Forging Prodigy

The secret room's walls were thick, with Soul Guide Lamp Fixtures hanging from them for illumination. Further inside, one could no longer make out his true appearance. A forging room appeared before Tang Chenfeng. At the center of the spacious room stood a Forging Platform made entirely of metal. Racks reaching the ceiling lined three walls. The rack on the right held hammers of all sizes, the one on the left contained all kinds of rare metals, and the rack ahead was filled with assorted metal components. These items made the originally spacious room seem somewhat cramped.

Zhao Gaobo said, "This is my forging room. It's completely soundproof. And I know what you're thinking—it feels messy, doesn't it? Hmph. If the academy had a forging program, I would've moved out long ago."

Tang Chenfeng asked, "The academy doesn't offer specialized courses?" After all, forging was the foundation of Battle Armor.

Zhao Gaobo said helplessly, "No. Those people always say that forging isn't something kids your age should be doing. What do they know? If you don't build a solid foundation in this, you'll never have a chance to reach the pinnacle later on. To create top-tier Battle Armor, you need top-tier blacksmiths."

Zhao Gaobo continued, "Forging is difficult and dull for ordinary people. I've walked this road myself, and it isn't an easy one. But if you want to become the person you envision, you must keep walking it. Tell me again—you'll never give up halfway."

Tang Chenfeng said firmly, "Teacher, I'll never give up halfway. I'll keep going no matter what."

Zhao Gaobo smiled with satisfaction. "Good. Then let me first tell you what forging is."

"First of all, forging and casting are completely different. Casting only requires a mold. Using machinery to press metal into the shape required by the mold is casting. Forging, on the other hand, requires a blacksmith to hammer it into shape by hand, blow by blow. Of course, machines can also hammer metal, but metal has life as well. Machine forging can never truly grasp the texture of metal. That is why the finest mech components are all hand-forged by blacksmiths. A good blacksmith is a true craftsman, with a status no less than that of a Soul Master."

That particularly caught Tang Chenfeng's attention. "Teacher, are you saying that metal has life?"

Zhao Gaobo said, "More accurately, we are the ones who give metal life. Forget it. I'll just demonstrate it for you."

Zhao Gaobo walked to a rack, casually took out a piece of rare metal, and placed it on the Forging Platform before activating it. The top of the platform suddenly opened, swallowing the rare metal into a blazing red furnace. Then he took a hammer from his Storage Soul Tool.

That must be a Forging Hammer. Tang Chenfeng thought. Although he had never seen one before, he could clearly sense that this hammer was different from an ordinary one. It felt as though it possessed life.

After a while, the top of the Forging Platform opened again, and the rare metal rose back up. It had already been heated until it glowed red.

Zhao Gaobo said, "You need to soften the metal first for forging to be more effective." Then he extended one leg back into a wide stance, raised the hand holding the Forging Hammer high, and smashed it down onto the metal. Sparks flew with a single strike, and the metal visibly flattened a little. But Zhao Gaobo did not stop. He swung the hammer again and again without pause, every strike precise and powerful. He seemed to have entered a state of complete absorption. In his eyes, there was only the forging before him, and under his hammer, the metal gradually shrank bit by bit.

Clang— With the final blow, the forging ended.

The forged metal had shrunk slightly in volume, and its overall metallic luster had become brighter than before. This showed that its impurities had been reduced and its purity had increased.

Looking at his work, Zhao Gaobo said, "Forging itself has different grades. This is called Hundred Forgings First Grade. It can be used to make One-Word Battle Armor or ordinary mechs. Of course, there are higher levels as well. By the way, forged rare metals have always been priceless treasures. But those things may still be far beyond you. For now, focus on building a solid foundation. First, though, you'll need to pass my test."

Then Zhao Gaobo pointed at the rack of rare metals, then at the rack of Forging Hammers. "Choose a piece of rare metal to forge based on your own instincts. You can use any Forging Hammer you like, but it's best to choose one that feels right in your hand. I won't interfere with your forging process. In the end, I'll judge from your first work whether you're worth my full effort in training. All right, I've said what needed to be said. Go on. Let me see what you can do." With that, he stepped aside.

Tang Chenfeng did not waste any time and quickly walked over to the rack holding the rare metals. All kinds of metals were arranged there, each cut into a fist-sized cube. They were neither too large nor too small, just right. The different metals gave off different metallic sheens, dazzling his eyes and leaving him unsure where to begin.

There were dozens of different metals, each with a different color and texture. Some were gold, some silver, some black, and some pale blue. Some bore strange patterns, while others glittered with tiny points of light.

After looking around, Tang Chenfeng fixed his gaze on a piece of dark blue metal. It was blue to the point of seeming black, yet it had the translucent, crystal-like quality of a gemstone. Tiny points of light flickered within it, like a lesser version of his Starlight Stone. In some indescribable way, Tang Chenfeng felt as though the metal were calling to him. Almost instinctively, he took it down. It was not particularly heavy, but it felt like a crystal gemstone in his hand rather than metal.

Seeing Tang Chenfeng's choice, Zhao Gaobo could not help frowning. The metal he had chosen was called Dark Star Crystal, a rare metal that could only be mined from asteroids. It was extremely hard and offered very little resistance to Soul Power conduction, making it an advanced material suitable for core components. However, Dark Star Crystal was incredibly hard and had poor ductility, making it extremely difficult to forge.

By then, Tang Chenfeng had already placed the Dark Star Crystal onto the Forging Platform, pressed the button, and begun heating it. Then he went to the rack of Forging Hammers.

He first looked around before taking out a hammer about the same size as the one Zhao Gaobo had used earlier.

Seeing this, Zhao Gaobo smiled faintly. Is he trying to imitate my choice? Too bad. I've studied forging for nearly a hundred years. The hammer I used weighs a full five hundred jin. Not just anyone can swing it.

Tang Chenfeng soon put that hammer down. At least the young man knows not to overestimate himself, Zhao Gaobo thought. But what happened next left him utterly stunned. Tang Chenfeng put down the first hammer, then picked up an even larger Forging Hammer. It was a long-handled hammer, roughly one hundred and fifty centimeters long including both head and handle, and weighed around five hundred and fifty jin.

Compared to an ordinary Forging Hammer, a long-handled Forging Hammer allowed for better leverage and stronger strikes. However, it also required more effort to swing and was harder to control.

"Ah..." Zhao Gaobo sighed inwardly. So far, every choice Tang Chenfeng had made was the most difficult one possible. But Zhao Gaobo had already said that he would not interfere with his choices.

Forget it. His fate will depend on himself from here on, Zhao Gaobo thought.

"Forging requires concentration, so I won't watch from here. Remember to call me when you've finished your work. And remember—give it everything you have." With that, Zhao Gaobo opened the secret room's door and walked out. Tang Chenfeng was now alone in the forging room.

He stood quietly before the Forging Platform with the hammer in hand, waiting. A moment later, the outlet above the platform opened, and the Dark Star Crystal, already glowing red from the heat, slowly rose up.

Tang Chenfeng copied Zhao Gaobo's earlier stance, spreading his legs and concentrating his strength in his arms, waist, and legs. But instead of raising the hammer high, he gripped the end of the handle with one hand and its middle with the other, then swung it down with force.

The instant the Forging Hammer collided with the metal, sparks burst everywhere. As the hammer rebounded from the force of the impact, Tang Chenfeng borrowed that momentum to raise it again and bring it down once more. As the strikes continued, Tang Chenfeng's speed grew faster and his rhythm steadier. The reason he had chosen this long-handled Forging Hammer was that the previous one had felt too light to him and did not feel right in his hand. This long-handled hammer, however, was just right.

The forging continued. Throughout the process, Tang Chenfeng kept sensing the changes in the Dark Star Crystal. It kept changing under his hammer, growing smaller and purer. At one point, it even seemed to burst with light. During the forging process, Tang Chenfeng had the constant feeling that the metal before him was gradually evolving, as though vitality were being infused into it and it was slowly developing spirituality.

"Clang, clang, clang, boom—" After a tremendous crash, the metal being forged suddenly erupted with a golden light more than a zhang high. The sight startled Tang Chenfeng, who had been completely focused. This was far beyond anything he understood. Just as he hesitated, a familiar voice came from his pocket.

"Don't stop! Keep going! This is a perfect chance for you to comprehend creation." The voice sounded somewhat hurried.

"Bai Xing?"

"Continue. You're essentially giving this metal spirituality and life. This process should be of great help to your future growth."

Though he did not fully understand, it seemed best to continue.

The forging went on, and the heavy hammer came down once more. But Tang Chenfeng clearly felt that something had changed. This round of forging was much more strenuous than before, and the metal felt different as well. If it had merely been a piece of metal before, it now felt spiritual to him. A sensation seemed to travel up through the Forging Hammer into his hands, as though it were telling him that the previous strike had not suited it and had made it uncomfortable.

"Then in that case..." Tang Chenfeng activated his Soul Power and channeled it into the Forging Hammer. At the same time, he opened his Divine Sense, allowing himself to observe every detail of the metal. The forging continued. The infusion of Soul Power and use of Divine Sense began to exhaust him, but the Forging Hammer in his hands did not stop. He kept swinging it. He was sensing the metal, feeling the emotions transmitted through every strike to determine the next hammer blow's point of impact and force. Gradually, a faint halo appeared around the Dark Star Crystal, growing stronger with every blow Tang Chenfeng delivered. The feedback from the metal also became increasingly intense. A faint hum had begun to rise from it, as though something were about to awaken.

His Soul Power and Spiritual Power were being rapidly consumed, yet Tang Chenfeng felt that he had reached his current peak. Everything about him seemed to be improving in every aspect, and he gained an entirely new understanding of forging, which he had only just encountered.

Finally, with another swing of the hammer and another burst of sparks, the Dark Star Crystal before him erupted with light again. Unlike the previous golden glow, this time it burst forth with dazzling starlight like a vast night sky. The forged Dark Star Crystal had changed. If it had once resembled a translucent black crystal, it was now a clear, flawless dark blue gem. The lights shining within it looked like stars wrapped inside, drawing the eye with a beauty that could only be called perfect.

Tang Chenfeng, standing nearby, was already having trouble remaining upright. He had not expected forging to be so exhausting. Though he had forcibly pushed past his limits, things should improve considerably afterward.

"This should be enough, right? I should go tell Teacher Zhao." Then he opened the secret room's door and went to find Zhao Gaobo.

Meanwhile, Zhao Gaobo was sitting in his office waiting, but he was not in a good mood.

It had been too long. Tang Chenfeng had spent far too long forging. Even Thousand Forgings Third Grade, which was more difficult, should not have taken this long. Zhao Gaobo thought.

Earlier, he had promised Ye Jiulong that as long as Tang Chenfeng passed his test, he would teach him how to become a blacksmith. But judging from the current situation, Tang Chenfeng probably did not have the talent for it. From his choice of metal and hammer to the amount of time he had spent forging, everything pointed to the same conclusion. Even if he barely passed the test, he would likely find it difficult to improve in the future.

"Forget it. I've lived this long and never taken an apprentice. If he can barely pass, I'll accept him as my apprentice."

At that moment, the mechanism on the door behind him sounded, followed by a weak voice. "Teacher Zhao... I... finished... forging."

Tang Chenfeng looked like he was about to faint, startling Zhao Gaobo. He hurried over to support him and asked, "What happened to you? How did you become so weak?"

"Sorry, Teacher Zhao. Forging was more difficult than I imagined, but I finished it. Please take a look."

Seeing Tang Chenfeng so weak, Zhao Gaobo felt rather bad as well. The first attempt would naturally be difficult, but it should not have been this bad. It could only mean that Tang Chenfeng truly was not suited for the path of forging.

At least I should look at his work before sending him away, Zhao Gaobo thought.

Thus, with Zhao Gaobo supporting him, the two returned to the secret room.

When they reached the Forging Platform in the secret room, the Dark Star Crystal was still there. Compared to when Tang Chenfeng had first taken it, its volume had shrunk by more than half. It emitted a faint halo and was filled with an aura of vitality.

"Teacher Zhao, I did my best. I wonder if I passed your test... Teacher...? Teacher Zhao?"

Zhao Gaobo did not answer him. He had already frozen in place, repeatedly rubbing his eyes while muttering, "Impossible... How can this be possible?" over and over.

After a long while, he finally came back to his senses. He placed both hands on Tang Chenfeng's shoulders and asked, "Chenfeng, tell me honestly. You made this yourself, right? No one else helped you, right?"

Though completely baffled, Tang Chenfeng still answered, "Yes, I made it myself. Is there a problem?"

"Hahaha—" Zhao Gaobo suddenly burst into laughter. "I've truly found a treasure! Chenfeng, do you know? You're a genius—a genius at forging!"