The lighthouse in the small town was just one of a series of lighthouses set along the coastline. Due to the strategic location of the town, the government established a large lighthouse here primarily to guide the ships passing through the ocean.
The lighthouse was located on a cliff 10 kilometers south of the town. Being far from the town and modern life, the townspeople were unwilling to work there.
It had already been the sixth day since Mu Lin arrived at the lighthouse. Apart from a telephone for contacting the outside world, there were no entertainment facilities there. Except for the visits from the town mayor and Jacques when he first arrived, people gradually stopped coming as everyone became busy with their own work.
Mu Lin was not eager to leave either. The recent ambush by the Y government made him realize his own shortcomings—not only in power but also in combat experience. If he had a powerful weapon, he could have quickly defeated his enemies and escaped the predicament.
The lighthouse in the small town is one of a series of lighthouses set up along the coastline. Due to the town’s strategically important location, the government erected a large lighthouse here, primarily to guide passing ships navigating the ocean.
Situated on a cliff ten kilometers south of the town, the lighthouse is far removed from both the town and modern life, making the townspeople reluctant to work there.
This was already Mu Lin’s sixth day at the lighthouse. Apart from a telephone for external communication, there were no entertainment facilities. After the initial visits from the mayor and Jacques when he first arrived, fewer and fewer people came by, as everyone had their own work to attend to.
For now, Mu Lin had no intention of leaving. The recent ambush by the Y government had made him acutely aware of his shortcomings—not just in terms of strength but also in combat experience. If he had possessed a powerful offensive artifact, he could have swiftly defeated his enemies and freed himself from their entanglement.
Reflecting on his near-death experience and the enemies’ ruthless determination to die for their cause, Mu Lin realized he needed to forge his own unique weapons to face increasingly formidable foes. Although the Y government had suffered heavy losses in the ambush, Mu Lin had been forced into a defensive position the entire time. It was only because they relied on their nation’s might that they dared to employ such underhanded tactics against him. If he had possessed enough power to deter them, they wouldn’t have dared lay a finger on him, no matter how bold they were.
The lighthouse received weekly supplies from the town, and usually, no one else came by. After seeing off the supply vehicle, Mu Lin set up a Primordial Chaos Formation around the lighthouse to ensure he wouldn’t be disturbed.
After securing all doors and windows, Mu Lin began his daily training routine. Despite having been in a coma for over three months in the hospital, which had allowed him to unblock his major meridians, many others still needed to be opened—another reason he urgently sought a secluded place.
By the time Mu Lin emerged from his meditative state, night had fallen. Extending his sensory perception outside, he detected no abnormalities. He then took out the greatsword from his ring—the very weapon that had nearly cost him his life. This was the first time he had examined it since seizing it.
It was a two-handed sword, identical in design to those wielded by medieval European knights. The blade was unadorned, and the hilt was simple, lacking any unnecessary embellishments. This was the sword that had almost killed him.
Mu Lin refrained from probing the sword with his sensory or spiritual energy. He vividly remembered how effortlessly the blade had sliced through his protective Qi. At the time, he had sensed the immense power contained within it. He had no intention of unleashing that energy recklessly and risking damage to his temporary refuge before fully understanding the sword’s secrets.
First, he carefully inspected the weapon. It was clearly an offensive artifact of European origin. Given their artifact-forging capabilities, it was unlikely to bear any hidden marks that even he couldn’t detect.
Finally, near the pommel, Mu Lin discovered some engraved patterns. So this was how they concealed their artifacts. The plain design allowed for a sudden, devastating release of power, catching opponents off guard.
Mu Lin stepped outside the lighthouse, intending to study the sword’s engraved formations in detail and test its true power. This way, if he encountered similar artifacts in the future, he could devise appropriate countermeasures.
The pitch-black night provided perfect cover. At the seaside, Mu Lin gripped the greatsword with both hands and gradually channeled his Qi into it. Within the range of his spiritual perception, he saw a thin, cutting energy extend from the blade’s tip—similar to modern laser weapons but without the telltale glow.
The more energy he poured in, the thicker and longer the blade’s energy became. When he channeled his full power, the energy extended over a hundred meters. With a casual swing toward the sea, the blade split the water open, revealing the dark gray rocks beneath. The exposed seabed was then cleaved apart as well. Mu Lin withdrew his energy, and the seawater rushed back, filling the trench.
This gave Mu Lin a benchmark for the wielder’s strength—it had been only about twenty percent of his own. Yet, under specific circumstances, someone with such limited power had nearly killed him. If he had possessed such an artifact at the time, those warships would have posed no threat. For the first time, Mu Lin truly understood the might of artifacts—and for the first time, he felt the desire to forge his own.
With meticulous care, Mu Lin used his spiritual energy to peel away the sword’s outer protective layers, probing the patterns at both ends of the hilt. His goal was to uncover the secret behind the artifact’s immense power—even if it meant destroying the sword in the process.
Among the artifact-forging texts Mu Lin had collected, none described artifacts with such properties. Even among the offensive artifacts he had acquired, none matched this one. It was clearly unique to the Western world, with forging methods and formations unlike any he had seen.
This meant the sword was likely a renowned artifact in the West. If he were to wield it openly, it would provoke both resentment and greed among Western cultivators. Though his own strength was formidable, the saying “enough ants can kill an elephant” held true. Could he really slaughter countless Western cultivators in an endless cycle of vengeance?
The answer was no. Behind these cultivators were ties to their respective governments. If nations intervened, pressuring his family and friends, where would that leave him? He might find himself with no place left in this world.
Given this, his only option was to forge his own artifact. Not only would this allow him to master a new forging technique to pass down to future generations, but it would also avoid drawing the attention—and wrath—of Western cultivators. That was his plan for now.
The lighthouse was supplied weekly from the town, and otherwise, few people visited. After seeing off the supply vehicle, Mu Lin set up a mixed-element formation around the lighthouse to ensure he wouldn’t be disturbed.
After securing all the doors and windows, Mu Lin began his daily routine of cultivation. Although he had been unconscious for over three months in the hospital, major meridians had been cleared. However, there were still many meridians needing unblocking, which was why he urgently needed a quiet place.
When Mu Lin awoke from his meditation, it was already night outside. He extended his spiritual sense outward and found nothing unusual. He then took out the sword embedded in his ring—the very one that had nearly cost him his life. This was the first time he had drawn the sword since seizing it.
It was a two-handed sword, identical in design to the great swords used by medieval European knights. Its ancient blade and simple hilt were devoid of any unnecessary decoration. This was the very sword that had nearly taken his life.
Mu Lin did not hastily probe the sword with his spiritual sense or divine consciousness. He clearly remembered how easily his protective energy had been sliced through by this sword. At that time, he distinctly felt the immense power contained within the blade. He had no intention of damaging his temporary refuge by releasing the sword’s energy before fully understanding its secrets.
Mu Lin first carefully examined the sword. It should have been an offensive artifact of European origin. According to their forging techniques, it was unlikely to contain any hidden marks that he couldn’t detect.
Eventually, at the hilt’s end, Mu Lin noticed some carved patterns. So that was how they concealed their artifacts! Such an ordinary appearance allowed them to achieve unexpected effects when suddenly unleashing a powerful attack.
Mu Lin quickly stepped outside the lighthouse. He planned to study the sword’s engraved formations in detail and test its actual power, so he could prepare suitable countermeasures for future encounters with similar artifacts.
The dark night was the best cover for Mu Lin. Arriving at the seashore, he gripped the great sword with both hands and slowly infused it with his inner energy. Within the range of his spiritual perception, Mu Lin saw a stream of energy slowly extending from the sword’s tip. This was a cutting energy, somewhat similar to modern laser weapons, but without their obvious visibility.
The more energy he poured in, the thicker and longer the energy stream became. When he channeled all his power into the sword, the energy extended over a hundred meters. With a casual slash at the sea surface, it instantly split the water open, revealing the grayish-black rocks at the ocean floor. The rocks themselves were then cleaved, creating a deep trench. As Mu Lin withdrew his energy, the seawater rushed back in, quickly submerging the trench.
This gave Mu Lin a clear comparison of the attacker’s power that day—the attacker’s strength was merely about twenty percent of his own. Yet even someone with just twenty percent of his power nearly took his life under the right conditions. If he had possessed such an artifact himself at that time, those warships wouldn’t have posed any threat at all. For the first time, Mu Lin truly felt the power of artifacts. For the first time, he felt a strong desire to forge his own powerful artifacts.
Mu Lin’s sharp spiritual sense began to penetrate the outer protective layer, following the patterns on both ends of the hilt. His goal was to uncover the secret behind this artifact’s immense power. Even if it meant destroying the sword, he was determined to find out.
Among the artifact forging manuals Mu Lin had collected, there were no records of artifacts with such properties. Even among the offensive artifacts he had gathered, none possessed such characteristics. This artifact must be a unique creation of the Western world, and its forging method and formation must also be one-of-a-kind.
Therefore, this artifact must be a relatively famous one in the Western world. If he were to use it, it would surely provoke anger and greed from Western cultivators. Although he possessed considerable strength, the saying goes, “Too many ants can kill an elephant.” Facing relentless Western cultivators who would never give up, could he really go on a killing spree?
The answer was definitely no! Behind these cultivators were various governments, all interconnected. If the time came when different nations pressured him by threatening his family and friends, how would he cope? Perhaps he would no longer have a place to stand in this world.
If that were the case, he had no choice but to forge a new artifact of his own. This way, he could master a new method of artifact forging to pass on to his descendants. At the same time, he could avoid drawing the attention of Western cultivators and prevent provoking their collective wrath. This was his current plan.
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