by Zhuang Bifan
It had to be the appearance…
However, this decent man looked a little disconcerted. Lin Li could find five bruises on his bronze complexion that seemed to be left behind by a woman's slap due to its slenderness…
"Hoyer, help me…" Upon entering the blacksmith shop, the man looked around frantically with no sense of composure a gentleman should have.
"You bastard…" the old blacksmith chided him in exasperation. Then, he sighed and pointed behind him. "Scram to the back…"
"Okay…" The honest man entered the blacksmith shop and walked towards where the old blacksmith pointed to immediately as if it were his own house.
"Crack…"
After pushing on one of the bricks, a secret passageway appeared.
"Thanks, Old Hoyer!" the middle-aged man said as he lowered himself and sneaked into it.
"Scram!" the old man replied in anger; the pipe in his hands almost dropped.
Right after the honest man left, a hot and s.e.xy female adventurer stopped by the blacksmith shop. One of her arms rested on her h.i.p.s as she pointed at the old blacksmith with another. "Old Hoyer, did that darn hooligan come here to hide?"
Lin Li did not know what grievances the female adventurer suffered for her face to turn so red in fury. Amidst the big breaths she drew, the mountains on her c.h.e.s.t rose and fell.
Only after the old blacksmith puffed out a mouth of smoke from his pipe did he open his eyes groggily to ask, "What hooligan are you referring to? I didn't see any…"
"Is he really not here?"
The tone of the female adventurer became less harsh. Since the blacksmith shop was not huge and had a simple interior, any human would know there would be no place for any man to hide. After all, the shop only had a pile of metals, the old blacksmith's recliner, and a desk near the entrance…
"If you want to, you can come in and search…"
Perhaps due to the wariness toward Old Hoyer, although the female adventurer did not really believe his words, she did not enter the shop. After standing at the entrance in rage and looking into the shop suspiciously for awhile, she left unwillingly. She was still in rage when she left, and… the mountains on her c.h.e.s.t moved as usual.
The old blacksmith sighed as he shouted into the secret passageway, "You can come out now…"
"Thanks, Old Hoyer, I will treat you to a meal next time," the honest man replied, and came out of hiding after hearing that the coast was clear. He had a dignified expression and solemn aura, none of the unsettledness like before.
"What did you do this time…?"
"I noticed that her b.o.o.b.s were exceptionally huge and wanted to see if they were fake. Who knew I exerted too much force when I pinched them. Damn, she not only gave me a tight slap, but also chased me here. Need to be more careful next time…" the middle-aged man responded with much righteousness.
What an honest man…
He was filled with righteousness even when talking about touching women's b.r.e.a.s.ts. Despite being able to concentrate on his hammering previously, Lin Li could not help but lose the focus that he nearly hit his b.r.e.a.s.ts— err, hands.
At that moment, it was as though Lin Li could see the black vertical lines born of speechlessness on the old blacksmith's forehead.
"Eh…" After replying, the middle-aged man saw Lin Li outside.
Under Lin Li's rapid and rhythmic hammering, the iron embryo turned into a thin sheet of metal on the working desk once more.
"Old Hoyer, who's that child…?" the middle-aged man inquired casually, but his words stopped when he saw what Lin Li was doing. He exclaimed, "Hundred-Folds Forging Technique!"
"You're right…" The old blacksmith's gaze was still fixed on the hammer in Lin Li's hand.
"Your disciple?"
"I don't have that honor…"
"Then what is he doing?"
"That interesting fella made a bet with me. He said he could create a dual-attributed magical weapon."
"Dual-attributed?" The middle-aged man glimpsed the anvil, and gasped. "With a normal piece of iron embryo?"
"That's right."
"That fella is indeed interesting…"
When the two men talked, Lin Li had already created 20 layers within the metal, and was molding the metal into a dagger now. Actually, if he was willing to, he could increase the total number of layers to a hundred. However, it was meaningless to do so as 20 layers were enough for the dagger to tolerate the dual-attribute force. Furthermore, why should he tire himself in something he was not going to be paid for?
While the dagger was still red, Lin Li reached into his pocket for a bottle of navy sand. While hammering the dagger with one hand, he lifted the cork stopper of the bottle with his teeth. Then, Lin Li gently poured a layer of navy sand over the red dagger…
The navy sand melted the instant it came into contact with heat, emitting a faint magical wave that filled the blacksmith shop.
After all these, Lin Li could finally take a breather. Then, he took his staff and pointed it at the bucket of water beside the furnace. What followed the rapid recitation was vapor that rose from the water bucket. The cold water within it turned into floating ice instantaneously.
Subsequently, Lin Li picked up the dagger with metal pincers and dropped it into the bucket gently.
"Szzz…" Mist filled the blacksmith shop.
The old blacksmith was stunned upon seeing the mist.
"How did it get quenched by that single layer of navy sand?" the confused blacksmith muttered as he stared at Lin Li skeptically. "Does he intent to coat the dagger with just a layer of martensite?"
"That's weird…" mumbled the middle-aged man beside him suspiciously.
While the two men were occupied with their doubts, Lin Li had finished the last act of quenching. When he picked up the dagger that had been cooled with the pincers again, he did not rush to pass it to the old blacksmith. Instead, he reached into his pocket once more, and took out a crystal pen. After dipping it into the navy sand, he drew a few strokes on the dagger.
"Here's the dual-attributed magical weapon you wanted."
"Dual-attributed?" the old blacksmith asked in a daze.
The middle-aged man beside them asked in astonishment, "The Ward of Bad Luck?"
"Yes."
Lin Li nodded his head calmly, but his 'yes' was like a clap of thunder that boomed from the top of the head of the middle-aged man. He stared at Lin Li in shock as if he had just met a ghost…
"You could use the Hundred-Folds Forging Technique to build the structure of the Ward of Bad Luck?!" The voice of the middle-aged man trembled.
Chapter 165 - Unintended Luck
The honest man gasped, while the old blacksmith snatched the dagger. His movement was quick and stealthy, without a hint of senility. Compared to his listless expression before, it was as though he was another person.
When he held the dagger, the old blacksmith understood everything at once.
It was neither sharpened nor polished, and had an extremely rough surface. Yet, the sky-blue veins on it were utterly clear and defined.
Since the old man was one of the top blacksmith in Alanna, he realized the reason just with one look at the markings.
Genius… he's a true genius.
Other than that word, Old Hoyer could not think of anything else to describe Lin Li.
It was those veins on the dagger that made it so precious.
Coating a weapon with navy sand after forging it was a very natural action for it to have a martensitic property. However, it was the same navy sand that made the process a profound one.
While giving the weapon a martensitic quality, the navy sand would also seep through the markings on it. Since the positions of these markings were carefully calculated to form the outline of the Ward of Badluck, a few more strokes, and it would turn into an authentic one…
The old blacksmith looked at the dagger in his hands, and then at the young mage. All of a sudden, it was as if he felt the hi
gh heat from that dagger…
"Master Hoyer, when do you wish to collect that batch of minerals from Eternal Adamantine?" Lin Li asked with a smile as he brushed off the astonishment of the two men casually.
To be honest, Lin Li played a small trick in the forging process.
After all, that was a normal piece of iron embryo. Even if it underwent the Hundred-Folds Forging Technique, it would still be an ordinary iron embryo. It was too troublesome to use it to create a dual-attributed magical weapon. Although Lin Li could do it, he wouldn't want to waste his energy on it. Hence, he made use of the markings left behind by the Hundred-Folds Forging Technique by adding the navy sand that would permeate through it to construct a Ward of Badluck.
With one Ward of Badluck, and one with martensitic properties, he fulfilled the requirements of creating a dual-attributed magical weapon.
"Eternal Adamantine?" Before the old blacksmith could reply, the middle-aged man interrupted. He glimpsed at the old man distastefully, and complained, "Old dude, you are too selfish. We have known each other for so many years! How could you not tell me that you have gotten ahold of the Eternal Adamantine? Do you have any conscience or morals?
"Shut up!" the old blacksmith barked as he glared at him. Then, he pointed at Lin Li, and said, "I don't have any with me now. You can look for him instead since you have what he needs too."
"What do I have…?"
"The skin of Fire Salamandrids. Didn't you give me a few sheets if it the last time?"
"The skin of Fire Salamandrids?" The middle-aged man grinned, and stopped pestering the old man. He went up to Lin Li with a smile beaming with passion, and asked, "Young man, do you want to exchange Eternal Adamantine for Fire Salamandrids' skins?
Lin Li was uncomfortable due to the middle-aged man's sudden friendliness. He went two steps backwards cautiously. After pulling a little distance away from him, he nodded his head in a daze and replied, "Yes, I do…"
"That's great!" The middle-aged man reached a hand out to Lin Li, and introduced himself politely, "Hey young man, I'm Azalez. Nice to meet you."
"Azalez?" The moment the middle-aged man ended his speech, Elijah nearly jumped. With an expression filled with fright, and a pair of eyes opened as wide as a bull's, he stared at the middle-aged man blankly and stuttered, "H-h-he… he's Azalez?"
"Yeah, that's the pervert."
"…"
Azalez's name was not only familiar to Elijah—even Lin Li had heard countless people mention him.
He was a legend.
In the recent 100 years, there were two Legendary-level Warriors from Alanna. One was the level-21 Sword Sage of the Storm—Al'Akir, the only one in charge of Alanna's Adventurers Guild.
The other man was Azalez. As a noble, he entered the army when he was just 16 years old. After serving Felan Kingdom passionately for 20-odd years, he attained numerous meritorious military achievements. At 40 years old, he took up the role as the leader of the Sky Knights.
Sky Knights were one of the three imperial guards of Felan Kingdom, and had the best military might. As the leader of the troop, it meant that Azalez was the number one force of the military in Felan Kingdom.
Lin Li glanced at Azalez, and then at the old blacksmith. He got confused for quite a while.
From their conversation with each other, Lin Li had already observed that the middle-aged man and the old blacksmith were no ordinary people.
But, he didn't not except that they were that extraordinary…
The man who gave off an awe-inspiring and righteous vibe was not only a perverted fella, but also a legendary level-21 warrior—the leader of the Sky Knights, Azalez!
A pervert as the leader of the Sky Knights.
That old blacksmith, Hoyer, must be something too…
"This… Mr. Azalez, how should we do the exchange?"
"If you are willing," Azalez continued after hesitating for a moment, "I could give you all 10 sheets of Fire Salamandrids' skins. If that's not enough, I could go and find more for you. But you'd better give me 20 ingots of Eternal Adamantine. I need to create a set of armor, and it would be troublesome if I have a shortage of that…"
"No problem, 10 is enough." Lin Li agreed upon the transaction swiftly after thinking about it.
Frankly speaking, even a child could tell Azalez extreme desperation for the Eternal Adamantine; not only did he not mind giving up 10 sheets of skin, he was also prepared to help Lin Li find more of them.
If Lin Li wanted to bargain with him, he could make use of this loophole to demand more—not only 10 sheets, but perhaps 20 or 30 of them too.
Yet, Lin Li did not think there was a need to do so.
From his perspective, Fire Salamandrids were not excellent material for armors. Without their strong resistance against fire element, they would not have much significance. The only reason for Lin Li to use it was because he needed to go Fire Plume Ridge to harvest ingredients for potions.
Considering Sean's body size, two sets of armor could definitely be created from 10 sheets of Fire Salamandrids' skin.
One should not waste effort on meaningless tasks.
"Let's go, let's go… I'll will pass it to you now," Azalez urged as he pulled Lin Li off impatiently once the deal had been set.
Before Lin Li left, he reminded Elijah, "Oh, yes. Elijah, come to the Guild of Magic tomorrow. I will give you your rewards."
"Yes, Mr. Felic."
After Lin Li left the blacksmith shop, he visited the fat bandit. He wanted to buy a Thunder Eaglet for research.
If not for fat bandit's reminder, he would have forgotten the need to tame magical beasts.
When he was still at the Endless World, he battled in a high-difficulty mission as a hunter. Although he did not complete that mission, he remembered some techniques in taming. They were not any ordinary taming methods. If Lin Li were to follow the instructions religiously, he would be able to tame a level-10 magical beast.
But, for his skills as a Hunter then, the ability to tame was not important at all. Even if he could train a level-10 magical beast, it would not be able to survive the attack from the Stars of Fury.
So, Lin Li did not pay much attention to that matter then.
Yet as he transmigrated as a mage, these taming tips became extremely valuable.
The body of a mage was too weak. Lin Li felt like he was walking on tightrope in almost every battle. Especially when he was at the Shadowglen, Lin Li had the fear that any slight mistakes would doom him eternally.
If he had a powerful pet, how would the low-level creatures like Skeletal Warriors of at most level-10 be any trouble to them? One pet would be enough to wipe all of the Skeletal Warriors out without the use of magic. They would only need to sit there and enjoy the show…
Mages had pets too. They were known as Familiars.
It was a level-15 spell to summon a Familiar from another dimension.
Yet these types of Familiars were usually not equipped with battle skills.
Apart from high intelligence, they were no different from cats and dogs.
Most of the times like this, mages would treat the Familiars as their personal assistants.
For example, Lin Li saw Gerian summon his Familiar during his few-months' stay in Jarrosus. They were at the potion room that day, and the Familiar was summoned to help the busy Gerian pick up a few test tubes.
Were there any Familiars that were to be used for battles? Yes, there were. But… there were too few of them.
In 10 mages, there might not be one with the ability to summon a Familiar.
Hence, Lin Li really valued the taming techniques a lot. Since he had been a super hunter, he knew how to instruct his pets to do chores very well. He knew better than anyone else the best time to order the pets to help them kill their enemies or create destruction.
If he were to succeed in taming any level-10 magical beast, his capability in battling would be raised by a level.
The knowledge of taming, however, wa
s different from that of potions. Lin Li was uncertain if the knowledge would be effective in Anril. Thus, he decided to attempt it with a Thunder Eaglet…
Chapter 166 - Trouble's Huge
Who knew that when Lin Li arrived, the fat man was nowhere to be found. Judging from the empty metal cage on the ground, it seemed that he did not even have the time to pack them when he left in a hurry.
Standing at the corner of the street, Lin Li could not help but feel odd.
He only took less than an hour from the time he'd entered the blacksmith shop and exited from it with Azalez. How did the fat bandit disappear in such a short amount of time?
"Little fella, you wanted to look for Shaun?" Azalez sounded as though he frequented the black market as well. From how Lin Li stood at the corner of the streets, he already guessed whom he wanted to look for.
"Yes, Mr. Azalez. Do you know him?"
"Of course I do! That bastard sells the offspring of magical beasts here every day—I don't know how many have been deceived by him already. He's going to be caught and brought by the garrison of Alanna to the dungeons one day!"
The middle-aged man chided the fat bandit righteously, forgetting that he was no different from him. From how he molested female adventurers every day, he might gain even more hatred from the people.
"…"
"But, this fella got some skills… He could actually get ahold of so many magical beasts' offspring," the middle-aged man finally remarked objectively after criticizing the fat bandit.
"Actually…" Lin Li nodded, and asked in suspicion, "Mr. Azalez, does Shaun always run off after agreeing on a transaction?"
"Of course." The middle-aged man laughed gloatingly. "What do you think he does?"
Hearing that, Lin Li understood everything.
That fat bandit was a conman.
Conning was a dangerous profession—one could get into trouble any time. Now that he did not even have time to keep his metal cage, it might mean that someone was after him…
"You need to find him?"
