Chapter 25 - Spiritual Blade, Hidden Dragon Ranking
A rather ordinary name.
But within the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty, it is quite renowned.
Because the weapons refined here, whether in appearance or quality, are exceptionally high-grade.
Under Cheng Qingman’s guidance.
Luo Mu soon arrived at the Treasure Refinement Tower.
“Miss Cheng is quite punctual.”
The steward of the Treasure Refinement Tower came out, smiling.
Although Cheng Qingman was the daughter of the Blood Courage Marquis, in the vast Xunyang City, there were many marquises.
And the Treasure Refinement Tower was a top-tier power.
Naturally, they wouldn’t fawn over Cheng Qingman like others.
“Is the spiritual blade ready?”
Cheng Qingman asked straightforwardly.
“Of course,”
the steward nodded, then turned to Luo Mu, “I believe this young friend is here for the blade?”
“Exactly.”
Luo Mu nodded.
Having comprehended the blade momentum, his gaze was quite sharp, even if somewhat concealed.
It was still like a light in the night.
Drawing attention.
“Follow me.”
The steward led the way inside.
The inner room was quite spacious, with weapons hanging all over the walls.
With just a glance, Luo Mu could tell that these weapons were all at least fine-forged.
None were common items.
“Please take a look.”
The steward took out a special box and slowly opened it in front of Luo Mu.
Clang!
Almost the moment it was opened,
a sharp aura surged from within the box.
Causing the surrounding weapons to tremble!
This was a long blade, approximately four and a half feet in length.
It was pitch black, resembling crystal.
Its surface was engraved with many intricate patterns.
Like a formation.
“Be careful, this type of weapon has already developed some spiritual awareness. Touching it recklessly may provoke its resistance,”
the steward cautioned.
But Luo Mu directly grasped the hilt with his right hand.
The steward was momentarily stunned.
Logically, such casual handling would surely result in injury from the blade.
Yet this spiritual blade astonishingly did not react at all.
Luo Mu could sense the resistance of the spiritual blade.
But having comprehended blade momentum, he found that the blade’s resistance was utterly trivial.
Luo Mu lightly stroked the blade’s surface with two fingers of his left hand, especially along the edge.
With the strength of his body, he surprisingly felt a cutting sensation on his skin!
It was clearly extremely sharp!
“Good blade!”
Luo Mu’s eyes lit up.
Regardless of its appearance or sharpness, he was very pleased.
It was completely unmatched by any of the blades he had encountered before.
“All products from the Treasure Refinement Tower are naturally high-quality.”
The steward said proudly, “You can drop a drop of blood to recognize it as your own. After recognizing it, you will discover even more profound aspects.”
Upon hearing this.
Luo Mu dripped a drop of blood onto the blade’s surface.
In an instant.
The blade absorbed the blood.
Hum!
A mysterious connection was instantly established between them.
The blade in his hand felt alive, no longer cold.
“This is a top-grade spiritual blade, containing three formations. When activated, it can enhance your blade technique’s power.”
“It can probably increase it by about thirty percent.”
Thirty percent.
It sounded rather small.
But it was already incredibly high!
Among martial artists of the same realm, even a thirty percent increase could decide the outcome, let alone thirty percent!
“Formations, huh.”
Luo Mu nodded, indeed sensing three small formations hidden deep within the spiritual blade.
Once infused with qi and blood.
The formations could immediately activate.
“Do you find it satisfactory, young friend?”
The steward asked with a smile.
“Good blade.”
Luo Mu simply replied with two words.
Then he sheathed the blade and hung it at his waist.
“If you need upgrades or repairs in the future, feel free to come to the Treasure Refinement Tower. The prices are definitely reasonable,”
the steward said.
“Mm.”
Luo Mu nodded.
“Senior Sister Cheng, when do you plan to return to the academy?”
As they exited the Treasure Refinement Tower, Luo Mu asked.
The academy’s grand ceremony was approaching, and he needed to hurry back, convert his gains into resources, and further enhance himself.
The inner palace was filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers; he could not afford to be careless.
“It seems Junior Brother Luo is eager to return. How about we go back together tomorrow?”
Cheng Qingman smiled.
“Sounds good.”
Just as the two were about to head back,
an excited voice suddenly rang out.
“Quick, go to the Wanxiang Pavilion! Young Master Yuan Nongbai from the Yuan family is challenging Feng Qingshan from the Feng family!”
“What? Yuan Nongbai has the guts to do that? Feng Qingshan is ranked fifteenth on the Hidden Dragon List!”
“Who knows? Let’s hurry and see!”
In an instant, many people dashed toward the Wanxiang Pavilion.
“Yuan Nongbai has actually returned too.”
Cheng Qingman exclaimed in surprise.
“Who are these two?”
Luo Mu initially didn’t want to join the commotion. Nothing was more important than his cultivation, but hearing the mention of the Hidden Dragon List piqued his interest.
He had been so focused on hard training that he had completely forgotten about the Hidden Dragon List.
To encourage martial artists, the dynasty had established several rankings.
The Hidden Dragon List was one of them.
Anyone on the list would receive considerable resource rewards at the Wanxiang Pavilion every month.
Additionally, if any academy disciples made the list, the academy would also grant rewards.
The Hidden Dragon List included a hundred names, aimed at talented martial artists in the True Aperture Realm.
“The Yuan family and the Feng family are both major families within Xunyang City.”
“The Feng family once had a royal lineage, but it was interrupted later, and their title was reclaimed by the court.”
“As for the Yuan family, they have retained their marquis title.”
“Yuan Nongbai is a standout among the younger generation of the Yuan family, at the ninth level of the True Aperture Realm, very powerful, and like us, a disciple of the academy.”
“In the inner palace of the True Aperture Realm, he is already at the top level.”
“As for Feng Qingshan, although he has great talent, he has not joined our Changle Academy but has chosen the Xuantian Sword Sect instead.”
Cheng Qingman explained in one breath.
And Luo Mu gained a general understanding.
The Xuantian Sword Sect.
A renowned top sect within the Seven Prefectures of Changle.
Although its overall strength couldn’t match the academy, it was still very strong and not to be underestimated.
“Since the establishment of the Martial Alliance, the power of the sects has been steadily increasing, no longer comparable to the past. So now, many talented individuals may not choose the academy.”
Cheng Qingman added.
“Mm.”
Luo Mu nodded slightly.
The academy was established by the dynasty, and in the words of the Great Zhou Emperor, all geniuses and heroes should enter his fold.
However, the influence of the sects was now nearly equal to that of the academy.
“Should we go take a look?”
Cheng Qingman asked.
“Let’s go.”