Enzo and his companions accompanied the envoy of the Temple of the Seven Gods to the grand hall of judgment on planet Alfa. The hall was solemn and imposing, its walls adorned with ancient runes that emanated a mysterious glow. The leaders of the Temple of the Seven Gods were already seated upon the judgment dais, their expressions stern and unforgiving.

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Enzo stepped forward, his voice resonating through the hall. “Esteemed leaders of the temples, the Pride Temple and the Sloth Temple have repeatedly instigated conflict. In their relentless pursuit of the Ancestor Meat, they have resorted to unscrupulous tactics, infiltrating our Rage Temple with spies and colluding with the Umbra Corps to launch multiple assaults against us, throwing our territory into chaos. This blatant disregard for order is intolerable!”

The leader of the Pride Temple immediately retorted, “Enzo, do not slander us! What we engage in is merely a legitimate competition for resources. If you are able to acquire the Ancestor Meat, why should we not strive to do the same? We are merely seeking to benefit our own temple.”

The leader of the Sloth Temple chimed in, “Exactly! In this world, might makes right. The Ancestor Meat should rightfully belong to those temples with the strength to claim it. We are merely adhering to the laws of nature. How can this be deemed a crime?”

Enzo’s eyes widened in indignation, “You continue to twist the truth! Your assaults have inflicted suffering on countless innocent lives. Is this what you call ‘healthy competition’? Your methods are despicable and shameless, just like rats!”

At that moment, the head of the Wisdom Temple within the Temple of the Seven Gods interjected, “Both sides must remain calm. Our Temple of the Seven Gods has always been dedicated to upholding peace and order on planet Alfa. This trial must be grounded in facts and planetary law. Enzo, you claim they dispatched a spy. Do you have evidence?”

Enzo summoned Patricia to present the magical crystal recording Timothy’s furtive actions within the Rage Temple. “Esteemed leaders, behold this crystal. It reveals Timothy, a spy sent by the Pride Temple, stealthily gathering intelligence on the Ancestor Meat and Magic Circle within our domain. Had we not discovered him in time, the consequences could have been dire. Their sinister machinations are glaringly apparent.”

Upon seeing the crystal, the leader of the Pride Temple slightly faltered but still insisted, “This could simply be a misunderstanding. Perhaps Timothy was merely curious, exploring our temple. We cannot hastily label him a spy.”

Tulane stepped forward, retorting, “Oh, and what of his assault on our personnel upon being discovered, as well as signaling for help? Could that also be deemed a misunderstanding?”

The leader of the Sloth Temple retorted, “Our collaboration with the Umbra Corps is solely for the purpose of jointly exploring the secrets of the Ancestor Meat. There is no malicious intent toward you. It is you who have overreacted.”

Enzo, filled with rage, exclaimed, “How dare you mention the Umbra Corps! They employ all sorts of underhanded tactics in battle, and yet you claim this is merely a quest for secrets?”

After a brief whispered discussion among the judges, the head of the Greed Temple stated, “While the current evidence indicates misconduct on the part of both the Pride Temple and the Sloth Temple, it is insufficiently conclusive. We require further investigation. In the meantime, individuals associated with the Pride Temple and Sloth Temple shall be placed under house arrest at designated locations, and Enzo and his companions must remain on Alfa Planet, unable to leave without permission.”

Though dissatisfied, Enzo nodded in agreement, “I hope the esteemed judges will swiftly uncover the truth and restore justice to us.”

With the trial momentarily concluded, Enzo and his companions exited the courtroom. Matilda frowned and remarked, “I have an unsettling feeling that things are not as straightforward as they appear. They will surely devise a scheme to turn the tide.”

Enzo clenched his fists, “No matter what tricks they resort to, we must ensure they receive the punishment they deserve.”

Kosor patted Enzo’s shoulder and said, “Brother, don’t let anger consume you. I have an idea. Rather than waiting idly, we should take proactive measures to seek out something that will strengthen our position in the trial.”

Enzo looked at him quizzically, “What do you have in mind? Please, do share.”

Kosor’s gaze was resolute, “We shall forge powerful weapons. I have heard that in the frigid depths of Alfa Planet, there exists a material known as Ice Crystal Iron. It is remarkably hard. If we can obtain it, the weapons we create will be formidable. Additionally, I know of a reclusive master blacksmith deep within the mysterious desert, whose unparalleled skills may aid us.”

Enzo’s eyes sparkled with excitement, “Excellent, Kosor, that’s a splendid idea. Shall we set off at once?”

Kosor nodded affirmatively, “Indeed, but this journey will undoubtedly be arduous.”

Matilda chimed in,”Then I shall join as well. My power of ice may prove invaluable in the frigid expanse.”

Patricia expressed her concerns, “I wish to accompany you, but I fear my slight frame may hinder our progress.”

Enzo reassured her with a smile, “Patricia, do not undervalue yourself. Your supportive spells could save our lives in dire moments.”

Thus, the group prepared their belongings and embarked toward the frozen wasteland. The biting wind howled, cutting across their faces like a sharp blade.

Kosor led the way, wielding his great sword to cleave through the ice ahead. “Stay close, everyone. The path is treacherous.”

Matilda intermittently invoked her icy powers to reinforce the surrounding ice, cautioning, “Be careful. The ice here is exceedingly slippery.”

Upon reaching the edge of a glimmering frozen lake, Kosor crouched to examine it closely. “Beneath this lake may lie Ice Crystal Iron, but extracting it poses a challenge.”

Matilda formed a seal with her hands and chanted an incantation, directing a beam of blue light toward the lake.”Allow me to probe with my icy power.”

Suddenly, a tremendous force surged from beneath the ice, and a gigantic ice creature erupted forth, clawing its way toward them.

Enzo shouted, “Beware, this ice creature is formidable!”

Without hesitation, Kosor charged forward, brandishing his great sword. “Let me show you how to handle this behemoth!” The blade struck the ice creature, scattering shards of ice, yet the creature remained unscathed.

Matilda anxiously remarked, “Its hide is too thick. My spells seem ineffective.”

From the rear, Patricia called out, “I shall boost your strength .Give it another try!”

After receiving an enhancement, Kosor launched another assault, finally leaving a faint mark on the ice creature.

Enzo pondered for a moment. “I suspect that this ice creature possesses a core. If we can destroy it, we could defeat it.”

The group began to search around the ice creature for its core. Matilda, while evading its attacks, observed, “I believe I’ve spotted a glimmering point on its chest. Could that be it?”

Seizing the opportunity, Kosor aimed for the creature’s chest and struck at the glimmering point. In an instant, the ice creature disintegrated, scattering into countless shards across the ground.

Enzo sighed in relief, “At last, it’s dealt with. Let’s quickly look for the Ice Crystal Iron.”

They discovered some Ice Crystal Iron at the bottom of the icy lake and continued their journey toward the enigmatic desert.

Upon reaching the mysterious desert, the sun blazed overhead, and the sand burned beneath their feet. Kosor wiped the sweat from his brow, “This infernal place is even hotter than I imagined.”

Matilda chuckled wryly, “My ice powers are nearly suppressed here.”

They struggled through the desert in search of the old blacksmith’s dwelling when they suddenly encountered a sandstorm. The storm surged forth like an enormous wall.

Enzo shouted, “Everyone, find somewhere to take cover!”

The group scrambled for shelter, and Kosor spotted a cave not far away, urgently calling out, “There’s a cave over there! Quickly, let’s go!”

They took refuge in the cave and, once the sandstorm subsided, resumed their journey. Finally, they located the old blacksmith’s residence.

The blacksmith regarded them and inquired, “What brings you here?”

Kosor replied respectfully, “Master, we seek your assistance in forging weapons, as we have found Ice Crystal Iron.”

The blacksmith examined the crystalline iron. “This material is commendable. However, crafting weapons is no simple task. I shall require some special tools and herbs to assist in the process.”

Enzo promptly exclaimed, “Master, what do you require? We shall assist you in your search.”

“The item I seek is no simple treasure.” Replied the old blacksmith, casting a mysterious gaze upon Enzo. “Young man, are you aware that there are seven rare materials in this world that are exceedingly difficult to obtain?”

Enzo shook his head, “Master, I beg you to enlighten me.”

The blacksmith extended his fingers, counting each one, “The first is Starry Stone, which only falls from the heavens when a meteor streaks across the sky, landing in a mysterious valley surrounded by formidable magical barriers. A slight misstep could trigger deadly traps.

The second is Congenial Wood, found deep within the Misty Forest, guarded by fierce warcraft rumored to possess the gift of speech and unmatched cunning.

The third is Deep Sea Crystal, requiring one to plunge into the boundless depths of the ocean, enduring crushing water pressure while resisting the enchanting melodies of sirens.

The fourth is Burning Sun Metal, located at the very core of the most searing volcano, where molten lava surges, and the intense heat can instantaneously reduce a person to ashes.

The fifth is Phantom Veil, concealed within an illusory realm, demanding the unraveling of numerous enigmas to gain entry.

The sixth is Dark Night Vine, thriving in a shadowy swamp where the noxious fumes can corrode the very essence of one’s soul.

The seventh is Shining Jade, said to be hidden deep within ancient ruins, protected by countless mechanisms and potent magic.

What I require are the Starry Stone and Congenial Wood. Can you procure them?”

Kosor furrowed his brow, “Master, that is a daunting task, but we shall not relent. Please, do share the methods for forging the weapon, so we may gather materials and prepare in tandem.”

The blacksmith nodded, “Very well. To forge a weapon, one must first place Ice Crystal Iron into a specially designed furnace, using the energy of Starry Stone to temper the metal, rendering it far more resilient.”

Then, molds crafted from Congenial Wood are used for shaping, during which a special herbal juice—quite rare to obtain—must be added. I have a list of these herbs. Each strike during the forging must harmonize with specific magical incantations to imbue the weapon with arcane power. Finally, the weapon must be consecrated with Shining Jade to endow it with spirit.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep