Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3707: Stasis And Collapse

The two spears rested upon the surface of the Dao Forge, their presence quiet yet overwhelming. No radiant aura burst forth, no blinding light filled the realm, and yet every person present could feel it.

The space around them seemed subtly heavier, as if something fundamental had shifted.

The Dao Forge itself, a construct that had witnessed countless creations across eras, hummed faintly as though acknowledging the birth of something rare even by its own standards.

Lin Mu stood a short distance away, his gaze fixed upon the weapons.

The long months of effort, the exhaustion, the failures, and the breakthroughs all culminated in this single moment. He did not step forward immediately. Instead, he allowed himself to take it in fully, letting the reality settle within him.

The dwarven elders were less restrained.

They approached slowly at first, almost cautiously, as if fearing that this vision might disappear if they moved too quickly. One of them reached out, his hand trembling ever so slightly before hovering just above the surface of one of the spears.

He did not touch it immediately. Instead, he observed it closely, his eyes tracing every contour, every subtle shift in its structure.

Another elder circled the second spear, his expression shifting between awe and disbelief. He bent slightly, inspecting the handle, the grooves, the seamless integration of the abdomen material that had been shaped and merged with such precision.

”This...” one of them finally spoke, his voice low and unsteady, ”...this is beyond anything we have ever created.”

No one contradicted him for they all knew it to be true.

Throughout their long lives, they had forged countless weapons. Some had been masterpieces within the Immortal realm, objects that could shift the balance of power in entire worlds. Yet even those now felt distant, almost insignificant when compared to what stood before them.

This was different.

This was not merely a weapon.

This was a culmination of Dao, of effort, of understanding that stretched beyond their own limits.

One of the elders, a veteran whose beard had long since turned white, let out a slow breath. His eyes glistened faintly, and though he did not attempt to hide it, the others noticed it quickly.

Tears, for a dwarf, especially one of such stature, was a rare sight.

And yet, none of them mocked him.

Because they understood.

They all felt it.

Never in their history, not in the records of their ancestors, had any of them worked with such a material. Never had they taken something so beyond their reach and shaped it into something that could be wielded.

And not one.

But two.

That realization alone was enough to shake even the most stoic among them.

Minutes passed in silence as they simply stood there, absorbing the moment. The Dao Forge remained still, as if it too was giving them time to acknowledge what had been achieved. Eventually, the Rune Dwarf elder straightened and turned toward Lin Mu.

The others followed suit, their expressions now composed, though the lingering emotion had not fully faded.

”There is something important that remains,” he said.

Lin Mu looked at him, already understanding what was coming.

”What will you name them?” the elder asked.

The question carried weight.

Names were not mere labels, especially for something like this. A name defined purpose, identity, and the role the weapon would play in the world.

Lin Mu did not answer immediately.

He had already thought about it during the long months of work, during the countless hours spent guiding spatial energy and shaping the husk. The names had come to him gradually, forming alongside his understanding of what these spears truly represented.

He stepped forward, his gaze moving from one spear to the other.

Then he spoke.

”They shall be named Stasis and Collapse,” he said.

He paused briefly before continuing.

”The Twin Void Pillars.”

The words settled into the space like a quiet declaration of truth.

The elders exchanged glances, their expressions shifting as they processed the meaning. They did not need long to understand. Even in their simplicity, the names carried depth that resonated with everything they had experienced during the forging process.

”Stasis...” one of them murmured.

”Collapse...” another repeated.

The Fireforge elder let out a soft chuckle, though it was filled with appreciation rather than humor. ”Simple words,” he said, ”yet they carry more weight than many grand titles.”

The Rune Dwarf elder nodded. ”They are fitting.”

Still, they were curious.

”Tell us your reasoning,” he asked.

Lin Mu’s expression softened slightly as he looked at the spears again.

His thoughts drifted to Xukong. To the being whose husk had made all of this possible. He could not speak about him, so changed his reasoning a bit. He spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully.

”I know the Spatial Dao is profound. It is present everywhere, yet elusive. It can destroy, and it can preserve. Without it, nothing can exist, and yet when it becomes violent, it can destroy the universe.” Lin Mu explained. ”In a way, it is a pillar,” he added.

Then his gaze sharpened slightly.

”But if that pillar is removed... everything collapses.”

Silence followed.

The meaning was clear. The names were not chosen for grandeur. They were chosen because they represented truth.

Lin Mu then added quietly, ”There is another reason.”

The elders looked at him again.

”These spears will not be used by the same person,” he said.

He placed a hand on one of them.

”This one,” he continued, ”will be mine. I will name it Collapse.”

There was no hesitation in his voice.

”I will face many enemies. I will destroy what stands in my path. And if needed... I may have to destroy more than just them.”

The weight of those words lingered.

Then he turned to the second spear.

”This one will belong to my disciple. I will name it Stasis.”

His expression softened again, though there was still firmness within it.

”He walks a different path,” Lin Mu said. ”His understanding lies in formations, in structure, in creating order. One day, he may build something that brings stability to the world. Perhaps even to the universe itself.”

He paused briefly.

”If not that, then at least he will create something that protects, that preserves.”