https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-157-Meteorite-from-Afar-The-Foundry/12619141/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-159-Practice-Makes-Perfect-the-Hundred-Fold-Sword-Embryo/12619143/
Chapter 158: A Passing Familiarity
"This young man, Lu Qing, is a distinguished guest of the Wei Manor. He has a keen interest in blacksmithing and wishes to visit the finest smithy in town. So, I've brought him here to meet you, Master Lin," the Grand Administrator Wei introduced.
"Greetings, Master Lin," Lu Qing said politely, offering a slight bow.
At that moment, information about the old master craftsman appeared in Lu Qing's field of vision:
Lin Tiechu: Master of Casting Heart Forge, an adept and experienced blacksmith with a hearty personality.
Cultivation: Late-stage Post-Natal Tendon and Bone Realm, proficient in hammer techniques.
'That's quite a down-to-earth name,' Lu Qing thought to himself.
"You're too kind, Grand Administrator Wei. If Old Wang next door hears this, he'll definitely want to compete with me," Master Lin replied, his face beaming with joy that he couldn't contain, despite his humble words.
Grand Administrator Wei smiled gently without adding anything further.
It was common knowledge in the entire county that Master Lin of Casting Heart Forge and Master Wang of Iron Soldier Hall, not far away, were not on the best of terms. He had no interest in getting involved in their rivalry.
"What would you like to see, Young Master Lu?" Master Lin asked, his attitude becoming more respectful as he learned that Lu Qing was a guest of the Wei Manor.
He knew that anyone who had Grand Administrator Wei as an escort must be someone of great importance.
The day before, he hadn't gone to the city gate, but he had still felt the terrifying might that shook the city.
Later, he heard that a young man had astonished everyone present by defeating a Martial Arts Master at the Perfect Inner Organs stage while only at the Perfect Tendon and Bone stage.
Considering Grand Administrator Wei's attitude, could the young man before him be that very same person? Master Lin's demeanor became even more respectful as he entertained this possibility.
"To be honest, I'd like to rent one of your forge's furnaces to craft a suitable weapon for myself. I hope Master Lin can accommodate this request," Lu Qing said straightforwardly.
"Young Master Lu also knows blacksmithing?" Master Lin asked, surprised.
Lu Qing's demeanor didn't carry the air of a blacksmith at all, and his hands were smooth and uncalloused, giving no indication that he was skilled in the art of blacksmithing.
"I only know a little. I'm not very proficient yet and still need practice," Lu Qing explained.
Master Lin immediately understood that Lu Qing wasn't an expert in blacksmithing but was instead a young master who wanted to try his hand at crafting a weapon.
He had met similar young masters before, so he wasn't too surprised.
"Of course, please choose whichever furnace you prefer, and I'll have it prepared for you," Master Lin said.
He would have been displeased if anyone else had made such an unreasonable request.
But Lu Qing was a guest of the Wei Manor, accompanied by Grand Administrator Wei, and he might even be a powerful warrior capable of defeating a Martial Arts Master.
In the face of such an existence, he was willing to make concessions.
"Master Lin, please choose one for me. I'd like one with intense heat," Lu Qing said.
"Then how about Furnace Number One? It has the strongest wind and the highest temperature. Even Fire Rock Steel can be refined in it, which should meet your requirements, Young Master Lu," Master Lin said after a moment's thought.
"I'll leave it to your recommendation, Master Lin."
Lu Qing was also aware of Fire Rock Steel, a type of mystical steel with a high melting point often found near volcanoes.
If this furnace could refine even that steel, its heat was indeed intense, barely meeting his requirements.
Soon, Master Lin had Furnace Number One ready for Lu Qing.
"Please, Young Master Lu. What kind of weapon would you like to forge?"
"There's no hurry. I'd like to practice first and familiarize myself with the process," Lu Qing said.
Chapter: A Hammer Technique
Hearing this, Master Lin became even more certain that Lu Qing was here purely out of curiosity.
Without familiarity with the casting process, it would be impossible to create a fine weapon.
"Master Lin, if you're busy, please attend to your other matters. You don't need to accompany me specifically," Lu Qing said with a smile.
"It's no trouble. There aren't any special orders in the forge lately, and this old man has some free time on his hands. I can observe Young Master Lu's forging technique," Master Lin replied.
Master Lin didn't dare let Lu Qing handle this alone. If something went wrong, he wouldn't be able to bear the responsibility.
However, he did shoo away the onlookers who were his subordinates and disciples to avoid disturbing Lu Qing.
Lu Qing smiled, understanding Master Lin's thoughts.
He didn't expose them but instead stepped forward to make a selection. Finally, he picked up a hammer of medium size.
"Master Lin, may I use some of your forge's materials?" Lu Qing asked.
"Feel free," Master Lin immediately replied.
After all, the materials on the furnace were just ordinary iron bars. Even if they were damaged, he wouldn't be too concerned.
Lu Qing glanced at the materials on the furnace and saw that they were indeed ordinary raw iron bars. Assured, he began to use them.
He held the hammer in his right hand and, with his left, grabbed a red-hot iron bar from the carbon furnace, placing it on the anvil.
Then, he activated his ability and entered a learning state, his mind filled with insights from the Li Huo Sect's legacy, including a hammer technique.
Ding! Lu Qing brought the hammer down on the iron bar, producing a crisp sound.
Master Lin's heart skipped a beat, and a look of realization appeared on his face.
Indeed, this young man, Lu Qing, was not proficient in the art of blacksmithing.
While the first strike demonstrated considerable strength, the technique was lacking. The force was misapplied, making it seem rather clumsy.
With such a striking method, it would be challenging to remove the impurities from the raw iron.
However, Master Lin refrained from offering any reminders and instead watched quietly.
After a few strikes, Lu Qing also noticed something amiss and paused to think quietly.
Master Lin was about to offer some guidance when he saw Lu Qing raise the hammer again.
Ding! Lu Qing brought the hammer down once more.
This time, Master Lin's eyes widened slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.
This was because Lu Qing's strike was entirely unexpected.
As a master blacksmith with decades of immersion in the art, Master Lin had personally crafted countless weapons and farm tools in his lifetime. His forging skills had reached an extremely high level.
When teaching his disciples, he could tell just by listening which disciple had made a mistake without needing to watch.
So, he instantly recognized that Lu Qing's latest strike was completely different from the previous ones, which had seemed like random banging.
The force was applied perfectly and skillfully, just right for removing the impurities from the iron bar. Even his own disciples might not have been able to deliver such a strike.
"Is it luck?" Master Lin wondered to himself.
But he soon realized he was wrong.
After that strike, Lu Qing also sensed the difference and knew he was on the right track, a smile appearing on his face.
Without hesitation, he raised the hammer again and brought it down.
In the following moments, Lu Qing continued to strike the iron bar, hammering it over and over.
During this process, Master Lin's eyes widened further and further, eventually leaving him stunned and speechless.
(End of Chapter)
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