Qin Tiexin staggered back two steps and looked down at his right hand.
The palm was red, with white edges, and four or five blisters of different sizes bulged in the middle. The largest one was as big as the cap of the thumb. The walls of the blisters were so thin and transparent that one could see the tender red flesh and oozing tissue fluid underneath. The pain came in waves, as if the hand was inserted into a charcoal fire. The skin that had been strengthened by tempering could be burned like this, which shows how high the temperature of the blade body is.
Luo Ling walked out of the white mist and handed him a small jade box.
"Smear the burn ointment on it. It has a miraculous effect on treating burns."
Qin Tiexin took it and opened it with one hand. The ointment was milky white, with a cool medicinal fragrance, and it looked like something extraordinary. He dug out a piece with his left hand and carefully applied it on the palm of his right hand. The moment the ointment touched the skin, the burning sensation was reduced by half, and a coolness spread from the palm to the entire arm.
"Thank you, Master."
Luo Ling didn't answer and walked to the quenching tank.
The white mist gradually dissipated, revealing Edgeless lying quietly in the tank.
Dark black, completely cooled. Water droplets rolled off the blade, shimmering in the morning light. The seven-foot-seven-inch blade was as straight as a ruler, with a clear blade line, a thick back, and an integrated handle and guard. Everything was exactly the same as the Qin Tiexin design drawing.
Wu Zhen also came over, took a look in the bronze mirror, Divine Sense checked it out, nodded and said, "The center of gravity is not bad at all."
Qin Tiexin walked over and stretched out his left hand - his right hand was smeared with medicine and should not be touched by water. He reached into the spiritual spring and held the handle of the knife.
Use force, lift.
Edgeless broke out of the water and splashed water.
The weight of 6,300 kilograms is pressed on the left arm, which is heavy, but the feeling of "slight pressure on the hand" is just right - heavy, but not strenuous, with a precise center of gravity, and a natural sense of balance when held in the hand. Qin Tiexin waved it with one hand, and the blade cut through the air, making a low whistling sound, like the roar of a beast.
Then switch to the right hand.
Although the palm of his hand still hurts and the blisters are still there, the moment he grasped the handle of the knife, the feeling of "the man and the knife are one" came over him instantly. It was as if the knife was an extension of his arm and a part of his body. Every arc and every weight fit his muscles and bones, his habit of exerting force, and his fighting instinct.
Qin Tiexin held the knife with both hands and practiced several basic movements in the open space in the hall.
Split, chop, tease, sweep, chop.
When the blade passed by, the air was torn, making a scream. The weight of 6,300 kilograms seemed as light as nothing in his hand, but every blow was carried with Shen Xiong's strength. The wind of the blade blew across the ground, raising fine dust. Although the spiritual pattern had not yet been carved, the strength was no longer weaker than that of the Great Competition. Edgeless truly gained a new life.
Luo Ling and Wu Zhen looked at him.
The young man was carrying a giant knife, sweating in the morning light. The back of his clothes was not yet dry, his focused and bright eyes, and the almost invisible, pure smile at the corner of his mouth - just like a child who had just got his beloved toy. Although he was very tired, he was still wielding it with great joy.
"Like a child." Wu Zhen whispered, with a smile in his eyes.
"I was just a child." Luo Ling said calmly, but there was a soft light in his eyes, "At the age of twenty, he has just become a man in the mortal world. He was always very heavy before, like a little old man, and it is rare to look like this."
Qin Tiexin practiced with a stick of incense before sheathing the knife and stopping. He was breathing slightly, but his eyes were astonishingly bright, and the fatigue on his face was diluted by excitement.
"Master, uncle, you can carve spiritual patterns."
Luo Ling raised her eyebrows. "Why don't you take a break? Do you have enough spiritual power?"
"That's enough." Qin Tiexin took out two Qi Rejuvenation Pills and swallowed them, then sat cross-legged and adjusted his breath for a while, "While the feeling is still there, while Edgeless's state is still hot."
Luo Ling glanced at him and didn't object.
Qin Tiexin laid Edgeless flat on the forging platform, closed his eyes and adjusted his breath. The power of the Qi Restoration Pill was released, and the depleted Dantian was gradually filled, and his spiritual power was restored little by little. After a while, he opened his eyes, and his condition had been adjusted to the best.
Then he stretched out his right index finger.
The fingertips lit up with white light - the "carving knife" condensed by Spiritual Qi, which was sharp and precise. Qin Tiexin held his breath and concentrated, his fingers fell, and they touched the spine of the knife near the handle.
Originally, according to Luo Ling's idea, after Qin Tiexin learned how to draw the "Spirit Pattern Array", he could directly draw the Spirit Pattern Array and step into the ranks of mid-grade or even top-grade Law Artifact. But Qin Tiexin's life in the military camp taught him that accidents may come at any time, and he must be fully prepared at every moment. He has understood that the spirit pattern formation is not something he can master in a short time, so carving the three spirit patterns first is the safest and most pragmatic choice at this stage.
The first spiritual pattern is "Qianjun".
This is the spiritual pattern he is most familiar with. It follows a steady and heavy path, which can exponentially increase the weight and potential energy of the weapon. When the fingertips move on the black blade, they leave behind thin, luminous lines. Each stroke is extremely stable, without any tremor, and the spiritual power output is even and long-lasting.
After one stick of incense, "Qianjun" is completed.
Qin Tiexin changed his position and carved the second line, "Tenacity". This spiritual pattern was more fine-grained and spread out like a spider web, covering the areas of the blade that were most vulnerable to stress, which could greatly improve the strength and toughness of the blade. He carved more slowly, and each stroke had to ensure uniform spiritual power output and consistent depth of lines.
Another stick of incense passed.
The third way is "Swallowing Spirits".
The lines are strange, like a slowly rotating vortex, which can swallow up part of the opponent's spiritual attack during the battle and turn it into his own use. Qin Tiexin did not use the double spirit pattern "spiritual pattern nesting" technique taught by Master Wu, but used the three spirit patterns' "buffer triangle" structure, which separated the three spirit patterns in triangular positions to form a stable spiritual pattern structure that does not affect each other.
When the last stroke fell, three spiritual patterns lit up at the same time.
The Qianjun pattern glows with an earthy yellow light, the Tenacity pattern is light gold, and the Spirit-Swallowing pattern is a faint blue. The three colors of light are intertwined and flow on the black blade for a moment, like three dragons swimming on the blade, gradually disappearing, leaving only shallow, almost invisible traces of lines.
Qin Tiexin stopped his hand and let out a long breath. This time he was really tired to the extreme, his spiritual power had bottomed out again, his head was a little dizzy, and stars were flashing in front of his eyes. But with a smile on his lips, his eyes fell on Edgeless, and he couldn't move away.
Luo Ling came over and put her hand on Edgeless, Divine Sense probed deeply. After a moment, she nodded. "The lines are stable and the structure is strong. Although they are only three spirit patterns, they do not conflict with each other and are still in shape. It has become a simple resonance. In terms of strength alone, it is not weaker than the general top-grade Law Artifact. However, the three spirit patterns do not have the stability and gain of the spirit pattern array, so it can only be regarded as a mid-grade Law Artifact."
Wu Zhen also checked it and confirmed that there was no problem.
Qin Tiexin listened, did not speak, just looked at Edgeless.
The dark black heavy knife lay quietly on the stage, glowing matte in the morning light. It weighed six thousand three hundred pounds, was seven feet and seven inches long, had a thick blade, and restrained spiritual patterns. This was his new knife - no, it was still Edgeless, just a reborn Edgeless.
Luo Ling's voice brought him back to reality. "Tell me, what do you think you are lacking in this forging?"
Qin Tiexin was silent for a moment and thought seriously.
The spiritual power was insufficient due to insufficient Qi refining, and it almost broke several times.
If the body is not cultivated enough, the endurance of the sixth level of body tempering is limited, resulting in a short-lasting strength and signs of exhaustion in the middle.
The micro-manipulation ability is insufficient, so too much time and spiritual energy are wasted in the process of adjusting the center of gravity, and repeated fine-tuning is required to achieve perfection.
He opened his mouth and expressed his thoughts one by one. "I didn't cultivate enough, and I almost exhausted myself in the middle. I didn't control my strength well, and I wasted too much time adjusting my weight. And..." He glanced at the blisters on the palm of his right hand, "I almost burned myself."
Luo Ling stared at him for a long time.
Even though he was so successful in forging Edgeless, he was still able to calmly notice his own problems, his character, and his ability to introspect - this person is definitely a genius at forging weapons.
She suddenly smiled, very satisfied.
"Okay, I didn't get carried away by the success." Luo Ling patted Qin Tiexin on the shoulder, "The problem is summarized quite accurately. The overall job is good, but I will add a few more points."
She raised her finger. "First, the cultivation level is not enough, you have said this. Second, the awareness is not enough - the first rule of the weapon refiner is to protect yourself and not put yourself in danger. If you really burn your hand today, even if the knife is half useless, you will suffer. Third, the learning progress is slow. If you have learned the spirit pattern formation, now Edgeless is at least the top grade Law Artifact, not the middle grade."
Qin Tiexin lowered his head. "Yes, I have written it down."
"There is a fourth point." Lorington paused, "Your micro-manipulation ability is not refined enough. This comes from the habits in your bones - you are too powerful, and your martial arts skills are all open and closed. Zhongyue Sword Technique, Mountain Shaking Step, and Hunyuan Pile Fist are all fierce methods. After practicing for a long time, the micro-manipulation on your hands will become rough."
She took out an iron plate from her sleeve, which was the same as the Dabi reward. It had the words "Bookstore" engraved on the front and handed it to Qin Tiexin: "Go to the second floor of the Bookstore and pick out a dagger close-quarters swordsmanship. Firstly, it will enrich your melee combat skills and make you more secure when fighting in close combat. Secondly, practicing dagger can improve your fine control of strength, which will be of great benefit to your fine-tuning of weapon refining."
Qin Tiexin took it with both hands and solemnly wrote down, "Yes, disciple understands."
"Okay, let's go back and rest." Luo Ling waved her hand and softened her tone, "Take the knife with you, don't put it in Storage Bag. The new knife should be kept warm with you, familiar with the feel, and the knife and the person become one."
Qin Tiexin saluted, turned and walked to the forging table, lifted Edgeless with one hand, and carried it on his shoulder.
A weight of 6,300 kilograms rests on my shoulders, heavy but solid.
When he walked out of the Zhuxintang, the morning light was shining, and the golden sunlight covered the stone steps. The heavy knife on his shoulder cast a long shadow on the bluestone road, and he walked steadily down the mountain, step by step.
In the hall, Luo Ling and Wu Zhen were still standing, watching his back.
"How is it?" Luo Ling asked.
Wu Zhen looked at Qin Tiexin's retreating back and said slowly, "A natural weapon refiner. No, more than that - a born 'craftsman'. He has feelings and awe for the things that come out of his hands. These days, there are many people with talent, but not many with this kind of heart."
He paused, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes widened. "Besides, he really lives up to his expectations."
Luo Ling smiled, this time he smiled easily and calmly.
"Brother Zhen, you really gave me a good apprentice."
Wu Zhen also laughed. For the first time in two hundred years, he smiled so comfortably.
"It's his own fault."