Please support the novel with your power stones, it motivates me. Thank you!
Chapter 68: The Blood-Sacrificed Sword
One week later — Xuan Ziwen's laboratory.
Xuan Ziwen looked at the four people standing before him—Bai Chen, Ning Tian, Jing Ziyan, and Ji Juechen—and the corner of his mouth twitched.
"What exactly are you all doing here?"
His laboratory had never been this crowded before.
As a rather eccentric researcher, Xuan Ziwen didn't have many companions. Having five people packed into the lab at once was something that had never happened.
At his question—
Ning Tian looked confused.
Ji Juechen silently turned his head away.
Jing Ziyan jerked her chin toward Bai Chen.
Bai Chen sighed and said,
"Last weekend when I sparred with Senior Ji… I didn't hold back well and accidentally broke his sword."
"So I want to forge him a new one."
"You can do that too?" Xuan Ziwen asked in surprise.
"Of course."
A blacksmith's job wasn't only about refining metal quality.
Forging metal into parts, weapons, and structures was also part of a blacksmith's craft.
Thanks to the special nature of the Douhun Hall space from the third era, Bai Chen had far more time than others his age.
During that time his forging skills had improved dramatically.
Not only had his success rate for First-Grade Thousand Refinements increased, but his ability to forge weapons had also advanced greatly.
Xuan Ziwen frowned and thought for a moment before suddenly saying,
"How about this—give me the metal and I'll make him a soul tool."
"With my level and your Thousand-Refined metal, the close-combat soul tool we make together would easily rival any Level 8 soul tool on the market."
Bai Chen looked at him in slight surprise.
Then he turned and glanced at Ji Juechen with a faint smile.
At a moment like this, Ji Juechen could no longer pretend to be indifferent.
He said calmly,
"No need."
"I asked him to make it for a reason. A soul tool made by others might not suit me."
After saying that, he paused and nodded lightly to Xuan Ziwen.
"Thank you."
He hadn't expected Xuan Ziwen to be so enthusiastic.
He had assumed the man would only provide workspace, nothing more.
But he had underestimated the relationship between Xuan Ziwen and Bai Chen.
Although he would never say it out loud—
In Xuan Ziwen's heart, Bai Chen was already his most valued student.
If Bai Chen caused trouble outside, then as his teacher it was only natural to help handle the aftermath.
What he didn't know was that Bai Chen and Ji Juechen had already discussed things beforehand.
They had agreed:
This sword would not be a soul tool.
Ji Juechen stepped forward to the workbench.
The bracelet on his wrist flashed.
A massive black metal block appeared on the table.
This was the material he had prepared.
Meteoric Iron.
The same metal used in his previous sword.
Bai Chen pulled out two forging hammers and took a deep breath, adjusting his breathing until his entire state reached its peak.
When Bai Chen had first proposed forging him a new sword, Ji Juechen had actually refused.
But Bai Chen wasn't about to miss such a good opportunity to strengthen their relationship.
After persistent persuasion, Ji Juechen finally agreed.
This forging could not fail.
A black-gold aura ring silently rose and merged into Bai Chen's body.
The Dominion Domain activated.
Bai Chen raised his forging hammer and began working.
Meteoric Iron was an extremely rare metal.
At least in the era ten thousand years later, Bai Chen had never encountered such a material.
To guarantee success, he had spent the entire week practicing with fragments of Ji Juechen's broken sword.
Now—
Under his relentless hammering—
The massive block of meteoric iron rapidly shrank.
Strange light flickered across its surface.
Bai Chen did not dare pause for even a moment.
He poured every bit of his experience and knowledge into the forging process, continuously elevating the metal's quality.
Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan were seeing Bai Chen forge for the first time.
Both of them were completely stunned.
Finally—
A streak of dark light shot upward from the metal.
Bai Chen exhaled deeply and smiled in relief.
First-Grade Thousand Refinement.
Success.
At that moment—
Ji Juechen stepped forward silently.
His hand sliced across his palm.
Scarlet blood dripped onto the meteoric iron.
"Juechen!"
Jing Ziyan cried out in alarm.
But before she could say anything—
The metal's glow intensified.
Her words caught in her throat.
Bai Chen blinked in surprise.
"How did you know to do that?"
He knew that action all too well.
It was Blood Sacrifice.
For blacksmiths, blood sacrifice could greatly increase the success rate of forging.
For non-blacksmiths, its purpose was different.
It enhanced compatibility between the user and the metal.
From this moment onward—
The meteoric iron was completely bound to Ji Juechen.
Whatever weapon it became—
Only Ji Juechen could unleash its true potential.
As Ji Juechen grew stronger, the weapon's power would also gradually increase.
Ji Juechen still wore the same cool expression.
"Instinct."
Bai Chen was speechless.
He really didn't feel like talking to monsters with talent like this.
He waved his hand toward Jing Ziyan and Ji Juechen.
"Alright, you two can leave now."
"The rest of the forging process doesn't need you here."
He had invited them mainly to complete the blood sacrifice.
Since that step was finished, there was no need for them to stay.
Ji Juechen shook his head and sat down against the wall.
"I'll wait here."
"Suit yourself."
Bai Chen shrugged and returned to the forge.
The metal refinement and blood sacrifice were complete.
Now only the weapon shaping remained.
For a blacksmith like him, this was the easiest step—
But also the most time-consuming.
Time passed slowly.
Before they realized it, night had fallen outside the window.
Xuan Ziwen had already returned to his room.
Ning Tian and Jing Ziyan had left earlier.
The huge laboratory now contained only Bai Chen and Ji Juechen.
Finally—
With the final hammer strike—
Bai Chen lowered his hammer and said,
"It's done."
"Brother Ji, your sword."
Ji Juechen stood up silently and walked over.
He accepted the dark blade.
It was strange.
This was the first time he had touched this sword.
Yet the sense of familiarity it gave him was even stronger than the broken one he had carried for years.
It felt as though he had wielded this sword for decades.
Ji Juechen suddenly bowed toward Bai Chen.
"Thank you."
"If you ever need my help in the future, I will give it my all."
Bai Chen didn't refuse.
He could tell from Ji Juechen's eyes—
Refusing would be pointless.
A sword maniac was someone who never went back on his word.
Once Ji Juechen made a decision, Bai Chen couldn't change it.
Bai Chen smiled slightly.
Another step forward had been taken.