Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3684: Overabundance

"The Dao Forge has a special function," he explained. "It can guide a cultivator in the formation of Dao Embryos. It does not create them for you, but it reveals the paths that are available, making it easier to perceive and comprehend them." The Mountain Dwarf elder stated.

The Fireforge elder followed.

"We will activate that function for you," he said. "Once it is active, you will be able to see the Dao Embryos that resonate with you."

Before Lin Mu could respond, the Rune Dwarf elder raised his hand slightly.

"There is something you must understand first," he said.

Lin Mu looked at him.

"What is it?"

The elder’s expression grew more serious.

"For most dwarves, this process is difficult because of scarcity. They struggle to perceive enough Dao Embryos, and even when they do, their comprehension may not be sufficient to grasp them fully."

He paused briefly.

"In your case, the problem will be the opposite."

Lin Mu raised a brow.

"Opposite?"

The Mountain Dwarf elder continued.

"With your level of Dao comprehension, there is a high chance that you will be presented with far too many options. You will not be searching for a Dao Embryo. They will come to you."

Lin Mu remained silent, listening carefully.

"They will not merely appear," the elder added. "They may compete for your acceptance. The stronger ones will assert themselves more aggressively. They may attempt to suppress the others and force their presence upon you."

The Fireforge elder nodded.

"The All Melt Furnace and the Flawless Metal Anvil are powerful Dao Embryos," he said. "But they are not the strongest ones that exist within the Dao Forge’s memory."

He gestured toward the surrounding space.

"There are many others here. Some are far more powerful, but they are not suited for what you need. They may tempt you, or even try to dominate your choice."

The Rune Dwarf elder spoke again.

"You must be firm," he said. "You must choose the Dao Embryo that aligns with your purpose. If you hesitate, or if you allow yourself to be swayed, you may end up with something that does not suit your path."

Lin Mu absorbed their words in silence.

He understood the weight of what they were saying.

This was not simply a matter of selecting the strongest option. It was about choosing the most appropriate one, even if it was not the most overwhelming in terms of raw power.

After a few moments, he nodded.

"I understand," he said.

Then he added something that caught the elders’ attention.

"I have faced something similar before."

The dwarves exchanged glances.

"Similar?" the Mountain Dwarf elder asked.

Lin Mu reached back and lightly tapped the large sheath resting across his back.

"My Sword Cradle Divine Sheath Dao Embryo," he said.

The elders’ expressions shifted slightly at the mention of it.

"When I formed it, I was presented with multiple Sword Dao Embryos," Lin Mu continued. "Each one was powerful, each one tempting. I could not decide which to choose."

He paused, recalling the experience.

"The process dragged on. I was stuck between options, unable to commit to any of them. In the end, I chose to ignore all of them entirely."

The elders listened intently.

"And then?" the Rune Dwarf elder asked.

Lin Mu’s gaze grew steady.

"When I stopped chasing them," he said, "the one that truly belonged to me appeared."

"The Sword Cradle Divine Sheath."

A brief silence followed.

The dwarves were visibly surprised.

This was not a situation that most cultivators would ever encounter. For many, the formation of a Dao Embryo was a struggle to grasp even a single viable option. Some were fortunate enough to have two or three choices, but that was rare.

To have so many options that one could afford to ignore them all was almost unheard of.

The Fireforge elder let out a low chuckle.

"You truly are an anomaly," he said.

The Mountain Dwarf elder nodded slowly.

"Your previous experience will help you," he said. "But this time, the situation is slightly different."

Lin Mu understood.

"Last time, I chose the strongest," he said.

The elder shook his head lightly.

"This time, you must choose what fits," he replied.

"The biggest hammer is not always the correct one."

Lin Mu took a deep breath.

He could already sense what lay ahead. The Dao Forge would present him with countless possibilities, each one representing a different path. Some would be powerful, some would be rare, and some would likely surpass even the expectations of the dwarves.

But power alone was not his goal.

He needed something that aligned with his purpose, something that could integrate seamlessly with his existing cultivation and assist in forging the husk.

It was a different challenge.

Yet at its core, it was the same principle.

Clarity.

Lin Mu closed his eyes briefly, centering himself.

When he opened them again, his expression was calm and resolute.

"I can handle it," he said.

The elders studied him for a moment.

Then they nodded.

"Very well," the Rune Dwarf elder said.

The three Transcendent elders stepped forward together.

They began to activate the Dao Forge.

The realm responded immediately.

The Dao traces within the space stirred, gathering and shifting as the ancient mechanisms of the forge awakened. Runes appeared across the surface of the realm, forming intricate patterns that pulsed with a deep, resonant energy.

Lin Mu stood at the center, ready.

The process was about to begin.

The moment the elders completed the activation, the Dao Forge began to change.

At first, the transformation was subtle.

The runes that were already present within the realm grew brighter, their glow deepening into a vivid, almost tangible light. Lines of power traced themselves across the space, forming patterns that seemed far too intricate for the mind to fully grasp.

These were not simple formations. They were the distilled knowledge of countless generations, condensed into symbols that carried both meaning and intent.

Then the movement began and the runes shifted, flowing like currents in an unseen sea.