Chapter 131: Gift of the Heroic Blade

Chapter 131: Gift of the Heroic Blade

The Armory.

Located in the southern part of the outer city.

As soon as Jiang Ning approached, he heard the clanging sounds of blacksmithing.

The armory was spacious, and its entrance was wide open.

Standing at the entrance of the armory, one could hear the various sounds of forging tempered steel coming from the backyard.

Jiang Ning had some knowledge about the armory.

As far as he knew, whether it was the standard long swords used by the Imperial Guards or the official weapons of the City Gate Guards, they all originated from this armory.

Therefore, the armory had a considerable number of staff. Many ordinary families would sell their children around the age of twelve or thirteen to the armory as servants, ensuring their offspring would have a skill to make a living.

After three years of running errands and three years of apprenticeship, one could finally learn the craft.

This was the normal path to becoming a qualified armorer.

With a constant influx of young people joining, the armory naturally grew bigger and bigger.

Moreover, joining the armory provided an opportunity for ordinary families to learn martial arts.

If one had decent martial talent, they would receive training from the armory.

This was another path to success.

Even though it required selling oneself to the armory for a few years, it still held great appeal for ordinary families.

At this moment, Jiang Ning arrived at the armory, and there were many people coming and going.

It was much livelier than the entrance of Wanhua Tower.

Ordinary folks also needed to purchase various iron tools.

Whether it was a sickle or an axe, or even small items like firewood-chopping knives, the armory sold them all.

Jiang Ning entered the armory.

A young servant boy saw Jiang Ning and approached him.

As someone who had been greeting guests here for a long time, he could naturally discern who had the means to spend.

Jiang Ning entered with a sword in hand, his steps steady, and his eyes radiating a sharp light.

At a glance, it was evident he was a martial artist.

In the eyes of the servant boy, such people had good spending power.

Without a certain financial background, it was difficult for ordinary people to practice martial arts.

Constantly training, not to mention various health tonics, the mere consumption of meat and fish was a significant expense.

Ordinary families could only afford meat and fish during festivals and holidays.

How could they practice martial arts without such resources? Without wealth, the body would weaken after practicing martial arts for three to five months.

For this reason, the servant boy was surprised to see Jiang Ning.

Anyone who practiced martial arts must have a decent financial background.

With a good financial background, their spending power was naturally good.

"Sir, may I ask what kind of weapon you're looking to buy in our shop?" The servant boy bowed respectfully.

Jiang Ning replied, "I need a handy and suitable sword."

"That's easy!" The servant boy's face lit up with pride. "We have plenty of good swords here, and I'm sure you'll be satisfied with our selection."

Then he added, "Please follow me, sir!"

"Okay," Jiang Ning nodded.

The two of them went to the weapon rack on the side.

"Sir, please try these weapons. They are all forged from tempered steel and are extremely sharp, capable of splitting hair with ease," the servant boy said.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning casually picked up a long sword.

With a swift motion, he drew the sword from its scabbard.

Then, with another swift motion, he sheathed the sword.

"Too light!" Jiang Ning shook his head. "These must be below a hundred-forged blade!"

"You have a good eye, sir!" The servant boy nodded repeatedly. "These are all hundred-forged blades meticulously crafted by our masters."

Jiang Ning shook his head. "Don't waste my time. Hundred-forged blades are too light for me and have no meaning. Take me to see better swords."

Hearing this, the servant boy's eyes widened in surprise.

As someone who worked at the armory, he was naturally very knowledgeable about weapons.

Even a hundred-forged blade, which could be used by beginners in the Ninth Stage of Martial Dao, was considered a waste of time by the young man who looked to be around eighteen or nineteen.

They were all too light.

Just how powerful was this young man?

The servant boy couldn't help but wonder.

Then, he said, "Alright, sir, follow me."

He led Jiang Ning to the neighboring shop.

As Jiang Ning entered, the sound of blacksmithing became even louder.

"Sir, please take a look at these weapons. They are all made from three to five hundred-forged tempered steel," the servant boy said.

Hearing this, Jiang Ning became interested.

He went to the weapon rack and casually picked up a long sword.

The long sword felt substantial in his hand.

He clearly sensed its size and weight.

It was four feet and three inches long and weighed fifty-three jin.

Jiang Ning drew the sword from its scabbard.

With a swift motion, a cold light flashed within the room.

Jiang Ning waved the sword casually.

In an instant, the room was filled with the light of the blade, and a strong wind seemed to appear out of thin air.

The servant boy's expression turned to astonishment, and he took a few steps back.

He couldn't help but be amazed.

He was very familiar with this sword, which had been forged five hundred and thirty-seven times and was of the highest quality in this place.

Among the blades in this region, this particular sword is also extremely heavy.

Weighing a massive fifty-three jin.

Only a powerful Eighth Stage Divine Power Realm martial artist can wield such a heavy blade with ease.

However, even for such experts, wielding a blade of this weight in prolonged combat is challenging.

Although the blade technique tends to be aggressive and relentless, it still emphasizes skill, rarely relying on brute force.

When it comes to sheer strength, those with genuine power often opt for other heavy weapons like staffs, hammers, and spears.

Thus, despite its exceptional quality, this blade has remained unsold in the armory for many years.

After reaching the Ninth Stage Martial Dao, each advancement becomes a significant hurdle.

A toughened skin is like stone, and an even tougher skin, like copper, is even more challenging.

Each step is a substantial leap, making it incredibly difficult, and most people require a grinding effort to achieve it.

Consequently, there are few Eighth Stage Divine Power Realm experts in Lo Shui County.

Even fewer use blades as their weapon of choice.

And this blade is exceptionally heavy.

After a few breaths, Jiang Ning paused from testing the blade.

His face remained calm, and his breath steady, as if the fifty-three jin long sword in his hand was weightless.

He tested the weight of the blade a few more times, then shook his head.

"Fifty-three jin, for a typical Eighth Stage Martial Dao expert with a strength of around fifteen hundred jin, this blade is indeed manageable and quite handy."

"After all, if it were any heavier, it would be too exhausting, and even an ordinary Eighth Stage Divine Power Realm expert would feel burdened."

"But I'm different. I'm not afraid of prolonged battles, and I prefer to settle fights with a few swift strikes. So, the heavier the blade, the better for me."

"Moreover, my strength is rapidly increasing. It won't be long before I break through two thousand jin, or even three thousand jin."

At this thought, Jiang Ning sheathed his blade.

Then he asked, "Do you have any heavier blades?"

"Isn't this one heavy enough?" The servant boy exclaimed, his face showing surprise.

Jiang Ning shook his head slightly, "Not heavy enough! It's still a bit light. Ideally, I'd want something twice as heavy, or even heavier."

Hearing this, the servant boy's expression turned to horror as he looked at Jiang Ning.

Among martial artists, strength is a direct indicator of one's overall power.

Generally, those with a thousand jin of strength use blades weighing thirty to forty jin in actual combat.

Heavier weapons hinder agility and consume too much energy.

Yet, this five-hundred-and-thirty-forged treasure blade weighs a staggering fifty-three jin.

Even an Eighth Stage Divine Power Realm martial artist would not consider this blade light.

But Jiang Ning claimed it was still too light.

This shocked the servant boy.

He naturally understood the implications of Jiang Ning's words.

Having just witnessed Jiang Ning wielding the blade with ease, the boy knew Jiang Ning wasn't boasting.

"Is this man a powerful expert in the Eighth Stage Divine Power Realm?" The boy wondered.

He swallowed hard, then said, "Sir, please wait a moment. This blade is the heaviest we have here."

"For better blades, I don't have the authority. I'll have to ask the manager first."

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded, "No problem, go ahead!"

"Yes, sir!" The servant boy nodded and hurried off.

Jiang Ning returned the long sword to the weapon rack and casually tested the nearby blades.

As he wielded them, he confirmed that the previous blade was indeed the heaviest.

The other blades he tried were nowhere near as heavy, with the heaviest barely exceeding fifty jin.

Most of them weighed just twenty to thirty jin, a weight that even a Ninth Stage Martial Dao expert would find extremely manageable, perhaps even a bit cumbersome.

Jiang Ning then approached the rack holding heavy weapons.

He picked up a pair of giant hammers, and his tongue couldn't help but click.

"So heavy!"

"It's probably around one hundred and fifty jin."

"What kind of terrifying power would one strike with this hammer unleash?"

"An ordinary person would probably crush themselves!"

Jiang Ning gripped the hammers with both hands and started swinging them.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the wind howled around him, like the cries of ghosts and wolves.

A strong wind suddenly stirred inside the room.

At that moment, a man over two meters tall, his body seemingly carved from muscle, entered the room.

His skin was dark, as if coated in charcoal, and he wiped his hands with a towel as he walked.

He noticed Jiang Ning swinging the hammers.

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

"That strength, it's probably over fifteen hundred jin!!!"

"When did Lo Shui County produce such a young prodigy!!!"

The servant boy, closely following his master's footsteps, was equally stunned, as if he had seen a ghost.

Jiang Ning became aware of their presence and paused his movements.

"So refreshing!"

Feeling his body warming up, his blood flowing faster, and a light sweat forming on his forehead, Jiang Ning felt an exhilarating sensation.

"I am Yang Kai, the deputy manager of the Armory." The towering iron tower-like man, Jiang Ning, paused his hammer practice and introduced himself.

Then he asked, "Where are you from, young man?"

Jiang Ning was slightly surprised upon hearing this.

He had some knowledge about Yang Kai.

Yang Kai was an eighth-stage Martial Dao powerhouse.

He was also the deputy manager of the Armory.

With both strength and status, he was a prominent figure in Lo Shui County, wielding considerable influence.

Jiang Ning responded, "I'm Jiang Ning, a disciple of the Canglang Martial Academy!"

"Jiang Ning?" The towering man was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise. "So, you're Jiang Ning?"

"Does Manager Yang know me?" Jiang Ning asked curiously.

Yang Kai chuckled. "Your name is hard to miss. After all, Manager Shen was transferred from Lo Shui County because of you."

Then, Yang Kai observed Jiang Ning and sighed, "No wonder Manager Shen dared to stand against the Cao family for you. Your talent is truly frightening!"

"Manager Yang, you flatter me. I merely have some strength," Jiang Ning replied modestly.

As he spoke, Jiang Ning carefully placed the two large hammers he was holding.

Yang Kai scrutinized Jiang Ning, noticing his calm and composed demeanor.

"No wonder you find that blade light. Youth is indeed a blessing, and stamina is a treasure!" Yang Kai exclaimed.

"Manager Yang, does the Armory have better blades?" Jiang Ning inquired.

At this, Yang Kai chuckled.

Then, with a hint of pride, he said, "Of course! But such weapons are not measured by money."

"What do they require, then?" Jiang Ning asked.

"As the saying goes, 'A treasure blade is gifted to a hero, and its owner must not disgrace it,'" Yang Kai explained.

"Am I considered a hero, then?" Jiang Ning questioned.

Yang Kai gave him an appraising look. "Temporarily, yes."

"Follow me," he instructed.

Yang Kai approached a seemingly ordinary brick on the wall.

A deep rumble filled the air as a thick green stone brick slowly popped out.

This stone brick had a noticeable indentation.

Yang Kai took out a token from his pocket and placed it in the indentation, pressing it down with force.

Another rumble reverberated through the room.

The ground shook, and several thick bricks in the center of the room slowly opened, revealing a dark passageway.

"This is where we keep the Armory's true treasures," Yang Kai explained. "I've crafted ten pieces in my lifetime that I'm truly proud of, and they're all stored down there."

As he spoke, Yang Kai descended the stairs, heading into the passageway.

His figure disappeared into the darkness.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The sound of fire echoed.

The dark passageway was suddenly illuminated by firelight.

"Are you coming?" Yang Kai called out.

Jiang Ning gripped the long blade in his hand and smiled. "Why not?"

As he spoke, he took his first step down the stairs.

Jiang Ning felt no fear towards Yang Kai.

Even if Yang Kai harbored ill intentions in the passageway, he wasn't worried.

He was aware of Yang Kai's capabilities.

Yang Kai was a typical eighth-stage Divine Power Realm practitioner.

A typical eighth-stage practitioner's strength would be around 1,500 jin.

Not much different from his own.

Even if Yang Kai concealed some of his strength, he would have a force of at most 2,000 jin.

With his current skills, Jiang Ning could easily defeat a 2,000-jin force.

In Jiang Ning's eyes, the only real threat to him would be an eighth-stage Divine Power Realm's top expert.

An expert with around 3,000 jin of strength, a force more than twice his own.

Combined with a bronze-like skin and a robust physique, such an expert would pose a significant challenge.

Otherwise, with his current abilities, even if he faced Tian Buyi again, Jiang Ning was confident he could hold his own in a ground battle, and the outcome would be uncertain.

His strength had grown significantly.

Not only had his power increased by three to four hundred jin, but his Five Beasts Fist had broken through its limits, and his qi and blood surged.

Especially with his blade technique reaching the fourth limit, mastering the blade's essence.

With the essence's support, it was a true quantum leap.

In Jiang Ning's eyes, if he faced himself during the battle with Tian Buyi, he could defeat that version of himself in just three strikes.

This was the extent of his progress.

An incredible advancement.

Then, as Jiang Ning stepped into the passageway, Yang Kai nodded and turned to lead the way.

The two of them ventured deeper into the passageway.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end