"Ruolan, thank you for stepping in for me just now." Leaving the academy square, Luo Feng expressed his gratitude to Bing Ruolan.
It was very commendable of her to disregard Duanmu Yu's status and intervene on his behalf.
"I just thought they were going too far!" Bing Ruolan's eyes shimmered, and her face was flushed. Her short, light blue hair glinted with an enchanting luster under the morning sun. She strode forward and urged, "Let's hurry, or we won't be able to get back to the academy before dark."
"Alright." Looking at Bing Ruolan's retreating figure, Luo Feng smiled and followed.
「Qingfeng Town, Refining Weapon Store.」
"Esteemed guests, this is the best saber in our shop. It's made entirely of fine steel, fortified with Fire Qilin Rock, and weighs 540 jin. It's definitely a fine saber! Only twenty-four thousand silver taels."
A gleaming saber lay on the counter of the store. The Shopkeeper, holding up two fingers, was enthusiastically promoting it to the two customers.
In the store stood a young man and a young woman—Luo Feng and Bing Ruolan.
Bing Ruolan stepped forward, took the saber in her hand, and her slender fingers flicked the blade.
HUM...
A resonant hum echoed through the store, causing Bing Ruolan's brow to furrow slightly.
Placing the saber down, Bing Ruolan looked at the Shopkeeper, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her clear voice sounded in the store, "The vibration of the blade is deep but not crisp. The heat control during forging was clearly inadequate, and very little Fire Qilin Rock was added. This saber isn't worth more than five thousand silver taels."
The Shopkeeper behind the counter stared at Bing Ruolan, his face alternating between shades of green and white.
Finally, he sighed helplessly, cupped his hands, and said with a forced smile, "I didn't realize the young lady was such an expert. I've made a fool of myself showing off my meager skills. How about this? I'll sell this Fire Rock Saber to you for four thousand silver taels."
Twenty-four thousand silver taels had just become four thousand.
Luo Feng shook his head and laughed bitterly. This kind of thing had happened a dozen or so times over the past half-day, and he was already used to it. He had initially thought Bing Ruolan was just making an excuse when she claimed to have some knowledge of weapons. He hadn't expected her understanding to be so profound—far beyond just 'some knowledge.' With just a brief observation, Bing Ruolan could determine a weapon's materials and value.
Taking the Fire Rock Saber in his hand, Luo Feng gave it a casual swing.
SWISH!
The blade flashed, followed by a sharp sound of tearing air. The heavy pressure wave buffeted the other weapons in the store, causing them to CLANG and JINGLE incessantly.
"Too light..." Luo Feng shook his head and, with a disappointed expression, put the saber down.
Bing Ruolan frowned slightly and turned to the Shopkeeper. "Don't you have any heavier sabers?"
The Shopkeeper, having been exposed by Bing Ruolan earlier and now having his merchandise disparaged, was somewhat irritated. He said coldly, "We do have some, but I fear they may not be suitable for this young hero."
"Why is that?" Luo Feng's interest was piqued.
"With the young hero's cultivation at the mid-stage of the Fourth Meridian Wheel, I'm afraid you won't be able to wield such a saber," the Shopkeeper stated bluntly.
"Just bring it out. If I can't use it, I'll still pay the Silver Taels," Luo Feng said, a hint of anticipation in his voice.
The Shopkeeper's eyes lit up. He clapped his hands, and four burly men hurried in. "Shopkeeper, what are your orders?"
"Go get that big fellow from the warehouse. This young hero wants to take a look."
"That Mountain Splitting Blade?"
The four burly men were taken aback, their gazes sweeping over Luo Feng with amusement.
"Another overconfident one. Last time, 'Red Tiger' Chen Gang from Wanluo Academy, who boasted of his tiger-like strength, also wanted this Mountain Splitting Blade. He was panting like a dog after just three swings. I bet this kid can't even manage three."
"Three swings? Second Brother, you overestimate him. Look at his skinny arms and legs; one swing will be his limit!"
Muttering amongst themselves, the four men headed towards the back warehouse.
A short while later, they reappeared, carrying a massive wooden box between them.
The four burly men carried the wooden box out, their faces flushed. With each step they took, the Refining Weapon Store trembled slightly.
THUD.
They placed the wooden box at Luo Feng's feet. Dust billowed up, and several of the hard stone floor tiles cracked.
The box opened, and an inexplicable chill filled the air of the shop.
A giant blade, six feet long, a palm wide, and entirely black, appeared before Luo Feng's eyes.
"This is the king of all sabers in our shop, the Mountain Splitting Blade, forged entirely from Profound Heavy Iron!" the Shopkeeper, hands tucked in his sleeves and a hint of mockery playing on his lips, explained leisurely.
The Mountain Splitting Blade weighed 3,500 jin, nearing the limit for a mid-stage Rigid-Soft Realm martial artist. The Shopkeeper didn't believe Luo Feng could handle it.
The four burly men also stood by, smirking, ready to watch Luo Feng make a fool of himself.
Luo Feng looked at the Mountain Splitting Blade at his feet, a faint glint of pleasure in his eyes. He asked the Shopkeeper, "Can I test the saber?"
"Of course, if you can lift it..." The Shopkeeper chuckled and pointed to the side, where a meter-square anvil, covered in various marks, stood.
Luo Feng took a shallow breath, reached out, and grasped the hilt. To the utter astonishment of the Shopkeeper and his men, he effortlessly lifted the blade.
"Still a bit light, but much better than the last one. Let me try it." Luo Feng walked towards the anvil, channeled sixty percent of his strength, let out a low shout, and brought the saber down.
SNAP!
The Mountain Splitting Blade descended with a fierce howl, striking the iron anvil. The entire Refining Weapon Store shook violently. The saber bit a foot deep into the anvil before suddenly snapping in the middle.
SHIING!
The broken tip of the blade spun through the air and embedded itself deeply into the ground.
"Seems it's still not good enough." Luo Feng casually tossed the broken hilt aside and said to Bing Ruolan, "Let's go."
HISS...
Only then did the sturdy men gasp, staring at Luo Feng in horror. To break the Mountain Splitting Blade with one strike—what terrifying strength that must require!
The Shopkeeper glanced at the nearly foot-deep gash on the anvil and suddenly bowed to Luo Feng, his voice filled with respect. "May I ask your name, young hero?"
"Why do you want my name?" Luo Feng paused.
The Shopkeeper pointed to the deep mark on the iron anvil and said to Luo Feng, "If anyone in the future asks who made this mark, I'd like to be able to tell them."
Luo Feng hesitated for a moment, then cupped his fists. "Luo Feng, an outer disciple of Purple Sun Academy."
"Luo Feng..."
The Shopkeeper watched Luo Feng's departing figure and muttered in a daze, "I never expected Purple Sun Academy to produce such an individual. At the mid-stage of the Fourth Level of the Rigid-Soft Realm, yet his strength is so terrifying, perhaps exceeding ten thousand jin! This young man's future accomplishments will likely be no less than Lu Xiao Yun's!"
The burly men beside him, recovering from their shock, exclaimed, "Lu Xiao Yun! Isn't he the former super-genius of Purple Sun Academy, now one of the Ten New Dragons of the Flowing Cloud Region, a top young expert? Can this Luo Feng compare to him?"
"It's just a gut feeling. Luo Feng's gaze reminds me of the Lu Xiao Yun from back then," the Shopkeeper said, a reminiscent look on his face, as if lost in memories.
「...」
"Luo Feng, how is your strength so immense? You even scared me just now," Bing Ruolan said, patting her chest as they left the Refining Weapon Store.
Luo Feng smiled. His Soul Power was formidable, and he possessed eighteen Meridian Wheels, granting him a physical constitution far superior to ordinary people. Even at the early stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm, his strength had already approached fifteen thousand jin!
Now that he had advanced to the mid-stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm, his strength had undoubtedly increased significantly. Luo Feng believed that even most Iron Bone Realm experts couldn't compare to his strength.
"We've checked more than half the weapon shops in Qingfeng Town, and still haven't found a suitable weapon," Luo Feng said, somewhat disappointed, as he looked at the streets on either side.
"Qingfeng Town is rather remote, and most martial artists around here prefer swords, so there are fewer types of sabers," Bing Ruolan said. Her gaze shifted, her azure pupils fixed on Luo Feng. Tapping her fingers together behind her back, she took small, light steps and suggested, "Luo Feng, how about you try using a sword?"
Luo Feng shook his head.
"Swordsmanship relies on finesse and requires elegance and agility. Compared to such delicate displays, I prefer the direct and domineering Saber Technique. To overwhelm skill with power; one slash disperses all phantoms. That's the weapon a man should use!"
"Domineering and direct, that certainly fits your style." Bing Ruolan seemed to recall something, her face flushing. She stuck out her tongue, looking incredibly charming and adorable.
"Huh? Why are there so many people up ahead? Luo Feng, let's go see!" Bing Ruolan looked up and saw a large crowd gathered in front, urging Luo Feng to go over.
Bing Ruolan seemed very happy today, exceptionally lively, and her light, girlish laughter had echoed along their path.
Although Luo Feng was anxious to find a weapon, seeing Bing Ruolan in such high spirits, he couldn't bring himself to refuse. The two of them then squeezed into the crowd.
The crowd was a bustling circle of people.
In the center was a ten-meter-square platform. On it rested a large anvil, and beside it, a square table draped with red cloth. Luo Feng's gaze fixed on the object concealed beneath the cloth.
It was a saber!
The saber was over five feet long, with a hilt nearly a foot in length. Its spine was an inch thick, and its blade, wider than a palm, was dark red. It had an ancient yet sleek curve, adorned with blood-red patterns. From afar, it resembled a tiger pouncing on its prey. Even from such a distance, an oppressive killing intent washed over Luo Feng, making his skin crawl.
"What a fine saber!"
From his first glance, Luo Feng found his eyes glued to the long saber on the red cloth.
"HAHAHA... I'll try this Tiger Soul Saber!" Just then, with a hearty laugh, a young man leaped onto the platform.
Luo Feng looked up. The young man had thick eyebrows and a square face. He was exceptionally sturdy, with muscles like granite. His entire being radiated immense vital energy; he was clearly a martial artist at the early stage of the Fifth Meridian Wheel, the Iron Bone Realm! However, his aura was somewhat unstable, indicating he had broken through recently and his cultivation level wasn't yet consolidated.
"It's Fang Li, an inner disciple of the Fang Family Academy! He opened his fifth Meridian Wheel ten days ago!" A wave of exclamations rose from the crowd.
Fang Li looked smug as he strode to the table. He took a deep breath, gripped the Tiger Soul Saber on the red silk, and slowly lifted it.
"Excellent!" Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Luo Feng, feeling puzzled, moved closer to a young martial artist carrying a saber and asked, "Excuse me, Senior Brother, what is going on here?"
The young martial artist, pleased that Luo Feng had called him Senior Brother, explained, "Today is the fiftieth anniversary of Tianding Pavilion, the largest weapon emporium in Qingfeng Town. They're hosting this 'Gathering of Arms' event. Any martial artist under eighteen who can leave a foot-deep mark on that anvil with the Tiger Soul Saber can have it for free!"
"Leave a foot-deep saber mark? Is it that simple?" Luo Feng was slightly taken aback.
"Simple?" The young martial artist scoffed. "This competition has been going for half a day. No fewer than fifty challengers have tried, many of them experts at the Fifth Meridian Wheel of the Iron Bone Realm. Yet the saber is still here. You tell me if it's simple."
"Luo Feng, this Tiger Soul Saber is extraordinary. Its quality is close to that of a Spirit Weapon," Bing Ruolan, who was beside him, suddenly averted her gaze from the Tiger Soul Saber and said seriously.
The young martial artist's eyes lit up when he saw Bing Ruolan, and he boasted, "Senior Sister, you have sharp eyes! Legend has it that this Tiger Soul Saber was forged from a meteorite. This meteorite fell from the sky, killing a Third-rank Demon Beast, the Blood Cloud Tiger. The beast's essence blood was completely absorbed by the meteorite. After being forged into this saber, it emitted tiger roars for three days straight! It's just one step away from becoming a First-Grade Spirit Weapon! It truly is a treasured saber!"
As he finished, the young martial artist couldn't help but lick his lips, his eyes fixed on the Tiger Soul Saber on the platform.
"Look, Fang Li is about to strike!" he exclaimed, pointing to the stage.