Chapter 181

Chapter 181: Weapon Contract

Legend stated that within the common weapons forged by a skilled weapon maker, a natural seal would form due to the existence of heaven and earth’s energy. Its function was akin to a contract, hence it was called a Weapon Contract!

The presence of a Weapon Contract would completely seal away the energy contained within the common weapon. Without the original weapon maker’s unsealing, this common weapon would merely be an ordinary piece of scrap iron in anyone’s hands, utterly devoid of its inherent power.

Moreover, any common weapon possessing a Weapon Contract was not only guaranteed to be of an incredibly high rank but might also possess certain special abilities!

The reason this Weapon Contract was considered merely a legend was that no one had ever actually managed to forge a common weapon bearing one. It was said that the characteristic sign of a Weapon Contract appearing was a flash of red light at the moment the weapon left the furnace!

Although Lou Yun had forged a common weapon, others were completely unable to discern its rank using their spiritual senses. Not only was Beichen Ming incapable, even Chang Xiang’s formidable spiritual sense could not see it either!

This was why Chang Xiang suspected that the common weapon Lou Yun had forged might contain a Weapon Contract – because its presence would utterly seal away the energy within the weapon.

While all conditions of this weapon fit the description of a Weapon Contract, Chang Xiang still couldn’t believe that Lou Yun had actually forged a common weapon bearing one. Even the Divine Forger, Mr. Commoner, with his profoundly deep forging skills, had never succeeded in forging such a weapon!

Lou Yun, at this moment, was completely unaware of the concept of the Weapon Contract. He was peacefully meditating, restoring his spiritual energy. Thanks to the existence of the Fusang Tree, he discovered the absorption rate of spiritual energy was several times faster than before. After all, previously, only the Magical Weapon truly absorbed energy. Now, there was an additional large tree. Its branches, leaves, and trunk could all absorb energy, hence the noticeable difference!

However, others were beginning to worry for Lou Yun again. Since they couldn’t sense the energy of the weapon he forged with their spiritual senses – a situation they had never encountered before – they unanimously concluded that the weapon Lou Yun had forged was nothing but a useless scrap!

If that were truly the case, then even though Lou Yun’s forging speed was much faster than Short Winter Melon’s, as long as Short Winter Melon forged even an entry-level common weapon, its rank would be higher than Lou Yun’s. Thus, ultimately, Lou Yun would still lose!

Fan Ruobing and Short Winter Melon, naturally, had noticed this too. Though finding it somewhat unbelievable, they couldn’t help but feel a twinge of secret delight. Short Winter Melon even breathed a small sigh of relief: "You scared me to death. Hmph, so what if you were fast? You forged scrap metal! Ha! That magnificent cauldron of yours is as good as mine!"

Under everyone’s eager anticipation, Short Winter Melon finally completed his own common weapon. He had also forged a longsword, as it was the most commonly used, most basic, and the most convenient type of weapon to forge. Therefore, in forging contests like this, the vast majority of participants chose to forge longswords.

Compared to Lou Yun’s process, Short Winter Melon’s awakening of the spirit and the emergence of the finished weapon passed with basically no spectacle whatsoever; it was utterly mundane and unremarkable.

Lou Yun’s spiritual energy had long been fully restored; he had merely been studying the Fusang Tree within his body. When his spiritual sense noted that Short Winter Melon’s weapon was finally completed, he withdrew his senses, cradled the weapon he had forged, and stood up.

Fan Ruobing quickly stepped forward, beaming with satisfaction. "Since both you gentlemen have finished forging your weapons, may I have them? I will determine their ranks to see who is the final winner!"

Saying this, he extended both hands. Short Winter Melon stepped forward first, placing his forged common weapon into Fan Ruobing’s left hand. Lou Yun hesitated briefly before also handing over his weapon to Fan Ruobing’s right hand.

Lou Yun’s hesitation stemmed from worry that Fan Ruobing might try some underhanded trick again. However, he reconsidered; with so many people present, under the scrutiny of countless eyes, Fan Ruobing surely wouldn’t dare attempt anything deceitful. Thus, he handed over the weapon.

Fan Ruobing had already used his spiritual sense to examine the ranks of both weapons. He knew the outcome clearly in his heart, so he saw no need to employ trickery this time.

First, he raised Short Winter Melon’s weapon in his left hand, putting on an exaggerated show of examining it from top to bottom before loudly proclaiming: "Ai Donghua’s forged common weapon is of Mystery Rank One Star!"

The crowd nodded in succession. Even Lou Yun remained silent, as he had also checked Short Winter Melon’s weapon.

Next, Fan Ruobing raised Lou Yun’s weapon in his right hand. Once again, he deliberately scrutinized it from top to bottom, carefully and repeatedly turning it over in his hands several times. Finally, he theatricaly furrowed his brow. In a voice laced with heavy feigned confusion he muttered to himself: "Hmm? How strange. Why can’t I ascertain the rank of this weapon? Could it be… a dud? Impossible? This young lad forged so swiftly and with such confidence. How could he possibly have forged scrap?"

Although Fan Ruobing was ostensibly muttering to himself, his voice was deliberately loud enough to be heard clearly throughout the entire valley.

At this point, Beichen Ming’s brow also tightened into a deep frown. Naturally, he had noticed the issue long ago; his recently eased heart began to worry again.

Because while Lou Yun could lose, he absolutely could not have produced scrap metal. If he had, then the respect and admiration Lou Yun had just earned from the other skilled weapon makers would vanish instantly. Beichen Ming’s plan to publicly announce Lou Yun as his heir would also face significant obstacles!

After finishing his dramatic soliloquy, Fan Ruobing deliberately held up Lou Yun’s forged weapon high before himself. "I believe," he declared loudly, "that perhaps this weapon crafted by the young man is of such a high rank that my spiritual senses, not being powerful enough, cannot discern it. I wonder, esteemed masters present here, is there anyone capable of determining this weapon’s true rank? If so, I implore you to speak! We must ensure the utter fairness and impartiality of this contest!"

His words sounded so noble and righteous. Yet, in reality, it was impossible for anyone to step forward, because no one could see it.

At this very moment, Lou Yun also remained silent. He was formally using his own spiritual sense for the first time to examine the rank of this Magical Weapon he had forged.

Within Lou Yun’s spiritual sense, delving into the weapon’s interior, the first thing he encountered was a layer of scattered, web-like red patterns. These patterns seemed to form a character. After careful scrutiny, Lou Yun recognized it. The character should be from a long-lost script, and it was the character for "Contract"!

This was only possible due to Lou Yun having studied a vast array of books since childhood, possessing an exceptional memory, granting him an incredibly broad base of knowledge to recognize such a character.

Though he recognized the character, Lou Yun did not understand why such a character appeared within the weapon he forged. Previous weapons he had forged contained nothing like this.

However, this character did not block Lou Yun’s spiritual sense. After pondering for a moment, he moved past the character ‘Contract’ and delved deeper into the weapon.

Within a mass of swirling mist-like energy, he spotted a small, flat Weapon Core. Yet, inside this Weapon Core itself, there was an utterly inconspicuous speck of green, resembling a tiny seedling bud. What was this thing?

Naturally, Lou Yun was still perplexed. However, based on the quantity of heaven and earth’s energy saturating the weapon’s interior, he easily deduced that the common weapon he forged was undoubtedly far beyond the Mystery Rank Five-Star level – it could be considered a peak, transcendent piece even within the Mystery Rank!

Withdrawing his spiritual sense from the weapon, Lou Yu coldly stared at Fan Ruobing, who was deliberately holding the blade aloft, pretending to appeal to the crowd for help. Because, at this moment, Lou Yun did not know that others were entirely incapable of discerning the rank of his weapon. He assumed Fan Ruobing was once again actively seeking a pretext to bully him!

Lou Yun never imagined that Fan Ruobing would dare to lie so blatantly in front of everyone, under the watchful eyes of the multitude. What struck him harder was that, among the sea of onlookers, genuinely not a single person dared to step forward and speak up for him!

At that moment, genuine anger flared within Lou Yun. And his fury extended to encompass everyone present!

Just as Lou Yun was on the verge of exploding, Chang Xiang’s voice spoke swiftly in his mind: "Don’t rush to anger. They, including myself, truly cannot perceive the rank of your weapon. Listen to me: drip a drop of your blood onto the weapon!"

Chang Xiang’s voice temporarily quelled Lou Yun’s rage, though the request only deepened his confusion. As far as he knew, dripping one’s vital blood essence was only necessary when wanting to merge with a cauldron furnace. Why would this common weapon require blood now?

Moreover, he himself could see inside the weapon with his spiritual sense – why couldn’t others? Even if others couldn’t, he understood Chang Xiang’s spiritual sense to be immensely powerful. If even he couldn’t see it, that defied reason!

Chang Xiang naturally sensed Lou Yun’s bewilderment. He offered no immediate explanation, because honestly, he had only heard about removing a Weapon Contract and never done it himself. He needed Lou Yun to give it a try first!

Therefore, filled with doubt, Lou Yun thrust his hand towards Fan Ruobing. "Give it to me!"

Fan Ruobing was momentarily startled, then promptly offered a knowing smile, returning the weapon. "Oh? Do you suspect I’m lying to you? Heh, fine. Take a look for yourself."

Ignoring him entirely, Lou Yun took the sword and immediately drew its sharp blade across his fingertip. It was incredibly keen. As the cut appeared, the blade was lightly stained with a thin trace of blood!

Simultaneously, Chang Xiang’s voice echoed in his mind: "Use your spiritual sense! Watch!"

Lou Yun rapidly activated his spiritual sense and focused it intensely on the sword’s interior!

The bloodstain on the blade, in the blink of an eye, seemed to simply vanish – permeating deep into the body of the sword!

Instantly, a dazzling flash of red light erupted from the sword, so intense it forced everyone to involuntarily shut their eyes. But they snapped them open again immediately, for even a fool realized that such an intense glow from Lou Yun’s common weapon at this moment signified something significant was about to happen!

Then, thousands of skilled weapon makers gathered within Yao Lin Valley witnessed an almost dreamlike spectacle jointly. This scene etched itself deeply into their minds. They would recall and meticulously savor this moment countless times later, a memory that would remain vivid even until their dying day!