Heavy Halberd in Hand, First Real Battle

The Black Meteoric Iron was bitten only once by Xiao Jin.

Then it flopped back onto the ground.

This time, it couldn't even be bothered to roll its eyes. Its belly rose and fell, and it soon began snoring softly.

The energy contained within the meteoric iron far surpassed that of Starshine Iron.

Xiao Jin could currently digest only a tiny piece of it.

The power feeding back into Chu Jin's body was correspondingly more noticeable.

Standing in the yard, he could feel his limbs becoming lighter, while the strength in his waist and abdomen had increased significantly. More importantly, the meteoric iron's energy seemed to provide additional reinforcement to his bones.

Ordinary Starshine Iron seemed to enhance muscle and vitality.

Black Meteoric Iron, meanwhile, made bones tougher and heavier.

Chu Lie circled Xiao Jin several times before finally putting the remaining meteoric iron back into the iron chest and placing two locks on it.

"It can't be allowed to eat this whenever it wants."

Chu Jin agreed.

"Xiao Jin can't handle too much right now. One small piece every three days is enough."

"That's not what I mean."

Chu Lie looked pained.

"This meteoric iron can't be melted, but it could still sell for dozens of Gold Soul Coins in a big city. At this rate, it'll eat our family into poverty sooner or later."

Chu Jin fell silent for a moment.

That really was a practical problem.

Nurturing a top-tier Martial Soul required resources.

The Twelve-Winged Holy Dragon Hatchling sounded impressive, but in its early stages, it was nothing but a money pit.

"I'll earn money in the future."

"You're only six."

"I can help you forge."

"Learn to hold a hammer steady first."

As uncle and nephew spoke, Xiao Jin rolled over and turned its backside toward them, apparently finding their discussion of its appetite very rude.

Starting the next day, Chu Jin officially began studying forging and weapon fundamentals under Chu Lie.

He had helped around the smithy before, mainly working the bellows, carrying charcoal, and handing over tools. This time, however, Chu Lie no longer treated him like an ordinary child and began with the most basic principles of physical exertion.

"Forging and fighting are actually quite similar."

Chu Lie gripped his forging hammer and stood before a glowing red iron billet.

"Many people think strong arms mean a heavier strike. Real strength starts from the soles of your feet."

"Plant your feet firmly, drive with your legs, twist your waist, let your shoulders carry your arms, and only then bring the hammer down."

He smashed the hammer onto the iron billet.

Sparks flew in every direction.

The entire billet rapidly spread outward from the center, and the strike landed with perfect precision.

Chu Jin activated his Double Pupils.

In ordinary vision, Chu Lie had merely swung his hammer once.

But through his Double Pupils, Chu Jin could see every change in Chu Lie's muscles, from the soles of his feet to his wrists, as well as the complete path of force traveling through his body.

Chu Jin quickly picked up a smaller forging hammer.

On his first strike, he concentrated too much force in one spot, causing a section along the billet's edge to collapse.

Just as Chu Lie was about to correct him, Chu Jin recalled the route of exertion he had seen through his Double Pupils and adjusted his footwork and waist on his own.

The second hammer fell.

Clang!

Sparks burst forth again.

The impact point nearly overlapped the hammer mark Chu Lie had left earlier.

Chu Lie stared at the iron billet for several breaths.

"Do it again."

The third strike.

The fourth strike.

The fifth strike.

Chu Jin's movements grew increasingly fluid.

His six-year-old body still limited his strength and endurance, but with the aid of his Double Pupils, his technique improved rapidly.

As Chu Lie watched, the corners of his mouth gradually spread into a grin.

"Those eyes of yours are exceptional even for forging."

Chu Jin set down the forging hammer and flexed his aching wrist.

"I didn't awaken my Martial Souls to become the greatest blacksmith in the world."

"What's wrong with being the greatest blacksmith in the world?"

"You can't beat the greatest Soul Master in the world."

Chu Lie was instantly speechless.

Over the next half month, Chu Jin studied forging every morning and practiced basic footwork and weapon techniques every afternoon.

When choosing a weapon, Chu Lie laid out a longsword, short saber, spear, and staff before him in turn.

"Xiao Jin is an External Beast Martial Soul. It can't merge with your body to strengthen it like ordinary Beast Martial Souls can. Your close combat ability will be a weakness, so weapons are mainly for self-defense."

"Swords are agile and easy to learn."

"Spears have a longer reach, and they also suit the spear techniques your father left behind."

"Staffs are balanced between offense and defense. Even if you slip up, they're less likely to kill someone."

Chu Jin's gaze passed over the weapons before finally settling on an old battle halberd in the corner.

The battle halberd was much taller than he was. Its shaft was thick and heavy, its surface covered in rust. Chu Lie had repaired it for a mercenary in his youth. The man later died in the Soul Beast Forest, and the weapon had remained in the shop ever since.

"I want to practice with a halberd."

Chu Lie frowned.

"Halberds are difficult to master."

"A sword can slash and thrust, a spear can charge forward, while a halberd can slash, thrust, sweep, lift, lock, and hook. Once mastered, it gives you more options in battle."

"It's also heavier."

"I'm strong."

"You're only six."

"You already said that."

Chu Lie's face darkened.

He realized that after awakening his Martial Souls, Chu Jin had also become much better at talking back.

"Fine. If you want to learn, then learn."

Chu Lie ultimately didn't refuse.

He understood Chu Jin's personality.

The child had always had ideas of his own. Once he made a decision, trying to stop him would only make him practice in secret. It would be better for Chu Lie to keep an eye on him, so at least incorrect movements wouldn't injure his body.

The smithy had no battle halberd suitable for a six-year-old child.

Chu Lie personally lit the furnace and forged a practice halberd for Chu Jin using ordinary refined iron.

It weighed eighty jin in total.

The halberd blade wasn't sharpened, and its edges were made rounded and blunt.

When Chu Jin gripped the halberd shaft with both hands, his body sank slightly.

Eighty jin was already no light burden for him.

After a dozen normal swings, his arms would start to ache.

Chu Lie began with the most basic grip, stance, and horizontal sweep.

Using his Double Pupils to continuously observe how he exerted force, Chu Jin could spot flaws after every movement. Within just a few days, he had practiced the fundamentals to a respectable level.

Xiao Jin naturally became his sparring partner.

Its body was small and its speed was fast, and it often ran circles around Chu Jin.

Without hurting it, Chu Jin had to use the halberd shaft to block off its paths of movement.

At first, Xiao Jin could easily slip through the shadows of the halberd.

Half a month later, Chu Jin could already force it back to its original position three times in a row.

A month later, if Xiao Jin wanted to approach Chu Jin, it had to change directions repeatedly.

Uncle and nephew had thought their peaceful days would continue until Spirit Hall arranged the next round of testing.

But that afternoon, several youths arrived outside the smithy.

Leading them was the well-dressed boy who had awakened the Gray Wolf Martial Soul.

All of them were older than Chu Jin, and two had already cultivated for half a year, reaching level four and level five Soul Power.

"Chu Jin."

The well-dressed boy stood at the shop entrance, his gaze falling on the Iron Halberd in Chu Jin's hands.

"I heard that after retesting, you also had level three Soul Power and awakened a second Martial Soul?"

Chu Jin stopped moving.

"Something you need?"

"People in town say your eyes scared Steward Ma away. I think Steward Ma just lost his footing that day. It had nothing to do with your Martial Soul."

The well-dressed boy had clearly been holding this in for a long time.

After the awakening ceremony, everyone had been discussing Chu Jin's Twin Martial Souls.

As the only child of their group in Bluestone Town to awaken a Beast Martial Soul, he had instead received no attention at all.

"So?"

"Let's have a match."

The well-dressed boy stepped forward, and the phantom of a gray wolf appeared behind him.

Gray fur sprouted from his hands, and his nails sharpened as well.

"If you've really got skill, don't keep hiding in the smithy."

The other youths began egging him on.

Chu Lie emerged from the furnace shed, his expression turning grim.

"Several older kids surrounding a six-year-old—is that how your families taught you?"

The well-dressed boy's face reddened.

"We're just sparring. We won't really hurt him."

Chu Jin hoisted the eighty-jin Iron Halberd onto his shoulder.

"Uncle, let me handle this."

Chu Lie glanced at him.

"You sure?"

"They're weak."

His voice wasn't loud.

But the expressions of the youths outside immediately changed.

"Chu Jin, don't get too arrogant!"

The well-dressed boy was the first to rush into the yard.

The Gray Wolf Martial Soul enhanced his speed and claw strength. Though he hadn't yet acquired a Spirit Ring, his close-range attacks still far surpassed those of ordinary children.

Chu Jin didn't retreat.

He held his Iron Halberd horizontally in front of him, and the halberd shaft precisely blocked the wolf claw.

Clang!

The well-dressed boy felt as if he had struck an iron pillar, and the impact numbed his arm.

Chu Jin twisted at the waist, sweeping the halberd shaft sideways with the motion.

The well-dressed boy had no time to dodge and could only raise both arms before his chest.

Bang!

The sweep knocked him off his feet and sent him crashing into the mud pit beside the yard.

The others froze for a moment.

"Get him together!"

Someone shouted.

Four youths released their Martial Souls at the same time and charged in.

Chu Jin's expression didn't change.

When the number of enemies changed from one to five, an extremely faint power rose within him.

It wasn't an increase in Soul Power.

It felt more like his body, mind, and battle instincts had all received a slight boost at once.

Overlord Army.

The enhancement was weak.

Five youths who didn't even qualify as Soul Masters couldn't place much pressure on him at all.

Yet Chu Jin could clearly feel that the movements he saw had slowed slightly, while the Iron Halberd in his hands had become a fraction lighter.

"Xiao Jin."

Golden light flashed.

Xiao Jin landed on the ground from within Chu Jin's body.

The moment it appeared, it charged at the boy on the far left and slammed headfirst into his shin.

The boy cried out as he lost his balance.

Chu Jin followed up with a tap of his halberd shaft, shoving him aside.

The second boy lunged at Chu Jin from the side, trying to grab him.

His Double Pupils had already seen the direction of his force.

Chu Jin stepped back half a pace, and the butt of his halberd shot out beneath his arm, striking the boy squarely in the stomach.

The boy doubled over in pain.

Just as the third person rushed over, Xiao Jin bit down on his pant leg and yanked hard backward.

Riiip.

His pant leg tore open.

The boy's face flushed red as he hurriedly reached down to cover himself.

The last two hesitated visibly.

Chu Jin gave them no chance to continue surrounding him.

The eighty-pound Iron Halberd swept low across the ground, striking both of them in the ankles one after another.

They fell at the same time.

From the moment they charged into the courtyard to the moment they were all on the ground, only a dozen or so breaths had passed.

Chu Jin put away the Iron Halberd.

Xiao Jin ran back to his side with its head held high and tail raised proudly, clearly very pleased with its performance.

The boy in fine clothes climbed out of the mud pit, his clothes and face covered in mud.

He looked at Chu Jin.

Then he looked at the Iron Halberd, which was even heavier than Chu Jin himself. His lips moved a few times, but in the end, he didn't dare say anything threatening.

Chu Jin pointed at the stone slabs in front of the door that they had cracked underfoot.

"Lay them back properly."

The boys froze.

"What?"

"You broke three stone slabs when you came in."

Chu Jin slung the Iron Halberd back over his shoulder.

"Lay them back properly, and we'll call it even."

The boy in fine clothes looked awful, but he didn't dare refuse.

The boys obediently carried over new stone slabs and, under Chu Lie's direction, laid them flat again.

When they left the blacksmith shop, they didn't even dare look back.

Chu Lie watched their retreating figures, then turned to Chu Jin.

"Why didn't you keep beating them?"

"I'd already won."

"They said plenty of nasty things before."

Chu Jin shook his head.

"Idle talk from a few children isn't worth wasting time on."

After saying that, he lowered his head and looked at his palm.

The Overlord Army had already faded.

That slight boost from earlier had been far too weak.

The system quickly gave an explanation.

[The current enemies are too weak and too few in number.]

[There are currently no companions by the host's side who truly acknowledge the host's command and are willing to follow the host into battle.]

[The Overlord Army cannot display its full effects.]

Chu Jin clenched his fist.

It seemed Hextech would need a larger battle before it could truly show its power.