Chapter 3390: 1688: Qingju Does Not Build and the Sword Breaks, Hidden Bitter Does Not Cultivate How to be Reborn |
“Elephant… Dragon
Cao Erzhu stared dazedly at the exquisite sword in his hand.
The story of the Elephant Dragon at the pinnacle of craftsmanship brought him too much shock, nearly overturning the understanding of his world for twenty-six years.
Could this sword be created by his father?
Isn’t he just a rigid, sullen old man?
He spends his days idly holed up in the blacksmith shop drinking, and yet he understands the beauty of ivory guards, and can weave such interplay between light and dark layered patterns…
How ingenious would such hands need to be?
With those battered calloused hands, untouched by a hammer for twenty years, could he forge this?
The most astonishing thing!
“Hmm
His fingertips brushed against the sword’s body, and within the Elephant Dragon, an ancient, deep sound resonated—part elephant’s rumble, part dragon’s roar.
The sound reverberated through his soul, making Cao Erzhu’s body tremble as he barely collected himself.
So, this sword in his hands had witnessed the transformation from the first generation Penetrating Divine Senses to the second, from God Punishment Tribulation to sword cognition—as well as the friendship between his father and Bazhun’an?
“The Elephant Dragon has no name
Indeed, Elephant Dragon was originally nameless.
Before this, Cao Erzhu had never even heard of Elephant Dragon’s name, yet Elephant Dragon was not truly nameless.
Over twenty years, nourished by renown, it had risen from third-grade to first-grade—a feat not solely due to his father’s reforging prowess.
A larger portion came from the shifts in people’s perceptions of Penetrating Divine Senses. The growth of its name contributed a small fraction of vitality that nourished the nameless Elephant Dragon.
Each instance of reputation granting nourishment may have been minuscule.
But across twenty years, from widespread disbelief among people to the present universal recognition that Penetrating Divine Senses could rival the power of the ancestral source…
During this transformation, the power derived from “nameboth in its quality and quantity—became frightfully formidable.
And as a “Sword of Witness,” even if Elephant Dragon itself remained nameless and unrecognized by the masses…
Nonetheless, after its reforged foundation was set, it soared to the realm of first-grade!
“It
Thinking of all this, Cao Erzhu felt his emotions surge uncontrollably. He raised his eyes to look at Elder Sang: “Why didn’t you use the Elephant Dragon?”
“Because he wasn’t an ancient swordsman.” The Water Ghost chuckled.
“Correct.” Elder Sang, understanding Cao Erzhu’s thoughts, replied:
“If this old man wielded it—or if anyone wielded it—the Elephant Dragon indeed possesses the presence of a famed sword, capable of achievements even beyond Qingju.
“But Bazhun’an has too many swords, and not one that follows him ever meets a good fate. He doesn’t want to let Elephant Dragon down.”
“Thus, the Elephant Dragon became nothing more than a witness. Twice.”
Twice?
Cao Erzhu felt bewildered.
He was a bit slow, but not so slow as to confuse one and two, right?
Elder Sang explained: “The first time, the Elephant Dragon witnessed the evolution from the first generation to the second generation of Penetrating Divine Senses, and the determination of its future direction. The second time, it witnessed Bazhun’an handing it to me, marking the establishment of the Saint Servant as our token
After that, Cao Erzhu couldn’t hear anything else; his head was buzzing.
It was too valuable!
From his background as a blacksmith, Cao Erzhu understood all too well that sometimes a token sword’s status was no less than that of a Sword of Conquest.
Xuan Cang was a godhood sword.
Yet Xuan Cang’s significance at the Sacred Mountain Gui Zhe had never been about killing, but rather a symbol—a suppression of fate.
Similarly!
Elephant Dragon was the tangible emblem of Penetrating Divine Senses and Saint Servant.
In a certain sense, in this era, not even the 21 Famed Swords could be more valuable than Elephant Dragon!
And now, such a precious sword—how could you so casually place it into my hands?
If it were to get nicked, dropped, or even dirtied…
Terrified, Cao Erzhu quickly withdrew his hand, daring not to continue stroking it. He even wiped his exceedingly dry palms against his waist.
“This… this… this sword, needs to be reforged?” He stammered.
“No!” Elder Sang shook his head again, “This sword is for you.”
Cao Erzhu’s pupils dilated, nearly fainting from happiness. When he realized what had been said, he felt utterly overwhelmed and questioned his own worthiness.
But before he could speak, Elder Sang interrupted him with a laugh, saying:
“This sword was forged by your father; it’s one of his representative works. After making the rounds between the Ten High Nobles and the Saint Servant, it has now returned to you—the son of Kui Leihan. This is perfectly fitting.”
“Haven’t you noticed? She doesn’t resist you at all.”
“She?” Cao Erzhu lowered his head.
“The spirit of Elephant Dragon! Until now, apart from me, even Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t make her surrender.” Elder Sang intentionally concealed half the truth.
Mostly because he dared not unsheathe this sword in front of that rebellious pupil.
After all, back in the Spiritual Library Division, the Dragon and Phoenix phenomenon when Xu Xiaoshou was conducting alchemy in the bath was already in his possession.
Cao Erzhu, moved to near tears, looked closer, and indeed, the Elephant Dragon not only showed no rejection, but was rather affectionate toward him.
“Through Elephant Dragon, you now understand your father’s skill, and a goal to surpass has been set for you… so much, all of it good things. That’s why this sword is to be given to you.”
Elder Sang gifted it so matter-of-factly, as if every time he saw Cao Erzhu, he felt compelled to give him treasures—a supremely kind and generous uncle.
Cao Erzhu thought so too.
His heart stirred: “Then can I
“You can.” Elder Sang anticipated his meaning. “If you meet the right person, this old man trusts your judgment, and trusts you won’t simply give her away recklessly. So when you feel it’s right—that’s when it’s right.”
“Elder Sang
Cao Erzhu’s nose was running tears.
Elder Sang was too good. Besides his own father and Brother Shou, Elder Sang was the person who understood him best!
He hadn’t even spoken, and yet how could Elder Sang anticipate what he intended to say and resolve all his worries beforehand?