Blacksmithing Requires a Strong Hammer

"I laugh with pride, I laugh with pride, laughing as I watch the sky never grow old." Azar was incredibly excited; his two followers had already sensed the source of power, and it seemed that the harder one worked, the luckier one became. Today's lesson had gone very well—time for one more problem!

"Then have you ever thought about what happens after the rage?" Seeing the thoughtful expressions on their faces, Azar explained, "We have all felt the benefits that anger brings us, but it also inflicts damage. First, there is the physical toll. Have you noticed? The more formidable a warrior is, the stronger their body, yet warriors age faster than the rest of the Troll kin. This is the backlash of the Power of Fury! It affects our internal organs and damages our muscles; it is harmful to our bodies."

"Ah, Uncle, if that's the case, shouldn't we just give it up? Why hasn't anyone else noticed this damage?"

"No, surely some have already discovered this, which is why the relationship between shamans and warriors has become so close. The Great Shamans have always enjoyed studying the body, and warriors need them to help delay pain and aging, allowing them to maintain their superior combat prowess." The two nodded silently, accepting my explanation.

"My Lord, it isn't just that. There must be other, greater dangers, or you wouldn't be so worried."

"Indeed, Falco. Have you not noticed that the tribes with the most elite combat units tend to be more barbaric in their conduct than others? This is the mental toll of the Power of Fury. After battle, warriors are prone to irritability and may even harm those around them. Although they feel remorse and sorrow afterward, such behavior is difficult to eliminate entirely. Even those with strong self-control can only manage it for so long; the more intense the battle, the more ferocious the backlash. Why does Maiev abuse her slaves? This plays a huge part. Do you understand?"

"You mean that battle causes one to lose their reason and become violent, and the more one fights, the deeper they sink into this lack of control, trapped in a cycle?"

"Exactly. And it goes further. She is silently changing the culture of the tribe. Why do we Trolls love to eat the hearts of our enemies? It isn't because it grants us power—that is just an excuse. It is merely a way to vent the Power of Fury after a battle, but it has evolved into a Troll cultural norm. In the long run, this is detrimental to our development. You must realize that we are not the only intelligent beings on this continent; there are many highly civilized Wild God entities whose power far exceeds our own. If they do not approve of such behavior, then think about what awaits us."

"Either they correct us, or they destroy us." The young girl was quick to respond this time. I gave her an appreciative smile, and she actually blushed in shyness.

"Even the first scenario is unacceptable. We would no longer control our own destiny; we would become slaves to other races and lose our faith. Therefore, we must rely on ourselves. I have found a way, and it is her." Azar said excitedly, gesturing grandly toward the Well of Eternity behind him.

"My Lord, forgive my dullness, but what can she do? Since we arrived here, other than the pleasant climate and abundant resources, we haven't felt anything. She doesn't even have fish."

"Exactly, exactly! We have to go deep into the forest to hunt, and we drink from mountain springs. Have you forgotten the first scouts who arrived here? Some of them drank the water, and after just a small sip, their bodies inexplicably exploded. The Chieftain even ordered us not to go near her; it is only because of you that we live so close. If the environment weren't so good, the Chieftain would have led everyone to migrate long ago." The young girl said eagerly, her face full of disgust.

Azar smiled and pressed his hands down, signaling them not to be agitated, and continued, "When I was unconscious at the docks, I was actually experiencing and comprehending her power. I call it the Power of Order. Although I don't know where she truly comes from—though I actually do; it's the blood of an Eidolon, how could it not be nourishing?—I can clearly feel the changes she has brought me. She entered my body and cleansed my meridians. Look at my body." As he spoke, Azar took off his linen robe, revealing his toned physique.

"Heavens, your scars are gone! Your muscles look even more explosive." Falco was full of shock.

"Yeah, so smooth," the young girl touched my arm, her face full of envy.

"Yes, when you can sense her, you must believe that she will bring you tremendous changes—good changes. More importantly, she has made me more rational. I can better control the Power of Fury within my body—I prefer to call it rage—and she helps me possess powerful combat strength whenever I desire. Most importantly, I am still myself. I believe in her, I believe in the Power of Order, but she does not enslave me. She is different from the Loa; she does not want sacrifices. What she needs is trust from the heart, to be loved, to be believed in, and to be treated as a friend."

The two fell into deep thought. Azar did not want to disturb them and went to the side to "date" the Power of Order. They came like spirits of the sky; they were both formless and tangible. At times they wrapped around him, at times they drifted away; sometimes they lifted him toward the blue sky, and sometimes they cast him into the distance. He was playing a game with them—he was the mouse, and they were the cats. When he grew tired of playing, she sat beside Azar, gently stroking him, warm and comfortable. Azar felt so good he was about to fall asleep. This was their second date, and Azar believed they would meet often. He looked forward to them bringing more companions next time, which would mean he had grown stronger.

"What do you want to say?" Azar slowly opened his eyes and saw the two standing by his side.

"Were you just sensing the Power of Order? We saw a faint pink glow around your body."

"Yes, if you are lucky enough, you will have such a day as well."

"My Lord, I have been thinking for a long time, and while you were meditating, I discussed it with Maiev. Can we understand it this way: anger is a manifestation of power, and the Power of Order is also a manifestation of power. One is slaughter and destruction; the other is organization and restoration. A single existence of either will hurt both oneself and others, but if both exist simultaneously, they can complement and reinforce each other?"

Azar looked at him in surprise. This young man was impressive; his summary was spot on. If he didn't have the knowledge from his past life—knowing about the Taoist Taiji Yin-Yang, knowing that all things follow nature—he certainly couldn't have come up with such a profound insight. Truly, the harder one works, the luckier one gets. With a guard like this, he wouldn't even need to fight himself in the future. Hahaha!

"Your understanding is very profound. I think you have understood it too, little girl," Azar said with a smile to the two of them.

"Do you want to meet them?" Azar's tone was full of temptation.

"Please, My Lord, enlighten us."

"Uncle, teach me quickly!"