Chapter 123: The Sword of the Dynasty

The night was deep and heavy.

It was the same quiet river, the same rustic courtyard.

The Bai family member paced back and forth at the courtyard entrance, his face etched with anxiety. When Zhang He finally appeared on the withered wood bridge, the man’s furrowed brows relaxed, and he hurried forward to greet him: "Where have you been these past few days? I’ve been looking for you everywhere."

Zhang He was actually even more anxious than him: "Is the box finished?"

"It’s done," the Bai family member said, his face brimming with excitement. "I’ve been waiting for you to name it."

For any weapon created through the "self-made" crafting system, the player must name it themselves; it cannot be used until it is named. This was why the man had been so eager to summon Zhang He.

In the narrow room, a box sat on a wooden table. Judging by its design, it immediately brought to mind the back-carried box Ning Caichen wore while traveling to the capital for the imperial examinations in *A Chinese Ghost Story*. To be precise, that contraption was called a box-cage.

The Bai family member laughed: "You guessed it right; it’s meant to be carried on the back. While the design is a bit rustic and not exactly convenient to use, it’s currently at Level 3, so we’ll have to make do for now..."

Zhang He didn't hear a word he said, as his attention was entirely fixed on the box.

It was crafted from "Emerald Green Wood," a Tier 6, Upper-Grade material, making it naturally wooden. The surface was smooth and polished, pleasant to the touch, and because it had been fused with "Heavenly God Iron," it possessed not only the faint fragrance of wood but also a chilling, metallic sensation. The entire box was a deep, ink-green, with intricately carved edges that showed the craftsman's attention to detail. To minimize wear and tear, he had even prepared a deep blue blanket to wrap it in.

"Why is it only Level 3?" Zhang He asked.

"Brother," the Bai family member replied seriously, "using Tier 6, Upper-Grade materials fused with Heavenly God Iron, it could have potentially reached Level 6. However, your blueprint requirements were so demanding that I decided to be rigorous and prioritize using more Heavenly God Iron during each upgrade stage. Thus, it could only reach Level 3."

Zhang He nodded with satisfaction: "You are truly responsible, Brother Bai."

"Don't get it wrong," the man replied. "I'm not doing this for you, nor for your money. I simply put so much effort into creating this weapon that I have to be responsible for the weapon itself."

Zhang He nearly vomited blood, but he was relieved once he saw the box's attributes.

[Unnamed], Level 3 Self-Made Weapon. Requirements: Top-tier "Basic Arts" + Initial Stage Strength + Initial Stage Internal Energy + Initial Stage Agility.

The requirements alone showed that this piece of equipment was extraordinary. Even at Level 3, the demands on the player were steep. Fortunately, the Bai family member explained: "The reason it requires Initial Stage Agility is because you have to carry it while moving, which causes many inconveniences in combat, hence the high demand for your lightness skills."

If Zhong Shuman had been present, she would surely have been astonished, as carrying a box into battle was incredibly cumbersome. Yet, Zhang He felt no disappointment; the more he looked, the more satisfied he became.

Effect: The box can transform into various weapon forms. The current level allows for 3 weapon forms and does not occupy a weapon slot.

The box is linked to the player's inventory; when out of combat, it can hold (current level * 1) units of items.

This meant the box was both a weapon and a storage container.

Attribute: Attack Power = (Strength + Internal Energy) * 1.2.

This attack power was fierce; it was actually higher than both the Flowing Cloud Saber and the Wind-Thunder Staff. And this was only its initial form. Furthermore, it lacked a fixed numerical value; in other words, the higher the user's cultivation, the greater the box's power. Conversely, in the hands of an ordinary person, it would be nothing but scrap metal.

Sub-attribute: Increases the critical hit probability coefficient by (current promotion level * 0.1).

This was simple enough: if Zhang He was at 1st Promotion, the critical hit rate increased by 10%; at 2nd Promotion, it was 20%. If one were insane enough to reach 10th Promotion, every attack would result in a yellow critical hit, with no red damage numbers in sight.

"Well? Satisfied?" The Bai family member was not only happy but proud. "It still has no name. You need to give it a domineering one."

Zhang He suppressed his wild excitement and sent a request to the AI system: "Let's call it 'Treasure Box'."

AI System: "Sorry, this name is already taken. Please choose another."

Zhang He thought for a moment: "How about 'A Treasure Box'?"

AI System: "Sorry, this name is already taken. Please choose another."

*Huh, these folks are sharp; they’ve taken every name.*

"What about 'Nine-Yang God Box'?"

AI System: "Sorry, this name is already taken. Please choose another."

"Damn it! 'Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Boxes'!"

AI System: "Sorry, this name is already taken. Please choose..."

"That's registered too? Are you kidding? Fine, 'Lone Nine Boxes'."

AI System: "Sorry, this name is already taken. Please..."

"Then how about 'Sunflower Treasure Box'?"

AI System: "Sorry, this name is already..."

"Screw it, you win! Let's go with 'Tathagata God Box'!"

AI System: "Sorry, this name..."

Zhang He had a sudden inspiration: " 'Lingxi One Box'."

AI System: "Sorry..."

Zhang He was losing his patience: "'Li Fei Box'?"

"'Sucking Star Big Box'?"

"'Six Meridians God Box'?"

"'Deer-Cutter Box'?"

"'Dog-Beating Box'?"

"'I Ching Box'?"

...

"I Ching Box"?

Hmm? Wait a minute, isn't the homophone for this "Menstrual Fragrance"? And doesn't it sound a bit similar to feminine hygiene products? Others use "pads" to absorb, but you use a "box" to catch it—a whole box full of it at that. You’re insane...

AI System: "Sorry..."

"Sorry..."

"Sorry..."

...

Zhang He finally ran out of steam. These days, everyone gets the joke; it’s just so hard to pick a good name.

"Let me think this over carefully," Zhang He mused. "How about this: let's just call this weapon 'Sword of the Dynasty'!"

AI System: "Congratulations, noble player 'Force Conquers All'. You have obtained the Level 3 self-made weapon, 'Sword of the Dynasty'!"

If Zhong Shuman had been here, she would likely have vomited blood. It was clearly a box, yet he had chosen a name that even she and Zhang He didn't fully understand yet—a name that would eventually stir up endless storms of blood and change the fate of the martial world.

"Sword of the Dynasty... yes, Sword of the Dynasty. A good name, a truly good name..." The Bai family member shook his head in admiration. "Come back to me for future upgrades. It won't work if you let anyone else handle it..."

Zhang He paid the 90 taels of gold without hesitation and walked out, excitedly carrying the box on his back. Now, Zhang didn't look like the resourceful "Force Conquers All" anymore; he looked like Leslie Cheung playing Ning Caichen.

*Now then, where is my Nie Xiaoqian? If Xiaoqian isn't coming, at least a ghost will do...*

Zhang He was still daydreaming when suddenly, the "Hidden Sword Inn" at the station ahead erupted into chaos. The crowd was in an uproar, and the noise was deafening. Clearly, something had happened, and the players' cries of alarm echoed one after another.

"Fire! There's a fire! Someone help!"

"It's burning! Everyone, lend a hand!"

"Quick, notify the people from the villa!"

"Buckets? Where are the buckets? Hurry, hurry!"

"Four-Eyes, what are you standing there for? Help put out the fire!"

"Ouch, my stomach hurts, I feel like throwing up, I need to see a doctor."

"You idiot..."

Sure enough, a corner of the luxurious "Hidden Sword Inn" in Xie Family Station was billowing with thick smoke, the flames soaring into the sky.

The fire spread in an instant, even threatening the shops and stalls along the street. Hundreds of players were thrown into a frenzy—some fetching water, some shouting, some running, some crying. It was utter chaos.

Amidst the flames, there seemed to be cold flashes of blades clashing, though the sound of metal on metal was drowned out by the noise. Seven or eight dark figures were seen leaping across the rooftops, using lightness skills to scatter.

Zhang He had anticipated trouble tonight, but he hadn't expected a fire. And wasn't this fire a bit too convenient? Why were there masked men in black here? Could it be arson?

But that was impossible. Deliberately burning down a player's place of business would incur heavy system penalties. To burn down a large inn like this would cost hundreds, if not thousands, of taels of gold in compensation.

Zhang He took a look, then suddenly kicked off a tree by the roadside, propelling himself upward using his lightness skills and skimming along the eaves.

"Stop!" Zhang He roared.

Of course, that shout wouldn't make them stop, but it did attract one of the figures in black to turn around.

And as the figure turned, a Golden Lotus Flying Knife pierced the night sky with a brilliant glare. If it hadn't been for the sudden crisis and the spreading fire, Zhang He would never have used such a lethal move right from the start.

The spring of the flying knife snapped open, and the six-petaled golden lotus surged toward the target like a meteor shower. In such a desperate moment, Zhang He was certain the opponent could never dodge it.

The figure in black didn't dodge. With a wave of his hand, there was a series of sharp "clangs." A blade of light, rotating like a crescent moon, instantly deflected five of the golden petals. The remaining one struck his left arm, but it only produced a damage value of "-138."

Zhang He was shocked. This was merely one of the group, yet his swordsmanship, internal energy, and defense were of a level he had never seen before. How had so many experts arrived at Xie Family Station in a single night?

The figure in black waved his hand again. Using a hidden weapon, a streak of red light shot straight for Zhang He’s face, as swift as a rainbow cutting through the sky.

Zhang He was caught off guard and had no time to dodge. He slammed his foot down where he stood, and his "Crushing Rock Kick" shattered the roof tiles instantly, causing him to fall through the hole he had created.

Although he had evaded the hidden weapon, chasing these figures now was unrealistic.

However, the scene inside the inn room left Zhang He unable to believe his eyes. The room was in total disarray—tables and chairs smashed, cups shattered—clearly the site of a fierce struggle.

A screen had been pushed over, and lying behind it was a corpse. The body was covered in sword wounds and drenched in blood. Zhang He could see that the fatal wound was to the throat; it had been slit wide open and was still bubbling with blood. This was, in all likelihood, the work of the men in black.

The man's eyes were wide open, filled with terror and disbelief. He seemed unable to comprehend that someone could have killed him.

Stuck in his chest was a vermilion brush!

The Judge of Life and Death!

It really was the Judge of Life and Death! Only they could have wiped him out in such a short time.

Zhang He felt a chill run through his entire body because he recognized the face of the dead man. It was none other than—Jin Mailang!!