Meeting an Expert, Recognizing a Martial Soul, New Talent

Following Wang Hezheng's guidance, Wang Yue passed through the alley of the Wang Clan's west courtyard. From afar, he heard a "ding-dang-dang" sound of metal striking, accompanied by the crackling of burning charcoal. The air was filled with the scorching scent of a mixture of rust and sulfur. Liu Haibing's forging workshop was just ahead.

Pushing open the wooden door of the workshop, a wave of heat washed over him. The workshop was spacious and bright. On the left, iron ore, coal, and various forging tools were neatly stacked. On the right, there were three massive furnaces, their mouths spewing orange flames, illuminating the entire workshop in a crimson glow.

Wang Yue's gaze immediately fell upon the forging platform in the center of the workshop. Wang Daoling was standing there, gripping a hammer thicker than his forearm.

He mechanically swung the hammer down onto the metal block on the anvil. His movements were stiff, his face devoid of any expression, his eyes vacant, exuding a numb weariness with life, as if he wasn't forging weapons but completing a task of extreme tedium.

"This..." Wang Yue was slightly stunned. The Wang Daoling he knew was always full of confidence. Whether practicing martial arts or sparring with others, he exuded an unhurried demeanor. To see him so numb and like a puppet controlled by strings was something he had never witnessed before.

"Idiot! Are you hitting iron or smashing rocks?" a stern roar suddenly rang out, interrupting Wang Yue's thoughts.

Liu Haibing stood beside Wang Daoling, hands behind his back, his brows furrowed, his gaze sharp as a knife, fixed on the metal block on the anvil. "Weapon forging requires a balance of hardness and softness. You must infuse your strength into the hammer technique, gradually beating out the impurities in the metal! Look at the iron you're hitting; the surface is pockmarked, and the impurities are still inside. What's the difference between you and the blacksmiths outside the city who only make farm tools?"

Wang Daoling tightened his grip on the hammer, his lips moving, but he dared not retort. He merely lowered his head and continued to mechanically strike the metal block, though his movements now carried a hint of suppressed frustration.

Liu Haibing was about to scold him again when his peripheral vision caught sight of Wang Yue at the doorway. His previously tense expression instantly softened, even showing a hint of surprise, and he strode over quickly.

He circled Wang Yue, appraising his tall and sturdy physique. Then, he reached out and pinched Wang Yue's arm, feeling the strength contained beneath the muscle, and nodded with satisfaction. "Good lad! You're sturdy, tall, and have a robust Qi and Blood. You're prime material for forging!"

Wang Yue was startled by his sudden actions and quickly bowed. "Junior Wang Yue pays his respects to Master Liu."

"You're called Wang Yue?" Liu Haibing's eyes lit up, and his tone became a bit more enthusiastic. "Not bad, not bad. I've heard of you from Wang Hezheng. You're a promising young talent of the Wang Clan!"

Wang Yue inwardly remained cautious. He could clearly see that Liu Haibing's hands were covered in thick calluses, with enlarged knuckles. These were obviously the marks left from years of gripping hammers and forging. What caught his attention even more was that Liu Haibing was powerfully built. Standing there, even without intentionally circulating his internal energy, he exuded a subtle yet formidable aura. The intensity of this aura was actually stronger than that of some ordinary martial artists in the Energy Refining Realm!

"This Master Liu's martial arts attainments are likely not low. Where did the Clan Leader find such a master?" Wang Yue's doubts grew.

Liu Haibing, oblivious to his thoughts, turned and walked towards another unoccupied forging platform, calling out as he went, "Wang Yue, come over! Let me see how strong you are and if you have what it takes to forge weapons!"

Wang Yue quickly followed and stood before the forging platform. On the anvil lay a piece of glowing red hot iron. Liu Haibing picked up a large hammer from the tool rack and handed it to him. "This hammer weighs thirty pounds. Take it and strike this hot iron with all your might. Don't worry about technique; just hit it with your greatest strength!"

Wang Yue reached out and took the hammer. It felt heavy, but it was within his capacity to bear. Just as he was about to swing the hammer, his gaze inadvertently swept over a hammer about the length of his forearm tucked into Liu Haibing's waist. The hammerhead had a faint golden sheen, and its surface was etched with fine patterns, clearly not an ordinary forging tool.

The next second, lines of golden text suddenly appeared in his mind, clearly imprinted on his consciousness:

[Tier Two Item, Weapon Forging Hammer]

[Martial Soul: Dragon Transformation Fist (Proficient), includes Dragon Transformation Breathing Method, Dragon Transformation Fist Technique, Dragon Transformation Body Tempering Method, Dragon Transformation Footwork]

[Martial Soul: Three Revolutions Dragon Transformation Strength (Beginner), Cloud Sea Strength (Proficient), Thousand Forgings Strength (Proficient)]

[Weapon Forging Talent Tier One: Hundred Weapons]

[Weapon Forging Talent Tier Two: Hundred Forgings]

"Dragon Transformation Fist? Three Revolutions Dragon Transformation Strength?" Wang Yue's pupils contracted sharply, and he gasped, a cold sweat breaking out on his back! He had been wondering about Liu Haibing's origins, but now he finally understood. This wasn't some recruited blacksmith; these were people from the Dragon Transformation Sect!

"Then Fu Shuangyun... is likely also an alchemist from the Dragon Transformation Sect?" Wang Yue's heart skipped a beat, and a thought uncontrollably surfaced. "Their setting up forging and alchemy courses at the Wang Clan isn't to cultivate talent for the Wang Clan at all, but to use the Wang Clan's name to select disciples with forging and alchemy talent for their own sect!" No wonder Liu Haibing was so strict with Wang Daoling and Fu Shuangyun was so picky about apprentices; they were screening candidates for the Dragon Transformation Sect!

"Kid, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and get to it!" Liu Haibing urged when he saw Wang Yue holding the hammer motionlessly, his tone laced with a hint of confusion. "Do you think the hammer is too heavy? If you can't lift it, I'll get you a lighter one."

"No... No!" Wang Yue suddenly snapped back to reality, suppressing the shock in his heart. He took a deep breath, gripped the hammer handle with both hands, and quietly circulated the Qi and Blood within him, channeling strength into his arms. He then slammed the hammer down onto the hot iron on the anvil!

"Boom!"

With a dull thud, the hot iron deformed slightly under the hammer strike, sending sparks flying. The air in the workshop seemed to tremble from the impact.

Liu Haibing looked at the mark on the anvil, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "Good strength! Again!"

Wang Yue didn't stop. He swung the hammer, striking the hot iron again and again. The hammer wind whistled, and sparks continuously scattered, landing on the charcoal ash on the ground and igniting small embers. As he forged, he pondered in his mind: If Liu Haibing and Fu Shuangyun were indeed selecting disciples for the Dragon Transformation Sect, should he participate?

Wang Yue's hammering didn't stop, but his mind was rapidly calculating: If he could gain Liu Haibing's approval through weapon forging, it might be a shortcut to entering the Dragon Transformation Sect. After all, Liu Haibing was from the Dragon Transformation Sect and possessed forging talent and martial souls. Learning forging from him would not only improve his strength but also provide a connection to enter the sect. This deal was not a loss.

At this thought, his eyes couldn't help but drift towards the hammer at Liu Haibing's waist. The displayed talents of "Hundred Weapons" and "Hundred Forgings" in his mind, along with those martial soul techniques from the Dragon Transformation Sect, were like a piece of fat meat, making him itch with desire. If he could extract these talents, let alone forging, perhaps even his martial arts cultivation could reach another level.

"Put more effort into it! No distractions!" Liu Haibing suddenly roared, his tone carrying a hint of sternness. He had noticed Wang Yue glancing at him while forging, clearly not focused on the task.

Startled by the roar, Wang Yue's hands trembled, and the hammer almost missed its mark. He quickly corrected himself, forcing his thoughts back and calming his mind. The ten strands of Qi and Blood within him circulated rapidly, continuously channeling strength into his arms. He struck the red-hot iron steadily, one hammer blow after another, the sound of the hammer becoming steady and powerful.

"Hmm, that's more like it." Seeing that he had regained his focus, Liu Haibing nodded with satisfaction, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes. Wang Yue had sufficient strength and Qi and Blood. As long as he could master the rhythm and technique of forging, he would definitely be a good candidate for forging, much better than Wang Daoling, who was still mechanically swinging his hammer beside him.

With continuous hammer blows, the iron on the anvil became thinner and thinner. The impurities on the surface gradually leached out under the high temperature and hammer force, falling off as black slag. Wang Yue panted heavily, sweat dripping from his forehead down his cheeks, landing on the anvil with a "sizzle" and instantly evaporating.

Just as the iron was heated red-hot again, Liu Haibing stepped forward, scooped a handful of dark brown powder from a nearby pottery jar, and sprinkled it evenly over the iron. This was a mixture of iron sand, lime, and charcoal, which could effectively remove impurities from the metal and increase its toughness and strength.

"Put more effort into it! Beat out all the impurities!" Liu Haibing shouted.

Wang Yue gritted his teeth and mustered his strength. The Blood Dragon Secret Method within him actually began to circulate unconsciously. As his Qi and Blood surged, the strength in his arms suddenly increased, each hammer blow more powerful than the last. The sound of the hammer striking the iron became more muffled and weighty.

"Good lad! What great strength!" Liu Haibing's face lit up with joy, and he couldn't help but lean closer to observe the changes in the iron.

A normal martial artist would be exhausted after half an hour of continuous hammering, but Wang Yue showed no signs of fatigue. Instead, his strength grew. His physique and Qi and Blood were absolutely top-tier among the younger generation.

After a few more moments, the iron material gradually took shape, becoming a palm-sized block of iron with fine hammer marks all over its surface, emitting a faint metallic luster.

"Alright, stop," Liu Haibing gestured, his tone much gentler. "To achieve this on your first attempt at forging is already very good."

He scratched his head, trying hard to recall what the Elders in the sect had told him when they taught him weapon forging. He explained haltingly, "Forging iron requires the unity of body and Qi, a balance of hardness and softness. You need to let your own strength flow through the hammer handle into the iron material..." As he spoke, he suddenly got stuck, his gaze drifting. "That's about it... pretty much all there is to it. Oh, right! Also, combining virtual and real, using heavy hammers to smash impurities, and light hammers to shape it!"

Wang Yue's forehead was covered in black lines. He almost dropped the large hammer in his hand. Could this Master Liu be teaching weapon forging for the first time? His explanations were all over the place, and he kept forgetting words.

Liu Haibing also noticed the subtle look in Wang Yue's eyes. Thinking Wang Yue was questioning his skill, his face immediately darkened, and he raised his voice. "Kid, do you think I'm wrong? Let me show you what real skill looks like!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he drew the forearm-length hammer from his waist and strode to the forging platform. He grabbed the still-warm raw iron from the anvil and threw it back into the furnace. Once the raw iron was glowing red again, he clamped the iron material onto the anvil, flicked his wrist, and the hammer seemed to come alive, striking the iron fiercely!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With each strike, sparks suddenly exploded. The hammer speed increased, and the sounds became continuous, like an impassioned symphony echoing through the workshop.

Under his hammering, the originally irregular metal block was quickly smashed flat, and impurities on the surface fell away at a visible rate.

Halfway through, Liu Haibing sprinkled in the mixed materials again. Then, the force of the hammer suddenly lightened, alternating between light and heavy blows with a varied rhythm, as if he were "shaping" the iron.

A moment later, he picked up the finished iron block with tongs and handed it to Wang Yue, a hint of pride in his voice. "Look closely! This is Twenty-Forged Iron. It has twenty different hammer patterns on its surface, the impurities are completely removed, and its toughness and strength are sufficient. If I were to personally forge it, I could make a Tier One High-grade weapon with it, or an inner armor like this."

Wang Yue was staring blankly when he heard the word "inner armor" and snapped back to attention. He thought he had been stunned by Liu Haibing's hammering technique, but following Liu Haibing's gaze, he realized the man was staring at his hand. It turned out his own attention had unconsciously drifted to the hammer at Liu Haibing's waist.

Liu Haibing's face instantly turned red. He roared angrily, "Why do you keep staring at my hammer!" He abruptly tucked the hammer back into his waist, as if protecting a treasure, and quickly walked to the storeroom at the back of the workshop. A moment later, he emerged carrying a silver inner armor.

Wang Yue's eyes lit up instantly, and golden text appeared on his panel again:

[Tier One High-grade: Cloud-Piercing Armor]

[Tier One Talent: Fortitude] Enhances physical damage resistance. The weaker the physique, the stronger the effect.

[Tier One Talent: Swiftness] Slightly increases speed.

"Even the equipment forged has talents!" Wang Yue clicked his tongue inwardly. A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: If he learned weapon forging and then used the panel to extract equipment talents, wouldn't that form a "forging, extraction, getting stronger" closed loop?

At that time, he would have both well-suited equipment and improved strength. It would be perfect!

He suppressed the excitement in his heart and bowed to Liu Haibing, his tone respectful. "Master Liu, this junior wishes to carefully observe your hammer and this inner armor, so I may learn your forging techniques. This junior has never seen such exquisite inner armor. I beg Master to grant my request!"

"No!" Liu Haibing refused without thinking, hiding his hammer behind him, his tone resolute. "This hammer is my life. No one can touch it but me!"

Wang Yue's mouth twitched. This wasn't treating the hammer as his life; it was clearly doting on it like a wife, not allowing anyone to touch it.

He could only compromise and pointed to the Cloud-Piercing Armor. "Then... it's fine if this junior only observes the inner armor. I want to study the techniques contained within it carefully. Perhaps I can comprehend forging techniques."

Liu Haibing had grown up in the Dragon Transformation Sect, and besides forging, he only cultivated. No one had ever praised his craftsmanship like this before. Hearing words like "exquisite" and "comprehend techniques," the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly, and his expression softened considerably.

He handed the Cloud-Piercing Armor to Wang Yue and carefully placed the hammer beside him.

"You can look, but don't conduct any unauthorized tests. If the patterns on this inner armor get scratched, it will affect the price."

Liu Haibing cleared his throat, trying to maintain his master's dignity. "It's not that I won't let you look at my hammer, it's mainly because you're not a blacksmith yet, you don't have the qualifications. When you can forge Twenty-Forged Iron, I'll consider letting you take a look."

Wang Yue took the inner armor, feeling a bit resentful inside. It's just a hammer. When I learn weapon forging, I'll extract your [Hundred Forgings] talent first. At that time, you might even have to proactively let me examine your hammer!

However, he put on a sincere expression. "Thank you, Master Liu. This junior will definitely study hard and strive to forge Twenty-Forged Iron as soon as possible!"

Seeing his proper attitude, Liu Haibing nodded in satisfaction and began pointing at the patterns on the inner armor, explaining the force and rhythm of forging to Wang Yue. Although he occasionally forgot words, he was much more detailed than before.

Wang Daoling, watching this scene from the side, slowed his hammering speed a few points, his eyes full of surprise. Why was this burly man being so nice to Wang Yue?