Weapon Forge.
Located in the southern part of the outer city, the Weapon Forge was a bustling place.
As Jiang Ning approached, he could hear the clanging of metal being forged.
The forge was large, with wide-open doors.
Standing at the entrance, one could hear the sounds of iron being hammered in the backyard.
Jiang Ning had some knowledge about the Weapon Forge.
From what he knew, the standard-issue long swords used by the county constables and the weapons of the City Gate Division all came from this forge.
As a result, the forge employed many people.
Many families, hoping to provide their children with a stable livelihood, would sell their children to the forge as servants when they were around twelve or thirteen years old.
They would spend three years doing odd jobs and another three years as apprentices before they could truly learn the craft.
This was the typical path to becoming a qualified blacksmith.
With a steady influx of young workers, the forge had grown larger and more prosperous over time.
Moreover, joining the forge also offered ordinary families the opportunity to learn martial arts.
If a young person showed talent in martial arts, they would receive training from the forge.
This was another path to success.
Thus, even though it required selling oneself to the forge for several years, it remained an attractive option for many ordinary families.
At this moment, Jiang Ning arrived at the forge.
The area was bustling with people coming and going, far more lively than the entrance of Wanhua Tower.
After all, ordinary people also needed to purchase iron tools.
Whether it was sickles, axes, or small items like chopping knives, the forge sold them all.
Jiang Ning stepped inside.
A young servant, noticing Jiang Ning, quickly approached.
Having worked here for a long time, he could easily identify customers with purchasing power.
Jiang Ning, carrying a sword and walking with steady steps, exuded an air of confidence.
It was clear at a glance that he was a martial artist.
In the eyes of this young servant, martial artists were always good customers.
After all, without a certain level of wealth, it was difficult for ordinary people to practice martial arts.
The constant need for supplements and meat alone made martial arts a costly pursuit.
Ordinary families might only have meat during festivals, so how could they afford to train in martial arts?
Without proper nutrition, practicing martial arts for three to five months would ruin one's health.
For this reason, the young servant believed that anyone who practiced martial arts must come from a well-off family.
And well-off families naturally had good spending power.
"Sir, may I ask what kind of weapon you're looking for?" the servant asked, bowing slightly.
Jiang Ning replied, "I need a good, reliable blade."
"That's simple!" The servant's face lit up with pride. "When it comes to good blades, our forge has plenty. I'm sure you'll leave satisfied."
He then added, "Please follow me, sir!"
"Alright," Jiang Ning nodded.
The two soon arrived at a rack of weapons.
"Sir, please try these. They're all made from high-quality iron, with razor-sharp edges capable of cutting hair with a single stroke."
Jiang Ning picked up a long sword at random.
"Swish"
He drew the blade from its sheath.
Then, with another "swish," he sheathed it again.
"Too light," Jiang Ning shook his head. "These are probably below the hundred-fold forged level, right?"
"You have a keen eye, sir!" The servant nodded repeatedly. "These are all hundred-fold forged weapons, meticulously crafted by our masters."
Jiang Ning shook his head again. "Don't waste my time. Hundred-fold forged weapons are too light for me and completely useless. Take me to see better blades."
Hearing this, the young servant's eyes widened in surprise.
As someone who worked at the forge, he knew a lot about weapons.
Hundred-fold forged weapons were more than sufficient for martial artists who had just reached the ninth rank.
Yet this young man, who appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen years old, dismissed them as a waste of time.
They were too light for him.
What level of strength did he possess?
The servant couldn't help but wonder.
Then, he said, "Very well, sir. Please follow me."
With that, he led Jiang Ning to the neighboring shop.
As Jiang Ning stepped inside, the sound of hammering grew louder.
"Sir, take a look at these weapons. They're all made from three to five hundred-fold forged iron."
Jiang Ning's interest was piqued.
He walked over to the weapon rack and picked up a long sword.
As soon as the sword was in his hand, he could sense its dimensions and weight.
It was four feet three inches long and weighed fifty-three pounds.
Jiang Ning drew the blade.
"Swish"
A cold light flashed in the room.
Jiang Ning swung the sword casually.
In an instant, the room was filled with the gleam of the blade, and a strong gust of wind swept through.
The servant, seeing this, was visibly shocked and quickly stepped back.
He couldn't help but feel astonished.
He knew this sword well.
It was a five hundred and thirty-seven-fold forged weapon, one of the finest blades in the shop.
Among the swords here, it was also one of the heaviest, weighing fifty-three pounds.
Only a martial artist at the eighth rank, the Divine Strength Realm, could wield such a weapon with ease.
But even for such experts, wielding a sword of this weight for an extended period would be exhausting.
Moreover, while sword techniques emphasized dominance and forward momentum, they still relied heavily on skill.
True brute-force techniques were rare.
If one truly possessed immense strength, one would likely choose heavier weapons like clubs, hammers, or spears.
Thus, despite its excellent quality, this sword had remained unsold for many years.
Reaching the ninth rank of martial arts was a step-by-step process.
Achieving skin as tough as stone was difficult, and achieving skin as tough as bronze was even harder.
Each step brought significant improvements, but each step was also incredibly challenging, requiring years of effort to achieve.
As a result, there weren't many eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm experts in Luoshui County.
And even fewer who used swords.
Especially such heavy swords.
After a few moments, Jiang Ning stopped testing the sword.
He wasn't even slightly out of breath, and the fifty-three-pound sword seemed weightless in his hand.
He hefted it a few more times, feeling its weight.
Then, he shook his head slightly.
"Fifty-three pounds is suitable for an ordinary eighth-rank martial artist with around fifteen hundred pounds of strength."
"After all, if it were any heavier, the physical strain would be too much, even for a typical Divine Strength Realm expert."
"But I'm different. I don't fear prolonged battles, and my fighting style relies on ending battles in a few strikes. So, the heavier the sword, the better for me."
"Moreover, my strength is increasing rapidly. It won't be long before my strength surpasses two thousand, even three thousand pounds."
With this in mind, Jiang Ning sheathed the sword.
Then, he asked, "Do you have any heavier blades?"
"This one isn't heavy enough?" The servant looked at him in shock.
Jiang Ning shook his head slightly. "Not quite. It's still a bit too light. Ideally, I'd like something twice as heavy, or even heavier."
Hearing this, the servant stared at Jiang Ning in disbelief.
Among martial artists, the amount of strength one possessed was a clear indicator of their overall power.
Generally, someone with a thousand pounds of strength would use a sword or blade weighing thirty to forty pounds.
Anything heavier would hinder their performance, making their movements clumsy and draining their stamina.
Yet this five hundred and thirty-fold forged blade weighed fifty-three pounds.
Even an eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm expert wouldn't consider this sword light.
But Jiang Ning had just said it was still too light.
This left the servant utterly shocked.
He knew exactly what this implied.
Moreover, Jiang Ning had just wielded the sword with ease, proving that he wasn't exaggerating.
"Is this man a top-tier expert in the Divine Strength Realm?"
With this thought, the servant swallowed hard and said, "Sir, please wait a moment. The sword you're holding is the heaviest one we have here."
"If you're looking for something better, I don't have the authority to show you. I'll need to consult the manager."
Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded. "No problem. Go ahead."
"Very well, sir!" The servant bowed and then hurried off.
Jiang Ning placed the sword back on the rack and then tested a few other blades nearby.
After swinging them a few times, he confirmed that the previous sword was indeed the heaviest.
The other swords he tried didn't exceed fifty pounds, with most weighing only twenty to thirty pounds.
This weight was suitable for ninth-rank martial artists, though it might still feel cumbersome.
Then, Jiang Ning walked over to the rack of heavy weapons.
Picking up a pair of giant hammers, he couldn't help but marvel.
"So heavy!"
"Probably around a hundred and fifty pounds."
"What kind of destructive power could these unleash with a single strike?"
"An ordinary person would be turned into paste!"
With that, he gripped the hammers and began swinging them.
"Whoosh"
In an instant, the air around him howled like a storm.
A strong gust of wind swept through the room.
At the same time, a burly man over two meters tall, with muscles like iron blocks, entered the room.
His skin was as dark as charcoal.
As he walked, he wiped his hands with a towel.
Then, he saw Jiang Ning swinging the hammers.
His eyes widened in shock.
"This strength... it must be over fifteen hundred pounds!!!"
"When did Luoshui County produce such a young prodigy?!"
The servant following closely behind him was equally stunned as if he had seen a ghost.
At this moment, Jiang Ning noticed the two newcomers and stopped his movements.
"That felt great!!"
Feeling his body warmed up, his blood flowing faster, and a light sweat on his forehead, Jiang Ning felt invigorated.
"I'm Yang Kai, the deputy manager of the Weapon Forge," the towering man said, introducing himself.
Then, he asked, "May I ask where you're from, young man?"
Jiang Ning was slightly surprised.
He had heard of Yang Kai before.
Yang Kai was an eighth-rank martial artist and the deputy manager of the Weapon Forge.
With both strength and status, he was a prominent figure in Luoshui County, wielding considerable influence.
Jiang Ning replied, "I'm Jiang Ning, a disciple of the Canglang Martial Arts School."
"Jiang Ning?" Yang Kai looked at him with surprise. "So you're Jiang Ning?"
"You've heard of me?" Jiang Ning asked curiously.
Yang Kai chuckled. "It's hard not to have heard of you. After all, Manager Shen was transferred out of Luoshui County because of you."
Then, Yang Kai looked at Jiang Ning and sighed. "No wonder Manager Shen was willing to stand up to the Cao family for you. Your talent is truly astonishing!"
Jiang Ning said, "You flatter me, Manager Yang. I just have a bit of strength."
As he spoke, Jiang Ning placed the hammers back on the rack.
Yang Kai examined Jiang Ning closely, noting that he wasn't even slightly out of breath.
Then, he sighed. "No wonder you found that sword too light! Youth truly is a blessing. Your stamina is impressive."
Jiang Ning asked, "Manager Yang, does the forge have any better blades?"
Yang Kai smiled confidently. "Of course we do! But such weapons aren't measured in money."
"What do they require, then?" Jiang Ning asked.
Yang Kai replied, "As the saying goes, a precious blade is meant for a hero. Its owner must not disgrace the weapon."
Jiang Ning asked, "Do I qualify as a hero?"
"You?" Yang Kai looked him up and down. "For now, I'll say yes."
Then, he said, "Follow me."
With that, Yang Kai walked over to a wall.
He pressed on a seemingly ordinary brick.
"Rumble"
A low sound echoed as a thick stone brick slowly slid out.
On the brick was a clear indentation.
Yang Kai took out a token from his pocket, placed it in the indentation, and pressed down firmly.
"Rumble"
The ground shook slightly.
As the vibrations subsided, several thick bricks in the center of the room slowly opened, revealing a dark underground passage.
Yang Kai said, "This is where we keep the truly exceptional items."
"In my career, I've crafted ten pieces that I'm particularly proud of, and they're all stored down here."
As he spoke, Yang Kai descended the stairs into the passage.
Just as his figure disappeared into the darkness
"Whoosh"
"Whoosh"
"Whoosh"
Flames suddenly lit up, illuminating the dark passage.
"Do you dare to enter?" Yang Kai turned back and asked.
Jiang Ning gripped the sword in his hand and smiled.
"Why wouldn't I dare?"
With that, he stepped onto the first stair.
Jiang Ning felt no fear toward Yang Kai.
Even if Yang Kai harbored ill intentions, Jiang Ning wasn't worried.
He knew Yang Kai's strength.
At most, he was an ordinary eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm expert, with around fifteen hundred pounds of strength.
This was similar to Jiang Ning's strength.
Even if Yang Kai was hiding some of his power, he likely couldn't exceed two thousand pounds.
With Jiang Ning's current abilities, he could easily defeat Yang Kai in a fight.
In Jiang Ning's view, the only ones who posed a real threat to him now were the top-tier experts in the Divine Strength Realm.
Those with around three thousand pounds of strength.
Such experts, with their immense strength and bronze-like skin, could pose a challenge to him.
Otherwise, with his current strength, even if he faced Tian Buyi again, Jiang Ning was confident he could fight him on equal footing, with the outcome uncertain.
His strength had improved significantly since then.
Not only had his strength increased by three to four hundred pounds, but his Five Animals Fist had also broken through its limits, greatly enhancing his blood energy and physique.
Most importantly, his sword technique had undergone four breakthroughs, allowing him to grasp the concept of "momentum."
With momentum on his side, it was a true qualitative transformation.
In Jiang Ning's estimation, if he were to face his past self from the battle with Tian Buyi, he could defeat that version of himself in just three strikes.
This was the extent of his progress.
His improvement had been nothing short of remarkable.
As Jiang Ning stepped into the passage, Yang Kai nodded slightly and continued leading the way.
The two of them ventured deeper into the underground passage.
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