9: Chapter 9 Basic Appraisal Techniques, Blacksmith Apprentice

"Ding! Through your unremitting efforts, you have successfully comprehended the Basic Appraisal Technique. Current Realm: Novice (0/100)."

[Basic Appraisal Technique] (White)

Quality: Common

Realm: Novice (0/100)

Effect: Can identify trace information of items through touch. Currently capable of identifying items up to Common quality!

"This..."

Lin Ye was stunned, his movement to stand up instantly freezing.

This was because a line of information had appeared on the Ore in front of him.

"Impure Iron Ore, Quality: Below Grade."

The information was simple, yet it was enough for him to make a preliminary judgment on the quality of an Ore.

Without delay, Lin Ye immediately began touching the Ores one by one.

"Below Grade."

"Below Grade."

"Below Grade."

"Common One-Star."

"Below Grade."

"Below Grade."

...

In less than three minutes, he had touched no fewer than 100 pieces of Ore.

Unfortunately, the highest he found were only two pieces of Common One-Star Ore; the rest were all Below Grade.

Lin Ye did not give up and continued rummaging through them.

He refused to believe he couldn't find an Ore of higher quality than Common One-Star.

However, Lin Ye's actions were interpreted differently by the other two people.

Wang Gang: "This... can he really distinguish the quality of the Ores by flipping through them so fast?"

Wang Gang's Second Uncle's thought was that this boy's temperament was too impetuous, making him unfit for great responsibility.

Lin Ye naturally didn't know what the two were thinking and remained focused on searching for Ore.

More precisely, he was touching them.

"Pure Iron Ore, Quality: Common Three-Star."

Lin Ye's eyes lit up, and he quickly pulled this piece of Ore out.

This was a piece of iron Ore only about the size of a fist. Its surface looked pitted, but it felt heavy in his hand, much heavier than other Ores of the same volume.

After flipping through dozens more and confirming there were none better than this, Lin Ye finally stood up and returned with the Ore.

At this moment, Second Uncle was sitting under the shed drinking tea with Wang Gang.

Seeing Lin Ye approach, Second Uncle gave no reaction.

However, when his peripheral vision caught the Ore in Lin Ye's hand, his eyes flickered slightly.

[Hmm? Is it luck or does he truly have good eyesight?]

Second Uncle felt a bit suspicious but remained calm on the surface, saying indifferently, "Finished picking?"

"Finished." Lin Ye displayed the Ore in his hand.

"Hmm, the quality of this Ore is decent."

Second Uncle nodded, showing his approval of Lin Ye's choice.

Hearing this, Wang Gang, who was nearby, showed a look of joy.

It seemed Brother Lin had passed the first test.

"Then start hammering. If you can forge this Ore into an Iron Billet within one hour, I will take you on as an apprentice.

If you can't, then you can go back to wherever you came from."

"Fine!"

Lin Ye responded and then strode over to stand before the furnace.

The fire in the furnace was burning brightly. Without a word, Lin Ye raised his hand and tossed the Ore inside.

Seeing this, Wang Gang couldn't help but whisper a reminder, "Brother Lin, don't rush, take it slow..."

"Shut up." Second Uncle turned and glared at him.

Wang Gang immediately pulled back his neck, not daring to speak further.

A few minutes later, seeing that the Ore had been burnt red-hot, Lin Ye quickly used tongs to pull it out and place it on the anvil, then raised the hammer and smashed it down hard.

Clang!

He missed the center.

The Ore was hit so hard it jumped, nearly flying off the forging table.

Wang Gang covered his face, unable to watch.

Second Uncle remained expressionless, calmly drinking water.

Lin Ye took a deep breath, repositioned the red-hot Ore with the tongs, and raised the hammer to strike again.

Clang!

He missed again.

Clang!

And again.

After a dozen consecutive strikes, not a single one hit the mark accurately.

The Ore bounced around on the anvil, and sweat began to bead on Lin Ye's forehead.

He suddenly realized that blacksmithing was much harder than he had imagined.

It wasn't enough to just have a lot of strength; one also needed accuracy, rhythm, and a feel for the metal.

The force, angle, and point of impact of every strike required precise control.

And he had absolutely no experience in this.

"Talent, give me some strength." At this moment, Lin Ye could only place his hopes on Heaven Rewards Diligence.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Another dozen strikes followed. Although he still missed frequently, he occasionally managed to land a hit or two.

Time passed minute by minute, and a quarter of the one-hour limit had already elapsed.

Suddenly—

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

[Basic Forging Method] (White)

Quality: Common

Realm: Novice (0/100)

Effect: Forging speed increased by 10%, forging success rate increased by 10%. Currently capable of forging up to Common quality items.

As a surge of information flooded his mind, Lin Ye gained memories about forging out of thin air: the posture for holding the hammer, the rhythm of the swing, the choice of impact point, the control of force...

Lin Ye's eyes instantly brightened.

It finally came!

He picked up the re-heated Ore again and raised the hammer—

Clang!

This strike landed steadily on the Ore, instantly sending sparks flying in all directions.

One could see that the Ore had been visibly flattened a bit.

Clang!

Another strike fell, though this one was slightly off-center again.

There was no help for it; after all, he had just learned it, so it was impossible to hit accurately every single time.

Lin Ye estimated that his current forging level was roughly equivalent to a Blacksmith Apprentice who had practiced for a month.

He could only be considered to have mastered the basic hammering techniques; he was far from being particularly skilled.

Time quietly slipped away amidst the continuous sound of hammering.

"Proficiency +5"

"Proficiency +5"

"Proficiency +5"

...

As Lin Ye's hammer strikes fell one after another, his proficiency in the Basic Forging Method rose steadily.

To an outsider, Lin Ye's rhythm became increasingly steady, with every strike landing where it should, rarely missing the mark anymore.

Although his movements still appeared unrefined, he at least looked like a proper blacksmith.

Wang Gang watched in dumbfounded amazement: "This... did he switch with someone else?"

Second Uncle also unconsciously sat up straight, his gaze toward Lin Ye becoming serious.

Lin Ye's hammering movements became smoother and smoother.

Gradually, he seemed to enter a marvelous state.

In his eyes, there was only that piece of Ore; in his ears, only the sound of the hammer striking the Ore remained; and his body began to sway naturally with the rhythm.

Until a certain moment...

"Ding! [Basic Forging Method] Realm has leveled up. Current Realm: initial insight (5/1000)."

As this notification rang out, Lin Ye felt his physical strength surge slightly, and his movements became even more fluid and natural, as if he had become a veteran who had been blacksmithing for years.

The force of every strike was just right, and the point of impact of every strike was incredibly precise.

The Ore began to rapidly deform in his hands as Impurities were hammered out bit by bit, gradually taking on the shape of an Iron Billet.

Clang!

With a crisp clanging sound, Lin Ye stopped the hammer in his hand.

He knew that the Iron Billet was formed.

Second Uncle had already stood up and walked to the anvil, picking up the Iron Billet to examine it carefully.

After a long while, he put down the billet, and the way he looked at Lin Ye had completely changed.

If he hadn't personally watched Lin Ye gradually transition from clumsy to skilled, he would have suspected the boy had forged iron before.

"Not bad, your talent is acceptable. From today on, you'll be a general laborer for me."

After saying that, he turned back to the shed and took a sip from the teapot.

Lin Ye was stunned upon hearing this: "A general laborer?"

Although a Blacksmith Apprentice indeed starts by assisting the master, he had displayed such high talent—why was he still being made a general laborer?

Shouldn't he be taught to forge equipment directly?

At the very least, couldn't he be taught a higher-quality forging method first?

"What, unwilling?" Second Uncle glanced sideways at Lin Ye.

"You think being a blacksmith is that easy? Sorting charcoal, starting the fire, pulling the bellows, hauling iron stock—only once you're proficient in these tasks will you be qualified to touch the hammer."

Fine, a general laborer then. As long as he could establish a foothold in Wang Family Village, it would be okay.

Anyway, he had already comprehended the Basic Forging Method; at worst, he could just secretly grind his proficiency on his own.

"Disciple pays respects to Master." Lin Ye bowed respectfully to Second Uncle.

"Don't call me Master." Second Uncle waved his hand.

"You aren't my disciple yet. Just like Xiao Gang, call me Second Uncle."

"Yes, Second Uncle." Lin Ye followed the advice readily.

Then Second Uncle pointed to a pile of coal in the corner of the yard: "That pile of coal, sift it clean for me by the end of today.

After sifting, tidy up the bellows; we'll need it tomorrow."

Lin Ye looked at the mountain-like pile of coal and, without a word, walked over and began working.

Wang Gang also followed over and explained in a low voice, "Brother Lin, don't mind it. This is usually the rule for apprenticeships in a blacksmith shop. I heard Second Uncle also did chores for half a year before he truly began learning forging methods.

With your talent, it certainly won't take half a year. I estimate that in just three months, Second Uncle will definitely formally accept you as a disciple."

Lin Ye nodded, showing his understanding.

"Brother Wang, I'm already very grateful.

Having a meal to eat and a place to stay is better than anything else."

In reality, having good talent didn't guarantee someone would take you as a disciple.

It also involved matters of character.

After all, if one took in an ungrateful person, no amount of talent would matter.

These few months of doing chores were the so-called observation period.

Only when character and Heart-Nature both passed the test would a formal apprenticeship begin.

On this point, Lin Ye saw things very clearly.

Seeing that Lin Ye truly didn't seem to mind, Wang Gang was relieved.

"Alright, then you get to work. I'll head back first; look for me anytime if you need anything."

"Okay, Brother Wang, you go ahead with your business."

After Wang Gang left, Lin Ye squatted in front of the coal pile and began sifting the charcoal seriously.

As for Wang Gang saying he would definitely become a Blacksmith Apprentice in three months, Lin Ye was noncommittal.

Three months?

It likely wouldn't take that long.