https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-160-One-Hammer-One-Refinement-Thousand-Fold-Treasure-Blank/13688328/
Chapter 161: The Eve of Apprenticeship, the Wei Family's Eldest Son
When Lu Qing and Wei Da Zong Guan left Zhu Xin Fang, they were seeing off by Lin Lao Jiangshi and his disciples with utmost respect. The scene left the middle-aged shopkeeper—who had been watching from outside the storefront—completely stunned. He couldn’t fathom what had happened. How could the坊主 (Fang Zhu) treat this young man with such reverence? After all, even when encountering the County Magistrate, the Fang Zhu had never lowered his posture so much before.
“Lu Xiao Langjun,” Wei Da Zong Guan asked after they had departed, “are you planning to give Ma Gu’s master that Thousand-Fold Sword Blade?”
“Indeed. In two days’ time, it’s Ma Ye and Young Master An’s Initiation Ceremony. Ma Ye is skilled in both sword and blade, and since the sword is known as the ‘gentleman among weapons,’ it makes a perfect gift.”
Lu Qing himself had been surprised by his success in forging the Thousand-Fold Sword Blank. He’d been worried about what gift to bring to the Initiation Ceremony, and now the timing was perfect. As for the Hundred-Fold Sword Blank, he hadn’t taken it with him—instead, he’d left it behind at Zhu Xin Fang as compensation for borrowing their forge.
“That’s quite a gift,” Wei Da Zong Guan chuckled. “A Thousand-Fold Sword Blade—rare as gold, nearly impossible to obtain. Even in Zhou Fu, such a blade appears only once in a lifetime. Each time it surfaces, it stirs the longing of countless swordsmen.”
A Thousand-Fold level sword was no mere weapon. It could slice through iron as if it were paper, cut a hair in midair with ease. Even the Wei Family, with its centuries of accumulated wealth and influence, owned only a few such blades.
That Lu Qing had handed one over so casually left Wei Da Zong Guan deeply awed—especially when he remembered that the boy had forged it in just one or two hours. He had never imagined that Lu Qing possessed such mastery in the art of forging. The ability to craft a weapon of such caliber so effortlessly placed him on par with the most renowned swordsmiths of legend.
A young forging master of such caliber, combined with the terrifying strength that had defeated a Wu Dao Zong Shi… The more Wei Da Zong Guan interacted with Lu Qing, the more he realized how utterly inscrutable the boy truly was. It was impossible to guess what other hidden talents he might possess. And each one, without fail, was astonishingly profound.
Lu Qing, however, remained unaware of the storm of admiration brewing in Wei Da Zong Guan’s heart. He was quite satisfied with his visit to Zhu Xin Fang. The fact that he’d managed to forge a Thousand-Fold level blade from ordinary iron proved his craftsmanship had finally reached a true mastery level.
Now that Wei Family would help him gather the necessary materials, he could finally begin crafting his own War Blade.
Back at the Wei Family Residence, Wei Da Zong Guan rushed to inform Wei Xinghe without delay. The news that Lu Qing possessed forging skills on par with a legendary Zong Shi was far too significant to ignore.
Wei Xinghe, upon hearing it, was equally astonished. But he kept the matter quiet, merely elevating Lu Qing’s importance in his mind once more. He immediately ordered his subordinates to accelerate their search for the materials Lu Qing needed.
For the next few days, Lu Qing stayed within the Wei Family Residence, focusing on cultivation and reading. He had already sent word through the family to Zhang Da Ye and the others in Jiu Li Village, informing them he’d be staying in the County Town for a while. So there was no urgency to return.
Two days later, Zhu Xin Fang completed the forging of the Thousand-Fold Sword Blank into a true masterpiece, sending it directly to the Wei Family Residence just before the Initiation Ceremony.
“Lu Xiao Langjun, please take a look—does this blade meet your expectations?” Lin Lao Jiangshi, the master craftsman himself, said as he presented a beautifully adorned long wooden box, bowing respectfully before handing it over.
The reverence in his tone left Wei Xinghe himself slightly amazed. Lin Lao Jiangshi, a man whose reputation in the County Town was unmatched and whose pride was legendary, had never shown such humility—until now. It was clear, as the Grand Manager had suggested, that the old master had been completely won over by Lu Xiao Langjun.
Lu Qing took the box, opened it, and withdrew the sword. With a light flick of his finger, he drew it from its sheath. A flash of cold light erupted, and a sharp, cutting aura swept across the room.
The blade was pristine white, its surface etched with intricate, unusual patterns—visually stunning. Lu Qing plucked a single hair from his head, tossed it into the air, then gave a subtle flick of his wrist. Instantly, a flurry of silver streaks filled the space before him. In a single breath, countless sword strikes had pierced the air, each perfectly precise.
The sudden display of swordsmanship left everyone speechless. Even Wei Xinghe’s eyes twitched. He imagined himself in the moment and realized he might not have been able to withstand such a barrage.
Swish! The blade returned to its sheath.
Lu Qing glanced down at the ground—where the single strand of hair now lay in countless tiny fragments.
He nodded in approval. A hair, weightless and unsupported in midair, had been severed with ease. The blade’s sharpness was undeniable.
“This sword is excellent. Thank you, Lin Lao Jiangshi.”
Lin Lao Jiangshi, still dazed by Lu Qing’s skill, quickly replied, “How can you say such a thing, Lu Xiao Langjun? To have contributed to the forging of such a masterpiece—this is our honor. It is we who should be thanking you.”
Besides, those two days of polishing the blade had been unforgettable. When the old man from next door—Wang Lao Ye—had come by for a visit and caught sight of the finished sword, his expression of disbelief had been priceless. The memory still brought him immense satisfaction.
After Lin Lao Jiangshi departed, Lu Qing carefully placed the sword back into the box and handed it to Wei Da Zong Guan, asking him to include it in tomorrow’s gift list.
Meanwhile, across the County Town, various factions were preparing for the Initiation Ceremony to be held at the Wei Family Residence the following day.
In recent days, the announcement of Wei Family’s Young Master An being initiated into the Ma family under Ma Gu had spread like wildfire. At first, many were puzzled—just who was this Ma Gu? What kind of reputation did he have, that he could be entrusted with training the heir of the Wei Family?
Some even speculated he might be one of the two mysterious figures from the City Gate incident. But after digging deeper, they were stunned to discover: Ma Gu was merely a distant branch member of the Ma family, and his cultivation level was only Jin Gu Jing.
The Wei Family was sending their heir to apprentice under a Jin Gu Jing cultivator? The news sent shockwaves through the city. Was there something extraordinary about Ma Gu? Or was he, like that mysterious youth before, someone whose true strength far exceeded his rank?
Suddenly, the Initiation Ceremony was no longer just a formality—it had become a spectacle everyone was eager to witness. While preparing their gifts, all factions now looked forward to the event with bated breath.
The entire County Town was swept into an atmosphere of anticipation.
By late afternoon, a grand procession arrived with loud clamor, rolling into the city toward the Wei Family Residence.
At that very moment, Wei Da Zong Guan received the news. His face lit up with joy as he dashed into the mansion.
“Master! Master! The eldest son has returned!”
(End of Chapter)
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