In the cold wind after the Spring Festival, the new year brings new hopes, and Qingyun City revives its industries.
The shops that had closed their doors earlier have now reopened, with so old ones staying from last year, and many new ones celebrating their grand openings with drums and gongs for several days.
The Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau's office remains as rundown as ever, with two constables dozing off while leaning against the wanted list.
In the Yunhe Clinic in Wine Dust Lane, the pharmacist and the little doctor are practicing the Five Animals Qigong in the courtyard. The pharmacist is dressed in a thick coat, while the little doctor wears a not-so-thick coat dress.
The coat dress moves like a lotus in bloom, and the movents of the down-mountain tiger, forest deer, tree-shaking bear, moon-watching ape, and startled bird are vividly displayed in the little doctor's hands, surpassing those of the pharmacist.
At a certain mont.
The little doctor's twin braids suddenly pause, and her delicate white fingers unconsciously press against her dantian. She tilts her head to look at the pharmacist, her large eyes blinking with curiosity.
"Master, I feel like there's a breeze here..."
"A breeze?"
The pharmacist is startled and then surprised that Xiaoyue, who has never practiced martial arts, has cultivated power through an entry-level health care boxing technique, reaching the threshold of a martial artist.
A sound worth thousands of gold.
Ninety percent of the world's people are ordinary, and only a small number can beco martial artists. Many have struggled for years without entering the entry-level, yet Xiaoyue easily crosses this threshold.
"This is power... Xiaoyue, congratulations on entering the martial path."
"Power? Are you saying I'm becoming a martial artist?" The little doctor's eyelashes flutter, and she cheers with joy, knowing that Su is a martial artist. "Master, do you think I have a talent for martial arts?"
"You should have..."
The pharmacist congratulates but is not entirely joyful. His withered arm under his sleeve trembles, and his fist behind his back suddenly clenches by three degrees.
At that mont, the little doctor suddenly looks toward the clinic's entrance, her face lighting up with surprise, "Is Su back?"
The little doctor's heart stirs, and she runs towards the clinic entrance, stepping with Deer Play.
Outside the courtyard, the Rice Hat Wanderer's face suddenly tightens as he hears the sound of lightweight skill being used inside the clinic. In his haste, Su Mu fails to distinguish Deer Play.
"Last ti wasn't an illusion... this ti, I feel you're here too, little brother."
"Deer Play, was it you who perford it just now, little doctor?"
"Little brother, I have good news for you. Master said I've cultivated power just now!" The little doctor's braids sway as she approaches, her use of power adept, unlike soone just newly acquainted with it.
"The little doctor's martial talent is indeed extraordinary... If she's interested, we can continue teaching so martial arts." Su Mu's eyes gleam with surprise.
In this world, there truly is no shortage of prodigies. Su Mu himself started with the Five Animals Qigong.
He knows how extrely difficult it is to cultivate power with rely an entry-level Five Animals Qigong. His initial talent was poor, and only after a year of hard practice, succeeded the Tiger Subduing Fist entry-level did he cultivate the first strand of power.
The little doctor has been practicing the Five Animals Qigong for about a year, mostly casually during her spare ti to stretch her muscles. Besides treating patients with the pharmacist, she spends most of her ti copying texts.
Compared to martial arts, the little doctor prefers writing and drawing.
To cultivate power successfully with rely the Five Animals Qigong under these circumstances showcases martial roots and talent far superior to Su Mu's initial state.
"Perhaps that's how the pharmacist and the masters viewed before; now, I understand the feeling." Su Mu's gaze burns brightly as he looks at the little doctor, feeling no jealousy but sincere happiness for her.
Furthermore, Su Mu feels no sense of failure; instead, his resolve in the martial path grows stronger. If such prodigies exist in Cyan Cloud, could there be others in the Three Counties?
What is the state of Qingzhou Prefecture, considering the vast realm above it within the Great Yan Dynasty?
"Prodigies are as plentiful as carp crossing the river, and the scenery is so captivating. If I don't see it with my own eyes, wouldn't I have lived in vain?"
Su Mu's eyes sparkle, his heart swelling with ambition and determination, promising himself that he must leave Qingzhou Prefecture soday to witness the grand scenery!
Having delivered the pastries, Su Mu chats with the little doctor and the pharmacist about liquor, and the little doctor envies his recent visit to Canghe City.
"Little brother, can you take next ti?"
"Nonsense."
The pharmacist raises his eyebrows at this, scolding. The little doctor pouts and glares at the pharmacist, the two imdiately staring at each other, while Su Mu laughs and recounts his experiences in Canghe City.
Naturally, he attributes his deeds to Li Feiyu. The little doctor listens eagerly while eating pastries and quickly asks once Su Mu finishes his story.
"Little brother, why didn't you tell more... Is there more?"
...
Elsewhere, Wu Qiao'Er stands on tiptoe, tearing off the remnants of a closing notice at the Forging Workshop.
Clang!
After the holiday, the returning craftsn and blacksmiths exchange a few words inside the forging room, and amid laughter, they stoke the fires blazing. The first sound of iron striking rings out, and the Forging Workshop instantly echoes with the brisk sound of hamring, like rain.
The new year has officially begun.
"Creak!"
The key was inserted into the lock and turned lightly, accompanied by a rhythmic chanical sound. The snow on the bronze plaque of 'Cold Pool' rustled and fell.
"Su Mu, next, I will teach you the remaining Treasure-Forge Art skills."
Su Mu clasped his hands and bowed respectfully.
Lin Ruoshui, half a year younger than Chen Yuntian, entered the workshop two years later, but beca a master almost at the sa ti.
Compared to Chen Yuntian's fiery temper and burly figure, Master Zhao Ju had a stoic face and a slender build with long fingers.
Master Lin Ruoshui seed to combine the traits of both masters, having a similarly fiery temperant and a burly figure, along with a pair of long fingers.
As Su Mu entered the Cold Pool Forging Room, a chill like that of an ice cellar hit him, and the first thing that caught his eye was a pool of Cold Pool water from which the coldness emanated.
"The na 'Cold Pool' is indeed well-deserved."
Su Mu thought to himself, feeling puzzled because the large forging room was mostly occupied by the pool, with an empty smaller pool adjacent to it, which was entirely different from the forging rooms of the previous two masters.
Additionally, Su Mu noticed a pile of iron materials on the left side of the Cold Pool, including so Cold Iron and Cold Iron Essence that emitted a chill.
On the right side of the Cold Pool were smaller hamrs compared to ordinary forging hamrs and a rod-like tool engraved with inscriptions.
The three masters seed to have discussed it beforehand, as Lin Ruoshui asked Su Mu the sa question as before.
"Kid, what do you think is the most critical step in forging?"
Su Mu thought for a mont, recalling the teachings of the two previous masters, "I initially thought it was the hamring of the iron billets, as ordinary iron materials can only beco refined steel after being tempered a thousand tis. Later, Master Chen Yuntian taught that forging materials and lting are also extrely crucial."
"Master Zhao Ju let judge for myself, and after I copied the Calm Heart technique, he taught the art of inscription, which is infinite and extrely profound."
"You sure can speak eloquently. You might actually be suited for pursuing officialdom," Lin Ruoshui comnted after listening.
"I don't care how they taught you; I, this old man, believe what I'm about to teach you is the most crucial. The success or failure of the Treasure Artifact lies within this skill."
"It will also determine the final quality of the Treasure Artifact, summarized in eight words."
"Eight words?"
Su Mu's eyes shone with interest.
"Spirit Awakening, Quenching and Grading!" Lin Ruoshui's face showed a hint of obsession, which Su Mu had seen in the other two masters before.
Without this obsession and passion, the three could not have beco masters in the Forging Workshop.
"Without this step, you cannot forge a Treasure Artifact."
At that mont, Lin Ruoshui pointed to an iron chest locked with chains under the forging platform, "Bring that chest over here, kid. Here is the key."
Su Mu caught the unusually shaped iron key that Lin Ruoshui tossed to him.
Though the chest weighed nearly two hundred pounds, Su Mu easily lifted it with both hands, surprising Lin Ruoshui, "Chen Yuntian wasn't wrong. This kid doesn't show off, but he's genuinely skilled in martial arts; no wonder he mastered the lting Gold Technique in a month."
As soon as the chest was opened, a thick, fishy stench emanated, carrying three distinct auras, two strong and one weak.
Inside were three crude short blades without handles, two of which were engraved with inscriptions. The sharp auras Su Mu sensed ca from these two blades.
The remaining short blade was of the sa size and material but lacked inscriptions.
There was also a jade jar emitting a fishy sll, which Su Mu imdiately recognized contained Demon Blood.
"These three Broken Blades were forged from the leftover scraps of the Iron Essence Long Sword owned by Lord Tao last year, all crafted by us three. Two of them have been inscribed, otherwise, the forging skills are quite comparable."
Master Lin Ruoshui spoke frankly, and Su Mu wasn't surprised. In this industry, it's customary that any remaining scraps after forging weapons with a custor's materials can be disposed of by the blacksmiths as they see fit.
Su Mu's Cold Iron Spearhead, refined 120 tis, also originated from this practice.
"First, let's talk about those first four words: Spirit Awakening."
"Take knives and shields as examples. If a knife requires sharpness, 'Cold Wolf Essence Blood' can be used as a dium to enhance its edge, whereas for a sturdy shield, turtle demon beast blood or bone powder can serve as a dium."
"Kid, do you think this step is similar to the effects of inscription?"
Su Mu nodded.
"Indeed, but the key to Spirit Awakening is that it can also imbue the weapon with a hint of spirit." Lin Ruoshui's eyes glead with reverence and ambition.
"Back in the day, when the Grand Ancestor of the Great Yan rose in rebellion by slaying a Two-headed Demon Flood Dragon, he divided the Jiao Blood and bestowed the Ninth-Grade Sword 'Po Jun' upon the National Guardian General Huo Wei. This sword accompanied the general in campaigns against demon fiends, drinking demon blood and continually transforming. Eventually, it leaped over the Dragon Gate to beco a Second-Grade Spirit Treasure. Such transformation is rare, hard to replicate in later generations, but every Treasure Artifact contains a unique spirit, with the potential to evolve into a higher grade."
Imbuing a weapon with spirit, and even potential for transformation!
Su Mu's heart burned passionately upon hearing this.
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