Chapter 11: Making a Sword

In his quiet home, surrounded by an abundance of spiritual aura, Zhao Ling sat on a wooden chair on the veranda, holding a brush and a sheet of paper. Before him lay several open books filled with notes and sketches about demonic techniques.

"Heh..." He sighed wearily.

A new book was beginning to take shape in his hands, filled with explanations and illustrations of advanced techniques. However, this time, he wasn't just focusing on techniques using bare hands or body parts. Zhao Ling was also working on a book about demonic sword techniques, a more complex technique requiring profound understanding.

Zhao Ling sighed again, not fully confident in his knowledge of demonic sword techniques. But he persisted, trying to reconstruct them from his distant memories.

In the garden, Li Wei practiced diligently. His movements were smooth and controlled, demonstrating the significant progress he had made. The gentle breeze and rustling leaves were familiar sounds in this garden.

Zhao Ling glanced occasionally at Li Wei, ensuring that his disciple was performing the moves correctly. Although busy writing, Zhao Ling's attention was never fully diverted from Li Wei.

He felt a sense of pride seeing Li Wei's development, as he had now mastered the techniques he had previously written with great skill.

Li Wei, on the other hand, felt increasingly confident in his abilities. Every movement flowed seamlessly, and his energy was well-controlled.

Yet, he was aware there was still much to learn. During his practice, his thoughts occasionally drifted to the advanced technique book Zhao Ling was working on.

After a while, Zhao Ling stopped writing and stood up. He walked over to Li Wei and observed his movements closely.

"Hmmm...? Is there something he wants to discuss? Or is he here to give me something?" Li Wei wondered to himself.

Li Wei stopped his training and looked at his master, hoping for feedback or a new book.

"Well done, Li Wei. You've mastered the intermediate techniques very well," Zhao Ling said calmly. "But remember, there's always room for improvement."

Li Wei nodded, acknowledging the truth in his master's words. "Master, what about the sword techniques? I haven't seen anything like that in my training."

"Did he see the book I'm writing?"

Zhao Ling smiled faintly. "That's something new, even for me. Demonic sword techniques have a different level of complexity. I'm still in the process of writing and perfecting it. But when the time comes, I'll give it to you."

Zhao Ling couldn't teach it directly, but he could still work on the movements. The demonic Qi and Immortal Qi, also called Pure Qi, are very different, making it challenging for him to teach Li Wei.

Let alone teaching it, even creating the book was very difficult. Zhao Ling didn't know how demonic cultivators used their Qi; making a mistake in teaching could hinder Li Wei's progress.

So far, Li Wei had advanced through his words and tireless practice, as long as he wasn't instructed to stop by his master.

Li Wei felt enthusiastic, even though he knew mastering the sword techniques would be more challenging. "Thank you, Master. I'll train harder and wait for the right moment."

Zhao Ling patted Li Wei's shoulder gently. "You've done well. Keep practising and never stop learning. This world is full of things we don't know yet."

With that, Zhao Ling returned to his wooden desk, continuing his work on the advanced demonic technique book and the basic demonic sword technique.

***

A few days later.

Zhao Ling flew across the sky towards a forest far from his home. The forest was dense and full of life, with towering trees and the sounds of birds and other forest creatures filling the air. After a long journey, Zhao Ling finally reached his destination.

Wooshh~

He landed lightly on the moss-covered ground, observing his surroundings with sharp eyes. The forest was a serene place, filled with natural aura. Sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves created a beautiful play of light and shadow on the ground.

Zhao Ling walked slowly, treading on a rarely-used path. He searched for a fallen tree with wood strong enough to be crafted into a sword.

He glanced around as he walked, looking for a fallen tree that met his needs.

After a while, he found a large, old tree fallen by the edge of a small, gently flowing stream.

With deftness, Zhao Ling pulled out a knife from his storage ring. The knife gleamed under the sunlight, sharp and ready for use. He began to carefully cut the tree trunk, ensuring each cut was clean and precise.

As Zhao Ling worked, the sounds of forest creatures surrounded him. The breeze blew gently, carrying the aroma of fresh earth and leaves. Birds chirped from a distance, while the babbling of the stream provided a soothing rhythm.

With patience and precision, Zhao Ling carved the wood into the shape of a sword. His hands moved with skill and speed, cutting and smoothing the wood until it became a perfect sword.

While he was carving, a monster approached, mistakenly thinking Zhao Ling was a low-level cultivator.

Zhao Ling sighed at the approaching monster and quickly dispatched it with a flash of light from his fingertip.

"Hiding my cultivation level while crafting something doesn't seem to be a good idea." Zhao Ling no longer concealed his aura.

The aura, which had been almost imperceptible, now erupted like a boom. It immediately filled the forest, startling the nearby monsters.

Monsters near him fled, as did other animals and even birds, all shocked by the sudden surge of aura.

The bird chirps that once filled the forest vanished instantly. Zhao Ling felt the silence, but the sound of the small stream continued to accompany him.

A few hours later.

It took a long time, but Zhao Ling wasn't in a hurry. He understood that patience and precision were key to producing quality work.

The wooden sword he crafted was not just a weapon but also a tool to teach his disciple, Li Wei, new techniques.

Zhao Ling wanted to ensure that the sword had good balance and durability, so Li Wei could train safely and effectively.

Once finished, Zhao Ling looked at the wooden sword in his hand with satisfaction. The sword was strong and light, ready for use in training.

After completing the wooden sword, he continued to make its scabbard. Creating the scabbard took more time; Zhao Ling also had to carve designs to avoid a plain appearance.

After several hours of carving and engraving the scabbard, he examined his handiwork closely.

Zhao Ling smiled with satisfaction. "Perfect." He then sheathed the wooden sword.

Clack!

The wooden sword slid into the scabbard.

He closed his eyes after creating the perfect piece, feeling the cool breeze on his face. The forest, with all its tranquility, had witnessed his hard work and dedication.

Zhao Ling sighed deeply, returning the knife to his storage ring. He gazed at the forest for a moment, appreciating its serenity and beauty before flying back home. The newly crafted wooden sword was ready to aid Li Wei in his cultivation journey.

***

Li Wei sat cross-legged under the large tree in Zhao Ling's garden, feeling the spiritual aura flowing through his body. His eyes were closed, focusing on his meditation. The whispering wind through the leaves created a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.

Suddenly, Li Wei sensed a strong presence approaching from the sky. Zhao Ling had informed him that this place could not be entered by anyone else without his permission.

"Is Master back?" He opened his eyes and saw Zhao Ling descending gracefully from above, holding something in his hands.

Zhao Ling landed gracefully in front of Li Wei, holding a wooden sword with a scabbard. With a small smile, he handed the sword to his disciple. "Take this."

Li Wei received the wooden sword carefully. The scabbard was made from high-quality wood with beautiful carvings, reflecting skilled craftsmanship. He slowly drew the sword from the scabbard and saw his name engraved on the wooden sword.

"This sword is for you," Zhao Ling said in a calm tone. "Use this to practice sword techniques in the future."

Li Wei nodded. "Thank you, Master."

Li Wei felt proud and excited about his master's gift. Without needing many words, he understood that this was an important step in his swordsmanship journey.

Zhao Ling walked back into the house, having other important matters inside.

Li Wei watched his master leave after giving him the sword.

Li Wei turned, looking at the sword he had just been given.

"It's still warm. I'll give it a try."

Li Wei placed the scabbard on the roots of the large tree and attempted to swing the new wooden sword.

Swo- Tuk, Tak, Tuk.

The wooden sword fell with a light swing.

"Ugh... it's heavy..."