Over the next few days, Xu Qing kept absorbing the energy within the crystal core after school each day.
Gentle, rich power steadily filled his limbs and bones, nourishing his body and steadily increasing his Soul Power and Spiritual Power.
This was much faster than his daily meditation.
That day, after finishing breakfast, Xu Qing and Gu Yuena went to Red Mountain Academy together.
Just as they reached the school gates, Tang Wulin hurried up to them, his face full of excitement. "Xu Qing, that saber you wanted is finished!"
"So soon?" Xu Qing was a little surprised.
Only a few short days had passed. Tang Wulin had to attend classes and cultivate, as well as find time to learn forging. He hadn't expected it to be finished so quickly.
Tang Wulin smiled. "My teacher helped. It's just that this weapon is a little too big to bring to school, so you'll have to come with me after school."
Xu Qing nodded in agreement. "No problem."
"Oh! Right, my teacher wants to meet you?" Tang Wulin said, suddenly remembering something.
Mang Tian wants to meet me?
But this is also an opportunity, isn't it?
Now that he had the crystal core, his cultivation speed had increased considerably. If possible, Xu Qing still wanted to start learning a second profession sooner rather than later. After all, he really was short of money.
Of course, Xu Qing had found a large amount of gold in jewelry stores on Parallel Earth, but this wasn't Douluo I or Douluo II. He couldn't spend that gold at all.
Even if he could bring it out, it wouldn't stand up to investigation.
After all, it had been the same in his previous life. If someone with an average income suddenly sold a large amount of gold, it would be strange if he wasn't investigated.
Xu Qing nodded and said, "Sure."
After school that afternoon, Xu Qing let Gu Yuena know before following Tang Wulin to Mang Tian's Workshop.
As they pushed open the workshop door, the smell of metal washed over them.
Mang Tian was listening to music. Seeing the two enter, he raised his eyes and looked over.
Tang Wulin walked straight to a corner and lifted the thick cloth covering it.
A broad, heavy saber stood quietly there. Its blade gleamed with a muted silver-gray sheen, the forging patterns clearly visible in the light.
Its hilt had also been made a little longer specifically to accommodate a two-handed grip.
"Here, this is it." Tang Wulin reached out to steady the blade. "The main body is refined iron, with a little tungsten steel mixed into the cutting edge. It's hard enough, and its toughness isn't bad either."
Xu Qing stepped forward, his gaze falling on the saber. Its blade was broad, and it looked considerably heavy, exactly the design he had originally drawn on the plans. He reached out, gripped the hilt, and exerted a little strength.
A heavy weight pressed against his palm, but it was just within what he could control. His arm muscles tensed slightly as he steadily lifted the saber.
Watching Xu Qing's movements, a golden gleam immediately flashed through Mang Tian's eyes.
The saber alone weighed over two hundred jin. Xu Qing's ability to lift it was enough to show how powerful his body was.
Xu Qing turned his wrist slightly, and the saber cut through the air with a low whoosh.
"Very nice." Delight showed in Xu Qing's eyes. "It's just what I need."
Xu Qing swung the saber a few more times, then turned to Tang Wulin. "Wulin, how much does this saber cost altogether?"
Tang Wulin didn't answer, turning to Mang Tian instead, because he hadn't forged this saber.
Mang Tian waved a hand. "There's no need to pay."
Tang Wulin introduced him from the side. "Xu Qing, this is my teacher."
"Hello, Master Mang Tian!" Xu Qing greeted him politely.
"Teacher, he's the classmate I told you about, Xu Qing," Tang Wulin said.
Mang Tian looked at Xu Qing and asked, "Child, could you let me test your strength?"
Xu Qing looked at Mang Tian and nodded. "Sure."
Mang Tian extended his hand, and Xu Qing raised his own to clasp it. As their hands met, Mang Tian nodded slightly, thinking to himself that it was indeed much as he had guessed.
Immediately afterward, excitement in his eyes, Mang Tian asked, "Child, would you be interested in learning forging from me?"
Xu Qing considered it briefly, then nodded solemnly and replied, "I'd be willing."
At this, a gratified smile immediately spread across Mang Tian's face, and he nodded repeatedly. "Good! Good!"
He hadn't expected such good luck, actually meeting two children born with divine strength in a little place like Aolai City.
Beside him, Tang Wulin smiled at Xu Qing. "Congratulations, Xu Qing!"
Xu Qing looked at Tang Wulin with gratitude. He could tell that Tang Wulin must have mentioned him to Mang Tian, drawing Mang Tian's attention to him.
Seeing the gratitude in Xu Qing's eyes, Mang Tian immediately felt a flicker of approval.
A good child who knows gratitude!
Afterward, Xu Qing stayed at Mang Tian's Workshop, officially beginning his career of "hammering iron."
Since this was his first day, Mang Tian didn't teach him any complicated forging techniques, only patiently guiding him through the very basics. Xu Qing studied earnestly.
They practiced until evening before Xu Qing and Tang Wulin finally stopped what they were doing and stepped out of the workshop to stretch their sore, swollen, numb arms.
The long hours of repeated hammering had left both boys feeling as though their arms no longer belonged to them.
Xu Qing also carried his large saber on his back.
"I'm so tired," Xu Qing said.
"Yeah," Tang Wulin agreed with a nod.
"By the way, Wulin, thank you."
"No need. I didn't really help you much."
Just before they parted, Xu Qing said to Tang Wulin, "Wulin, remember to try cultivating somewhere with lots of Blue Silver Grass. See you tomorrow!" With that, he paid Tang Wulin no further attention, turned, and left.
Tang Wulin stood where he was, mulling over Xu Qing's words. Though puzzled, he still quietly committed them to memory, planning to find somewhere with plenty of Blue Silver Grass to try it when he had time.
Soon, Xu Qing returned home. Pushing open the door, he saw Gu Yuena watching television in the living room.
Seeing him return, Gu Yuena frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "Xu Qing, why are you only getting back now? Does picking up a saber take that long?"
"Nana, is Mom home?"
Gu Yuena shook her head. "Auntie went to buy groceries. Do you need her for something?"
Hearing that his mother wasn't home, Xu Qing immediately let out a sigh of relief, then carried the saber inside on his back.
"It's huge!" Gu Yuena stared in surprise at the enormous blade on Xu Qing's back.
Xu Qing paid Gu Yuena no attention. He went straight back to his room and hid the saber.
Only after finishing all this did he go to the living room.
Under Gu Yuena's puzzled gaze, he briefly told her about becoming Mang Tian's disciple and staying at the workshop to learn forging.
Gu Yuena nodded after hearing him out.
"By the way, Xu Qing, what did you have this saber made for?"
"Isn't my Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass? So I wanted to practice saber techniques to improve my strength. Oh, right, Nana, you absolutely can't tell Mom about me having a weapon made."
"Then beg me!" Gu Yuena said with a sly smile.
"Uh! I'm begging you, beautiful, kind, noble, valiant, wise, decisive, composed, well-read and reasonable, quick-witted, independent and clearheaded, lovely and clever, orchid-hearted and silken-natured, poised and gracious..." Xu Qing rattled off every phrase he could think of.
"All right, all right! I'll agree, okay?" Gu Yuena put a hand to her forehead and agreed, speechless.
"Then it's a promise!"
Afterward, Xu Qing and Gu Yuena went to the patch of Blue Silver Grass in the backyard.
They sat cross-legged facing each other.
They began meditating. Gu Yuena could feel that her meditation had become much faster lately, and Xu Qing's presence had also grown much stronger.