After Shen Fei lifted the dark longsword out of its wooden box, he examined it closely for a while longer.
Under the light of the Lighting Ore, dark patterns shimmered along the blade, like traces left by iron folded and forged again and again. Each pattern was fine and even, extending from the spine toward the cutting edges on either side, where it tapered away without reflecting the light.
He turned the blade over to inspect the thickness of its spine and the curve of its edges. Its center of gravity was steady. As he held it, the chill against his palm slowly faded, replaced by a warm, smooth fit, as though the sword were adapting to his body temperature.
He tried a slash with the sword, turning his wrist as the blade traced a short arc through the air. The sound was faint, with a restrained, sharp hiss, as though the air had been sliced open and had yet to close again.
He rested the sword on the edge of the wooden box, took a clean, soft cloth from his Space Ring, and wiped the blade from end to end. Only after confirming that there was no rust or residue on its surface did he lay it flat inside the ring.
An extremely faint gleam of spiritual light flashed at the opening of the Space Ring. Once the sword was stored inside, there was no noticeable change in the weight within the ring, as though its spatial structure supported the sword's weight.
He closed the wooden box, pushed it back into place, and turned toward the shelves on the right.
More than a dozen jade cases were neatly arranged on the shelves. The jade was clear and translucent, its surface polished smooth. A label was engraved on each lid.