"What's even happening here these days?" A shopkeeper could not help but ask as he felt alarmed, discussing with his neighbor, watching a lot of materials being brought into their town recently.
It wasn't just that, but a lot of buildings were being constructed recently. It made the place feel somewhat chaotic.
Then again, the ones experiencing the most changes was the Liu Family's estate. Not only was its area expanded, but countless buildings were being erected nonstop. Moreover, instead of the usual wooden architecture, they used stone instead.
Those that were working there commended how the Liu Family carried hammers in their hands and personally worked in the creation of such establishments.
It was a confusing and chaotic scene.
"It's going great," Krune muttered, standing atop the tallest building in the Liu Family. He was the one that proposed to convert the buildings from wood to metal. Not only was it better in terms of structural integrity, but it would also remain strong under attacks of the Demons and their underlings in the future.
In short, he had been making preparations regarding that.
Of course, that wasn't all. He had also shifted the forge underground into a massive stone chamber that had been created just for this purpose. It was situated 30 meters underground, a cubicle that spanned a side of 20 meters, surrounded by four other such cubicles.
The central cubicle had the forge in it, while the surrounding four cubicles were meant as storage for the County Arms they would be forging in the future.
As safety was necessary, this was the best method to store them. There was only one way to enter the forge, so it was easy to defend, preventing infiltration.
Krune took charge of changing the layout of the entire Liu Estate, making everyone take up arms to personally forge them. Even though it took time, with more and more people joining to forge County Arms, within five months, everyone in the Liu Family was equipped with them.
A sun-attributed County Arms—hammer—was necessary to forge more sun-attributed County Arms. Conversely, a moon-attributed County Arms—hammer—was necessary to force more moon-attributed County Arms.
So, someone was constantly using the forge to make them. It did take some time for him to teach them the necessary means. Nevertheless, as everyone in the Liu Family was trained to become an Imperial Meister, they were able to learn the forging process pretty easily.
Even though the County Arms looked like an inferior version of the Imperial Arms, he installed three important features in them.
The first feature: Anyone possessing a County Arms was able to sense the existence of Demon Arms, Yin Beasts, Demons, and Nightmares in their immediate surroundings.
The second feature: The first person to obtain a certain County Arms finalizes it. After that, only those from that bloodline would be able to inherit that certain County Arms. On top of that, someone under a Nightmare's/Demon's influence, possessing Demon Arms, and so on, cannot inherit a County Arms. Plus, those with the County Arms would never fall under the influence of a Demon/Nightmare and would be incompatible with a Demon Arms.
The third and final feature: Information related to the respective County Arms would be stored in their bloodline that future generations could access through their dreams. On top of that, future generations would inherit the County Arms from their parents.
Krune ensured to create them to become bloodline-specific, something that could be inherited naturally. For example, suppose Liu Heng had the hammer County Arms. When he has children, both would also possess the hammer. Not only that, but he would still have his hammer as well.
He wouldn't lose his hammer.
This was the most important aspect of this County Arms. Thanks to this, their reliance on the Yin Dragon was minimal. After all, now that everyone in the Liu Family possessed a County Arms, they had established the bloodline completely.
So, in the future, children of the Liu Family would be born with the hammer. This was to ensure that future generations wouldn't become powerless if the Yin Dragon was either killed, lost interest in the pact, or for any other reason.
He wished to ensure this peace would last long-term.
"Now, for the most important task," Krune muttered, arriving at the forge, making all the other Liu Family members leave the place. The gazes of everyone were filled with respect. After all, he alone had wholly elevated their family standing.
"Of course, I must also establish a legacy." Smiling, Krune took out a hammer that was created using the Yin Dragon's bones. It was the hammer he used to forge the first batch of County Arms.
Now, he began to do the same. But this time, the Yin Dragon's horn had been immersed in a solution within which his Imperial Arms, the Star Ring, had been placed.
It was called the Sun Ring previously. But now that it had evolved, he called it the Star Ring.
The solution had turned transparent with glowing particles in it, akin to stars. Krune waited for two days, watching the horn fully absorb the solution, turning transparent with glowing particles forming its body, shining.
He then began to forge them, watching the process take a longer time than usual. For two whole weeks, he was constantly at work, gently molding it until he created the same kite shape.
"Hahaha! It's done!" He laughed weakly. After forging for two weeks straight, he gently placed the item on his palm, watching it seep into his body.
Immediately, he could feel a rush of power circulate within him, enveloping him with a sensation of strength. He gently extended his hand, summoning a hammer, causing it to hum as he watched the Star Ring hum in response, resonating with one another.
"With this, I have become strong enough to face a Nightmare alone and defeat them without sustaining any injuries." He grinned, gently waving the hammer around him, watching it rile up tiny sounds while moving.
He then placed it beside him, focusing as it lit up with a bluish radiance, gently unleashing minor sparks of lightning.
He then watched it turning transparent as the hammer's weight vanished, turning feather-light when Krune smiled. "Alright, it has both the powers of a Star Imperial Arms."
He then flicked his wrist, causing a loud gong to resound from the sky as lightning arced around the hammer, increasing in strength constantly until his body was fully surrounded by them.
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