Chapter 84: The Trident of Hell

Black Feather handed over the battered Asura Wood staff. Lin Ao Soul took it, placed it on the forging table, and poured in the molten black liquid. With a rune formed at his fingertips, the liquid flowed along the predetermined path. He then raised his massive hammer, forging with rhythmic clangs.

Soon, he took a drag of his cigarette and blew out a cloud of white smoke.
“It’s done.”

He placed the staff’s raw materials on the enchanting table; its appearance had changed completely, now resembling a trident. The original Asura wood remained only at the handle, while the rest was enveloped in a dark sheen, its length doubled and its texture unyieldingly hard.

“Hey, you, bring me the enchantment mold!”
He addressed the assistant still inside, gesturing with a finger.

“Yes, sir…” The assistant nodded, bowing as he hurried to the wall and took down a large, black template with six rhombic slots. The mold was so heavy his shoulder sank beneath its weight, but he managed to haul it before Lin Ao Soul’s table.

Lin Ao Soul took it single-handedly, seemingly without effort, laying it flat on the workbench. Meanwhile, materials such as “bat wing bones and sea serpent scales” had melted in the furnace. He poured them into the slots one by one; the liquid cooled and solidified, forming brilliant runes atop each.

“These four rune stones represent: speed, resilience, slicing, and piercing.”

He extracted them from the mold and strode to the center of the smithy, extending his hand to Black Feather.
“Hand me the staff.”

Black Feather offered the newly forged staff.

In the magical continent, weapon forging had long surpassed the era of cold steel; more important than forging itself was the imbuing of attributes. Lin Ao Soul had attained the pinnacle as a Weapon Master; enchanting was second nature to him.

He tossed the staff and four rune stones into the air, grasped his giant hammer, and activated the forging magic array from below.

Dark green mystical light surged; the staff hovered in midair, the four rune stones spinning rapidly around it. Lin Ao Soul’s hammer struck fiercely, channeling energy through its head, causing the staff to continually shift in form.

Gradually, the staff transformed from its clumsy shape, becoming sleek and straight, its surface coated with a subtle layer of serpentine scales, increasing its durability. The tail unfurled demonic wings, enhancing speed. The three sharp prongs at the tip were fitted with scorpion’s jet-black stingers, making them even sharper, and the mantis claw’s slicing power imbued the outer blades.

With relentless hammering, the staff’s hue deepened to pitch black, waves of darkness emanating from it. The four rune stones continued their rapid orbit until their powers fully merged into the staff, suddenly emitting four distinct rays of light which in turn embedded themselves along its length.

Then, as if awakened, the staff burst forth with dazzling brilliance from base to tip.

“Finished!” Lin Ao Soul delivered a final blow; the staff rang out, the magic array shattered, and the newly enchanted staff drifted gently downward.

Black Feather caught it, hands sinking with its weight. He weighed the new staff; the balance was perfect. Compared to his old broken, cumbersome staff, this gleaming “Hell Trident” was far more elegant in appearance.

He’d long heard of the Snow Giant clan’s peerless forging skills, and the Mechanical City of the Snowlands, famed for crafting exceptional weaponry. Black Feather felt incredibly fortunate.

“Thank you so much!” he said sincerely.

“No need for thanks!” Lin Ao Soul waved off the gratitude with gusto, settling back into his chair and lighting another cigarette. “This staff isn’t just about looks—the real value is in its power!” Seeing Black Feather admiring the staff, turning it over fondly, he spoke with pride, evidently pleased with his handiwork.

“I can’t wait to try it!” Black Feather seized the staff, eager to set out.

“Oh, right.” He turned back. “If you ever need my help, just ask!”

“What would I need from you? Just don’t go causing me trouble.” Lin Ao Soul puffed smoke lazily, eyes narrowed.

“Heh,” Black Feather chuckled. “I’ll be off then!”

Leaving Villain Village, Black Feather headed straight to a secluded spot deep within the Dark Forest. Though he encountered no monsters on the way, he spotted a small hill a hundred yards ahead.

“This will do for a test!”

He unlocked the second seal; his inner energy surged, but this time, the dark power did not spill out—it flowed into the trident staff. Fierce winds rose from beneath his feet, whipping his mage’s robe dramatically behind him.

Crimson flickered in his eyes, and the trident’s sharp tip quickly and precisely gathered a glowing black point, the speed of magical condensation vastly improved compared to before.

“Magic Light Slash!”

He swung, unleashing a massive arc of dark energy across a ten-yard span from the staff, thin and razor-sharp, its sudden impact even forcing Black Feather to stumble back three steps.

A resonant hum swept through the dark woods; along the arc’s path, thick branches shuddered, and in the distance, the hill exploded, stones tumbling down its slopes.

“Success!” Black Feather exclaimed with shock and delight, “The new staff has multiplied the power of Magic Light Slash, and its slicing effect is even stronger. With my old staff, I could never have produced such a strike!”

Just as he was about to return to camp, he noticed that trees along the arc’s path had snapped and toppled from cuts as fine as hair. The cracking and thudding echoed through the silent forest.

Fortunately, this was the Dark Forest, and the trees—already deeply corrupted by the dark aura—oozed black sap from the wounds, making it impossible for anyone to suspect a magical attack.

Early next morning, Yun Lan led the teachers and students of the Magic Academy back toward Holy City. Lin Ao Soul soon withdrew with the warriors of the Mage Alliance from the Great Wall as well; after all, Holy City and the borders of the continents still harbored lingering monsters that needed more hands to clear.

A few days later, at dusk, Yun Lan’s party arrived at Holy City. Black Feather, back in his dormitory, took a bath and immediately sought out Ling Xiao Tears and Shen Zai Guo, eager to report his safe return.

During Black Feather’s absence, Ling Xiao Tears had spent her days buried in the Academy’s library, and today was no exception.

At a long table between the shelves, piled high with ancient tomes, Ling Xiao Tears nestled behind stacks of books, murmuring softly to herself.