Immortal Refiner

Forging a large blade that met Zhao Yuan’s requirements was undoubtedly a significant undertaking. The sheer weight of three hundred pounds alone was astonishing.

It required relentless hammering and tempering under high temperatures and pressure to shape the blade to the appropriate size.

At Li Qing’s blacksmith shop on Chiming Street, the sound of metal being hammered had not ceased for days.

He melted the three-hundred-pound iron ingot into molten iron and then refined it into three iron plates, each weighing around a hundred pounds.

The three plates were stacked together and subjected to high-temperature quenching once more. Li Qing hammered all three plates simultaneously to form the blade.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Under the repeated strikes of Li Qing’s hammer, the red-hot iron plates gradually took on the shape of a blade.

Throughout the process, his movements remained consistent with the Ancient Mystic Hammer Art. Each strike of the Peerless Hammer sent a shower of sparks flying.

Bang! Bang! The forging alone took Li Qing three days. During this time, he shed countless drops of sweat, and the temperature inside the blacksmith shop was scorching, with no trace of the early spring chill.

The biting cold of spring was nothing compared to the intense heat near the forge.

”Whew!” Li Qing picked up the towel draped over his shoulder and wiped away the sweat. The towel would quickly dry out again due to the high temperature.

”The blade is done. Next is the hilt.”

With that, Li Qing fetched several pieces of Ox Tendon Wood from the shop.

Ox Tendon Wood was exceptionally tough and was commonly used to make spear shafts.

It was worth noting that many soldiers in the army used wooden spear shafts, with only a few strong generals opting for spears made entirely of iron.

When it came to wooden spears, Ox Tendon Wood was the top choice. Not only was it highly resilient, but its surface was also hard and smooth, making it difficult to break and suitable for most battles.

Since Zhao Yuan’s blade weighed three hundred pounds, the hilt had to be crafted with precision. Otherwise, it would be cumbersome to wield and could even risk slipping from the hand.

The three hundred-pound iron plates had been forged into a single piece by Li Qing. He gestured along the blade, already envisioning the shape of the hilt in his mind.

Next, Li Qing arranged several pieces of Ox Tendon Wood together and painstakingly carved out sections of the appropriate size.

For the hilt of this massive blade, he planned to combine Ox Tendon Wood with brass, using a mortise and tenon structure to join the two materials.

The brass part of the hilt could be fused with the iron blade, while the pre-carved Ox Tendon Wood would be embedded into the surface.

This design would not only provide a firm grip but also make the hilt highly durable.

Without delay, Li Qing spent the entire night focused on crafting the hilt.

This was one of the few delicate tasks in the otherwise rough work of blacksmithing, requiring full concentration.

After a sleepless night, Li Qing, who barely felt any fatigue, finally completed the hilt for the massive blade.

Looking at the nearly finished blade, he felt a profound sense of accomplishment.

Ting~ Li Qing flicked the blade with his fingertip, and with a burst of force, the entire blade emitted a crisp, resonant hum.

Afterward, Li Qing picked up the long blade with both hands and casually swung it a few times, carefully sensing the feel of using this blade.

”The grip feels fine, but the slashing... it’s still a bit off.”

After a moment of contemplation, a glint of insight quickly flashed in his eyes.

”I can put some thought into the blade’s surface, carve a few patterns to slightly reduce air resistance. That way, slashing will definitely feel more natural.”

Thus, Li Qing once again immersed himself in the carving of patterns.

Soon, a series of patterns appeared on both sides of the large blade.

These patterns resembled cracks but still retained a majestic aura, making the blade appear even more formidable. ”Not bad, it’s in its most perfect form now!” Li Qing pursed his lips, even feeling reluctant to sell this blade.

”With its edge concealed and its simplicity unadorned, I shall name you Silent Blade. I hope one day you will become a renowned blade—Silent Blade!”

This was undoubtedly the best blade Li Qing had ever forged. Although it only took five days from start to finish, he had poured all his heart and soul into this blade during those five days.

Moreover, he wasn’t just an ordinary blacksmith; he was also an Outer Strength martial artist, and an internal martial arts practitioner who had developed internal energy! Combined with his foundational martial arts training in hammer techniques, each strike of his hammer was incredibly powerful, far surpassing that of a typical blacksmith. ”The birth of Silent Blade owes much to you!” Li Qing chuckled as he gently patted the Peerless Hammer.

In the remaining time, Li Qing performed the final quenching and sharpening of the blade.

When a cold, icy glint reflected from the blade’s edge, a prompt that only he could see appeared before his eyes.

[Successfully forged a fine mortal weapon: Silent Blade! Reward: One year of lifespan!]

”It seems that even with ordinary materials, one can forge a fine mortal weapon. When I forged the Peerless Hammer, although my skills weren’t at their peak, the use of the special material Ink Gold allowed the Peerless Hammer to be classified as a fine mortal weapon!”

Li Qing’s eyes sparkled as he muttered to himself, watching the now fully completed Silent Blade. The tension that had been building up in him finally relaxed.

”I shouldn’t have only charged fifty taels. If I had known it was a fine mortal weapon, I would have asked for three or four hundred taels!” Li Qing said with a hint of reluctance.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Yuan, whose stature resembled that of a small giant, arrived at Li Qing’s blacksmith shop as agreed to collect the blade.

The moment he lifted the curtain and saw the large blade planted in the ground, his eyes didn’t blink again. He stared fixedly at Silent Blade, his breathing becoming heavy.

”Is this... is this my blade?” For a moment, Zhao Yuan was at a loss for words.

Just from the texture of the blade, it was clear that this was a divine weapon, completely different from the crudely made iron blades on the market! Li Qing, who was extremely tired, yawned and said weakly, ”Yes, try it out and see if it feels right.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuan eagerly lifted the large blade with one hand.

Without even needing to swing it, just by holding the hilt made of Ox Tendon Wood and brass, he could feel how exceptional this blade was.

When he attempted a couple of slashes, the blade smoothly cut through the air without any resistance, feeling incredibly fluid!

”Good! What a great blade! Does this blade have a name?” Zhao Yuan asked, his chest heaving with excitement.

Seeing Zhao Yuan so satisfied, Li Qing smiled and said, ”Silent Blade!”

”What a great name!” Zhao Yuan’s eyes lit up, and he became much more talkative, shedding his previously reserved demeanor.

”Master Li, I know this blade is definitely worth more than fifty taels. Here is all the silver I have on me, please take it!” Zhao Yuan took out several silver ingots from his pocket, worth about sixty or seventy taels.

However, Li Qing shook his head and said, ”No, a deal is a deal. We agreed on a price beforehand. Raising the price now would tarnish my reputation, wouldn’t it?”

”Am I the kind of person who would do such a thing?”

As he spoke, Li Qing didn’t even glance at the silver Zhao Yuan was offering.

”This...” Zhao Yuan was momentarily stunned, but then he put the silver away and said solemnly, ”Master Li, your integrity is admirable! I, Zhao Yuan, am truly impressed. If there’s ever anything you need in the future, just let me know. I live on Gufeng Street in the city.”

This time, Li Qing didn’t refuse but nodded and escorted Zhao Yuan out the door.

”Being able to lift the Silent Blade with one hand—even a typical Outer Strength expert might not be able to do it so effortlessly. Having someone like this owe me a favor could be very useful in the future!”

”When I go to Small Jade Ridge to hunt tigers, I might even consider inviting him along.”

Li Qing stroked his chin as he muttered to himself.

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(End of the Chapter)

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