HEAVEN SWORD DRAGON SABRE Book 2 of 2

The Hidden Military Strategy Manual Part 4

Out of six Sheng Huo Ling tablets, one was taken by Shuo Bude going down the mountain to call for reinforcement; there were still five tablets left. Zhang Wuji took these five tablets and handed them over to Wu Jingcao, while saying, "If the Saber and the Sword cannot be fixed, that's all right. Sheng Huo Ling is our Cult's most precious object. We simply must not damage it."

"Yes!" Wu Jingcao replied, while bowing down to receive the tablets. He looked at the five tablets and noticed that the tablets were made neither of steel nor iron; they were hard like nothing he had seen. He estimated the weigh to be about more or less a catty [approx. 1 lb or 0.5kg]. Lowering his head, he pondered deeply.

"If you are unsure, you don't have to take a risk," Zhang Wuji said.

Wu Jingcao did not reply. After a while, he awoke from his deep thought and said, "Subordinate did not promptly reply, begging Jiaozhu's pardon. This Sheng Huo Ling was cast using 'bai jin, xuan tie' [lit. white gold – platinum, black/mysterious iron (same material as Yang Guo's heavy sword)], blended with 'jin gang sha' [lit. very hard steel (or diamond) powder/granule] and other materials; ordinary blaze would not smelt it. Subordinate was pondering deeply how it was made in the past. It was truly unthinkable; thereupon I was lost in thought for a while."

Zhao Min cast a sidelong glance toward Zhang Wuji. Pursing her mouth, she laughed and said, "When Jiaozhu needs to go to Persia to meet with a certain important character in the future, you can go with him to consult their master artisan."

Zhang Wuji was bashful. "Why would I want to go to Persia?" he asked.

Zhao Min smiled and said, "Do I have to spell it out in front of everybody?" To Wu Jingcao she said, "Have you looked? There are engravings of characters on the Sheng Huo Ling. If sharp weapons like Tulong Saber and Yitian Sword cannot damage it the least bit, what kind of tool did they engrave the characters with?"

"Actually, to engrave the characters is not difficult," Wu Jingcao replied, "You can apply a layer of white wax [here's from the dictionary: white wax from Chinese white wax bug] to the Sheng Huo Ling; and then engrave the characters on the wax. Next, apply a strong acid. Within several months, the acid will corrode the tablets. When the white wax is scraped, the characters stay on the tablets. What Xiao Ren [humble one, lowly one – referring to self] do not understand is how the metal was cast."

"Hey," Xin Ran called out, "Are we going to do it or not?"

"Jiaozhu, set your mind at ease," Wu Jingcao said to Zhang Wuji, "Although Xie Xiongdi's raging fire is fierce, it will not damage the Sheng Huo Ling the least bit."

Xin Ran, however, was apprehensive, "I will make every effort to fan the fire, but if it burns our Cult's most precious object, I may take the blame."

Wu Jingcao smiled and said, "I don't think you have the ability to do so. But even if you do, I will take the blame." Thereupon he used two Sheng Huo Ling tablets to clamp the half section of the Tulong Saber, and then took a new pair of pliers to grip the Sheng Huo Ling tablets and returned the treasured Saber into the furnace.

The fire was blazing hotter and higher. After burning continuously for more than an hour, Wu Jingcao, Xin Ran and the Lie Huo Flag's Vice Flag Leader seemed to be beaten down by the heat; their faces showed signs of weariness, it looked like they would not be able to hold much longer. Priest Tie Guan signaled Zhou Dian with his eyes, while his left hand made a circle in the air. The two of them rushed forward to take Xin Ran and Lie Huo Flag's Vice Flag Leader's place in pumping the bellows. These two men's internal energy was much higher than those two they were replacing; inside the furnace, a white flame rose straight up.