Dark Weapons

Luoxia Valley placed the greatest importance on honoring teachers and respecting the Dao. Although this cultivation technique had not been personally taught to him by Elder Wu, Qin Fengming was still deeply grateful to the elder.

"Fengming, you needn't be so modest. In our sect, over the past several hundred years, who knows how many prodigies have tried to glimpse even the merest surface of this cultivation technique? Even after exhausting an entire lifetime, they gained nothing. The fact that you cultivated it successfully was enough to show that your talent truly surpassed that of the others by several times over."

Listening to Elder Wu's heartfelt praise, Qin Fengming did not feel the slightest bit of pride.

Looking at the young man before him, who was exceedingly respectful, Elder Wu was also deeply impressed. Which of those talented disciples was not arrogant and conceited? Yet the youth before him remained extraordinarily calm.

"Ah, I nearly forgot why I came here. The little items you asked me to forge have already been completed. I came here specially to deliver them to you."

"Ah, really? Then many thanks, Elder Wu." Hearing this, Qin Fengming immediately bowed happily. His excitement was even greater than before.

Qin Fengming appeared extremely agitated as he accepted the cloth bag Elder Wu handed over.

After respectfully escorting Elder Wu away, Qin Fengming hurried back to his room. With a violent shake of his hand, he poured the objects in the cloth bag out onto the bed.

Looking at the dozens of small parts cast from fine iron on the bed, Qin Fengming's eyes flashed with brilliance.

Following the diagrams he had drawn himself, Qin Fengming sorted and compared the parts one by one, only to discover that every component matched the diagrams without error. Only then did he finally relax.

"Detailed Explanation of Mechanisms" had already been sent back to Wangyue Peak. Now that he wanted to assemble the Cold Star hidden weapon, he could only rely on his memory.

Sitting cross-legged on a wooden chair, Qin Fengming slowly closed his eyes and rapidly recalled the steps for assembling the Cold Star hidden weapon. It was only after the time it took to finish a meal that he finally began putting it together.

An hour later, a pitch-black little box appeared before Qin Fengming.

The box was the size of a palm. Its front lid had five holes as large as soybeans, while two additional small ear-holes protruded from each side. There was also a small hole on the left side of the box.

Qin Fengming knew that the small holes on the left and right were for securing the box, while the hole on the left was for connecting the triggering mechanism. He connected the mechanism to a prepared length of tough thread and threaded it out through the hole.

Looking at the Cold Star hidden weapon in his hand, Qin Fengming was already growing excited. He carefully took out five Heart-Questioning Nails and placed them, with the utmost care, into the five grooves inside the box. Then he cautiously closed the lid tight.

He picked up the box, aimed the small holes on its front at the bamboo wall opposite him, and pulled hard on the thread with his right hand.

"Crack!"

Following the crisp sound, five flashes of icy light streaked past his eyes. Almost simultaneously, a "thud" came from the bamboo wall opposite him. Five small holes arranged in a cross had appeared in the wall.

Caressing the five holes that had pierced straight through the wall, Qin Fengming was filled with delight.

The power of this Cold Star hidden weapon was even greater than he had expected. Even a bamboo wall this hard could be pierced through in a single strike. If it struck a person, it would certainly burrow into their body. Even martial experts who had trained in body-refining techniques would inevitably suffer flesh wounds.

Finding several thin cords, Qin Fengming followed the instructions in Detailed Explanation of Mechanisms and fastened the Cold Star to his chest, then tied the thin cord connected to the mechanism around his left arm.

Afterward, he experimented repeatedly, constantly adjusting the cord's length and its position on his left arm. After more than half an hour of practice, he finally adjusted the cord to perfection.

Over the next several days, Qin Fengming repeatedly tested and fired the Cold Star hidden weapon. At last, he could use it as easily as moving his own fingers.

After several days of experimenting and test-firing, Qin Fengming came to understand that although this hidden weapon was extraordinarily sharp, its killing power was extremely limited. If it failed to strike an opponent's vital point, it would be difficult to kill or capture them in a single blow.

To resolve this flaw, there was only one method: coat the Heart-Questioning Nails with potent poison.

Thinking of this, Qin Fengming did not delay any longer and appeared before Elder Wu once again.

"Hehe, you came looking for me again so soon. Are you hoping to ask me for some potent poison?"

When Elder Wu saw Qin Fengming appear before him again, he laughed and spoke with a smile. With his experience, he naturally knew the flaw in the hidden weapon he had previously given the youth.

"Ah, Elder, you have already guessed it. That is correct. I came this time hoping to find a highly toxic substance. Ideally, it should make anyone who comes into contact with it lose all ability to resist, while doing no great harm to their life."

Seeing that Elder Wu already knew why he had come, Qin Fengming secretly admired him but admitted it frankly.

"I have a poison that can kill anyone who touches it, but the substance you described will require me to consider the matter carefully."

With a thoughtful expression, Elder Wu settled down and pondered.

After a full quarter of an hour, he suddenly slapped his head and spoke in delight:

"Haha, I have thought of something that roughly fits what you need. Our sect has a drug called Spirit Numbing Powder. As long as it comes into contact with a person's blood, it can immediately make their entire body go limp, robbing them of the ability to move.

"However, Spirit Numbing Powder's effects last for a very short time. Without any antidote, the victim can recover their movement after only a quarter of an hour. A martial expert needs merely a few moments to return to normal, while someone with profound cultivation might dissolve its effects within just one or two breaths."

Hearing Elder Wu's words, Qin Fengming rapidly considered the matter.

Although this drug could be neutralized by martial experts within moments, with the Azure Cloud Maze movement technique, he could reach an opponent's side in the blink of an eye. Whether he wanted to kill or capture them, he would certainly be able to restrain them.

"This medicine is precisely what Fengming needs. But I wonder, Elder, can you obtain this numbing drug?"

"Spirit Numbing Powder can be prepared by Hall Master Guo of our sect. I will go find him right away; there should be no problem. Two days from now, I can place it in your hands."

At noon two days later, Qin Fengming received the Spirit Numbing Powder Elder Wu had brought him.

After telling Qin Fengming how to use it, Elder Wu turned and left.

Following the prescribed ratio, Qin Fengming dissolved the Spirit Numbing Powder into a certain amount of clear water. After stirring it evenly, he placed all the Heart-Questioning Nails into the mixture.

Only after soaking them for a full hour did Qin Fengming use chopsticks to remove the Heart-Questioning Nails one by one. He dried them, then carefully placed them inside a leather pouch. After cautiously putting the five reserved Heart-Questioning Nails into the Cold Star, he hurried impatiently toward the depths of the dense forest.

His figure darted through the mountain woods. Before long, he spotted a mountain rabbit.

Looking at the rabbit, Qin Fengming prayed inwardly, I'm sorry, but to test this hidden weapon, you'll have to serve as my target.

With a soft click from the mechanism, the mountain rabbit, which had been chewing grass, immediately toppled over. Its entire body went limp, as though it had no bones at all.

Only after a full meal's time did the mountain rabbit roll over, then stagger and hop into the nearby pile of rocks, vanishing from sight.