Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 226 - 160: Ancient Qingzhou, 200 Refined Iron Forgings! (Part 2)

Chapter 226: Chapter 160: Ancient Qingzhou, 200 Refined Iron Forgings! (Part 2)

Five days ago, the Pharmacist’s instructions were twofold: first, do not easily teach the Little Doctor any Martial Arts; second, take the Little Doctor away from Cyan Cloud as soon as possible.

Su Mu secretly let out a sigh of relief, yet he also felt a certain pressure. The Flood Dragon between his brows was surging relentlessly—he had a vague premonition that something was about to happen.

After exchanging a few words with the Little Doctor, Su Mu hurried toward the Forging Workshop.

...

When Great Yan was founded, out of the Thirteen States, only one Protectorate remained. Over a thousand years, the Protectorate was lost; ten states were no more, and the capital was forced to move south multiple times.

Ancient Qingzhou County—the seat governing the thirteen commanderies and a hundred counties of Qingzhou.

"Name?"

"Wang Jiang."

Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau. Jiang Yao put down her recording brush, frowned, and swept her gaze over the richly attired young man before her, noticing the Jade Pendant at his waist—Taiyuan Wang Clan, another Noble Family Descendant.

Recently, quite a few noble families and members of the Great Yan Sects had arrived; the Demon Slayer Bureau, specially established by the Grand Ancestor of Great Yan as a government office to eliminate demons and evil, also handled supervision of local officials.

With so many Noble Family Descendants and Great Yan Sect members gathering in Qing and Yan provinces, the Demon Slayer Bureau naturally took notice.

Jiang Yao—one of the Copper Order Judges of the Qingzhou Demon Slayer Bureau—her plans had thus been disrupted. Originally assigned to go assess a new batch of Golden Order Blade Catchers, Jiang Yao had been redirected due to the arrival of these Noble Sect scions.

"How many in your party?"

"Three people."

Jiang Yao recorded their information; in Qingzhou, ordinary County Magistrates ranged from Junior Seventh Grade Lower to Junior Seventh Grade Upper, Senior Seventh Grade Lower, and Senior Seventh Grade Upper. Normally, that sufficed, but during these special times, all Martial Artists above Fifth Grade entering Qingzhou had to be registered and placed under supervision.

A Martial Artist above Fifth Grade was enough to wreck havoc in an isolated county, even to assassinate a County Magistrate at some cost—let alone these arrogant Noble Family Descendants. The Demon Slayer Bureau of Qingzhou had no choice but to take them seriously.

This meant endless trouble for the many minor officials in Ancient Qingzhou County—Jiang Yao, attached to the Demon Slayer Bureau, was one of them.

Jiang Yao swiftly completed the registration, her gaze sliding past those behind Wang Jiang and lingering on an old man in gray robes. She couldn’t quite see through this one’s cultivation, but judging from his flesh and skin, there were few signs of true tempering—lifeless and sinister; likely not a Martial Artist.

"These coddled Noble Family and Sect brats never come for nothing. Stuffed and idle, now they’ve come to Qingzhou—truly, just here to make trouble for me!"

Naturally, Jiang Yao didn’t voice this but muttered to herself. She didn’t particularly fear these Noble Family Descendants, but neither did she want to offend them lightly. Passing over a Token as a matter of routine, she said coldly:

"You are registered. You may travel within Qingzhou, but do not interfere with county affairs, or you’ll find that the Demon Slayer Bureau’s blade is not without edge."

Elsewhere at the city gate, an old and a young figure strode into Ancient Qingzhou County, then found an inn in the commandery for lodging.

Inside the room, the elegant, jade-faced young lord took out a Bronze Compass etched with complex, arcane Inscriptions, then ran a finger along his thumb.

A drop of blood fell onto the Compass.

A few breaths later.

Buzz!

The Inscriptions on the Compass slowly lit up. The Compass Spoon lying quietly atop began to tremble, swaying and finally pointing in a certain direction.

The youth slowly opened his eyes. After a flash of bloodlight receded from them, delight flashed across his face. Passing the Compass over, he said coolly—

"So they’re hiding in Qingzhou. No wonder they couldn’t be found before. If not for this anomaly, it would’ve taken even more trouble... Roughly several thousand li south. Take the Compass and fetch them."

"Yes, Seventh Young Master."

The old man knelt on one knee, solemnly receiving the Compass, then flickered away from the room.

The youth’s eyes narrowed as he recalled the family’s instructions before departure, a trace of disdain appearing on his proud face. "Hmph. Red Tiger Roaring at the Moon—just another mere Martial Artist."

...

Clang, clang, clang!

In the Hidden Dragon Forging Room by day, the thunderous sound of hammering never stopped. Before the Forging Platform, a bare-chested youth’s hammer danced endlessly in his hand.

Gold Element Divine Skill—Iron Essence Qi!

With each strike, a white radiance wound around the hammer, encompassing a blade of sharp force.

One hundred refinings.

One hundred and twenty refinings.

One hundred and forty refinings!

Another strike fell.

"Wong———"

Gold Element Divine Skill (Small Success 1%)

Comprehension: 93 (Dragon-and-Phoenix Level)

In less than ten days, Su Mu had cultivated this Gold Element Divine Skill to Small Success, mastering the secret art within called "Iron Essence Qi."

The refined Gold Force, circulated according to particular Dharma Gates, could be condensed into Iron Essence Qi and then infused into Blade Soldiers, enhancing both their durability and sharpness.

According to the Cultivation Technique, if this secret technique reached great profundity, ordinary Mortal Soldiers, once infused with Iron Essence Qi, could rival Grade-Entering Treasure Artifacts.

Moreover, Su Mu discovered he could channel Iron Essence Qi into the Forging Hammer to assist in beating the iron billet. As the Grade-Entering Iron Material was folded again and again, its strength increased—but even with the Melting Gold Technique’s help, each subsequent fold became exponentially harder, growing almost geometrically more difficult.

"Iron Essence Qi can make the Forging Hammer sturdier, and when wielded properly, it can hone the iron even further."

In Su Mu’s eyes, the roaring forge-fire flickered—his heart clear in understanding.

Atop the Forging Platform, the iron billet fused from Xuan Iron and Red Iron Essence was dense and robust. As two pieces of Grade-Entering Iron Material were folded and hammered again and again, rough-edged, swirling cloud patterns emerged, casting a faint reddish light.

"One hundred and forty refinings is not enough—continue!"

The Cold Heron Saber he forged before had only one hundred and thirty-five refinings; now, the iron on the Forging Platform had reached one hundred and forty refinings, already surpassing the strength of the Cold Heron Saber.