Chapter 436
Because although the aura of Du Shenjiang was much stronger, its nature seemed not far from the scenes replayed in the Jiangshan Sheji Tu (Map of Rivers and Mountains).
But... how could someone comprehend the Dao while in the Observation of the Divine Realm?
However, since Du Wufeng had said it was fine, the others naturally had nothing more to say, and the murmurs of doubt gradually faded away.
“We are about to announce the results of the preliminary round.”
“This time, we have selected a total of one hundred artisans to advance to the second round of forging weapons.”
...
Meanwhile.
In the artisans' resting area.
“Little Li, what exactly are you using?”
Lu Zhuang, who had regained his skinny figure, cautiously whispered his inquiry.
“Don’t talk nonsense, what do you mean ‘what’?”
Little Li, having returned to his normal physique, wore a righteous expression:
“I’ve come this far solely through sweat and hard work.”
“Hehe... we’re all on the same side, so stop playing coy. You can fool others, but can you fool your own people? You finally got first place, so help your old brother out.”
“I have a niece who’s quite pretty. If you could give her a hand, I’ll make sure she brings you good fortune.”
Lu Zhuang pleaded repeatedly, his tone both ambiguous and sincere.
“?”
Li Mo thought to himself that agreeing to such a thing outright would seem too insincere.
He didn’t expect Lu Zhuang to be so easily flustered.
“I can give you a connection, but after the weapon forging competition, you have to take me to a certain place.”
“Where did you get that enhanced Tianzun brand instant noodles?”
That’s right, Li Mo planned to follow the clues.
The divine power had already crossed the line into the realm of forbidden substances, to a degree he could no longer ignore.
This might yield considerable investment, but at that moment, he wasn’t thinking in that direction.
Little Li had long said it.
He was sworn enemies with gambling and drugs!
Lu Zhuang hesitated for a moment, but for the sake of the connection Li Mo mentioned, he agreed.
Half an hour later, the first segment of the weapon forging competition came to a close. Little Li, amidst some controversy, defeated a host of master artisans and even a forging grandmaster to take the top spot.
Li Mo went to the Sword Tomb to pick up Bing Tuozi and Princess Xiao Jiang, preparing for the second round of the competition.
Before the real weapon forging began.
As a judge, Du Wufeng ignited the sword furnace with a fallen star flame while also picking up his forging hammer, intending to create the first weapon since the establishment of the nation under the gaze of all the people of the imperial capital.
To set an example for all artisans.
At the same time, this sword would accompany Jiang Yu in the upcoming Qianlong Conference.
“Du Shenjiang once forged a divine sword for the senior Shi Sujun, which still hangs in the Tianren City, symbolizing supreme glory.”
“After years of seclusion, he will surely surpass himself this time, right?”
“The prince possesses a sword bone and has received the painstaking work of the divine craftsman; it’s truly like adding wings to a tiger.”
“Du Shenjiang is selecting materials!”
Standing below, Li Mo also looked up at the Jiangshan Sheji Tu.
Du Wufeng glanced at him, and Li Mo heard the old man’s voice in his ear:
“Kid, while I appreciate you, I won’t ruin my own reputation.”
“Watch closely how a divine craftsman forges a weapon!”
The living divine craftsman.
In the Tianshan Sword Manor, his status was higher than that of the heads of various halls, second only to the manor master.
Clang!
The forging hammer struck like a dazzling sun.
Li Mo found it blinding, yet he still focused intently.
In an instant, the steel exploded into a shower of sparks, as if it were not metal but a sponge resonating with the forging hammer.
With each strike, the ‘impurities’ were squeezed out like water.
This could still be considered the experience gained from countless forges, but what was truly impressive was that this technique and experience surpassed Li Mo’s use of divine treasures by twofold.
“A divine weapon has a spirit; it is not a lifeless object. Forging a weapon is akin to refining the heart.”
“That’s why some famous weapons are merely famous, while the ones I forge can become divine weapons!”
Buzz—
With each strike, it felt as if it was hammering on Li Mo’s heart.
He didn’t use his martial arts insights.
The blazing fire and steel, the hammer and the weapon, flowed slowly in his heart...
Each strike echoed in his mind, every detail vividly clear.
He didn’t know how long it had been.
Suddenly, Li Mo felt a coolness in his palm.
Ying Bing held his hand, softly saying, “Du Shenjiang has finished forging the sword.”
Li Mo came back to his senses and looked up.
A long sword, cradled in cloth, radiated the residual warmth of the sword furnace, and had already been presented to the judging panel.
It landed in Jiang Yu’s hands.
Jiang Yu squinted, the autumn water-like blade reflecting his dual pupils.
He suddenly reversed the sword’s edge, pointing it toward the crowd below.
The sound of the sword echoed like a dragon’s roar.
---
In the projection of the Jiangshan Sheji Tu, the blade refracted dazzling light under the sun, and one could vaguely see the intricate patterns on the sword body, resembling dragon scales.
“This is called a famous weapon?”
“From a quality standpoint, it indeed qualifies as a famous weapon, but the materials used to forge this sword are not even worthy of a Xuan weapon.”
“This sword is not only sharp; it should also possess a complete spirit, carrying the divine effect of the nation’s fortune.”
“Though it is a famous weapon, it is merely the starting point; it seems like a newborn baby, and with nurturing, its future is limitless!”
“It is more than enough to ascend the rankings of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.”
Across the imperial capital, countless people gazed at the sword in Jiang Yu’s hand, their expressions varied.
“This sword is the work I am most satisfied with since the Tianren Sword.”
Xue Jing glanced at Li Mo, stepped forward, and returned to the judging panel:
“I hope the prince can become this sword’s worthy master, allowing it to shine brightly and secure a place on the divine weapon list.”
“This sword hasn’t been named yet?”
“I only forge the sword; I do not decide the path it will take in the future.”
Jiang Yu gently caressed the long sword, as if touching smooth dragon scales:
“Then this sword shall be called Zunlong (Respect the Dragon).”
Buzz—
The sound of the sword echoed again, accompanied by a slight tremor.
Du Wufeng frowned slightly but said nothing.
“Master, this isn’t just setting an example for the artisans; many of them probably can’t even lift a forging hammer.”
Xie Xuan wore a bitter smile.
In the square, having witnessed Du Wufeng forge the sword, many people shook their heads and began to pack their things.
Before the competition even started, quite a few had already withdrawn.
Because these people couldn’t even see the gap between themselves and Du Wufeng.
This indicated that they were far from the standards of this divine craftsman.
If that Zunlong sword was at the top, they couldn’t even forge a weapon at the bottom.
“To forge iron, one must first be strong oneself.”
Du Wufeng shook his head, looking at the particularly eye-catching Li Mo in the square.
Among all the artisans, he was the only one who brought two young women as assistants, making the scene quite unique.
This kid...
Has he understood a few things?
Li Mo’s talent in hammering was something he had never seen in his life.
But what he had just used was not only the Shocking Nine Calamities technique; it also contained his forging spirit method, appearing to be simple yet intricate, no less than comprehending a divine skill.
Du Wufeng’s gaze was fixed intently below.
“I hope you can learn a thing or two, heir of the heavenly craftsman...”
...
Also focusing on Li Mo was a pair of dual pupils, along with the princess Yu Yang beside their owner.
“Brother, if he can forge a famous weapon, that would be unprecedented, right?”
Yu Yang raised her chin.
She still remembered the grievances from a couple of days ago.
“When it’s time for the competition, I hope that woman doesn’t just slice through the sword he forged with a few strikes.”
“I’ve already given them a chance.”
Jiang Yu nodded slightly, gripping the long sword forged by the divine craftsman, his brow unconsciously relaxing.
That day, after seeing Ying Bing, a strong sense of crisis had risen in his heart.
Others could lose, but he couldn’t; he couldn’t afford to lose even once.
Now, he had finally found a sword that matched his sword bone.
“Xie Xuan, let’s spar after the competition.”
“Not going.”
Xie Xuan crossed his arms, looking quite aloof.
“Oh? Fengyue Xiaozhu (Wind and Moon Pavilion)...”
“My Xie Xuan’s sword bone is as firm as steel; how could I be troubled by beauty? It’s just a withered bone of a beautiful face!”
“?”
...
“That sword doesn’t seem too happy.”
Jiang Chuchong pinched her clothes, glancing at the divine craftsman’s painstaking work, and whispered.
“It doesn’t like its name?”
Li Mo instinctively replied.
“Brother Li, you can hear it too?” Princess Xiao Jiang blinked her eyes behind her sunglasses, looking pleasantly surprised.
“Yeah.”
Li Mo smiled; in truth, what he heard was a bit different from Chuchong’s.
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