Emperor Yanfeng walked ahead with long strides.
After passing through the bustling streets of the capital, Chen Xin saw a magnificent workshop sprawling across a vast area, guarded with extreme vigilance.
This was the Supervision and Manufacturing Factory under the Ministry of Works, the core site where the entire Yankang Kingdom forged divine weapons and sharp armaments.
The moment they stepped through the gates, a wave of scorching heat rushed at them.
Inside the spacious factory hall, dozens of towering furnaces engraved with formation patterns burned with pale blue earthcore spirit fire.
Hundreds upon thousands of bare-chested blacksmiths swung their hammers, and the crisp clang of metal being struck merged into a deafening roar that made their eardrums tingle.
Emperor Yanfeng did not stop in the ordinary forging area. Instead, he led the National Preceptor and Chen Xin straight into an octagonal pavilion at the deepest part of the Supervision and Manufacturing Factory.
The lighting inside the pavilion was soft, and the air carried a faint, cold metallic fragrance.
Sixteen long scrolls hung upon the walls.
Beneath each scroll was enshrined the phantom of a treasured sword radiating astonishing pressure.
"Instructor Chen, come and see the foundation upon which Yankang was built."
Emperor Yanfeng stopped before the first scroll.
The scroll depicted a broad, heavy longsword overflowing with murderous aura.
"These sixteen swords were first-rank ceremonial swords forged by Yankang with the finest heavenly treasures of the entire nation, at the cost of countless efforts."
Emperor Yanfeng pointed at the broad sword, his voice carrying an overbearing pride that looked down upon the world.
"The one ranked first is called the Heavenly Strategy Sword."
"It is the exclusive ceremonial sword of the foremost military official of our dynasty, the General of Heavenly Strategy."
"This sword represents the pinnacle of the military path."
"The blade perfectly contains the Four Symbols battle formation. When facing an enemy, it can fuse the vital energy of an entire army into a single sword strike."
A sharp gleam flashed in Emperor Yanfeng's eyes.
"As long as the General of Heavenly Strategy holds this sword, one man and one blade can uphold the might of Yankang Kingdom and suppress vast armies!"
Chen Xin stepped forward, sensing the iron-blooded military might lingering within the scroll. His breathing unconsciously grew heavier.
Emperor Yanfeng then moved to the second scroll.
"This is the Grand Preceptor Sword."
"It is the sword of the Grand Preceptor, the foremost civil official and a first-rank minister."
"It cultivates the fortune of the literary path, governs the rites and institutions of the court, and is specially used to suppress the demonic and wicked within the imperial court."
Emperor Yanfeng pointed at them one by one as though reciting treasures from his own collection.
The Grand Tutor Sword, Grand Guardian Sword, Grand Marshal Sword, Minister of Works Sword... all the way to the Junior Guardian Sword on the ninth scroll.
"The rankings of these ceremonial swords strictly correspond to the hierarchy of first-rank offices in Yankang's imperial court."
The Yankang Imperial Preceptor, who had remained silent until now, added gently from the side.
"The higher the official rank, the more national fortune and heaven-and-earth vital energy the sword can draw upon."
"The General of Heavenly Strategy commands the greatest military authority, so the Heavenly Strategy Sword firmly surpasses the Grand Preceptor Sword of the Three Ducal Offices and ranks first."
"As long as one holds these ceremonial swords, one can borrow the fortune of an entire nation to empower one's swordsmanship."
"Their power is in no way inferior to those divine artifacts passed down from ancient times."
As those words fell.
Douluo Continent beyond the Sky Screen instantly fell so silent that a pin could have been heard dropping.
Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi's hand holding his teacup froze in midair, his eyes filled with shock.
To bind a nation's fortune and the vital energy of thousands upon thousands of soldiers to a single sword?
What an immense vision that was!
On Douluo Continent, Soul Masters relied entirely on the awakening of their own Martial Souls for weapons. Whether their power was great or small depended wholly on personal talent and the age of their Soul Rings.
Yet Yankang Kingdom could actually mobilize the strength of the entire nation and forcibly forge divine weapons capable of suppressing national fortune through the art of creation!
"To use national fortune as a weapon..." Bone Douluo swallowed, his voice dry.
"If that sword came down, who could stop it?"
On the training grounds of Heaven Dou Imperial City.
Tang San stared at the Sky Screen, his palms drenched in cold sweat.
He had always believed the mechanism-based hidden weapons of the Tang Sect were the strongest weapons mortals could create.
But before these first-rank national artifacts that could carry the vital energy of vast armies and bind together the laws of heaven and earth...
His Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus and Pear Blossom Needle in Rain were no more than little tools a blacksmith might use for self-defense. They were not even on the same level.
Within the Sky Screen.
Chen Xin looked at these national artifacts radiating terrifying pressure, his eyes filled with amazement and longing.
Yet after pondering for a moment, he still took half a step back and cupped his hands slightly.
"Your Majesty's goodwill is deeply appreciated."
Chen Xin's expression was open and composed.
"These swords are indeed divine treasures that seize the wonders of heaven and earth."
"But they are already bound to Yankang's official positions and national fortune. They carry far too much."
"My sword seeks only purity."
"The Heavenly Strategy Sword carries too much slaughter, while the Grand Preceptor Sword has too many rules of the imperial court."
"I want a sword that is clean and pure, one that belongs to me alone."
Upon hearing Chen Xin's refusal.
Not only did Emperor Yanfeng not grow angry, he instead burst into hearty laughter.
"Good! A swordsman should be this discerning!"
He turned and shouted toward the outside of the pavilion.
"Bring all the finest master craftsmen of the Ministry of Works here!"
"Today, we'll open a private furnace and use Taibai Divine Gold to forge a new sword tailored for Instructor Chen!"
A short while later, more than a dozen old blacksmiths with knotted muscles entered the most central forging chamber.
Several Imperial Academy students carrying formation blueprints followed behind them.
A piece of Taibai Divine Gold emitting blinding white light was placed into a furnace covered in runes.
The pale blue formation fire instantly enveloped the divine gold.
The blacksmiths raised their massive hammers, sending sparks flying in every direction.
With every hammer strike, the students beside them loudly called out strings of obscure arithmetic data, reminding the blacksmiths to adjust the force and angle of their blows so that the vital energy conduction paths inside the divine gold would form the most perfect curves.
Chen Xin stood beside the furnace.
The searing heat curled his white hair slightly, yet he did not even blink.
"Instructor Chen, the heat is ready!"
The leading old craftsman roared, using iron tongs to place the blazing-red sword blank, which had vaguely taken the shape of a blade, onto the anvil.
"Pour your Sword Intent into it!"
Chen Xin's eyes narrowed slightly.
The golden Spirit Fetus between his brows suddenly opened its eyes.
A pure killing Sword Intent, stripped of every stray thought and unyielding even unto death, surged out along his arm.
He formed his fingers into a sword and tapped the scorching sword blank.
"Buzz!"
In an instant, the invisible Sword Intent collided violently with the tangible Taibai Divine Gold.
With the support of the high heat and formation, that Sword Intent did not disperse. Instead, it was gradually tempered into the very texture of the blade.
As a barrel of specially prepared icy quenching liquid was poured down.
"Sizzle!"
Thick white mist rose into the air.
When the mist dispersed.
A three-foot longsword lay quietly upon the anvil.
The sword bore no ornate decorations, and its entire blade was a dark silver-gray.
Yet along the edge of its blade flowed a faint glimmer that sent chills down one's spine.
That was Chen Xin's will.
Chen Xin stepped forward and extended his no-longer-withered hand, gripping the hilt tightly.
The longsword let out a clear, lingering cry, as though cheering joyfully in answer to its master's call.
Emperor Yanfeng clapped his hands and laughed.
"Fine sword! Its sharpness is restrained, and its killing intent is born of nature."
"Instructor Chen, this sword has no name yet. Give it one."
Chen Xin raised the longsword.
His fingers gently stroked the cold spine of the blade.
He recalled his nine shattered Soul Rings and the more than ninety wasted years he had spent on Douluo Continent.
Now that his old dreams had shattered, he had washed away the dust covering him in this unfamiliar land.
With a flick of his wrist, Chen Xin drew a crisp sword flourish through the air.
"All that has passed is as though yesterday had died."
He looked at the glimmer on the sword's edge, his voice firm.
"This sword shall be called..."
"Wunian."
Without thought, without desire—only the sword remained.
Just as Chen Xin bestowed a name upon his new sword.
The pavilion's heavy bronze doors were shoved open.
Bashan Libationer strode inside with a wine gourd in hand, excitement at the prospect of a spectacle written across his rough face.
"Old man, is the sword done?"
Bashan slapped Chen Xin on the shoulder, his booming voice making the scrolls in the pavilion sway.
"If it's done, hurry up and come with me! A few blind fools have shown up at the Imperial Academy gates, claiming our practice of incorporating arithmetic into swordsmanship is a heretical path."
"The National Preceptor told you to bring this new sword and go back to teach them a proper lesson!"
This sudden turn of events was like a hook that instantly caught the hearts of every Douluo viewer beyond the Sky Screen.
Sword Douluo had just obtained his new sword, and his first battle would be against cultivators from a higher-dimensional world!
What kind of power could this sword called "Wunian" truly unleash?
Emperor Yanfeng's hearty laughter echoed through the forging chamber.
Chen Xin gripped the dark gray longsword named "Wunian." The cold touch from its hilt made his heart, which sought the Dao, feel especially tranquil.
"Good name."
Bashan Libationer raised his wine gourd and took a gulp of strong liquor, then wiped his stubbled chin.
"Since the sword's done, let's not waste time here. Those little brats at the Imperial Academy are still getting cursed out at the gates."
Bashan turned and cupped his hands toward Emperor Yanfeng.
"Your Majesty, I'll take this old man back first."
Emperor Yanfeng waved his hand, then turned to discuss formation blueprints with the blacksmiths of the Ministry of Works again.
For a ruler of a nation like him, actual weapon production was far more important than watching people fight.
Chen Xin slung Wunian across his back and followed Bashan Libationer out of the Supervision and Manufacturing Factory.
The noon sunlight was somewhat dazzling.
The capital's streets remained as lively as ever.
The two walked one before the other.
Bashan deliberately slowed his pace so Chen Xin, whose stamina was far weaker after just awakening his Spirit Fetus, could keep up.
"Lord Libationer."
Walking behind him, Chen Xin looked at the wooden carriages driven by formations along both sides of the street and asked a question.
"You said someone was causing trouble at the Imperial Academy gates?"
"Exactly."
Bashan snorted coldly, his tone full of disdain.
"They're a group of so-called righteous sects that crawled out of the deep mountains and old forests."
"They call themselves descendants of the Hidden Sword Pavilion. They think Yankang Kingdom's promotion of incorporating arithmetic into swordsmanship insults the purity of the sword path."
"Early this morning, those young fools blocked the main gates of the Imperial Academy, insisting on using their outdated sword techniques to teach our Imperial Academy students a lesson."
Hearing this.
Chen Xin's heart stirred slightly.
Hidden Sword Pavilion.
From that name alone, it was clear this was an ancient sect that clung stubbornly to tradition.
Before meeting the Yankang Imperial Preceptor, had Chen Xin not been the same?
He had always believed that a swordsman should possess unstoppable momentum and rely on his own insight and painstaking cultivation to cut through everything.
Calculating wind speed? Calculating spatial curvature?
To his former self, that truly would have seemed like a heretical path.
But after spending the entire previous night reading ancient texts on the ninth floor of the Library Pavilion.
He finally understood.
Brute force would eventually reach its limit, while the laws and principles of heaven and earth were endless.
Following the tree-lined path, the two soon arrived at the square before the main gates of the Imperial Academy.
At that moment, the plaza was packed three layers deep with Imperial Academy students dressed in blue robes.
Everyone was furious. Many still held rulers and charcoal pencils, their faces flushed red.
In the very center of the crowd, a large area had been cleared.
Three young men in white sword uniforms stood within it.
The leader was a young man in his early twenties, with a cold, stern face and his chin slightly raised, exuding an arrogant air that kept others at arm's length.
He held an ancient-looking longsword. Its blade was unstained with blood, yet two young Imperial Academy students lay on the ground, clutching their chests and groaning in pain.
"So this is the swordsmanship of your Yankang Kingdom?"
The young man in white flicked his sword in a flourish, then slung it behind his back, his voice full of mockery.
"When you fight, do you still have to draw circles in your head and calculate angles?"
"The sword is the sovereign of all weapons! What matters is a clear sword heart and following one's will!"
"You bookworms use rulers to measure the sword's trajectory? What an absolute joke!"
The moment those words came out, the surrounding Imperial Academy students cursed furiously.
But the two injured classmates lying on the ground were proof enough.
In the earlier spar, they had indeed been defeated by the young man in white's fierce, swift sword.
"Outrageous!"
A roar like muffled thunder exploded from behind the crowd.
Bashan Libationer pushed through the crowd and strode into the center of the clearing.
Seeing the famously protective and hot-tempered Libationer appear, the Imperial Academy students hurriedly made way for him.
When the young man in white saw Bashan, his gaze narrowed slightly, but he showed little fear.
"So it is Bashan Libationer."
The young man in white cupped his hands in a calm salute.
"I am Lin Feng of the Hidden Sword Pavilion."
"I came today merely to exchange pointers on the sword."
"As an elder, surely Libationer will not lower himself to personally act against a junior?"
Lin Feng was clever. From the outset, he used his words to bind Bashan's hands.
Bashan sneered and slammed the saber at his waist against the ground, shattering a patch of bluestone paving.
"If I hit you, I'd dirty my hands!"
Bashan turned and beckoned to Chen Xin, who stood at the edge of the crowd.
"Old man, get over here!"
Under everyone's watchful eyes,
Chen Xin, dressed in a plain long robe with white hair and beard, carried the dark gray Wunian sword on his back as he walked steadily into the center of the clearing.
Bashan pointed at Chen Xin and said to Lin Feng,
"This is the new swordsmanship instructor our Imperial Academy recruited. He entered yesterday and has only just learned a little of Yankang's Arithmetic."
"Don't you think incorporating Arithmetic into swordsmanship is trash?"
"Today, let this old man play with you."
Lin Feng looked Chen Xin up and down.
When he sensed the faint Spirit Fetus fluctuation between Chen Xin's brows, he could not help but sneer.
"Libationer, are you joking?"
Lin Feng shook his head, his eyes filled with disdain.
"This old gentleman's aura is weak. Clearly, he only condensed his Spirit Fetus not long ago."
"While I am hardly worth mentioning, my Five Luminaries Divine Treasury has already reached completion, and I have one foot in the Six Harmonies realm."
"If I draw my sword and injure this old gentleman, word will spread through the martial world that the Hidden Sword Pavilion bullies the old, weak, sick, and disabled."
Hearing Lin Feng's boastful words,
many people on Douluo Continent beyond the Sky Screen also revealed worried expressions.
On Shrek Academy's training field, Oscar swallowed nervously.
"That pretty boy looks arrogant, but he really is a cultivator of a high realm."
"Senior Sword Douluo only just started cultivating again. He does not even have a single skill—how can he fight this?"
Tang San stood beside him, staring intently at the Sky Screen, his hands slowly clenching into fists.
"Before true swordsmanship, cultivation realm is certainly important, but one's understanding of the laws is what determines victory or defeat."
"It all depends on how much Senior Chen Xin comprehended last night."
Before you continue