Gongsun Lei...
Fu Zhu searched his mind and quickly remembered Gongsun Lei, whom he had found when he asked Yanqing to help locate an excellent blacksmith on the Luofu.
At that time, he intended to have the other party help forge a tool similar to the [Yamato], attempting to use the Conversion mechanic to directly turn it into the real [Yamato]. But back then, Gongsun Lei indicated he couldn't make it.
Since leaving the Luofu, he hadn't heard news of Gongsun Lei again. He thought the man was just a passerby, but unexpectedly heard his name again from Huaiyan's mouth.
"I remember. At that time, I planned to let him help me forge a tool... Wait... this blade couldn't have been made by him, right?"
Fu Zhu looked with some surprise at the [Yamato] lying in the black box. The time he had possessed [Yamato] was very short, and no one else knew he had it on hand. Besides that, only Gongsun Lei had learned about [Yamato]'s appearance and abilities from his descriptions.
Huaiyan stroked his white beard with a smile, then took that [Yamato] out of the box. Holding the hilt with one hand, he unsheathed the blade slightly. A crack suddenly appeared in the space in front of everyone, like a rift appearing after a slash, but very quickly, this spatial rift repaired itself automatically.
After displaying the effect of [Yamato], Huaiyan put it back in its original place before explaining its origin to Fu Zhu.
"This blade can be considered a joint effort between Gongsun Lei, this old man, and many smiths on the Xianzhou Zhuming. According to him, after parting with you, young friend Fu Zhu, on the Luofu, he felt it was difficult to make progress here, so he went alone to the Xianzhou Zhuming, looking everywhere for a smith capable of forging this blade. Afterward, by coincidence, this old man heard about this matter and its relation to you, young friend Fu Zhu, so I went to contact him. And then, this blade was forged."
Fu Zhu and the others couldn't help but applaud after listening to Huaiyan's recounting.
Especially Fu Zhu; he admired their ability even more. To be able to simulate it to seventy or eighty percent just based on his few words—this was truly rare and commendable.
Huaiyan narrowed his eyes, stroking his white beard, and looked at Fu Zhu with a smile.
"How does young friend Fu Zhu feel this blade compares to the blade in your knowledge?"
Although Huaiyan had lived for a long time, he was still obsessed with forging. Especially when a work he painstakingly forged, or a work he loved, could receive recognition from others—that recognition satisfied him greatly.
Fu Zhu crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and compared the two *[Yamato]*s in his mind, giving his opinion.
"About seventy or eighty percent similar, I guess."
Honestly, for Fu Zhu, this was already a very high evaluation. But for Huaiyan, it sounded a bit low. Even if this [Yamato] was deliberately forged to imitate Fu Zhu's requirements.
"Oh? This blade is only seventy or eighty percent similar in young friend Fu Zhu's heart? This makes this old man somewhat curious about what its original appearance is like."
"Here, see for yourself."
Fu Zhu took [Yamato] directly from his backpack and threw it to Huaiyan.
Huaiyan caught [Yamato] and opened his eyes, which had been squinting the whole time, in some surprise. He stared fixedly at this [Yamato] in his hand. The feeling it gave him upon handling was extremely light—lighter than the [Yamato] forged with stacked materials to meet Fu Zhu's requirements. It was light to the point of excess; he feared even a three-year-old child could pick it up at will.
Huaiyan held the hilt and carefully pulled it out, but found that the blade body was broken, with only half remaining. This made him surprised, but also gave rise to a feeling of regret.
"Why is this blade broken? Young friend Fu Zhu, it couldn't be that you didn't take good care of it?"
Huaiyan spoke with some heartache. The moment he handled it, his years of forging experience told him this was a peerless good blade! What a pity that it was currently in a broken state. It was hard not to feel it was a waste.
Fu Zhu shook his head, feeling somewhat wrongly accused: "No, it's just that when I obtained it, it was simply in a broken state. I just haven't had time to repair it yet. But don't worry, a broken blade can still be used."
"That is too much of a waste of a heavenly gift..."
"You try it first before speaking."
Huaiyan sighed. Following Fu Zhu's instructions, he held [Yamato], tentatively aimed at a potted landscape plant not far indoors, and swung lightly.
Without any time lag, a faint purple slash cut directly through a leaf of that potted plant.
"So that's how it is..."
Huaiyan didn't try the [Yamato] a step further, deeply afraid that if he used slightly more force, he would cause some irreversible damage to it. Moreover, just from that one move, he had already seen the difference between the two *[Yamato]*s.
The [Yamato] forged by the Xianzhou Zhuming focused on the attribute of cutting space, while the [Yamato] in Fu Zhu's hand, compared to cutting space, was more like letting the slash transcend space to hit the enemy.
And this was just the result tested by him using it casually. It was still unknown if [Yamato] possessed other abilities.
Huaiyan turned his head and returned [Yamato] to Fu Zhu.
"Young friend Fu Zhu's blade is indeed formidable. However, it is a pity I couldn't witness its complete state. If it were in its complete state, I'm afraid it would be far stronger than this old man imagined, right?"
An idea struck Huaiyan, and he looked at Fu Zhu with some anticipation.
"If young friend Fu Zhu trusts this old man's words, how about entrusting this blade to this old man to repair?"
Fu Zhu hadn't answered yet, but Yunli at the side shouted out in surprise.
"Grandpa, you're doing it yourself? For real?"
In her eyes, ever since her grandpa got on in years, he rarely forged or repaired blades personally. She didn't expect that the only two times he took action in recent years were both because of [Yamato].
Subsequently, she looked at Fu Zhu with some jealousy but also urgency, urging him.
"Hurry up and agree! Grandpa rarely takes action! As long as Grandpa takes action, he will definitely be able to help you repair this blade to its most perfect appearance!"
Fu Zhu, however, shook his head after putting away [Yamato].
"No need. Elder Yan, you cannot repair it."
Once these words came out, Huaiyan and Yunli instantly became a bit anxious.
Even with Huaiyan's temperament, he couldn't help but blow his beard and stare: "Young friend Fu Zhu, could it be you do not trust this old man? Although saying this is somewhat conceited, this old man's skills in the forging profession can be counted as one of the best. This old man guarantees I can repair this blade!"
Yunli also puffed up her small cheeks and retorted huffily: "Grandpa is amazing! If you haven't seen Grandpa in action, don't make judgments at random!"
Sitting on the other side, Xing, seeing Fu Zhu being 'attacked' like this, also couldn't sit still.
Xing hugged her arms and muttered: "My Old Bro can create all kinds of magical tools. He is also one of the best in the forging profession! What's the problem with him saying that?!"
Yunli walked in front of Xing, puffed up her cheeks, and refuted: "My Grandpa has forged countless famous blades!"
Xing raised her small head and said with a proud face: "My Bro's magical tools have beaten up several Emanators!"
"My Grandpa has also beaten up Emanators!"
"My Bro dares to scold them to their face in front of Aeons!"
"My Grandpa dares too!"
Huaiyan's old face went white, and he hurriedly covered Yunli's mouth with his hand. This, he really didn't dare.
Muttering about some Aeons in private was one thing, but how would he dare scold them to their face in front of an Aeon? Furthermore, whether he could even see an Aeon was a question. The only one he had a relatively high hope of seeing was the Reignbow Arbiter (Lan), but he couldn't possibly curse the Reignbow Arbiter to his face, right?
That would be great disrespect!
Xing saw Yunli was physically silenced, and immediately raised her right fist high, adopting a pose of "I won." But in the next second, Fu Zhu reached out and grabbed her mouth, saying with a laughing-crying expression:
"You shut up too."
After silencing the two kids, Huaiyan looked at Fu Zhu and asked with some curiosity.
"Young friend Fu Zhu, could it be that repairing this blade requires some special means?"
He didn't think Fu Zhu seemed like that kind of arrogant and conceited person. It was only possible that the repair method for this blade was different from the usual means of seeking materials.
Fu Zhu nodded and explained concisely.
"Yes. Repairing [Yamato] requires using a material named [Proud Soul]."
"[Proud Soul]? Never heard of it."
"[Proud Soul] is roughly a crystallization condensed from the memories of a warrior while wielding the blade. A substance similar to Memoria bubbles."
"Using a warrior's memories to repair... truly magical."
This made Huaiyan curious. It was the first time he had heard of a blade needing to rely on 'memories' to be repaired. But a blade requiring special means to repair also proved that this blade was increasingly special!
"Young friend Fu Zhu, this old man has a presumptuous request. Could you let me watch the repair process of this blade in person? This old man guarantees absolutely not to speak of it to outsiders."
Fu Zhu thought about it and felt it wasn't a big deal. Back then, Gongsun Lei had also seen similar scenes, so he agreed directly.
"Okay. I'll also take this opportunity to repair [Yamato] and see its abilities in its complete state."
Then Fu Zhu looked at Jing Yuan: "Old Jing, I want to go find Hulei. Approve it?"
Jing Yuan was somewhat laughing and crying at Fu Zhu's form of address, but he was clear on what Fu Zhu wanted to find Hulei for. Previously, Fu Zhu had used Hulei as a sandbag for a period of time. Doing it again naturally would be a familiar drive on a light cart.
"Fine. But take it easy this time. The envoys of the Xianzhou Yaoqing also attach great importance to Hulei. They very much hope Hulei can die in their hands. Don't steal the kill."
After all, the current Fu Zhu was a dual Envoy, far stronger than he was before.
Fu Zhu nodded, considering it agreed to. Then he turned his head and said to Huaiyan: "Then Elder Yan, we'll go to the Shackling Prison together later?"
"Good. This old man will wait at any time."
After finishing the chat about the repair work of [Yamato], Huaiyan looked with some regret at that replica [Yamato] forged by the Xianzhou Zhuming. It was a bit of a pity.
"Sigh. Originally, Gongsun Lei wanted this old man to pass this blade to you, young friend Fu Zhu. But looking at it now, you have a better blade. If it's placed in your hands, young friend Fu Zhu, I'm afraid it can only gather dust."
Fu Zhu casually proposed an idea.
"Then just use it as a prize for the Wardance. A precious blade matches a hero; it couldn't be more suitable."
Huaiyan's eyes lit up, and he stroked his white beard, nodding repeatedly.
"What young friend Fu Zhu says is reasonable. Let's do that."
Yunli at the side giggled: "Grandpa, if you want to give this blade to me, just say so directly! No need for such a complicated process. I'm right by your side!"
Huaiyan poked her forehead with his finger, somewhat exasperated: "How many times have I said it? Don't get so carried away with success. There are many geniuses on the Luofu. Just that little brother Yanqing you saw yesterday—his strength is not inferior to yours!"
Mentioning Yanqing, Huaiyan looked at Jing Yuan and asked: "Where is your disciple? This old man has a good idea right now."
Jing Yuan immediately had someone call Yanqing over. As soon as Yanqing walked into the main hall, he bowed respectfully to everyone.
"Yanqing greets General Jing Yuan, General Huaiyan, Mistress, and the several teachers."
Seeing Yanqing arrive, Huaiyan said cheerfully: "Yanqing, what do you think of this blade?"
Huaiyan signaled toward that [Yamato]. Yanqing took just one look, and his eyes instantly shone.
"Good blade!"
"Hoho. Young friend Fu Zhu proposed a very good suggestion: let this blade serve as a prize. However, in the arena, there will inevitably be winners and losers, and inevitably damage to the Alliance's friendship. Therefore, this old man wants to let you..."
"...join hands to teach an apprentice. Let her go on stage at the Wardance and win at least one victory. Otherwise, even if you win the championship, don't think about getting this prize. How about it?"
"No problem, Grandpa!"
Yunli naturally agreed in one mouthful. And when Yanqing saw this blade, he also liked it immediately, so he agreed on the spot that there was no problem.
Jing Yuan and Fu Zhu nodded at the side with the attitude of watching a good show.
"Indeed. But who should the two of them take as a disciple?"
As soon as these words came out, Huaiyan's gaze immediately looked toward Xing, Dan Heng, and March 7th.
Dan Heng took the initiative to decline tactfully: "I am not skilled in swordsmanship; I mainly cultivate the spear. Forget about me."
Xing also refused decisively, shaking her head: "I am a woman aspiring to master all martial arts! I won't be limited to a single sword!"
March 7th looked left and right, pointing at her own nose with a bewildered face: "Then isn't there only me left? But... I am an archer?"
Xing patted March 7th's shoulder cheerfully: "March, an archer who doesn't know melee isn't a good swordsman. Just accept it."
"Ah this..."
March 7th was somewhat moved, but also worried about losing face: "But, I don't know how... If I don't learn well, won't I be expelled from the sect?"
Xing leaned into her ear and tempted her: "My Old Bro also uses a sword. Don't you want to combine dual swords with him, traveling the world together, becoming the Twin Heroes?"
Upon hearing this, March 7th was instantly moved endlessly, looking at Fu Zhu with eyes full of stars.
Fu Zhu felt it didn't matter, but suddenly he realized a problem.
"Wait a minute. If it's March, wouldn't she have to recognize Yanqing as her Master?"
Huaiyan asked back with some doubt: "What's wrong with that?"
Yanqing pointed at March 7th somewhat awkwardly and explained in a low voice.
"She... is my Mistress..."