New World Pioneer 3

"Oh, you want to know about the Clear Sky Hammer? It was the signature Martial Soul of the Clear Sky Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects. It's only natural that you're curious."

Gu You knew Tang San didn't want to reveal that he had two Martial Souls, so he deliberately made it sound as though Tang San was merely curious about the Clear Sky Sect's Martial Soul. That way, even if Old Jack or someone else overheard them, they would only think the two children were chatting and bragging.

Tang San gave Gu You a grateful look. After all, constantly leaning close and lowering his voice was rather tiring.

"According to the records, the Tang Family of the Clear Sky Sect was originally a blacksmith clan that mainly worked as smiths. Its Martial Soul was merely an ordinary forging hammer. After undergoing a beneficial mutation and being successfully stabilized, it was passed down to the present day and became the Clear Sky Hammer we see now. The Tang Family also changed from a blacksmith clan into the current leader of the Upper Three Sects, the Clear Sky Sect."

"As a battle-type Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer mainly adds strength. It abandons every other possibility and pushes the characteristic of strength to its absolute limit. That's also why the Clear Sky Sect can become the leader of the Upper Three Sects."

"On the other hand, although the Clear Sky Hammer originated as a forging hammer and became a battle-oriented Martial Soul, it still retains some of the forging hammer's functions. Every so often, someone from the Clear Sky Sect is able to obtain the highest honor a blacksmith can receive—the title of God Smith."

"But unfortunately, the Clear Sky Hammer's achievements as a forging hammer probably end there. Ever since the first Clear Sky Hammer wielder to obtain the title of God Smith, not a single Clear Sky Hammer wielder has managed to push forging into the next realm."

"So I believe that, in its current form, the Clear Sky Hammer is indeed extremely powerful as a battle-type Martial Soul. But if one wants to develop its forging abilities further, then it will inevitably become less powerful in battle."

Tang San grew anxious when he heard this. He didn't need the Clear Sky Hammer to be an overwhelmingly powerful weapon for battle. He would much rather turn it into a divine artifact for forging metal, using the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons he had brought from his previous life to reach an entirely new height and surpass the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus he had forged in the past.

Tang San hurriedly asked, "Then what should I do to further bring out the forging hammer's functions?"

Gu You said unhurriedly, "Xiao San, don't be in such a rush. My knowledge is still insufficient, and I don't understand the Clear Sky Hammer well enough. I can't jump to conclusions."

Seeing Tang San's expression change from eagerness to disappointment, Gu You quickly added, "Although I haven't reached a conclusion yet, I already have some leads."

"Tell me!"

"Xiao San, you've been smithing at home for so long. What do you think is needed to forge a good piece of metal?"

Although Tang San was extremely anxious and wanted to grab Gu You by the collar and ask how to turn the Clear Sky Hammer into a better forging hammer, he still answered Gu You's question first after hearing it.

"Good ore, a good hammer, excellent forging techniques, and a furnace with a sufficiently high temperature."

"You believe those are the elements of forging. Ore is ore, and there's no way to change it. As for hammers, not many can be more durable than the Clear Sky Hammer. Forging techniques can improve with time. So, the only thing we can really change is the furnace that provides the heat."

"Since forging can only reach its current level through the existing methods, and the other elements have also reached a point where they can't be improved further, why not seek a hotter and more unusual Flame?"

"And what Flame could offer more possibilities than one released from a Martial Soul?"

Gu You's words struck Tang San's mind like a meteor. That was right—the Clear Sky Hammer wasn't an ordinary hammer. It was a Martial Soul, and it possessed infinite possibilities. Since the furnace's Flame could only reach this level, why not make the Clear Sky Hammer, as a forging hammer, produce its own Flame? Besides providing a higher temperature, he could also control the Flame he wanted at will, creating more possibilities and room for experimentation in forging.

That was right. The direction Gu You had pointed Tang San toward was the familiar Greek god known to modern people—the god of Flame and forging, Hephaestus, one of the twelve principal gods of Mount Olympus. In mythology, he forged Zeus's Master Bolt and Aegis, Poseidon's Trident, Hades's Helm of Darkness, and the Golden Arrow and Lead Arrow of Cupid. Hephaestus was the first god most people thought of when it came to forging.

(To avoid misunderstandings, there is also a version saying that the Cyclops helped Zeus and the others forge divine artifacts to overthrow Cronus. Here, I'm using the version where Hephaestus forged them. If you have a different opinion, then you're right.)

By this point, Tang San could no longer hear anything Gu You was saying. (Gu You: ? So you abandon the donkey once the millstone is ground?) He had already decided to follow Gu You's advice: cultivate the Blue Silver Grass as a Support System Martial Soul, while developing the Clear Sky Hammer as a forging hammer. He would strengthen both its power and Fire Attribute, becoming the greatest blacksmith in history—the true God Smith.

When Tang San finally emerged from his fantasy of forging a Buddha Fury Tang Lotus far beyond the original, his refocusing eyes happened to see Gu You supporting his head with his left hand as he swayed with the carriage.

Tang San's young (old) face flushed red. He hurriedly said, "I've decided. My Blue Silver Grass will follow the Support System path. Then what does it mean for Gu You's Tyranno to develop along that Stationary Power Attack System direction?"

Gu You was just about to celebrate successfully changing the plot after hearing Tang San's first sentence. Hearing Tang San's question, he replied, "I tested my Martial Soul's basic qualities. I decided on its development path according to those qualities."

As he spoke, Gu You took a clean wooden board and drew three hexagons, each made up of five nested regular hexagons. (Referencing the Stand panels from JoJo.) He wrote "Ultimate Conductor Tyranno," "Blue Silver Grass," and "Clear Sky Hammer" above the three hexagons, then said, "Besides our two Martial Souls, let's add the Clear Sky Hammer you were just curious about."

"These three Martial Souls are a Beast Martial Soul, a plant Tool Martial Soul, and an ordinary Tool Martial Soul. On the Beast Martial Soul's six corners, write: strength, speed, endurance, defense, energy, and special. For the Tool Martial Souls, write: destructive power, attack speed, range, power, energy, and special."

"Xiao San, trust me. The two sets of hexagons you're looking at will change Soul Masters' views on Martial Soul development."

Tang San looked at the diagram Gu You had drawn on the wooden board, then turned to look at Gu You.

Although he couldn't understand the meaning of the two diagrams at all, he could feel Gu You's confidence when he spoke about them, as if Gu You was certain that the diagrams he had devised would change the world.

By this point, I think everyone should know that the Transmigrator protagonist's second hidden cheat is an entire world's worth of ideas.

All kinds of myths, novels, comics, anime, and games—every superpower humanity has imagined has been considered. Whether for application or enhancement, there will always be a template to reference.

If the Martial Soul is a tree, there's the First Hokage to reference. For eye Martial Souls, there are the Sharingan, Byakugan, and Alpha Stigma for you to choose from. For Fire Attribute Martial Souls, there's Ace, Natsu, Xiao Yan from next door, or even the Zanpakuto Ryujin Jakka. For ice-type Martial Souls, the admiral Aokiji and Esdeath are waiting for you as well.

In such an incredible world, as long as there's even the slightest possibility of obtaining power, these ideas can eliminate bottlenecks in one's progress.

Looking at Dinosaur Big Brother's card illustration again, it really was handsome. I've had less and less time to play cards just from writing this book. Finally, I'll keep asking for recommendation votes and collections.