No matter how much firewood Scribe added, nor how fiercely the flames burned, the Scarlet Scarlet Sand Iron no longer changed.
Looking at the chunks of red jelly before him, Scribe could not help but frown.
Melting and forging the Scarlet Scarlet Sand Iron into a single whole was one of the most difficult steps in the entire sword-forging process.
Tie He had only entrusted this part to him because he trusted Scribe enough.
This was troublesome.
His brows furrowed so tightly that Scribe did not even notice he had bitten his lip open.
A trickle of blood slowly dripped down from his lip.
Unlike the sweat from before, this drop of blood successfully landed on the Scarlet Scarlet Sand Iron.
The instant it made contact, the blood seemed to be absorbed and merged into it.
Though it was brief, Scribe still noticed the change in the Scarlet Scarlet Sand Iron.
It seemed to have melted a little?
Noticing that the lowest section showed faint signs of liquefying, an idea formed in Scribe's mind.
Could blood containing the power of Sun Breathing promote its liquefaction?
Making his decision at once, Scribe placed an iron sheet over the furnace.
Before long, the sheet had been heated red by the blazing flames.
Under Tie He and the others' astonished gazes, Scribe picked up the iron sheet and slashed it across his wrist.
A great amount of blood gushed from the wound, falling onto the Scarlet Scarlet Sand Iron below as if it cost nothing.
Watching his blood drip down, Scribe felt strangely uncomfortable.
It was as though he had become the leader of some evil cult, performing a blood sacrifice ritual.
Scribe, you—
Seeing this, Tie He hurriedly tried to stop him.
But when he saw the resolute expression on Scribe's face, he slowly withdrew the foot he had stepped forward with.
Tie He raised his hammer again and shouted as he struck.
Hey, kid Scribe, are you okay?
His face was somewhat pale, but Scribe's mind was unusually clear.
Don't worry. I won't die.
Once he saw that enough blood had flowed, Scribe pressed the iron sheet directly over the wound.
The agony of burning flesh instantly spread through his entire body. Scribe clenched his teeth and stubbornly refused to cry out.
What a tough kid.
Taking in everything with the corner of his eye, Tie He could not help but praise him inwardly.
Hey, you lot, don't forget your jobs!
With a roar, Tie He's rough voice jolted Jin Shushu and the others out of their stunned daze.
Rather than worrying about his body, what you should be doing now is finishing your work!
Jin Shushu and the others snapped back to their senses and threw themselves into their work once more. The forging continued.
With the help of his own blood, Scribe successfully melted the Scarlet Scarlet Sand Iron into liquid.
Very quickly, all of the Scarlet Scarlet Sand Iron fused together.
They poured the liquid into a mold and set it aside to cool for the time being.
Just as Scribe thought everything was over, a cry of alarm came from beside him.
Tie Ke, what's wrong?!
Turning around, he saw that the man named Tie Ke had somehow collapsed unconscious onto the floor.
At the same time, a half-forged piece of raw iron fell from the forging table, crashing straight toward his head.
Perhaps in the next instant, Tie Ke's head would be smashed into pulp!
The Peerless Blade, the Crimson Blade
Tie Ke!
Watching the raw iron fall, Tie He roared and was about to throw down his tools to save him.
But in this life-or-death moment, those few short meters seemed like the distance between heaven and earth.
After taking only two steps, Tie He knew he was already too late.
He closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight of his nephew's head being crushed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A fierce wind seemed to suddenly sweep through the stifling room, and Jin Shushu and the others heard sharp whistling sounds by their ears.
It was Scribe!
He kicked the raw iron away, sending it flying to the side.
At the critical moment, Scribe had saved the unconscious Tie Ke!
When Tie He opened his eyes, he found that Tie Ke had not died. Scribe had saved him instead.
Scribe, thank—
Just as he was about to thank him, Scribe cut him off directly.
Now isn't the time for that. It won't be too late to talk after the sword forging is done.
After briefly checking Tie Ke's body, Scribe found that he had merely fainted from excessive exhaustion.
He's fine. Forging the sword just drained too much of his strength and energy.
I'll take over the work he didn't finish. You can leave the rest to yourselves without worry.
With just a few simple words, Scribe erased everyone's nervousness.
The huge weight in his heart finally lifted. Tie He let out a long breath and shouted.
Of course!
Boys, let Scribe see what us swordsmiths are capable of!
The other swordsmiths responded one after another and threw themselves back into the work.
After placing Tie Ke somewhere relatively cool, Scribe stepped up to his forging table.
With a quick look, Scribe understood Tie Ke's task.
Unlike his previous work, Tie Ke's job was to smelt and forge pieces of raw iron into refined iron.
In other words, purification.
This work was relatively simple, but it required the worker to have ample physical strength and energy.
For ordinary people, it would be rather troublesome.
But for Scribe, it was nothing more than mechanically swinging a sledgehammer and striking away.
Choosing the largest hammer available, Scribe began the purification work.
The clang of metal, the crackling of flames, and the panting of swordsmiths.
The three sounds interwove into the main melody of the room.
Time slowly passed, and the sword forging gradually approached its end.
Here, this is the last piece.
After handing the final piece of material to Scribe, the utterly exhausted Jin Shushu collapsed to the ground.
He found it hard to imagine that this child, who looked only eight years old, possessed even greater stamina than they did.
Not only had he completed two tasks in succession, he had persisted until now.
Thank you.
Scribe nodded and placed the final piece of material into the mold.
Only Tie He and he remained standing.
The fact that this had exhausted even the finest swordsmiths showed just how difficult this project was.
And the more it was so, the more Scribe looked forward to the finished blade.
Raising their hammers high, Scribe and Tie He began the final stage of forging.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Strike after strike rang out as the hammers continuously pounded the object in the mold toward its final shape.
One strike, two strikes, three strikes...
After who knew how many swings, Tie He finally collapsed as well.
He was only an ordinary person. No matter how good his stamina was, he could not compare to Scribe, who possessed Sun Breathing.
Only Scribe remained in the room, still hammering away.
Slumped on the floor, Tie He's chest rose and fell continuously.
He knew that his mission had ended.
The rest was up to Scribe.
One strike, two strikes, three strikes...
After another countless number of swings, Scribe's strength had long since been exhausted.
Yet even so, he still endured.
Once the forging process stopped midway, there was a ninety percent chance it would cause irreversible damage.
It might even result in total failure!
Clenching his teeth, Scribe did not even notice that blood had seeped from his gums.
Just one last strike!
Scribe raised the hammer once more, gathered the very last of his strength, and brought it down fiercely!
A crisp collision rang out, followed by the sound of the hammer shattering.
After countless swings, this hammer had reached the end of its life as well.
But the sword forging was complete.
Looking at the finished product before him, a faint smile appeared on Scribe's weary face.
Quick, put it into the cooling water!
Tie He, at the side, was also unable to wait any longer and hurriedly urged Scribe to cool it.
Gripping it with tongs, Scribe carefully walked to the trough of cold water.
Sizzle—
The instant it touched the water, steam billowed out and filled the entire room.
Unable to endure the hot, humid air, Jin Shushu, the others, and Tie He opened the door and rushed outside.
Cough, cough. So much steam.
Before you continue