Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

"Not bad!"

Xu Qing responded frankly.

The old man was increasingly shaken.

He seemed to see a future master craftsman being born into the world.

Even though Xu Qing's swords had some problems and did not satisfy him, what he sought was a sword that could match the ancient divine swords. If he did not require this, Xu Qing's swords would all be top-notch weapons in the world.

Many swords listed at the top of sword manuals are not necessarily as powerful as these swords.

After learning the reason, the old man's attitude towards Xu Qing changed somewhat.

He said in a deep voice, "The sword is a fine sword, with unparalleled sharpness, but it is not the divine sword I seek!"

"What is a true divine sword?" Xu Qing pressed, his gaze burning brightly.

He sensed something amiss when he was casting the Xuan Shu.

With superior materials and forged fourth-order properties, he should have had a good chance of breaking through to the "legendary" realm, given his peak third-order abilities.

It should be noted that he was originally a second-tier cultivator who forged a third-tier renowned weapon.

But this time, he failed.

He had a deep-seated feeling that even if he restarted the furnace, he would inevitably fail.

It seems that something crucial is missing; even with extraordinary talent and methods, it is difficult to open that door.

The sword appraiser arrived abruptly, and his words struck like a heavy hammer at the very point of confusion in his heart.

An outsider's perspective is often clearer; this person may be able to dispel his confusion.

"Ancient divine swords..." The old man's voice suddenly became ancient and profound, "Their divine power lies not in their sharpness or the preciousness of their materials, but in their... spirit!"

"This spirit is unlike the human soul; it is a kind of spiritual rhythm, a melody that can resonate with heaven and earth and with all things!"

His gaze fell on the Xuan Shu Sword again, his expression serious and focused.

"The selection of materials, forging method, tempering, and subtle transformation of the three elements of this sword have reached the pinnacle. However, its interior is utterly empty, and I cannot see any spiritual energy flowing through it."

He withdrew his gaze, then suddenly looked directly at Xu Qing: "In your heart, what is a sword?"

Xu Qing pondered for a moment: "Martial arts are the extension of a person's limbs, the proof of a noble's status, and the weapon of a martial artist."

"What you say is true." The old man nodded, then his words were sharp as a sword, "However, in my eyes, the sword is destiny!"

"Destiny?"

"Sword and man, in perfect harmony, coexist and prosper together. A divine sword, having seized the creation of heaven and earth, possesses inner spirituality. When it encounters its true master, their spiritualities resonate, its sharpness surges, and its divine power is fully revealed. Only then can it break through the shackles and display a power that surpasses ordinary iron. This is the secret to the immortality of the divine sword."

A complex expression appeared in the old man's eyes, and he then began to recount some past events related to the divine sword.

"During the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Jin demanded the divine sword Tai'a from the State of Chu but failed, and besieged Yingdu for three years. The King of Chu climbed the city wall, held the sword, and resolved to die. He unleashed the immense power of the heavens within the sword, and in an instant, sandstorms covered the sun, ferocious beasts roared, and the Jin army collapsed... This was not due to human power, but rather the spirit of Tai'a responding to its master's will!"

"Gan Jiang and Mo Xie sacrificed their children to the swords. When the swords were completed, their malevolent energy soared to the heavens, causing the deaths of the couple and the King of Chu. However, beyond their killing nature, the two swords also resonated with each other. If they were to meet a true master, the two swords would be perfectly combined, achieving perfect harmony, and their power could shake the heavens and the earth."

"The Daoist Snowfall Sword, though its sharpness may not match that of Autumn Li, is ranked higher in the sword manual. Why?" the old man asked himself, answering his own question. "Snowfall Sword resonates with the Dao of Heaven. The wielder's Dao heart is pure, and in harmony with the sword spirit, one can summon wind and snow, commanding the heavens and earth. Autumn Li, though sharp, is ultimately inferior to the power of the vast Dao of Heaven. Yet, looking across the world, Autumn Li is still an unparalleled divine sword. In the past, Xue Zhu exhausted his life force in search of a sword comparable to Zhanlu, finally obtaining Autumn Li, his soul residing within it. Therefore, Autumn Li contains boundless vitality..."

The old man spoke eloquently, explaining the secrets of the top ten divine swords in the sword manual.

As Xu Qing listened to these anecdotes, a strange thought arose in his mind.

In fact, the King of Chu seems to have been a familiar figure in the background.

Most of the famous swords from the Spring and Autumn Period were related to the King of Chu.

He is either a positive character or a negative character.

Or perhaps, some swords were indirectly created because of him.

However, he didn't think about it too much and continued to listen to the old man's story.

According to the old man, these swords caused extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth when they were created, and because they contained powerful spiritual energy, they could unleash power beyond limits in the hands of a suitable sword master.

Although Xu Qing's sword was also very powerful, he did not see anything related to spirits inside it.

"The swordsmith's all-consuming will, the sword wielder's unwavering determination, and the connection with the heavens and earth—these three elements must merge to form the key to a sword's spiritual essence!" the old man continued, revealing his opinion.

He looked at Xu Qing and said in a slightly gentler tone: "Although this sword has no innate spirit, if it encounters a true master and is tempered by the blood and fire of the martial world, it may well develop its own spirit by chance."

He did not completely deny the sword Xu Qing had forged; on the contrary, he placed high hopes on it: "Truly a promising young man. At such a young age, you have already forged such a divine blade. I am old and frail, and have traveled the world, hoping only that I may live to see you forge a truly peerless divine sword!"

His eyes burned with an almost devout yearning. For martial arts heroes, a sword manual is a list; for a swordsman, it is the answer he has been searching for his entire life.

Their appreciation of swords and their inclusion of them in sword manuals is a way of recording their own lives.

"May I ask your name, sir?"

Xu Qing then asked the old man.

“I am Feng Hu!” the old man replied in a deep voice.

“Feng Hu…” Xu Qing knew immediately; it was indeed him.

With such skill in swordsmanship, who else but the renowned Feng Hu Zi lineage could achieve such mastery?

The first generation of Feng Hu Zi was a master swordsmith of the Spring and Autumn Period. He assisted Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang in forging the three swords Longyuan, Tai'a, and Gongbu. His descendants inherited his mantle and passed it down from generation to generation. Only the strongest person in the current era can be crowned with the name Feng Hu.

The sword manual that has long been famous throughout the land and has attracted many swordsmen to pursue it was created by Feng Hu Zi.

"If I wish to take this a step further and forge that spirit-infused sword, what should I do?" Xu Qing asked eagerly after learning the old man's identity.

When Feng Hu Zi mentioned the method of nurturing the spirit after birth, he also thought of Han Fei's inviolable scale.

It is said that its sword spirit was transformed from the previous generation's most powerful sword master.

However, what he sought was not the so-called sword spirit, but a method for advancement, a way to forge a fourth-tier sword.

He simply filled in whatever was lacking in the fourth-tier sword.

"This method..." Feng Hu Zi slowly shook his head, a profound look appearing on his gaunt face. "I have no established method to impart. I only know that the ancient master craftsmen, in order to forge a sword, traversed countless mountains and rivers. What they sought was not only unparalleled talent, but also a place where the sword-forging mechanism was in harmony with the energy of heaven and earth."

"Then, by pouring out all his heart and soul, and by combining the right time, the right place, and the right people, the divine sword was born!"

Because of Xu Qing's sword, and also because of Xu Qing's youth.

Feng Hu Zi broke with tradition and shared all his insights and observations from decades of sword appraisal with Xu Qing.

Xu Qing, on the other hand, remained extremely humble, listening quietly to the other person's story without interrupting.

Even though he gained corresponding forging skills with each upgrade in the system, he transformed these skills into experience through countless trials and tribulations, and thoroughly mastered these abilities.

However, Xu Qing did not underestimate the swordsmiths who already existed in this world because of this.

It should be noted that there are still some special swords in this world that Xu Qing is unable to forge.

“In the future, if you obtain a famous sword…” Feng Hu Zi’s tone suddenly changed, and he revealed the name of a secluded place, sparks flying from his withered eyes, “you can come here to find me.”

His meaning clearly indicated that he had high hopes for Xu Qing.

We look forward to Xu Qing forging a divine sword that surpasses those of the ancients.

Xu Qing nodded in agreement, then suddenly looked up and asked, "Can my sword be included in the sword manual?"

Feng Hu Zi was taken aback, then burst into laughter, his voice shaking Liang Chen: "He should be included in the genealogy!"

The previous harsh criticism was based on comparing this sword to the legendary swordsman Ou Ye and Gan Jiang. However, compared to contemporary weapons, this sword's sharpness should have already pierced through silk.

"If I am to be included in the sword manual," Xu Qing said, looking at Feng Hu Zi, and made his request, "please keep my full name hidden."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Feng Hu Zi's eyes: "Fear of fame is a burden?"

"Yes, after all, sometimes being too famous can be a problem."

Xu Qing appeared extremely calm.

Chapter 109 Before Parting

Feng Hu Zi did not stay in Qianlong Hall for long.

The swords I saw on this trip, while not entirely satisfactory, were still quite good. More importantly, I met a very young swordsmith.

He firmly believed that as long as Xu Qing could continue down that path...

Ultimately, they were able to forge an unparalleled divine sword, unmatched throughout history.

On the contrary, he is already old and frail, and it is uncertain whether he will be able to live to see that day.

Even so, that expectation still flickered quietly in his heart like a spark.

Xu Qing escorted Feng Huzi to the outside of the reception room.

As soon as he stepped out the door, Situ Wanli quickly came to greet him. His eyes were sharp as hooks, and he quickly scanned the old man's body. Seeing that the old man was unharmed, his tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Businessmen believe that harmony brings wealth, and violence and bloodshed are ultimately the worst choice.

"Brother, you two..." Situ Wanli leaned closer to Xu Qing, lowered his voice, and eagerly wanted to find out what the two were talking about next.

Xu Qing had no intention of explaining, but simply bowed to the departing figure of the old man and said, "Take care, senior."

Feng Hu nodded slightly, his withered hands gripping his cane tightly. His figure blended into the streets and alleys, coming and going quietly, leaving no ripples.

Once the figure had completely disappeared, Xu Qing turned to Situ Wanli and revealed the old man's identity.

"He is Feng Hu Zi."

"What?!" Situ Wanli's body trembled violently, the color draining from his face instantly, his shock palpable. "He's Feng Hu Zi? That renowned sword appraiser?"

The sword manual was extremely famous throughout the world. Since Situ Wanli partnered with Xu Qing to sell swords, he had naturally read the sword manual and knew about the many famous swords listed in it. He would occasionally compare the swords forged by Xu Qing with the famous swords in the manual.

In his mind, the only thing Xu Qing's sword lacked was fame.

In terms of sheer magnificence and power, it is no less impressive than the swords described in the sword manual.

He never expected that the gaunt old man he had neglected was actually the one who drafted the sword manual.

Feng Hu Zi actually came to Qianlong Hall to appraise swords.

No wonder the chivalrous leader recommended this person, and no wonder the old man was so critical when faced with those sharp swords.

This is simply because Feng Hu Zi had seen far too many famous swords in his lifetime.

“Feng Hu Zi has come to inquire about swords, so, brother, what about your sword…” Situ Wanli’s breathing quickened as he caught a glimpse of thunder.

"Once the sword manual is updated, I will surely be listed among its ranks." Xu Qing's tone was calm, without a trace of pride, as if he were stating a trivial matter that was taken for granted.

For Situ Wanli, this was a piece of earth-shattering good news.