If they were not certain that the metal was black steel, they would suspect if the material was secretly substituted by iron ingot. In spite of that, even ordinary iron ingot could not be melted so easily, could it?
Since Jin Shengjie had witnessed Ou Yangming’s Military Fire’s ability, he was able to accept the outcome calmly though he was also shocked. On the contrary, Wu Hongxi and Tan Yangping, who were watching this for the first time, were stupefied.
The master and the apprentice exchanged glances and shut their mouths. In addition, there was a subtle change in the way they looked at Ou Yangming.
“This young fella is truly quite special.’
In actuality, Yuan Lexin did note that Ou Yangming’s Military Fire was out of the ordinary, but the listeners and he were drawn by the fact that the young fellow could smith a full set of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five. As such, the fire’s other properties were briefly mentioned, causing them to be shocked at this moment.
Ou Yangming was unquestionably the most familiar with military sabers, but just as he wanted to smith a saber with the black steel, a longsword’s image crossed his mind.
It was the weapon that he saw when he first entered Wu Hongxi’s residence, and it was at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five.
Subconsciously, Ou Yangming kept changing the black steel’s shape, and the material was transformed into a sharp longsword. While the Military Fire continued to burn, Ou Yangming noticed the black steel and featured steel were not much different. In a way, the black steel’s properties were better than featured steel, and greater pieces of equipment could be smithed if black steel was used.
Once the longsword took form, the Military Fire clearly displayed its properties.
[Item: Extraordinary longsword]
(Equivalent Rank: Ordinary Tool, Fine Grade, Rank Four]
[Attributes: Sharpness +19, Toughness +19, Durability 20]
By using the same smithing technique, the same energy, and the same concentration, the longsword arrived at Fine Grade Rank Four and had 19 Points of Sharpness and Toughness each. Most importantly, it has 20 Points of Durability, which was the peak for Fine Grade.
Ou Yangming took a deep breath, and his eyes glowed in an unusual light.
“S’IL
It was true that black steel’s quality was inferior to the peculiar stone’s, but it was indeed much better than featured steel. No wonder Wu Hongxi and his people gave up using featured steel; the best material had to be used to smith a magic tool.
Nonetheless, while the longsword’s attributes were great, Ou Yangming still felt like something was lacking. A thought crossed his mind, and he attached the shining purple lights in his mind to the weapon.
Next, cold lights circulated around the longsword. While they could not be clearly seen due to the Military Fire, they could be spotted by the naked eye. The eyes of Jin Shengjie and the other people lit up. They naturally noticed the abnormality, thus they wondered, ‘Could this be the unique technique that allowed Ou Yangming to continuously smith pieces of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five?’
Ou Yangming focused on his Military Fire once more. After he added 1 Point of Sharpness and Toughness each, the longsword became a perfect Fine Grade weapon.
Subsequently, the young fellow turned his wrist and curbed the fire.
“Senior, please give me some pointers.” Ou Yangming smiled.
He placed the longsword on the casting table and took a step back.
Unknowingly, everyone in the room began to slow down or simply stopped smithing.
They were astonished and shocked, which was evident that they were subdued by Ou Yangming’s peculiar Military Fire.
was
The young fellow melted black steel like he was melting ordinary iron ingot; his Military Fire was never seen before nor heard of!
Wu Hongxi looked deeply at Ou Yangming and remarked, “You’re truly amazing to have finished so quickly!”
Given that he had such a reputable status, it was rare to see him praise someone openly.
The faces of the Advanced Blacksmiths beside the casting table changed. They had just been reminded that not only did Ou Yangming melted the black steel with ease, but his smithing speed was also phenomenal.
If they had carried out the same process instead, they would need at least half an hour to smith a weapon by using featured steel, let alone black steel.
After all, the longsword was the most important weapon among pieces of Fine Grade equipment!
‘What about Ou Yangming?’ ‘He didn’t even spend… 8 minutes, did he?’
The other people looked pale upon thinking about that, to the extent that they had an illusion that they had just seen a ghost.
[1] Author made a typo on the type of steel. We’ve corrected it from the context
Chapter 275 - The Path Of Equilibrium
As Wu Hongxi gently picked up the treasure sword on the casting table, he nodded at Ou Yangming before he studied the weapon.
Although he had not appraised the sword’s grade and rank, he regarded Ou Yangming differently and treated the young fellow with a dissimilar attitude.
What was heard might be false, but what was seen was true.
After witnessing Ou Yangming’s peculiar Military Fire, Wu Hongxi acknowledged the other rumors to a particular level. Putting aside everything else, he knew for sure that he could not smith a piece of Fine Grade equipment in such a short time. Even though Wu Hongxi was known as the Fine Grade King because most of the equipment that he smithed was at the peak of Fine Grade, he had to pay a certain price for it. Time—the special technique that he used required him to use much more time than his peers.
Needless to say, Wu Hongxi could tolerate the tiny flaw if he wanted to pursue superb and perfect qualities. Besides, countless people were envious of his unique ability, but no matter how other people tried to imitate him, they made themselves look like fools and gained nothing because they copied him blindly.
Therefore, when Wu Hongxi envied Ou Yangming, who was able to melt black steel quickly and successfully smithed a piece of equipment with it.
Master Wu scanned the longsword and slowly moved his fingers along the blade. A grave yet strange expression was seen on his face. He later looked deeply at Ou Yangming, then he handed the longsword to Tan Yangping, who had been waiting anxiously.
Tan Yangming was not a Superior Blacksmith, but his skills were infinitely approaching that standard. He accepted the longsword and inspected it carefully for some time before his face changed. He asked softly, “This is… The peak of Fine Grade Rank Five?”
He was not an appraiser, after all, hence he was not completely sure though he had the feeling.
Nonetheless, everyone else became extremely interested after hearing what he said. In particular, the Advanced Blacksmiths who were in charge of the casting tables gathered round.
Among them, a few of them were close to Tan Yangping, so they simply took the longsword and appraised it one after another.
Wu Hongxi did not stop them. The blacksmiths had pending tasks, but they were clueless about how they could complete them. They had been worn out from working hard for more than a month, so it was a great choice to let them take the opportunity to relax.
Ou Yangming quietly took a few steps back to make some space.
As the people browsed through the longsword, exclamations and praises filled the air.
Everyone who appraised the weapon confirmed that it was definitely a piece of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five.
One person could have sensed it wrongly, but it was impossible for all the blacksmiths to sense it wrongly.
A piece of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five was not a big deal for Superior Blacksmiths because they had smithed many pieces of equal-ranked equipment. Nevertheless, if they were asked to smith it in a specified time, they would unlikely accomplish the task.
Therefore, when everyone else noticed the time
spent by Ou Yangming, they developed a stronger admiration for him.
“Lil’ Friend Ou, your technique is… Strange indeed.” Wu Hongxi stared at the longsword for some time after it was returned to him at last. He furrowed his eyebrows and commented, “The Layering Technique-so this is your Layering Technique.”
He shook his head and passed the longsword to Jin Shengjie. “Big Brother Jin, his technique is somewhat similar to the Layering Art that you’re adept in.”
Jin Shengjie accepted the longsword and gently touched the blade. He stated, “I witnessed five similar pieces of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five yesterday. Hehe, his smithing technique is very much different from yours, but in terms of efficiency only, he seems to be superior.”
Many of the other blacksmiths had an incredibly odd look on their faces. ‘How dare someone speak to Master Wu Hongxi like that? Even if they’re on the same rank, he shouldn’t be so direct.’
Despite that, Wu Hongxi did not seem to be furious at all. Instead, he nodded and commented, “That’s right, it’s true if we’re only talking about the efficiency of smithing a piece of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five, but…” He slightly dragged out the word and added, “My Equilibrium Art has plenty of potential left to be uncovered; in a long term, equilibrium is the orthodox method!”
Jin Shengjie could not help but laugh. “You and your stubbornness… Ah, did you forget about the natural moat?”
Wu Hongxi was stunned, and his face took on a ghastly expression. He sighed. “If the world’s barrier isn’t present, and we’re able to easily smith magic tools with the smithing art…” He mumbled and seemed to be in a daze.
Master Jin clapped his hands and remarked, “Stop having wishful thinking. Lil’ Friend Ou has shown off his skills, so aren’t you going to present your specialty too?”
Wu Hongxi shook his head and sighed, then he curbed his thought and asked Ou Yangming, “Lil’ Friend Ou, your smithing technique is probably related to your Military Fire, am I right?”
Ou Yangming’s heart sank, but he kept a straight face and answered, “That’s right!” “You Military Fire has a unique power that allows you to layer attributes on a piece of equipment layer by layer. The more powerful you are, the more obvious the layering process’ result. Hehe, it’s my first time seeing such a bizarre Military Fire,” Wu Hongxi noted as he smiled with narrowed eyes.
Ou Yangming sighed a breath of relief, but he dared not underestimate the Superior Blacksmith anymore.
‘He’s truly unmatched as a sharp-eyed person,’ he thought.
Following that, Wu Hongxi reached out for another metal and said, “You probably know I’m adept in smithing pieces of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five, but my technique is slightly different from yours. I call it… The Equilibrium Art.”
He spoke slower, but he immediately went to work as his Military Fire burned and wrapped the metal ore.
The metal melted bit by bit and eventually took the form of a longsword.
Wu Hongxi wanted to smith the same weapon as Ou Yangming did just now.
However, Ou Yangming’s eyes lit up. He stared at the Military Fire in Wu Hongxi’s hands, and he began to breathe heavier than before.
The path of equilibrium—so this is the path of equilibrium,’ he wondered.
Under Wu Hongxi’s control, the longsword took form and slowly solidified. Throughout the process, whether it was the Military Fire’s intensity, the ore’s melting speed, or the longsword’s solidifying speed, they achieved a wonderful equilibrium state.
Wu Hongxi was smithing a longsword but from Ou Yangming’s perspective, he seemed to be watching a huge yet beautiful art being presented in front of him.
It was no longer an ordinary smithing process as it was transformed by Wu Hongxi into a marvelous art. Moreover, it seemed like any form of disturbance during the process would be as unbearable as profanity.
Ou Yangming was enlightened for the first time that smithing art could be used in this way, and it could also become… Magnificent.
Wu Hongxi exhaled deeply after half an hour, then he turned his wrist to curb the Military Fire.
It was at that instant that loud exhales filled the air almost at the same time.
Ou Yangming turned to look in shock and realized that most people were dazed, and they seemed to have not come back to their senses yet.
He instantly understood that he was not the only one who was affected by the marvelous smithing art; everyone else present was attracted too.
Wu Hongxi later placed the longsword on the casting table. “Lil’ Friend Ou, please.”
Before Ou Yangming could reach out for it, Jin Shengjie sighed. “Brother Wu, I truly salute you. Each time you smith, it’s a rare and enjoyable moment!”
“Big Brother Jin, your Layering Art isn’t inferior to my skill at all.” Wu Hongxi humbled himself.
“It obviously isn’t poorer than yours in terms of difficulty, but from a spectator’s point of view, it’s far less enjoyable,” Jin Shengjie responded helplessly as he shook his head. He continued after a pause, “Among the elders, you’re the only one who fathomed the integration of Heaven and man. Hehe, if you’re able to advance further, perhaps you’ll really be able to produce a magic tool!” Ou Yangming was starting to feel deeply moved.
The integration of Heaven and man—that was the real conduct of the integration of Heaven and man in the smithing path.
Ou Yangming had previously displayed the integration of Heaven and man in martial arts and the smithing art.
That said, in terms of the state’s utilization and performance standard only, the young fellow was inferior to Wu Hongxi. Even if he had a deeper understanding of nature, at the very least, he was still lacking in the state.
When Ou Yangming slowly picked up the longsword on the casting table, he could confirm without releasing the Military Fire that it was a mighty piece of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five.
Furthermore, Wu Hongxi had evidently smithed the longsword with special care, thus it seemed perfect to everyone. It was as if one could comprehend the integration of Heaven and man through the weapon. Of course, Ou Yangming could notice some hints because he already possessed the ability. The other people would only think that the longsword was exceedingly perfect, but they could not identify what made it so perfect. Wu Hongxi beamed. “Lil’ Friend Ou, what do you think?”
They performed different smithing techniques but arrived at the same outcome. If Ou Yangming’s technique was said to have exhibited the beauty of power without constraint, Wu Hongxi’s technique was an exquisite demonstration of perfection.
“Senior, your skill is god-like, and I truly admire you.” Ou Yangming pondered for a while before he decided to kowtow to Wu Hongxi. He later looked up and expressed seriously, “I’d like to learn the path of equilibrium, so please allow me to do so.”
Chapter 276 - Ice-cold Military Fire
“What? You want to learn the path of equilibrium?” Wu Hongxi was stunned.
“Yes. Senior, your path of equilibrium is the truth and the way, so I must learn from you if I’d like to advance further in smithing art.” Ou Yangming nodded seriously and did not look like he was joking at all.
Wu Hongxi and the other people looked at each other as they found it funny.
Although Ou Yangming was only an Advanced Blacksmith, he successfully smithed a longsword at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five using black steel, and he completed the task at an unbelievable speed in front of everyone. As such, the other proud Advanced Blacksmiths present became more compliant. They respected Ou Yangming because of his skills.
Perhaps they also regarded Ou Yangming to be on par with Jin Shengjie and Wu Hongxi, such that they thought he was qualified to be a Superior Blacksmith too.
Nonetheless, they suddenly heard Ou Yangming humble himself in front of Wu Hongxi, where he admitted defeat and even requested to learn Master Wu’s lost study.
If the same scenario took place between two martial arts powerhouse, it would seem like one was conceding defeat in front of the other martial artist.
Everyone exchanged glances as they were confused; they would never do something like that if they were as capable as Ou Yangming. After all, Wu Hongxi did not emerge victorious in this smithing challenge.
Even if Wu Hongxi’s longsword seemed perfect, Ou Yangming used black steel and smithed much faster than Wu Hongxi did.
Jin Shengjie kept quiet for some time before he suddenly asked, “Brother Wu, you became a Superior Blacksmith 30 years ago, am I
right?”
Wu Hongxi was startled because he did not understand why Jin Shengjie brought up the matter, but he still responded, “Yes, it was 30 years ago…”
“Ah, it feels like it was just yesterday. If I hadn’t witnessed you smith a full set of equipment at the peak of Fine Grade Rank Five during the assessment, I would’ve never believed that someone can achieve that in this world.” Jin Shengjie sighed.
Ses
“Big Brother Jin, you’re overpraising me. Besides…” Wu Hongxi smiled bitterly and glanced at Ou Yangming. “The younger generation will surpass the older!”
Jin Shengjie laughed out loud. “You should say that you now have a worthy successor.”
Wu Hongxi was slightly dumbfounded. He pondered and said, “Big Brother Jin, you’re saying…”
Master Jin nodded. “We take in disciples because we want our greatest skills to be passed on so that they won’t vanish. You’ve accepted many disciples over the years, but how many of them can inherit your skills?”
Wu Hongxi glanced at the other people in the room. Other than the Advanced Blacksmiths from the imperial family, the others were his disciples.
Nevertheless, his disciples including Tan Yangping-his first disciple-and Yuan Lexin
– his second disciple-lowered their heads embarrassedly.
They were obviously excellent and talented to be able to become Wu Hongxi’s disciples; in fact, a few of them were especially fit to learn the path of equilibrium. Unfortunately, as said by Jin Shengjie, after all these years, none of them imitated at least 50% of Master Wu, let alone having perfectly inherited the master’s skills.
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