"It should be able to hold."
Wang Daoxuan pondered, "Master Huo is the foremost martial artist of our ti. Even if Heavenly Master Zhang were here in person, without the aid of the magic platform, casting spells from a distance wouldn't do much good."
Li Yan nodded, but a vague unease lingered in his heart.
He felt as though sothing wasn't quite right.
Just then, a piercing chill suddenly crept up his spine.
Li Yan abruptly turned around, looking toward the direction of the workshop.
"What's wrong?" Wang Daoxuan noticed his abnormality.
Li Yan was about to speak when, in the distance, another astonishing bolt of thunder exploded, lighting up the entire academy as bright as day, drawing everyone's attention once more.
"It's nothing."
Li Yan furrowed his brows, sowhat puzzled.
The previous unease vanished in an instant.
Could it be the aura of the Grandmaster?
No, I should go check it out...
...
Inside the workshop, Lu Chengye's hand trembled slightly.
The rumbling thunder outside masked the deliberately made noises. He hunched over like an old mouse, weaving through piles of lumber.
No one noticed him. Everyone's attention was drawn to the Grandmaster battle outside, even the strictest supervisor was peering out the window.
Lu Chengye reached a secluded corner and pulled out a carving knife from his bosom.
The knife's edge glinted cold in the oil lamp's light.
The hand holding the knife trembled slightly.
"Grandpa... save ..."
His granddaughter's cries echoed in his mind once again.
A flicker of pain crossed the old craftsman's murky eyes, but his hands moved with even more determination. Trembling, he gently scored the knife across the waist of the spirit wood possessed by Zhao Qingxu, placing it on another piece of spirit wood.
Instantly, a wisp of black gas seeped from the spirit wood's crevice, worming into the grain of other spirit wood components like a living creature.
The initially smooth wood surface imdiately revealed black patterns, which quickly disappeared.
"Hurry... hurry..."
Lu Chengye swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead.
One, two, three...
He moved like a tireless worker ant among the wooden components.
"Master Lu? What are you doing here?"
A young craftsman's voice suddenly called from behind.
Lu Chengye's whole body tensed, turning slowly, a wooden smile on his face: "Just checking the mortise and tenon... We'll be assembling tomorrow..."
The young craftsman glanced suspiciously at the carving knife in his hand, then looked toward the window, "Aren't you going to take a look? I heard Heavenly Master Zhang and Master Huo are fighting!"
"I'm old... my eyes are not good..."
Lu Chengye lowered his head, "You go... I'll keep checking for a while..."
The young craftsman hesitated for a mont but couldn't resist his curiosity and quickly ran to the window.
Lu Chengye let out a sigh of relief, cold sweat soaking his back...
...
On the academy's path, Li Yan subconsciously rested his right hand on the Duan Chen Blade's hilt.
Ever since becoming a living Yin ssenger, his instincts had never been wrong.
The workshop door was wide open, brightly lit inside. Craftsn were returning in groups, chatting about the earlier Grandmaster battle. Everything seed normal.
But Li Yan's gaze imdiately locked onto Lu Chengye in the corner.
The old craftsman sat alone by a pile of lumber, his face as pale as paper, his eyes vacant.
"Master Lu?" Li Yan approached, calling softly.
Lu Chengye jerked his head up, a flicker of panic in his eyes, then quickly lowered his head, "Young Hero Li..."
"Are you alright? You look unwell."
"No, I'm fine... just a bit tired, I'll go rest now."
Lu Chengye muttered, turning to leave.
Li Yan watched the old craftsman's trembling hands, his frown deepening.
"Stop, don't run!"
A sudden cold snort startled Lu Chengye, causing his hair to stand on end. Gritting his teeth, he bolted outside...
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