Not Hot, Not Warm, the God Deep Within the Fire Vein

The blazing, scorching fire distorted the sunlight.

Deep within the forging workshop, the constant heat made every breath feel like it was burning one's insides.

"Li Mo's talent in hammer techniques is beyond doubt."

"Really."

For the first time, Elder Han He and Elder Zeng, two old men who often argued, reached an agreement on a matter so quickly.

Every inner disciple ascends to the Divine Weapon Peak must first hone their hammering skills before entering the Forging Institute to learn the art of forging.

The Divine Hammer Little Overlord skips this step entirely.

"A skilled craftsman's hammering technique is usually excellent."

Elder Zeng stroked his beard and smiled, "But a person with good hammering skills may not necessarily become a master craftsman; one also needs extraordinary patience."

Forging is not just about striking iron.

There are many complex techniques involved, and they are constantly in contact with the fire veins, always in high temperatures.

"Li Mo, I heard you used to refine pills with Old Xue?"

Elder Han He put down the hammer and asked curiously.

Every time he met Xue Jing, if they talked about Li Mo, he would inevitably hear a familiar phrase within three sentences.

'How foolish of me! Why didn't I have him learn alchemy from me back then?'

Elder Han He agreed with this.

Regardless of whether he has talent Dao of Alchemy, it's still better than following that wretched Shang Wu...

Li Mo thought for a moment and said, "To be precise, I was the one who was refined."

Elder Han He: "?"

Elder Zeng: "?"

The things this kid says often have a kind of incomprehensible beauty about them.

"Come with me, let's see how much heat you can withstand."

After Elder Han He finished speaking, he opened the back door of the Forging Institute, which led down a passageway.

"I'm here too."

Elder Zeng followed as well.

Li Mo followed the two and entered the passageway. The scorching heat that hit them seemed to distort even the air, and the stone walls appeared to be a dark red color.

Is this the fire vein that once housed Hammer Treasure?

The further down you go, the higher the temperature gets.

The sound of forging metal echoed throughout the passageway, gradually fading as one went further in.

"To become a craftsman, the first step is naturally to learn how to smelt iron; the higher the temperature, the better the quality of the materials produced."

Elder Han He said as he walked.

Elder Zeng also cautioned, "If you can't take it anymore, just say so. Don't push yourself. If your meridians and internal organs are burned, that's no small matter."

The two exchanged a glance.

We walked for a while longer.

'Is Xiao Mo alright?'

Elder Han He let out a heavy breath, with beads of sweat faintly visible on his forehead.

'That should be about right.'

'When I first came here, I only ventured a hundred feet into the fire vein.'

Elder Zeng thought to himself, then turned around to look.

The two old men had the same idea, exchanged a glance, and turned around at the same time.

Then they saw Li Mo strolling leisurely, looking around with a relaxed expression.

Seeing them stop, he asked curiously:

"Why have you stopped?"

"Hehe... I thought you couldn't hold back anymore. Let's go."

"Kid, I'm curious to see just how far you can go."

So Li Mo followed the two of them and began to delve deeper into the earth's veins.

Ten minutes later.

Li Mo, on the contrary, walked ahead.

Elder Han He behind him was already drenched in sweat, and his body was trembling slightly.

Elder Zeng's eyes were lifeless, and he seemed to have aged considerably. Taking advantage of Li Mo's inattention, he took out a bottle of Cold Spring Pill.

"Old Zeng, get me one."

"This is Cold Spring Pill, I only eat it when forging my Mystic Weapon, how dare you take it!"

"Quick... give me one..."

The two old men were whispering and getting handsy.

Li Mo noticed the commotion, turned around, and asked in confusion:

"Elders, why are you walking so slowly? If you're hot, you must tell me."

He is impervious to water and fire.

The two old men immediately started humming.

"Heh... heh, just a flare-up of my old leg pain."

"This mere temperature is nothing to a master blacksmith like me; I only feel excited."

"All right."

Little Li it a little strange, but didn't think much of it.

After all, when he took out the Hammer Treasure, he saw a forging table deep within the fire vein.

It was likely used by Elder Han He.

The elder must have special methods to withstand high temperatures...

Actually, that was used by the founder of Divine Weapon Peak.

After walking for a while longer, they could see firelight ahead.

"Something's not right, this kid... something's not right..."

Elder Han He's eyes were black, and his voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows.

"Cough cough cough! Water... water..."

Elder Zeng seemed to have shrunk in size, and his whole body began to tremble.

But when Li Mo turned around in confusion...

The two old men suddenly stood at attention, hands behind their backs, as if they were strolling leisurely and carefree.

"Elders, do you want some barbecue?"

Li Mo had just taken advantage of the earth's fiery energy to grill a skewer of lamb.

"Heh... it seems like it's lunchtime..."

"Mmm, I love lamb skewers the most, they smell so good..."

They took the lamb skewers, and looking at the bright red chili powder on them, the two old men exchanged a glance and simultaneously swallowed their dry throats.

If you don't eat!

Wouldn't that make them seem guilty, even less capable than a junior?

How will they ever have the face to call themselves master craftsmen again?

What face do they have left to attend the Forging Tournament?

The two, both strong-willed individuals, gritted their teeth and ate the spicy lamb skewers.

"Uh, did I put in too much chili...? It's a bit hot here, after all."

"Hiss... not spicy."

"Phew... it's not hot."

"..."

Seeing the reddish heat of the two old men, comparable to that of copper ore, Little Li finally realized something was wrong.

emmmm

The two old men are now like two small cookies, seemingly fragile enough to crumble at the slightest touch.

You guys are all practically dehydrated! Those three suns don't have a Three-Body Problem!

Just as he was wondering whether he should take a Heavenly Mandate Divine Eye.

Thump--

With two muffled thuds, the two elders rolled their eyes back, fell backward, and lost consciousness.

"..."

I don't know how much time passed.

Elder Han He and Elder Zeng opened their eyes groggily and found that the deadly aura of the fire vein seemed to have disappeared.

But the firelight before them made it clear to them.

They were now deep within the fire vein.

What happened?

Clang--

A thunderous roar erupted.

Han He and Elder Zeng subconsciously looked up and followed the sound.

"Um?"

"Ah?"

Clang--

Another deafening roar erupted, like mountains collapsing or thunderclaps breaking out on flat ground.

The violent sparks flew out and reflected in the eyes of the two old men, causing their gazes to flicker slightly and illuminating the figure of the hammer-wielding boy.

Amidst the raging flames and beside the flowing lava, he stood shirtless, breathing in the flames and the howling wind, raising his scorching red-hot divine hammer and resolutely bringing it down again and again.

He was like an ancient god who controlled fire and forging, hammering the first iron tool of humankind.

No, that's not a god.

It's Li Mo.