Old Craftsman giggled. “Nonsense. Didn’t you acquire Dantian Light? You’re a Force Grade martial artist, so this staff won’t kill you. You’ll only suffer pain for a few days, and your memory will improve.”
Ou Yangming was stunned, and he cried to himself. ‘I didn’t know that being a martial artist had its cons too. If I knew, I wouldn’t have revealed anything to him, no matter what.’
Half an hour later, similar conversations were heard in the room.
“Do you remember it?”
“Yes!”
“Repeat it.”
“Yes, if I want to melt a precious ore, firstly…. Secondly… Thirdly, jeez, why did you hit me?”
“Idiot, you can’t even memorize the formula. Who should I hit if not you!”
“You’re teaching so quickly, how can I memorize it word for word!”
“Okay, I’ll tell you again. Listen carefully… Memorize it!”
“Firstly… Secondly… Thirdly, jeez, why did you hit me again? I didn’t memorize it wrongly!”
“Ah, sorry, I’m too used to it. Continue… Why are you staring at me? Are you unhappy?”
“No, old man, I’m… I’m admiring you. Yes, can’t you tell that I’m admiring you?”
“Stop flattering me, memorize it again.”
Around ten steps outside the workshop, Chen Yifan and Liu Zhengye looked at each other. After a long time, Chen Yifan shook his head. “Forget it, let’s not disturb them.”
He had a bright smile on his face because the pair was quite interesting. As such, he began to have higher expectations.
Liu Zhengye hesitated for a while before he said, “General, if they continue, the smithing of your armament might be affected…”
Chen Yifan waved his hand and grinned. “If it’s going to be later, so be it, I can wait. Hehe, I’m really curious how the young fella will turn out to be.”
※※※※
As the days passed by, Ou Yangming kept learning.
From morning till night, he followed Chen Yifan’s instruction and practiced the martial-art squat.
Yes, Chen Yifan did not teach him anything else. Chen Yifan told him to continue practicing the martial-art squat. It was not only to train his patience but also to build an extremely solid foundation.
Nevertheless, Ou Yangming was not idle during other times.
Under Old Craftsman’s supervision, he practiced controlling the Military Fire. According to the old man, it was not enough to be naturally gifted. He had to go through hardships to be worthy of such talent.
Hence, other than training and refining his strength, he was also strictly supervised by Old Craftsman.
The tough training caused Ou Yangming’s accumulated Qi and blood to be consumed very quickly, and, after a few days, he could no longer bear it.
It was then that Sui Hezhi brought him a wild beast, a wild pig that weighed 700 kilograms. Even though it was also a pig, one could tell from its ferocious tusks that, compared to a domestic pig, there was a great difference in combat power.
Needless to say, Ou Yangming was delighted. He cut off one of its legs to share it with Old Craftsman, while the rest of its flesh was transformed into Qi and blood using the devouring attribute.
Afterward, Ou Yangming found that the Qi and blood contained in the wild beast was far above a domestic pig’s.
The wild pig with only three legs gave him Qi and blood so abundant that they were much more than what he gained from the three domestic pigs combined. With that, his problem was solved.
Following that, Sui Hezhi gave him huge wild beasts every ten days, which was enough for him to maintain rich Qi and blood.
A month later, not only had Ou Yangming’s Dantian Light become stable, but he had also grown stronger.
That being said, comparatively, his control over the Military Fire was what had truly improved.
One day, after getting Old Craftsman’s permission, he finally began smithing his first-ever Attribute Armament.
As his Military Fire burned, a featured iron ingot was shaped into a military saber. This did not mean that Ou Yangming only knew how to forge military sabers, it was simply what he was most familiar with. In order to increase his success rate, it was best to forge a military saber.
Once the saber was about to take its form, Ou Yangming reached for a Power Stone, then attached it to the saber.
Next, his Military Fire became fiery, engulfing both the military saber and the Power Stone.
At the same time, words that he had been longing to see appeared in his mind.
[Drawable composition found, draw?]
‘Draw!’
[Upgradable composition found, upgrade?]
‘Upgrade!’
Finally, his Military Fire stopped burning, and a brand new military saber was produced.
Chapter 20
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
When the blazing hot Military Fire was slowly suppressed, the temperature in the workshop reduced as well, but the heat inside Old Craftsman and Ou Yangming’s eyes did not go away.
This was the first Attribute Armament forged by Ou Yangming. Similar to the first time he generated the Military Fire, restored an armament with the fire, and smithed an armament with the fire, it was a meaningful milestone. Of course, this only applied to him because it was insignificant in the history of smithing with the Military Fire.
Nevertheless, the master and his apprentice were extremely excited. Old Craftsman asked, “What do you think?”
Ou Yangming waved the saber around and identified the treasure saber’s attributes through the afterglow of his Military Fire.
[Item: Outstanding military saber (Red)]
[Equivalent Rank: Ordinary Tool, Good Grade, Rank Five]
[Attributes: Sharpness +10, Toughness +10, Power +1, Durability 9]
He was overjoyed. “Old man, I did it! Yes, I did it!” He repeated his words excitedly as he could not express his emotions in any other way.
In actual fact, when his Military Fire enveloped the previous ore and the drawable composition was found, Ou Yangming knew that he would succeed, but he only confirmed it in the end. As such, he cheered happily.
Old Craftsman took the military saber, then looked at it happily for a long time.
Ou Yangming then questioned, “Old Man, didn’t you say that the Power Stone will let a user gain extra power? But…” He pointed at the saber in confusion. “Why didn’t I feel it?”
Old Craftsman scoffed disdainfully. “Do you think just anyone can use this power?” He tossed the saber back to Ou Yangming. “Take it.”
Ou Yangming accepted the military saber, then fixed his gaze at Old Craftsman.
Old Craftsman wondered. ‘This apprentice of mine is too talented, he actually succeeded during his first try at smithing an Attribute Armament. This is more just talent, his luck is simply law-defying. If this goes on, he’ll learn all my tricks, and I’ll have nothing left to teach him.’
“Channel your Dantian Qi into the military saber, then try it,” he mentioned with a smile.
Ou Yangming was slightly moved. After a month of hard work, his Dantian Light was much more solid than it was before, and due to his constant effort, he could control it easily.
Following that, he used his mind to release light from his dantian, which entered the saber through his arm’s meridian.
He instantly sensed a peculiar power being born in the saber, which was connected with his aura. Additionally, he felt that his body was filled with power.
Yes, it was an indescribable feeling that was so strong that it could not be questioned.
A brief moment later, Ou Yangming finally confirmed that it was not an illusion.
It turned out that the unique attribute could only be activated by a martial artist’s power, but once it was triggered, it would be easy to maintain it because he realized that Dantian Light was mainly required during the activation. As long as he h
eld the saber, the power remained, and the Dantian Light consumed to maintain it was negligible.
“Swoosh…”
When he swung the saber casually, a light was seen, and the blade was sharp and threatening.
Old Craftsman’s face changed, and he quickly yelled, “Stop!”
Ou Yangming was stunned. “What is it?”
Old Craftsman snapped. “Where are you? Is this a place for you to test your saber? Are you trying to wreck my smithing workshop?”
It was then that Ou Yangming realized that they were in the smithing workshop that Old Craftsman valued the most. Since the military saber was sharp, and he had gained extra power, an accident might actually happen.
Feeling embarrassed, he put the saber down, but the instant the treasure saber left him, the extra power vanished into thin air.
The disappointment made him feel slightly uncomfortable.
Old Craftsman giggled. “Young fella, you’ll get used to it after you try a few times. Now, strike while the iron is hot, and practice to get more adept at it.”
Ou Yangming responded to him. His physical power, Dantian Light, and mental power had clearly improved, and the duration of his Military Fire usage was at a point where even Old Craftsman commended him. Hence, he could continue forging.
He retrieved another featured iron ingot, then reached for an Agility Ore.
However, Old Craftsman reached his hand out. “No!”
Ou Yangming was startled. “Old man, what’s wrong?”
“The martial tool you’re matching it with is wrong.”
Ou Yangming was puzzled when he looked at the item in his hand. ‘How is this wrong?’
“You want to create another military saber, right?”
Ou Yangming nodded, but he thought, ‘Why are you asking the obvious?’
“The military saber is a violent weapon on the battlefield and is mainly used to kill. Such a weapon can’t be matched with an Agility Ore,” Old Craftsman explained patiently. “If you match them together forcefully, there’s a high chance that it’ll fail.”
Ou Yangming widened his mouth. He realized that there was still much to learn about Smithing Art.
Although he had worked under Old Craftsman for two years, he just obtained the Military Fire, and there had been no point for the old man to teach him a lot. Therefore, he had only grasped some basic theories and knowledge and knew nothing about anything beyond that.
Ou Yangming nodded slightly. “Old Man, are you saying that a military saber can’t have the agility attribute?”
Old Craftsman shook his head. “Nonsense. Smithing technique is as vast as the ocean, so anything is possible. It doesn’t matter if a military saber has the agility attribute, but…” He paused for a while, then continued, “The success rate for it isn’t high as they don’t match. I don’t want you to waste it.”
Ou Yangming nodded, but he said to himself, ‘It’s unlikely that I’ll waste it.’
Of course, he was not going to mention it because Old Craftsman would lecture him and hit him with Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms.
Afterward, he asked, “Old Man, how should the Agility Ore be used then?”
Old Craftsman rolled his eyes. “Don’t ask, think.”
Ou Yangming mumbled, “Armor, knee pads, greaves, boots… No, not boots.”
Armors, knee pads, and greaves could be made with steel, but not boots.
However, Old Craftsman stared at him. “Although normal boots can’t withstand the process, beast-skinned boots with strong Qi and blood, as well as rare boots made from magical beast skin and spirit beast skin can have the attribute attached. Moreover, equipment like boots is favored more than armaments.”
Ou Yangming was shocked. “Why?”
Old Craftsman snapped. “Didn’t you get a taste of power earlier? What did it feel when you let go of the saber?”
Ou Yangming hit his head. “I understand.”
Boots and military sabers were different. As long as one was not lying in bed, one would be wearing boots, and only by wearing a piece of equipment then activating it with essential Qi could one enjoy an attribute’s benefit.
One would not attract any attention if one continuously wore boots, but if one never let go of a military saber…
If someone were to hold a military saber while looking for a general in the military camp, one would probably be chopped into pieces before one could meet the general, but if one were to wear a pair of boots with attributes… Nobody would pay any attention.
Thus, even if a military saber and a pair of boots had the same attribute, the boots would be more favored than the saber.
Nonetheless, this only applied to normal people. For those in the military, who licked the blood off a saber, their first choice would always be a killing weapon.
Old Craftsman smiled. “It’s good that you understand. Don’t make a military saber this time, try a knee pad.”
Ou Yangming nodded, then turned his wrist to produce the Military Fire.
A whole iron ingot was required to smith a military saber, but if one wanted to forge a knee pad, less than a quarter of the same iron ingot was needed.
Ou Yangming mostly created military sabers as he had a special liking for them, but he never went overboard because of Old Craftsman’s guidance. It was not his first time smithing a knee pad, hence he finished it successfully using the Military Fire.
By applying the same method on the Agility Ore, and through the prompts of his fire’s drawing and upgrading abilities, a knee pad was produced.
[Item: Outstanding knee pad (Red)]
[Equivalent Rank: Ordinary Tool, Good Grade, Rank Five]
[Attributes: Toughness +10, Agility +1, Durability 8]
Ou Yangming smiled happily. Though its durability was less than perfect, its toughness was 10, and it had the attribute of agility +1. The knee pad was definitely presentable.
Old Craftsman was delighted when he took the knee pad. His eyes sparkled, and he appeared to be happier than Ou Yangming.
He strapped the knee pad on his knees, then connected with his Dantian Light, and felt lighter instantly.
Afterward, he laughed and tapped Ou Yangming’s shoulder a few times. “Nice, this is great! You’re really capable. You’re very amazing to have succeeded twice, you’re almost better than me!”
All of a sudden, Ou Yangming’s smile froze because he had a very important question to ask.
Even Old Craftsman could only guarantee a thirty-percent success rate when he smithed Attribute Armaments. If he maintained a hundred-percent success rate, what would happen?
Chapter 21
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Ou Yangming was never a flower in a greenhouse, and he understood many things from a young age as he was an orphan.
It was obviously good to be outstanding, but not if he was too outstanding. The bird that poked its head out would be shot, and he knew this very well because of the battles between gangsters in town, and the consequences of fault-finders who were new in the military camp.
After taking a deep breath, Ou Yangming said, “Old Man, the other greave is missing, so I’ll make another one.”
“Okay.” Old Craftsman smiled. He was quite pleased with his disciple.
Ou Yangming put the remaining iron ingot together with another Agility Ore, then used his mind to envelope his Military Fire around the iron ingot.
The usage of the Military Fire to refine an iron ingot was the most basic requirement for smithing art, but it was as simple as breathing for Ou Yangming, who was unusually calm due to the purple light. Before long, the greave was done.
When he tapped the Agility Ore, it went into the Military Fire.
[Drawable composition found, draw?]
‘Draw.’
The Agility Ore instantly melted in the Military Fire, and it flowed down like liquid to cover the greave.
[Upgradable composition found, upgrade?]
/> ‘Don’t upgrade.’
The purple light that contained the Agility attribute remained still.
[Upgradable composition found, upgrade?]
‘Upgrade.’
On the other hand, another purple light for Toughness integrated into the greave.
It would definitely be shocking if Ou Yangming were to smith another Attribute Armament, but it would be too pretentious if he could not even smith a White Slate Armament.
Therefore, it was inevitable for him to disguise his skill.
A brief moment later, the Military Fire disappeared, and a brand new greave was formed.
[Item: Outstanding grave]
[Equivalent Rank: Ordinary Tool, Good Grade, Rank Three]
[Attributes: Toughness +8, Durability 8]
Ou Yangming was secretly satisfied when he saw the attributes revealed by the Military Fire.
Although it was still of Good Grade, it was not at its peak, and it did not have extra attributes. Nonetheless, a greave of such grade was rare to normal soldiers.
Of course, Ou Yangming looked disheartened instead of delighted.
Old Craftsman was stunned, then he laughed after he looked at the greave. “Young fella, why do you look discouraged when you smithed a Good Grade greave?”
Ou Yangming mumbled, “Old Man, I didn’t smith an Attribute Armament, which means I wasted a precious ore…”
Old Craftsman laughed out loud, and pointed at his nose as he commented, “Why do you have such wishful thinking? You smithed two Attribute Armaments successfully out of the three precious ores, so why are you dissatisfied? Hehe, do you think that you’re a godly blacksmith who can smith Attribute Armaments without fail?”
He blinked. “Old Man, you don’t blame me?”
Old Craftsman shook his head, then pointed at the remaining precious ores. “Why would I? When the general gave you ten precious ores to train with, we were already prepared for the worst, so we won’t blame you even if you can’t smith any Attribute Armament. Hehe, I didn’t expect you to succeed on your first try, so this is enough to cover the cost.”
Normally, Military Blacksmiths could only smith While Slate Armaments. Unless one was the best among one’s peers and had a unique sense in Attribute Ores, one could not attach attributes to equipment.
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