Legendary Armament Canon Chapter 5

Zhou Shu plunged his crimson blade into the tank of cold well water, engulfing the entire work shed in white steam.

The blade sliced through the air with a subtle sound as he flicked his wrist.

Zhou Shu gazed at the long saber in his hand, an expression of satisfaction gracing his features.

He had forged a new one after his previous sharp standard long saber was ruined. This time, he meticulously tracked the forging duration.

The complete forging process was concluded in a mere two hours.

Previously, crafting a sharp standard saber would have demanded at least six hours!

Having mastered the first level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, his weapon forging efficiency had surged threefold!

Most significantly, forging a sharp standard long blade used to leave him utterly exhausted, necessitating a prolonged break from smithing before he could resume. This time, however, he felt no fatigue whatsoever. Even if another sharp standard long saber were required, he was confident his stamina would prove sufficient.

Zhou Shu was overjoyed.

Consequently, fulfilling the Forging Division’s monthly task had become considerably easier.

To complete his monthly quota, he now only needed to dedicate four to six hours daily to forging. Wouldn’t the remainder of the day be perfect for relaxation?

A sharp rap on the door jolted Zhou Shu from his reverie.

Zhou Shu’s brow furrowed slightly.

He subconsciously cast a glance at the corpse of the tall, thin man in the corner, lamenting that he had yet to dispose of the body.

Zhou Shu adopted a defensive posture, yet he neither panicked nor displayed fear. He was no longer the same person from the previous night, despite the brief passage of time. Wielding a sharp standard long saber and having mastered the first level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, he felt capable of confronting ten regular Forging Apprentices!

Zhou Shu opened the door a crack, concealing the sharp standard long saber behind him.

“What time is it already? Still sleeping? Why did it take you so long to open the door?” Xiao Zongshui reprimanded as soon as the entrance swung open.

Zhou Shu silently cursed.

“Why are you here, Superintendent?” Zhou Shu inquired directly, feigning ignorance of Xiao Zongshui’s criticism.

Xiao Zongshui offered no verbal response, instead striding directly through the doorway and into Zhou Shu’s work shed.

Zhou Shu recoiled in alarm. The corpse of the tall, thin man remained. Had he anticipated Xiao Zongshui’s arrival today, he would have incinerated the body!

His mind raced as he prepared to address Xiao Zongshui’s potential inquiries.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Zongshui merely cast a cursory glance at the corpse before redirecting his attention to Zhou Shu’s newly forged saber.

“Hand it over!” Xiao Zongshui commanded.

Zhou Shu paused, momentarily stunned, before stammering, “What?”

“The saber!” Xiao Zongshui replied impatiently.

“Oh… okay.” Without hesitation, Zhou Shu relinquished the sharp standard long saber he held.

Had it been anyone else, Zhou Shu would not have surrendered the saber so readily.

However, this was his superior, the undisputed local overlord of the 97th Workshop. Whether Zhou Shu possessed the saber or not was inconsequential if the man decided to end his life.

Xiao Zongshui brought the saber down in a swift arc. The blade gleamed momentarily as the sharp standard long saber struck Zhou Shu’s anvil.

With a soft thud, the two-foot-square anvil was cleaved in two.

Zhou Shu stared, momentarily speechless, at the clean cut.

Having forged the sharp standard long saber himself, he was intimately aware of its capabilities. For an ordinary individual wielding the saber, cleaving through three layers of armor would represent the pinnacle of its effectiveness; the wielder’s strength dictated their capacity to cut through iron as easily as mud.

Having achieved the first level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, his own strength had increased substantially compared to before. Although he had exerted his full might the previous night, he had only managed to sever a portion of the anvil. Xiao Zongshui’s casual swing, however, had bisected it entirely.

Zhou Shu had long harbored suspicions that Xiao Zongshui was no ordinary individual. Now, it was evident that he possessed a strength at least surpassing his own.

“The sharpness of this saber is unparalleled among standard weapons. Its sturdiness, however…” Xiao Zongshui trailed off, his brow furrowed.

As he spoke, the long saber in his grasp snapped in two.

Zhou Shu felt a pang of loss; he had sacrificed sleep to forge it!

His intention had been to keep it for self-defense!

“The Superintendent speaks the truth,” Zhou Shu murmured, inwardly cursing the exploitative Xiao.

Zhou Shu was acutely aware of the deficiency Xiao Zongshui had identified. A sharp standard long saber boasted significantly enhanced sharpness compared to a regular long saber, but its sturdiness was merely adequate, susceptible to breakage if subjected to forceful blows.

It was a trade-off, after all. This was, in essence, still a standard long saber.

“However, crafting such a razor-sharp standard long saber with the current materials won't be a simple task,” Xiao Zongshui continued, his voice laced with contemplation. “Zhou Shu, prepare yourself to accompany me.”

Without granting Zhou Shu any time to respond, Xiao Zongshui discarded the fractured saber he held and departed with his hands clasped behind his back.

Just as his foot crossed the threshold, he paused abruptly. “See to the disposal of the corpse. Do not leave it lingering here. In one hour, come find me.”

Xiao Zongshui then slowly walked away, his silhouette fading into the distance.

Notably, Xiao Zongshui had not inquired about the identity of the deceased tall, thin man, nor the reason for his demise within Zhou Shu’s humble workshop, nor even who was responsible for his death.

Despite the fact that the tall, thin man had met his end by Zhou Shu’s hand, a profound sense of sorrow welled up within him.

A life was extinguished so casually, and no one sought to uncover the truth behind it.

Zhou Shu was once again acutely reminded of the unforgiving nature of this world.

?Zhou Shu felt a premonition of danger.

He had only managed to achieve the first level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique; his ability for self-preservation was woefully inadequate!

As the superintendent of the 97th Workshop, Xiao Zongshui wielded authority akin to a supreme ruler within its confines. He had no need to conceal his intentions from Zhou Shu, nor did he need to employ any pretense if harm was what he wished to inflict.

Reflecting on Xiao Zongshui’s every action, Zhou Shu came to the realization that being summoned by him might not necessarily signify impending doom.

After a brief period of contemplation, his attention settled upon the body of the tall, thin man.

Xiao Zongshui had instructed him to handle the disposal of the corpse. But how exactly was he supposed to accomplish this task?

?It seemed an insurmountable challenge…

This very furnace would be required for his forging endeavors in the future. How could he possibly utilize it after it had been used to incinerate a body?

The mere thought sent a shiver of unease down Zhou Shu’s spine. Could he truly find peace if a corpse lay buried within his courtyard?

As these thoughts occupied his mind, a group of laborers suddenly appeared in his courtyard and entered without a word. They efficiently lifted the corpse of the tall, thin man and departed.

Zhou Shu made no move to stop them, instead releasing a sigh of relief. It appeared Xiao Zongshui was a man of considerable foresight, arranging for his workers to manage the body's removal.

With this significant concern resolved, Zhou Shu proceeded to wash his face and made his way towards Xiao Zongshui’s quarters.