14: Chapter 14 Heavy Iron Cudgel, Archery Genius?

Second Uncle didn't answer, but stood up and pulled out two staffs with some cracks on their surface from a corner.

Second Uncle picked up the one on the left and weighed it: "A Hard Staff, made entirely of pig iron, heavy and powerful.

One strike can break bones and tear tendons, its power is astonishing.

The drawback is that it's clumsy and requires a lot of strength."

Then he picked up the one on the right: "A Soft Staff, mostly made of soft wood wrapped in iron sheets, possessing a certain degree of flexibility, making it agile and free to wield.

Plus, its weight is light enough, so it doesn't demand much strength.

However, its drawbacks are also obvious: insufficient power and it's easily broken."

"So, which one do you choose?"

"I choose the Hard Staff!" Lin Ye answered decisively.

A man should be hard!

Hearing Lin Ye's answer, Second Uncle's lips curved into a smile.

Without further ado, he pulled out an Iron Ingot the size of a millstone from the shelf and threw it into the furnace.

"Don't just stand there, come and work."

Lin Ye quickly followed.

Lighting the fire, adding charcoal, pulling the bellows—the furnace fire instantly flared up, and the Iron Ingot quickly turned red-hot.

Second Uncle clamped out the Iron Ingot, placed it on the forging table, and then swung his hammer down.

Each hammer strike was incredibly precise, with the force, angle, and rhythm all perfectly controlled, giving a sense of Flowing Water.

Lin Ye watched intently from the side, when suddenly a prompt sounded in his mind.

"Proficiency +5"

Hmm? He could gain forging proficiency just by observing?

Lin Ye was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood.

Who said listening to a lecture wasn't working hard?

Since he was working hard, he should gain proficiency.

This was called Heaven Rewards Diligence!

Understanding this, Lin Ye watched even more seriously.

"Proficiency +5"

"Proficiency +5"

...

Almost every ten seconds, a prompt sounded in his mind.

This rate of improvement was almost faster than if he were doing it himself.

It just goes to show, having a master teach you really makes a difference.

Just like that, the master and apprentice, one forging and one stoking the fire, cooperated very tacitly.

"Ding! Basic Forging Method Realm has advanced. Current Realm: proficient 5/10000"

He Breakthrough so quickly?

Lin Ye was overjoyed, and at the same time, a flood of forging-related memories poured into his mind, as if he had been forging for several years.

However, after the Realm Breakthrough, the rate of proficiency gain also slowed down.

Lin Ye could understand this.

The reason he could gain proficiency by listening to lectures was because he was learning knowledge.

Once his forging Realm was on par with Second Uncle's, it would probably be difficult to improve proficiency by simply observing.

Another hour passed, and Second Uncle finally stopped hammering.

At this moment, a black iron staff, about seven feet long and as thick as a bowl, lay quietly on the forging table.

Second Uncle then cut two sections of iron hoops, fitted them onto both ends of the staff, and hammered them tight, both to reinforce the staff body and to act as counterweights.

Finally, Second Uncle used a file to carve several shallow grooves on the staff for anti-slip, and only then was it completely finished.

"Alright, go take it yourself." Second Uncle pointed to the iron staff.

Lin Ye heard this and, without doubt, eagerly reached out to grab it.

[Bingtie Heavy Staff, Quality: Normal Two-Star]

"Hiss, so heavy!"

It was very heavy to the touch; Lin Ye had to use both hands to lift it.

This weight, he feared, was well over a hundred catties.

Lin Ye walked into the courtyard and tried to swing it.

However, as soon as the staff was swung out, his body stumbled, almost letting go, which scared him into quickly retracting his strength.

Clearly, with his current strength, he could swing it, but he couldn't control it at all.

If he were to use it in combat, he didn't know if he could hit the enemy, but he would definitely break his own bones first.

Lin Ye turned to look at Second Uncle, a hint of resentment in his eyes.

Second Uncle spread his hands: "You wanted a Hard Staff; I've already reduced the weight to the minimum. Who's to blame if you can't wield it?"

This kid always tries to take advantage of me; now, let me teach you a lesson!

Of course, he didn't intentionally want to see Lin Ye make a fool of himself.

The truth was as he said, a Hard Staff emphasized great force and weight.

Therefore, among many weapons, its strength requirement was second only to a hammer.

Lin Ye opened his mouth, unsure what to say for a moment.

He looked down at the bingtie staff in his hand.

The staff body was straight, and the iron hoops gleamed. It was definitely a fine product among ordinary weapons, showing that Second Uncle had put his heart into it and hadn't fooled him.

Never mind, with his speed of becoming stronger, it wouldn't be long before he could wield this bingtie staff with ease, so there was no need to rush too much.

Understanding this, Lin Ye no longer dwelled on it.

Second Uncle was slightly surprised to see Lin Ye adjust his mindset so quickly.

Putting everything else aside, this level of confidence alone was incomparable to ordinary people.

However, how could he know that for someone with a cheat, confidence was a basic operation?

It was just that Lin Ye's personality was relatively steady; if it were someone with a more flamboyant personality, on the first day, they'd be like, I need to lie low; on the second day, I won't eat beef!

Afterward, Lin Ye spent the morning doing chores at Second Uncle's house, and incidentally, gained some Basic Forging Method proficiency.

Finally, he cadged a lunch, and then, under Second Uncle's death glare, he contentedly left the small courtyard with a bow and a staff, heading straight for the Martial Arts Training Ground.

It was already noon, and the Martial Arts Training Ground was empty.

Zhao Shanhe's residence was next to the Martial Arts Training Ground. He was currently sitting at his doorway enjoying the cool, occasionally looking into the distance.

He spotted Lin Ye at a glance.

Zhao Shanhe stood up and walked over to greet him.

"Captain." Lin Ye stuck the bingtie staff into the ground and clasped his fists in a salute.

"I'm here to learn archery."

"Good."

Zhao Shanhe nodded, then his gaze fell on the bingtie staff.

"This staff is good, it looks quite heavy."

"It's alright, just about a hundred catties." Lin Ye acted very calm, as if a hundred catties was nothing.

"A hundred catties?" Zhao Shanhe raised an eyebrow.

"You can wield it?"

"Uh, I can wield it, but it's a bit strenuous." Lin Ye tried to put it euphemistically.

Zhao Shanhe smiled upon hearing this, but didn't expose him. He turned and went back inside to fetch his longbow.

"Let's go to the back mountain's shooting range."

The shooting range was set up at the very back of the village, against a hillside.

More than a dozen straw targets stood on the slope, almost all riddled with holes.

Zhao Shanhe stopped ten meters from the straw targets, then drew an arrow from his quiver.

"Watch carefully."

Nocking the arrow, drawing the string, aiming, releasing—all in one smooth motion.

"Swish!"

The arrow shot through the air, hitting the bullseye ten meters away, its fletching still trembling.

Zhao Shanhe looked back at Lin Ye: "Did you see clearly?"

"I generally saw it." Lin Ye didn't speak too confidently.

"Then you try." Zhao Shanhe moved aside.

Lin Ye took down the iron-core bow from his back and drew an arrow from the quiver.

Recalling Zhao Shanhe's posture from earlier, nocking the arrow, drawing the string...

"Don't shrug." Zhao Shanhe reminded him from the side, "Lower your shoulders, use your waist to exert force."

Lin Ye immediately adjusted his posture.

"Raise your elbow."

"Breathe steadily."

Zhao Shanhe continuously corrected Lin Ye's movements from the side.

Finally, Lin Ye's movements barely met the standard.

He took a deep breath, drew the bowstring fully, then aimed and released...

The arrow flew out with a whoosh, then plunged headfirst into the dirt.

Zhao Shanhe said nothing, just handed him another arrow.

Master archers are nurtured by countless arrows; no one can hit the bullseye every time from the start.

Lin Ye took the arrow, then nocked it and drew the bow.

Swish!

The second arrow missed the target again.

The third arrow, missed the target.

The fourth arrow, still missed the target.

He shot four arrows in a row, all missing the target.

It proved that Lin Ye indeed had no talent for shooting.

Finally, as Lin Ye shot his tenth arrow, the familiar prompt sounded.

"Ding! Through repeated practice, you have successfully comprehended [Basic Archery]. Current Realm: Novice (0/100)"

[Basic Archery] (White)

Quality: Normal

Realm: Novice (0/100)

Effect: Increases shooting speed by 10%, increases shooting distance by 10%, and slightly increases accuracy when cast.

Along with a small amount of memory pouring in, Lin Ye's hand movements immediately became much more standard.

Nocking the arrow, drawing the string, aiming, releasing.

"Thud."

Although this arrow still didn't hit the target, it grazed the edge.

"Continue." Zhao Shanhe's eyes flickered slightly.

Lin Ye drew another arrow and shot.

"Proficiency +5"

Shot again.

"Proficiency +5"

Almost every arrow shot brought in 5 points of proficiency.

This efficiency was much higher than that of Basic Qinggong or Basic Staff Technique.

"Proficiency +5"

"Ding! [Basic Archery] Realm has advanced. Current Realm: initial insight (5/1000)"

One arrow shot, and this time it hit the bullseye!

Although he already knew Lin Ye had great talent in martial arts, Zhao Shanhe was still somewhat shocked.

That last arrow was so steady, it didn't look like it came from a Novice, and already possessed initial combat capability.

"You kid... is this truly your first time touching a bow?"

Zhao Shanhe still couldn't believe it.

Lin Ye shot another arrow, saying without turning his head: "It truly is my first time."

"Alright." Zhao Shanhe conceded.

He had to admit, there truly were Prodigies in this world.