Zhao Shiyan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Shiyan (赵石岩)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Giant Rock Blacksmith Shop; connected to the Blacksmith Association 7 23
Occupation/Role	Blacksmith; Lu Lin's forging instructor and employer
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Appearance

Zhao Shiyan is an exceptionally burly blacksmith standing roughly 1.9 meters tall. His imposing muscles and physical presence make even Lu Lin feel pressured when first meeting him. 7

• Often works bare-chested because of the heat and physical demands of forging. 7 11
• Has a powerful, sturdy physique with exaggerated musculature. 7 8
• Usually keeps an unreadable, nearly expressionless face. 15 16
• His sharp, piercing gaze closely tracks Lu Lin's forging process. 17

Personality

Zhao Shiyan is terse, practical, and demanding. He teaches primarily through demonstration rather than explanation, expecting Lu Lin to observe carefully, practice, and ask questions instead of pretending to understand. 8 12

Despite his severe outward demeanor, he values talent, resilience, and honest work. He recognizes Lu Lin's focus and adaptability early, raises his wages when his work improves, and treats the boy with deep affection comparable to that of a son. 8 12 15

He is notably fair in business. When Lu Lin completes a Hundred-Forged Azure Iron commission, Zhao initially gives him the entire payment; after Lu Lin insists on splitting it, Zhao accepts the half-share without argument. 17

Abilities & Skills

Soul Master Cultivation

Zhao Shiyan is a Soul Grand Master, giving him the soul power necessary to support advanced forging work. 8

• Uses soul power while forging rather than relying solely on physical force. 12
• Can integrate soul power directly into metal to expel impurities and improve its quality. 12

Forging

Zhao Shiyan is a skilled blacksmith capable of producing materials for soul tools and weapons.

• Teaches full-body force application, connecting the arms, waist, and legs into a single motion. 8
• Produces iron billets, simple tools, farm implements, weapons, and specialized forged metals. 11 12
• Uses controlled heating, hammering, soul power infusion, and quenching in his work. 12

Hundred Refinements Purification

Zhao Shiyan can complete Hundred Forgings, repeatedly refining metal until it becomes denser, purer, and fundamentally altered.

• Demonstrated the process on Mysterious Iron, reducing it to nearly half its original volume while clearing impurities through hammering and soul power infiltration. 12
• Sold Hundred-Forged Mysterious Iron to a soul tool master for dozens of Gold Soul Coins. 12
• States that completing Hundred Refinements Purification qualifies someone as a formal blacksmith. 12
• Believes Thousand Forgings require greater soul power than he possesses as a Soul Grand Master. 12

Equipment / Items

• Forging Hammer — Uses a massive hammer one-handed while demonstrating forging techniques. 8 12
• Iron tongs — Used to remove heated metal from the furnace. 7 12
• Forge and anvil — Operates the Giant Rock Blacksmith Shop's forging facilities. 7 8

Relationships

• Lu Lin — Employer, forging instructor, and effectively his master despite their lack of a formal master-disciple title. Zhao recognizes Lu Lin's talent and resilience, teaches him Hundred Forgings, entrusts commissions to him, and treats him like a son. 8 12 15 17
• Liu Yanchi — Acquaintance who introduces Lu Lin to Zhao as an apprentice candidate. Zhao trusts Liu's judgment despite initially doubting Lu Lin's frail appearance. 7
• Xu Ting — Soul tool-related client who commissions Hundred-Forged Azure Iron; Zhao has Lu Lin handle the order. 15 16
• Blacksmith Association — Zhao's connection to the association enables Lu Lin to receive a Shrek Academy recommendation letter. 23

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruiting Lu Lin

Liu Yanchi brings Lu Lin to the Giant Rock Blacksmith Shop to seek part-time work. Zhao Shiyan tests him by having him strike heated iron with a heavy forging hammer, then accepts him after seeing his endurance and accuracy. He requires Lu Lin to work five days per week for at least two hours per day. 7

Forging Instruction

Zhao begins teaching Lu Lin the fundamentals of force application, iron-billet forging, and fire-working. He notices Lu Lin's ability to correct his hammering direction and his complete concentration at the anvil, concluding that the child has unusual adaptability and resilience. 8

Hundred Forgings Training

After Lu Lin progresses beyond ordinary billet work, Zhao demonstrates Hundred Refinements Purification using Mysterious Iron. He permits Lu Lin to observe, begin attempting the method himself, and eventually raises his monthly pay from one Silver Soul Coin to two. 11 12

Lu Lin's First Hundred Forgings

Following Lu Lin's acquisition of his first Soul Ring, Zhao entrusts him with Xu Ting's Azure Iron commission. Lu Lin successfully completes Hundred Forgings for the first time, confirming the effectiveness of Zhao's instruction. 15 16

Recommendation for Shrek Academy

Zhao, through the Blacksmith Association, provides Lu Lin with one of the three recommendation letters used for his application to Shrek Academy. 23

Trivia

• Zhao Shiyan's shop has no other active apprentice when Lu Lin joins; a previous apprentice had already left. 8
• He rarely gives verbal praise, but repeatedly nods or observes in approval when Lu Lin demonstrates progress. 8 11
• Lu Lin considers Zhao more important to him than Liu Yanchi, despite Liu being the teacher who first brought him to the shop. 15