Ye Luo glanced at the elder, feeling a sense of disdain for the elder’s overbearing arrogance.

"Weapons? Are they just mere tools? Humph, how ignorant. If you simply regard a weapon as a tool, then why would it willingly sacrifice itself for you? A weapon is your friend, your protector, not just a tool!"

For some reason, as Ye Luo spoke, he faintly felt the dagger in his hand tremble slightly. However, the sensation was so weak that he couldn’t be certain of it.

Upon hearing Ye Luo’s words, the elder was taken aback.

It took a moment before he responded.

"Ah, you’re not wrong, lad. You see things more clearly than many others! In the Great Tang, we cultivate through technology; with powerful technological strength, weapons have become very common. If a weapon breaks, people just buy a new one. How many truly see their weapon as a comrade-in-arms? How many can understand that on the battlefield, the weapon in one’s hand is the one thing that will never betray them!"

"It’s a pity they don’t grasp this principle! Here, take it, this weapon is for you. What I can tell you is, it’s not just some scrap. But to activate it, with your current strength? You’re not yet qualified!"

The elder spoke calmly, but Ye Luo was slightly startled. Was the elder really giving him this weapon?

No matter what, even the materials to forge this weapon were worth something. Was the elder really giving it away so easily?

"I cannot accept a reward without having done any service. Name your price. I, Ye Luo, do not like being beholden to others!"

Ye Luo’s words shocked everyone in the room.

In fact, this elder was no ordinary person but a maverick elder from the Tianxing Sect, and the weapon in Ye Luo’s hands was forged by this very elder.

It’s just that it had been in the weapon shop in Nan Zhou City for so long without anyone buying it, so the elder had decided to take it back with him during his outing.

But unexpectedly, he encountered Ye Luo.

"Hah, spunky, aren’t you, lad? Take it or leave it, I’ll give this weapon away, but I won’t sell it!"

Ye Luo was stunned, this old man was truly remarkable, offering gifts with such a domineering attitude that Ye Luo seldom encountered!

"Old man, you are quite the character. Alright, I’ll accept this weapon!"

Ye Luo said with a smile, but before his smile had faded, a furious shout rang out.

"How dare you insult the Elder, are you seeking death!"

The one who spoke was a young disciple standing beside the elder.

But before Ye Luo could even speak, the elder had already reprimanded: "Do not be rude!"

"Lad, I’ve given you the weapon, now can you tell me what you’ve sensed from it?"

Ye Luo glanced at the person speaking, not caring much, and then said to the elder, "I felt strength and loyalty!"

Strength? Loyalty?

The old man was stunned; he had never expected Ye Luo’s response to be this!

"Oh, tell me, what kind of loyalty are you speaking of, and what sort of strength?"

The old man was clearly intrigued by Ye Luo’s words, even asking with a hint of confusion.

Some might think that Ye Luo was just spouting nonsense, but in fact, this was truly what he thought.

Since the old man was willing to give the weapon to Ye Luo, Ye Luo was not one to be petty. If the old man wanted to ask, then Ye Luo would answer.

"I’ve heard from the servant that this weapon lacks the ability to transform, is not bolstered by formations, and doesn’t even gather nature’s spiritual energy. Furthermore, this weapon looks like a dagger, but I do not think so. First of all, since the Artifact Refiner who created this weapon was willing to expend the effort to make it, this proves that there is a reason for the weapon’s existence. Moreover, it contains the Instrument Soul of a transformed Demon Beast! This already speaks to its extraordinary nature."

"The reason I said I felt strength from it is because I feel it’s impossible for it to be as simple as it appears on the surface!"

"As for my comment on its loyalty, likewise, it is also a sentiment. If you truly ask me to elaborate, indeed, I can’t explain it, but holding this dagger, I just feel that it’s quite extraordinary!"

Hearing Ye Luo’s explanation, everyone could be said to be thoroughly confused. What difference was there between this explanation and no explanation at all?

But the old man laughed again: "Haha, to do things based on feeling! Many people wish they could act as they please, but how many can truly do so?"

"Young man, you are doing great. Allowing the Shadow Phantom Blade to follow you will not tarnish it! Haha, this is my most proud creation. Sadly, those who cannot understand it, only see it as a useless object! Yet, how could a Divine Weapon forged with all my lifelong skills be useless?"

As the old man spoke, he looked at Ye Luo with pride.

These words had stunned Ye Luo, and naturally, everyone else was shocked as well!

What? This is not a useless object but a true Divine Weapon? Everyone else had misjudged it, and only Ye Luo had discerned the weapon’s remarkable nature?

How could this be possible?

Just because of this young fellow?

Many people were puzzled, and of course, in truth, Ye Luo had not actually perceived anything extraordinary about the weapon. He just simply liked it, and initially, it was Xiao Ling and Xiao Ba’s reminders that made Ye Luo aware of the powerful Instrument Soul within the dagger.

Moreover, to Ye Luo, even if this weapon were truly useless, as long as it contained an Instrument Soul, acquiring it meant Ye Luo would not be at a loss!

Shadow Phantom Blade? Judging by its name, one can guess that perhaps this dagger, which appears to be useless, does indeed possess some special quality!

The old man looked appreciatively at Ye Luo and continued to speak: "That’s right, I created the Shadow Phantom Blade because I wanted to innovate, making its surface appear unremarkable. Even for the mighty, it’s hard to activate it, but that does not mean there is no way to activate it!"

"The Shadow Phantom Blade was crafted from a unique material I stumbled upon by accident. When I initially discovered this material, I couldn’t recognize what it was. It is incredibly hard yet amazingly flexible, and it can even repair itself. It took me three whole years to begin to understand this material. Subsequently, I spent a great deal of money to acquire the celestial river crystals and flow of moon marrow, and even poured in all the shadow powder I had stored for years into this special material."

"The quenching alone took me a full five years! Five years! Can you imagine what it’s like to stand still by the Artifact Refining furnace for five years, tending the flames? However, this special material is truly peculiar, and I had no choice but to diligently tend to it, refining it bit by bit!"