136: Chapter 136 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (Chapter 84)

He leisurely picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then spoke unhurriedly:

"With that, you should be able to understand why I said that the art of weapon refining is the core of our Lieyang Peak.

Bone alloys are not like other things; this is delicate work.

You must know that a miss is as good as a mile; this is something that acts within the body.

Furthermore, everyone's physique is different, and their True Qi attributes vary, so the corresponding formulas naturally require fine-tuning.

Someone who doesn't understand weapon refining, someone without the ability for precise control, even if given the best formula, would be unable to forge a perfect alloy skeleton."

Chu Shi's heart skipped a beat.

Not good.

This old geezer is starting to swindle me again.

I don't believe a word of it. I don't believe that you, a dignified Dharma Cultivator, personally forged it yourself back then.

As expected, Peak Master Lieyang set down his teacup, a kindly smile appearing on his face:

"Go on, go to the weapon refining workshop next to the Iron Melting Cave to hone your skills.

I will grant you the highest level of access, and you may use any of the materials inside as you please.

When you can successfully forge a Profound-grade low-tier treasured artifact at your current cultivation realm, come and seek me out again.

I imagine that by then, you will have initially acquired the ability to fine-tune it according to your own physique.

At that time, I will naturally give you the top-tier alloy formula."

Having said that, he looked at Chu Shi with a beaming smile, his heart already blooming with joy.

Little brat, you think I can't handle you?

Go honestly forge iron and do your work!

Looking at Peak Master Lieyang's kindly face, Chu Shi felt no warmth at all, only finding it incomparably hideous.

I've been played by this old geezer again!

But there was no other choice.

He was unwilling to break through to the Copper Bone Realm with an ordinary pure copper skeleton.

Since he knew there was a better method, there was no reason to settle for less.

Chu Shi let out a long sigh, suppressed the unwillingness in his heart, adjusted his robes, and bowed respectfully to Peak Master Lieyang:

"This disciple understands, thank you for your guidance, Master."

Having said that, he turned and walked out of the main hall.

The sunset's afterglow spilled onto his back, carrying a hint of tragedy.

The leisurely days at Tingyang Courtyard had come to an end.

What awaited him next would be an endless career of forging iron.

Early the next morning, knowing he couldn't avoid it, Chu Shi honestly arrived at the back mountain of Lieyang Peak.

The scenery of the back mountain remained the same, but the air was a few degrees hotter than before.

Following the direction of the Iron Melting Cave, Chu Shi soon discovered the weapon refining workshop nearby.

Before even entering the gates of the weapon refining workshop, the deafening sound of iron forging rolled over like thunder.

The clanging and banging of the hammers, mixed with the crackling of burning charcoal and the hissing of flowing molten iron, converged into a rhapsody unique to fire and steel.

The air was filled with a thick smell of rust, sulfur, and the unique scorched scent emitted when metal was heated to a glowing red; taking a breath made one's throat feel scorched.

Chu Shi raised his hand to block the sparks flying towards his face and looked inside.

He saw that in the open valley ahead, hundreds of black iron furnaces were densely distributed, each glowing red-hot, with ten-foot-tall orange-red flames spewing from the furnace mouths, illuminating half the sky.

Countless bare-chested men swung heavy iron hammers, sweat sliding down their bronze-colored backs, dripping onto the red-hot iron blocks, instantly turning into wisps of white smoke with a "hissing" sound.

Sparks splattered everywhere like fireflies dancing in the sky, tracing dazzling trajectories in the dim workshop.

"Senior Brother Chu! You have finally arrived!"

Upon seeing Chu Shi enter, dressed in purple robes and wearing the insignia of a Core Disciple.

A middle-aged fat man wearing red short-sleeved attire, with a steward token tied to his waist, trotted up to greet him.

His sweating, chubby face was piled with smiles, his enthusiasm somewhat excessive.

His name was Liu Quan, the Head Steward of the weapon refining workshop.

He had received a message from Peak Master Lieyang yesterday, knowing that Chu Shi, the Peak Master's newly accepted personal disciple and currently the most prominent genius in the Holy Land, would be coming.

Therefore, he had specifically waited at the door early in the morning.

"Peak Master gave the instructions early this morning.

Please come this way; I have reserved the best weapon refining room for you, you can use any materials you like, and you can pick any assistants you want!"

Liu Quan rubbed his hands together, diligently leading Chu Shi inside.

"Would you like to rest for a moment and have some tea, or shall I take you directly to meet Elder Jin?"

Chu Shi nodded indifferently: "Take me directly to meet Elder Jin."

He knew clearly that Liu Quan's enthusiastic demeanor was entirely for the sake of that old geezer.

When it came to actual weapon refining skills, anyone here was a hundred times better than a layman like him who knew nothing.

He had come to learn the craft seriously in order to advance, so he naturally had to throw himself into the techniques immediately.

Liu Quan quickly agreed and immediately led Chu Shi through the bustling workshop area, heading deeper inside.

Along the way, many disciples who were forging iron stopped their work, curiously eyeing Chu Shi, with whispers rising one after another.

Chu Shi turned a deaf ear to their discussions and, following Liu Quan, soon arrived outside an independent weapon refining room in the deepest part of the workshop.

It was much quieter here than outside, with only the monotonous and heavy sound of forging, one strike after another, as if beating against one's heart.

The door to the weapon refining room was ajar, the firelight flickering inside, and a tall, sturdy figure was standing before a furnace, wielding a Profound Iron hammer larger than himself.

The old man had gray hair and was bare-chested; his withered skin clung tightly to his bones, and its surface was covered in crisscrossing scars, each one gleaming with a metallic luster.

His arms were exceptionally thick, his muscles knotted, and every swing of the hammer carried the force of a thousand jun, causing the red-hot iron billet to deform at will under his hands like dough.

"Elder Jin, Elder Jin!" Liu Quan stepped forward and called out cautiously.

"Senior Brother Chu Shi, sent by Peak Master to learn from you, has arrived."

To Liu Quan's calling, the old man seemed not to hear, remaining focused on forging the iron.

The hammer fell, sparks splattering, one strike after another, vigorous and powerful.

Seeing that Elder Jin ignored him completely, the smile on Liu Quan's face stiffened, feeling somewhat awkward.

Immediately, he raised his voice and called out again.

Only after hammering the iron billet in his hand into a neat iron plate did the old man slowly set down the hammer, pick up the tongs nearby, and immerse the iron plate into the water bucket beside him.

"Hiss..."

White mist rose, instantly filling the entire weapon refining room.

The old man turned around, revealing a face covered in wrinkles, his eyes cloudy yet sharp as a knife, sweeping a glance at Chu Shi without the slightest ripple, as if he had only looked at an ordinary rock.

"Elder Jin, this is Chu Shi, Senior Brother Chu, the Peak Master's personal disciple." Liu Quan hurriedly continued to introduce him.

"The Peak Master ordered that you personally guide him in weapon refining."

Elder Jin ignored Liu Quan, walked straight to the corner, bent down to pick up a fist-sized black iron billet, and tossed it casually to Chu Shi.

Chu Shi instinctively reached out to catch it; the iron block was ice-cold to the touch, heavy, and very dense, weighing at least twenty or thirty jin.

"Heh, a complete novice; I can't teach you anything for now, so build your foundation first.

There is an empty furnace over there; go practice." Elder Jin pointed to the corner, his voice as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing together.

"Hammer this piece of iron one thousand times. Each strike must have even force, and you are to hammer it until there isn't a trace of impurities inside, and the surface is as smooth as a mirror."