<h4>Chapter 259: Bull de</h4>


    "Catch it." Ning Wuwo''s voice rang out from the underground workshop.


    Li Xiaofei was momentarily stunned, but then he saw a purple light shoot out of the ground. Li Xiaofei quickly executed the Graceful Step of the Waves, shing through the air several times before seizing the purple light.


    The broad de, faintly silver in color, had strands of purple electric currents flickering across its surface. It could feel its incredible weight in his grasp; in fact, several times heavier than the original bull horn it was forged from. Yet, to Li Xiaofei, it felt as light as a feather.


    <i>Buzz, buzz, buzz.</i>


    The thick de trembled violently.


    <i>Sizzle, sizzle.</i>


    Purple electricity started to spark at Li Xiaofei''s right hand.


    <i>Damn it! I’ve already killed your original owner, and you still dare to resist me?</i>


    Li Xiaofei unleashed a surge of starforce qi.


    <i>The more you resist, the more excited I get.</i>


    An overwhelming amount of energy surged from him, instantly dispersing the purple lightning. He tightened his grip on the hilt and swung it casually.


    <i>Whoosh, whoosh.</i>


    Invisible de energy sliced through the air. The small wooden building in the Xuanku Gang’s courtyard trembled briefly before copsing like a stack of blocks.


    Covered in dust, Ning Wuwo rushed out of the underground workshop and felt a wave of despair wash over him.


    "My medicine room..."


    He was speechless as he felt tears well up.


    At the same time, Li Xiaofei subdued the rebellious bull-horn de with brute strength. When it sensed his immense strength, the de’s resistance faded, and it becamepletely docile.


    Li Xiaofei finally took a closer look at the de. The de was exactly two meters in length, with a half-meter-long hilt. It was about forty centimeters wide and had a spine thickness of eight centimeters at its thickest point.


    Since it was carved and polished from a single bull-horn of the Bull Demon star beast, it retained absolute integrity, with no visible joints or welds.


    The guard of the de was shaped like a bull demon’s open mouth with the long, broad de extending from the mouth. The de began narrow, like a goose feather and widened slightly toward the tip. Each side had three blood grooves running down its length.


    What stood out the most were the five vortex-like, storm-eye engravings along the de’s body. They were where the Inscribed Treasure Bones, the Thunder-Lightning Tempered Bones were embedded. Since the treasure bones were from the same source as the bull horn, they seamlessly merged into the de’s structure thanks to Ning Wuwo''s masterful craftsmanship. There were no visible marks of engraving or embedding.


    The overall design was heavy and ancient, yet carried a hint of wild elegance.


    “A fine de!” Li Xiaofei couldn’t help but praise it as he held it aloft.


    As a martial arts enthusiast with a love for des and swords, this was the first weapon he could call entirely his own since arriving five hundred years into the future.


    Li Xiaofei was immediately overwhelmed with a sense of confidence as he held it, like no obstacle was too much for him. Moreover, perhaps due to the resonance with the Bull Demon’s blood within him, the de seemed to attune even further with him. It now felt like an extension of his body.


    "Old Ning truly lives up to his reputation as a master of both medicine and weapon forging," Li Xiaofei praised. "This de has no equal in Liuhe Base City."


    Ning Wuwo’s face was still covered in dust, but a look of pride and satisfaction crossed his face. "After twenty years of not forging weapons, I’ve finally crafted the finest one of my life. It was worth it, worth it! Hahaha!"


    Li Xiaofei then said, "Please, Old Ning, grant this de a name."


    Ning Wuwo waved his hand, "The owner of this de is you, Brother Li. You should be the one to name it."


    After a brief moment of contemtion, Li Xiaofei said, "This de was forged from the Bull Demon’s horn and embedded with its Inscribed Treasure Bones. I’ll call it... Bull de."


    <i>Bull de? </i>


    Ning Wuwo almost stumbled at the simplicity of the name.


    <i>So casual?</i>


    However, upon further reflection, he found that the name had a certain depth, and an understated yet profound charm. It was uniquely fitting.


    "Brother Li’s new de is like adding wings to a tiger," Ning Wuwo remarked, seizing the moment to add, "The n to unify the martial gang factions of the base city and im the title of Martial Arts Alliance Leader should be put into motion now."


    Li Xiaofei responded decisively, "Set it for three days from now."


    Ning Wuwo was overjoyed, "Then it’s settled. I’ll immediately reach out to my allies and start preparing the momentum."


    "Good, I’ll leave everything in Old Ning’s capable hands," Li Xiaofei agreed readily.


    Li Xiaofei hade to realize that Ning Wuwo was trustworthy, and he had already considered him a close friend, despite their age difference. Li Xiaofei was the kind of person who had no doubts about people once he trusted them. If he recognized someone as a friend, he would remain loyal to the end.


    Li Xiaofei rode off on his motorcycle. Ning Wuwo stood in the courtyard, gazing at the copsed medicine room with a small smile on his face. He knew that the person he had been waiting for had finally arrived. And that person was even more exceptional than he had imagined.


    ***


    Li Xiaofei returned to the slums and, after some careful study, ordered a scabbard and iron case to be made for his new de.


    Just then, his phone rang. The youngdy was calling.


    "Hey, hero, where are you?"


    "Just got home."


    "Come pick me up, I need something."


    "Sure, send me the address."


    "I''m at the City Government Compound."


    "Twenty minutes."


    After hanging up the phone, Li Xiaofei first sent a copy of the Skyward Staff Technique to Chen Fei. Then he wasted no time and headed out. The way of both civil and martial arts requires bnce between tension and rxation. Taking some time to rx with his girlfriend was indeed a joyful event.


    Soon, Li Xiaofei arrived outside the City Government Compound. The security measures had clearly been upgraded by several levels.


    "Here, over here!"


    Tan Qingying’s face lit up with a bright smile as she waved from afar. She wore a ck pleated skirt, paired with a crisp white shirt and a small necktie. She exuded the youthful energy of a high school girl from five hundred years ago.


    She ran up to Li Xiaofei and threw her arms around him in a big hug.


    The young secretary from the city leader''s office was already waiting by the door. When he saw this scene, he politely turned his head and pretended not to notice.


    "Li... ssmate, please follow me," said the young secretary, with a demeanor that was noticeably more respectful than before.


    Li Xiaofei immediately understood that this meeting wasn’t just a casual date with his girlfriend. It was likely that he would be facing some questions from the city leader, or rather, his girlfriend’s father.


    n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Holding Tan Qingying’s hand, he whispered yful remarks in her ear as they followed the secretary. The secretary remained silent as he courteously led them to the city leader’s office.


    Just likest time, the waiting area was filled with officials and businessmen who were all clearly either rich or powerful. As soon as Li Xiaofei appeared, the entire room stood up in recognition.


    "President Li!"


    "Young and promising!"


    "Do you remember? We attended the banquet togetherst time..."


    One after another, faces filled with ttery greeted him.


    These important figures, who were typically treated with the utmost respect, now bowed deferentially before Li Xiaofei. Li Xiaofei simply nodded in acknowledgment, not engaging in conversation, and walked straight to Tan Zhenwei''s office.


    Thest time he was here with Chen Fei, he had waited outside the door for hours. But this time, he was ushered straight in. Tan Zhenwei stood up with a smile and personally came to the door to wee him. This was the proof of his change in status.


    After ying the Bull Demon, Li Xiaofei had be the city''s most prestigious new figure. Even the city''s three top powers could not afford to show the slightest disrespect toward him now.


    "Have a seat," Tan Zhenwei gestured toward the sofa, then personally picked up the kettle to brew some tea.


    Tan Qingying, still holding onto Li Xiaofei’s arm, also sat down beside him.


    "And why are you here? Didn’t you just say you had something to do?" Tan Zhenwei asked, looking at his daughter.


    Tan Qingying, surprised, replied, "I didn’t say that."


    "Yes, you did."


    "No, I didn’t."


    "Well, you can find something to do."


    Tan Qingying was left silent. After thinking it over, she stood up and left the office, giving them some privacy.


    Tan Zhenwei ced a cup of tea in front of Li Xiaofei, smiling warmly as he asked, "So, what do you think of my daughter?"