Chapter Fourty: Bloody Battle

As Xianyu focused on the dragon fang, he noticed that the pristine white surface was covered in imperceptible blood vessels.

"What is this? Are these blood vessels?"

This unexpected change had caught Xianyu off guard.

"Mr. Sinbad, will this have any impact on the forging process?"

Xianyu's uncertainty raised some suspicion in Sinbad.

"Hmph! It's a trivial matter, nothing I can't handle. However, the properties of this dragon fang are indeed unusual. I've never seen anything like it. But with the right combination of other materials to balance it out, it shouldn't be a problem."

Xianyu had anticipated that the dragon fang might have unique properties. He then presented the fragment of Frostbearer's Nail.

"What about this one?"

He couldn't be sure if it would work because the dragon fang's transformation was something he had never encountered before, extending beyond his knowledge.

Upon seeing the new material in Xianyu's hand, Sinbad turned his gaze to it.

"Another material I'm not familiar with! However, there is a special energy within it. It's worth a try."

"Alright, I have my forging tools with me. Let's get to work right here. You can wait or, if you can't, you're free to head back to Mondstadt."

Xianyu came here for a weapon, so there's no way he's going back. Besides, what does Mondstadt have to offer that's worth his attachment? Absolutely nothing!

At most, he'll just soak in the local atmosphere. Apart from that, there's nothing here that truly captivates him.

"No need, I'll just wait here. Going back to Mondstadt won't make a difference. It's not a bad idea to take in the scenery here."

Xianyu was planning to stay, but John couldn't afford to. He had a pile of things to attend to at home, so after a brief stay, he headed back on his own.

...

Two days flew by, and Xianyu watched the elemental fluctuations not far away intensify, knowing that Sinbad should be close to success.

Although he thought so, he couldn't let his guard down until the very end.

"What's this? Celestial changes!"

"Quick, inform our comrades! We've made a discovery here! Even the weather is affected; this time, we're definitely going to find a massive treasure!"

As time passed, more and more people gathered. Not only the earlier treasure hoarders but also the Foolish Fatuus, the Knights of Favonius, and even familiar faces like Childe, Kaeya, and even Klee.

Seeing them, Xianyu felt that things had taken an unexpected turn.

"I never expected that simply forging a weapon would lead to such a major turn of events. This situation is far from favorable!"

Xianyu didn't take the treasure hunters and troublemakers lightly; dealing with them was just a matter of a few moves. However, the Knights of Favonius presented a challenge. Three of the Four Winds' chosen, and they had formidable strength. Any conflict with them would be troublesome.

Xianyu would never give up the weapon he worked so hard to create; it was unthinkable to let it go without a fight. Even if Tartaglia were to show up, he might still contend.

"Let's wait and see for now. Hopefully, it won't escalate to the worst-case scenario."

In reality, aside from the other side's strength, Xianyu didn't want to clash with the people of Mondstadt. Once a conflict broke out, it meant he would no longer be able to stay in Mondstadt.

This went against his usual way of doing things, but at this stage, there was no way he could back down.

"Bang!"

A thunderous noise echoed through the void, accompanied by a dark figure being blasted out.

Xianyu took a look and who else could it be but Sinbad?

Seeing this, Xianyu hurried over. "Sinbad, are you okay?"

*Cough, cough, cough!*

"This is unbelievable! I've been forging weapons for so many years, and this is the first time I've encountered such a situation. According to your request, the sword is indeed a success, but... be careful. That sword is quite eerie!"

"You see me like this, and it's all because of that sword!"

Xianyu examined Sinbad more closely and noticed that he had lost weight compared to when they first met. His entire body was covered in a layer of frost.

"Such a loss! Such a loss! This time, forging the weapon has at least dropped my strength by one level. It was worth it, absolutely worth it. This weapon is undoubtedly the pinnacle of my lifetime's work!"

At this moment, Sinbad's emotions were a mix of joy and sorrow. However, Xianyu could see more joy in his eyes, so perhaps it leaned towards joy...

Now that the sword was forged, Xianyu leaped up and said, "Old man, you should rest for now. I'll go retrieve the sword."

Without waiting for a response, he disappeared from sight.

Xianyu wasn't the first to act, but he was close enough that he didn't lag behind the others. When he saw the sword stuck in the ground, he hesitated for a moment.

In Xianyu's perception, he felt the same oppressive feeling he experienced when he took Durin's heart initially.

"Boss, look quickly! It's a treasure sword!"

"This looks exactly like a piece of art, and it can fetch a high price for sure!"

Indeed, at first glance, the sword resembled a work of art, with its blue and white appearance. However, upon closer inspection, one could see that the sword's body pulsed like human blood vessels.

"Boss, I'll go and fetch it for you."

Seeing a member of the treasure hoarders in the group about to retrieve the sword, Xianyu didn't make a move. The others had the same idea. Among the treasure hunters present, they were the weakest, and it remained unclear where they found the confidence to approach the sword.

Everyone was watching, but there was nothing they could do. The sword seemed quite unusual. While the sword itself looked magnificent, the surrounding environment was eerie. The soil was rotting, covered in frost, and the vegetation around it was absent. Even a bit farther away, the plants were continuously withering.

In this situation, it was quite audacious for the treasure hunter to approach the sword. It was unclear whether they were fearless, had a mental issue, or both.

As expected, the moment that person got close, about two or three meters away from the sword, he began freezing, visibly shrinking, and eventually turned into a pile of ice debris.

Witnessing this, people unconsciously took a few steps back. Faced with unknown dangers, people tend to instinctively avoid them.

However, the Foolish Fatuus's group started speaking.

"We, the Foolish Fatuus, claim this sword! You should leave. We've contacted our Lady and she'll be here soon. If you don't want trouble, just leave on your own!"

"Hmph! The Foolish Fatuus? Don't forget this is Mondstadt. What can your Foolish Fatuus do to us? Besides, you seem to have forgotten that the Knights of Favonius are nearby, and the Acting Grand Master of the Knights, 'Jean,' is inside."

While the treasure hoarders and the Foolish Fatuus were bickering, Xianyu didn't pay much attention to them. The longer they took, the more people arrived. Who knew if the Foolish Fatuus's enforcer might come at any moment?

"Since Sinbad didn't die after successfully forging the sword, I shouldn't die either!"

At this moment, Xianyu thought of his "spiritual power" again. It should be able to withstand this.

"Definitely worth a try!"

Xianyu's sudden action when everyone else was standing still drew everyone's attention.

"Heh! Another fearless guy."

That was the general sentiment. However, they quickly realized something was amiss because, as Xianyu approached the sword, his body remained unaffected, which surprised them.

Soon, they all rushed forward, but they were too late.

"Halt! Kid! You can't touch that sword. Put it down!"

Of course, those who rushed forward were mostly from the Foolish Fatuus and the treasure hoarders, and the Knights of Favonius didn't make a move.

Jean initially wanted to follow, but Kaeya stopped her.

Xianyu, after obtaining the sword, wasn't in a good state either. He felt a constant force invading him, and there was a power tugging at his blood, but he managed to suppress it.

"No, I can't continue like this. I'll be in grave danger. I don't have enough strength to face the Knights of Favonius!"

"Even my Crystal Butterfly is being suppressed! Is this the weapon made from Durin's Tooth and the Fragments of Skyfrost Nail, after all? It's truly insane!"

Then, out of nowhere, when Xianyu wasn't paying attention, someone managed to hit him with a flying hammer.

"Whack, cough, cough, cough..."

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Xianyu stood up. He looked at the Foolish Fatuus and treasure hoarders who had rushed at him.

Xianyu took a deep breath.

"Whew!"

"You're looking for death!"

Xianyu didn't have time to consider anything else; he immediately activated his sword technique.

"One Sword to Separate the World!"

A flash of icy light followed by silence. A series of falling sounds echoed, and those who had charged at him were all cut down in the middle.

After unleashing this attack, Xianyu stood his ground and held the sword.

He had considered storing the sword in his spatial pocket, but unfortunately, it couldn't be stored; it seemed almost alive.

The strangeness continued: the blood from the fallen people began to be drawn towards the sword and formed a blood flow, which the sword absorbed. After absorbing this blood, Xianyu noticed that the pulling force on him had disappeared, apart from the persistent cold force.

His Crystal Butterfly could move again.

With the situation at this point, there was no time to waste. Using his usual method, he soared into the sky with his butterfly. In no time, Xianyu disappeared from everyone's sight.

While some people initially wanted to pursue, flying was a rare ability, and only a few could do it. Thus, chasing after Xianyu was next to impossible for most of them.

"Everyone! Find out who this person is, no matter what! And contact Lady, quickly!"

"I've lost quite a few people on this mission, and I'll definitely be punished when I return. If we don't even know who the other person is, how can I explain this?!"

After speaking, the leader of the group left with their subordinates. However, when passing by the Knights of Favonius, they noticed the smile on Kaeya's face and his face turned even darker.

"Hmph! Kaeya!"

Foolish Fatuus getting defeated was indeed a source of amusement for Kaeya. However, he couldn't act on his dislike for them openly, due to his position. Still, this turn of events was quite enjoyable.

"Kaeya! You, even at a time like this, better not go looking for trouble, and tone it down a bit."