Chapter 19: Weapon activation. The moment the sphere was placed in the stone platform's recess and completed its spiritual energy resonance with the secret weapon, dazzling light enveloped the entire Forbidden Grounds. The light blazed like the scorching sun yet glittered like the stars, as though the purest spiritual energy between heaven and earth had gathered there. Mu Chen and the others stared unblinkingly at the secret weapon as it trembled in the light, each shudder sending a powerful surge of spiritual energy rippling outward. The blade, which had previously only flickered with the mysterious glow of runes, now resembled a lit torch, burning fiercely with multicolored flames of spiritual energy. The flames danced along the blade, tracing intricate, magnificent patterns that held ancient, profound power. The newly formed ornaments on the hilt, condensed from star power, twinkled like stars in the universe. They seemed to move along some mysterious trajectory, each "star" giving off its own distinct spiritual energy fluctuations that resonated with the flames on the blade, forming a complete and powerful spiritual energy circulation system. As spiritual energy continued to gather and circulate, the space around the secret weapon began to warp. Faint figures of light appeared within the radiance, resembling ancient warriors wielding similar weapons in a fierce, spectacular battle. Their silhouettes faded in and out, every movement carrying the might to destroy heaven and earth, as though showing the world this secret weapon's glorious feats throughout the long river of history. "This weapon... it's incredibly powerful!" Tan Qingshan exclaimed, his eyes wide and his face filled with wonder. He could feel that the power emanating from the secret weapon far exceeded anything they had imagined, leaving him both excited and somewhat awestruck. Tang Qian'er watched it all with delight. "With this, our clan will have the strength to stand against the Black-Robed People." The spiritual energy staff in her hand seemed affected by the secret weapon as well. It trembled slightly, and the gem at its tip shone even brighter. Mu Chen never took his eyes off the secret weapon. He knew full well what activating it meant for the clan. But he also understood that merely activating it was not enough. They had to learn how to control it before they could unleash its greatest power in battle. After the light had shone for some time, the secret weapon's trembling gradually subsided, and the surrounding figures of light slowly vanished. Yet the weapon's radiance did not weaken. Instead, it grew steadier, as though gathering strength and waiting for its master's summons. Mu Chen cautiously stepped forward and reached out, trying to touch the secret weapon. With his fingers still a hair's breadth away, he felt a powerful suction coming from it, seemingly guiding him to establish a deeper connection with the weapon. He took a deep breath and slowly released his spiritual energy, directing it toward the weapon. The instant his spiritual energy touched the secret weapon, a torrent of information as vast as the universe flooded his mind. He saw image after image of ancient races using this weapon to fight evil forces. Through unique spiritual energy techniques, they pushed the weapon's power to its utmost limits. In some images, wielders swung the weapon and unleashed spiritual energy slashes as brilliant as a river of stars, tearing through enemy defensive lines in an instant; in others, the weapon released a powerful Spiritual Energy Shield that withstood the enemy's tidal onslaught, its runes flashing with mysterious light as they neutralized the attacks one by one. Through these images, Mu Chen gradually grasped some methods of controlling the secret weapon. He discovered that controlling it depended not merely on feeding it spiritual energy, but also on deeply integrating soul power. Only by weaving soul power and spiritual energy together in a specific rhythm and manner could he truly unleash the weapon's might. "I think I know how to control it," Mu Chen said, slowly opening his eyes, which gleamed with excitement. He began trying to control the secret weapon using the method he had grasped. Focusing his mind, he summoned both his soul power and spiritual energy at once. His soul power wound around his spiritual energy like invisible threads before flowing into the secret weapon. When the spiritual energy and soul power entered it, the secret weapon hummed again. This time, the hum was deeper and more forceful, like the roar of a great beast awakened from slumber. The blade blazed with light, and a massive pillar of spiritual energy shot skyward from its tip, piercing the clouds. Wherever the pillar passed, the clouds were instantly scattered, revealing a sky as blue as a sapphire. As this unfolded, the other clan members also sensed the powerful spiritual energy fluctuations coming from the Forbidden Grounds. They hurried over, and when they saw the activated secret weapon, their eyes filled with delight and hope. "Wonderful! We have a powerful weapon to fight the Black-Robed People!" a clan elder exclaimed excitedly. As the clan members gathered, Mu Chen began demonstrating some of the secret weapon's basic functions. Holding it in his hand, he gave it a gentle swing, sending a fan-shaped wave of spiritual energy sweeping toward a small hill in the distance. Wherever the wave passed, it sliced cleanly through the ground. Under its impact, the hill collapsed instantly into a pile of rubble. "That's only one of its basic attacks. It can unleash even stronger attacks, such as condensing spiritual energy into a beam, or form a Spiritual Energy Shield," Mu Chen explained to everyone. To help the clan members better understand the secret weapon's defensive function, Mu Chen planted it in the ground, then used his spiritual energy and soul power to activate its shield function. A massive Spiritual Energy Shield rose around them, multicolored runes flickering across it. Its surface was like a mirror, smooth and resilient. "You can try attacking the shield," Mu Chen said. Several young clan members stepped forward and unleashed their spiritual energy techniques against it. Attacks of various colors struck the shield, causing only slight ripples across its surface without inflicting any real damage. "This shield's defensive strength is astonishing!" one young clan member exclaimed. After demonstrating the secret weapon's basic functions, Mu Chen began organizing training for the clan members so they could coordinate better with the weapon when fighting the Black-Robed People. They divided into several groups. Some were responsible for helping Mu Chen control the weapon, while others were tasked with using its offensive and defensive functions in battle. Meanwhile, the clan's fortifications were adjusted accordingly to account for the secret weapon. They set up special spiritual energy guidance devices around the clan grounds, which could direct the spiritual energy waves released by the secret weapon toward areas requiring defense, strengthening the clan's overall defensive capabilities. During training, Mu Chen continued to familiarize himself with the secret weapon and explore more of its functions. He discovered that it could also connect with the clan members' spiritual energy, forming a spiritual energy network. Within this network, their spiritual energy could replenish and strengthen one another's, further increasing the secret weapon's might. After a period of training and preparation, the clan's defensive strength had improved tremendously. They were fully prepared, waiting for the Black-Robed People to attack again. Like a lighthouse, the secret weapon brought the clan the first light of hope, allowing them to glimpse the possibility of victory amid the darkness of their circumstances.
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