229: Chapter 229: The Great Wilderness Blade is Finally Forged and a New Journey Begins

Shen Xiaochuan placed the terminal on the table, the copper gear pendant resting silently beside it, reflecting the faint light filtering in from the window. He didn't look at the scar on his arm, nor did he drink any water. He knew he couldn't sleep tonight; there were things to do tomorrow.

At dawn, the transport convoy outside the city was already prepared. Fifty crates of exotic beast corpses were loaded into specialized refrigeration compartments, each crate affixed with an official runic tag from Skydome City. Shen Xiaochuan wore a dark blue work uniform, the copper gear on his cuff polished to a shine. He stood beside the first armored vehicle, hand resting on the railing, his voice steady and strong: "Depart."

The convoy slowly drove out of the city defense zone, heading towards the Sacrificial Altar along the main road to the north. People who saw the convoy along the way stopped to watch. Some recognized Shen Xiaochuan leading the team and began to whisper.

"Isn't that the team that returned yesterday? I heard they brought back fifty exotic beast corpses."

"More than that, it seems they're going to make a sacrifice to exchange for blueprints... Is it for that blade?"

"The great desolation blade? I heard people from the Forging Workshop mention it, saying it's an extremely powerful weapon."

The convoy arrived at the outskirts of the Sacrificial Altar. A towering stone altar stood on the barren plain, ancient runes carved all around it, with a Dark blue flame burning in the center. The Evil Sheep Priest, cloaked in black, stood nearby and said in a low voice: "You've come."

"I've brought the goods." Shen Xiaochuan jumped out of the car and walked to the first crate, inputting the password to unlock it. The moment the lid was lifted, cold air mixed with a strong bloody scent rushed out. Inside the crate was a Frost Giant Wolf, its fur gleaming with cold light, its fangs showing broken marks from battle.

One by one, all fifty exotic beast corpses were taken out and neatly arranged below the altar. Each one had been registered, with clearly visible runes. The Evil Sheep Priest circled them once, lightly touched the forehead of a Mammoth, closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded: "The purity is sufficient, the quantity is correct. We can begin."

He returned to the center of the altar, raised his arms, and began to chant a spell. The runes on the ground lit up one by one, contracting from the outside in, finally converging into the central fire pit. The flames suddenly turned red, soaring upwards to form a rotating red pillar of light. Amidst the swirling smoke, a scroll slowly drifted down.

Shen Xiaochuan reached out and took it; it felt heavy in his hand, its material neither paper nor cloth, but more like some ancient beast hide. He unrolled the scroll, revealing intricate structural diagrams, process descriptions, and a list of Materials. At the very top were five large characters: "The great desolation blade - Complete Diagram."

"It's done," he murmured.

The Evil Sheep Priest withdrew his magic, his figure swaying slightly, clearly having expended a great deal of energy. "This blade requires nine rare Materials, thirty-six processes, and seven quenchings. Any missing Materials can be exchanged for with blueprints, but the final tempering must be completed by the wielder of the blade himself."

Shen Xiaochuan carefully put away the blueprint, his tone firm: "I know."

The convoy turned around and returned to Skydome City, heading for the Forging Workshop in the east of the city. This was the largest weapon manufacturing center in the entire city, with its furnaces burning year-round and over thirty experienced old craftsmen working in shifts, specialized in forging weapons for deities. Shen Xiaochuan had already given orders for all craftsmen to be on standby.

At noon, the convoy arrived. Fifty crates of exotic beast corpses were stored in the warehouse for future use, and Shen Xiaochuan, holding the blueprint, headed directly to the main forging room. More than ten craftsmen were already waiting at the door, led by an old craftsman with a full beard named Li Tiechui, who had been in the trade for forty years, his hands covered in burn scars.

"God Shen, are you really going to forge the great desolation blade?" His voice carried a hint of doubt.

"The blueprint is here." Shen Xiaochuan spread the scroll on the workbench. "Follow it. I'll provide whatever's missing."

Li Tiechui leaned in for a closer look, his eyes widening with each detail. "Starfall Iron for the blade's spine, Earth Core Flame Crystal melted into the blade body... We've never even seen these Materials!"

Shen Xiaochuan opened the Faith Mall interface, his fingertips sliding quickly. Several items appeared on the screen: [Starfall Iron × 10 units]: 27,000 faith points; [Earth Core Flame Crystal × 5 units]: 39,000 faith points; [Void Copper Wire × 3 rolls]: 18,000 faith points; [Molten Core Sand × 20 jin]: 12,000 faith points.

He checked and confirmed. A flash of light appeared before his eyes, and several Materials materialized on the workbench: a block of pitch-black metal ingot, a cluster of crimson crystals, several rolls of silver fine wire, and a bag of steaming hot sand.

The craftsmen stood frozen in place.

"This... it's just here?"

"Don't just stand there." Shen Xiaochuan pushed the Materials over. "Start immediately. I won't leave, and neither can you."

No one spoke again. They immediately divided the work, raising the furnace temperature, adjusting the forging hammer, and making molds. Starfall Iron was extremely difficult to process; its hardness meant ordinary hammer blows had no effect. Shen Xiaochuan personally stepped in, putting on the "Gravity Amplification Gloves" he had exchanged from the mall. With one swing of the hammer, sparks flew. It took thirty consecutive swings to achieve the initial shape.

On the first night, the forging room was brightly lit. The high temperature made everyone sweat profusely; some collapsed from heatstroke, rested briefly, then returned to their posts. Blood seeped from Shen Xiaochuan's bandaged right arm, but he never stopped, closely monitoring every change in temperature.

On the morning of the second day, the blade blank was initially formed. On the afternoon of the third day, the Earth Core Flame Crystal was embedded, and dark golden patterns appeared on the blade body. In the early morning of the fourth day, it entered the final quenching stage.

"Are you ready?" Li Tiechui wiped the ash from his face. "Only after this step is passed can it truly be considered successful."

"Begin." Shen Xiaochuan stood by the quenching pool. The liquid in the pool, a mixture of three rare herbs and Molten Core Sand, glowed purple and constantly bubbled.

He placed the semi-finished great desolation blade into the high-temperature furnace to heat. Ten minutes later, the blade body was glowing red like molten lava. He put on heat-resistant gloves, took out the blade, and quickly walked towards the quenching pool.

"Everyone back!" he shouted sharply.

The next second, the blade tip touched the liquid.

Sizzle—!

A loud bang erupted, steam spewed forth, and two steel plates on the roof were blown off. The purple liquid violently churned, black smoke rose, forming a huge vortex. The blade vibrated intensely in the pool, struggling as if it had a life of its own.

Shen Xiaochuan gripped the hilt tightly, not letting it slip from his hand. For a full five minutes, the vibration gradually subsided. He slowly lifted the blade from the pool.

At that moment, everyone held their breath.

The blade was four feet seven inches long, three fingers wide, with a thick spine and an edge as thin as a cicada's wing. Its entire body was a blend of dark gold and black, with natural-looking golden patterns winding across its surface. The hilt was wrapped in silver fine wire, and an energy core, faintly shimmering, was embedded at the end.

Li Tiechui murmured, "It's done, it's really done."

Shen Xiaochuan remained silent. He raised the blade and gently swung it. The air shrieked, and a ripple shot out, cleanly severing an iron wall ten meters away, the cut as smooth as a mirror.

The forging room fell silent.

A few seconds later, one craftsman was the first to kneel. Then, one by one, all the craftsmen bowed their heads, kneeling on one knee. This was not submission to a person, but reverence for a true divine weapon.

Shen Xiaochuan sheathed the blade and turned to walk out. Before leaving, he looked back at the group of men, their faces covered in soot, their hands scarred, and said: "Thank you. Material fees and wages will be deposited within three days. Those willing to stay will belong to my Divine Realm Forging Camp from now on, and their treatment will be doubled."

No one responded, but their eyes were already different.

Shen Xiaochuan walked out of the Forging Workshop, where the morning light was just appearing. The dawn glow spread across the streets; the city had not yet fully awakened. He did not go home, but instead headed directly to the highest city wall of Skydome City.

The city guards recognized him and immediately cleared the path. He ascended the steps one by one, his steps steady, his breathing even. As he reached the top, the wind blew against his face, lifting the corners of his clothes and his hair.

He drew the great desolation blade, holding it horizontally in his hand.

Sunlight fell on the blade, reflecting a dazzling glare. At that instant, the entire city seemed to be startled. Guards in distant watchtowers looked up and gazed, street vendors at the morning market stopped their movements, and even patrolling mechanical sentinels paused their operations, all their lenses turning towards him.

The light lasted for several seconds, then gradually dissipated.

Shen Xiaochuan did not sheath the blade. He stood there, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. There were only mountain shadows and mist intertwined. But he knew that something was quietly approaching.

Not an enemy, nor a war.

It was a change, destined to come.

He looked down at the blade in his hand, then gently stroked the copper gear on his cuff. One was power exchanged for fifty corpses, the other an old item left by his parents. One symbolized the present, the other carried the past.

He once didn't understand why he had to forge this blade. Now he finally understood—it wasn't for killing, but to make others dare not lay a hand on him.

The wind grew stronger, making his clothes flap loudly. He remained standing still, as if nailed to the city wall.

Someone below the city pointed at his figure.

"Is that God Shen?"

"What is he looking at?"

"I don't know... but from bringing back corpses yesterday to forging a divine weapon this morning, I feel like something big is about to happen."

"Perhaps... a new era is about to begin."

Shen Xiaochuan heard these words, but did not look back. He simply slowly slid the blade into its sheath, making a crisp "click" sound.

Then he lifted his foot and took a step forward.

His left foot hung in the air, his right foot firmly planted on the city wall.

The wind ruffled his hair.

His eyes remained fixed on the distance.

(The End)