The family banquet was a lively affair where host and guest enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Under Ye Wenxi's gentle guidance, Zhao Liuyun gradually opened his heart and shared his past.
The core of his story emphasized two points: gratitude and a steadfast will.
Zhao Liuyun was not stingy with his secrets either, openly sharing the "key" behind his rapid cultivation speed.
"It is simple to say, but it all comes down to two words: 'Focus'!"
He took great pride in this, his eyes shimmering with the characteristic excitement of a youth. A young man should have the spirit of a young man; occasional sincerity and frankness made him appear more genuine. Someone with too much calculation and depth is rarely liked by others.
Zhao Liuyun straightened his back, his voice clear and bright. "My innate soul power was only Level 5; I cannot compare to those true geniuses."
"But I have never accepted that as my fate. I have always believed that as long as one's will remains unshaken, there will come a day when I, too, can step upon the peak."
In a fantasy world, belief itself is a form of power. Even if it isn't as overt as in some idealistic worlds, the Douluo Continent had Ji Juechen, who proved this point with an innate level of only 3.
"Therefore, when I study, I focus entirely on studying. When I meditate, I have no stray thoughts, discarding all distractions. My will is highly concentrated, so my cultivation naturally advances by leaps and bounds."
The fundamental reason was his [Focus] divine power. However, attributing his high soul power density to a determined will rather than innate talent was far more likely to win people's favor.
"Good child!" Ye Wenxi praised him before turning to his granddaughter, shaking his head with a trace of helplessness.
"Unlike this girl, she is seven years old and only at Level 8. She spends all day acting like a baby who hasn't grown up!"
Zhao Liuyun did not join in the criticism. Instead, he spoke warmly in her defense.
"Miss Lingsi has a carefree nature. Born into a great clan like the Ye family, she does not have to be like me—having no choice but to cultivate."
"People who mature early often stagnate later. Precocious maturity is not necessarily a blessing. If one's disposition has flaws, it becomes even harder to truly grow up."
"Having a carefree childhood allows for the nurturing of a complete and open mind. This is the foundation of a great family's long-standing legacy."
"Brother Liuyun is right!" Ye Lingsi clapped her hands happily, jumping with joy. "I just want to play happily every day. Cultivation can wait until later!"
Ye Wenxi was slightly stunned by these words. He couldn't help but look at Zhao Liuyun with even greater respect. Not only was the boy's will resilient, but his insight far exceeded that of his peers.
He was indeed a good seedling worth cultivating. Hopefully, he would pass the test.
...
In the days that followed, things proceeded exactly as Ye Wenxi had said.
Zhao Liuyun did not need to worry about any trivial matters. Every morning, he performed physical training to strengthen his body. In the afternoon, with just a word, someone would prepare a steaming medicinal bath for him. The medicinal liquid was gentle and long-lasting, like spring rain nourishing the earth, quietly rejuvenating his weary body. In the evenings, he only needed to focus on meditation.
Except...
His [Physician] experience had stagnated.
After all, this was only one of the Ye family's primary selection sites for medicinal herbs. Ye Wenxi was a Level 60-plus Healing System Soul Emperor; any injury that required his intervention was extremely severe. There was no place for a guest with a Control System martial soul like Zhao Liuyun to step in and help.
Furthermore, books were scarce here. Whether it was medical texts, miscellaneous records, or other classics, they were almost nowhere to be found. Even if Ye Wenxi was willing to help, he couldn't, because they simply weren't there—the only things available were Ye Lingsi's elementary reading primers.
Zhao Liuyun dismissed the idea of asking him to arrange a purchase and began to consider the idea of changing to another profession.
He never stopped practicing his Purple Demon Eyes, but he freed up his morning physical training time. He used this time to wander around this Soul Hunting Town for a few rounds, getting a clear picture of the general situation.
Afterward, Zhao Liuyun weighed his physical fitness against potential dangers and silently set a goal.
The Star Dou Great Forest was far too ancient and full of hidden masters. Its upper limits were far beyond what a Soul Hunting Forest could offer. The risks of being a [Mercenary] were too great for a mere Level 20 Soul Grandmaster like him.
After several rounds of consideration, he finally settled on [Blacksmith].
Currently, they were still called blacksmiths, mostly just forging weapons and armor to scrape a living. In the past, Zhao Liuyun's body had been weak, and he couldn't hold a hammer for long. Now that his body was strong and his skills like "Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon" and "Mysterious Jade Hand" were improving daily, his interest was piqued again.
Blacksmiths forged iron all day. Holding a forging hammer weighing several pounds, a dozen pounds, or even more for an entire day naturally resulted in a physique that wasn't weak. It was very likely to grant a physical-related trait.
As for other things...
Zhao Liuyun had no specific demands for skills. If it turned out to be a good skill, that would naturally be for the best.
After informing the maid, Xiao Hong, he strolled out of the pharmacy.
He walked through streets and alleys, finally stopping in front of a small blacksmith shop on the edge of town. It looked dilapidated on the outside, but inside, the furnace fire blazed fiercely. The rhythmic clanging of iron echoed constantly, sparks flew everywhere, and waves of heat rolled toward him.
"Old Man Huo, I'm back. Teach me how to forge," Zhao Liuyun called out loudly.
Among the several people working hard at the forge was a man with a thin frame, solid muscles, and blue veins coiling around his arms. His name was Huo Zhen, his martial soul was the Blazing Violent Ape, and he was a Level 40-plus Soul Ancestor.
He had a strange temper, but his forging skills were truly excellent. His movements were as fluid as flowing water; the iron tools took shape rapidly under his hammer. The rhythmic sounds and movements intertwined, faintly revealing a beauty born of the fusion of strength and skill.
The first time he asked, he had been flatly rejected. This time, Zhao Liuyun simply handed over a hundred Gold Soul Coins as a master-recognition gift.
Money opens the way, a universal truth in all worlds.
Old Man Huo glanced at the shiny Gold Soul Coins and said strangely, "You look so fair and tender, yet you say you don't want money. I originally thought you were some bored noble young master coming here to amuse yourself at my expense."
The "fair and tender" skin was a result of the medicinal baths. He hadn't expected that in others' eyes, it would become a symbol of nobility.
Zhao Liuyun couldn't help but laugh. "What pampered young master would be so foolish as to crawl into a place like this, where iron filings fly everywhere and it's as hot as a steamer?"
"That's true enough." Old Man Huo immersed a freshly forged spearhead into oil for quenching before reaching out to light a tobacco pipe from the charcoal fire. "Forging is exhausting and bitter work. How much money can one even make?"
Amidst the swirling smoke, he squinted as he sized up Zhao Liuyun. "You are still young; I imagine you are a talented Soul Master. Do you really want to come to my place to learn to be a blacksmith with no future?"
He still hadn't reached out to take the gold coins.
Zhao Liuyun did not respond to the former comment, but he had an answer for the question regarding the "blacksmith" profession.
His eyes were bright with confidence. "I believe that all things are interconnected, and the path of a Soul Master is not a single narrow bridge. With my talent, I will surely be able to comprehend a path of my own from this."
"In this world, he who achieves is the master. As long as you, Old Man Huo, are willing to teach, I will learn everything."
"Heh... the fantasies of a talented young Soul Master. You certainly talk a good game." Old Man Huo reached out dismissively. "Fine, I will teach you."
Gaining insight into the Dao of Soul Masters through external means? Such a person is hard to come by even in several hundred years!
Setting his professional goal to [Blacksmith] in his mind, Zhao Liuyun handed over the money. "Then I will come here every day during the morning to learn."
Returning in the afternoon would be just in time for a medicinal bath to relieve his physical fatigue.
Old Man Huo nodded without saying much. He asked directly, "What have you learned?"
"I haven't learned anything."
Nuoding Academy was a school for Soul Masters; how could the library possibly have books explaining how to forge?
"Then we shall start by familiarizing you with the properties of metals." Huo Zhen handed Zhao Liuyun a somewhat old forging hammer.
It wasn't heavy, weighing only about five pounds. The wooden handle served to reduce vibration, preventing hand injuries.
"The types of metal in the Soul Master world are numerous. Since you are a beginner, you will start with ordinary pig iron."
He used tongs to pull out a glowing red piece of pig iron and placed it in the center of the anvil.
Huo Zhen instructed, "Your task today is to first swing the hammer a thousand times. Use your body and your arms to feel and remember the changes occurring in the iron block."
"Yes, Teacher," Zhao Liuyun answered solemnly, concentrating fully on the instructions.
"I will teach you how to strike. First, your stance must be stable!"
In proper forging, one certainly wouldn't follow the "Cloak of Chaos Hammer Method" like Tang San—talking about "three hearts," failing to control the iron's position, and focusing on using momentum to spin in circles.
Clang!
A hammer fell, and a few sparks flew from the scorching iron block.
Huo Zhen continued to demonstrate the standing posture and hammer-gripping technique. "Keep your waist and back straight. When you swing the hammer, the force must originate from the waist and be channeled into the tip of the hammer..."