Chapter 22: The Abyss of God! The Peerless Blade

45 Ganyuan Street.

Tie Tu looked at the Source Crystal of Holy Fire before him and sighed, "You little brat, you actually have some talent!"

The Source Crystal of Holy Fire is an advanced form of the Molten Source Crystal; though the size is the same, it contains twice the magical power of the latter.

"I nearly lost my life for this thing."

"I don't care about that. We agreed on the price, and even if it is a Source Crystal of Holy Fire, I won't give you a single extra penny."

"Hmph, I just want my weapon forged."

Tie Tu rolled up his sleeves. "Isn't it just Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel? Piece of cake!"

He picked up the Source Crystal of Holy Fire, used his hammer to break off a large portion, and tossed it into the furnace. Golden flames instantly erupted within.

Strangely, Mi Chen did not feel a hint of heat. In fact, as the golden flames burned, the temperature in the workshop actually dropped by several degrees.

"This is the property of the Source Crystal of Holy Fire. It absorbs the thermal energy of all surrounding objects to further increase the internal combustion temperature."

"Although Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel can fuse with magical materials, the Source Crystal of Holy Fire is a rare exception."

As he spoke, Tie Tu placed the blue-glowing precious steel into the furnace.

"Give me the Blood-Thirst Blade?"

Mi Chen was confused. "Aren't you giving that to me?"

Although he was about to possess a new weapon, Mi Chen had found the Blood-Thirst Blade quite comfortable to use during his previous battles. Aside from the fact that he would prick his hands with blood every time he drew it, the blade’s durability, weight, and the feel of its swing were perfect. He was naturally reluctant to let Tie Tu take it back.

"Look at you, so stingy," Tie Tu cursed. "I told you to take it, so why would I make you give it back? I just thought of a brilliant method."

"What method?"

"Weapons forged from Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel are indeed world-class, but they share a common flaw: they lack vitality. You should know that a good weapon possesses a 'Weapon Spirit.' A Weapon Spirit is nothing mystical; it is simply the resonance between the user's magic and the weapon. Due to their unique properties, precious materials are difficult to resonate with. However, I’ve found a solution: use a weapon that has already achieved resonance as a base and reinforce it with precious materials!"

Mi Chen instantly understood. "You mean, instead of forging with just the Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel, you're going to reinforce the Blood-Thirst Blade with it?"

"I have to see the blade first to know if it can be reinforced."

Mi Chen unhooked the Blood-Thirst Blade. As the scarlet blade left its sheath, Tie Tu’s eyes lit up. "Just as I thought!"

"Can it be reinforced?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Tie Tu praised, "You brat, you really are a master of the blade. The Blood-Thirst Blade was merely a semi-finished product between a common blade and a swift blade, but after your use, it shows signs of breaking through to the next level."

Blade grades are divided into five levels: Common Blade, Swift Blade, Great Swift Blade, Supreme Swift Blade, and the Peerless Blade. The lowest is the Common Blade, corresponding to the enchanted longsword Mi Chen bought from Dasen Industrial—the most standard mass-produced weapon.

Swift Blades and Great Swift Blades can only be crafted by specialized artisans and possess extraordinary power. The Supreme Swift Blade transcends the realm of mere tools and is world-renowned. For instance, the blade used by the 7th-tier hunter, the Blood Monarch Tu He, is of the Supreme Swift Blade level. As for the Peerless Blade, only three are known to exist, and all have been lost in secret realms; they are legendary existences.

Tie Tu placed the Blood-Thirst Blade into the furnace. Mi Chen waited with anticipation to see what the combination of Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel and the Blood-Thirst Blade would evolve into.

Before long, a loud boom erupted from the furnace. The timing was perfect. Tie Tu pulled out the red-hot Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel and the Blood-Thirst Blade simultaneously. He gripped his hammer tightly.

The first strike landed with pinpoint accuracy on the Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel. Before the echo of the first strike had faded, the second strike landed on the Blood-Thirst Blade without hesitation, the force and angle calculated to perfection. Then came the third, the fourth...

Tie Tu’s forging speed increased until he became a blur. The staggered striking sounds eventually synchronized into a rhythmic, frantic hammering. For a moment, Mi Chen thought Tie Tu had grown three heads and six arms. This technique had transcended mere skill; it was a total conquest of steel.

As the forging deepened, the Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel and the Blood-Thirst Blade deformed under the countless heavy blows. The hard steel turned into a liquid state, and under the control of magic, the precious steel flowed continuously, seeping into the Blood-Thirst Blade.

This was the second stage! Tie Tu’s speed reached a fever pitch.

Time passed. When the final strike ended abruptly, Mi Chen realized it was over. The air was filled with the distinct scent of iron and fire. Tie Tu picked up a longsword. It was over three feet long, shimmering with silver light under the firelight. Upon closer inspection, blood-red patterns pulsed along the blade.

"A fine blade!" Mi Chen exclaimed.

"Naturally." Tie Tu handed it to him. "Give it a try."

Did it even need testing? The moment he held the longsword, Mi Chen felt a wave of warmth. The weight was just right. As he injected his magic, the blade pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat.

"This is..." Mi Chen was stunned.

Tie Tu remarked, "Heaven-Derivation Precious Steel plus the Blood-Thirst Blade equals a Supreme Swift Blade. Any idiot could do it!"

A Supreme Swift Blade! For many blacksmiths, forging such a weapon was a lifelong dream, but to Tie Tu, it was merely expected. Mi Chen had hit the jackpot. He had only anticipated a Great Swift Blade at best. Now, he held a Supreme Swift Blade!

100,000 credits for a Supreme Swift Blade—if word got out, hunters would go mad. It was as if a miracle had dropped from the sky.

"Give this blade a name."

"Shen Yuan!" Mi Chen blurted out.

"Shen Yuan? That’s quite a name!" Tie Tu chuckled. "But it fits, especially since I was the one who forged it! Shen Yuan will eventually become a world-famous blade. You’d better work hard, kid—don't you dare disgrace the name of Shen Yuan!"

Mi Chen sheathed the blade. "Just you wait and see!"

With such a treasure, Mi Chen felt confident that if he encountered the Scythe Insects again, he would be more than capable of a fight.

He left 45 Ganyuan Street, mounted his motorcycle, and headed home to rest and prepare for his next secret realm commission.

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

His phone rang. Mi Chen glanced at the screen. It was an unknown number. He answered.

"Hello, Mr. Mi Chen. We are from the Lunar Shrine. Would you happen to have the time to pay us a visit?"