Free Web NovelChapter 267: Chapter 221: A Damaged Tier Four Soul Soldier? I’ll Take General Li’s Memento
Seeing his choice, Li Tiecheng nodded in satisfaction. "Good eye. That’s the Magma Core. It was forged from the spine of a Tier Three Peak Flame Demon and has a natural scorching effect. Perfect for your head-on fighting style."
Han Feng lightly touched the blade, and information from [All Things Identification] surfaced in his mind.
[Item Name: Magma Core]
[Grade: Tier Three Upper Grade]
[Evaluation: An excellent standard-issue weapon. However, its volatile Fire Attribute Spiritual Power clashes with the host’s Sword Essence attribute. Forcing its use will reduce energy conduction efficiency by 17%.]
Han Feng withdrew his hand and shook his head.
He then walked over to a Spiritual Power shoulder cannon that stood half as tall as a man. It had a menacing design, and a terrifying energy gathered at its muzzle. It was clearly a weapon of mass destruction.
Li Tiecheng introduced it, "The Thunderstorm II Shoulder Cannon, Tier Three Peak. One shot will tear the hide off a Tier Four Early Stage Demon Beast. How about that? Packs a punch, right?"
[Item Name: Thunderstorm II Shoulder Cannon]
[Grade: Tier Three Peak]
[Evaluation: Immensely powerful, but its core Charging Rune Array has a 0.08-second delay bug, a fatal flaw in high-speed combat.]
’Another dead end.’
Han Feng remained calm and continued onward.
He followed a faint sensation, passing rows of shiny, magnificent "Divine Weapons," until his gaze finally landed on an inconspicuous corner.
It was a rack specifically for "War Losses," holding an assortment of broken blades, damaged armor, and other items that looked like a pile of forgotten junk.
And the source of the tremor in his Sword Essence was right there.
It was a light, exceedingly dim, yet incomparably pure and condensed.
Though its glow was faint, the "quality" of its Energy far surpassed that of the Tier Three equipment he had just seen.
It even bore some resemblance to the nature of the energy he had sensed from Tier Four Grandmasters like Chen Beixuan and Li Tiecheng.
Han Feng walked straight over and, from a pile of scrap metal, picked up a jet-black Short Sword only half a foot long.
The Short Sword’s body was dull and lusterless, covered in a spiderweb of cracks. There was also a noticeable chip on the hilt, and it looked as if it could shatter with the very next swing.
"Huh?"
Li Tiecheng’s brows knitted together instantly. He strode over, looking at Han Feng as if he were an idiot.
"Kid, is there something wrong with your eyes? You ignored all that good stuff to pick up this piece of scrap?"
"I’ll take this one," Han Feng said.
In his [All Things Identification] vision, the sword’s information appeared clearly.
[Item Name: Broken Star (Severely Damaged)]
[Grade: Tier Three Lower Grade (Upgradeable)]
[Materials: Void Meteorite Iron, spine of a Tier Four Wind Attribute Demon Emperor ’Sky-Split Beast’]
[Traits: Armor-Piercing, Soul Devouring (Inactive), Wind Blade (Inactive)]
[Status: Internal Core Array is 92% destroyed. Severe Sword Body energy loss.]
[Repair Suggestion: Requires long-term nourishment using the Sword Storage Technique with homologous Spiritual Power or high-purity Sword Essence, supplemented by materials such as Star Sand and Wind Grinding Stone. 93% probability of successful repair.]
To others, it was scrap metal, but in Han Feng’s eyes, this was a Sword Embryo practically tailor-made to be his Lifebound Flying Sword!
He had the Sword Storage Technique!
He had high-purity Sword Essence!
He even had a huge pile of Star Sand!
Once repaired, this would be a genuine Tier Four Flying Sword!
"Are you sure?"
Li Tiecheng asked again, eyeing him strangely.
But when his gaze fell upon the Short Sword in Han Feng’s hand, his voice died in his throat.
The playful mockery on the Tier Four Peak Grandmaster’s face vanished instantly, replaced by an incredibly complex emotion.
He slowly lowered the arms he had crossed over his chest. His right hand, covered in calluses and scars, reached out uncontrollably, wanting to touch the blade but stopping midway.
His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his once-booming voice became low and hoarse.
"This piece of junk..."
He extended a finger and gently traced the deepest crack on the blade’s body, where the faint stain of long-dried, dark red blood seemed to remain.
"...Back when I first reached the Divine Containment Realm, I personally slew a Tier Four Sky-Split Beast and forged this Soul Soldier from its spine and Void Meteorite Iron."
He pointed to the chip on the hilt, a sharp pain in his voice.
"This spot here... it blocked a jet of corrosive acid from an Abyssal Insect Mother for me. If it hadn’t, I would have lost half my body."
He laughed, but the smile looked worse than a sob.
"A shame. Its Spirit was severely damaged later on, its Grade dropped, and it was considered completely ruined."
"This is the one," Han Feng’s tone was incredibly firm.
"I feel a connection to it."
Li Tiecheng was silent for a long time before finally forcing a complex, self-mocking smile, as if saying goodbye to an old friend who could no longer speak.
"Fine. It’s yours."
He looked at Han Feng, his gaze turning incredibly serious.
"This old partner of mine was with me for ten years. It deserves a good home. You’re a strange kid. Maybe you really can make it shine again."
"Since you chose it, don’t disgrace its past."
He took Han Feng to complete the registration procedures.
"From now on, this sword is yours."
Han Feng nodded solemnly. "Don’t worry, General. It will shine brighter than ever before."
Afterward, Li Tiecheng led Han Feng to another room.
A military clerk was already waiting there.
"Student Han Feng, please present your Identity Card."
Han Feng handed over the black and gold card that Chen Beixuan had given him.
The clerk operated a sophisticated device for a moment, and soon, a screen of light popped up.
[Rank: Honorary Major, East Sea Garrison Army]
[Clearance Level: S-1 (Special Military Approval)]
"All set, Major Han Feng."
The clerk returned the card, his attitude growing even more respectful.
"Your rank and clearance have been entered into the Gaia Alliance central system.
"From now on, you will enjoy the privileges of a field-grade officer in any Gaia Alliance Fortress City."
Han Feng took the card, feeling a faint warmth emanating from it, and understood the weight it carried.
"Kid."
Li Tiecheng clapped him on the shoulder, the impact heavy.
"Don’t let that uniform down. When you’re on the battlefield, don’t you dare embarrass me."
"I won’t."
"Alright, you got your thing, you got your rank. Now get lost."
Li Tiecheng waved his hand dismissively. "I’ve got to go oversee those little bastards’ training."
Han Feng didn’t mind. He gave Li Tiecheng a less-than-standard military salute and turned to leave.
Watching Han Feng’s retreating back, the lieutenant colonel beside Li Tiecheng couldn’t help but ask.
"General, you’re just letting him go like that? Aren’t you going to try and recruit him?"
"Recruit my ass," Li Tiecheng cursed.
"That kid’s as slippery as an eel, and he’s the apple of that old fox Old Chen’s eye. Ordinary methods won’t work on him."
He paused, his gaze drifting back to the now-empty spot on the rack of War Losses, and his voice lowered.
"That kid... he saw the ’Soul’ in that sword."
"It’s enough that we’ve done him a favor. He’ll remember what he owes the military."
"The next ten years belong to the young generation."
"As for us old-timers, our job is just to be their protectors and guides."
