'Isn't this a place with abundant Yin Energy, why is there no sign of Dark Yin Steel?'

Arthur gazed at the broken Makaze and asked his copy. Most records state that the Dark Yin Steel, albeit rare, is usually found near a Yin Vein. However, no steel was found in this gloomy cave.

"You can't expect Steel to be born from nothingness. Except for a few heavenly Metals that are created from natural laws, all other kinds, no matter how rare, are a transformation from a normal Steel or Iron to a special one."

Claud paused for a second before resuming

"If you put Steel near the Vein and wait, it'll eventually turn into a Dark Yin Steel. Though the waiting time is extremely long, even if you initially put something like Black Steel."

'So you mean to say it's a hopeless situation?'

Arthur grumbled as he heard Claud's words. Though Makeze acquired a unique sheath that helped it grow in power, that didn't recover its lost parts. Furthermore, using it against a powerful opponent will surely damage it and render it a blade beyond repair.

"There is a lot of solutions. Either find Star Iron or Dark Yin Steel, you can also seek an expert blacksmith but it's unknown if he or she will repair it as it's not easy. There is also the problem of a suitable place for the dark blade to fully recover after fixing it. This is a decent place but... it's a bit lacking if I say so myself."

Arthur remained silent as he unsheathed Makaze and held it in his hands. The blade wasn't in its peak form and despite recovering a bit after he absorbed Zodiak's powers, it quickly returned to being weakened due to the Primordial Energy lingering inside. The main reason it broke was due to suffering a lot of attacks from the Divine Beasts and due to the skill [Thousand Waves].

The 5th wave wasn't something either Arthur nor Makaze could unleash yet they did which resulted in such tragic consequences. Even now, after he had gained so much stats and become much stronger, unleashing the 5th wave with Makaze like this is not possible.

Arthur closed his eyes and immersed himself in the darkness that quickly enveloped the blade and its owner. Like a tornado, the darkness, which blocked light and even Energy, started rotating around them and rising until it reached the ceiling of the cave.

Just looking at this spinning whirlpool made Shu Ru incredibly uncomfortable, even her breathing quickened, not from fear but from suffocation.

The Yin Energy seemed to have disappeared with the appearance of this whirlpool. Fortunately, this didn't last long and served as small nourishment for Makaze, which emitted a loud growl which reverberated in the cave.

The girl no longer felt surprise, she's grown numb of all of this. She's seen so many mind-blowing things that she no longer cares. She even wondered if she'll be surprised by any achievements other people will do after seeing Arthur and Lucy in action.

Her attention shifted to the blade, which was jet black and was missing its lower half. A black fog emanated from its hilt which slightly obstructed the vision around it.

"Senior."

As Arthur sheathed Makaze and was about to get up, Shu Ru called out to him. He turned his head and looked at her, who seemed to have gotten rid of her timid attitude, and tilted his head in confusion.

She never talked to him since the first day they arrived in the cave so her sudden call was strange. Feeling his unintentional cold gaze caused Shu Ru to stutter in her words

"I,I know a good blacksmith who can fix your sword."

Her tone contained confidence as if she knew that Makaze would definitely be fixed. However, Arthur wasn't so optimistic, he stared at her for a few seconds before replying

"Thank you for your concern but I don't think any blacksmith can fix my weapon."

Although her intentions were good, Arthur still refused her offer for one good reason. Claud said that a blacksmith that can fix Makaze has to be an expert in his field. These Blacksmiths are usually in High-Realms, especially in those large worlds or planets. So it's pointless to waste time with a blacksmith in a middle-Realm.

Despite his flat refusal, Shu Ru insisted:

"I'm sure he can fix your blade. As long as you pay the right price, he'll fix Godly Artifacts."

(Reminder: Items Ranks : Spirit=> Mystic=> Heavenly=> Godly=> Mysterious.)

'Just like cultivators, Blacksmiths have ranks. Bronze Blacksmiths are the most common, they all have cultivation above God Realm and can repair or craft Spirit and Mystic Ranked Items. Silver Blacksmiths are rare, they are Sovereigns and are able to forge Heavenly Items and if they're lucky, Godly Items. Gold Blacksmiths are few very sparse and I doubt more than twenty exist in all of the Cloud Sea Universe. Whether it's Godly or Mysterious Items, they can craft or repair them, oh and they usually have strong cultivation, meaning a God Monarch or above. The last rank is Diamond Blacksmiths but I don't think they exist anymore.

This ranking also applies to Alchemists or Poison-Masters or Puppeteer but those three are very rare, especially Puppeteers.'

Conveniently, Claud explained everything to Arthur. Upon pondering about Shu Ru's words, it's easy to deduce that the blacksmith she's talking about is either a Gold Blacksmith or a Silver Blacksmith who's about to break through and rank up, that is if she's not lying.

'I strongly advise to locate a sect or clan of blacksmiths and raid it. The corpses of their ancestors will surely increase your blacksmithing skills and allow you to craft items that transcend logic.'

By the way, Arthur's rank is considered a bronze Blacksmith but he can craft Heavenly Items thanks to accumulated passives and his special flames which are stronger than the one used by normal blacksmiths.

It is known by all that the stronger the flame the easier it is to melt unique metals. The flame control of the crafter is important too and as someone who excels in using fire, Arthur's control is flawless.

"Alright, let me think about it."

Arthur didn't want to make a rash decision. They still have time and Lucy was still cultivating. Though he cultivation stopped at the peak of Little Sovereign, she started showing signs of breaking through. The next step for her is Fusion Sovereign where she needs to absorb the essence of her God Spirit.

Compared to her, Arthur was still a 2nd Grade God, despite the large difference between them, he wasn't particularly depressed. He just needs a place devoid of light and has a large amount of Darkness Energy and it'll allow him to jump over Grades in just a few days.

He can absorb Nether Energy but just like Lucy's case, where Mana is more compatible with her, natural Darkness Energy will facilitate the task of breaking through to the Sovereign Realm.

.........

It has been ten days since the trio arrived inside the cave. Aside from a bit of meditation, Arthur did nothing special. Lucy, however, never quit her meditation, she cultivated nonstop and on the tenth day, she was on the verge of becoming a Fusion Sovereign but stopped herself. Shu Ru's physique and her physique have sucked this placed dry and despite the presence of the vein, it'll take some time before the cave will accumulate Yin Energy.

Shu Ru managed to advance by two whole grades but that's to be expected since this place is very suitable to her. Outside, she can cultivate but her progress is unimaginably slow.

Neither Arthur nor Lucy will return to this place so it was a shame to leave the vein. Nevertheless, they left it unharmed as they had no place to keep it. Uprooting it will kill it if they don't have a suitable place to put it, like a fertile ground with rich Yin Energy.

The three finally saw the light of day after they left the perimeters of the Wicked Forest. It's hard to believe that the forest has a unique weather to it where the dark clouds blocked the sun rays and just when they stepped out of this thick forest, a whole new sky greeted them.

Arthur glanced at Shu Ru and questioned:

"So, the capital?"

"Yes, it should take us a week to arrive."

Arthur remained silent for a long period of time thus making Shu Ru confused and kind of awkward as she didn't know what to say. He paid her no heed as his attention was focused on Lucy, who was silently standing next to him.

Though absent-minded, his hand softly caressed her head. He was thinking about countless things and only snapped out of it when Lucy asked

"What's wrong?"

In response, Arthur smiled back at her and said

"Nothing, we've got to hurry, we can't let Saly wait for too long."

Hearing her daughter's name, Lucy nodded in agreement while enjoying the warm touch of his hand. If she knew what's going on in his head, she would have understood the true meaning of his words.

Unfortunately, this time, Arthur didn't tell her of his plans...