Chapter 86: Growing (1)

Bang!

The training ground echoed loudly.

Ma Dongphil's eyes widened.

"What is all this?"

"These are the weapons I will use."

"Not just one or two, I see."

"Yeah, I'll use them all."

Ma Dongphil shook his head inwardly.

'What an incredible person.'

He was amazed at the martial arts the young master displayed when fighting the monster for the first time. It wasn't because he was strong, but because it was beyond comprehension.

The young master could handle any weapon.

What was even more impressive was that he could skillfully use all kinds of weapons without missing a single one.

Of course, every martial artist has different talents and inclinations, so there are those who focus on one type of weapon and those who handle multiple weapons.

But even considering that, it was still impressive.

The young master seemed to be not just handling multiple weapons but also using them without being constrained by their shape or purpose.

"By the way, did you have a good trip?"

"Huh? Ah, yes."

"What did Xiao Yuanzhu say?"

"He said he understood the young master's intentions and would treat us to good wine as an apology soon."

Xiaoliang smiled.

"Well done."

Although he had drawn his sword, he didn't want to confront Heyaocheng if he could avoid it.

Xiao Yanshen felt the same way. Both of them wielded immense power in the Divine Sect.

However, he didn't want to appear overly friendly. It's a natural principle that even a good person will be seen as easy to handle if they only show a gentle side.

He wanted to be someone who was appropriately challenging but not hostile.

Xiaoliang wanted to be seen that way. At least, that was necessary to survive in the Divine Sect.

"What about Wei Dazhu?"

"He's gone. It's quite late, after all."

"I see."

Although he spoke harshly, saying things like "Don't slack off" and "Are you still a Dazhu?" Wei Honglian was a responsible person.

He was probably organizing his subordinates and waiting for the next mission by now.

"It's a bit late, but let's take a look at the quality."

Xiaoliang flipped open the bundle.

Clang!

Ma Dongphil's eyes wavered.

'All but one sword are knives. But... '

What are these uniquely distinctive knives?

Excluding the sword, Xiaoliang had brought four knives.

A pair of small knives that looked like twins, a curved knife, and a large knife as big as the one he used against Beast Palace.

'Really, he's going to use all of them... Huh!'

Swoosh.

Ma Dongphil involuntarily took a step back.

His eyes were on the three-foot-long curved knife. It was a bit shorter than the one Xiaoliang used before but was still a long knife.

The long knife, from the blade to the handle, was tinged with a faint black color. The killing aura emanating from it was truly formidable.

Xiaoliang chuckled.

"Quite a fierce one, isn't it?"

"Could this knife be...?"

"Do you know what this knife is?"

Ma Dongphil involuntarily swallowed.

"Could it be the Qiyadao?"

"Huh? You know? I just brought it because I liked it."

"Death Soldier Qiyadao...!"

Xiaoliang spoke casually, but this knife was far from ordinary.

Qiyadao, officially known as Heimoyedao.

This knife, with its simple appearance and faintly emitted killing aura, was once the cherished weapon of the Seven Great Demons who spread terror throughout the martial world.

Regardless of the knife's own quality, it was the weapon that accompanied the most powerful person in the Divine Sect's history from the moment he joined until his death.

There were stronger magical weapons, but the significance of Qiyadao in the Divine Sect was no less than any other.

"The symbolic value of Qiyadao in the main sect is tremendous. In the entire martial world, it is one of the weapons that knife wielders most desire. You've found a remarkable weapon."

"I just liked it. If it doesn't suit me, there's no need to cling to an old, smelly relic."

Ma Dongphil smiled.

'Typical of the young master.'

He probably didn't care about the history of the knife. He would only think about whether it suited him.

If he were a knife wielder, he might have hesitated even if Qiyadao didn't suit him. Its reputation was that great.

"Do you know what this knife is?"

Holding Qiyadao, Xiaoliang picked up a pair of identical small knives.

Although called small knives, they were about half a foot longer than ordinary small knives.

One was red, the other blue. Apart from being more slender than Qiyadao, they didn't have any other distinctive features.

But Ma Dongphil couldn't ignore these knives.

Swoosh.

The knives, drawn from their sheaths, emitted a bone-chilling aura.

It was incomparable to the killing aura of Qiyadao. Though it didn't contain demonic energy, it could cut through objects without touching them.

Ma Dongphil's throat convulsed. Thanks to the young master, he was getting a real treat today.

"The red and blue cutting wind, Liuxing Shuangdao."

Xiaoliang looked at Ma Dongphil with surprise.

"You really know a lot, don't you?"

"I have an interest in weapons, so I learned about them in the past."

He couldn't say that these weapons were so famous that anyone could know them.

Qiyadao is called a thousand-year-old magical weapon due to its owner's reputation, but Liuxing Shuangdao is a truly remarkable weapon, fitting the title of a new magical weapon.

Especially for knife wielders skilled in fast knives, it was a weapon worth exchanging their lives for.

Interestingly, Liuxing Shuangdao is not a magical weapon. Therefore, even orthodox knife wielders coveted it.

'Come to think of it.'

Ma Dongphil scanned the other weapons.

'The knives, except for the sword, don't emit demonic energy.'

Then, what kind of knife is the last one?

His eyes turned to the five-foot-long large knife.

The handle was about a foot and a half long, covered with dragon scale patterns. Unlike the other knives, it was intricately crafted.

But that was all.

The handle was ornate, but there were no other decorations, and it had no sheath.

The blade was about ten inches wide and quite thick, exuding a tremendous presence, but its appearance was simple.

"Do you know what this knife is?"

"…I don't know."

Xiaoliang nodded.

"It was buried in a corner of the armory. Do you want to try it?"

"Y-Yes?! Can I really try it?"

Xiaoliang blew a raspberry and threw the large knife to him.

Ma Dongphil carefully caught the knife.

Instantly.

'Huh!'

He was startled. The knife was much heavier than he thought.

'Fifty catties? No, more like sixty catties...'

Swinging such a heavy knife with internal energy would be terrifying.

Although there are martial artists in the world who use weapons weighing over a hundred catties, it's not easy to see them.

If one is skilled enough to split rocks with a wooden sword, there's no need to handle such a heavy weapon.

Therefore, more than half of those who use heavy weapons are not particularly skilled.

But...

'If the young master were to wield such a knife?!'

Instantly, goosebumps ran down his spine. He could almost see the illusion of a person being cut in half with one stroke, and even the rocks and trees beyond flying away.

"Heavy, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is."

"Considering a prolonged battle, it's not something you'd want to use. But I keep being drawn to it."

Ma Dongphil, who had been fiddling with the large knife, respectfully handed it back to Xiaoliang.

Xiaoliang easily lifted the knife with one hand.

"Unlike the other weapons on the shelf, it was buried in a corner, so I don't know its name. I decided to call it Longlindao because of the handle's design."

Longlindao.

A knife with dragon scales engraved on it, hence the name Longlindao. Although Xiaoliang's naming sense was the worst, it seemed to fit this knife.

"Strangely..."

Whoosh!

As dark shadow demonic energy filled it, Longlindao emitted a powerful resonance.

"I think I can use it well."

Ma Dongphil swallowed.

Holding the large weapon in one hand, Xiaoliang's serious face exuded an indescribable dignity.

It was strangely different from his usual self. He seemed to exude a noble martial artist's aura. The sharpness and intensity that were once sharp and pointed now felt weighty.

After a long moment of looking at Longlindao with a solemn expression, he smiled.

"If it doesn't work out, I might sell it later. I think I could get a good price for it."

Ma Dongphil sighed.

Xiaoliang sheathed the four knives. On his right waist was Qiyadao, on his back were Liuxing Shuangdao, and on his right diagonal was Longlindao.

Wearing four knives of different sizes at the same time, Xiaoliang looked somewhat awkward but also well-suited.

Ma Dongphil, who thought he looked like a human weapon storage, tilted his head.

"Young master."

"Hmm."

"But what about this sword?"

"Oh, that?"

Xiaoliang picked up the long sword. The black sheath and dark blue handle were neither too ornate nor too simple.

He threw the sword to Ma Dongphil.

Caught off guard, Ma Dongphil looked at Xiaoliang.

"Draw it."

"Me...?"

"You need to draw it. I brought it for you."

Ma Dongphil's eyelids trembled.

Xiaoliang shrugged.

"Even if I have good taste, I can't know if you'll like it. But I chose it because your martial arts and personality suit a heavy and serious style."

"..."

"If it doesn't work out, you can give it to someone else."

"That's not possible."

A weapon that doesn't suit him?

Even if it doesn't, he can't give it to someone else. He shouldn't.

This sword was brought from the 'Heavenly Demon Armory' by the young master himself for him. If it doesn't suit him, he would have to adjust his martial arts.

Even if he thanked him a thousand times, it wouldn't be enough, but Ma Dongphil remained silent. Such gratitude might belittle Xiaoliang's favor.

Swoosh.

The sword was slowly drawn.

The blade was as black as the sheath, about half a foot longer than the three-foot sword he usually used.

Whoosh.

As the sword was drawn, a powerful demonic aura spread around the training ground.

It wasn't the demonic aura emitted by a demon, but the aura from the weapon itself.

The fact that a weapon could contain demonic energy was already a marvel, and the concentration of the demonic aura was quite thick.

"Heavy, isn't it? I brought it because it suits your martial arts and personality. It's called Mowang Jian, and I've heard of it."

Ma Dongphil's hands trembled. He also knew about Mowang Jian.

One of the Five Great Demon Swords of the Divine Sect and one of the Ten Great Demon Swords of the martial world, it was the ultimate demon sword.

Mowang Jian is also known as the silent sword. It doesn't emit a strong demonic aura unless the wielder shows their true strength.

But once the wielder grows to match the sword, it begins to display terrifying power.

"You'll have to work hard to master it. You won't be a fool who can't use a single weapon, will you?"

"Young master."

Ma Dongphil, who had sheathed the sword, made a fist salute.

Not a bow, but a fist salute. But it exuded a more solemn atmosphere than ever.

"I will become the greatest demon. I will become stronger than anyone and protect the young master for the rest of my life."

Xiaoliang chuckled.

"I don't expect you to do it for a lifetime, so just focus on your training."

* * *

The next morning.

Xiaoliang and Ma Dongphil, who had sweated profusely the previous day, came to the training ground early in the morning to get used to their new weapons.

"Alright, you do it over there. I'll do it here... Huh?"

Suddenly, Xiaoliang frowned.

"Who is it this early in the morning?"

A moment later, someone knocked on the gate.

"A message from the Demon God Palace. Please open the gate, Third Young Master."

Creak!

Xiaoliang opened the gate without a word.

A demon bowed. He was a demon from the Military Department.

"Invincible Divine Sect, Ten Thousand Demons Bow! Greetings, Third Young Master of the Divine Sect."

"Enough, what's the matter this early in the morning?"

"The Sect Leader has summoned you, Young Master."

"..."

Xiaoliang sighed.

"Time to hold my breath."