Chapter 277 [Iron Chain Sword]
The heavy rain was like the Milky Way bursting its banks, covering the sky and the earth. The strong wind brought the icy blue raindrops and hit everything wantonly.
The sky above the town was pitch black, with only the occasional flash of lightning illuminating the surrounding scenery.
This sudden change made the air heavy and oppressive, and even breathing seemed to become extremely difficult.
In such a harsh environment, Li Chengqian crawled alone on the muddy ground, holding tightly to the edge of the ancient well. Regardless of the fact that his clothes had already been soaked, he stared at the wellhead.
But due to insufficient light and the violent churning of the water in the well, he could not see the situation at the bottom of the well clearly.
In desperation, Li Chengqian had to temporarily give up this idea and instead focus his attention on the black iron chain next to the well wall.
The iron chain looked extremely thick and heavy, and its surface was covered with traces of rust due to long-term erosion by wind and rain.
It lurks in the mud and extends to the dark and deep bottom of the well, like a giant dragon lurking in the darkness, which makes people feel fear involuntarily.
Li Chengqian first tried to hold the chain with both hands, and then pulled it with all his strength, but because the chain was too heavy and slippery, he could hardly move it at all.
Even so, he still did not give up hope, but became even more determined.
"Ning Yao, come and help me!"
Li Chengqian shouted loudly.
Not far away, Ning Yao, who was concentrating on observing the changes in the sky, immediately came to his senses after hearing his companion's call and rushed to Li Chengqian without hesitation.
"What's wrong?" she asked, bending down to check the chain.
"I think this chain may be hiding some secrets."
Li Chengqian explained, "We need to pull it out of the well."
So, the two of them began to pull the chain together.
Li Chengqian's feet were firmly rooted in the wet soil, his muscles tense;
Ning Yao held one end of the chain tightly and clenched his teeth.
They cooperated with each other and dragged the heavy chain out little by little.
Raindrops kept hitting their faces, blurring their vision, but they had no intention of retreating.
Finally, after countless efforts, the chain was successfully pulled away from the wellhead.
With a dull thud, it fell heavily onto the wet ground.
Li Chengqian and Ning Yao stopped panting and began to carefully check the chains.
The chain is about the thickness of a finger and its length is difficult to estimate. It is made up of countless interlocking metal rings.
These ring structures are tightly connected together to form a solid whole.
The surface of the chain was covered with thick rust, giving it a dull black color.
Although it has gone through the baptism of time, one can still feel the hardness and tenacity it once possessed.
What’s even more surprising is that some parts actually emit a faint blue light, which complements the blue rain.
At this moment, Li Chengqian had an idea. He decided to use his flying sword to cut off a small section of the chain for further research.
Ning Yao did not stop him, but just watched quietly. Li Chengqian waved his arm lightly, and suddenly a sharp flying sword appeared in front of him.
The sword is transparent throughout, and the tip is as sharp as a knife, flashing with cold light.
Under Li Chengqian's control, it shot quickly towards the selected location. With a crisp "click" sound, the iron chain broke.
The broken chain fragments lay in the mud and looked nothing special.
But Li Chengqian sensed something strange from it. It was an extremely subtle fluctuation, as if some kind of energy was flowing slowly.
After realizing this, he immediately called Ning Yao to come and discuss it together.
The two squatted on the wet ground, carefully touching this special chain with their hands. As time went by, more and more secrets surfaced...
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When Li Chengqian ended his adventure in the small town and returned to his place of practice, the mystery of the ancient well and the blue raindrops kept lingering in his mind.
However, life must go on, and he decided to transform the experience he had accumulated during this period into tangible results and forge a sword of his own.
This is not only to enhance one's own combat effectiveness, but also to commemorate this unforgettable experience.
The sword-making place is located in a hidden valley, surrounded by mountains and gurgling springs. The environment is quiet and beautiful, very suitable for meditation and refining.
Here, Li Chengqian had already prepared everything he needed:
Huge bellows, a blazing furnace, hammers of all shapes, files, steel rulers, and a precious piece of iron chain.
This will be the core material of the new sword.
Preparations officially begin.
Li Chengqian first cleared out a clean and flat space to ensure that there was no debris that would interfere with the subsequent operations.
Then he placed the furnace and adjusted it to the most suitable position for smelting.
Next comes the most important step, making a fire.
Li Chengqian took out the dry firewood he had prepared in advance, carefully placed it at the bottom of the stove, and then lit it.
As the flames gradually rose, he started the bellows and adjusted the furnace temperature by controlling the amount of air supplied.
Soon, the gentle flame turned into a blazing flame, illuminating the entire work area red.
The next step is the ore pre-processing stage. Li Chengqian picked up the carefully selected meteorite and began the long hammering process.
This is an extremely physically demanding job that requires repeated hammering until all the impurities inside the metal are completely removed.
During this period, he must also keep an eye on the temperature changes in the furnace, add charcoal or adjust the fire power in time to ensure the smooth progress of the smelting process.
Once the metal block completely turns into liquid, the real challenge begins.
Li Chengqian used special pliers to slowly pour it into the mold prepared in advance.
This is a critical step that tests your skills and experience, and any carelessness may lead to failure.
After the liquid cools down and solidifies a little, he will immediately take it out of the mold and make preliminary shaping adjustments.
The most mysterious and ritualistic part of sword-making is quenching.
In order to ensure that the new sword would have unparalleled sharpness and toughness, Li Chengqian chose a special water quality for quenching.
This water, which he had earlier obtained from a legendary spiritual spring, was said to grant weapons otherworldly powers.
When the sword comes into contact with the cold, clear spring water, it makes a hissing sound, accompanied by bursts of steam rising up. The whole process is as magical as magic.
Finally, the new sword is carefully polished and decorated.
Li Chengqian would spend several days removing the burrs on the surface bit by bit, making it as smooth as a mirror.
At the same time, some auspicious patterns or inscriptions will be carved on it, making the sword not only a practical weapon but also a unique work of art.
After completing all this, Li Chengqian stood in front of his own work, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
This is not only an affirmation of skills, but also a proof of one's own beliefs and persistence.
And the new sword that shines with faint blue light has become an important link between past experiences and future dreams.
(End of this chapter)