My Ares Son-in-Law

Qin Xianglan's voice was filled with undisguised awe, her gaze fixed on the strange object on the stone platform.

"The meteorite that fell into the East China Sea three hundred years ago was used by our ancestors to forge the Sea-Suppressing Halberd. This 'core within a core' is the most primordial essence of the meteorite and has been treasured by the Qin family for generations. The ancestral precept states: This core must not be used for anything other than a divine weapon, or it will surely backfire."

She paused, looked at Xiao Chen, and said with absolute certainty, "The original form of the Reverse Scale Sword must have been forged from the same extraterrestrial material. I can clearly feel that they are attracting each other."

Xiao Chen walked slowly toward the stone platform.

As the distance closed, the Reverse Scale Sword trembled more and more violently. Finally, with a clear "clang," it broke through the scabbard's restraints and hovered in mid-air, its tip pointing straight at the meteorite core on the stone platform. The azure halo on the sword grew even more intense.

The next moment, a strange scene unfolded.

On the dark surface of the meteorite core, the starlight suddenly accelerated, like an awakened galaxy, quickly converging into a thin band of light that shot directly toward the suspended Reverse Scale Sword.

Meanwhile, the silver star patterns on the Reverse Scale Sword lit up simultaneously, greedily devouring the light spots like a hungry beast, and the sword's cry grew clearer and clearer.

"They...they are merging?" Qin Xianglan covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

“It’s not fusion.” Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as an eagle. “It’s calling to each other. This meteorite core is the missing part of the Reverse Scale Sword after it broke back then.”

After saying that, he reached out his hand to touch the meteorite core.

Just as my fingertips were about to touch the cold surface of the star core...

"Wait a minute!"

A deep, resonant voice suddenly rang out from the entrance, carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Xiao Chen paused, slowly withdrew his hand, and turned to look.

An elderly man with white hair strode in, wearing a dark blue robe with dark patterns, a small purple-gold hammer hanging from his waist. His face was thin and wrinkled, but his eyes were bright and piercing, like those of a hawk.

What is most striking are his hands, covered with thick calluses, with unusually large knuckles, yet as steady as a rock, without the slightest tremor... those are the marks left by years of wielding a hammer to forge weapons.

Behind the old man were two young disciples, who together carried a heavy iron box with steady steps, clearly indicating that they were also skilled in martial arts.

"Xianglan, why didn't you inform me first about such an important matter concerning the divine weapon?"

The old man's gaze swept over Xiao Chen, finally settling firmly on the floating Reverse Scale Sword. A look of amazement flashed in his eyes, and he exclaimed in surprise, "This is the divine weapon that triggered the 'Ten Thousand Weapons Paying Homage' phenomenon?"

Qin Xianglan quickly stepped forward to greet him, her tone respectful: "Master Ouyang, what brings you here? This is Mr. Xiao Chen, the owner of the Reverse Scale Sword. Mr. Xiao, this is Master Ouyang Ye, a leading figure in the weapon-making world of the Dragon Kingdom, and also a close friend of my grandfather."

Ouyang Ye waved his hand, his gaze never leaving the Reverse Scale Sword. He circled the sword twice, his eyes growing brighter with each look, nodding repeatedly: "A fine sword! A fine sword! The patterns on the blade subtly resemble the stars in the heavens. The material is neither gold, nor iron, nor jade; it must be forged from ancient meteorite crystals. It's just a pity about this broken section..."

He sighed deeply, full of regret: "If this sword were intact, it could probably be ranked among the top ten of the 'Divine Weapons Ranking,' truly a rare treasure of all time!"

Xiao Chen remained calm and spoke softly, "So?" Ouyang Ye then turned his gaze to Xiao Chen, scrutinizing him from head to toe. Seeing that despite his young age, his eyes were remarkably composed, he stroked his beard and chuckled.
“Young man, you are lucky. Although this sword has been covered in dust for a thousand years, its spirit has not been extinguished, and there is still a chance to reforge and sharpen it. Looking across the entire Dragon Kingdom, there are no more than three people who can wield such a divine weapon and complete its sharpening. As for me…”

He paused, his tone revealing an undisguised arrogance: "That is one of them."

Qin Xianglan's eyes suddenly lit up, and she quickly asked, "Master Ouyang is willing to sharpen the Reverse Scale Sword?"

“Of course.” Ouyang Ye laughed even more heartily.

"Such divine weapons are rare and hard to come by. To be able to personally sharpen and reforge one is the lifelong honor of every weaponsmith. Young man, hand over the sword and the meteorite core to me, and three months later, I will surely return to you a complete and flawless ancient divine weapon with its sharp edge fully revealed."

His tone was firm, as if the matter was already set in stone and Xiao Chen had no choice but to agree.

However, Xiao Chen simply shook his head and uttered two words: "No need."

Ouyang Ye's smile froze instantly, and he was stunned for a moment: "What did you say? No need?"

“I don’t need a weaponsmith,” Xiao Chen repeated, his tone still calm and even, yet carrying an undeniable resolve. “I will forge this sword myself.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire underground space fell into a deathly silence.

Qin Xianglan stared in disbelief, opened her mouth, but could not utter a sound.

The two disciples behind Ouyang Ye looked at Xiao Chen as if he were a madman, their eyes filled with disdain and disbelief... Has this kid gone mad? How dare he refuse Master Ouyang's offer?

After a long while, Ouyang Ye slowly came to his senses, his voice turning completely cold: "Young man, say that again?"

“I said, I will forge this sword myself.” Xiao Chen looked up at him, his gaze calm and unwavering.

Ouyang Ye's face darkened completely, and his aura turned icy cold.

Who is Ouyang Ye? He is one of the three grandmasters recognized in the weapon-making world of the Dragon Kingdom. The top families in the capital treat him as an honored guest. If they want him to do something, they not only have to offer him priceless rare and precious materials, but also have to pay him at least tens of thousands of spirit stones.

Now, he has taken the initiative to lower himself and offer to forge a sword for an unknown young man, only to be rejected to his face.
"Do you know how many years of immersion and refinement are required in the art of weapon forging?" Ouyang Ye's voice carried a chilling edge.

"I started holding a hammer at the age of seven, forged my first yellow-grade sword at sixteen, and stepped into the threshold of earth-grade weapon forging master at forty-three. More than sixty years have passed since then, and I have gone through countless trials and tribulations before I dare to call myself a 'master' in the weapon forging world! You, a kid in your early twenties, dare to say that you want to personally sharpen such an ancient divine weapon?"

He pointed to the floating Reverse Scale Sword, his tone growing increasingly stern: "The spiritual power of this sword is unparalleled in my life! If the sharpening process is not handled carefully, not only will it fail completely, but even the sword spirit within the sword may dissipate into the world! Can you bear the consequences?"

Xiao Chen ignored his questioning, turned to Qin Xianglan, and said calmly, "I want this meteorite core. Name your price."

Qin Xianglan opened her mouth, about to speak to persuade him, but Ouyang Ye was already laughing in anger, saying "Good! Good! Good! Arrogant! Utterly arrogant! I want to see what kind of skill you, this ignorant brat, have that allows you to personally forge such a divine weapon!" (End of this chapter)