Chapter 132: Unexpected Find, the Ancient Spirit Blade

Chapter 132: Unexpected Find, the Ancient Spirit Blade

The Blacksmith Shop.

After walking a few dozen steps, the space suddenly opened up.

In the underground armory of the blacksmith shop, the weapon racks and walls were filled with divine weapons exuding a chilling aura.

As the firelight illuminated the room, countless frosty gleams reflected off the cold blades.

"Kid, what do you think? This is the accumulation and heritage of the blacksmith shop over the years," Yang Kai said proudly.

He continued, "Over the years, every guest who has come here is extraordinary! And each one has left with a satisfying harvest."

Jiang Ning's gaze swept across the entire room, and he instantly understood.

The blacksmith shop's true treasures were all here.

As for the two shops above, they merely sold more ordinary goods.

Then he asked, "Shopkeeper Yang, may I inquire about the prices of these divine weapons?"

"As I just mentioned, the items here cannot be measured by money. Using money would be too mundane!" Yang Kai replied.

"Then what do you want?" Jiang Ning asked.

As for Yang Kai's words from earlier, Jiang Ning just smiled inwardly.

"Money is not something we lack at the blacksmith shop! What we seek is fate!" Yang Kai explained.

"Fate?" Jiang Ning smiled and stopped paying attention to Yang Kai's rambling.

Then he said, "Since you brought me down here, it's probably not just to let me take a simple look. Why don't you introduce me to some of these weapons?"

"Of course!" Yang Kai chuckled.

He walked to the side and approached a wall.

Raising his hand, he took down a precious blade from the wall.

As he drew the sword, a clear and crisp sound reverberated through the room.

At the same time, the cold blade glistened, as if filled with invisible air blades occupying every inch of space. Jiang Ning instantly felt his body hairs stand on end.

"What a great sword!"

Jiang Ning's eyes lit up, and he praised inwardly.

The fact that his body hairs stood on end was an instinctive reaction to the stimulation.

This indicated that the sword was truly extraordinary.

"This sword is called Frostlight. It is three feet and nine inches long, three inches and three tenths wide, and weighs one hundred and fifty-three pounds," Yang Kai introduced.

"It is forged from a thousand-fold refined iron by my own hands. Even a Seventh Rank Martial Artist of the High Martial Realm would find it very handy."

"As for its usage, it is quite challenging for even an Eighth Rank Martial Artist to wield this sword skillfully. It might even become a burden."

After saying this, Yang Kai sheathed the sword and then tossed it to Jiang Ning.

"Try opening it!" Yang Kai instructed.

Jiang Ning quickly reached out and caught it.

His gaze fell on the hilt of the sword, where two large characters were engraved.

He felt the weight of the sword in his hand.

"It's indeed heavy!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.

One hundred and fifty-three pounds, this weight was already a tenth of his current strength.

For someone with his level of power, wielding such a heavy weapon skillfully would be difficult.

The force generated by this weight would create a terrifying inertia.

Each swing of the sword would consume a significant amount of stamina.

Even in a short battle, dozens or even hundreds of swings would be required.

In such a situation, one's stamina would be largely depleted, and their condition would deteriorate rapidly.

Therefore, most martial artists choose lighter weapons.

While a heavier weapon might have its advantages, the disadvantages are greater, outweighing the benefits.

Unless one cultivates both internally and externally or has reached the Fifth Rank of the Inner Fortitude Realm, it would be challenging to handle.

Only when the five internal organs are tempered, and one's stamina is enduring, unafraid of prolonged battles, can this issue be significantly improved.

Jiang Ning possessed these qualities.

Holding this weapon in his hand, he was quite satisfied.

Although the weight was slightly on the heavier side for him now, it was still manageable.

Moreover, he was currently in a period of rapid strength improvement, and it wouldn't be long before he could take another step forward.

Immediately, he gripped the hilt and drew the sword from its sheath.

The sound of a clear, trembling ring reverberated through the room.

Jiang Ning casually waved the sword, and the blade instantly transformed into a frosty gleam, slicing through the air.

"What a great sword!"

Feeling the power of this swing, Jiang Ning praised it.

"Don't you think it's a bit too heavy?" Yang Kai asked.

Jiang Ning swung the sword a few more times, and frosty gleams appeared within three feet of his body.

"It's a bit heavy, but it's manageable! I have the strength, and considering my future strength improvement, I can't choose a too-light weapon."

"That's true!" Yang Kai nodded slightly, recalling the information he had about Jiang Ning.

Then he said, "So, you like this sword?"

Jiang Ning nodded slightly, about to speak, when he suddenly felt the faint call from earlier becoming more distinct.

It seemed to be coming from two and a third zhang to his left.

Jiang Ning said, "I'm quite satisfied, but I'd like to look at some others."

Upon hearing this, Yang Kai replied with a hearty laugh, "No problem! Take your time, I've got nothing urgent to attend to."

After witnessing Jiang Ning's recent display of swordplay, Yang Kai had an even higher opinion of his skills.

Moreover, the sword in Jiang Ning's hand was one that he himself had personally crafted, so he was well aware of its weight.

The sword weighed a hefty one hundred and fifty-three pounds.

In Yang Kai's eyes, Jiang Ning's choice of this sword indicated his confidence in wielding such a heavy weapon.

From this, Yang Kai realized that Jiang Ning's abilities exceeded his previous expectations.

He was also familiar with Jiang Ning's background.

Such a talented individual had once convinced Shen Congyun to make such a significant sacrifice for him, making it worthwhile for Yang Kai to invest his time in Jiang Ning.

It was worth offering something in return.

For instance, fulfilling Jiang Ning's desire for a suitable weapon could earn him a favor.

After years of development, the Blacksmith Shop no longer lacked funds.

In this era, they also understood that having enough money was sufficient.

Having too much wealth might even invite trouble.

However, connections, networks, and favors from geniuses and powerful individuals were always welcome.

The investment in talented and powerful individuals had paid off.

If the Blacksmith Shop ever encountered difficulties, there would be people willing to lend a hand.

This was their greatest reward.

At this moment, Jiang Ning followed his intuition to a weapon rack.

His curiosity grew as he approached.

He wondered about the sudden sensation and calling he felt, and why it had appeared.

Then, he bent down and retrieved an ancient-looking sword from beneath the rack, covered in dust.

Hoo—

He blew a gust of air onto the scabbard, causing the dust to fly into the air.

The scabbard was pitch-black, devoid of any patterns, and made from an unknown material.

The hilt was similarly plain, its material unknown, exuding simplicity.

Yang Kai, standing nearby, witnessed this scene, and his eyes widened in surprise.

He approached Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning's voice echoed in his ear.

"Is there a story behind this sword?" asked Jiang Ning.

Yang Kai, taken aback, answered evasively, "How did you suddenly notice this sword?"

Jiang Ning smiled slightly. "I was just curious. The fact that this sword is in this room indicates its extraordinariness. Why is such an extraordinary blade placed beneath the weapon rack, covered in dust?"

"You're right," Yang Kai agreed. "This sword is indeed extraordinary."

"Oh?" Jiang Ning's curiosity deepened. "Could you tell me what makes it so?"

Yang Kai explained, "This sword is a Spirit Blade, a powerful weapon from the ancient era. It possesses sentience, hence the name 'Spirit Blade.' With the passing of that era and the demise of the immortals, Spirit Blades gradually decayed or fell into a deep slumber."

"In this state, they are no different from ordinary broken metal."

"At most, they might be slightly more resilient. No matter how you strike or forge them, they remain unharmed."

"Moreover, because this sword has sentience, no one has been able to draw it from its scabbard for many years. It's practically useless!"

"So it's been left to gather dust below."

As Yang Kai spoke, a hint of regret appeared on his face. "It's a pity for the extraordinary material used to forge this Spirit Blade. If I could use it, I'd have the confidence to create an even more remarkable divine weapon."

Hearing Yang Kai's words, Jiang Ning's heart skipped a beat.

That's strange!

If that's the case, why do I have a connection with this sword and feel its call?

Jiang Ning's right hand grasped the hilt.

Yang Kai smiled slightly, having seen this scenario many times over the years.

Every visitor who heard his explanation would attempt to draw the sword.

But without fail, they all struggled in vain.

The sword seemed to be an extension of its scabbard, unyielding to any force.

Clang—

At that moment, a clear sound resonated within the room.

A dragon's roar—

The clear sound transformed into a dragon's roar, echoing throughout the room.

Yang Kai's eyes widened in disbelief.

"This... This is impossible!" he exclaimed, his mouth agape.

Compared to Yang Kai, Jiang Ning was equally astonished at this moment.

After listening to Yang Kai's words, he didn't have any expectations and merely tried casually.

But to his surprise, when he first touched the scabbard of the spirit blade, the blade remained motionless in his hand, as steady as Mount Tai.

However, in the next instant, he felt an incredibly smooth force in his hand, and he instantly drew the blade from its sheath.

At this moment, as the blade left its sheath, Jiang Ning felt an even stronger connection with the weapon, as if they were communicating through a spiritual bridge.

The spirit blade also conveyed a thought, "Blood Bonding, Blood Fusion Refinement."

"How did you do that?" Yang Kai suppressed his shock and quickly asked, staring at the scene before him.

Jiang Ning feigned confusion and shook his head, "I don't know either!"

Then he continued, "I just randomly tried to draw it, and this blade came out."

"You randomly tried, and it came out." Hearing Jiang Ning's explanation, Yang Kai was speechless.

"You don't know how many times I've tried!" Yang Kai thought to himself.

However, he didn't doubt Jiang Ning's words.

This spirit blade had been in the blacksmith's shop for decades.

Over the years, they had made countless attempts, all to no avail.

In the end, the result was always the same: futile efforts! But at this moment, when the blade was in Jiang Ning's hands, a completely different change occurred.

Jiang Ning drew the blade out.

Immediately, Yang Kai said, "Sheath it, and let me try! I want to see if I can draw it out!"

At this moment, Jiang Ning had some simple thoughts in his mind.

Whether it was the spiritual connection between the blade and himself or the calling from the spirit blade, there must be a reason for it.

And it must be because he possesses unique qualities that others lack.

Otherwise, why would others be unable to draw it?

Why was he able to do so?

Yang Kai wanted to test it, and Jiang Ning was happy to let him try.

If Yang Kai still couldn't draw the blade, it would further confirm his suspicions.

Then, Jiang Ning sheathed the blade, and instantly, the hilt and scabbard fit together perfectly, leaving no gaps.

The tightness of the fit was as if they were a single entity, with no seams at all.

Yang Kai took the spirit blade from Jiang Ning's hand and held the hilt with his right hand.

He took a deep breath.

Then he exhaled slowly.

In the next instant, Yang Kai exerted a sudden force.

His rock-like muscles tensed even more, and his face turned red, gradually becoming ashen.

"Haa—"

He let out another loud shout, and his arms began to tremble slightly, indicating that he had reached his limit.

After two breaths, Yang Kai exhaled and gave up on drawing the blade.

His face showed a hint of loneliness.

No matter how hard he tried, the blade remained motionless in his hand, and the hilt and scabbard were still seamlessly integrated.

"It seems you have a connection with this blade!" Yang Kai said to Jiang Ning.

At this moment, he hesitated for a moment and then handed the spirit blade to Jiang Ning.

As he watched Jiang Ning take the blade, Yang Kai's eyes were filled with reluctance.

A blade with spirituality was undoubtedly a precious item.

Giving away such a valuable item to someone else was undoubtedly a heart-wrenching decision.

But thinking about how the blade had gathered dust for decades, Yang Kai gradually came to terms with it.

"Forget it! This blade is useless here; it's better to give it to this kid and gain a favor in return."

"This kid being able to draw the spirit blade must mean he's extraordinary!"

"Who knows what heights he might reach in the future!"

"To gain the favor of a future powerful individual with such a unique item is a good deal!"

Yang Kai kept reassuring himself in his mind to lessen the feeling of reluctance.

At this moment, as Jiang Ning took the spirit blade from Yang Kai, he also witnessed the previous scene, and he had a guess.

"To draw this blade, it's either due to innate wisdom or the influence of the qualities I possess now."

Thinking of these two points, he looked at his character panel and focused on one particular trait.

【Blade and Person as One】: Possesses an innate, unparalleled affinity with blades, allowing any unfamiliar blade in hand to reach its optimal state.

"If I had to guess, it's this one!"

Jiang Ning silently agreed in his mind.

Jiang Ning tried again, gripping the hilt, and instantly, the blade appeared before them.

Yang Kai's eyes once again revealed envy.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end