[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-cursed-blade-s-walk":3,"chapter-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-720":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Cursed Blade's Walk",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2263025,4415,"Chapter 720","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-720",720,"\u003Cp>“Master, you’re joking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei rubbed his bald head, his mouth stretching into a grin that nearly reached his nape, “I know my own limits—ancestors? I never even dreamed of such a thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke politely, but inside he was overjoyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lineage ancestor? That’s no ordinary title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take a simple example: the Ten Great Masters of Shenzhou—this isn’t just a martial cultivation rank, it carries immense social weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them are the founders of their own schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wan Shengying, the youngest among them, owes much of his place to being the founder of Wan Sheng Fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei knew his own worth—he’d been lucky to awaken his divine ability in middle age and reached Dark Force, but even with firearms, he could barely avoid being a burden to the team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master? He’d never even considered it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could truly found a school and leave his name in history, his life wouldn’t have been wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhao Huogong had a notoriously bad temper; seeing this, he sneered, “Coward! If that’s all the mettle you’ve got, even if I forged you a divine artifact, you couldn’t wield it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re absolutely right, Elder!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei wasn’t one to blush; he immediately slapped his chest loudly, “Rest assured, if this treasure is truly forged, I’ll risk my life to make it work—I won’t bring shame to either of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s more like it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Huogong nodded, stroking his beard thoughtfully, “If we’re going to do it, we must do it best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Frankish craftsman I once served was mad, eccentric, full of bizarre designs—I mocked him back then, but now I see things differently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of idea?” Sha Lifei asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s because of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Huogong sighed, then picked up the gun Sha Lifei had placed on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two clicks, he removed the rear magazine, staring at it with a complex expression: “That craftsman once said, wrapping bullets and powder in paper made them prone to cracking and dampness—if you forged the casing from iron and discarded it after firing, you could increase speed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Back then, I couldn’t even afford enough to eat—how could I waste such precious iron, especially when it required precision craftsmanship? I thought the idea foolish. But now, seeing your firearm, that notion has returned to me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s mood soured as he recalled the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t formally apprenticed—he’d been captured by pirates, sold as a slave to that Frankish craftsman, beaten and cursed daily. Only his nimble hands and willingness to work saved his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, after mastering the craft, he killed the Frankish craftsman and escaped aboard a Shenzhou merchant ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those dark days still haunted him like nightmares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sha Lifei, unaware of this, was startled: “I thought of using iron casings too, but feared the metal couldn’t withstand it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Huogong calmed himself and laughed, “Don’t underestimate the Qiankun Academy. Back then, I wouldn’t have dared dream of it—but here, countless experts gather. With Zhou Xiao here, what’s there to worry about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Baixiao, opposite him, was not talkative, but he nodded: “We can try.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I leave it to the two of you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Sha Lifei beamed, rising to bow respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Baixiao wasn’t ordinary—he was the hereditary gunpowder artisan of Yichun, Ganzhou, who improved the gunpowder drying method and had his name recorded in the Wu Bei Zhi while still young, now tasked with refining new gunpowder for the Great Xuan Dynasty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others couldn’t manage it—but with him involved, the chances were far from slim…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the following days, Li Yan and the others settled comfortably within the Qiankun Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy hadn’t yet opened its sessions; the vast grounds were quiet, but they enjoyed several peaceful days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stayed in a small courtyard provided by the academy—not luxurious, but spotlessly clean. Had they not carried powerful artifacts and wished to avoid disturbance, the academy would have assigned servants to tend to their daily needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meals were uniformly supplied by the academy’s dining hall. Though primarily serving students and artisans, special meals were prepared for them as “honored guests,” with ingredients drawn from the academy’s own medicinal herb gardens and Hundred Herbs Garden, occasionally including qi- and blood-nourishing herbal stews.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of their time was spent assisting the artisans they’d chosen in crafting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their spare time, they wandered freely, befriending the academy’s instructors and learning various techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, Wang Daoxuan obtained several healing formulas from Ge Pusheng, gathered some spirit herbs, and joined him in refining pills, producing remarkable hemostatic powders and Shouzheng Pills…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long Yanner, originally in the Hundred Herbs Hall, had met Bai Chenshan, Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, and upon discovering his collection of insect fossils, became curious about ancient insects and began studying under him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Lüzi and his wife officially became academy instructors, joining the Shenzhou Earth Vein Mapping Project.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, everyone was thoroughly occupied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several days of leisure nearly made them forget the chaos in the capital…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the Baigong Building, many held their breath, gathered ten meters away from Li Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan slowly formed his hand seals, eyes locked on his left arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zizizizi~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he activated the Northern Emperor Yin Thunder Palm, the arm guard shimmered with lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It worked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A weaver gasped softly, eyes alight with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Li Yan’s face broke into a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arm guard “Qian Nian” had been re-forged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brocade master “Wan Baiqiao” used her unique “Kesi Thunder Pattern” technique to weave metal threads forged from spirit iron into the guard’s weave, completing its former deficiencies, enhancing its power and increasing its potential to develop spiritual resonance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most crucially, this guard enhanced thunder techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary thunder techniques required immediate release—but with this treasure, they could be stored, allowing continuous thunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qiang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan drew the Duan Chen Sword and slowly drew it across his left arm guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackling sparks danced along the blade’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Duan Chen Sword had been reforged on Shushan, infused with dragon horn; to unleash its full power, it required thunder to activate—perfectly complementing the “Qian Nian” guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Young Master Li!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With this treasure, no demon or evil dares approach!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone offered congratulations, yet the middle-aged woman “Wan Baiqiao” remained solemn: “Good—the Yin Thunder is contained. Now test the Yang Thunder method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan nodded, dismissed the Northern Emperor Yin Thunder Palm, and formed new seals to activate the Heavenly Thunder Subduing Hammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a secret technique from the Thunder Palace of Heaven—its power spoke for itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to Yin Thunder, it was far more violent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackling!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he activated it, lightning flashed across the guard, even sparking white fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunderfire!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Li Yan didn’t rejoice—he was alarmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the immense power accumulating in the guard, he said nothing and slammed his palm onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderous crash sent shattered stone and dust flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the dust settled, everyone stared wide-eyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stone-paved floor now bore a five-meter-wide bowl-shaped crater, utterly ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power of the Heavenly Thunder Subduing Hammer had also increased significantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Yan’s face darkened as he stared at the guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The metal threads at the weave intersections had snapped in countless places, frayed and ragged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It won’t work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wan Baiqiao” sighed, shaking her head: “The guard’s greatest strength lies in its woven weave, balancing Yin and Yang energies—but your thunder techniques are too strong. The threads I used simply can’t withstand it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Fengchun, the Mo Jia master standing nearby watching, also shook his head: “The pole of your banner—ordinary spirit materials can’t bear it either. I’ve searched every storage room in the Qiankun Academy. No suitable material exists.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yan frowned in thought, handed the damaged guard to “Wan Baiqiao,” and bowed: “I’ll find the material myself. Thank you both, Elders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rest easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tao Fengchun waved his hand: “The Master has already instructed us—we’ll give it our full attention. Once you find the right material, we’ll begin immediately and complete it within seven days!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bidding farewell to the two, Li Yan stepped out of the Baigong Building, his head throbbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some things had caught him off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The court had indeed allocated numerous spirit artifacts to support the Qiankun Academy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in truth, these were merely seed funding—a foundation for trade, meant to be expanded later as the academy matured and gathered resources from all corners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither the court nor the imperial family would ever hand over their true treasures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Evil Spirit Stone” he’d obtained earlier? Only because no one wanted it—he’d gotten it by chance.\u003C\u002Fp>",1433,"2026-06-19T18:28:35.913Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","996c5bfa24fded8c5fb628785a5a9391e4f63f433ddb801c38f634d340883d70","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-721","the-cursed-blade-s-walk-chapter-719",801,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-cursed-blade-s-walk-cover.jpg"]