Chapter 87: This Is Too Much

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

It was hard to determine which standard weapon was stronger.

Between the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber and the Horse Slaying Saber, which was more powerful?

The Horse Slaying Saber was not necessarily more powerful than the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber. Of the two, one was suitable for cavalry and the other for infantry.

It was the same for other standard weapons. The degree of sharpness, the durability, and even the appearance represented the quality of standard weapons.

This was completely different from ranked weapons.

It was very easy to determine the strength of a ranked weapon. A heaven-grade weapon was definitely stronger than an earth-grade weapon, and an earth-grade weapon was definitely stronger than a black-grade weapon.

Forgers who could forge heaven-grade weapons were definitely stronger than Forging Masters who could only forge earth-grade weapons.

Did this mean an apprentice who could forge a Horse Slaying Saber was stronger than an apprentice who could forge the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber?

This might not be the case.

This was why Zhou Shu had only said that it was better to compare whose weapon was better, not whose weapon was stronger. There was a subtle difference between better and stronger.

As a Forging Master, Xiao Bufan naturally understood this logic.

Although they were both surnamed Xiao, Xiao Zongshui became an official after passing the imperial examination, while Xiao Bufan was a genuine Forging Master.

Zhou Shu didn’t underestimate his opponent, but he was confident in the Legendary Armament Canon.

Zhou Shu glanced at Xiao Bufan, then at Meng Jinguang and the other ministers. “Before that, I have a request.”

“What request?” Xiao Bufan replied without hesitation.

“If I lose, then the 0th Workshop will have no value in existence. You can just shut it down,” Zhou Shu said. “You can even drive me out of the Forging Division.”

“If you lose, the 0th Workshop will naturally be shut down!” Xiao Bufan let out a hollow laugh.

“The 0th Workshop is where I live and work. I’m already betting it. Shouldn’t you bet something too?” Zhou Shu said.

“Logically speaking, even if I lose the competition, I would have been able to develop a new weapon and pass the monthly examination. Would you still shut down my 0th Workshop?”

Meng Jinguang and the others exchanged glances with one another. It was not convenient for them to say anything now, so they gave Xiao Bufan a signal.

Xiao Bufan understood his intention and sneered. “What do you want us to bet?”

He didn’t believe that Zhou Shu would win. As a Forging Master, he had lowered himself to forge a standard weapon. How could he lose?

“It’s very simple.” Zhou Shu’s lips curled up. “If I win, all of the workshops will have to cooperate with me if I need to mass produce the weapons developed by the 0th Workshop!”

“That’s it?” Xiao Bufan replied coldly. “No problem.”

Zhou Shu didn’t even look at him. Instead, he stared at Meng Jinguang and the others. “Your words don’t carry any weight. We need the ministers to agree.”

Meng Jinguang and the others had unsightly expressions on their faces. The situation had already changed from the monthly examination to a competition. Zhou Shu’s words made sense. Since there was a bet, both sides naturally had to wager something.

But they were thinking even more than Xiao Bufan. Zhou Shu’s words sounded simple, but if he really won, all of the workshops in the Forging Division had to cooperate with the 0th Workshop. There was too much at stake.

“I agree. Let’s do it! Let’s begin the competition,” Yin Wuyou suddenly said.

Meng Jinguang and the others were stunned. They had almost forgotten that the person in charge at the scene was the grand minister, not them.

Since the grand minister had spoken, they could only listen.

Of course, it remained to be seen what they would do afterward.

Zhou Shu didn’t think too much about it. He didn’t care at all about politics.

He only made this request because he didn’t want the development of the 0th Workshop to be impeded.

After all, if the 0th Workshop developed well, he would be able to make use of more areas.

“Understood!” Zhou Shu cupped his hands at Yin Wuyou before turning to Xiao Bufan. “You first, or should I go first?”

“I’ll go first, in case others say that I’m taking advantage of you!” Xiao Bufan said coldly.

He walked straight to the smelting furnace at the side and reached out to grab a hammer.

Xiao Bufan was actually a ranked martial artist!

The forging skills of a Forging Master and a Forging Apprentice were on completely different levels.

Although Forging Apprentices also paid attention to some techniques, most of them were manual labor. Forging Masters had real technique.

Xiao Bufan didn’t need to use his full strength to forge a standard weapon. But even so, everyone was impressed.

Zhou Shu sighed in his mind. Xiao Bufan didn’t seem like much, but his forging skills weren’t just for show. He was really skillful.

This was the first time he had seen a Forging Master forge a weapon with his own eyes. Although Xiao Bufan didn’t use any high-level techniques, as an expert, Zhou Shu could still see some of the secrets of Forging Masters.

A Forging Master forging a standard weapon was akin to shooting a mosquito with a cannon. It was overkill.

In just an hour, Xiao Bufan finished forging.

“It’s your turn!” Xiao Bufan placed the standard saber he forged on the table without hiding anything.

It was a long saber around four feet long. The curvature of the blade was extremely exaggerated, and there were even grooves on it. Just by looking at it, one could feel its baleful aura.

Zhou Shu nodded slightly. This was indeed a standard saber not recorded in the Forging Division’s weapon catalog.

But thinking about it, it wasn’t too difficult for a Forging Master to forge an improved standard saber with a little bit of additional effort.

It was just that they usually couldn’t bother to spend the effort.

No matter how strong a standard weapon forged from different metals was, it wouldn’t make much of a difference. It wasn’t worth the effort.

Zhou Shu walked to the furnace step by step.

Compared to Xiao Bufan’s, his forging process was not enjoyable at all. Every movement was mundane, making people sleepy.

Actually, Zhou Shu was also able to forge like how Xiao Bufan did, but there was no need to do so.

What was the point when he was just creating a standard weapon?

Forging paid attention to efficiency, not beauty!

It wasn’t a circus act!

Of course, the most important thing was that Zhou Shu was unwilling to reveal his cultivation level, so he slowed down his forging speed.

After two hours, more than twice as long as Xiao Bufan, a weapon finally appeared under Zhou Shu’s hammer.

This was also a saber. The saber was less than a meter long, and the blade was flat and straight. The tip of the blade curved in an arc, and there were multiple blade tips extending from the back of the blade to the handle. The shape looked like an elegant feather.

Xiao Bufan knew what was good. When he saw Zhou Shu’s weapon, his pupils constricted slightly, and his expression became somewhat solemn.

“My lords, this is the newest saber I’ve developed. Please take a look.” Zhou Shu placed the saber beside Xiao Bufan’s saber and cupped his hands.

“Great!” Yin Wuyou clapped her hands, unable to conceal the joy on her face.

Just based on appearances alone, the two sabers were not on par with each other. In fact, Zhou Shu’s saber looked even better.

If its sharpness and toughness weren’t too bad, Zhou Shu had a high chance of winning this competition!

Yin Wuyou wasn’t worried that Meng Jinguang and the others would evaluate against their conscience. If they really dared to do that, Yin Wuyou would bring these two sabers to the Imperial Court for the civil and military officials to evaluate!

Of course, Meng Jinguang and the others knew about Yin Wuyou’s identity and inwardly mocked her. As long as they didn’t show it, it didn’t matter. But if they lied through their teeth, it meant giving Yin Wuyou something on them.

The expressions of Meng Jinguang and the others didn’t look too good. They also felt that something was amiss.

Zhou Shu’s reputation was not just for show. He had really developed a new weapon!

Meng Jinguang walked to the table and picked up Xiao Bufan’s saber. He examined it while asking, “Superintendent Xiao, does your saber have a name?”

“This saber is called Blood Massacre. There are four blood grooves on the saber’s blade, which allows it to maximize its destructive power.”

Xiao Bufan said, “This saber will be a killing weapon in the hands of someone good at using sabers!”

Meng Jinguang nodded to show his appreciation. “This saber is full of killing intent. In my opinion, among the standard weapons, the lethality of this saber is top-notch.”

The rest of the ministers nodded in agreement.

Xiao Bufan glanced at Zhou Shu with a prideful expression, his eyes full of disdain.

“This saber is indeed not bad,” Yin Wuyou said impartially, but she immediately picked up Zhou Shu’s blade.

If Xiao Bufan’s saber was full of murderous intent, then Zhou Shuyu’s saber was quite ordinary. Apart from its appearance, it was nothing compared to Xiao Bufan’s saber.

Was it just about appearance?

If it was all about the appearance, then developing new weapons would be too easy.

In the end, weapons existed for the sake of killing, not for decoration.

“A saber is a weapon of slaughter. The biggest taboo when forging a weapon is putting the cart before the horse. If one blindly pursues the appearance of weapons, then they will fall into the evil path,” Meng Jinguang said calmly.

Although he didn’t mention names, everyone present knew who he was referring to.

Zhou Shu curled his lips, too lazy to refute him. Whether it was a mule or a horse, you will know once you bring it out for a walk.

Seeing that Meng Jinguang had no intention of asking, Yin Wuyou took the initiative to ask, “Superintendent Zhou, what’s special about your saber?”

Zhou Shu’s lips curled up slightly as he said in a clear voice, “General, when you march south so bravely, the Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber hangs on your waist. As the wind blew, the lizard-skinned drums stirred the mountains and rivers, lightning flashed over your banners held as high as the sun and moon.

“In the heavens indeed there is a kirin, but in the world of men, how could even an ant escape? On the day when the imperial edict comes, I’ll take off my battle garb with you.

“This saber is called the Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber. It is a waist saber developed after I witnessed Great General Meng going to war. This saber is tough and sturdy. Compared to the Hundred Refinements Ring Pommel Saber, it can unleash the power of saber techniques in many ways. It is capable of chopping, slashing, and stabbing!”

Zhou Shu’s voice reverberated through the area, and the entire area suddenly fell silent.

Even Xiao Bufan fell silent.

“General, when you march south so bravely, the Autumn Anatidae Plume Saber hangs on your waist.

“In the heavens indeed there is a kirin, but in the world of men, how could even an ant escape?”

This is a bit too much.. You agreed to compete in forging weapons. If you do this, won’t your impression points increase!