One Hammer, One Refinement, a Thousand Refinements Treasure Embryo
Old Craftsman Lin saw that as Lu Qing's heavy hammer slammed down...
Under immense force, the red-hot iron bar, sparking everywhere, was squeezed and collapsed, turning into an iron disc.
Then Lu Qing folded it up and hammered it down again, turning it into an iron disc once more.
And so, Lu Qing continued hammering away, one blow after another.
The iron bar was easily flattened by him, just like dough.
But Old Craftsman Lin and his apprentices knew that it wasn't that the iron bar was as soft as dough, but rather that Lu Qing's strength was truly astonishing.
Each hammer blow could easily flatten the iron bar.
Most importantly, Old Craftsman Lin and the others noticed that Lu Qing didn't just use brute force to smash down.
Instead, each hammer blow contains various variations, just reaching the limit of the iron bar, squeezing out the impurities inside, without using too much force and breaking it.
"One hammer blow at a time? How is that possible?"
Watching Lu Qing wield the heavy hammer with effortless ease, forging one blow after another, the Old Craftsman Lin was already stunned, muttering to himself in a daze.
My heart was filled with indescribable shock.
He never imagined that forging iron blanks could be done like this.
Each hammer blow was a forging process; such incredible forging skills were something even the most skilled blacksmiths he had ever seen could not achieve.
But to his surprise, it actually happened right in front of him.
Clang! Clang! Clang! In the backyard of Casting Heart Workshop, Lu Qing kept swinging his heavy hammer. With each strike, the enormous force of the impact shook the entire backyard.
Everyone who witnessed this powerful and beautiful scene was mesmerized.
Even Grand Steward Wei was no exception.
Because of his higher cultivation level, he could better appreciate just how terrifying Lu Qing's hammer technique was.
He estimated that even with his mastery of the Inner Organs Realm, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand more than a few blows from Lu Qing.
And so, Lu Qing continued to train for more than an hour, seemingly without fatigue.
Suddenly, he sensed something and realized something, so he stopped folding and forging, and began to shape the iron bar in his hand.
Gradually, the iron bar in his hand changed its shape and began to take on the form of a sword.
Clang! With another hammer blow, sparks flew as Lu Qing finally stopped forging and placed the shaped sword blank in the cool water.
With a hiss, Lu Qing took out the sword blank amidst the misty spray and examined it intently.
A rich red light emerged from the sword embryo.
[Thousand Refinements Sword Embryo: A sword embryo formed through repeated folding and forging, reaching the Thousand-Refined Grade.]
[Only through repeated tempering can a weapon be forged; a sword embryo of the Thousand-Refined Grade already possesses the potential to become Artifact.]
[Due to the limitations of the material, this sword blank has reached its limit; further forging and folding will not improve its quality.]
really.
After reading the information about the sword embryo, Lu Qing understood.
He had already noticed it when he was forging it earlier.
It was clear that the iron bar had reached its limit, and there was no point in continuing to fold and forge it.
It seems that ordinary iron is ultimately just ordinary iron, and its quality cannot be improved by endless folding and forging.
The Thousand-Refined Grade is already the limit of quality for these iron bars.
"Young Master Lu, may I have the honor of seeing this sword prototype?"
At this moment, Old Craftsman Lin asked in a trembling voice.
His eyes were full of hope.
"Of course."
Lu Qing casually handed the sword blank in his hand to the old craftsman.
Old Craftsman Lin respectfully accepted the sword blank with both hands and examined it carefully.
This time, his disciples also disregarded the master-disciple etiquette and all gathered around to examine the sword prototype.
The sword blank that Lu Qing forged this time was slightly smaller than the previous one because he had completely removed the impurities from it.
Of course, this was not something that Old Craftsman Lin and his apprentices paid attention to.
They immediately began to examine the patterns on the sword blank.
Then, when you see the incredibly detailed texture.
Old Craftsman Lin trembled violently. "These patterns... they really are Thousand Refinements Treasure Embryo! This sword embryo has already reached the Thousand-Refined Grade!"
"Master, have you truly reached the Thousand-Refined Grade?"
The disciples had never seen refined iron of the Thousand-Refined Grade before, and upon hearing this, they were equally shocked.
"No mistake, the fine lines are like scales, this is the mark of Thousand Refinements Treasure Embryo!"
Hearing their master's absolutely certain tone, all the disciples were in an uproar.
They all huddled together, staring fervently at the sword blank, wishing their eyes were glued to it.
For a blacksmith, to be able to see ironware of the Thousand-Refined Grade is a great honor!
Old Craftsman Lin held the sword blank, his lips trembling slightly as he looked at Lu Qing.
In fact, he had some idea of the quality of this sword blank beforehand.
After all, he had watched Lu Qing forge the sword blank from beginning to end, and although he didn't count how many times it was folded and forged, he had a general idea.
But precisely because of this, he was even more shaken when he actually saw the patterns on the sword blank that marked the Thousand-Refined Grade.
The forging skills that Lu Qing displayed when he forged this sword blank were truly breathtaking.
The technique of forging with a single hammer blow—such a miraculous method—actually exists!
Old Craftsman Lin had never met a master forging expert, so he didn't know the extent of such Grandmaster Level's forging skills.
But he was certain that Lu Qing's forging skills, putting aside everything else, were probably on par with any master forging expert in the forging process alone! "Thousand Refinements Treasure Embryo?"
Even Grand Steward Wei couldn't help but slightly open his mouth.
He didn't expect that Lu Qing would actually forge a sword embryo of the Thousand-Refined Grade.
You should know that even the Wei Residence doesn't have many swords like this in their collection.
"Young Master Lu, thank you for bestowing this treasure upon me."
Old Craftsman Lin presented the sword blank to Lu Qing with a respectful expression.
He looked as respectful as an apprentice facing a master craftsman.
"It's just a sword blank, Old Craftsman Lin, there's no need to be so serious," Lu Qing said with a smile, without accepting the sword. "I happen to have something I'd like to ask for your help with."
"Young Master Lu, please speak. I will do my utmost to help as long as it is within my power!" Old Craftsman Lin hurriedly said.
"It's nothing major, just about this sword blank. I'd like to ask the old craftsman to help me make it into a longsword."
A good friend of mine has a joyous occasion in a few days, and I would like to give him this sword as a congratulatory gift. Would that be acceptable?
"That's no problem, but why doesn't Young Master Lu do it himself?" Old Craftsman Lin asked with some confusion.
"To be honest, old craftsman, I only have some understanding of forging. I am quite unfamiliar with other casting techniques and cannot compare with your rich experience."
To forge a perfect sword, it takes more than just forging a blank.
There are still processes to follow, such as inlaying, polishing, and sharpening, which Lu Qing is not familiar with.
"I see. Don't worry, Young Master Lu, this old man will certainly live up to your expectations and make this precious sword!"
Old Craftsman Lin was somewhat excited. Being able to personally forge a Thousand Refinements Treasure Sword was an unprecedented experience for him.
However, after the initial excitement, he suddenly remembered something.
"But Young Master Lu, didn't you say before that you came here to borrow the furnace to forge a weapon for yourself? Could it be that this sword blank isn't forging one for yourself?"
"My weapon isn't in a hurry yet," Lu Qing shook his head.
"I came here this time just to hone my forging skills. After I have gathered the materials, I am afraid I will have to bother the old craftsman again."