Chapter 432: Chapter 397: Moon-Cutting Saber

"You’re choosing this one?"

Seeing that Zhao Lin had chosen a hunting knife, Zhengtu asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"That’s right. But I’d like to make a few small modifications."

Zhao Lin picked up the hunting knife, turned it over in his hands a few times, and looked up at Zhengtu.

"Haha, modifications!"

Upon hearing this, Zhengtu’s mouth split into a grin that reached his ears, and he snorted two jets of hot air from his nostrils.

"The standard designs for magical treasures have evolved through countless battles. They have long been honed to perfection—add a bit, and they’re too fat; take a bit away, and they’re too thin."

"I’ve been forging magical treasures for many years and would never dare to alter them recklessly. I didn’t expect you, young friend Zhao, to have the fearlessness of youth—daring to change it the moment you got your hands on it!"

Hearing Zhengtu compare the magical treasure to a beautiful woman, the two apprentices stifled their laughter and turned their heads away.

Zhao Lin ignored the sarcasm, his expression unchanged. "Before I began cultivating, I was a warrior in the mortal world and have some knowledge of weaponry. Senior, you might as well let me give it a try."

"If my design has any shortcomings, I hope Senior will not hesitate to point them out."

Zhengtu waved his hand dismissively. "Fine. The magical treasure is for you to use, anyway."

He then had an apprentice bring Zhao Lin a charcoal pencil.

"Thank you."

Charcoal pencil in hand, Zhao Lin walked over to the smithing table and began sketching a design directly on its surface.

Zhengtu kept a stony face and said nothing, but his gaze drifted over involuntarily, curious to see what Zhao Lin would come up with.

Soon, he witnessed what Zhao Lin meant by "a few small modifications."

Zhao Lin widened and thickened the belly of the blade, then made the front section drop down sharply, turning the whole weapon into a saber with an extreme curve.

Zhengtu frowned, unable to guess the purpose behind Zhao Lin’s changes.

Traditional sabers always curved upward, so why was this one reversed?

It looked less like a saber and more like a sickle.

But he had to admit, the modified saber looked incredibly fierce and domineering.

"Why does it look like a dog’s leg?"

An apprentice standing nearby muttered under his breath.

Zhao Lin glanced over, and the apprentice immediately clapped a hand over his mouth.

"You’re right. This blade is indeed nicknamed the ’dog-leg saber.’"

Zhao Lin smiled, unconcerned.

The shape of the saber was based on the Gurkha knife, hailed as the recurve blade with the most efficient design according to the principles of physics.

The Gurkha knife is the national weapon of Nepal. It has a wide, thick belly, and the blade curves forward like a dog’s leg, which is why it’s also called a dog-leg saber.

In the nineteenth century, the Nepalese used this strangely shaped, curved blade to fight the invading British army, slaying countless enemies and establishing their fearsome reputation.

Zhengtu was dismissive at first, but as the sketch took shape, his look of disdain slowly faded, replaced by one of dawning realization.

"Top-heavy, wider at the front and narrower at the back, with a forward center of gravity... When chopping, all the force concentrates at the head of the blade, maximizing its cutting power."

He sucked in a sharp breath. "This isn’t a saber, it’s an axe!"

Zhao Lin nodded with a smile. "Senior Zhengtu, your insight is remarkable. I’m truly impressed."

Zhengtu’s face flushed slightly as he asked, "Where did you learn about this type of blade?"

Zhao Lin answered evasively, "I’m a Martial Cultivator. I’ve seen my share of weapons."

"The name ’dog-leg saber’ is rather crude. What is its proper name?"

"The Recurve Saber."

"I’ve certainly learned something new today!"

Zhengtu nodded slowly. "Alright, I will forge this Recurve Saber for you. We’ll see just how powerful it is."

After a pause, he added, "I was presumptuous earlier. I hope you won’t take offense, young friend."

Zhao Lin quickly replied, "Not at all. I only borrowed the design from elsewhere myself."

Zhengtu laughed heartily. "Based on this drawing alone, I won’t charge you a deposit."

Then, in a tentative tone, he asked, "In the future, if I’m forging magical treasures for others, may I use this design for reference?"

"Reference," in this case, really meant "copy," but the Cultivation Realm had no concept of patent protection. The fact that he asked at all was a courtesy.

Zhao Lin smiled. "Please, Senior, feel free. As long as the magical treasure proves effective, I’ll be sure to tell anyone who asks that it was forged by you."

"Rest assured, I won’t do anything to ruin my own reputation."

Zhengtu patted his chest, his eyes glued to the sketch on the table, his expression that of a master craftsman who had just found a thrilling new project.

The two then discussed some specific details and finalized the saber’s design.

"Senior Zhengtu, how long will it take to forge the saber? I need to know when to come and pick it up."

Zhao Lin asked before he left.

Zhengtu thought for a moment before replying, "The common wares you see in the market? I can forge those in a single day. To create a work of true quality takes at least five days."

"As for this dog-leg... this Recurve Saber of yours, it will be my first time forging one. I’ll have to create a prototype or two first. Only after I’m sure there are no flaws will I commit the expensive materials for the final version."

"The time will likely double. Let’s say ten days."

Zhao Lin cupped his hands in a salute. "Very well. I will return in ten days to retrieve the saber."

"Oh, right! Give the saber a name, will you? I’ll engrave it on the blade."

Zhengtu called after Zhao Lin.

"Just call it Moon-Cutting."

Zhao Lin replied after a moment’s thought.

Cultivators from the Earth Dark Sect were masters of the Water Moon Slash, so he named the saber Moon-Cutting.

...

「Changzhi County, Political Affairs Hall.」

In the main hall, a cultivator dressed in purple robes sat before a desk, continuously sweeping his Divine Sense over the dozens of jade slips laid out before him.

Changzhi County, located in the heart of Nanhe Province, served as its capital. The Political Affairs Hall was the central hub where the province’s elders managed government affairs and made key decisions.

The Chenghua Sect modeled its administration on the Six Ministries system of the mortal imperial courts, dividing all matters into six departments: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Industry.

The Ministry of Revenue managed Spirit Veins, merit points, taxes, and finances. The Ministry of Industry oversaw Daoist arts such as pill-making, talisman-crafting, artifact-forging, and formation-setting. The other four ministries had functions largely identical to their mortal counterparts.

The purple-robed cultivator was none other than Lu Yuanxiu, the powerful elder in charge of the Ministry of Revenue.

In the Cultivation Realm, official documents weren’t written on paper but were recorded on jade slips, which could be reviewed and annotated using one’s Divine Sense.

Lu Yuanxiu could process them all within an hour each day.

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