Studying Forging Under Mang Tian

Of course, Tang Wu Lin's parents had accompanied the two children. After everyone arrived, they looked around outside before entering.

The place was not particularly large, but it was indeed a favorite spot for some forging enthusiasts.

Inside stood an old metal sign that read, "Mang Tian Studio."

As the group entered, not only Wu Yang Jin and Tang Wu Lin, but the couple as well, felt the temperature in the surroundings gradually rise by several degrees.

The air carried the distinctive scent of smelted metal. Although Wu Yang Jin did not particularly like that unusual metallic smell, it was not a major issue.

Naturally, where there was smelting, there came a constant series of hammering sounds by their ears. It reminded Wu Yang Jin of that time in the Sea of Consciousness.

After entering, Tang Zi Ran pressed one of the doorbells. Before long, the door opened, revealing a burly man in his twenties with a sturdy build and well-defined arm muscles.

"Hello, I'm Long Ge. This is Mang Tian Studio. What brings you here?"

Long Ge's voice was not as rough as one might have imagined. It was rather gentle, and he wore a faint smile.

"We've come to see Master Mang Tian."

When Long Ge asked, Wu Yang Jin spoke first.

"Oh, I see. You're Tang Wu Lin and Wu Yang Jin, right? Come in and have a seat. My teacher is forging right now. Once he finishes his work, he'll come out to see you."

As they entered the studio proper, a wave of heat rushed toward them, and the temperature inside rose by an unknown number of degrees at once.

All sorts of metal parts were laid out across the floor and worktables, forged into a variety of shapes.

"Oh, sister-in-law, you're here..."

Not long afterward, the doors to the central forging room opened. A tall, dark-skinned middle-aged man with a fierce-looking full beard strode out.

"Good afternoon, Uncle Mang Tian!"

"Hello, Uncle Mang Tian!"

This Mang Tian was none other than the Sixth-Level Forging Master, Grandmaster Mang Tian.

"Mhm."

"Brother Zi Ran, sister-in-law, you can head back first. Come pick up these two little ones in two hours."

With that, the couple left, while he led the two children back into the studio.

Inside the studio were several metal workbenches. The two children curiously looked around, paying no attention to the harsh environment or the heat.

Mang Tian noticed this as well and found the two little ones somewhat interesting.

At that moment, Old Long and the Snow Empress were also watching this scene from within the Sea of Consciousness, observing through something akin to a projection.

"What do you think?" Old Long asked.

"Unfortunately, I know nothing about forging. But judging from Little Jin's performance, there shouldn't be any problem."

"Mhm. Besides, this is also an opportunity to observe that child called Tang Wu Lin."

"To see whether forging can awaken something within him?"

"Exactly. That is what I was thinking. Though this... forging might not necessarily work, it is very much worth trying."

When Mang Tian walked up to two adjacent workbenches in the studio, he decided to get straight to the point.

He pressed several buttons, and the two workbenches immediately lowered to a height of around half a meter.

"Tang Wu Lin, Wu Yang Jin, do you know what forging is?"

Mang Tian suddenly turned around and asked the two children sternly. Faced with this seemingly ordinary yet serious question, Wu Yang Jin and Tang Wu Lin both shook their heads with slight nervousness.

"Mhm, that's normal. Rather, you're still too young. Strictly speaking, you aren't suited for forging. But since you've come, and since sister-in-law and Brother Zi Ran are so insistent, I can't be so heartless. I'll give you a chance to try."

"We'll work hard."

As he spoke, Mang Tian picked up two small metal hammers from beside him. After considering it for a moment, he handed one each to Tang Wu Lin and Wu Yang Jin.

"See that round metal block? Strike it one thousand times with these hammers, five hundred with each hand. You need to use enough force, or that counter over there won't start. If you can finish, I'll explain what real forging is. If you can't, there's no need for you to come tomorrow."

The metal hammers had handles about a foot long. Their heads were cylindrical, a little over half a foot long, with a cross-sectional diameter of roughly ten centimeters.

Each weighed around ten jin, slightly heavier than the ones Old Long had given them. However, they lacked that dense, strange aura, perhaps because those had been given by "Old Long."

In any case, this was already no light burden for two children who were only six years old, especially since they had to swing the hammers forcefully and continuously.

However, Wu Yang Jin naturally did not find them that heavy. Tang Wu Lin felt the same; the hammers did not seem as heavy as he had imagined.

After Tang Wu Lin and Wu Yang Jin exchanged a glance, expressions of mutual understanding appeared on their faces. Then, each walked to a Forging Table, raised his hammer in his right hand, and smashed it down onto the round metal block.

For Wu Yang Jin, this was much easier than it was for Tang Wu Lin. Though he had only experienced that one round of hammering in the Sea of Consciousness, it had proven quite helpful.

After glancing at Tang Wu Lin, he saw that sweat had already begun to form on him. Wu Yang Jin could vaguely sense the soreness in Tang Wu Lin's arms, and his pace had slowed slightly. It was apparent from the sound and rhythm of his strikes.

After a while, Tang Wu Lin had hammered roughly four hundred times, and the clothes on his back were already drenched in sweat.

His face, that of a mere six-year-old child, had turned slightly red from the rapid hammering, the rising temperature, and the lack of oxygen.

If it truly came down to physical strength, Wu Yang Jin was definitely stronger. By now, Tang Wu Lin's strikes had fallen somewhat behind Wu Yang Jin's.

"Wulin, adjust your breathing. Coordinate the rhythm of your hammer swings with your breathing. You need to relax both your body and mind; that will save you some strength. And remember, this is only a test. There will be even more challenges waiting for us in the future!"

Wu Yang Jin reminded Tang Wu Lin, but he did not say any more, lest speaking distract him further.

"I understand, Yang Jin! I'll try!"

After that, Wu Yang Jin's strikes gradually grew faster and stronger. His count reached eight hundred, while Tang Wu Lin's had reached six hundred and fifty.

Having heard Wu Yang Jin's words and seen his progress, Tang Wu Lin also understood.

For Tang Wu Lin, he had to finish and persevere, because I have to repay Mom and Dad. I can't let them work so hard anymore! And I have to repay Yang Jin for all his help and companionship!

As for Wu Yang Jin, it was because I'll keep going. If I can't even persevere through something like this, what will I be able to persevere through in the future? For myself, for my friends and family... and even more, to find out who I really am!

With their own simple thoughts in mind, the two continued hammering.

Naturally, Wu Yang Jin finished first, followed by Tang Wu Lin.

"Nine hundred and ninety-nine... one thousand!"

At that moment, both had completed all their strikes, each finishing in under twenty minutes.