Chapter 6: The Legacy of the Sword

  Xuan Tie, not ordinary fine steel, extremely hard and heavy, especially the older Xuan Tie is more precious. This piece of Xuan Tie, although not very old, is much stronger than fine steel, weighing nearly a hundred or so catties, comparable to the weight of Guo Fei's usual large hammer. The old man did not divide the Xuan Tie at all, but instead forged it into a single sword.

  According to the procedure, high-temperature firing, hammering and shaping, small hammer for fine carving.

  For three days and three nights, the two of them didn't rest at all, taking turns to forge. Finally, it took shape. The sword was four feet three inches long, about fifteen centimeters wide, and five centimeters thick, much thicker than ordinary swords. The tip of the sword was slightly tapered to a pointed shape, with almost no sharp edge. The hilt was an elliptical disc shape with threads on top, convenient for gripping.

  "Guo Fei, the sword is an ancient sacred treasure, most revered and precious, worshipped by both humans and gods. It is the ancestor of all short-range weapons, a tool for close combat, with its profound skills and techniques on full display. Time is pressing, this sword has only been forged into its initial shape, it will need to be constantly tempered in the future, and if better materials are found, they can be added to it. But remember, the legacy of the sword cannot be lost!" The old man said to Guo Fei after finishing forging the sword.

  "The succession of the sword?" Guo Fei was astonished.

  "The sword has spirit, the sword has a way. Harmonize with it day and night, nourish the sword with energy, and refine it through the years. The sword will resonate with its master's intentions, giving rise to the protective sword intent, becoming an intent sword. A sword has heritage, only then can it continue to evolve with its master's cultivation, becoming a divine weapon. Some warriors upgrade their cultivation, but if the weapon doesn't fit their hand, they change it - this is a lower option, and ultimately, they won't reach the peak of the sword way. If the weapon doesn't fit one's hand, one must forge and refine it to make it evolve, which is the superior choice."

  "Remember, young one!" Guo Fei didn't understand it, but he firmly remembered it in his heart.

  "Also, the breathing method and sword technique I taught you must not be lightly passed on to others! A thousand pieces of gold are easily obtained, but a good technique is hard to come by! Remember this." The old man reminded.

  "I've got it!" Guo Fei nodded his head.

  Then Guo Fei made a scabbard for the sword himself, using fine iron skin and covering it with hemp cloth, which could be tied to his back.

  "Old Ten!" Early in the morning, a loud and sonorous shout was heard from outside. A big man hastily walked into the blacksmith's shop.

  "Captain, there's no Old Ten here. Who are you looking for?" Guo Fei saw the big man and realized it was the same Han who had fought alongside him that night. He felt a surge of joy in his heart, but didn't show any signs on his face. The "Soul Crystal" he had sent out had yielded results.

  "Of course, I called you. I've spoken to the squad leader, you don't have to be a slave soldier anymore, join our small squad and become a sword soldier. Old Five has left too, we're short-handed!" The big man said with a slightly gloomy face.

  "What's the benefit of joining your team?" Guo Fei asked with a faint smile.

  Han was taken aback, and said: "You little brat, why are you being so wishy-washy? Do you want to be a slave soldier for the rest of your life?! Follow me, and we'll eat meat by the mouthful, drink wine from big bowls. We'll share good fortune and bad, isn't that great?! Make up your mind quickly, don't dawdle! In short, are you in or out? If not, I'll deal with you according to military law."

  "Don't hesitate, I'm fine. Go ahead and rest assured!" The old man walked out of the stone house and smiled at Guo Fei.

  "Wen Shu!" Guo Fei's eyes reddened, and in his most helpless moments, it was the old man who had helped him survive. In Guo Fei's heart, he was the closest person to himself in this world.

  "Go! Child. Live a strong life!" The old man patted Guo Fei's hand and turned to walk away.

  "Thud!" Guo Fei knelt down on the ground, knocked his head three times, slung his own Xuan Tie sword over his back, and nodded at the big man.

  "You're a good kid, a man of your word, I like that!" The big Han smiled coarsely and left with Guo Fei.

  On the road, Guo Fei knew that this man was called Jin Datong, who was the captain of a large team, a medium-sized team and a small team. He was born with five big and three thick, with a full beard on his face, his bravery exceeded others, he had the cultivation of a mid-level martial artist, at first glance, he was a generous person.

  "You may not be a slave, but you were rescued by the county master and are now under our supervision. I heard from Jin Datong that your cultivation is good, so do well. If you can kill ten ghost guards or hand over one hundred soul crystals, you will gain freedom." Jin Datong took Guo Fei to see Camp Master Wang Zhi, who coldly said this sentence.

  "Thank you, Commander!" Guo Fei's eyes turned cold. This statement was clearly ambiguous. If he wasn't a slave, why would he need to hand over his soul crystal to gain freedom? As for killing ten ghost guards, it was simply unthinkable. That night, only one ghost guard had come, and even the commander himself hadn't been a match for him. Guo Fei going there now would be nothing short of suicide. But at this moment, he couldn't refute, could only swallow his anger and nod in agreement.

  "Old ten. Don't get angry, this is just how the world is, cultivation is the capital, low-level people will always be bullied. Damn it, they lied to me when I enlisted, saying I'd get 500,000 gold coins per year and could leave after three years of service, but now they're asking me to hand over 100 soul crystals to get paid and leave? Isn't that bullying?! But what can you do, this is just how the world is. Listen to big brother, work hard, it's just 100 soul crystals, 50 skeleton soldiers are all we need, once we've saved up enough, let's go back to our hometown together, get a title, and become a small lord." Jin Datong, although rough on the surface, was actually quite thoughtful, and immediately grasped Guo Fei's current mood, offering words of comfort.

  The two returned to the barracks where their squad was, a ten-man bunkhouse at the front of a row of barracks. After Guo Fei arrived here, he didn't find anyone else, possibly because everyone else had gone out.

  Jin Datong went out and brought back a set of equipment for Guo Fei, including a thin cotton-padded jacket, an outer garment made of white animal hide armor, and a white hat. This was the standard winter attire for ordinary infantrymen.

  Guo Fei then took off and threw away his old, worn-out and smelly hemp robe.

  In this world, after putting on new cotton clothes for the first time, the unpleasant mood gradually subsided.

  "Still lacking in experience! Can't keep a straight face, emotions showing on my face." Guo Fei sat upright on the wooden bed in the barracks, constantly replaying the scene of meeting the battalion commander, and when his expression changed, a hint of cold light flashed in the commander's eyes.

  According to Jin Datong, the camp commander Wang Zhi is also from a poor background and has reached this position through his own efforts. Next step may be awarded the title of Duwei, becoming an officer with military registration in the kingdom.

  From Jin Datong's words, it can be known that the officers who were awarded military ranks could go to Wangcheng for training and choose to cultivate their skills as a reward. This is not only a great honor, but also the only way for most people to become masters. Jin Datong has extreme admiration for the camp commander, and for him, being an officer is the foundation for standing out and rising to prominence.

  Guo Fei recalled the appearance of the camp commander, a man of medium build who looked to be in his thirties. His entire body seemed devoid of any warmth, cold as an eternal block of black ice that would never thaw.

  "This man is a heartless and unscrupulous person. Be careful!" Guo Fei felt from his eyes that this person was not a sentimental person, and must be ruthless.

  At noon, the other eight people returned. Jin Datong called out to everyone to gather around and introduce: "Brothers, this is Old Tenth. From now on, we will be fighting side by side and relying on each other for survival. Old Fifth left, and I'm heartbroken just like everyone else. Our ten-man defense formation can't afford to lose one person, it's our trump card for survival. That night, Old Tenth made his move, and we all saw that he fits perfectly into our formation. I gave the company commander six soul crystals, and only then did he agree to let Old Tenth join the team. From now on, we'll follow the old rules - our squad doesn't have names, only brotherly order. This afternoon, we'll practice our formation, and I estimate that a big battle is about to begin soon."

  Guo Fei only then realized that he had to make up for the incomplete formation himself. Jin Datong spent six more soul crystals, exactly the number Guo Fei had given them. Judging from his words, Jin Datong didn't seem to be lying, and it seemed like this person was indeed reliable. Guo Fei had also witnessed their military formation before, and in the chaotic battle, they indeed had an advantage over others.

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