Chapter 140: Uncle Grooming Log! (1/2)
In the cavern, Wang Chong piled up another bunch of pine trees and started another flame.
Different from the one he made for quenching, the flame he created was significantly smaller this time around.
The temperature required for tempering was much lower than quenching, at around 150 degree Celsius. As such, a small flame would suffice.
“Alright, about time!”
Placing his hand above the flame and feeling that it had reached the ideal temperature, Wang Chong placed the quenched saber on top of the flame.
150 degree Celsius was an extremely low temperature, far insufficient to melt Wootz steel. All it was capable of doing was to turn it slightly red.
On top of that, the saber had been quenched, granting it astonishing resilience. Thus, the tempering process was destined to be a lengthy and tiresome one.
If it was in the past, Wang Chong would find it hard to complete the entire tempering process.
However, after reaching Origin Energy Tier 7 and having cultivated Might of the Barbaric God, Wang Chong strength had been boosted tremendously, granting him the power and endurance to finish his work himself.
Boom!
It sounded as though a bolt of lightning had struck the cavern. Swinging a metal hammer, Wang Chong struck heavily on the surface of the blade. The heavy platform trembled beneath Wang Chong’s massive strength, and some dust and debris fell from the ceiling.
Boom!
Once!
Twice!
Thrice!
…
With massive strength, the hammer in Wang Chong’s hands fell again and again. His full might was harnessed for every single strike of the hammer. He paid careful attention to every single movement he made, and he bore great expectations for the product.
The sound of Wang Chong’s hammering sounded ceaselessly in the cavern.
The process of tempering was much longer than quenching, and the tough property of the Wootz steel sword did little to help.
It took an entire day, from sunrise to noon, then on to sunset, until all of the pine trees that he had cut and collected had burned out, for Wang Chong to complete the tempering process.
Standing by the metal platform, sweat flowed down Wang Chong’s body profusely. By now, Wang Chong’s clothes were already completely soaked. In fact, even the ground in a three zhang radius around him was wet. For this saber, Wang Chong had truly put in all of his soul.
(10 meters)
However, Wang Chong felt satisfied and gladdened when he saw the newborn slender-blade thick-blunt saber in his hands.
“Even though I had to spend an entire day on it, it’s worth the effort!”
Wang Chong lifted the saber to take a closer look at it. This saber was elegant and beautiful, and there was an alluring pattern reminiscent of flowing water and floating clouds on it. At the same time, it emanated a cold and merciless aura!
This was a weapon crafted for murder!
However, under Wang Chong’s hands, it became a marvelous art piece as well!
Shua!
Lightly shaking the saber in his hands, the air in the cavern immediately shook, as though it had been cut into countless pieces.
From the lingering illumination from the pine branches, one could see that the sharpness of the slender-blade thick-blunt saber had been brought up to an even more fearsome level!
“This is truly a good saber! A good saber should have its own name. Have you given it some thoughts yet?”
Footsteps sounded from behind. Flinging his robe, Li Zhuxin walked into the cavern. Upon seeing the slender-blade thick-blunt saber in Wang Chong’s hands, ripples appeared in his calm eyes.
“Hehe, I’ve already decided on it. It shall be called Death’s Abyss!”
Wang Chong smiled.
“Death’s Abyss? That’s a good name! If only I knew that you were capable of forging such incredible weapons, I would have used my employment term to trade for this saber!”
Li Zhuxin couldn’t tear his eyes away from the Death’s Abyss in Wang Chong’s hands.
Even though he wasn’t a saber user, he couldn’t help but feel fond of it, and a desire to possess it welled up within him.
“Hehe, even if you want it, I won’t agree to it!”
Wang Chong chuckled lightly.
This Death’s Abyss had taken two jun of Hyderabad ore to forge. If it was just an ordinary Wootz steel weapon, it would already be worth at least eighty thousand gold taels. On top of that, this weapon was much stronger than the previous few blades that Wang Chong had forged, having being tempered by the technology that Wang Chong possessed exclusively.
(Two jun ~ 26kg)
Wang Chong estimated its price to be above that of a hundred thousand gold taels!
This was far beyond the hiring price of Li Zhuxin. It was the epitome of the highest level of saber in the world, a priceless treasure in the truest sense.
Leaving the cavern along with Li Zhuxin, Wang Chong rushed back to the capital and passed the newly-forged Death’s Abyss into Uncle Li Lin’s hands. Upon seeing the newly-forged Death’s Abyss, Li Lin was overjoyed.
In the month that Wang Chong was gone, every day felt like an eternity to Li Lin. His doorsill was almost destroyed by the Imperial Army commanders who came to his residence daily to urge him on the matter of the Wootz steel weapon.
On top of that, most of them were Li Lin’s superiors, and there were a few figures whom even Zhao Fengchen dared not to offend. The pressure Li Lin was placed under was truly immense.
“Chong-er, if you came any later, you might have to collect my corpse!”
Li Lin was relieved by the appearance of the saber.
“Uncle, you’re exaggerating the matter.”
Wang Chong chuckled.
“This isn’t an exaggeration though. Alright, Chong-er, don’t worry. I’ll make sure this saber fetches a good price.”
Without wasting any time, Li Lin prepared to bring the Death’s Abyss into the royal palace.
“Wait a moment!”
Wang Chong hurriedly stopped Uncle Li Lin. Death’s Abyss was important, but other than that, Wang Chong had another purpose here.
“I have a few things that I’ll have to trouble uncle to help me on as well.”
After which, Wang Chong brought up the matter of the ‘Assassin Pavilion’.
“Hmph, to think that there would be such a matter!”