Half-Step Spirit Forging, Spirit Awakening Effect

Hundred Refinement was still the purification of Rare Metal.

Thousand Refinement, on the other hand, was meant to completely remove the impurities within Rare Metal.

This completed a basic sublimation.

Even the most ordinary Thousand Refinement Rare Metal would see its strength increase by roughly 200% compared to before forging.

That meant triple its original strength!

Its weight would not decrease either; instead, it would increase by around thirty percent.

At that moment, the patterns on the surface of the Cloud Titanium beneath Lin Jin's Forging Hammer became increasingly orderly.

This was the characteristic of Thousand Refinement Grade 4!

Thousand Refinement metal of this grade received a slight boost in Soul Power conductivity.

It could already be used as material for high-grade Mecha components.

It could even be used to create One-Word Battle Armor.

Because Cloud Titanium was more precious than conventional Rare Metals such as Deep Silver.

Material of this grade was already worth more than a million Federal Coin.

Seeing this, Cen Yue swallowed again.

The way he looked at Lin Jin was already like he was looking at a monster.

He could not help thinking that if Lin Jin were recruited as a special talent—

Even Shrek Academy, known as the continent's number one academy and regarded by many as a holy land, would likely throw open its doors and treat him as a treasure!

"Keep it secret."

At that moment, Mu Chen's calm voice entered Cen Yue's mind.

Cen Yue shuddered, and the fervor in his heart swiftly cooled.

That was right.

The tallest tree in the forest was the first to be broken by the wind.

Shining too brightly could sometimes be a mistake.

It was said that although Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua held an exalted position, the Holy Spirit Cult had always wanted to assassinate him.

Because Zhen Hua could never provide the Holy Spirit Cult's powerful members with the Heavenly Refinement metals required for Four-Word Battle Armor.

If Lin Jin's talent were exposed now, he would certainly become a target of the Holy Spirit Cult.

They might try to seize him, or simply kill him outright.

Either way, it would be detrimental to Lin Jin.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Lin Jin's forging continued.

He still did not borrow Lotus Flower Flame's power, using only Soul Power influenced by Lotus Flower Flame.

Time passed, and no one deliberately kept track of the number of strikes anymore.

Then, at a certain moment, the light that had previously bloomed from the Cloud Titanium's surface, now covered in orderly patterns, gradually receded inward.

It was as though the forging had failed.

But Mu Chen and Cen Yue both understood.

When a metal's luster turned inward, it meant it had reached Thousand Refinement Grade 3.

The two had already gone numb.

Mu Xi, meanwhile, had long since become immersed in Lin Jin's forging rhythm and could not pull herself free.

Her gaze followed him closely, as though a realization had appeared in her eyes.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Lin Jin's eyes shone brightly as his hammering continued without pause.

Suddenly, scarlet and orange flames ignited around him, spreading through the Forging Hammer and onto the Cloud Titanium atop the forging table.

The power of Lotus Flower Flame bloomed!

Yet this was not intentional on Lin Jin's part.

Rather, once the forging had reached a certain stage, it happened naturally.

The aura of the Cloud Titanium being forged seemed to connect with Lin Jin's.

After a dense barrage of strikes, Lin Jin's hands suddenly halted, and his eyes closed.

A moment later, just as Spirit Light was about to emerge from the Cloud Titanium—

Ding!

One hammer fell!

Lin Jin's aura withdrew.

His Soul Power had been completely exhausted.

His Spiritual Power had also become sluggish.

Yet after emitting a crisp ring, the Cloud Titanium on the forging table began to tremble rapidly.

The orderly patterns across its surface suddenly became chaotic once more.

In the end, the patterns merged together, transforming into something like drifting clouds branded upon the metal.

At the same time, even though Lin Jin no longer had any Soul Power to support it and Lotus Flower Flame had receded—

Scarlet and orange flames actually ignited atop the Cloud Titanium!

Mu Chen's expression changed. No longer caring about anything else, he sent his voice into Lin Jin's mind.

"Quick, Blood Sacrifice!"

Lin Jin did not hesitate. He struck his chest, and a mouthful of blood sprayed onto the Cloud Titanium.

The next moment, the scarlet and orange flames drew inward.

Dense Spirit Light abruptly burst from the Cloud Titanium.

One foot, two feet, three feet...

Five feet!

Five-Foot Spirit Glow, Thousand Refinement with Spirit!

Spirituality released outward, First-Grade Thousand Refinement!

This was a level even a Level 4 Peak Blacksmith found difficult to achieve!

Ordinarily, First-Grade Thousand Refinement could already be called Half-Step Spirit Forging.

Even so, the Spirit Light it could release would only reach two and a half feet.

But the Spirit Light of this piece of Cloud Titanium forged by Lin Jin had directly reached five feet!

Its quality was plain to see.

While Mu Chen and Cen Yue were still stunned, the Cloud Titanium that had just been forged and subjected to Blood Sacrifice—

Seemingly possessing a spirit of its own, it directly merged into the pair of Cloud Titanium Forging Hammers Lin Jin currently used.

A soft hum rang out, and the pair of Forging Hammers seemed to gain spirituality as well.

Their aura connected with Lin Jin's, as though they were one body.

At the same time, an unusual rhythm seemed to pulse across them.

Mu Chen and Cen Yue exchanged a glance, understanding that a Forging Hammer effect was taking shape.

What effect would a Cloud Titanium Forging Hammer with First-Grade Thousand Refinement, five-foot Spirit Light, and Blood Sacrifice develop?

Both were very curious.

But they were destined not to investigate it now.

Because after completing the Blood Sacrifice, Lin Jin's energy was utterly drained. His eyelids drooped, and he fainted.

Mu Chen carried Lin Jin to the room attached to the Forging Room so he could rest.

At the same time, he stayed by his side without leaving for even a moment.

The Blacksmith Association had many affairs to attend to. After witnessing such a shocking scene, Cen Yue had no choice but to return to his post, however unwilling he was.

Mu Xi had gained insight while watching Lin Jin forge and was still standing there blankly.

Mu Chen did not disturb her, hoping his daughter would gain something from this realization.

In the early hours of the morning.

Mu Xi came back to herself from her realization.

Looking at the empty space before her, there was not a trace of doubt in her eyes.

Instead, she walked straight to the forging table without hesitation, took out a piece of Deep Silver, and began heating it.

Once the heating was complete, dense hammering sounds rang out.

Mu Chen was alerted and came out of the room. As he observed Mu Xi forging from the side, delight appeared in his eyes.

The forging continued for half an hour.

With the final hammer strike, the Deep Silver's volume had shrunk by nearly a third.

Nearly ninety-five percent of the impurities within it had been removed.

This was already very close to Thousand Refinement!

And this was a level Mu Xi could never have reached before today.

She had gained tremendously from this realization!

It would save her a great deal of time in reaching the level of a Level 3 Blacksmith.

"I really didn't choose this disciple wrong!"

Mu Chen's eyes were filled with excitement.

He could not have been more satisfied with Lin Jin.

He could not help stepping forward and applauding as he congratulated his daughter.

"Congratulations. Your forging level has taken another huge step forward."

Mu Xi took a deep breath, but there was not much excitement in her eyes.

"Compared to my junior brother, I'm still far behind."

She understood very clearly that all of her current progress was because of Lin Jin.

When she advanced to Level 2 Blacksmith, Lin Jin's Lotus Flower Flame had already played an enormous role.

Now, as she took a huge step forward within the realm of a Level 2 Blacksmith, it was still because of Lin Jin.

As Mu Chen's daughter, she could be considered a prodigy in forging.

With such a gap between them, how could she be happy?

Mu Chen patted his daughter's shoulder and did not say much.

Three days later.

Lin Jin finally woke from his sleep.

After sorting through what he had gained, Mu Chen immediately asked impatiently what the Forging Hammer effect was.

Lin Jin answered with only two words.

"Spirit Awakening!"