Chapter 372

Chapter 372: Direct and Clean Cut

A natural seal would form within common weapons forged by skilled weapon makers due to the presence of the world’s energy. This seal, called the Weapon Contract, locked away the energy harbored inside the weapon!

The advantage of a common weapon possessing a Weapon Contract was that, besides being of an exceptionally high rank, it might even possess certain special abilities!

The reason Chang Xiang sighed was because, since ancient times and throughout all his memories, no one had ever truly forged a common weapon bearing a Weapon Contract. Tales of the Weapon Contract were merely legends. Yet, Lou Yun had already forged one such common weapon with a Contract during the last forging conference, and now, he had forged another!

So many skilled weapon makers dedicated their entire lives without producing even one. Yet for Lou Yun, it seemed as easy as everyday tasks, one after another. This inevitably made Chang Xiang suspect that perhaps from now on, every weapon Lou Yun forged would bear this Contract!

At that moment, no one knew, nor would anyone pay any mind to Chang Xiang’s astonishment. Because everyone’s attention was fixed on that freshly forged common weapon!

Within the radiant light, one could clearly see it was a massive sword, two and a half meters long. The hilt alone was nearly half a meter. The blade, about two meters in length, tapered towards the tip and flared near the base, radiating a biting cold.

The existence of the Weapon Contract naturally prevented anyone from sensing the energy stored within or judging its rank. But based on the spectacle accompanying this massive sword’s emergence, and the undeniable fact that it was Lou Yun’s creation, everyone wholeheartedly believed this had to be a peerless common weapon!

Last time at the forging conference, Lou Yun had also forged a common weapon with a Weapon Contract. Back then, most people, unable to sense the inner energy, assumed it was scrap. But now, everyone’s attitude was completely reversed!

This proved that once a person gained power and status, the treatment they received was entirely different!

As the skilled weapon maker who produced the Weapon Contract, Lou Yun was naturally unaffected. He had heard Chang Xiang’s sigh earlier. Now, using his spiritual sense, he indeed found a "契" (Contract) character deep inside the massive sword!

He ignored the Contract, reached beyond it, peered into the giant blade’s depths with his sense, then promptly withdrew. The results satisfied even him.

This massive sword had also reached the rank of Heaven-level five-star. If it hadn’t been constrained by the Weapon Core, it could certainly have attained the King Rank. Yet, even within the Heaven-level realm, possessing unparalleled metallic sharpness within its core, it should hold its own against some King Rank magical weapons.

What delighted Lou Yun most, however, was the weapon’s special ability: when charged with spiritual energy, it could unleash thunderous power!

Remarkably, during its forging, the sword had fortuitously absorbed the properties of the heavenly fire storm!

With a wave of his hand, the massive sword flew to Lou Yun’s grasp!

He gently pricked his fingertip with its tip, flicked a bead of blood onto the blade!

Instantly, a dazzling red light burst from the sword. Beside them, Beichen Ming reflexively closed his eyes, yet murmured with fervent excitement, "It’s happening again! It’s happening again!"

In the breathless stillness of the giant forging room, his voice, though soft, reached everyone. While most didn’t grasp its meaning, the few who had attended that previous forging conference suddenly envisioned the hauntingly beautiful, dreamlike scene seared forever into their minds!

The massive sword lifted from Lou Yun’s palm, suspended itself mid-air. The red light on its blade softened, replaced by seven successive waves of colored halos, cycling through the spectrum. A pearly glow filled the expansive forging room.

Then, high upon the forging room’s vaulted ceiling, several wispy white clouds appeared, seemingly from nowhere. Clear cries of dragons and elegant calls of phoenixes accompanied their formation, the sounds piercingly sweet.

A seven-colored rainbow arched across the forging room’s upper space, reflecting the shifting hues radiating from the blade. The entire scene was breathtakingly stunning, like stepping into a dream one never wanted to leave!

The effect lasted noticeably twice as long as before. After roughly the time it takes an incense stick to burn down, the auspicious clouds gathered into a single, massive, cotton-candy-like cloud. A thunderous "CRACK!" echoed, and a golden bolt of heavenly lightning streaked down, striking the massive sword squarely.

The clouds dispersed, the light vanished, the rainbow faded. Finally, a symbol formed by pure worldly energy – the character "契" (Contract) – flashed momentarily upon the blade and disappeared. Immediately after, an overwhelming energy aura suffused from the massive sword, permeating the hearts of everyone present.

Its sheer presence was enough to make those with lesser cultivation feel a sudden, almost irresistible urge to kneel and worship the giant sword suspended peacefully in the air.

People snapped back to reality as one. The look of awestruck rapture on every face gave way to sheer shock. Many genuinely questioned if they had just experienced a fantastic dream, silently cursing its abrupt end!

Compared to the others’ discomposure, Lou Yun remained perfectly composed. Though this was only his second time witnessing it, his heart was utterly tranquil.

With another wave of his hand, the massive sword returned to his grip. He gently stroked its surface, then suddenly flicked his wrist and declared, "Tie Sha! Your sword!"

Among the gathered crowd, Tie Sha was perhaps the only one whose mind remained relatively clear. He had kept his eyes tightly shut the whole time. So, he missed the wondrous display. Yet this didn’t prevent him from feeling the immense power seeping into his heart. He perceived it far more acutely than the others.

Hearing Lou Yun’s voice, his hands were already stretched out. The massive sword settled firmly into them. Clutching this weapon, now rightfully his, the expression on Tie Sha’s usually impassive face finally erupted into intense, unbridled shock and joy!

It mirrored a parched traveler stumbling upon an oasis after days in the desert – a joy impossible to contain or mask.

Those huge, powerful hands holding the giant blade began to tremble faintly. Unlike the others, he could now intimately perceive the formidable force hidden within the sword. It differed from the familiar flow of spiritual energy; this was something vastly superior.

Taking a deep breath, Tie Sha gripped the sword with both hands and swung it forcefully down – a straightforward, uncomplicated movement. No intricate weapon techniques, no channeled spiritual energy. Yet this single, simple stroke made all onlookers see the very air distort where the blade passed!

Feeling the sword’s power in one’s hands was utterly different from seeing that power unleashed. After that swing, Tie Sha stood frozen.

A moment later, he abruptly snapped out of it. Without a word, he turned and ran out of the forging room. He couldn’t wait another moment to acquaint himself with this massive sword forged explicitly for him!

As Tie Sha stormed out, Wen Hou followed instantly on his heels. Lou Yun merely smiled. In a few easy strides, he reached Xia Zhilan’s side. Tenderly taking her hand, he whispered, "Come, Little Lan, let’s see the power Tie Sha can unleash with this sword!"

Though a touch embarrassed to have her hand held publicly this way, Xia Zhilan couldn’t deny her delight at feeling cherished, protected by her beloved. She gave a faint nod and let Lou Yun lead her out as well.

Their departure shattered the remaining restraint. Everyone else leaped to their feet, pouring out after them like a tidal wave. They were all desperate to witness the might of this massive sword!

Tie Sha didn’t stop running until he reached the edge of Divine Weapon Island, standing upon a rocky outcropping facing the open sea. There, he raised the colossal sword high overhead.

Behind him, densely packed like sardines just as during Lou Yun’s forging, stood the crowd. Not a sound broke the silence as everyone watched intently.

He channeled his spiritual energy continuously into the blade. Though his eyes remained shut, he felt the sword warming faintly in his grip. He could clearly imagine a red glow emanating from it too!

That was exactly what unfolded. As Tie Sha’s spiritual energy flowed into the weapon, a red light ignited on the blade, faintly threaded with thin streaks of blue lightning – the hallmark of the heavenly fire storm!

As the light intensified, Lou Yun leaned in quietly to Xia Zhilan. "Little Lan, shield your hearing. He’s about to strike."

Xia Zhilan started slightly, confused why a strike from Tie Sha required this from her betrothed. But knowing questions could wait, she simply obeyed.

Lou Yun’s warning proved timely the moment Xia Zhilan dampened her auditory senses, because Tie Sha struck!

The massive sword, raised high with both hands, fell straight down in an overhead chop!

No flourish. No unnecessary motion. No application of weapon techniques. Just utterly direct. A clean, decisive cut!

"BOOOOOOM!"

An earth-shattering bellow instantly filled the expanse of sky and sea!

The colossal crash battered eardrums, making heads ring incessantly. Yet the spectacular scene unfolding before them momentarily banished the sound’s assault.

A titanic tsunami-wave surged upwards, towering like a leviathan over ten meters high. It blotted out the heavens, swallowed the sea, engulfed the island, and completely obscured Tie Sha from view!