Astonishing Talent

Inside the Forge Workshop, the furnace fire burned brightly, its red-hot glow reflecting off Liu Haibing's face and lending a few traces of solemnity to his originally rugged features.

He watched Wang Yue standing before the forging table, his hand gripping the pitch-black sledgehammer steady and unshaking. His voice suddenly deepened, carrying reverence for the craft of weapon forging. "Kid, don't think forging weapons is as simple as hammering iron."

"Among those top sects, there are transcendent beings known as 'divine weapon forgers.' The divine weapons they forge can remain intact for a thousand years and unfouled for ten thousand. They can even draw upon the power of heaven and earth. Such weapons are enough to be passed down as a sect's foundation."

Liu Haibing's gaze swept over the dancing flames in the furnace. His tone softened, yet became all the more solemn. "And the first step on your path is forging twenty-fold refined iron. Only then can you be considered truly initiated. If you can forge fifty-fold refined iron, that counts as minor mastery. If you can reach Hundred Forgings, then you will have attained perfection."

He paused and looked Wang Yue in the eyes, speaking frankly. "My forging art ends at Hundred Forgings. As for 'Thousand Forgings' and 'Ten Thousand Forgings' beyond that, you'll have to explore them yourself.

"But remember this: without years of hard work, without the perseverance to spend day and night alongside iron and fire, you will never live to see the clouds part and the sun emerge."

After saying that, Liu Haibing took a deep breath, as though he had made some important decision, and asked solemnly, "Now let me ask you: are you willing to learn weapon forging from me? To make this craft your own path?"

Wang Yue tightened his grip around the hammer's handle. He could feel the unusual weight carried by those words. This was no longer simple instruction.

A sharp light burst from his eyes. Remembering the forging insights brought by the Hundred Forgings talent on his panel, and the shock he had felt when extracting that talent yesterday, he answered in a low voice, "Master Liu, I am willing!"

There was no needless nonsense, only determination from the depths of his heart.

Seeing the light in his eyes, Liu Haibing finally revealed a genuine smile and patted his shoulder. "Good! Since you are willing to learn, I'll teach you everything I know!"

"The first thing about smithing is to hammer iron with your life. There are no other shortcuts."

Liu Haibing pointed at the iron ingot on the anvil and explained, "For ordinary people, forging iron once requires a thousand hammer strikes, creating an even layer of patterns over the ingot's surface. Twenty Forgings means creating twenty distinct patterns, layer upon layer, removing every impurity."

Then his tone shifted, carrying a trace of pride. "But my methods are different. For the first twenty forgings, I only need a hundred strikes per forging. Even for Hundred Forgings refined iron, I need no more than four thousand hammer strikes. This is the unique trick I spent my whole life figuring out."

"Begin!" Liu Haibing stepped aside.

Wang Yue took a deep breath, used iron tongs to lift a red-hot iron ingot, and steadily placed it upon the anvil. The moment both hands gripped the pitch-black hammer, a familiar sensation surged through his heart, as though he had already held this hammer thousands upon thousands of times. This was the affinity granted by the Hundred Forgings talent.

"Bang!"

The first strike landed, scattering sparks in every direction and leaving a shallow dent in the ingot. Yet Wang Yue frowned slightly. He had not controlled the force well; the hammer mark was somewhat crooked, and it had failed to precisely strike where the impurities had gathered.

He did not lose heart. He exhaled again, and the shadowy figure from yesterday, when he had extracted the Hundred Forgings talent, flashed through his mind.

Liu Haibing's arm movements while forging, the force from his waist and abdomen, the angle at which the hammer fell... countless details replayed like a film.

The next second, Wang Yue's arm moved along with the shadow in his memories. The hammer seemed to come alive. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" One blow followed another, the rhythm growing faster and steadier. Hammer marks spread evenly across the iron ingot's surface, every strike precisely shaking impurities loose until they fell away as black iron slag.

"How... how is this possible?" Liu Haibing's face changed drastically. His eyes widened round, and the iron tongs in his hand clattered to the ground.

In just one night, this kid had actually grasped his forging rhythm and control over force?

Even ordinary disciples might not achieve such fluidity after several months of study!

He instinctively held his breath, his gaze fixed tightly upon Wang Yue's movements. He scarcely dared breathe loudly. This was his reverence for the path of forging!

Though Wang Yue's hammer technique was still unpolished, he had already touched upon the essence of balancing hardness and softness. This was no coincidence—it was true talent!

As the hammering continued, the iron ingot gradually thinned. Wang Yue suddenly lifted it with the tongs, quickly folded it into two layers, then grabbed a handful of mixed materials from the side and evenly scattered them over the ingot's surface.

This was the folding-forging impurity-removal method Liu Haibing had demonstrated yesterday, and Wang Yue had actually put it to flexible use!

Liu Haibing's expression became increasingly vivid, shifting from initial shock to astonishment, then to delighted surprise. The corners of his mouth unconsciously rose as he thought, This kid is prime material for weapon forging!

Three hours later.

Wang Yue was drenched in sweat. Perspiration dripped from his cheeks onto the anvil with sizzling sounds, evaporating in an instant.

His arms had long since become swollen and sore, his muscles trembling madly. His top-tier bones supported his physique, while the Blood Dragon Secret Method secretly squeezed out his body's potential to replenish his strength. Without that, he would likely have collapsed long ago.

Outside the workshop, Wang Daoling and several apprentices assigned to odd jobs were drawn over by the dense hammering sounds within. They quietly gathered at the doorway to peer inside. When they saw Wang Yue hammering away like a tireless iron man, blow after blow, everyone was dumbfounded. A complicated emotion flashed through Wang Daoling's eyes. He had trained for so long, yet his progress was not even as fast as Wang Yue's in a single day.

Nine Forgings... only one last forging left! Wang Yue roared inwardly, though the sound caught in his throat. He no longer had the strength to shout it aloud. He could only support his arm movements through sheer will. Every swing of the hammer seemed to draw away the last thread of his strength.

Liu Haibing stood to the side, his expression changing from initial ease to gravity, even becoming somewhat stiff. His lips trembled slightly as countless thoughts churned through his mind. How exactly had Wang Yue done it?

Just as Wang Yue's arm was about to stop, Liu Haibing suddenly shouted, "Stop! Stop now!"

He rushed forward and grabbed Wang Yue's wrist, his voice tinged with urgency. "Y-you pass! These nine forgings have already far exceeded my expectations. There's no need to force yourself any further!"

Wang Yue's lips moved. He wanted to speak but lacked the strength, so he could only shake his head. There were still a thousand hammer strikes left. He did not want to give up.

Seeing the stubbornness in his eyes, Liu Haibing's heart softened. He hurriedly searched himself, pulled a small porcelain bottle from his robes, twisted open its stopper, and poured out a pill that was crimson all over.

He held it before Wang Yue. "Take it! This is a Body Replenishing Pill. It can quickly restore your strength and nourish your body!"

Wang Yue did not hesitate. He took the pill and quickly swallowed it. The pill melted the instant it entered his mouth, and a surging medicinal power spread through his body like sweet rain nourishing drought-stricken fields. An unending stream of essence poured from his limbs and bones, flowing into his nearly dried-up meridians and muscles. The aching sensation rapidly faded, while his stamina visibly recovered.

Good medicine! Wang Yue rejoiced inwardly and gripped the hammer again. His hammer technique became even more precise than before. He no longer pursued merely flattening the iron block. While controlling his force to shape it, he also precisely forged out the impurities. Hammer marks formed orderly patterns across the ingot's surface, like drifting clouds.

Only five hundred strikes into this forging, the tenth pattern clearly emerged over the ingot's surface—fine and even, gleaming with a faint metallic luster.

It's done! Wang Yue relaxed inwardly. His arm could no longer hold on, and the sledgehammer crashed to the ground. He staggered back two steps and nearly fell.

Liu Haibing hurriedly stepped forward to support him. When his palm touched Wang Yue's shoulder, he could clearly feel his body trembling. This was the sign of complete exhaustion, but also proof that he had persisted to his very limit.

Liu Haibing stared at the piece of refined iron on the anvil bearing ten patterns. In a daze, he recalled that Peak Lord Zhu Chaoying seemed to have said that the old man had taken a month to reach Hundred Forgings, forging one thousand and thirty pieces of iron!

Back then, Liu Haibing had been full of resistance within the sect, believing that no rare jade could emerge from a small county clan. But now, his heart held only joy and excitement. Wang Yue was no rare jade—he was clearly a peerless treasure jade!

"G-good kid!" Liu Haibing's voice was somewhat hoarse. Not knowing how to express his complicated emotions, he could only pat Wang Yue on the back.

Wang Yue leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. Looking at that ten-forged refined iron, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Wang Yue rested against the wall for half an incense stick's time. His strength gradually recovered somewhat, but his gaze once again drifted unconsciously toward the weapon forging hammer at Liu Haibing's waist.

The golden glow on the hammer seemed to hook at his heart. The shock of extracting the Hundred Forgings talent yesterday still echoed in his mind. He truly wanted to hold that hammer once more and see whether he could gain further insights into weapon forging from it.

Liu Haibing took in his gaze completely. He gave a light cough, and a thought suddenly surfaced in his heart. This kid has a good eye! Of everything I own, only this weapon forging hammer that has followed me for thirty years is worth anything.

If I use this hammer to keep dangling a carrot before him, making him desperately practice weapon forging for the sake of the hammer, wouldn't I gain a core-powered donkey?

Forging iron and growing every day, forging iron... The very thought made Liu Haibing feel wonderful.

With that thought, Liu Haibing deliberately touched the hammer handle at his waist. His tone carried a few traces of deliberate solemnity. "I have used this hammer for most of my life. From the day I began forging weapons until now, it has accompanied me through countless storms and trials. My feelings for it run deeper than for my own brothers. It is not something just anyone can touch."

He paused, watching Wang Yue's eyes instantly dim, before changing course. "Your ability to forge ten-fold refined iron today truly surprised me, but that little achievement is not enough for me to pass it down. However..."

"If, within a month, you can either refine Tier One High-grade inner armor and a weapon, or forge eighty-fold refined iron, I will give this hammer to you as a gift. Not only that, I will give you an enormous surprise."

As Liu Haibing spoke, his eyes flickered with hidden meaning. That "surprise" was actually an opportunity to recommend Wang Yue for entry into Workfire Peak, but it was not yet time to reveal it.

Wang Yue's previously bright eyes instantly dimmed, and his brows furrowed tightly.

He even felt somewhat annoyed. He had exhausted himself forging ten-fold refined iron, nearly collapsing from fatigue, all so he could touch this hammer sooner!

He drooped his shoulders in disappointment, his voice carrying a trace of exhaustion. "Master Liu, I am truly too tired today. Let's stop the weapon forging here for now. I'll come again tomorrow."

At this moment, forget coveting the hammer—he did not even wish to remain in the workshop. He only wanted to find somewhere to rest properly and replenish his strength.

Liu Haibing thought he was simply tired and did not notice his disappointment. Smiling, he nodded. "That works. You indeed worked hard today. Come earlier tomorrow and practice the basic hammer techniques more. It will benefit your control over force. Do not slack off."

"Got it." Wang Yue answered perfunctorily, then turned and walked out of the workshop. His steps were somewhat unsteady, as the aftereffects of exhaustion had not fully faded.

He walked with stops and starts. As he passed the Martial Academy, his pale face and exhausted expression were spotted by several disciples planning to go to the Forge Workshop to study weapon forging. They had originally hoped that learning alongside Wang Yue would allow them to improve quickly, but seeing him looking so utterly drained, they immediately lost their nerve.

"Even Wang Yue can't endure it. If we go, won't Master Liu train us to death?" one disciple muttered softly, his eyes full of fear.

"How about... we go study alchemy instead? Master Fu looks refined and gentle. He probably won't be so harsh," another disciple suggested.

Very quickly, the disciples reached an agreement and turned toward Fu Shuangyun's alchemy room. The previously lively direction of the Forge Workshop was instantly devoid of people. How could they know that Wang Yue's exhaustion was more due to the disappointment of his obsession going unfulfilled than simple forging fatigue?

Wang Yue had no mind to care about the disciples' discussion behind him. He headed straight toward the Essence Chamber in the clan leader's residence. At present, only the pure essence within the chamber could rapidly restore him.

Pushing open the chamber door, dense essence rushed toward him. Wang Yue did not even bother to find a separate compartment. He directly sat cross-legged by the entrance, opened his mouth, and greedily breathed in the surrounding essence. The mist-like essence flowed through his mouth and nose into his body, swiftly nourishing his exhausted frame.

As time passed, Wang Yue's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and satisfaction appeared on his face. He straightened himself, moved his arms, and discovered in surprise that not only had his strength fully recovered, but even his muscular endurance and explosive power had improved. His control over force had also become several degrees more precise than before!

Using recovery after exhausting myself through forging can actually improve both stamina and force control? A flash of realization passed through Wang Yue's eyes. He immediately rose to his feet and began the fourth form of the Blood Dragon Secret Method within the chamber.

His fists tore through the air. One hundred and eight variations were rapidly unleashed through his hands, every movement smoother and more precise than before. Blood Qi surged through his meridians, resonating with the surrounding essence without the slightest obstruction.

Wang Yue was somewhat shocked. This method of extreme depletion and recovery actually faintly matched the cultivation rhythm of the Blood Dragon Secret Method!

A sharp light appeared in Wang Yue's eyes. Though he had not condensed an eleventh strand of Blood Qi, the ten strands within his body were exceptionally full at this moment, like floodwaters about to burst through a dam. The eleventh strand was no longer far away.

After finishing his cultivation, Wang Yue did not leave immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged and circulated his Blood Qi into the panel. As essence was continuously absorbed and converted, the cooldown for "Talent Extraction" on the panel visibly shortened, gradually returning to zero.

Since weapon forging can improve so quickly through talent, perhaps alchemy can work the same way.

A thought suddenly arose in Wang Yue's heart. Fu Shuangyun is an alchemist from the Dragon Transformation Sect. He must possess alchemy talent or related tools.