Lou Gao had been blacksmithing for so many years, yet this was his first time witnessing a forging method like Yun Ming's. A single strike achieved the effect of hundreds of conventional blows; he could only describe it as a divine skill.
In fact, even in later generations, ordinary Forging Masters had to listen to the feedback from within the metal, adjusting the angle and force with every single strike to complete the purification of the metal. Even after forging techniques improved and the number of hammer strikes decreased, they generally wouldn't be reduced to the level of Yun Ming's efficiency—the degree of settling the matter with a single blow. That he could achieve this was purely a benefit brought about by his cultivation.
In his past life, Yun Ming was already a peak powerhouse when he learned forging. His formidable control over power and his Spiritual Power allowed him to quickly master the trade. He didn't need to follow conventional forging methods, listening to metal feedback and adjusting strike by strike. Yun Ming's forging method involved using his Spiritual Power to scan the entire structure of the metal, then using his powerful and exquisite control to strike the core directly, achieving success in one blow. To understand one method is to understand them all; that was likely the principle at play.
Under Lou Gao's intoxicated gaze, Yun Ming raised the Tungsten Copper Hammer in his hand once more and swung it down at the metal block on the forging table.
"BOOM--"
A louder, more resonant sound rang out. The forging hammer brought with it a piercing sonic boom as it struck the iron block, which had shed most of its impurities and turned a faint red on its surface.
Just as before, under Yun Ming's efficient and precise hammer technique, the Hundred Refined Iron Essence was tempered once again. The iron block shrank further as it was squeezed, condensed, compressed, and refined. At the same time, the red light on the iron block gradually disappeared, replaced by clusters of deep, cloud-like patterns.
The changes were not over yet. As this hammer strike from Yun Ming landed, Lou Gao soon heard the iron block emit a sound like a cheer. The silver light blooming from the iron block itself danced like a dragon, shooting up a full three feet and lingering without fading.
Two strikes for Thousand Refinements, achieving First Grade!
Seeing the current state of the iron block, Lou Gao felt his entire being go numb. Although this era lacked the conceptual category of "Thousand Refinements," the metal had already reached that level; Lou Gao himself could forge it. However, he had to rely on the material of the metal itself to do so, and it was nowhere near as effortless as Yun Ming's process, requiring at least an hour of hammering to achieve.
The competition had actually ended right there. Lou Gao only had half the time Yun Ming used to perform his forging; if one were to calculate, it would mean he would have to forge Thousand Refined metal in a single strike. That was the absolute peak of his forging ability, which Lou Gao was completely incapable of, and Yun Ming knew he couldn't do it. But could Yun Ming just win so simply? Absolutely not! Lou Gao's fanaticism for forging had earned his respect, so Yun Ming intended to let Lou Gao catch a glimpse of a new world.
The Tungsten Copper Hammer in Yun Ming's hand was raised and fell for the third time. But this time was different from the previous two. This time, Yun Ming's swing was very slow. There was no sonic boom of a heavy hammer breaking the air, nor the thunderous roar of a heavy hammer hitting the forging table. When it struck the iron block, there was only a crisp, melodious sound.
As the Tungsten Copper Hammer landed on the iron block, a layer of golden Soul Power surged from Yun Ming's body, flowing along the forging hammer and into the iron block.
Yun Ming was performing Spiritual Forging, a forging technique that had yet to appear in this era. So-called Spiritual Forging was the fusion of Life and metal, using one's own Martial Soul as a bridge to bestow life upon the metal.
Thousand Refinements brings spirit, which can grant metal spirituality, but this spirituality is ultimately weak. In such a situation, taking advantage of the moment this spirituality appears, using the Martial Soul as a bridge to communicate and help it shape its life—this was what Yun Ming was doing now.
Spiritual Forging would sublimate the metal, elevating it into another realm.
Using the mind as a hammer, the Martial Soul as a guide, heart and spirit as one, one step to Heaven! Ten Thousand Refinements give birth to spirit.
A strange scene began to unfold. That piece of Thousand Refined iron, which had already shrunk significantly, trembled continuously under Yun Ming's gentle tapping. The silver light erupting from it gradually began to change; layers of cloud patterns rotated gently like a vortex, and its volume shrank naturally on its own, while the silver light emerging from it began to grow increasingly intense.
Finally, the iron block's inner potential accumulated to its peak, and a golden flame of light instantly shot into the sky, rising a full five feet. Even more strangely, the sound of a dragon's roar followed, and within that golden flame, it seemed as if a golden dragon was swimming. The blinding golden light, filled with the fluctuations of the aura of life, gave one an indescribable, strange sensation. It was clearly a living entity, praising its own existence and cheering for its own emergence.
It was born!
Thousand Refinements brings spirit, Ten Thousand Refinements give birth to spirit. Spiritual Forging!
The golden flame lasted for a full ten seconds before gradually fading. Yun Ming sensed the spirituality on the iron block and nodded slightly; the quality was quite good. He withdrew his forging hammer and turned to look at Lou Gao, finding him staring at the forging table with a look of obsession.
At this moment, Lou Gao didn't even have the heart to praise Yun Ming's technique; he had been completely captivated by the Spirit Iron on the forging table.
Although the process was not long, the transformation of the iron block on the forging table from pig iron to Spirit Iron in three strikes by Yun Ming had completely refreshed his understanding of forging.
Originally, Lou Gao thought the limit of metal tempering was Thousand Refinements. After all, even Tang Hao, who had achieved the status of God Craftsman relying on the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul and formidable Soul Power cultivation, could only reach this level. Although he was stronger than him, he had failed to achieve a breakthrough in realm.
Lou Gao had originally felt that he had reached the end of his path in metal tempering, and that any further improvement in blacksmithing skills could only come from design. But now, Yun Ming's three strikes had directly refreshed his perspective.
Throughout the entire forging process, Yun Ming hadn't used Soul Power for the first two strikes, and even the magnitude of Soul Power used for the third strike did not exceed the Soul Ancestor stage. Therefore, metal tempering was far from reaching its limit; it was just that his vision—no, the vision of their entire group of so-called blacksmith masters and God Craftsmen—was too narrow to see the future. Now, having witnessed Yun Ming's actions, he felt as if the clouds had parted to reveal the moon, and everything was clear.
Seeing that Lou Gao was mesmerized, Yun Ming did not disturb him and just waited quietly on the side. People who could reach the pinnacle of an industry would never lack talent. Lou Gao had been immersed in forging for many years, and having now seen the future of the craft, he likely had many realizations. Naturally, Yun Ming would not disturb him at this moment.
One minute, two minutes. Finally, after half an hour, Lou Gao emerged from the state brought on by the Spirit Iron as if waking from a dream.
Seeing Lou Gao wake up with a look of ecstasy still on his face, Yun Ming knew he must have gained something. And when Lou Gao saw Yun Ming waiting silently on the side, he could no longer suppress his emotions. With a "thud," he knelt down, and without waiting for Yun Ming to stop him, he kowtowed in a gesture of extreme piety, calling out loudly.
"Disciple Lou Gao, thank you, Teacher."
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader