Elder Bennett took a deep breath. “You... how long did it take you to forge these treasured weapons?”

Eric Dawson replied nonchalantly, “I just used some spare time during my usual cultivation. For these sixteen pieces, it took less than a month.”

“Impossible,” Elder Bennett said flatly. “I believe Elder Dawson has that ability, but you, Nephew Dawson...”

He shook his head, clearly not believing what Eric Dawson said.

What’s more, while it’s true that Old Man Dawson or some of the higher-level experts in the sect could forge treasured weapons with ease, who would be bored enough to actually do it?

With that kind of time and energy, their focus would naturally be on higher-level spirit weapons.

The others also began to look at Eric Dawson with suspicion, feeling that this Senior Brother Dawson might just be bluffing out of desperation.

Eric Dawson chuckled, “Of course it wouldn’t work with an external crystal furnace, but who says an internal crystal furnace can’t be used?”

Most people looked confused at his words, with only a few showing a stunned expression again.

Elder Bennett’s voice became stammered once more: “You... the internal crystal furnace you’re talking about, could it be... could it be the one from before the legendary Great Cataclysm...?”

“But the internal crystal furnace has long been extinct! Not to mention the actual item or the method of making it, there isn’t even a single word left about its basic structure! In the entire Eight Extremes World, there are only some simple legends left!”

Legend has it that before the Great Cataclysm, martial civilization was at its peak. Besides martial arts techniques, the art of forging was equally advanced.

In that era, ordinary weapons and mundane iron had no place in the world of martial artists. Battle weapons, treasured weapons, spirit weapons, and even saint weapons were not rare.

But with the Great Cataclysm, nothing survived the disaster, and all of it vanished, leaving only countless legends for later generations to admire and yearn for.

But for Eric Dawson, it was no secret. The divine palace archives from before the Great Cataclysm contained everything, not just martial arts manuals.

“By chance, when I was out training, I discovered a ruin that contained an incomplete method for constructing an internal crystal furnace,” Eric Dawson smiled. “So I worked on perfecting it, allowing the internal crystal furnace to reappear in the world. These lower-grade treasured weapons are my own works from the experimental process.”

“At present, I can only forge lower-grade treasured weapons. These grade B pieces are the best among them. There are also a few grade A pieces, which are close to mid-grade treasured weapons, but still a bit lacking and not stable enough, so I kept them for myself to nurture and to summarize the experience for the next attempt.”

Eric Dawson snapped his fingers. “As I continue to improve, mid-grade and high-grade treasured weapons won’t be out of reach. If I can further research the ancient methods to empower the internal crystal furnace, then even spirit weapons can be expected.”

Knowing his young master’s intentions, Jack had gone out earlier and soon returned to the side hall, bringing back a furnace as tall as a person—thick, solid, and brimming with spiritual energy.

Although Elder Bennett had never seen what an internal crystal furnace looked like, he at least knew that the forging furnace before him was definitely not the external crystal furnace everyone usually used.

The others gradually came to their senses as well, but their eyes were still full of shock.

Even the always-cool Alice Warren was shaken at this moment.

Precisely because she knew more, she understood even better the significance of the furnace before her.

Perhaps it was just a sapling now, but when it grew, what kind of towering tree would it become?

“This time, when I go to Zhenlong Abyss, besides the sect mission, I also have personal matters to handle—namely, further perfecting the internal crystal furnace. I need the special environmental conditions of Zhenlong Abyss and the True Flame fire seed that appears there.”

Eric Dawson spoke calmly, but Ethan Clark and Alice Warren exchanged glances.

Someone shouted excitedly, “Senior Brother Dawson, if even mid-grade, high-grade treasured weapons, and even spirit weapons, maybe... maybe...”

In today’s world, saint weapons are extremely rare, so he dared not think further, but he was still extremely excited: “If our sect could mass-produce spirit weapons, wouldn’t that mean... wouldn’t that mean...”

Eric Dawson nodded, flashing a bright smile. “That’s right. If we succeed, when you go out in the future, even if you meet disciples from other holy lands of the same level, if they bring battle weapons, you bring treasured weapons; if they bring treasured weapons, you bring spirit weapons. Just relying on equipment, you could overwhelm them.”

The disciples immediately let out a cheer in unison.

Eric Dawson waved his hand, and everyone instantly quieted down. “Train well. You are all the future of Guangcheng Mountain!”

Everyone responded in unison, “We will be humble and cautious, train diligently, and bring glory to Guangcheng!”

In fact, although Eric Dawson became famous at a young age, he was only a few years older than Ethan Clark, Alice Warren, and the others. Calling them “the future of Guangcheng Mountain” was a bit odd, as if they weren’t of the same generation.

But except for a few, no one present found it strange.

The comparison between Eric Dawson and Ethan Clark had long since been forgotten by everyone.

Their perspectives, ways of thinking, vision, and outlook were simply on different levels.