Chapter 131: A Fine Blade For A Hero
Weapon Forging Shop.
Located in the southern part of the outer city.
As he had just approached, Jiang Ning heard the ding ding dong dong of blacksmithing.
The Weapon Forging Shop was large, and the gate was wide.
Standing at the doorway of the Weapon Forging Shop, one could hear all kinds of sounds of fine iron being forged coming from the backyard.
Jiang Ning also knew a little about the Weapon Forging Shop.
As far as he knew, whether it was the standard sabers of the yamen constables or the standard weapons of the Gate Bureau, they all came from the Weapon Forging Shop.
Therefore, there were many people working at the Weapon Forging Shop; many ordinary families, in order to give their descendants a trade they could live on, would often sell them to the Weapon Forging Shop as servants at the age of twelve or thirteen.
Three years of odd jobs, three years as helpers, then they could learn a craft.
This was the normal growth path of a qualified Blacksmith Master.
With a steady stream of young people joining, the Weapon Forging Shop naturally grew larger and larger.
Moreover, joining the Weapon Forging Shop also allowed those from ordinary families to practice martial arts.
If their martial arts talent was good, they would receive training from the Weapon Forging Shop.
This was another way out.
So even if they had to sell themselves to the Weapon Forging Shop for a few years, it still held great appeal for ordinary families.
At this moment.
Jiang Ning arrived in front of the Weapon Forging Shop; many people were coming and going.
It was much livelier than the doorway of Wanhua Tower.
Because ordinary people also needed to buy some iron tools.
Whether sickles, axes, or small items like chopping knives, the Weapon Forging Shop sold them all.
Jiang Ning walked into the Weapon Forging Shop.
A young shop assistant, seeing Jiang Ning, came over to greet him.
As someone who had long served guests here, he could naturally tell which groups had spending power.
Jiang Ning entered carrying a saber, his steps steady, cold light shining in his eyes.
At a glance, it was clear he was someone who practiced martial arts.
In the eyes of this young shop assistant, people like this all had good spending power.
Because without a certain family fortune, it was very hard for ordinary people to practice martial arts.
Training all year round, not to mention all kinds of tonics, just the consumption of meat alone was an enormous expense.
Ordinary families could at most get a bit of meat during holidays and festivals.
How could they practice martial arts like that?
Without “oil and water,” after training martial arts for three to five months, their bodies would collapse.
Precisely because of this, in the eyes of the young shop assistant.
Anyone who practiced martial arts was sure to come from a family with a decent fortune.
With a decent family fortune, their spending power was naturally good.
“Sir, may I ask what weapon you have come to buy from our humble shop?” the shop assistant came before Jiang Ning, nodding and bowing as he spoke.
Jiang Ning said, “I need a handy good saber.”
“That is simple!” A trace of pride appeared on the shop assistant’s face. “Speaking of good sabers, our Weapon Forging Shop has plenty. Sir will certainly leave satisfied.”
Then he added, “Sir, please come with me!”
“Mm!” Jiang Ning nodded.
The two of them then came to a weapon rack at the side.
“Sir, please try these weapons. They are all good sabers forged from top-quality fine iron. Their blades are incomparably sharp and can all cut hair with a blow.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ning casually picked up a saber.
“Swish—”
He drew the saber from its sheath.
Then with another “swish,” he returned the saber to its sheath.
“Too light!” Jiang Ning shook his head. “These are all below Hundred-Forged Weapons, right?”
“Sir, you truly have a good eye!” The shop assistant nodded repeatedly. “These are all Hundred-Forged Weapons painstakingly forged by our masters.”
Jiang Ning shook his head. “Do not waste time. Hundred-Forged Weapons are too light for me and meaningless. Take me to see better sabers.”
Hearing this, a trace of surprise flashed through the eyes of the young man dressed as a shop assistant.
As someone from the Weapon Forging Shop, he naturally knew a lot about weapons.
Hundred-Forged Weapons could be put to great use even by experts who had just entered the Martial Arts Nine Ranks.
Yet the youth before him, who did not look very old, about eighteen or nineteen, actually said that looking at Hundred-Forged Weapons was a waste of time.
All were too light.
Then what kind of strength did he have?
This question could not help but arise in the heart of the young man dressed as a shop assistant.
Immediately.
He said, “Very well, sir, then please come with me.”
After speaking, he led Jiang Ning into the shop next door.
As he stepped into the neighboring shop, the blacksmithing sounds in Jiang Ning’s ears grew even louder.
“Sir, please take a look at these weapons. They are all forged from fine iron that has been tempered three to five hundred times.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ning finally showed some interest.
He went to the weapon rack and casually grabbed a saber.
The saber settled into his hand.
He clearly sensed the dimensions and weight of this saber.
Four feet three and three-tenths long, weighing fifty-three catties.
Jiang Ning immediately drew the saber.
Swish—
Cold light instantly flashed indoors.
Jiang Ning casually swung the saber.
In an instant.
Saber light flashed through the room, and a strong wind arose out of thin air.
Seeing this, the shop assistant’s expression turned somewhat aghast, and he quickly retreated.
He could not suppress his inner surprise.
He knew this saber well: five hundred and thirty-seven tempers, a weapon of top quality here.
Among the swords and sabers here, this saber was also an extremely heavy weapon.
It weighed fifty-three catties.
Only strong practitioners at the Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm could wield such a weight with ease.
But even for such experts, holding a saber of this weight, it would be hard to fight a prolonged battle.
Moreover, although saber techniques tended toward domineering and unstoppable momentum, they still relied mainly on skill, and very few truly relied on overpowering force alone.
For those whose strength was truly great, they often chose other types of heavy weapons, such as staves, hammers, or spears.
So although this saber was of excellent quality, it had remained unsold in the Weapon Forging Shop for many years.
After stepping into the Martial Arts Nine Ranks, each step was a threshold.
Making the muscle membrane as hard as stone was difficult; making it as hard as copper was even harder.
Each improvement was immense, and thus each step was very difficult; normal people needed long, grinding effort to achieve it.
Therefore, there were not many at the Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm in Luoshui County.
Naturally, there were even fewer who used sabers.
Not to mention using a saber this heavy.
After a few breaths.
Jiang Ning stopped his actions with the saber.
At this moment, his face was still not red, his breath was steady, and the fifty-three-cattie saber in his hand seemed like nothing at all to him.
He weighed it a few more times, sensing the weapon’s weight in his hand.
Then he shook his head inwardly.
“For a normal Eighth Rank in martial arts, a skilled fighter with a bit over fifteen hundred catties of strength, fifty-three catties is indeed acceptable and handy enough.”
“After all, if it were any heavier, the stamina consumption would be too great, and even an ordinary Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm would feel the burden.”
“But I am different. I do not fear prolonged battle, and I decide victory in just a few strikes. So the heavier my saber, the better.”
“Besides, my strength is increasing rapidly now. It will not be long before my power breaks through two thousand catties, then three thousand.”
Thinking of this.
Jiang Ning sheathed the saber.
Then he said, “Do you have an even heavier precious saber?”
“This is not heavy enough?” The shop assistant spoke with a look of shock.
Jiang Ning lightly shook his head. “Still not enough! It is still a bit too light. Best if there is one twice this weight, or even heavier would be fine.”
Hearing this, the shop assistant looked at Jiang Ning with a horrified expression.
Among martial artists.
The amount of strength generally revealed their approximate level.
Generally speaking, with strength reaching one thousand catties, the swords and sabers used in actual combat weighed around thirty to forty catties.
Any heavier would be disadvantageous to their performance.
It would seem clumsy and greatly drain stamina.
Yet this precious saber of five hundred and thirty tempers weighed as much as fifty-three catties.
At such a weight, even an Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm martial artist would not call this saber light.
Yet Jiang Ning was saying this saber was still light.
This left the shop assistant extremely shocked.
He naturally understood what this implied.
Moreover, Jiang Ning had just wielded this saber with complete ease, which showed he was not bragging.
“Could this person be a strong practitioner among the Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm?”
Thinking of this.
The shop assistant swallowed and then said, “Sir, please wait a moment. The saber in your hand is already the ultimate saber we have here.”
“If you want a better saber, I do not have the authority. I must first ask the Shopkeeper.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded. “No problem, go ahead.”
“Yes, sir!” The shop assistant nodded and bowed.
Then he turned and jogged away.
Jiang Ning put the saber in his hand back on the weapon rack, then casually tested a few of the sabers next to it.
After swinging them, he also found that the saber from before was indeed the heaviest.
Among the few sabers he casually tried afterward, the heaviest did not exceed fifty catties.
The vast majority were only twenty to thirty catties.
At such weight, even someone at the Martial Arts Nine Ranks would find them extremely handy, perhaps even a bit of a burden.
Then.
He went over to the rack for heavy weapons.
Picking up a pair of great hammers, he could not help but click his tongue.
“So heavy!”
“Roughly one hundred and fifty catties.”
“How terrifying would the explosive power of a single swing be?”
“An ordinary person would smash themself into mince at home, right!”
Immediately.
He gripped the hammers with both hands and began to swing them.
Woo, woo, woo—
In an instant.
The wind howled around him like ghosts crying and wolves howling.
A fierce wind suddenly rose indoors as well.
At the same time.
A burly man over two meters tall, with muscles like iron blocks, stepped inside.
His skin looked as if smeared with charcoal, dark and black.
As he walked, he wiped his hands with a towel.
Then.
He saw Jiang Ning swinging the pair of hammers.
A flash of shock suddenly appeared in his eyes.
“This strength is at least fifteen hundred catties!!!”
“When did Luoshui County produce such a young prodigy!!”
Behind him, the shop assistant following closely at his heels saw this scene and looked as if he had seen a ghost or a god.
At this moment.
Jiang Ning also sensed the arrival of the two and stopped his movements.
“So satisfying!!”
Feeling his body heated up, blood flowing faster, and a light sweat on his forehead, Jiang Ning felt this state was extremely satisfying.
“I am Yang Kai, deputy shopkeeper of the Weapon Forging Shop.” The towering giant of a man, over two meters tall, spoke when he saw Jiang Ning stop practicing with the hammers.
Then he asked, “May I ask where you are from, little brother?”
Hearing this, Jiang Ning felt slightly surprised.
He knew a little about Yang Kai as well.
Because Yang Kai was a strong practitioner at the Eighth Rank of martial arts.
And a deputy shopkeeper of the Weapon Forging Shop.
With both strength and status, in all of Luoshui County he was an important figure with considerable influence.
Jiang Ning then said, “Disciple of Canglang Martial Arts School, Jiang Ning.”
“Jiang Ning?” The towering man looked at him with slight surprise, a look of astonishment on his face. “So you are Jiang Ning?”
“Shopkeeper Yang knows me?” Jiang Ning asked curiously.
Yang Kai chuckled. “It would be hard not to have heard your name! After all, Master Shen was transferred out of Luoshui County because of you.”
Then.
Looking at Jiang Ning, Yang Kai sighed. “No wonder that Master Shen was willing to step in and stand against the Cao Family for you. Your talent is truly frightening!”
Jiang Ning said, “Shopkeeper Yang, you flatter me. I only have a bit of strength.”
As he spoke, Jiang Ning had already put the two great hammers back.
Yang Kai carefully examined Jiang Ning and saw that his face was not red, his heart was not racing, and his breath was steady.
Then he sighed. “No wonder you felt that saber was still light! Youth really is good; your stamina is good!”
Jiang Ning said, “Shopkeeper Yang, I wonder if the Weapon Forging Shop has a better saber.”
Hearing this, Yang Kai could not help but smile faintly.
Then, with a look of pride, he said, “Of course we do! However, those weapons cannot be measured by money.”
“Then what is required?” Jiang Ning asked.
Yang Kai said, “As the saying goes, precious sabers are gifted to heroes; their owners must not disgrace those weapons.”
Jiang Ning said, “Then do I count as a hero?”
“You?” Yang Kai sized Jiang Ning up twice. “Let us say, barely.”
Then he said, “Come with me first.”
After speaking.
Yang Kai walked toward a nearby wall.
Then he pushed a brick on the wall that looked ordinary.
Rumble—
With a low sound, a thick blue stone brick slowly popped out.
On the blue stone brick was a distinct recess.
Yang Kai then took out a token from his person, placed it into the recess, and pressed down hard.
Rumble—
The ground suddenly trembled.
As the rumbling sounded, several thick bricks in the middle of the room slowly opened.
Revealing a dark tunnel.
Yang Kai said, this is where our Weapon Forging Shop stores the truly good things.
In my life, I have forged ten works I am very satisfied with; they are all stored below.
As he spoke.
Yang Kai stepped onto the staircase and slowly walked into the tunnel.
His figure had just disappeared into the dark tunnel.
Boom—
Boom—
Boom—
Fire flared up.
The entire dark tunnel was suddenly lit by firelight.
“Do you dare come in?” Yang Kai called back.
Jiang Ning gripped the saber in his hand and then smiled.
“What is there not to dare?”
As he spoke, he stepped onto the first stair.
Jiang Ning did not feel much fear toward Yang Kai.
Even if, after entering the tunnel, Yang Kai harbored ill will toward him.
He would still not be afraid.
Because he knew Yang Kai’s strength.
He was just an ordinary Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm.
An ordinary Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm had about fifteen hundred catties of strength.
About the same as his.
Even if Yang Kai had concealed some strength, at most he would have two thousand catties of force.
With two thousand catties of strength, against his current full means, Jiang Ning could still easily cut him down under his blade.
In Jiang Ning’s view, those who posed any real threat to him now.
Had to be top-tier experts among the Eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm.
Top-tier experts who possessed around three thousand catties of strength.
Such experts had more than twice his strength.
Combined with skin like bronze and an extremely strong physique, they would pose some threat to him.
Otherwise, with his current strength, if he were to face Tian Buyi again.
Jiang Ning was confident he could fight him on open ground, with the outcome uncertain.
His strength was no longer what it once was.
Far greater than before.
Not only had his strength increased by three to four hundred catties.
His Five Animal Forms Boxing had also broken limits, greatly enhancing his blood qi and physique.
Especially since his blade technique had undergone four limit breaks, and he had grasped blade momentum.
With the blessing of momentum, that was a true qualitative change.
In Jiang Ning’s view, if he now faced the version of himself who fought Tian Buyi.
He would need at most three strikes to cut down that former self.
This was the change he had undergone during this period.
His progress could be called divine speed.
Then.
Seeing Jiang Ning step into the tunnel.
Yang Kai nodded slightly and turned to lead the way ahead.
The two of them went deeper and deeper into the tunnel.
