Chapter 2: Sharp Standard Long Saber

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

In Zhou Shu’s head, a piece of information appeared. It was the method to forge a standard long saber!

In truth, it was the formula for forging a sharp standard long saber!

The method for quenching and forging…

All of the steps were meticulously outlined. Even the angles of the hammer strikes were noted down.

Zhou Shu felt as if he had gained a lot of experience all of a sudden. He even wanted to pick up a hammer to forge a sharp standard long saber right then and now!

As the name implies, a sharp standard long saber should be sharper than typical standard long sabers.

As Zhou Shu blinked, the Legendary Armament Canon vanished before his eyes.

With just a thought, it reappeared in front of him.

He tried flipping through the Legendary Armament Canon, but all he could see was the page with the sharp standard long saber. He couldn’t see or navigate to the other content. It appeared to be because he didn’t meet the requirements.

Employing the strategy of looking before leaping, Zhou Shu began to study the sharp standard long saber.

The standard long saber was the standard weapon of the three military forces of Great Xia. It was the most basic weapon and had a fair amount of sharpness and sturdiness. After all, it was merely the standard issue weapon given to regular soldiers.

I wonder how much sharper sharp standard long sabers are than standard long sabers. Will it be possible to attain the level of a yellow-grade weapon? 

Zhou Shu’s brows furrowed in thought. His predecessor had been a simple, honest young man absorbed in his work and had never come into contact with any ranked weapons. So Zhou Shu was also clueless.

First, I’ll forge a sharp standard long saber and examine it. Zhou Shu decided that rather than overthinking things, he should roll up his sleeves and get to work.

The sharp standard long saber’s forging process had already been etched on his mind, nearly becoming an instinct for him to follow.

Without thinking, Zhou Shu threw an iron ingot into the furnace.

This iron ingot was a material given by the Forging Division. They were delivered regularly to the Forging Apprentices’ residences, and the supply was unlimited.

Forging Masters were thought of to be very generous in this regard. In any case, Forging Apprentices were unable to transport the forged weapons outside of their division.

Sharp standard long sabers were constructed using the same materials as standard long sabers. Sharp standard long sabers differed in that their forging process was extremely exact.

The fire control, timing, strength, and angles all required strict regulation.

If these things hadn’t been imprinted in Zhou Shu’s mind, he might not have been able to learn them even if someone had taught him personally.

Ding Dang Dang!

A sensation of flesh and blood connecting burst through Zhou Shu’s heart as he clutched the hammer. While he swung the hammer deftly, it seemed to become an extension of his body.

Even though it was already late at night, the sounds of hammering and pounding resounded all around him. As a result, Zhou Shu didn’t have to worry about disturbing anyone’s sleep.

Zhou Shu appeared to be in a bizarre state as the hammer danced in his hand. He could sense the changes in the iron ingot with each blow.

It was as though he could see the impurities in the iron ingot being continuously hammered out. The iron ingot appeared to undergo an exceptional transformation, and every molecule in it seemed to be emitting light.

Zhou Shu maintained his composure. He continued to hammer in the same pattern as before. The hammer created elegant curves in the air before landing at various angles on the iron ingot. After some time, he stabbed a long saber into a tank of ice-cold well water, and white steam burst out.

Zhou Shu was exhausted to the point of wanting to die. His arm ached and felt like it was about to fall off, and every cell in his body was groaning.

His expression, on the other hand, was ecstatic as he eagerly drew the long saber he had just forged from the water.

Clear water drops poured down the long saber, and in a blink of an eye, the saber was no longer stained with water. It was bright and immaculate, and it seemed to come alive as light circulated endlessly when the moonlight flashed on it.

“Wonderful saber!” Zhou Shu complimented loudly.

To be honest, this sharp standard long saber resembled the standard long sabers he had made previously. The only difference was that this saber was a little brighter.

Even Zhou Shu himself might not be able to pick it out from a bunch of standard long sabers.

However, none of this mattered. This saber was his creation. Was it overboard to praise it?

Can a sharp standard long saber cut through iron as easily as it does mud?

Zhou Shu weighed the sharp standard long saber in his hand. His gaze fell on a standard long saber that had been forged earlier, and he seemed eager to try the new saber out on it.

But despite a long period of hesitation, he didn’t slash down.

He had put in so much time and effort to create the sharp standard long saber. Wouldn’t he cry to death if he damaged it?

Let’s go to the testing ground and put the saber to the test.

Zhou Shu took the sharp standard long saber, locked the yard door, and proceeded toward the workshop a few moments later.

Along the way, striking sounds echoed in the night. Almost every apprentice was putting in extra hours to complete their task. The physical punishment of failing to complete the task was unbearable.

Zhou Shu looked at the apprentices’ residences, which resembled a piece of tofu. His yearning to get out of this circumstance grew even stronger.

He would eventually die of exhaustion in this slum-like apprentice workshop if he didn’t leave!

He tightened his grip on the sharp standard long saber. It determined whether or not he would be able to change his situation!

…

Inside the apprentice workshop, there was an open area for weapon testing.

The weapons Forging Apprentices made had to pass a series of tests before being handed over to the military. The tests would take place on this testing ground.

Although it was late at night, scattered Forging Apprentices were still experimenting with the weapons they had forged.

They didn’t have a choice. The Forging Division’s quality control was exceedingly tight, and no one would be able to avoid being whipped if their forged weapon was found to be inadequate.

The Forging Apprentices’ expressions were all drab, and they had no reaction when they saw Zhou Shu.

Zhou Shu wasn’t surprised. He walked over to a wooden human-shaped stake, retrieved two sets of armor from the basket beside him, and placed them on the stake.

The ability to penetrate armor was a requirement for standard long sabers. In other words, a saber would only be regarded as qualified if it could slash through a set of armor.

The more layers of armor the weapon could penetrate, the sharper the saber.

Sabers that could break through two layers of armor were already the best standard weapon, according to Zhou Shu’s predecessor’s memory.

His predecessor had never seen a standard long saber capable of slashing through three layers of armor.

‘Sharp standard long saber’. If it’s going to be labeled ‘sharp’, it should be able to break through at least two layers of armor, right? Zhou Shu thought as he furiously cut down on the wooden stake with both hands gripping the handle of his saber.

Pfft!

There was a muffled sound, and Zhou Shu felt his hand soften after a brief feeling of resistance. He took a stumbling step forward and almost sprained his waist.

His movement caused the Forging Apprentices testing their weapons around him to turn their heads and look over.

“Sorry, my bad,” Zhou Shu said apologetically to everyone.

Crack!

There was a dull sound before he finished speaking. Seemingly in slow motion, the wooden stake behind him split in half.

A smooth incision appeared as the upper part slipped down diagonally, and the two layers of armor fastened to the wooden stake both dropped to the ground at once, creating a cloud of dust.

The apprentices in the vicinity all widened their eyes in disbelief.

“Breaking through two layers of armor?” someone exclaimed.

“Are you blind? The wooden stake was cut off. How many layers is this?”

“Can a standard long saber cut through a wooden stake?”

“Could this be a ranked long saber?”

“Quick, inform Superintendent Xiao!”

“…”

On the testing ground, everyone was discussing vehemently. There were even a few people who bolted from the scene.

As for the perpetrator, Zhou Shu remained standing there dazed, staring at the wooden stake that had been cut into two.