Chapter 20: The Battle Knife 'Dragon Butcher'

  The little fox walked over and gently patted Lei Hao on the head.

  "Huh? Little fox, didn't you go to Big Cow's place? Haven't left yet?" Lei Hao's mind was still stuck on the moment when little fox left just now.

  "I've already been there." The little fox looked at Lei Hao in front of him with a slightly helpless shake of his head.

  "Oh, let's go to the Water Curtain Cave then." Lei Hao said, turned around and took a deep breath, grabbed Xiao Hu Li's hand with his right hand and walked towards the Water Curtain Cave without looking back.

  The little fox was stunned by Lei Hao's sudden grab of her hand. She stared at Lei Hao's profile, her eyes welling up with tears. She had waited for so long, and it seemed that she had finally been noticed. Her feelings hadn't been wrong; Lei Hao also had a crush on her. The little fox followed behind Lei Hao, allowing him to hold her hand as she walked forward, tears streaming down her face. As she felt Lei Hao's right palm start to sweat and his arm stiffen, the little fox smiled again. "This idiot," she whispered, taking the initiative to clasp Lei Hao's hand and walk alongside him towards the waterfall cave...

  Under the sunset, Lei Hao's shadow and Xiao Hu Li's shadow slowly approached each other, finally merging into one, and it was impossible to distinguish which one was Lei Hao and which one was Xiao Hu Li.

  ………

  "Head, I've brought all the materials." Lei Daniu said loudly to Lei Hao.

  Lei Hao looked towards the back of Lei Da Niu, and only saw a leopard demon leading a group of small demons, three or four at a time, carrying some black circular objects. Lei Hao felt that this leopard demon was somewhat familiar, and upon closer inspection, it indeed was a familiar demon.

  "Hmm, Leopard Twenty, it's been a while since we last met, hasn't it?" Lei Hao said with a pat on the leopard demon's shoulder. It turned out that this leopard demon was actually the same Leopard Twenty who had accompanied Lei Hao when he first crossed over into this world.

  "Returning to the Great Leader, I haven't seen you for eighty years. I was assigned by Lord Lei Da Niu to supervise these blacksmiths, and I must thank you for your care. Otherwise, I might have died on that battlefield long ago." Bao Er's head bowed respectfully, his eyes flashing with a complex expression.

  Lei Hao was originally just a demon soldier under his command, and he was promoted to be the leader of a small team. However, in the blink of an eye, more than 100 years have passed, and Lei Hao has become the first demon under the Water Cave's Mixed World Demon King. He even created the Huaguo Mountain, which made the Mixed World Demon King envious. The previous Tiger Great Leader was also defeated by Lei Hao in a challenge and exploded into a bloody mist with just one knife. This is how powerful he is! On the other hand, Bao Er has been alive for over 300 years but still hasn't advanced to the Inner Dan realm, not even considered a true 'demon', only a small demon. If it weren't for Lei Hao's care, he might have died in the wars between Water Cave and other demon caves more than 100 years ago. Now, all that's left for him is to look up to Lei Hao, truly a case of different fates among demons.

  Twenty leopards saw only the splendor of Lei Hao, and did not think about how much sweat Lei Hao shed in these hundred years, or how much blood he spilled...

  "It's nothing, I was also taken care of by you at first, it's only natural that I'll take care of you too. Is this the heavenly meteorite?" Lei Hao said nonchalantly, pointing to the black mineral-like objects in the little demons' hands.

  "Yes, yes, this is indeed the meteoric iron collected by Lord Lei." Bao Er hurriedly replied.

  "Alright, now that we have all the materials, Panther Twenty, I want you to get all your blacksmiths to bring out their best skills and forge me a great sword. If I'm not satisfied, don't think you'll be let off easy." Lei Hao said with a relaxed tone, as if he was joking with a friend.

  Leopard Twenty-One listened to Lei Hao's tone and felt joyful in his heart, responding: "Great General, rest assured, I will supervise these little ones and make them forge a battle knife that meets your expectations." After finishing speaking, he turned around and loudly shouted at the small demons behind him: "You little ones, start the furnace! Give it your all, use all your skills. If you mess up the Great General's important matter, I'll skin you alive..."

  Lei Hao looked at Bao Er's loud shouting, chuckled and shook his head. It's been over a hundred years, but Bao Er still has the same character, respectful to those above him and arrogant to those below him, not changing one bit.

  Time really flies, and more than a hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye. Those days when we were on tenterhooks seem to be just yesterday...

  Soon, the demon craftsmen raised the iron furnace. The intense flames illuminated the entire Water Curtain Cave, and the fierce fire danced in the eyes of every demon, making all the demon soldiers under the Inner Dan realm sweat profusely as the temperature gradually rose.

  "Great Leader, I beg of you to use your magical powers to raise the temperature inside the furnace. Ordinary flames cannot melt these meteoric iron from outer space." Bao Er said respectfully to Lei Hao.

  "Really? Alright, Big Bull, call upon all the brothers from Huaguo Mountain who have entered the Inner Dan realm. We'll use our dan fire to refine this meteoric iron." Either don't do it or do it to the best of your abilities, Lei Hao said to Lei Dabull. Only those in the Inner Dan realm can use dan fire, but it consumes a tremendous amount of spiritual power. A single Inner Dan realm demon cannot melt these meteoric irons alone, and neither can Lei Hao. As for Lei Dabull and the others, they are even less capable. However, just because one demon can't do it doesn't mean that many demons can't do it either. Lei Hao has a lot of powerful subordinates around him, with over thirty of his fifty brothers having entered the Inner Dan realm - a shocking and terrifying number.

  The molten iron from outside the sky has fewer impurities and also carries a hint of weak spirituality, which can amplify the power of knife moves.

  Before long, the twenty-five Lei Wei brothers guarding Huaguo Mountain arrived, among whom twenty were in the inner elixir realm. "Brothers, I want to refine a war knife and need your help." Lei Hao's face was full of laziness, and his explanation was enough for these brothers. "Good." The brothers also didn't say much, nodding in agreement.

  The leopard's eyes widened in shock as it stared at the twenty powerful demon overlords standing before it, its mind reeling from the sheer number of high-ranking demons. These weren't just any ordinary demons, but top-tier overlords! Just a short while ago, there were only four of them in the entire Water Cavern, including the Demon King himself. And now, here stood twenty of them, an assembly that could stir up a storm throughout the entire demon realm of Proud Come Country!

  So Lei Hao has become this powerful without anyone realizing it?

  "Leopard Twenty," Lei Hao called out, but Leopard Twenty didn't respond. Lei Hao turned his head and looked at Leopard Twenty who was spaced out, finding it quite interesting. In the past, he was always the one who would space out, now he finally saw a demon spacing out in front of him. He didn't think about how shocking it was for a demon from the Inner Dan realm to appear in front of a small demon like Leopard Twenty.

  "Leopard Twenty" Lei Hao's voice was slightly louder this time, and Leopard Twenty, who had been a bit distracted, finally woke up. He took one look at Lei Hao's expression and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

  "Great leader, gentlemen, please put the dan fire into the dan furnace, and leave the rest to me." He didn't dare to wipe the sweat on his forehead, Bao Er hurriedly ran to the stove and pointed at it, saying to Lei Hao.

  Lei Hao nodded, and with a wave of his large hand, a purple flame appeared in the center of the furnace. Although small, the purple flame emitted a fierce aura, as if superior to the other flames in the furnace, burning proudly at its center without any other flame daring to approach. After the appearance of this flame, Lei Hao and his twenty brothers simultaneously channeled gentle magical energy into the furnace, nourishing the purple flame which grew larger until it filled the entire furnace.

  The demonic craftsmen of the Water Cavern looked at the purple flames in the furnace with some confusion. They were not the first to refine weapons for the inner dan realm demons, and since the establishment of the Water Cavern, countless leaders had fallen in battle, but the demonic craftsmen had never changed. In the past, they had only seen white dan fire, all of them were like that. However, they did not dare to ask questions, as the twenty or so inner dan realm demons in front of them were indeed very intimidating.

  On the side, the leopard-like creature urged on the small demon who was slowly putting the meteorite into the furnace. The exceptionally hard meteorite slowly melted in the furnace, with some impurities vaporizing, leaving behind only the essence of the meteorite. The melted meteorite appeared black, but its surface reflected a purple glow.

  One piece, two pieces, three pieces... Soon the heavenly iron brought by Leidaoniu was all melted in the furnace. At this time, Lei Hao and others also felt that their internal skills were somewhat inadequate. Lei Hao opened his mouth to shout loudly: "Daniu, where is your Gangjing? If you don't release it now, when will you?" Only after hearing Lei Hao's loud shout did Leidaoniu remember that the Gangjing was still on him, and he hastily threw the fist-sized golden Gangjing into the furnace.

  The fist-sized Gang essence quickly melted and merged into the dark meteorite essence, which was like adding golden outlines to a Chinese painting with ink. The atmosphere emitted a noble aura. Seeing this situation, Lei Hao didn't hold back either, but instead shouted loudly: "Brothers, increase your magic power!" Lei Hao mixed his heavenly thunder power with violent magic and poured it into the furnace. The purple flames that had been calm and steady suddenly burst out violently, shooting up to the top of the fifty-zhang-high cave and vaporizing a part of it before shrinking back into the furnace.

  Lei Hao's heart was delighted, and he shouted loudly: "Withdraw your powers." He and his twenty brothers simultaneously withdrew their magic. The demon craftsmen who had been waiting for a long time hurriedly stepped forward and put the fallen iron essence from a small hole under the furnace into a mold that had been prepared early. Half an incense stick later, the solidified war knife roughly took shape.

  A fox demon with a flattering expression said to Lei Hao: "Please, Great Leader, grant me a mouthful of pure blood." Lei Hao didn't think much and opened his mouth, shooting an arrow made of pure blood onto the knife. This pure blood was not comparable to the fresh blood in one's body; it was the foundation of one's physical vitality, the essence of blood energy and magical power. If one lost too much pure blood, their blood energy and magical power would naturally weaken, and if they suffered severe losses, it could even affect their own potential. However, Lei Hao had a strong foundation and didn't mind losing this mouthful of pure blood.

  Lei Hao didn't mind, but the little fox beside him was slightly heartbroken and gently wiped away the bloodstains from Lei Hao's mouth with a white silk handkerchief. The more than 20 brothers around them had their eyes wide open, until Lei Hao's old face couldn't hold it anymore, and he pretended to snort in disdain. Only then did the brothers withdraw their gaze, pretending they hadn't seen anything. Looking at Lei Hao's unnatural expression, the little fox secretly covered her mouth and smiled.

  The essence of blood splashed onto the blade, and all that could be heard was a "hiss" as a red mist enveloped the battle sword. As the essence of blood merged into the sword, Lei Hao suddenly felt a very subtle connection between him and the sword, a feeling as if it were a part of his body. With a thought, the shape of the sword underwent some changes, its shape becoming more similar to the great cleaver from his past life.

  The demon craftsmen who saw the change in the war knife were expressionless, and a cow-headed demon craftsman directly threw the knife back into the furnace, saying respectfully to Lei Hao: "I'll borrow the great leader's and everyone's dan fire again." Lei Hao had no objection, and with a wave of his hand, he and his brothers began to output their magical powers to burn the dan fire. The black war knife quickly became radiant again. The cow-headed demon craftsman put on a huge iron glove and directly pulled out the war knife, placing it on an iron anvil. Two elephant demons who had been waiting in ambush began to swing heavy iron hammers, constantly pounding the war knife. The light emitted by the war knife grew weaker and weaker until it disappeared, and then they threw the war knife back into the furnace for tempering. This process was repeated nine times, with Lei Hao and his twenty brothers becoming drenched in sweat, and the elephant demons being replaced many times. When the war knife was finally taken out of the furnace for the last time, its entire body no longer emitted golden light, but instead had a black color that seemed to swallow all sunlight.

  "Please, Great Leader, bestow another mouthful of precious blood." It was still that fox demon craftsman from earlier. This really made Lei Hao's teeth ache with rage - it was precious blood! Was it something that could be bestowed casually? But looking at the twenty brothers around him who were all battered and exhausted, as well as the crowd of craftsmen who were also worn out, Lei Hao gritted his teeth and spat another large mouthful of precious blood onto the war knife. The little fox was only staring at that fox demon craftsman with her eyes, making that poor craftsman hunch over in fear and break out in cold sweat.

  The scorching essence splashed onto the war knife, and before even a wisp of blood mist could rise, it was directly absorbed. At this moment, Lei Hao felt his connection to the war knife become even more intimate, and with a stir in his heart, the shape of the war knife began to change slowly. A few seconds later, the war knife finally took form.

  One zhang two inches long, eight feet wide, on the black knife body. A divine dragon lies on the back of the knife, and the knife's mouth is just the big mouth of the divine dragon. The whole divine dragon emits a fierce and overbearing breath. The broad knife body can feel a sharp edge, and the entire battle knife emits a noble and unyielding overbearing breath.

  His pale face lit up as he gazed at the war knife, his mouth wide open in a hearty 'haha' laugh. It was indeed worthy of him, Lei Hao, to have mobilized so many people and resources for this knife.

  "From now on, you'll be called Tú Lóng." A hint of nostalgia flashed across Lei Hao's eyes. Upon hearing the name given by Lei Hao, the war knife "Lì Dì" jumped violently and flew towards Lei Hao. When Tú Lóng arrived beside Lei Hao, it didn't stop but instead directly entered Lei Hao's body.

  Lei Hao, who was pierced by the war sword, was shocked, while the other brothers and demonic craftsmen were stunned by this scene. What did they forge today? A weapon that can be stored in the body at will? A divine weapon that only a powerful demon king can possess?