Your Forging Technique Surpasses Mine

"Well said!"

Zhang Tiezhu shouted, startling Lin Jiayi beside him.

"But you're not just saying that to flatter me, are you?"

After all, Forging Technique had been in decline in the Sun Moon Empire for many years.

Zhang Tiezhu did not believe that anyone would pass up orthodox soul guidance technology just to study forging with him.

He pointed at the workbench nearby, his voice carrying a trace of probing.

"Want to give it a try?"

"Sure, why not?"

Xu Tianming did not say much and walked straight over to the workbench.

He took out his longsword and the Soul Forging Secret Silver he had won from Xiao Hongchen from his Storage Soul Guidance Device, placing them on the workbench before examining the station in front of him.

The smelting furnace had a very simple design, but it was precisely such simplicity that revealed the builder's skill.

Xu Tianming weighed the forging hammer on the table, and his brows rose slightly.

"A Tungsten Steel Hammer?"

Not only was it a Tungsten Steel Hammer, it had also undergone Hundred Refinement!

Although Zhang Tiezhu did not know what Hundred Refinement was, this Tungsten Steel Hammer had indeed reached that level.

"Sharp eyes!"

Zhang Tiezhu gave Xu Tianming a thumbs-up.

"I believe you really can forge now. That longsword of yours was forged, wasn't it?"

"And it seems you used techniques I've never seen before!"

With just one glance, Zhang Tiezhu could tell that the longsword Xu Tianming had taken out was absolutely a weapon born of countless hammer blows.

"Since I'm borrowing Teacher Zhang's place today, I'll upgrade my weapon while I'm at it."

He tossed the Soul Forging Secret Silver into the smelting furnace. Within moments, its surface took on a bright orange-red glow.

Xu Tianming did not need to check the temperature. Once it had reached the proper heat, a mechanical arm removed the Soul Forging Secret Silver from the furnace and placed it on the anvil beside it.

Before Xu Tianming could make a move, several metal braces extended from beneath the anvil and firmly secured the Soul Forging Secret Silver in place.

"Technology really does change everything."

Even Xu Tianming could not help sighing as he looked at the multifunctional forging station.

Convenient. It was damn convenient.

He glanced at Zhang Tiezhu and Lin Jiayi, both wearing expectant expressions, then reached out and gripped the forging hammer.

Clang!

The forging hammer lightly struck the Soul Forging Secret Silver, producing a clear, resonant ring.

Xu Tianming took a deep breath. The forging hammer in his hand descended onto the Soul Forging Secret Silver fixed to the anvil at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow.

As Zhang Tiezhu listened to the rhythmic pounding, like rain striking banana leaves, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

As one of the few Blacksmiths in the Sun Moon Empire, he could naturally see that Xu Tianming's Forging Technique was even superior to his own.

Xu Tianming, who was in the midst of forging, was also somewhat surprised. The anvil before him was extremely well-equipped.

As he forged, the Soul Forging Secret Silver gradually shrank in volume, yet the metal braces continued to hold it firmly against the anvil.

Large chunks of impurities fell away from the Soul Forging Secret Silver onto the workbench, then were sucked away by the metal-shaving collection device beneath it.

This ensured that the entire workbench remained clean throughout the forging process.

Spiritual power extended from between Xu Tianming's brows and slowly seeped into the Soul Forging Secret Silver.

The Soul Forging Secret Silver, originally orange-red throughout from the heat, began to glow with a gentle white light from within.

"It seems that the rarer the metal, the easier it is to draw out the spirituality contained within."

An unfathomable glint flashed through Xu Tianming's eyes.

Bang!

With the final thunderous strike, the forging hammer came crashing down upon the Soul Forging Secret Silver, which had already been compressed into a one-foot square block.

Xu Tianming set down the forging hammer. Under Zhang Tiezhu and Lin Jiayi's shocked gazes, he reached out and cut open his wrist.

Blood faintly tinged with gold dripped onto the Soul Forging Secret Silver, which shimmered with milky-white light.

Sizzle!

As white vapor rose, the white glow across the entire piece of Soul Forging Secret Silver suddenly flared before gradually fading away.

Xu Tianming set down the Tungsten Steel Hammer and said loudly,

"Teachers, I'm done. Would you like to take a look and judge it?"

At his words, Zhang Tiezhu flashed to Xu Tianming's side.

Unafraid of the heat, he reached out with his huge, fan-like hand, scooped up the Soul Forging Secret Silver, and turned it over repeatedly beneath the sunlight.

It was not until Lin Jiayi beside him had begun to grow impatient that he finally spat out two heavy words.

"Fuck!"

How should he put it? Xu Tianming could more or less conclude that Zhang Tiezhu was not particularly well educated.

"Teacher Zhang, let me see it too."

Lin Jiayi was also a Seventh-Level Soul Engineer and a teacher at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy, so he had considerable knowledge of metals.

Reluctantly handing the Soul Forging Secret Silver to Lin Jiayi, Zhang Tiezhu looked at Xu Tianming with blazing eyes.

"Um, what was your name again?"

"Xu Tianming greets Teacher Zhang."

Xu Tianming clasped his hands slightly.

"Forget this teacher nonsense."

Zhang Tiezhu threw an arm around Xu Tianming's neck, his face filled with an indescribably ingratiating expression.

"Though I come from a forging family, your Forging Technique is so far above mine that I don't even know by how much."

He rubbed his hands together, the smile on his face making even Xu Tianming feel a little creeped out.

"How about you become my teacher and teach me your Forging Technique?"

Xu Tianming had never expected the stern-looking, thick-browed, big-eyed Zhang Tiezhu to say something like that.

Before he could say anything, Lin Jiayi beside him could not help swearing as well.

"Fuck!"

"The quality of this Soul Forging Secret Silver has improved by at least thirty percent, if not more! Its affinity with Soul Power has also increased tremendously!"

"If it were used to make a Soul Tool, its effectiveness could increase by at least half!"

Lin Jiayi had never expected Forging Technique, a craft that was nearly obsolete, to possess such miraculous effects!

"Director Lin, I still have work to do."

Zhang Tiezhu snatched the Soul Forging Secret Silver from Lin Jiayi's hands, then pushed Lin Jiayi out through the laboratory door.

Bang!

As the metal gate shut, Zhang Tiezhu's ingratiating smile returned.

"Student Xu, what do you think of my proposal just now?"

Xu Tianming did not agree immediately. Instead, he turned and glanced at the somewhat messy office.

"Speaking of which, Teacher Zhang, you're an Eighth-Level Soul Engineer. What do you usually research?"

"My field of research differs from that of other Soul Engineers."

At the question, a slightly embarrassed look clearly flashed across Zhang Tiezhu's face.

"I'm a Blacksmith, so I research close-combat Soul Tools, as well as soul guidance armor and similar Soul Tools designed specifically to enhance a Spirit Master's own physical strength."

"However, even with the support of Forging Technique, these kinds of close-combat Soul Tools are not favored by Soul Engineers."