Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

Chapter 142: Chapter 62: A Precious Sword Given to a Hero_2

Every step up was a great leap, and because of that, each step was difficult. Ordinary people needed to grind away tirelessly to achieve such progress.

Therefore, Luoshui County boasted few at the Eighth Grade Divine Power Realm.

Those who used swords were even rarer.

Let alone a sword of such heaviness.

A few breaths later,

Jiang Ning ceased his sword-testing action.

At this moment, his face remained unflushed and his breathing steady. The fifty-three taels heavy long sword in his hand seemed as light as nothing.

He weighed it a few more times, feeling the heft of the weapon in his hand.

Then he shook his head secretly.

“Fifty-three taels, for an ordinary Martial Artist at Eighth Grade with more than one thousand five hundred taels of strength, indeed, it could be considered fitting, comfortable to use.”

“After all, if it were any heavier, the physical exertion would be too great. Even an average Eighth Grade at the Divine Power Realm would feel burdened.”

“But I am different, I don’t fear prolonged battles, and my fighting style relies on deciding the victory with a few blows. Therefore, the heavier my sword, the better.”

“Moreover, my strength is rapidly increasing now. It won’t be long before my strength breaks through two thousand taels, three thousand taels.”

At this thought,

Jiang Ning sheathed his sword.

He then spoke, “Do you have a heavier treasure sword?”

“This isn’t heavy enough?” asked the boy, his face showing an astonished expression.

Jiang Ning shook his head slightly,”Not enough! It’s still somewhat light. Ideally, I would prefer something twice as heavy, or even heavier if possible.”

Hearing these words, the boy looked at Jiang Ning with an expression of horror.

Among martial artists,

The extent of one’s strength typically reflected their overall power.

Generally speaking, those with strength of a thousand taels wielded swords and sabers weighing around thirty to forty taels.

Any heavier would be detrimental to performance.

It would appear clumsy and greatly consume physical strength.

Yet, this treasure sword forged five hundred and thirty times weighed fifty-three taels.

For a Martial Artist of the Eighth Grade Divine Power Realm visiting this place, they wouldn’t say that the sword was light.

Jiang Ning now claimed that the sword was still too light.

This astonished the boy greatly.

He naturally understood what this implied.

And since Jiang Ning had just managed to wield the sword freely, this also proved that Jiang Ning was not bragging.

“Could this man be a strong figure amongst those at the Eighth Grade Divine Power Realm?”

With this thought,

The boy swallowed hard, and then said, “Sir, please wait a moment. The sword in your hands is already the heaviest one we have here.”

“To find a better sword, I would need to seek permission, as I don’t have the authority. I must report to the shopkeeper first.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ning nodded, “No problem, go ahead!”

“Of course, sir!” The boy nodded and bowed before he turned and trotted away.

Jiang Ning returned the long sword to the weapon rack and casually tested a few other swords nearby.

After wielding them, he realized that the one he had first tried indeed was the heaviest.

The few other swords he randomly picked up afterwards did not exceed fifty taels in weight.

The majority weighed merely twenty or thirty taels.

This weight was very handy for a Ninth Grade in Martial Arts, even possibly cumbersome.

Shortly thereafter,

He moved to the rack holding heavy weapons.

Picking up a pair of giant hammers, he couldn’t help but click his tongue.

“So heavy!”

“They must weigh around one hundred and fifty taels.”

“The explosive force of one hammer strike, how terrifying must it be?”

“An ordinary person would likely crush themselves into a meat patty!”

Instantly,

He began to swing the hammers in hand.

Whoo, whoo, whoo—

In an instant,

The sound of wind roared around him, as if ghosts and wolves howled in unity.

The room was engulfed by a sudden gust of wind.

At the same time,

A mighty figure over two meters tall with muscles like iron blocks stepped inside.

His dark, charcoal-like skin glistened.

He walked in, wiping his hands with a towel.

Then,

He saw Jiang Ning swinging the hammers.

A flash of shock crossed his eyes.

“That strength, it must be over fifteen hundred taels!!!”

“When did Luoshui County produce such an outstanding young talent!!”

The boy following close behind him was also scared witless at the sight.

At this moment,

Jiang Ning also noticed the two men and thus halted the movements in his hands.

“So exhilarating!!”

Feeling his body heating up, his blood circulating faster, and a slight sweat forming on his forehead, Jiang Ning felt invigorated by this state.

“I am Yang Kai, deputy manager of the Weapon Forging Shop,” the towering figure spoke after seeing Jiang Ning stop wielding the hammers.

Then he added, “May I know where the young brother is from?”

Upon hearing this, a faint surprise surfaced in Jiang Ning’s heart.

Yang Kai; he had heard a little about him.

Because Yang Kai was a Martial Artist at Eighth Grade.

And a deputy manager of the Weapon Forging Shop.

He possessed both strength and status, making him a significant figure throughout Luoshui County with considerable influence.

Jiang Ning then spoke, “Disciple of Canglang Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Ning!”

“Jiang Ning?” The towering man looked at Jiang Ning with a hint of surprise and a puzzled expression, “So you’re Jiang Ning?”

“Does Manager Yang know me?” Jiang Ning asked curiously.

Yang Kai chuckled, “It’s quite difficult not to have heard of your name! After all, Building Owner Shen was reassigned because of you.”

Subsequently,

Yang Kai, gazing at Jiang Ning, sighed again, “No wonder that Building Owner Shen was willing to oppose the Cao family for your sake. Your talent is indeed frightening!”

Jiang Ning responded, “Manager Yang is too kind. I just have a bit of brute strength!”

While they were talking, Jiang Ning had already placed the two large hammers in his hands back in their proper place.

Yang Kai took a detailed look at Jiang Ning and noticed how his face wasn’t flushed, nor was his heart racing, nor was he out of breath.

He then exclaimed, “No wonder you felt that saber was still too light! Youth is indeed an asset; such physical vigor is marvelous!”

Jiang Ning asked, “Manager Yang, does your Weapon Forging Shop have any better sabers?”

Upon hearing this, Yang Kai couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Then he said with pride, “Of course, we do! However, those kinds of weapons can’t be measured by money.”

“What is needed then?” inquired Jiang Ning.

Yang Kai said, “As the saying goes, a precious sword is gifted to a hero; its owner must not dishonor those weapons.”

Jiang Ning questioned, “Am I considered a hero then?”

“You?” Yang Kai sized up Jiang Ning and said, “Let’s say tentatively.”

Then he suggested, “Come with me.”

Saying that,

Yang Kai walked toward a wall nearby.

He then pushed on what seemed to be an ordinary brick on the wall.

Rumble—

Accompanied by a low sound, a thick slab of bluestone brick slowly popped out.

There was a noticeable dent on the bluestone brick.

Afterward, Yang Kai took out a token from his person, placed it into the indentation of the bluestone brick, and pressed down hard.

Rumble—

A sudden tremor emanated from the ground.

As the trembling sound began, several sturdy bricks in the center of the room slowly opened up.

A dark tunnel was revealed.

Yang Kai said, this is where our Weapon Forging Shop keeps the truly good items.

I’ve forged ten pieces in my life that I’m particularly proud of, all stored below.

As he spoke,

Yang Kai slowly descended the staircase toward the tunnel.

Just as his silhouette vanished into the dark passage,

Boom—

Boom—

Boom—

The sound of fire crackled to life.

The entire dark passage was suddenly illuminated by the light of flames.

“Dare to come in?” Yang Kai looked back and asked.

Jiang Ning gripped the long saber in his hand and then smiled.

“What is there to fear?”

As he spoke, he too took the first step down the staircase.

In his heart, Jiang Ning held little fear toward Yang Kai.

Even if Yang Kai had ill intentions toward him upon entering the tunnel,

He was not afraid.

Because he knew Yang Kai’s strength.

He was just an ordinary practitioner of the Eighth Grade Divine Power Realm.

An ordinary practitioner of the Eighth Grade Divine Power Realm had about a strength of 1,500 taels.

Not much different from his own.

Even if Yang Kai had hidden some strength, it would at most be around 2,000 taels.

A strength of 2,000 taels, under his full range of techniques, he could easily cut him down with his blade.

In Jiang Ning’s view, the one who could pose a genuine threat to him now

Would definitely be a top expert within the Eighth Grade Divine Power Realm.

Possessing an approximate strength of 3,000 taels, these top experts could double his strength.

Combined with a physique as tough as bronze and extraordinary physical resilience, they could pose a certain threat to him.

Otherwise, with his current strength, if he were to face Tian Buyi again,

Jiang Ning was confident that he could fight him on even ground, and the outcome would still be uncertain.

His strength had grown by leaps and bounds since then.

He was much stronger than before.

Not only had his strength increased by three to four hundred taels,

But he had also broken through the limitations of the Five Animals Fist increasing his Qi-Blood and physical prowess significantly.

Especially since he had completed four break limits with his swordsmanship and mastered the Sword Force.

With the addition of force, it was a true qualitative change.

In Jiang Ning’s view, if he were to face off against the version of himself that had fought Tian Buyi now,

He could bring down his past self with no more than three strikes of his saber.

Such was the transformation he had undergone in this short time.

His progress could indeed be described as swift.

Subsequently,

Seeing that Jiang Ning had stepped into the tunnel,

Yang Kai nodded slightly and turned to lead the way forward.

The two continued to delve deeper into the tunnel.