Chapter 3341: The Hidden Base Of Dwarfs

Hearing Thalgar’s words, Daoist Chu’s eyes narrowed. "That is exactly where we were headed."

Elyon folded his arms. "Quite convenient."

Borin nodded. "The base is on a half destroyed planet that orbits a dying star. A world that cracked into two pieces long ago. It is one of the few places where dwarves mine remnants of ancient stellar metals."

Grundar walked over to a stone table and etched coordinates with his runic pick. "These are the spatial coordinates of that world. Use them carefully."

Lin Mu stored the information.

Then Rikkan added, "One more thing. You cannot use any spatial teleportation arrays to get there. There are none on that planet, and the surrounding region is sealed from long distance teleportation."

Daoist Chu frowned. "So how do we reach it?"

The dwarves all pointed upward.

"You must travel through space directly."

Lin Mu nodded as if he had expected that.

The dwarves stepped back respectfully.

"Reach the dwarven base," Borin Flamebraid said. "Find the Clan Elder. Show them your material. They will know what must be done."

Lin Mu took a slow breath.

It was clear.

His journey toward forging the weapon he wanted had only just begun.

After the long and weighty discussion about the Ancestral Forge, the rogue planet, and the nearly impossible path ahead, Lin Mu and his group found themselves exhausted. Not physically, but mentally.

Even Cattaleya, who normally claimed to be most energetic after a fight, stretched her shoulders and admitted she needed a moment to breathe.

Borin Flamebraid clapped his hands together, his massive red beard bouncing as he grinned. "Then it is settled. You have heard heavy things, so you shall now enjoy proper dwarven hospitality."

Lin Mu, who knew exactly what that meant, chuckled inwardly.

Alcohol. A lot of it.

Within minutes, the dwarves brought out several large kegs, each carved with runes that glowed faintly from heat coming off the nearby furnaces. The smell of roasted malt, aged spirits, and fruit-infused liquors filled the air.

Cattaleya nearly bounced in place.

"Oh good," she said. "I thought you were going to offer meditation exercises."

Rikkan Emberetch laughed. "Meditation is for elves. Drinking is for those with beating hearts."

Cattaleya raised a tankard. "I like your culture already."

Elyon muttered to Meng Bai, "She would like any culture that offers alcohol."

Meng Bai rolled his eyes. "She would also like any culture that offers a chance to hit something."

The dwarves set up a massive stone table, placed several barrels on it, and passed out thick iron tankards. Each tankard weighed more than a normal sword, but Cattaleya twirled hers like a feather.

The drinking competition began in a roar.

Cattaleya versus five Rune Dwarves.

Even Daoist Chu insisted on watching and marking tally counts since, in his words, "someone needs to ensure fairness," though he clearly just wanted entertainment.

The competition was intense. Dwarven ale was unforgiving. It hit like molten iron and left a searing trail all the way down. Yet Cattaleya drank each tankard as if she were savoring a fine tea.

By the end of the tenth round, the dwarves were swaying, yet stubbornly refusing to admit defeat. Cattaleya’s cheeks were slightly pink, but she still sat with perfect posture. On the eighteenth round, four dwarves finally keeled over one by one. Borin Flamebraid lasted the longest, his face turning redder than his beard until he slumped forward.

Cattaleya raised her empty tankard with a tired smile. "A victory... but by a hair’s width."

The dwarves lay on the ground, wheezing.

Grundar Brightsteel raised a thumb. "You fight like a demon in the forge."

Cattaleya bowed. "I accept that as a compliment."

Lin Mu sat nearby, sipping a much smaller and milder drink. Strong alcohol had never been his thing, but he enjoyed the atmosphere. The warmth, the laughter, and the clanging of mugs echoed beautifully in the cavern.

Once the dwarves regained their breath, Lin Mu leaned forward.

"There are a few questions I’ve always had about dwarves. If you are willing, I would like to ask."

Even in their drunken states, the dwarves perked up. Teaching about their culture was a point of pride.

"Ask away," Borin said, though his speech was slightly slurred.

Lin Mu nodded. "First question. What makes Rune Dwarves different from Mountain Dwarves or Hill Dwarves? I have heard Rune Dwarves can look similar to the others."

The dwarves puffed up with pride immediately.

Grundar stood, wiped the soot from his back, and turned around. All five Rune Dwarves followed suit, revealing their backs. Lin Mu, and the others, leaned forward.

Detailed tattoos covered their backs from shoulders to waist. Intricate runes, connected in spiraling patterns, glowed faintly with embedded Qi. Each dwarf had different configurations and slightly different colors.

"These are our runes," Borin explained. "Upon reaching adulthood, every Rune Dwarf receives their first tattoo. It anchors their bodies and serves as their first connection to the Runic Dao. As we accumulate achievements, elders add more tattoos. Every rune is earned."

Lin Mu nodded. "A physical record of accomplishments."

The dwarves grinned. "Exactly. Hill Dwarves have their own forms of recording. Their agricultural achievements are shown through woven rings and carved wooden tokens they carry."

Thalgar continued, "Mountain Dwarves show achievements through forging medallions. Fireforge Dwarves have hair streaks of flame-like colors and fire marks on their chests. Snow Dwarves have pale skin and blue or white hair. Deep Dwarves have grey or blue skin. Storm Dwarves have lightning-like veins on their bodies. Each race carries history on their skin or in their craft."

Lin Mu found this fascinating. He bowed politely. "Thank you. I appreciate the explanation."

He shifted slightly. "Second question. How does dwarven cultivation work?"

The dwarves nodded, finding the question reasonable.

Grundar answered, "We are born with tough bodies. It is our natural blessing. But that alone is not enough. We cultivate both body and Qi, though our methods are intertwined. Our body cultivation refines our flesh through tempering and forging, while our Qi cultivation fuels the runes, arrays, and our crafts."

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