Ideas for the Forging Technique

"Tap... tap..."

Footsteps echoed down the pitch-black corridor as a figure crept along.

The figure stopped only when he reached a metal door.

Beside it, a tablet-like display hung on the wall, a red light glowing in its upper-left corner.

A finger pressed the protruding button, and the display beeped.

"Bro? Bro, are you there?"

Mo Fan spoke softly into the display.

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp, muffled explosion came from beyond the metal door. Even the display shook.

A moment later, Mo Xie's voice came through.

"Xiao Fan, you'd better give me a reason I can accept."

Mo Fan trembled. He knew Mo Xie was angry, and a little brother could get beaten when his big brother lost his temper.

"The high school entrance exam results come out tonight. It's time to come out."

Mo Fan forced down his unease and said it anyway.

"Oh? Has it been that long... Fine. Now get lost."

"Got it!"

Mo Fan bolted without daring to linger.

Inside the forging room, black smoke was drawn into the exhaust vent, gradually revealing Mo Xie.

He released the button and turned toward the damaged, armor-like object on the forging table.

"Failed again."

Mo Xie sighed helplessly.

[You forged two acceptable finished pieces in about a week. That's already a decent result.]

"But they're nowhere near what I expected. I'm just one step away, and I fail every time."

[That's because you changed the final step. There's nothing wrong with the process or method of smelting with fire and electrolyzing with Thunder. After that, you only need to let the Magic Tool take shape on its own. Instead, you used Ice to speed up its formation, making its energy unstable.]

"Because waiting for it to take shape takes too long."

Mo Xie scratched his hair and gave an awkward smile.

Using Ice to roughly outline the Magic Tool not only sped up cooling but also kept it in the shape it was supposed to have.

That step wasn't part of the original forging method. Mo Xie had added it himself.

Most Magic Tool materials had unusual properties, so they had to be smelted with a forger's flames and electrolyzed with Thunder.

All the materials needed for a Magic Tool first had to be broken down, then left to solidify and cool again into the desired shape: wearable boots, armor, bracelets, pendants, or rings.

Mo Xie ran his fingers over the Armor Magic Tool's surface. Rough cracks marred it, and it lacked the luster other Armor Magic Tools should have.

"Why are there still flaws on the surface even when I manage to make a finished piece?"

Mo Xie asked in puzzlement.

[Forgers need several kinds of flame for smelting. You're only a Beginner Mage, without Spirit Seeds for your Thunder or fire. You're still at Basic Level One. Of course you can't compare with a proper forger.]

[Besides, your Ice Element doesn't have a Spirit Seed either, and it's also only at Basic Level One. Your control over your Magic Energy is unstable.]

[The Forging Technique isn't as easy as you think. You haven't even mastered the basics, yet you want to change the steps of the forging method? That's wishful thinking!]

Zero's lecture went on and on, leaving Mo Xie thoroughly deflated.

"I know, I know."

Deep down, Mo Xie understood what Zero meant. He had to master the fundamentals of the Forging Technique.

He was weak and inexperienced, yet he was already trying to innovate. He was getting ahead of himself.

But whenever Mo Xie encountered something new, ideas sprang to mind.

If he had an idea, he acted on it without delay. That was Mo Xie's rule.

Curiosity was human nature, and Mo Xie was no exception.

Mo Xie glanced at the dwindling pile of forging materials on the stone platform beside him.

"I'm almost out of materials already."

Repeated failures consumed enormous amounts of material. Without enough money, he couldn't keep forging.

Powerful clans would certainly be eager to recruit an excellent forger.

For one thing, they had plenty of money and didn't need to worry about funding.

For another, a forger could bring a clan substantial benefits. If they wanted Magic Tools, they wouldn't need to go to an auction. They could simply gather the materials and have their forger make them for the clan.

Most forgers, however, didn't want to tie themselves to a powerful clan. They preferred to establish themselves independently or join the Magic Association.

Mo Xie didn't need to worry about money. Besides, materials trading was one of Chenxi's main focuses.

If he needed more materials, all he had to do was call. Mo Xie was the boss, after all.

Mo Xie tidied the forging table, left the training room, and stretched hard.

He was ready for a shower and a good rest.

A week of forging had been mentally exhausting. Whenever he ran out of Magic Energy, he had to spend time recovering it himself.

Forging certainly didn't consume as much Magic Energy as casting spells. Otherwise, with only Basic Level One reserves, Mo Xie would have drained himself countless times over.

After showering and changing clothes, Mo Xie lay on his bed and let his mind wander.

Zero had said forging required several kinds of flame for smelting, while electrolysis likewise needed good Thunder.

But he had no Spirit Seeds right now, only Ordinary Lightning and Ordinary Fire. They couldn't support more advanced forging.

Even if Mo Xie obtained Spirit Lightning and Spirit Fire, he couldn't absorb them at his current strength as a Beginner Mage. Controlling a Spirit Seed independently without absorbing it required powerful mental strength.

So Basic Level forging was all foundational practice. There were no advanced forging methods involved, just exercises in controlling the Lightning Element and Fire Element and refining the circulation of magic energy.

Still, all that forging practice had noticeably strengthened Mo Xie's Magic Energy.

As for using Ice to speed up formation, he would have to set that idea aside until Mo Xie reached the Intermediate Level.

As he thought about it, drowsiness swept over him, and Mo Xie slowly closed his eyes.

That evening, in the study.

The family of four gathered around the desk, watching the time on the computer screen.

More precisely, three of them were watching. Mo Xie was sitting in a chair, playing on his phone.

"It's time."

Ye Xinxia's sudden words broke the silence.

Mo Fan swallowed, then looked at Mo Xie.

"Bro, do you want to go first, or should I?"

"You go first."

Mo Xie answered without looking up and kept playing on his phone.

"Okay, Mo Fan. Open it!"

Mo Jiaxing swept a hand forward with great enthusiasm.

Mo Fan nodded firmly, opened the results page, and entered his exam number.

A few seconds later, his scores for each subject appeared, with the total displayed prominently in the final column.

"554! I got 554!"

Mo Fan jumped up in excitement.

"Good! That's wonderful!"

Mo Jiaxing hugged Mo Fan, overjoyed.

"That's wonderful, Mo Fan!"

Ye Xinxia applauded too.

A score of 554 was enough to get into a magic high school.

Mo Xie chuckled, pushed off with his foot, and rolled his chair over to the computer to enter his exam number.

"Ah!"

A clear cry interrupted the father and son's celebration. Mo Fan and Mo Jiaxing turned toward Ye Xinxia together.

Ye Xinxia covered her mouth, her eyes trembling as she stared at the computer in disbelief.

Mo Fan and Mo Jiaxing followed her gaze. Their mouths fell open, and they exclaimed:

"A... a perfect score?!"

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