Chapter 1001: A Generous Gift
Sage Donghua still had more gifts to dish out. He suddenly asked, “I heard that you have a fondness for firearms?”
Qi Xuansu nodded. “I dabble in them occasionally, though I wouldn’t call myself an expert.”
Sage Donghua explained, “When it comes to firearms, none can surpass those from Tianji Hall and the Divine Armory. Tianji Hall’s weapons are designed for the Dragon Eye Series ammunition, which makes them slower to fire than the Westerners’ guns but far more powerful. Su Yi[1] gave you a Dragon Painting Pistol, which is already the pinnacle of handheld weapons, capable of firing the Grade-A Series Seven Dragon Eye Bullets. Generally speaking, the more powerful the projectile, the larger it is, so the larger the gun’s bore must be. To increase the caliber, one must lengthen and reinforce the barrel. Thus, a handgun becomes a long gun, which then evolves into artillery.”
As he spoke, he retrieved a long rectangular case and gently lifted its lid to draw out a long rifle.
At a glance, the weapon exuded an extraordinary aura. Its bore was larger than that of an ordinary Sun-Shooting Rifle, nearly as thick as his arm and noticeably longer.
Its barrel resembled a smooth bamboo cane, greenish with speckled black dots. It did not have a metallic sheen, but it bore a unique, almost antique grace. This material was a mystery to Qi Xuansu.
Sage Donghua handed the long rifle to the junior before him.
In Sage Donghua’s hands, the rifle looked deceptively light, but that was only because of his high cultivation. In truth, it was heavy, nearly twice the weight of the Dragon Painting Pistol. Even disregarding the cost or complexity of its manufacture, its sheer weight alone made it impossible to issue this weapon to the masses.
Sage Donghua said, “This is the modified version of the Sun-Shooting Rifle, a prototype from Jianxiu Mountain. It can fire a Grade-A Series Six Dragon Eye Bullet, which has a longer range and higher power than the Series Seven Bullets. It’s ideal for long-distance ambushes. For someone of your caliber, it may not count as a true weapon, so consider it a toy. Still, it would serve you well for hunting.”
Then Sage Donghua produced a magical receptacle shaped like a tobacco tin. “Of course, artillery is the most powerful among firearms. Jianxiu Mountain has designed a portable cannon called the Starpicker. It can fire the Grade-A Series Three Dragon Eye Bombs. Though its assembly is somewhat troublesome, its destructive power is unquestionable. Even a Pseudo-Immortal struck by it would find the blow unbearable.
In close combat, you’d never have time to assemble it. But with prior preparation, you could easily catch your enemy completely off guard.”
Qi Xuansu’s eyes were already gleaming with fascination.