Li Yuan was very surprised. From the first day Bai Qi ran to the Big Punishnt Kiln to observe blacksmiths selecting materials, stoking fires, and forging, he noticed that this young man seed very enthusiastic about ironworking.
But as the foremost Master Craftsman in Yihai Prefecture, Master Li judged from intuition that Bai Qilang lacked the talent to beco an artisan.
In the realm of craftsmanship, innate talent is crucial if one wishes to achieve greatness.
Otherwise, even a lifeti's learning amounts to no more than diocrity.
When Li Yuan himself was an apprentice, he only needed to assist his master seven tis to learn how to forge the cheapest ten-refinent steel knife.
This is talent!
In just three short years, he leaped from apprentice to a registered craftsman who could independently forge standardized weapons with fifty-refinents.
In less than another three years, he invented the casting and forging thod of the Wind-listening Saber, which astonished the entire Baisheng Factory and gained fa throughout the Weapon Craftsman Guild.
If not for eting an ill-suited master who couldn't tolerate a disciple exceeding him.
Li Yuan should have taken over Baisheng Factory to beco a Top-Grade Master Craftsman by now, rather than leaving in conflict to join the military at Celestial Water Prefecture.
Even though he later beca famous for his hamr skills and returned triumphantly to establish his kiln, he wasted many years, delaying his craftsmanship.
"Hundred Refinents Hand, Bear-like Waist, Gilded Finger, White Jade Palm… all are middle-grade martial bones, talent for artisans.
He has none of these!"
The tall white-haired elder squinted his eyes with so doubt.
How could Bai Qi, who couldn't even swing a hamr properly for over ten days, suddenly have an epiphany?
Could I have been mistaken?
Clang! Clang clang! Clang clang clang—
Bai Qi swung the small hamr swiftly, almost creating afterimages, as sparks flew onto the large iron anvil.
"Is this truly good talent for ironworking?"
Uncle Hui, assisting alongside, had a numb expression, pulling the bellows to stoke the furnace flas.
Allowing Bai Qi to periodically reheat and continue stretching and folding.
A piece of Yangxiao Steel in the hands of an apprentice could easily be worked to the level of ten refinents; with so skill, fifty refinents were no problem.
This is how good materials benefit an artisan.
They can significantly enhance the quality of the forged weapons.
But breaking through to a hundred refinents isn't so simple.
The books in the craftsmanship trade are clear: for iron that contains steel, it is like a dough with tendons; wash away the soft parts, and the tendons are revealed, akin to refining steel.
Take the finest iron for over a hundred fires, weigh after every forging, and if it loses no weight after many hamrings, then it is pure steel, unconsud even after a hundred refinents.
Simply put, it's repeatedly folding and forging a piece of iron material into multiple layers.
The final weapon created is sharp enough to slice through iron effortlessly, capable of cutting through thirty layers of iron armor.
This is hundred refinent!
Yangxiao Steel inherently has excellent quality—enough toughness, strength, and hardness, making crafting a hundred refinents not difficult.
But it depends on who it's for!
For soone like Bai Qi, who hasn't even learned the techniques of large and small hamrs, even a piece of Divine Iron might be ineffective.
"Three hundred strikes!"
Uncle Hui's eardrums buzzed. He couldn't believe Brother Bai could actually produce a hundred-refinent piece.
Had all his years of learning to forge gone to waste?
"Five hundred thirty-seven strikes..."
Lu Shiping was dumbfounded; this isn't just about random hamring, it has to be done continuously, with each strike squeezing out impurities, testing the artisan's endurance and skill to the extre.
"Eight hundred forty-two strikes!"
Chao Sanjing felt a chill down his spine; this Brother Bai is a true ironworking prodigy, able to forge Yangxiao Steel with less than twenty practice sessions.
Wasn't Master also like this in his youth?
"Are they all dumbfounded? Uncle Yang, what's going on?"
Standing outside the shed, He Jingfeng was a bit bewildered, watching Brother Bai strike blow after blow, then these people, as if possessed, started counting, becoming more excited and thrilled as they counted.
"Seventh Young Master, your Brother Bai might be a born ironworking genius!"
Uncle Yang explained with a breath of cold air.
After all, he's known in the Celestial Water Prefecture and not lacking in experience.
Understanding how terrifying it is to achieve hundred-refinent steel without a master's guidance.
It's akin to mastering the initial stages of refining power, tackling the first training pass, without having access to martial arts manuals.
Such a person, thrown into the craftsmanship trade, will eventually reign supre with their skills!
"Can Brother Bai really forge iron? That can't be right; I've been hanging around the Big Punishnt Kiln every day with him, so why haven't I realized even a bit?"
He Jingfeng expressed skepticism. Among his peers in the thirteen trades of Yihai Prefecture, he's considered a fairly promising talent.
"Uh, Seventh Young Master, you have aptitude for Daoism; how could you be doing such an ungraceful task as ironworking."
Uncle Yang spoke with quite a bit of tact, eyes fixed on Bai Qi swinging the hamr, thinking:
"If Bai Qilang indeed forges a hundred-refinent piece, is there a chance that Master Li might be so intrigued as to take him under his wing?"
Li Yuan closed his eyes, seemingly feeling the operation and infusion of Bai Qi's Qi Blood and Refined Power as he swung the hamr, then opened them, his eyes increasingly filled with amazent and brilliance:
"Nine hundred and ninety-eight strikes! It's really going to succeed!"
Bai Qi, standing by the furnace, with his face flushed hot, borrowed the rebound force of the hamr blow to lift it high again before smashing it down heavily!
Clang!
Nine hundred and ninety-nine strikes!
Every part of his body seed to tremble, his muscles and bones emitted intense vibrations.
"Blacksmithing is no easier than martial arts training! To forge a piece of Hundred-refined Steel, even reaching the completion of my first training pass nearly exhausts to death!"
Bai Qi was panting like an ox, sweat soaking through his robe.
The ninety-nine hundred hamr swings almost drained all his strength.
"Just one last hit to go."
Everyone's eyes were fixated on that tall figure, more precisely, on the right hand holding the small hamr.
If this blow could produce a crisp, powerful sound,
then this piece of Yangxiao Steel would be considered forged.
"Blacksmithing... is indeed more invigorating than fishing!"
The streams of breath Bai Qi inhaled and exhaled felt scorching, like knives cutting his chest.
He clenched his fingers tightly, employing the Golden Core Great Strength Skill, grounding himself in a horse stance, his spine rising like a dragon, with every thick tendon taut and entwined.
Clang!
The one thousandth hamr strike!
Sparks splashed and soared, almost hitting Uncle Hui in the face.
"Did it succeed?"
His eyes were filled with astonishnt.
"It succeeded!"
Lu Shiping and Chao Sanjing were dumbfounded, as if stunned.
Then they all turned their heads in unison, looking toward their master who had walked out of the wooden house.
"It succeeded."
Bai Qi's mind buzzed, a black talisman flickered—
[Skill: Blacksmithing (Beginner)]
[Progress: 100/800]
[Effect: Only through a thousand refinents can true steel be born]
"Just knowing blacksmithing won't make you a Top-Grade Master Craftsman. The process of weapon forging involves more than this step.
You all, making a fuss, lacking composure.
In the ordinary days, spend more ti learning to nurture your qi from your master."
Li Yuan spoke calmly, his expression unchanged.
"It seems that Master has no intention of taking on apprentices."
Lu Shiping thought to himself with regret, knowing that junior apprentice Li Jun might not have another opportunity to enter the Big Punishnt Kiln. If the vacant closed-door disciple spot could be filled by Brother Bai, it wouldn't be a bad thing at all.
He's a natural born blacksmith, able to forge Hundred-refined Steel without even formally apprenticing!
"Master's teaching is right."
Chao Sanjing slowly quelled the astonishnt in his heart, sighing that the old ginger is spicier.
Faced with Brother Bai's astonishingly gifted performance, even the master could remain calm and composed.
If it were him, he wouldn't hesitate to take him on as a disciple, passing on his legacy.
"Qi Lang forged a piece of Hundred-refined Steel and is also tired. You two keep him for a al. Hmm, slaughter that Spiritual Sheep in the shop, enough for lunch and dinner."
Li Yuan instructed calmly.
"Got it. Master, what about Young Master He? He ca with Brother Bai."
Lu Shiping nodded in agreent.
"Take him on a casual tour with the second one. A single Spiritual Sheep isn't enough to share among so many people."
Li Yuan waved his hand impatiently.
"Oh, by the way, second one, let the Daoist Official bring out the Snow-Stepping Steed that goes eight hundred miles a day."
Chao Sanjing was stunned for a mont, seemingly surprised:
"Master won't stay for a al with us?"
Li Yuan shook his head:
"Not in the mood. I'll take your horse out for a ride."
Chao Sanjing felt puzzled inside, wondering when his master developed a fondness for riding a horse on a whim?
After the two apprentices left, Li Yuan maintained his deanor of gazing far into the distance, exuding the aura of a serene sage.
He slowly unclenched his tightly held hands behind his back, thinking:
"Next, head straight to Black River County! What gift should I bring to Tongwen Hall to persuade Master Ning or that Brother Dao to let Qi Lang learn weapon forging from ?"
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