With a flick of his wrist, Han Xiao activated the two intricate magical inscriptions on his knife, sending it spinning gracefully through the air before executing a precise slashing motion.
Ji Hao, a seasoned war veteran, observed every detail with sharp clarity, thanks to his heightened cultivation level. He meticulously analyzed the mechanics of the knife's inscriptions.
After finishing a sequence of fundamental movements—slicing, hooking, stabbing, and spinning—Han Xiao paused.
Ji Ying, observing them closely, asked, "What do you make of those two inscriptions, old man?" Her intent was clear; she wanted Ji Hao to provide a detailed explanation for Han Xiao's benefit.
Examining the sheathed knife closely, Ji Hao remarked, "Kids, this might sound a bit cocky, but as my age keeps adding up like my gray beard, I've lost count of the countless strange weapons I've seen, crafted by geniuses from three generations and more. Plus, I'm an avid collector of those unique weapons crafted by the Tang Clan. So, in this field, I could be proud as a peacock judging any weapon below Grade Five."
Mentioning the grading system of the weapons, Ji Ying interjected, "Uncle Hao, can you explain the classification of the grading system for weapons?"
"Sure! Weapons are graded according to the quantity and quality of the magical inscriptions they bear. In short, a Grade 10 weapon is marked with a pseudo-magical inscription, while a Grade 9 weapon is marked with a perfected magical inscription. A Grade 8 weapon, like your knife, typically has two to four inscriptions. However, I can't fully assess the quality of the two inscriptions on your knife. From what I can tell, the light blue inscription harnesses the elemental power of water, while the crimson inscription is imbued with fire. It's very rare and somewhat strange to find fire and water inscriptions on the same weapon, as only Grade 5 and above weapons can manage an equilibrium of these two completely opposing elements."
Ji Hao continued, "Moving on, Grade 7 weapons have five to twenty-nine inscriptions, Grade 6 weapons have thirty to ninety-nine inscriptions, and Grade 5 weapons, considered the greatest here in the Zhongguo region, have between one hundred and nine hundred ninety-nine inscriptions. Beyond Grade 5, weapons are just myths, as no Armament Grandmaster has ever succeeded in creating one."
He then glanced at the knife and then at the sword hanging from the youth's waist, knowing that the sword was the real deal. As a great swordsman himself, he understood that the lad would never let anyone lay a hand on his sword; if someone touched it, he would kill them without hesitation.
"Prince Han Xiao, may I ask you a direct question?" Ji Hao inquired.
"Oh, please do!" Han Xiao replied.
"This must be your first time upgrading and creating your own weapon, starting unusually from a Grade 8 weapon with a specific law allowing you to handle it. So, my question is, is this crafting technique of yours related to the Tang Clan? If not, would you care to share the name of your master?" Ji Hao asked in a serious tone. He had long suspected that this young man was no longer just a fish in an ordinary pond but a formidable shark among the vicious predators of the turbulent ocean.
Stretching his body, Han Xiao stepped forward and responded, "No, my forging, crafting, and inscription techniques have nothing to do with the Tang Clan. You are correct that I have a master, but for certain reasons, he has forbidden me from revealing his identity. All I can say is that he's an old saint who loves good wine and traveling to new places." He fabricated this story to divert attention from himself, anticipating that people would soon investigate him due to his remarkable transformation following his trip to the Willow Tree Forest.
His intuition proved accurate, as many intrigued individuals had already begun to look into him. Among these were spies from a secret organization bearing the Ouroboros seal—a snake eating its own tail.
Ji Ying and Ji Hao exchanged a meaningful glance, knowing the implications behind Han Xiao's words. Throughout the week, they had not been merely idle, sipping tea and observing his crafting skills. They had invested considerable effort in utilizing spies from the Zhou Palace, the largest establishment in the Zhou Nation. Their reports consistently indicated that Han Xiao was only at Level 2 of the Pulse Condensation Realm, despite his strong work ethic and determination, which yielded limited results. He was branded as the "trash" of the Outer Court, a disgrace to the nobility and royalty of the major nations.
What caught their attention was the drastic change after Han Xiao's visit to the Willow Tree Forest. This visit was orchestrated by the elders of the Outer Court to remove him from the Institute and safely send him back to Han Palace, aiming to eliminate the toxicity surrounding the Outer Court of the Tianfu Sword Palace. Intelligence suggested intricate internal politics surrounding this mission, with certain names being forcefully redacted. Among this information, they also discovered that the Identity Token Han Xiao possessed came from Tang Chen, a genius from the Tang Clan. Ji Hao attempted to connect Han Xiao's weapon-crafting technique to Tang.
"Little Han, please don't take this the wrong way. Out of curiosity, elder sister did some investigation on you this week, and..." She paused, hesitant to continue.
"Sister Ying Er, I already consider you my friend. I'm all ears," Han Xiao replied. Coming from Earth, he understood that information was crucial for navigating this chaotic world of magic and swords, so he was open to anything.
Ji Ying took a deep breath and continued, "After reviewing all the information, I'm confident enough to say that your recent mission of hunting beasts in the Willow Tree was not as simple as just extending your stay in this institute."
Han Xiao's interest was piqued as well, as he had been searching for a way to investigate the mission further. He was particularly intrigued by the organization behind the envelope that sought to assassinate him, even using his comrade. Now, he felt that an opportunity was opening up for him.
"Ah, what's on your mind?" Han Xiao inquired, his smile warm and curious.
"Most of the high-ranking elders from the Outer Court were involved in orchestrating that mission. What's intriguing is that some names were conspicuously absent. What's your plan now? If you decide to take action against them, count on me—I'll lend you all my resources," she offered earnestly.
Taking a moment to reflect, Han Xiao shook his head with a sense of resolve. "That won't be necessary. The martial meet for the Outer Court is just around the corner, and I'd rather not entangle myself further. If they harbor any ill intentions, they won't stop here. Besides, I'm rather looking forward to the challenge. Until next time," he concluded gracefully, offering a respectful bow as the elevator doors quietly slid shut.