Click~
The heavy door was pushed open by a pair of rough, large hands.
"Come in with me, the sword-forging furnace is inside." Wieland stepped in first, gesturing for Luo Chen and the other to follow.
Before long, the three of them arrived at an ancient sword furnace that exuded a strong historical charm.
"Bring me your sword!!" Wieland stepped forward, lit a fire, turned on the sword-forging furnace, and squatted down to pull the windmill while turning to speak to Luo Chen.
"Here you are, Master Wieland!" Luo Chen unfastened his sword and handed it to him.
"Let me make this clear first, your sword is severely damaged. Even if it's reforged, the chances of failure are high. I can't guarantee anything about it," Wieland said after taking it out and examining it closely for a while.
"Yes, thank you for your trouble, Master Wieland. Even if the Rain Burial can no longer appear, I will not blame you!" Luo Chen bowed respectfully to him and said solemnly.
"Well, in that case, I can only go all out and try my best to ensure its sharpness reappears." After listening, Wieland nodded, then threw the Rain Burial into the furnace, shoveled in a large handful of coal, and quickly pulled the bellows. Flames rose, and the temperature in the furnace instantly increased.
After a while, Wieland used pliers to pull out the red-hot sword and began to smash the blade with a hammer.
Bang!!
Bang!!
Bang!!
"Leave this to me, you can go out and wait, or you can go and stroll around town. You should be able to come over around this time tomorrow..." The sound of hammering metal rang out. At this moment, Luo Chen and Catherine seemed particularly superfluous, so Wieland stopped what he was doing and said to them.
"..." Catherine seemed about to say something, but Luo Chen pulled her back, nodded, and said to Wieland with gratitude, "Alright then, I'll leave this to you, Master Wieland!"
After saying that, he took her hand and walked out of the sword-making workshop.
"Let me go!!" Catherine said to him, struggling to free herself after walking a short distance from the door.
Upon hearing this, Luo Chen immediately released his grip. Catherine tidied her makeup slightly and asked Luo Chen, "Why?! Aren't you afraid he'll go against your wishes if we don't monitor him there? Luo Chen, we've done our best to help him rescue Kamera, so he should be even more dedicated to forging the sword. If we're not here to supervise, I'm afraid he might..."
Clearly, Catherine was worried that Wieland would become lax in the sword-making process and do it carelessly, and then no amount of crying could bring him back.
"Don't worry, I believe in him. With the name of Wieland passed down through generations, he wouldn't dare to do such a thing, because it would only bring shame to his ancestors." Luo Chen was very reassured about this, not only because of his ancestors' reputation, but also because of the other party's dedication to the sword.
While the two were resting in a town after leaving the mountain, a tall, black-haired man wearing a purple yukata and with two deep scars on his face hung up the Den Den Mushi receiver on a warship sailing far out at sea.
At his signal, the soldier standing nearby immediately stepped back, holding the Den Den Mushi.
"On the renowned Sword-Forging Island... Casting? Just as I suspected, you, whose beloved sword was broken, would definitely seek out a swordsmith to reforge it. That's why we split into two groups to capture you from the start. Are you on this group now?" Fujitora muttered to himself as he sat on a chair under the mast after receiving the message from headquarters.
"Pass down the order, speed up the march toward Casting!!" After a moment's thought, Fujitora immediately ordered his subordinates to increase their pace and pursue Luo Chen and his group.
"Yes!!"
Upon receiving his order, the soldiers immediately increased their speed, urging the warship to speed toward Casting.
Time flies like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, it was the morning of the next day. Luo Chen and Catherine arrived early that morning. At this time, Wieland was still forging sword blades and did not notice their arrival.
Bang!! Bang!! Bang!!
The hammering sound echoed continuously, and beads of sweat the size of a little finger rolled down his face, but Wieland paid no attention to them, letting them fall freely. His powerful hand swung the hammer and brought it down heavily, each blow landing precisely on the target. With a series of clattering sounds, the sword gradually took shape under the hammer.
call...
"Almost there!!" At this moment, Wieland stopped working, rested for a moment, wiped the sweat from his brow, and looked at the taking-off sword.
"Really? Is it finally almost done, Master Wieland?!" Seeing him stop, Luo Chen interjected at the opportune moment and asked.
"Yes, you've come too. Take a look. Under my tempering, the sword body is gradually taking shape. It will be fully forged in a little while!" Hearing Luo Chen's words, Wieland was not surprised. He knew that the two must have arrived while he was engrossed in his work. He nodded and pointed to the bright red sword body.
"Really?! That's wonderful, thank you, Master Wieland. But I feel like the Rain Burial doesn't quite match the previous design. Is it just my imagination?" Luo Chen thanked him happily at first, then carefully examined the blade under Wieland's hammer, feeling that something was amiss. He didn't hide his feelings and asked directly.
Hearing Luo Chen's question, Wieland nodded with slight satisfaction and proudly introduced it, "Oh, you noticed. That's right. If it didn't even have this much insight, then its choice of you would have been a waste. It's no longer the same as before. The original Rain Burial vanished the moment it was broken. This new weapon is a reforged version of a secret iron left by my ancestors, melted down with the remaining blade of the original Rain Burial... named Rising Sun Wind!!"
"Why is it called Rising Sun Wind?!" Upon hearing that Rain Burial had completely ceased to exist, a trace of sadness flashed across Luo Chen's face before he regained his senses and asked.
"Like the rising sun, as graceful as a gentle breeze, this is the origin of the sword's name. Alright, step aside for a moment, I'm going to forge the hilt for it!!" After explaining, Wieland threw himself back into forging, ignoring the stunned Luo Chen and the other man standing to the side.
"The rising sun and the gentle breeze? Rising Sun Wind, indeed a fine name!!" Luo Chen chewed repeatedly in his mouth, then his eyes widened and he exclaimed in admiration.
"..." Unfortunately, Wieland only glanced at him before returning to his work.
Bang!! Bang!! Bang
The hammering continued for an unknown amount of time. Wieland focused intently on forging, while Luo Chen and the other watched quietly from the side. With a bang, Wieland finished hammering and immersed the forging in the cold spring water. A hissing sound rang out. Wieland took it out to examine the strange and exquisite patterns on the forging. He nodded in satisfaction and then carefully polished it.
Another hour passed, Rising Sun Wind Sword was finally polished and fitted with the most exquisite and beautiful wooden hilt. The entire sword was now complete.
The sword was about four feet two inches long, with a straight blade and two edges. The blade was covered with unique and beautiful patterns, and the silvery-white blade shone brightly in the light.
The dark blue hilt paired with the black scabbard is simple and unadorned when sheathed, but sharp and menacing when drawn.
"How about it?! My masterpiece?!" Wieland proudly raised his head, puffed out his chest, and asked the two men.
"Excellent! A truly perfect sword, no less impressive than the previous Rain Burial!"
"Hmm, even my sword is radiating fighting spirit; this is indeed a rare and exceptional sword!"
The two nodded in unison, praising it.
"Hehehe... I'm relieved then. But getting it to submit to you won't be easy. I don't know what Rain Burial saw in you that made her choose you, but Rising Sun Wind won't be like Rain Burial. You'll have to show the magnanimity to make it submit!" Receiving satisfactory answers from both of them made Wieland very happy. For him, the approval of his clients was the best reward. After his initial joy, Wieland continued.
"Huh?! Tolerance?! Isn't it the person who chooses the sword? Why does the sword need to choose its master?!" Luo Chen only had a superficial understanding of this. As a self-taught swordsman, he didn't know much about swords and blades, which is why he said such a thoughtless thing.
"Foolish! I really don't know how Rain Burial chose you back then. As a swordsman, you don't even understand the most basic knowledge, while your companion seems to understand it all perfectly!" Hearing Luo Chen's words, Wieland sighed and shook his head at Luo Chen, scolding him.
After finishing speaking, he looked at Catherine, who was standing beside him without interrupting, seemingly deep in thought.
"Is that so, Catherine?!" Luo Chen immediately turned his gaze to her and asked.
"Well, the saying 'a sword chooses its master' means that a suitable sword will be used to its fullest potential in the hands of the right person; it's a matter of compatibility. If it were a person choosing a sword, even the strongest person couldn't maximize the sword's potential. Of course, the weak don't even have a choice."
"Actually, you already did it once before. The moment you obtained the Rain Burial, it acknowledged you as its master, making it easier to wield the blade, right?!" Catherine thought for a moment when she saw their gazes on her, and then answered.
"Yes, that's right!!" Luo Chen nodded. The moment he snatched it from the Orange ship, he felt that it was perfectly suited to him, as if it were his own arm.
Moreover, it is because of this that he is able to unleash a slash at the level of a Great Swordsman that he has not yet mastered. He is a self-taught swordsman and has only just begun to understand what " the Breath of All Things" means. The unique flow of energy in steel, wood and stone is its weakness, and it can only be considered as a Swordsman, not a Great Swordsman.
There is a world of difference between the two. One is to comprehend the sword intent as if cutting fire, lightning, flower petals, blood-red sword energy, etc., and different strange phenomena are produced when the sword is swung, so that it can cut through rivers and seas. This is the realm of the great sword master.
"I'll give it a try!!" Luo Chen was now fully prepared to be a swordsman. From this day forward, he would regard the sword in his hand as his partner, no longer using it as a tool.
He solemnly accepted the Rising Sun Wind from Wieland's hand, his face serious, his eyes gradually sharpening, and his aura unconsciously radiating outwards.
"It's up to you this time. If you fail the first time, then it will be out of your reach. Be prepared!" Wieland nodded, gave a few instructions, and handed Rising Sun Wind over.
" Rising Sun Wind, right? I can sense the aura emanating from you. You also want your fame to spread throughout the entire sea, don't you? Then follow me, and I will use you to forge a glory that belongs to me, to the Shura realm!!"
Clang~
After speaking, Luo Chen's eyes narrowed, and he slowly drew his sword. He did not adopt the same approach as Zoro, who threw his sword into the air and did or die trying. Instead, he drew his sword while simultaneously aligning it with the sword intent of both of them. If the Rising Sun Wind completely subsided after drawing the sword, it would mean that he was not in harmony with it, and he would then completely abandon a good sword.
The blade gradually revealed its full form, and the ever-rising sword intent slowly merged with the aura emanating from Luo Chen. As the final moment approached, with a clang, the blade was completely drawn. The sword intent perfectly matched his aura. Not only had Luo Chen chosen Rising Sun Wind, but it had also chosen Luo Chen. The sword in his hand hummed continuously, and sword energy permeated the surroundings. The flashing sword light pierced the ground, leaving a small hole the size of a finger.
"It seems it's quite satisfied with you. To think that it's such a perfect match on its first draw! Young man, I'm entrusting Rising Sun Wind to you. If you can't spread its name throughout the world, not only will I not forgive you, but it won't agree either!" Wieland stroked his beard and solemnly instructed.
"Don't worry, Master Wieland, I will make the name of Rising Sun Wind known throughout the world, and I will also make that guy's sword fall to its hand!!" Luo Chen nodded solemnly in reply.
Chant~
As if hearing Luo Chen's resounding declaration, the Rising Sun Wind in his hand trembled and whistled incessantly, as if demonstrating his own determination.
"Hahaha, even you think so, right, Rising Sun Wind? Don't worry, I will definitely make you one of the supreme beings!!" Sensing Rising Sun Wind's excited shouts, Luo Chen laughed heartily and said.
"Listen to your words, that Great Grade Sword called Shattering has completely ascended to the ranks of Supreme Great Grade Sword after severing Rain Burial. Before it is forged into Black Blade, you must not rush forward, otherwise it may very well suffer the same fate as Rain Burial!!" Wieland, who was standing to the side, remembered what Luo Chen had told him before, and his expression turned serious as he instructed him.
" Black Blade?!"
"Oh, you don't know this yet? The key to forging Black Blade lies in the nurturing of Haki and the intensification of sword intent. Moreover, those who can forge Black Blade are invariably the most elite swordsmen."
"Like Hawk-Eye today, and Ryuma, the legendary Dragon Slash Ryuma of Wano Country, they both forged their swords into Black Blade to achieve the title of the World's Strongest swordsmen. From what you've said, the owner of that Shattering sword also possessed a Black Blade, and the strength of a great swordsman. Unless someone also possesses the strength of a great swordsman and a Black Blade, it would be difficult to defeat them!" Wieland explained the origins of the Black Blade to him in detail, and subtly advised him not to challenge them before he had mastered his own Black Blade.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you anyway, Master Wieland. We've been delayed long enough; our companions are getting impatient. It's time to head back..."
"Go ahead, and I hope to see news in the newspapers about how Rising Sun Wind shines under your leadership!"
"Yes!! Then we're off!!" After thanking them, Luo Chen and Catherine rushed back to the Isel to prepare for departure with their waiting companions.
As the command to set sail was given, the sails of the Isel unfurled, and amidst the billowing waves, it gradually sailed out of Casting toward its next destination.