Ji Ming Leaves Seclusion

"Here, Yao Xiaopang, this is for you."

In the dormitory area on the west side of the academy.

Lu Lin pushed open the door and walked into the room. Seeing Yao Yue sitting on the bed, he casually tossed the small paper bag in his hand over to him.

Yao Yue instinctively caught it with both hands. Taking a closer look, he found it was the signature roast chicken from a food shop on Frostwind City's pedestrian street.

Rumor had it that the owner used a secret family recipe passed down through generations. The taste was exquisite, and business was booming every day, with supply never meeting demand.

The only downside was the price—nine Copper Soul Coins per chicken.

That was enough to cover his expenses for two or three days.

Yao Yue looked at Lu Lin and said cheerfully, "Hey, thanks, thanks, good brother. But why did you suddenly bring me this?"

"This is a thank-you gift. Teacher Liu took me to a blacksmith shop, and the boss accepted me."

Lu Lin said simply.

If not for Yao Xiaopang, Liu Yanchi wouldn't have taken Lu Lin to see Zhao Shiyan.

Though he hadn't planned on finding a job outside in the first place.

"A blacksmith shop? Isn't that going to be exhausting? Forget it, forget it, a blacksmith shop isn't bad either.

But don't buy me stuff anymore. I didn't really do anything, and this thing is expensive."

Lu Lin gave a faint smile in response.

On the other side, Yao Xiaopang had already torn open the packaging. Seeing that Lu Lin didn't want any, he started devouring it alone.

Lu Lin sat down on the bed board and began his daily cultivation routine.

Three full months had passed since his martial soul awakened.

It had also been a month since he switched to cultivating the Body Sect's Flawless Body Casting Art.

Just last week, Lu Lin's current Soul Power Level had broken through to the fifth rank. Breaking through one rank in three months—Lu Lin felt this speed wasn't particularly slow.

Within the Body Sect, his incarnation Ji Ming was still absorbing the Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber in the Bronze Grand Hall.

But as time passed, perhaps his body had developed resistance. In any case, Lu Lin no longer felt that burning pain, so there was no need to elaborate further.

The next day, after the morning classes ended.

Lu Lin went alone to Zhao Shiyan's Giant Rock Blacksmith Shop.

If you didn't count Lu Lin as a newcomer, the blacksmith shop actually only had Zhao Shiyan himself.

There used to be another apprentice, but he had already left.

That was why Zhao Shiyan wanted to recruit another apprentice.

The main work involved helping him stoke the fire and forge iron blanks.

In the blacksmithing trade, unless someone was exceptionally gifted or born with superhuman strength, only soul masters were truly suitable.

Because even if a soul master lacked physical strength, they could use soul power and their martial soul as assistance.

Of course, commoners willing to endure extreme hardship didn't count.

"You're here."

Seeing Lu Lin arrive, Zhao Shiyan gave a slight nod.

Today, just like yesterday, he was bare-chested, his muscles bulging exaggeratedly, highlighting his powerful and sturdy physique.

"For the next few days, you'll help me forge iron blanks. I'll teach you the techniques for applying force. What you did yesterday, relying entirely on brute strength, won't work... Hmm, but your aim wasn't bad."

During yesterday's "interview" with Lu Lin, Zhao Shiyan had noticed that after missing a hammer strike, Lu Lin would selectively adjust his direction to improve accuracy. Repeating this process, he only missed about once every three or four strikes.

For someone with no forging experience and still a child, this was no small feat.

In Zhao Shiyan's view, with that kind of adaptability, Lu Lin could excel not just as a blacksmith but in most professions.

More importantly, it was the resilience he carried.

Lu Lin showed no obvious signs of nervousness.

During the forging process, he didn't even glance at him or Liu Yanchi on the side. He was completely focused on the hammering before him, undistracted.

That was why Zhao Shiyan was willing to let Lu Lin stay.

What Zhao Shiyan didn't know was that this was merely experience Lu Lin had brought from his previous life.

"Alright."

Lu Lin nodded.

Zhao Shiyan had Lu Lin come over and watch, then used iron tongs to pull out a piece of red-hot Refined Iron from the furnace. With one hand, he grabbed a massive Forging Hammer.

He planted his stance, core engaged, and brought the hammer down. It struck the glowing iron block on the anvil with precision, as smooth and fluid as flowing water.

The force and angle were both flawless.

"What did you notice?"

"It seems... it's not just about arm strength?"

Lu Lin said hesitantly.

With Zhao Shiyan's demonstration, Lu Lin finally understood how absurd it was that yesterday he had relied purely on brute force.

"Right. The strength in your arms, waist, and thighs needs to connect into a single line. Good that you see it now.

For now, help me forge this iron billet. Find the feeling of exerting force yourself. The standard is one hundred strikes per billet.

Set the finished billets aside. Ask me anything you don't understand—don't pretend to know."

One hundred strikes?

Hundred Refinements Purification??

But the real Hundred Refinements Purification probably wasn't this simple.

Lu Lin did recall some of the original novel's settings, since Tang Shenwang and his grandfather and father were all blacksmiths.

He just didn't know if the Spirit Forging Method could be figured out in this era.

Lu Lin pondered thoughtfully.

Zhao Shiyan finished speaking and ignored him, grabbing his forging hammer and walking straight to another furnace to start working.

Lu Lin didn't mind. He walked to the corner, picked up the forging hammer he had used yesterday, and then moved to the spot where Zhao Shiyan had stood.

Lu Lin didn't swing the hammer right away. Instead, he first replayed Zhao Shiyan's movements in his mind.

Then he circulated his soul power, imitating Zhao Shiyan—uniting his waist and stance, using his whole body's strength to drive his arms, gripping the hammer handle tightly, and bringing it down with a fierce strike.

Clang!!

With just that one strike, Lu Lin felt the difference. Not only was it easier than yesterday, but the soul power consumed was far less.

Not bad. A quick learner.

Grasps it with a single hint.

Standing by the anvil, Zhao Shiyan caught Lu Lin's movements from the corner of his eye and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Then, for the rest of the time, Zhao Shiyan didn't say another word. The Giant Rock Blacksmith Shop echoed with a continuous series of clanging strikes.

For Lu Lin, whose body was somewhat frail, swinging the hammer nonstop was still a considerable burden.

Two hours passed, and Lu Lin was about to finish the second iron billet in his hands.

But because he was too focused, he lost track of time. It was only when Zhao Shiyan walked over and spoke up that he noticed:

"Alright, Lu Lin. Time's up."

Hearing this, Lu Lin stopped the hammer and let out a long breath.

After two hours of nonstop forging, sweat had long soaked through his clothes. His arms ached and trembled slightly.

Lu Lin instinctively activated the Flawless Body Casting Art, channeling soul power to ease the soreness and fatigue in his muscles.

Zhao Shiyan approached, glanced at the iron billet, and a hint of barely perceptible approval flickered in his eyes. "Not bad. Same time tomorrow."

"Thank you for the guidance, Master Zhao."

"Let's grab a meal together later. If you're going to be a blacksmith, being this skinny won't do."

Lu Lin was taken aback. Meals were included too?

The benefits were this good? He hadn't mentioned it when he came here yesterday. But he didn't really want to become a muscle-bound brute...

Lu Lin hesitated briefly, then shook his head in refusal. "No, thank you, Master Zhao. I'll just eat back at my place."

Lu Lin felt that the current workload didn't quite match the pay.

Eating would cost Zhao Shiyan money, and he didn't want to owe too many favors.

"Alright."

Zhao Shiyan nodded, not insisting, and said curtly, "Tomorrow I'll teach you how to work the fire."

"Thank you, Master Zhao."

After a slight pause, Lu Lin asked curiously, "By the way, Master Zhao, are you a soul master?"

Though he hadn't seen Zhao Shiyan use soul power, he always felt Zhao Shiyan didn't seem like an ordinary blacksmith.

"Yeah, I'm a Soul Grand Master."

Zhao Shiyan admitted openly.

Lu Lin nodded in understanding. No wonder he knew Teacher Liu.

Zhao Shiyan might even have ties to the Blacksmith Association.

After leaving, Lu Lin headed straight for the academy dormitory, closed his eyes, and cultivated his soul power.

As soon as his soul power began to circulate, Lu Lin noticed a slight difference from before.

Simply put, his soul power seemed to be drawn and stimulated by something, becoming more active and a bit purer.

Why was that?

Could it be that the connection between his soul power and physical body had grown tighter?

Throughout the two-hour forging process, Lu Lin had relied almost entirely on soul power to assist his physical strength.

Lu Lin wasn't sure if that was the reason.

He had only intended to use the blacksmith profession to strengthen his physique a little—even just a tiny bit—but he never expected this unexpected bonus.

Now it seemed the time needed to break through to the sixth rank would be significantly shortened.

In the following days, Lu Lin settled into a stable routine of three points on a line: the academy, the blacksmith shop, and the dormitory.

On weekends when there were no classes, Lu Lin would spend even more time at the blacksmith shop.

And Lu Lin's forging skill showed visible progress, to the point where it changed noticeably from one day to the next.

Thus, time flew by, and several days passed.

One day, while hammering a piece of iron, Lu Lin's movements unconsciously came to a halt.

Because in his other perspective, his incarnation Ji Ming, located in the Body Sect, had finished absorbing the Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber and was about to emerge from seclusion!