The others nodded in agreement.

"The spatial energy alone is overwhelming," a Rune Dwarf said. "It does not simply exist within the material. It permeates it entirely."

They began discussing.

Voices overlapped.

Ideas were thrown back and forth rapidly.

"Extreme heat alone will not work."

"Compression techniques might fail as well."

"What about layered forging with resonance arrays to amplify the force?"

"We could attempt to weaken it first."

"No, that might destabilize its structure."

"Then suppress it."

That suggestion caused several of them to pause.

A Fireforge elder spoke.

"A spatial suppression formation," he said. "If we restrain the energy, we might be able to shape it."

Several others nodded.

"That could work."

"We would need multiple layers."

"And constant reinforcement."

Lin Mu, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke.

"That will not work."

The elders stopped.

They turned toward him.

"And why is that?" one of them asked, his tone curious rather than confrontational.

Lin Mu raised his hand.

A shimmering mass of silvery energy appeared above his palm.

It flowed like liquid light.

The moment it manifested, every dwarf in the chamber recognized it.

Their expressions changed instantly.

"Spatial Qi..." one of them whispered.

Lin Mu nodded.

"I am a Spatial Cultivator," he said calmly. "I have already tested suppression methods. Even direct spatial control is insufficient to fully restrain it."

The dwarves stared at him.

Then...

Their serious expressions broke.

Into wide grins.

"You should have said that from the beginning!" one of the Fireforge elders laughed loudly.

"Exactly!" another added. "We would have greeted you properly!"

Their earlier formality loosened further.

Respect had now fully settled in.

Among dwarves, strength was respected.

Craft was revered.

But those who mastered space itself...

They held a special place.

Lin Mu recalled this from his earlier encounter. The dwarves had always valued spatial masters highly.

It made sense.

Space was the foundation of many advanced forging techniques.

Storage.

Compression.

Stability. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Control.

All of it tied back to spatial understanding.

"So suppression formations are out," a Rune Dwarf muttered, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

"Looks like there is only one option left," another added.

"The Dao Forge."

The words carried a sense of inevitability now.

No longer a question.

A conclusion.

Lin Mu inclined his head slightly.

"When can we begin?" he asked.

The elders exchanged looks. The excitement in their eyes remained, but it was now tempered with caution. One of the Transcendent elders spoke.

"Before we proceed, we must consult the Ancestral Wisdom," he said.

Lin Mu listened.

"There may be records," the elder continued, "of materials similar to this. Even fragments of knowledge could prove valuable."

"We will need to access the grand archives," another added. "The deepest sections."

"That will take time," a third said.

Lin Mu nodded.

"That is understandable," he replied. "If you require assistance, I can contribute."

The elders shook their heads.

"We will handle it," one of them said firmly. "If we cannot manage this much, then our experience is meaningless."

Their pride was clear.

Lin Mu respected that.

Instead, one of the elders turned toward a younger dwarf elder among them, a Fireforge by lineage.

"You," he said. "Attend to our guests."

The younger dwarf straightened immediately.

"Yes, Elder."

"Show them proper dwarven hospitality," the elder added.

At those words, Cattaleya let out a laugh.

"Finally," she said, stretching her shoulders slightly. "I was wondering when that would happen."

She looked toward the dwarf with a grin.

"I have not had proper dwarven ale in a long time."

The Fireforge dwarf smirked.

"Then you will drink until you can stand no more," he said confidently.

Cattaleya’s grin widened.

"We will see who falls first."

The dwarf raised a brow.

"Is that a challenge?" he asked.

She tilted her head slightly.

"Are you afraid?" she shot back.

The dwarf let out a loud laugh.

"A Fireforge never retreats from two things," he declared proudly. "A forge..."

He stepped forward.

"And a drinking contest."

His eyes gleamed.

"Let us go!"

And with that, the mood shifted once again.

They were led out of the grand hall and toward another large structure within Mantleheim. This one was louder, livelier, and far less formal. Even before they entered, the sounds of laughter, heavy mugs striking tables, and booming voices could be heard.

Inside, dozens of dwarves had already gathered.

Barrels lined the walls.

Tables were filled.

Drinks flowed freely.

The moment they entered, heads turned.

The Fireforge dwarf raised his voice.

"These are guests of the elders!" he announced. "Treat them well!"

Murmurs spread.

Curiosity rose.

The introduction was very simple and yet within minutes... The atmosphere transformed.

More barrels were brought out.

Tables were cleared.

Space was made.

And just like that a banquet began.

Mugs were filled.

Voices rose.

And the night... Turned into celebration.

The banquet roared to life in a way that only dwarves could manage. The hall they had been brought into was vast, filled with long stone tables reinforced with bands of metal, each one bearing the scars of countless celebrations.

Barrels were stacked against the walls in towering rows, some sealed, others already tapped and flowing. The air was thick with laughter, the deep rumble of voices blending with the constant clatter of mugs striking against stone.

Cattaleya stood at the center of it all.

She had already claimed a large space for herself, surrounded by a growing crowd of dwarves who had gathered out of curiosity and competitive spirit. A massive barrel sat beside her, and in her hand was a mug that looked oversized even for most dwarves. Yet in her grip, it seemed perfectly suited.

"Another!" she called out, her voice carrying easily over the noise.

A Fireforge dwarf stepped forward, his beard already damp with spilled ale, his face flushed from drink.

"You think you can outdrink me?" he challenged, lifting his own mug.

Cattaleya smirked.

"I already have," she replied.

The surrounding dwarves roared with laughter.

The challenge was accepted.

They drank wanting to see who could handle their booze better.