Mixed in the apocalypse, become a fairy alone. 65

Chapter 65: Demon-Breaking Dagger

Fellow cultivators who frequently refine artifacts know that blacksmithing is actually a skill that even ordinary people can learn.

Wang Jixuan felt a little awkward.

He was currently only a low-level cultivator at the initial stage of the Gathering Spirit realm. He couldn’t directly melt precious materials in his palm, nor did he have a suitable treasure cauldron for forging. Even if he had one, he lacked the sufficient spiritual power to activate it, so he could only use this rather primitive method.

But this was far better than when he made the Bone-Piercing Nails…

Back then, he’d used his bare hands to bend the materials.

Blacksmithing has another advantage: during the forging process, spiritual energy can be continuously introduced into the blade embryo, slightly enhancing its quality.

The blade embryo gradually took shape. Because the amount of material wasn’t excessive, this was only a small knife, a test of the feasibility of this type of artifact.

Soon, Wang Jixuan reheated the blade embryo, brought it before him, and in front of Uncle Tai, he used his index and middle fingers to quickly inscribe two simple sets of restrictions on both sides of the blade.

Uncle Tai was dumbfounded: “Whoa! What kind of emotionless iron hand is that?!”

Wang Jixuan smiled without saying a word, concentrating intently on the blade embryo. The most crucial and important step had arrived.

He puffed out his cheeks, exhaling a ball of Qi from his dantian. The restriction patterns on the outside of the blade embryo instantly lit up, and internal pathways spontaneously formed within the embryo following the pattern of the restrictions!

Strands of spiritual energy gathered toward the blade embryo.

Wang Jixuan moved quickly, quenching, reforging, and hammering again. Next came sharpening it.

Overall, it was effortless.

Uncle Tai’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.

Although Uncle Tai was just an ordinary person and couldn’t understand what was happening, his intuition told him…

A spiritual energy user was forging a spiritual energy weapon using spiritual energy methods.

Was he really going to have to choose between spicy hot iron anvils and garlic-flavored hammers?

‘Thank goodness I didn’t say it out loud, just thought about it.’

…

Ling Tong rushed back to the supply station at a little after four in the morning.

Even for a battle-hardened warrior like her, her expression was rather tired upon her return.

Entering the main workshop, she noticed everyone was still awake. Forcing herself to stay alert, her pretty face tightened, holding a stack of paper documents.

Huh?

Ling Tong thought she must have seen wrong.

By the operating table, Wang Jixuan had his feet propped up on the table, leaning back in a swivel chair. To his left was Wan Xiaoqi, diligently fanning him; to his right was Uncle Tai, offering tea with obsequious bows.

Ling Tong frowned and asked, “What… kind of role-playing game are you guys playing?”

“Hey!”

Uncle Tai looked up at Ling Tong, saying solemnly: “Commander Ling Tong, don’t speak so harshly! You might scare our future special-grade—no, national treasure-level—mechanist! That wouldn’t be good!”

“Hahaha!”

Wan Xiaoqi laughed from the side. Sister Wan on the second floor, holding a cup of industrial coffee, looked on with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

“Hm?” Ling Tong tilted her head, observing them.

Wang Jixuan asked with a smile, “How did it go on your end?”

“Some progress.”

Ling Tong immediately stepped forward, and Wan Xiaoqi quickly fetched an extra chair.

Ling Tong handed the documents to Wang Jixuan, who placed a ‘fruit knife’ on the table. Under Uncle Tai’s encouraging gaze, Ling Tong picked up the small knife and examined it carefully.

Huh?

Energy reaction?

Although the energy reaction was faint, it was indeed a type of energy similar to spiritual energy!

“Can you briefly explain what’s going on?”

Wang Jixuan returned the documents to Ling Tong and asked proactively, “I don’t understand many of the technical terms on here, especially the data.”

“In the Spiritual Energy Home’s lab, we found a pseudo-B-class defective spiritual energy user.”

Ling Tong said quickly: “This spiritual energy user should have been a rare B-class, but there was an error during his spiritual energy infusion, causing his body to rapidly deteriorate. He can only be kept alive in a nutrient tank.

“We haven’t figured out exactly what his abilities are yet. The Spiritual Energy Capital has already intervened.

“But I can confirm that he is the only anomaly at the Spiritual Energy Home.

“He’s expected to live less than six months. He has already contributed to dozens of papers for over a dozen renowned scholars. Qin Qin brought him here for research.”

Wang Jixuan asked, “What’s his name?”

“Meng Caiyuan.”

Ling Tong rubbed her neck. Wang Jixuan quickly stood up and started giving her a massage.

Ling Tong continued: “The front-line command sent information on Meng Caiyuan. He’s acted three times, assisting other war zones with operations.

“His ability seems to be simulating high-level blade beasts giving orders to low-level ones.

“The sound of the pigeon you captured was most likely from him. After being amplified by a special device, it was disseminated to distant blade beasts.”

Wang Jixuan frowned, “Can’t we use this as a pretext to eliminate them?”

“There’s no concrete evidence. All the information above comes from Meng Caiyuan’s previous actions in other war zones.”

Ling Tong said, “His short life is nearing its end. He’s a failed product. Otherwise, Qin Qin, a mere researcher, wouldn’t have access to him for study.”

Wang Jixuan sighed, “To be studied even as he’s dying, that’s pretty miserable… Can you confirm the content of the signal he sent last night?”

“My whereabouts, most likely! Qin Qin probably wants revenge for me killing Lü Dongjie, but this is all speculation, without evidence.”

Ling Tong’s tone became more eager: “Now, a young king worm and a pseudo-B-class special spiritual energy user are after me.

“But don’t worry.

“Reinforcements from the front line will arrive in the morning. I’ll be the bait, luring the beast horde into terrain advantageous to us.

“The Spiritual Energy Home is now sealed. If any blade beasts appear near our fortress—though it’s more likely to be the young king worm—we can directly use that as evidence of their treason and collusion with the enemy.

“Our true enemy is only the blade beasts. These spiritual energy users are just rotting flesh; we don’t need to worry too much about them.”

Wang Jixuan’s eyes flickered slightly, and he asked proactively, “Can I go with you?”

“To dig up crystal cores again?”

“Partially.”

“It’s best if you don’t.”

Ling Tong said, “This could easily escalate into a localized war, not the minor conflict at the mine last time.

“The battle may be fierce, and C-class and below spiritual energy users will struggle to be effective.

“The front-line spiritual energy special forces will also arrive shortly. They are key forces. You shouldn’t be seen by them.”

Wang Jixuan didn’t insist. He didn’t like forcing others to change their minds.

Wang Jixuan instead asked, “Can the Black Storm be revealed?”

“That’s okay. They’re already investigating the Black Storm, but try to keep Wang Zheng from being linked to them.”

“Good,” Wang Jixuan nodded in agreement.

Uncle Tai raised his hand, shouting proudly, “Ling Tong, try that knife! Don’t stab yourself!”

“Huh? Is this a powerful weapon?”

“Look here!”

Uncle Tai rushed to the corner, grabbed a piece of alloy plate, and said quickly, “The hardness of this composite material is equivalent to the hardness of a basic blade beast’s active frontal armor! Try it! Get close to it! Be careful, wait for a light blue glow to appear on the blade, yes! Now! Stab it!”

*Clack!*

The dagger pierced completely through the alloy plate.

Uncle Tai let out two excited howls: “Amazing!”

Ling Tong was stunned.

Wang Jixuan reminded, “After one use, it takes about twelve seconds to recharge before the blue light appears again. This is just the initial version; I’ll continue improving the process.”

Ling Tong looked up at him, a flicker of emotion in her bright eyes: “You made this?”

“Yes, this is a sample.”

“Mass production?”

“Temporarily difficult, but I’ll keep exploring.”

Ling Tong nodded calmly, whispering, “Can I take it to give a report?”

But Wang Jixuan said, “It’s better to wait until I make a mass-producible version. I don’t know if I can improve it successfully. If only a small quantity can be produced, it won’t be very meaningful. My energy is limited… Later, I’ll donate the forging technology of this weapon to Zhou Zhengde’s grandfather’s forces free of charge.”

Uncle Tai said earnestly, “And I, as Mr. Wang’s exclusive assistant, will shamelessly hitch a ride on this honor that’s sure to go down in history!”

“Good,” Ling Tong slowly nodded. “It’s a pity it’s a melee weapon; on the battlefield, it can only be used as a last resort by soldiers. If only we could make a long-range weapon like this…”

“The ore might not be enough for consumption,” Wang Jixuan said, “The few types of ore I used, Uncle Tai checked, are currently limited in production.”

“You mechanists are the professionals in this area. Feel free to contact me anytime you need anything.”

Ling Tong solemnly placed the dagger on the table, staring at it for a while, a clear smile gracing her lips:

“Give it a name.”

Wang Jixuan casually said, “Demon-Breaking Dagger.”

“So ordinary,” Wan Xiaoqi mumbled quietly, “How about ‘Three Thousand to Your Death’?”

Uncle Tai pondered for a moment: “Let’s use a codename for now to avoid leaks! We’ll use the formal name later… How about calling it the ‘Ling Tong 071 Project’? How does that sound?”

“There’s no need to use my name,” Ling Tong said helplessly.

“You’re the team leader! This is a chance to go down in history! When we’re done with the blade beasts, this will take up a whole page in our family history!” Uncle Tai declared.

Sister Wan brought a bowl of steaming noodles, saying softly, “Ling Tong, take a rest. Eat something and go to sleep. Let them do their thing.”

“Okay,” Ling Tong was indeed sleepy.

After walking a couple of steps, she turned back to Wang Jixuan and said, “Thank you.”

Question marks appeared on Daoist Wang’s forehead.

“For my fallen comrades,” Ling Tong said.

Wang Jixuan smiled kindly.

…

Ling Tong ate and quickly fell asleep. Wang Jixuan continued to ponder the methods of artifact refinement.

By dawn, the supply station finally fell quiet.

The quietude held a hint of peace.

In contrast, the Spiritual Energy Home on the third floor of the fortress was shrouded in gloom. Soldiers of the肃清部队 (Qing Su Bu Dui – literally “Purification Troops,” referring to a military unit responsible for maintaining order and eliminating threats) patrolled everywhere, armed to the teeth.

Qin Qin sat behind her desk, gently massaging her temples.

She couldn’t understand.

She couldn’t understand at all how she was discovered!

The relevant technology of spiritual energy users is all in the hands of the Spiritual Energy Capital; the military shouldn’t be able to detect the ripples Meng Caiyuan sent out!

But now, the military detected it!

Ling Tong suddenly led people in, stating unequivocally that they had violated a series of laws and military regulations. They sealed their lab and seized her hard-won research sample.

Her paper was almost finished!

Qin Qin took a deep breath, forcing herself to think calmly.

She began to understand why that Kong Nu fellow had died miserably in Fortress 76… This place was different from other places. The spiritual energy users who should be the protectors of the fortress were turned into villains. Other places still rely on spiritual energy users to deal with small groups of blade beasts and counter the threat of mimetic blade beasts.

It was eerie.

The atmosphere here was extremely strange to her.

Of course, Qin Qin knew what she had Meng Caiyuan do.

Meng Caiyuan’s ability was to communicate with blade beasts, simulating the signals of high-level blade beasts. He had previously cooperated with the military in several other war zones, misleading the blade beast hordes.

What she had Meng Caiyuan do tonight was to send messages to nearby blade beasts within his range, causing these beasts to spread the false information, ‘Ling Tong is here and is seriously wounded and dying,’ to higher-level blade beasts.

One of the three areas Qin Qin researched was the social structure analysis of blade beasts. She fully understood these beasts’ activity patterns.

This misleading information would easily lead to Ling Tong being besieged, causing the blade beast horde to attack the outer C-zone, and then she could play the role of savior, using her connections to invite powerful spiritual energy users from the Spiritual Energy Capital in advance to wipe out the incoming blade beasts!

Rebuilding the glorious image of their 13th Industrial Fortress!

But now, the initial step had gone wrong…

She was inexplicably discovered!

Ling Tong had firmly stated that it was Meng Caiyuan who summoned the blade beasts. In the next few days, if blade beasts really appeared in and around Fortress 76…

Qin Qin felt she was just one step away from ruin.

‘How did Ling Tong discover it? Did the military break through the relevant technology?’

‘Forget it, thinking about this is useless. I can only seek powerful intervention.’

Qin Qin looked at the communicator in her hand.

She knew that the military had intentionally left her communicator behind, wanting to involve the Spiritual Energy Capital, turning this incident into a pretext to attack the Spiritual Energy Capital.

It was an open gambit, but for her own survival, she had to step into it.

“How did they find out.”

Qin Qin flipped through the ‘Old Pervert’ group in her chat list, still muttering in bewilderment.

Meanwhile.

Deep in the Sahara Desert.

Facing the rising sun, the young king worm buried its body in the sand, its mouthparts slowly opening to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Its still-bleeding vertical pupil stared towards Fortress 76.

The figures reflected in its vertical pupil were three.

The blurred figure in the nutrient tank in the corner of the Spiritual Energy Home laboratory;

Ling Tong, catching up on her sleep and recovering her energy;

And Daoist Wang, already receiving the second batch of ore and shirtless, banging away at the iron.

【Multiple threats… confirmed…】

(End of Chapter)

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