53: Chapter 53: Come, let me show you what "weapon forging" really means.
That mass of fiery-red molten iron hovered in mid-air, roiling and emitting terrifying heat.
Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo and his fellow engineers had spent their whole lives working with steel bars and concrete. They knew better than anyone what kind of temperature was required to melt such a thick rebar into molten iron. In a factory, it would take a steel-smelting furnace at over a thousand degrees and several hours of calcination.
But now, right before their eyes, in just a few seconds, a piece of hard steel rebar had turned into a pool of liquid.
Moreover, it had been melted by a flame that appeared out of thin air!
"Oh my god..." A young engineer couldn't stand any longer and slumped to the ground, muttering to himself, "Is... is this magic? Or has an immortal descended to the mortal world?"
Not just him, but all the engineering personnel present, including the two experienced and knowledgeable chief engineers, Chief Engineer Wang Heshan and Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo, had their brains completely short-circuit. The scene unfolding before them had entirely exceeded the scope of everything they had learned and known in their lives. At this moment, science seemed so pale and powerless.
Although Director Zhao Lixin had long known that Jiang Ning was no ordinary person, his heart couldn't help but race wildly upon seeing this. What he had seen before was Jiang Ning using "immortal methods" for engineering, such as repairing array foundations or drawing out groundwater. While those were miraculous, they could at least be somewhat related to the word "engineering."
But this—creating fire out of thin air, melting steel... this was pure, undisguised "sorcery"!
He subconsciously touched the service pistol at his waist. That cold sensation used to provide him with a full sense of security. But now, for the first time, he felt that this thing might be no different from a fire poker in the face of true power.
As for Dongfang Shuo in the middle of the field, it was no longer shock, but terror.
A primal fear of unknown power that seeped from his very bones.
He had practiced martial arts for over twenty years and considered himself a once-in-a-century genius in the Ancient Martial Arts World. He had seen grandmasters capable of lifting heavy tripods and assassins with ghost-like movement. But he had never seen, nor ever heard of, anyone like the girl before him who could create fire and melt steel with a wave of her hand!
This was no longer in the realm of "martial arts."
This was "immortal arts"!
It was a... legend that only existed in his family's oldest and most tattered records, things that were treated as myths!
"Art... Artifact Refining..." His throat felt dry as he squeezed those words through his teeth.
He had once read in a rare book that Cultivators of ancient times possessed such heaven-defying methods. They could gather spiritual materials from heaven and earth and use Samadhi True Fire to refine Dharma treasures that could destroy the world.
Could it be... that the legends were all true?
While his mind was reeling, Jiang Ning's movements continued.
She looked at the roiling mass of molten iron, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Too many impurities."
She spoke softly, then flicked her finger toward the molten iron.
A wisp of invisible internal energy shot into the molten iron. The mass of iron suddenly boiled, and some dark-gray, oil-like substances were separated from it, then vanished into nothingness with a "sizzle" as they were burned away in the air.
After this, the color of the molten iron became purer and brighter.
Only after finishing this did Jiang Ning seem somewhat satisfied.
She extended her right hand, fingers spread, and made a phantom grasping motion toward the molten iron.
The mass of scorching molten iron, as if gripped by an invisible giant hand, began to rapidly stretch and deform.
First, it was stretched into a long bar, then one end became pointed while the other widened, and a handguard was "pinched" out in the middle.
The prototype of a sword took shape out of thin air right before everyone's eyes!
Everyone held their breath, watching this miraculous scene without blinking.
This was no longer blacksmithing; this was creation!
After the sword's prototype appeared, Jiang Ning's fingers began to move rapidly in the air. Her fingertips, carrying a faint golden glow, left behind a series of profound runes in the air.
As soon as those runes appeared, they automatically flew toward the iron sword that was still radiating high heat, then branded themselves into it and disappeared.
Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo and the others didn't understand what those were; they only felt that the symbols were beautiful and mysterious.
But Dongfang Shuo's scalp tingled at the sight!
"Ar... Array Pattern! Engraving Array Pattern!"
He cried out in shock.
His family's records stated that a true Dharma treasure wasn't just about good materials; more importantly, a master artifact refiner would engrave various powerful arrays inside! For instance, a "Sharpness Array" could make a weapon invincible, while a "Durability Array" could make it indestructible through ten thousand tribulations!
This girl before him... she was actually refining a Dharma treasure!
While he was speaking, Jiang Ning had already completed the engraving of the final rune.
She blew a gentle breath toward the now-formed longsword.
The mass of golden flames enveloping the longsword extinguished instantly.
"Hum—"
A clear, resonant sword cry echoed throughout the field.
A brand-new longsword hovered quietly in front of Jiang Ning.
The sword's design was very primitive, even a bit crude; the original patterns of the rebar could still be seen on the blade. It had no scabbard, nor any ornate decorations.
However, no one present felt it was poorly made in the slightest.
They only felt a wave of sharp, piercing aura rushing toward them!
That aura was ten times more fierce than that of the "sword" sword in Dongfang Shuo's hand!
"Done."
Jiang Ning looked at her creation and nodded with moderate satisfaction.
Although the materials were a bit poor and her technique was a bit rusty, it should be enough to bully a youngster.
She looked at the completely stunned Dongfang Shuo opposite her, pointed at the "sword" sword in his hand, then at the freshly made "rebar sword" in front of her, and said in a flat tone:
"Now, tell me again, how hard is your sword?"