Even if one was talented and was guided by a teacher, one would probably ruin around ten precious ores in the beginning before smithing an Attribute Equipment. Furthermore, Military Fire Smithing Art could only be perfected through practice. While a master craftsman had a high success rate, a beginner’s success rate could be frustrating.
Old Craftsman was second to none in the military camp, but his success rate in smithing Attribute Equipment was only around thirty percent, whereas the other Military Fire Blacksmiths who were qualified to smith such equipment were worse.
Apart from two of them who barely passed the twenty percent mark, the others only had a ten percent success rate, or could barely hit the mark.
Old Craftsman’s words were of enormous weight in the Armament Camp. Though he was not the supervisor, even the supervisor dared not disrespect him, because his strength was matchless.
Therefore, since Ou Yangming smithed two Attribute Equipment successfully, nobody would criticize him even if the rest he smithed would be scrapped.
Besides, Old Craftsman believed that Ou Yangming could smith at least one Attribute Equipment from the seven remaining precious ores.
“I should be blamed for being too greedy. You’ve consumed too much energy to smith two Attribute Equipment in a row, yet I didn’t ask you to rest.” He comforted Ou Yangming by patting him on his shoulders, then mentioned after looking at the seven precious ores on the smithing table, “That’s all for today, we’ll continue tomorrow. You’ll smith only two each day from now on, no more than that.”
Ou Yangming nodded in agreement.
He initially wanted to stay in the smithing workshop to practice the Military Fire’s controls, but Old Craftsman scolded him and forced him to rest.
After returning to his room, he wondered if he went overboard earlier, and decided after some considerations that he would be more careful in the future.
Even though Ou Yangming previously smithed three pieces of equipment in a row, he was not exactly tired at all and was extremely excited instead.
The days he spent working hard to temper his body were obviously rewarding. Of course, he was able to achieve those results because he replenished his Qi and blood endlessly, or he could not have withstood the tough cultivation.
When he paced back and forth in his room, he felt as uncomfortable as a cat scratching an itch.
Once a man became addicted to something, he would subconsciously want to put his mind and body into it.
Similar to people who were obsessed with playing online games, Ou Yangming was extremely interested in Military Fire Smithing Art at the moment since he was just starting to get somewhere.
It would be fine if he could not smith due to the lack of qualifications. However, he had the strength to do so, but could not perform it, thus it made him feel uneasy.
All of a sudden, he was struck with an idea.
He could still make a move even if Old Craftsman disallowed him to practice.
Upon having the thought, Ou Yangming left his room without hesitation and headed to the abandoned depot with ease. When he looked at the piles of discarded weapons, he began absorbing their attributes quickly.
Ever since he acquired the Dantian Light, his mental power increased correspondingly, and he knew after a few tries that the upper limit of the purple light capacity in his mind was fifty. In other words, he could store fifty attributes at most.
Nevertheless, instead of using up his quota, he would usually leave around five of them empty just in case.
The attributes of the abandoned armaments were generally Power and Toughness, but Ou Yangming found a unique one by chance.
Needless to say, the chances of finding Unique Attributes were very low. He had come to the depot numerous times in a month, but apart from the Power +1 attribute that he found, he did not find a similar one.
His Military Fire flashed as it absorbed the remaining attributes one after another.
Each time he did that, an armament would be completely scrapped, so much so that it could not be melted in the furnace to be used again.
Nonetheless, the wastage was not worth mentioning at all as compared to the piles of armament.
At the spur of the moment, Ou Yangming was stunned, and he could not help but exclaim.
His Military Fire found a Unique Attribute when he picked up a damaged breastplate.
Qi Return +1.
‘What is this attribute? Why have I never seen it before?’
Despite that, Ou Yangming could somewhat make a guess when he saw the name of the attribute.
He absorbed the rare attribute without hesitation, which turned into a purple light in his mind. Subsequently, he realized that he had stored forty-five lights.
After patting his butt to get rid of the dirt, Ou Yangming left the abandoned depot.
Instead of returning to his room, he headed to the Armament Camp’s equipment depot.
The equipment depot was completely different from the abandoned depot as it was guarded by soldiers and overseen by a person in charge.
As soon as Ou Yangming arrived at the equipment depot, he noticed that the person in the accounts office was familiar. The person was Xiong Gaoan, one of the two people in charge at the Armament Camp’s accounts office. He seemed to be making a record in the account book at the moment.
“Hello, Officer Xiong.” Ou Yangming smiled.
Xiong Gaoan stopped what he was doing to look at him. “Oh, it’s you. Why are you here?”
Ou Yangming quickly replied, “Officer Xiong, I’m here to retrieve some iron ingots.”
Xiong Gaoan’s face darkened a little. “Didn’t we distribute the featured iron ingots for this month already? Does Old Craftsman not have enough?”
Ou Yangming thought to himself, ‘Of course he has enough, but I don’t…’
He chuckled embarrassedly. “Officer Xiong, too many were used, so please give us some more.”
Since Old Craftsman was reputable, it would not be a big deal for Ou Yangming to withdraw more featured iron ingots. He had done the same in the past and believed that the old man would not deny it even if Xiong Gaoan were to question him.
That being said, Xiong Gaoan looked troubled. “Ou Yangming, I can’t agree with that.”
Ou Yangming asked as he was stunned, “Why?”
“It’s a military order given by our superior. He said that the Armament Camp’s consumption is too high, so in order to control the cost, nobody’s allowed to withdraw equipment at their will.” Xiong Gaoan felt helpless. He paused for a while before he continued, “Unless you have a warrant from Supervisor Kang, I can’t help you.”
Ou Yangming was startled. “Who gave the order?”
“Sir Zhang Yinfan, the Provision Camp’s assistant supervisor.”
Chapter 22
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Sir… Zhang Yinfan,” Ou Yangming mumbled and frowned.
He probably would not be too concerned if someone else had given the order, but since it was Zhang Yinfan, he could not help but link this issue to something else.
“Yes.” Xiong Gaoan was helpless. “Although the Armament Camp and the Provision Camp are both under the Supply Division, you should know that everything involves money, and they can stop us anytime they want… Even if Old Craftsman comes personally, I dare not open the depot for him.”
Ou Yangming curled his lip and thought to himself, ‘If you don’t open the depot when the old man comes personally, I’ll change my surname to yours.’
Nevertheless, he dared not say it as he would be smacking the supervisor in his face.
Feeling helpless, Ou Yangming could only leave disappointedly.
A brief moment after he left, a stout man arrived.
Xiong Gaoan quickly stood up to greet the person affectionately. “Sir Kang, why are you here?”
“I just had my meal, so I’m here to check the depot’s inventory.” The person was Kang W
eibo, the Armament Camp’s supervisor. He smiled when he spoke, but sighed after that. “The Armament Camp isn’t very peaceful lately.”
“Yes, Sir Zhang just ordered us to control the cost strictly, and he asked that we don’t waste too much stock, but Old Craftsman’s spending increased recently…” Xiong Gaoan gestured to Kang Weibo to sit, then asked him softly, “Sir, how about you talk to Old Craftsman about this?”
“Hmph!” Kang Weibo glared at him. “Old Craftsman’s the only presentable person in the Armament Camp. If I go talk to him about it, am I not bringing bad luck upon myself?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Xiong Gaoan’s face turned bitter. “Sir, Ou Yangming, Old Craftsman’s helper, was here just now to withdraw some featured iron ingot. I didn’t open the depot, look…”
Kang Weibo was stunned. “Ou Yangming was here?”
“Yes.”
Kang Weibo furrowed his eyebrows a little and began pondering.
Xiong Gaoan was rather surprised as he did not know why Kang Weibo looked so prudent. He knew that Ou Yangming was only Old Craftsman’s helper and did not think that it was a big deal when he rejected Ou Yangming earlier as Old Craftsman could simply make a visit himself. As long as the old man made a fuss about it, he would open the depot for him.
Being a powerless person, Xiong Gaoan could not go against a prestigious person like Old Craftsman, but he also did not want to be blamed for a breach of responsibility.
Since Kang Weibo has been the Armament Camp’s supervisor for many years, he figured that he understood the situation very well and saw through the little trick.
After all, the way of being an official was to look after oneself first. Opening the depot for Ou Yangming and for Old Craftsman were two different matters.
However, Xiong Gaoan felt that it was not as simple as he thought when he noticed Kang Weibo’s facial expression. Feeling quite anxious, he asked carefully, “Sir, did I do something inappropriate?”
It was clear that he was Kang Weibo’s confidant since he managed the accounts in the Armament Camp, or he would not have been so straightforward with his question.
“I heard a rumor a few days ago.” Kang Weibo sighed, then lowered his voice. “Old Craftsman exchanged his meritorious deeds over the years for a Military Fire Badge as he wanted Ou Yangming to be successful, and Ou Yangming acquired the Military Fire Seed.”
Xiong Gaoan was stunned. He commented enviously, “That fella’s quite lucky.”
Ou Yangming was not related to Old Craftsman at all, but they coincidentally clicked with each other and were closer than a grandfather and a grandson who were blood-related.
This was also why Xiong Gaoan spoke to Ou Yangming nicely. If another helper were to act so rashly, he would have sent him to be caned.
“Hehe, it’s not necessarily good luck!” Kang Weibo sneered. “Sir Zhang found out about it, and he put an obstacle in the way as he wanted someone else to take the place instead. Ou Yangming agreed at first, but he broke his promise when it was time for him to decide, and he accepted the Military Fire Badge’s legacy.”
“Ah.” Xiong Gaoan was dumbfounded. “That, that… Sir Zhang?”
Kang Weibo responded, “Which Sir Zhang can it be if it’s not that one?”
Xiong Gaoan felt uneasy. “Sir, if that’s the case, the order from the Provision Camp is probably not as simple as it seems. What should we do?”
Kang Weibo sighed. “The Provision Camp is our superior, but Old Craftsman isn’t one to be messed with. Moreover, he has been getting a lot of attention because General Chen recently asked him to smith a weapon. If we make things difficult for him, General Chen will definitely chop our heads off to warn the others.”
Xiong Gaoan shrunk his neck as a chill went down, which gave him goosebumps.
“Forget it, guard the depot strictly, and don’t open it unless it’s really necessary. I’ll go visit Old Craftsman to check out the situation,” Kang Weibo said as he stood up as he said.
Xiong Gaoan sighed after Kang Weibo left. In a fight between celestial beings, things were especially difficult for little devils like them who were stuck in the middle.
Kang Weibo arrived at Old Craftsman’s smithing workshop with a smile on his face and noticed that the old man was making gestures at a staff. He hesitated for a while before knocking on the door.
When Old Craftsman opened the door and saw him, he smiled. “Sir Kang, why are you here?”
Since Kang Weibo was the Armament Camp’s supervisor, Old Craftsman was under him in terms of their rank, so he greeted him politely. Nonetheless, the politeness was only on the surface because Old Craftsman did not intend to invite him inside.
Kang Weibo smiled bitterly as he asked, “Old Craftsman, are you lacking materials lately?”
“What?” Old Craftsman was stunned.
“Ou Yangming went to the depot earlier to ask for some featured iron ingots,” Kang Weibo explained quickly, then sighed. “It would’ve been a small matter half a month ago, but Sir Zhang from the Provision Camp has just ordered the Armament Camp to reduce our expenses…”
“Oh, was it Zhang Yinfan who gave the order?” Old Craftsman asked calmly.
“Yes, it was Sir Zhang, but don’t worry.” Kang Weibo nodded right away, then stuck his chest out like he was ready to go through thick and thin with the old man. “Your expenses won’t be reduced at all, and I’ll prepare everything for you no matter how hard it is, even if I’ll have to give up my post as an official in the Armament Camp.”
Old Craftsman could not help but laugh. He was not a 3-year-old child, so he obviously did not believe the nonsense.
Due to his many experiences in life, he instantly understood Kang Weibo’s purpose of visiting.
He chuckled. “Sir Kang, I understand. Mm, if that young fella asks to withdraw materials from the depot in the future, you don’t have to charge it to my account.”
Kang Weibo was startled. “Oh, Old Craftsman, please don’t misunderstand, I’m not asking you not to withdraw materials anymore. Alright, alright, I’ll let my men open the depot for Ou Yangming if he goes there again, is that okay?”
He thought that Old Craftsman was being sarcastic. Normally, although he could not do anything against the unruly old man, he did not fear him.
However, Old Craftsman was close to General Chen Yifan and had the responsibility of smithing a weapon for the general, so Kang Weibo dared not offend him during this crucial time.
If Old Craftsman were to complain about him to General Chen, he would be in serious trouble.
After all, General Chen Yifan was more powerful than Zhang Yinfan.
Old Craftsman laughed out loud. “Sir Kang, you really misunderstood me, I meant what I said. If the young fella really goes to the depot to withdraw materials in the future, it has nothing to do with me.”
Kang Weibo was stunned. When he noticed that Old Craftsman was neither faking it nor showing signs of anger, he wondered why.
“Old Craftsman, I don’t understand what you mean…” He asked carefully, “Are you asking us to reject him when he asks to retrieve materials for you?”
“Take a guess?” Old Craftsman winked mysteriously.
Kang Weibo’s face darkened a little. ‘Take a guess? Take a guess my *ss! How can you wink when you’re already so old? Why aren’t you blind!’
Needless to say, he did not have the courage to voice it out, so he smiled bitterly instead. “Old Craftsman, I’ve been providing you with everything you need all these years, and I’m sure that my hard work should be recognized even if they’re not commendable. Tell me the truth, what do you really mean?”
Old Craftsman cleared his throat. Since his nominal senior officer had put it that way, he could not hide things from him anymore.
“Sir Kang, perhaps you already know that I exchanged my meritorious deeds for Ou Yangming to obtain a Military Fire Seed.”
Kang Weibo’s face changed a little as he was shocked. “Old Craftsman, are you sayin
g that Little Brother… Ouyang stimulated the Military Fire successfully?”
Upon realizing that, he began to feel uneasy, and even changed the way he addressed Ou Yangming.
Old Craftsman shook his head. “You’re wrong.”
Kang Weibo almost choked on his own breath. He inhaled deeply before he responded, “Okay, I understand. I’ll order my men to not bother him if he asks to retrieve materials again.”
He addressed Ou Yangming by his name again as soon as he knew that the young fellow had not activated the Military Fire.
Old Craftsman still had a smile on his face. He then took a military saber from the smithing workshop to show it to Kang Weibo. “Oh, Sir Kang, let me show you something.”
Kang Weibo studied the saber for a while by using a bit of his essential Qi. His face glowed. “An Attribute Military Saber.”
“Yes, this is an Attribute Military Saber at the peak of Good Grade.”
“Old Craftsman, congratulations, it’ll be recorded on the Merits Record. Ah, can this saber be stored in the depot?”
“Sadly, I didn’t smith the saber, so I don’t have the right to decide,” Old Craftsman replied when he saw the eager look on Kang Weibo’s face.
“It wasn’t you?” Kang Weibo was surprised. “Who did it then?”
Old Craftsman winked mysteriously again, and responded casually, “Take a guess…”
Chapter 23
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Kang Weibo’s face changed. If he still could not make the right guess, his years of being an official were simply wasted.
However, the answer he had in mind was truly shocking, and he was in disbelief. After hesitating for a while, he answered, “Old Craftsman, if I’m not mistaken, it has only been less than two months since Little Brother Ouyang obtained the Military Fire Seed, right?”
Old Craftsman replied, “It has almost been two months.”
Kang Weibo had a strange look on his face. “Oh, two months. According to what I know, a person can’t normally stimulate the Military Fire successfully!”
Immortal Path to Heaven c1-725 Page 14
