once shared with Gulu, he had taken it seriously.

Clearly, this was a small issue arising from significant cultural differences.

...

Lu Heng entered the forging room to begin Weapon Quenching.

Out of the ten Quenching Orders completed, eight were successful, and two failed.

It must have been the acid reflux affecting his performance; today's success rate for Quenching was only 80%.

Through ten Quenching processes, Quenching Master Professional Experience increased by a total of 120 points.

Quenching Master Professional Experience had grown to (750/2000), still some way from leveling up the vice profession.

So far, he had not received any orders for Spirit Injection, presuming that negotiations for such orders would need to be conducted in person.

During the Quenching process,

someone lingered outside the forging room door, persistently asking Gulu if they could observe inside the forging room.

Lu Heng simply locked the door from inside.

Gulu, preoccupied with guiding visitors around Quenching Castle, disregarded the inquirer.

After Quenching was done, Lu Heng cleaned the molten residue in the Quenching Furnace and neatly arranged its components.

Then, emerging from the forging room, he returned to the foyer, prepared to settle the Quenching Order revenue shares with Gulu.

Since using Quenching Furnaces in Quenching Castle required paying a share of each order to the castle,

But Gulu never hurried the payment, relying entirely on Lu Heng's conscience.

When he got back to the foyer, the Superpower Users who had visited Quenching Castle earlier had taken a complete tour, now all congregated in the foyer drinking tea.

Fortunately, the tea was normal, with no bizarre additions, providing some relief to the tense nerves of the Superpower Users.

Gulu was quite happy today, as it had been a long time since Quenching Castle was so bustling.

He Shangyong was there on behalf of Chunshang Group, and seizing the moment of Gulu's good mood, he made a request:

"Master Gulu, I am also a Quenching Master. May I use the Quenching Furnace of Quenching Castle? Any Crystal Cores I earn, the castle can take a share first."

Gulu was actually quite easy-going, as long as his customs and principles were not contravened.

Yet, when presented with this human's request, Gulu didn't immediately agree but took the matter under serious consideration.

At that moment, Lu Heng walked in from outside.

Gulu asked directly, "Lu Heng, what do you think? This Quenching Master also wants to use the Quenching Furnace. I don't have to do anything, I just get a share. What's your opinion?"

The arrangement he spoke of was similar to that of Lu Heng's.

The Superpower Users present, who had already been shocked by Lu Heng's exemption from eating the "delicacies," were even more surprised.

Some even questioned in their minds: Who truly is the master of Quenching Castle?

He Shangyong's expression turned sour, as he knew who Lu Heng was.

As a "Quenching Master" endorsed by Chunshang Group, he had always been aware of a rival, and that rival was Lu Heng.

So, when he heard Gulu seeking Lu Heng's opinion, he thought to himself that it was all over.