Free Web NovelChapter 10: Chapter 10: Great Ming Demon Sparrow
Inside the Venerable Domain.
From this trip to the Martial Arts Arena, Shen Daoxing had not only obtained a large number of Elixirs but also comprehended the Gale Sword Intent. It was truly a fruitful journey.
Shen Daoxing said excitedly, "I’ve finally comprehended Sword Intent."
The Blood Dragon said bluntly, "Comprehending Sword Intent is merely the first step for a Swordsman. You still have a long way to go."
Shen Daoxing calmed down as well.
To an ordinary person, Sword Intent was indeed incredible, but for a true Swordsman, this was only the beginning.
In the following days, he continued his arduous training.
With the help of the Nourishing Essence Pills, Shen Daoxing successfully advanced from the Seventh Layer of the Acupoint Opening Realm to the Ninth Layer.
And the day of the competition for the White Cloud Order was drawing ever closer.
On this day, Shen Daoxing awoke from his meditation in the Venerable Domain.
Shen Yuerou walked over excitedly, taking a small pouch from the sachet at her waist. "Xing, this is for you."
"What is it?"
Shen Daoxing took the pouch and looked inside. Nestled within were two perfectly round, lustrous elixirs.
Eighth-Grade Nourishing Essence Pills!
Shen Daoxing asked, "Where did you get these?"
Shen Yuerou lowered her head. "I saved them up."
Hearing this, Shen Daoxing was deeply touched.
Although Shen Yuerou was the Patriarch’s granddaughter, her monthly allowance wasn’t large. These two Eighth-Grade Nourishing Essence Pills were clearly the result of her scrimping and saving.
She couldn’t bear to use them herself, yet she saved the best for Shen Daoxing.
’I’ve been so focused on my training recently that I’ve neglected the woman who’s always been by my side.’
Shen Daoxing accepted the Nourishing Essence Pills and said, "The competition for the White Cloud Order is about to begin. I want to go to the Weapon Workshop and choose a suitable weapon."
"Sister, why don’t you come out with me?"
"Okay."
Shen Yuerou nodded.
Then, the two of them left the Shen Mansion.
Baiyun City had a population of only five hundred thousand. It was situated in a remote corner of the Martial Kingdom, making it a very small city.
Despite its small population, the city had everything one could need. The streets were lined with a dazzling array of shops and street vendors, creating a bustling atmosphere.
Just as Shen Daoxing and Shen Yuerou left the Shen Mansion, two experts from the Shen Family began to tail them.
Clearly, the Ancestor had sent them to watch him, afraid that he would flee the Shen Family.
Shen Daoxing sensed the people behind him but paid them no mind.
"Sister, want some candied hawthorn?"
"Maybe not."
"I’ll buy you a stick."
...
Chatting and laughing, the two soon arrived at the Weapon Workshop in the southern part of the city.
As soon as they stepped into the shop, a Shopkeeper came over enthusiastically. "Sir, are you here to buy a weapon?"
Shen Daoxing nodded slightly. "That’s right."
The Shopkeeper asked, "What kind of weapon might you be looking for, Sir?"
Shen Daoxing pondered for a moment. "A heavy sword."
Hearing this, the Shopkeeper pointed to an iron sword on the wall. "This is the Unrivaled Sword. It weighs three hundred jin."
"Oh?"
Shen Daoxing stepped forward and gripped the hilt. He lifted the massive, three-hundred-jin sword directly. As his body swayed, the iron sword began to move with him.
The Shopkeeper was shocked. In the young man’s hands, the iron sword, weighing over three hundred jin, seemed as light as a long staff, handled with casual ease.
"It’s too light."
Shen Daoxing set the iron sword down and shook his head.
’Over three hundred jin is still too light?!’
The Shopkeeper inwardly gasped, then said, "I have another iron sword in this Weapon Workshop that weighs a thousand jin. We’ll see if you can wield it."
"Xiao Wu, you lot, bring up the Overlord Sword."
Afterward, four apprentices from the Weapon Workshop struggled to carry out a black sword.
Each of these four apprentices was broad-shouldered and powerfully built, but their faces were contorted with effort as they gritted their teeth to lift the sword.
The Shopkeeper smiled. "Sir, please."
Weapon grades are divided from one to nine, with Ninth Grade being the lowest and First Grade being the highest.
Although this Overlord Sword was only a Ninth-Grade weapon, it weighed a thousand jin. Since it was forged, not many people have been able to lift it. To wield it properly, one would need the strength to lift at least three thousand jin.
And experts of that caliber were typically at the Profound Platform Realm.
Shen Daoxing walked up to the Overlord Sword, gently stroking its blade before putting his full strength into it.
WHOOSH!
As the sword shot upwards, it instantly kicked up a violent gust of wind.
"What astonishing strength!"
As the Shopkeeper and his apprentices stared, dumbfounded, Shen Daoxing began to swing the Overlord Sword, enveloping the entire Weapon Workshop in a storm of wind.
WHOOSH!
WHOOSH!
After a few swings, Shen Daoxing was already soaked in sweat. He set the Overlord Sword down and shook his head. "It’s heavy enough, but I feel like it’s still missing something."
The Shopkeeper was suddenly in a bind. "The Overlord Sword is the heaviest and best weapon in my workshop..."
Just then, an apprentice at the side said, "Shopkeeper, what about Big Black in the warehouse?"
’Big Black!?’
Upon hearing this, a trace of confusion appeared in Shen Daoxing’s eyes.
The Shopkeeper shook his head. "Can you even call that a weapon?"
Shen Daoxing said, "Weapon or not, may I have a look?"
The Shopkeeper nodded. "Alright, I’ll take you to the warehouse, Sir."
Following the Shopkeeper, the group arrived at the Weapon Workshop’s warehouse.
The warehouse was pitch-black and filled with a damp, heavy smell.
The Shopkeeper slowly explained, "This Big Black has quite a history. They say it’s been in this warehouse for fifty years, but to this day, no one has ever been able to move it."
Shen Daoxing asked curiously, "Oh? What does this Big Black look like?"
The Shopkeeper pointed to a corner of the warehouse. "As for what it looks like, see for yourself, Sir."
Shen Daoxing looked toward the corner. There lay a massive, pitch-black sword. It was seven chi long and two chi wide, with a blunted edge. Lying there in the corner of the workshop, it looked perfectly ordinary, with nothing peculiar about it.
"The Great Ming Demon Sparrow! This is the Great Ming Demon Sparrow!"
Just then, the Blood Dragon’s horrified voice echoed in Shen Daoxing’s mind.
Shen Daoxing asked, ’What is the Great Ming Demon Sparrow?’
The Blood Dragon said grimly, ’The Great Ming Demon Sparrow is ranked second among the Ancient Ten Great Demon Soldiers. It has been missing for several thousand years. To think that this Demon Soldier, which once struck fear across the world, would be in this tiny Weapon Workshop.’
’The Ancient Ten Great Demon Soldiers!?’
Shen Daoxing walked forward and gently stroked the Ancient Demon Soldier.
The Blood Dragon said, ’You must obtain this Demon Soldier. It’s a perfect match for the Path of Power you cultivate.’
Shen Daoxing nodded, then tightened his grip on the hilt of the Great Ming Demon Sparrow.
CRACK! CRACK!
The veins on Shen Daoxing’s arms bulged like coiling dragons as he continuously channeled his strength into the hilt.
But the Great Ming Demon Sparrow didn’t budge an inch.
The Shopkeeper beside him chuckled. "This weapon has a very peculiar origin. Even Profound Platform Realm masters have found it difficult to move."
He wasn’t surprised that Shen Daoxing couldn’t move the giant sword.
In the past, masters at the Profound Platform Realm had come to try, but all had left empty-handed.
’This young man before me is, at most, only in the Acupoint Opening Realm.’
The Blood Dragon’s brow furrowed. ’A Demon Soldier chooses its master. It cannot be moved by ordinary people.’
Shen Daoxing took a deep breath and once again used all his strength, perfectly integrating his Path of Power into the effort. The giant sword remained completely still.
"Sir, perhaps you should give up. Don’t waste your energy..."
The Shopkeeper was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly felt the ground begin to tremble.
CRACK!
CRACK!
"What’s going on?"
"Why is the ground shaking?"
"Look, Big Black is moving!"
...
The apprentices were also in a panic, but the scene before them left them completely stunned.
The massive sword, taller than a man, was actually moving. As Shen Daoxing strenuously lifted it, the greatsword slowly rose. The trembling from before had been caused by Big Black’s movement.
CHIRP!
As Shen Daoxing held the Great Ming Demon Sparrow, a clear cry echoed in his mind, refreshing his spirit.
The Blood Dragon said slowly, ’This sword has been sealed with ten seals by a supreme expert. To fully unleash its former glory, you’ll need to break all ten seals. Right now, it’s merely a Ninth-Grade weapon, which is perfect for your current level.’
The Shopkeeper said, stunned, "He... he really lifted it?"
Holding the Great Ming Demon Sparrow, Shen Daoxing asked, "Shopkeeper, what’s the price for this sword?"
The Shopkeeper snapped back to his senses and laughed. "This weapon was already in the warehouse when I first came here. No one has ever been able to lift it until now. Since you were able to lift this weapon, Sir, it must be fate. You can have it as a gift."
The Shopkeeper was no fool. He could naturally tell that Shen Daoxing was extraordinary.
In this day and age, befriending a top-tier Martial Artist was like gaining an extra layer of security, especially a Martial Artist with a limitless future.
Shen Daoxing didn’t stand on ceremony. "Alright, then thank you very much, Shopkeeper."
In the end, the Shopkeeper watched as Shen Daoxing and Shen Yuerou left the Weapon Workshop.
"Shopkeeper, why did you give Big Black to that man?" an apprentice asked curiously.
"Yeah, that Big Black must be a treasure," another apprentice chimed in.
They had once tried to melt Big Black down, but even after burning it at high temperatures for three days and three nights, it showed no change whatsoever. This was enough to prove how extraordinary it was.
Their shopkeeper was a notorious cheapskate, yet he had actually given Big Black to that young man.
In their eyes, this was simply unbelievable.
The Shopkeeper, with his hands behind his back, said, "Go on, go on. What do you kids know?"
...
