A night passed.
In the early morning, Zhou Changqing slowly opened his eyes in his bedroom. The faint but vibrant morning sunlight shone into his pupils, reflecting a sharp glint of light. Although he had cultivated for an entire night without rest, his handsome face showed no trace of fatigue. On the contrary, he was full of energy.
Haaa...
Awesome!
Clenching his fists, Zhou Changqing felt a strength that was several times greater than before. He couldn't help but let out a long, triumphant cry!
Before he had a cultivation method, the attributeless Dou Qi of a Dou Zhe was already more than ten times stronger than Dou Zhi Qi. However, it was still considerably weaker than the attribute-based Dou Qi one gained after practicing a cultivation method.
If his past self were to face his current self, he was confident he could win within ten rounds!
Of course, that was only in comparison to himself. Compared to the disciples of major clans and sects, his foundation was still far too shallow.
To say nothing of those more distant, just consider Xiao Yan. If Xiao Yan broke through to the Dou Zhe stage, even if his Flame Mantra started at the low-level Huang Rank, Zhou Changqing would still be no match for him, given the various Dou Techniques Xiao Yan had mastered.
A cultivation method is the root of one's Qi, while Dou Techniques are its application. To bring out his full potential, he would have to learn Dou Techniques.
But Zhou Changqing believed that Dou Techniques would come, as would the necessary resources. After all, he had already overcome the most difficult step: acquiring a cultivation method.
Glancing at the sky outside, Zhou Changqing decided against continuing his cultivation. He got out of bed and walked over to a cabinet on the left, beginning to rummage through it.
A moment later, a thick book was in his hands.
Written on the cover were several large characters: A Feasible Conjecture on Item Crafting.
Gazing at the book, Zhou Changqing's expression grew distant for a moment as his thoughts drifted back to the past.
His family had been blacksmiths for generations. Before discovering Zhou Changqing's talent, his adoptive father, Zhou Cai, had always hoped that he would inherit the family trade. Thus, when Zhou Changqing was only three or four, Zhou Cai began to nurture him, often having the boy watch him forge and teaching him the ways of the blacksmith.
This continued even after Zhou Changqing displayed his astonishing cultivation talent. Whether he pursued the craft later in life or not, his father believed it was always good to have a trade to fall back on.
Under Zhou Cai's constant guidance, Zhou Changqing naturally developed a keen interest in forging. As a transmigrator, his way of thinking was wild and imaginative. Being in a fantasy world like the Dou Qi Continent, he was naturally filled with countless ideas.
For example, why was it that only alchemists were so incredibly revered on the Dou Qi Continent, while other professions like item crafting, talisman making, and formation arts remained so underdeveloped? In the xianxia and xuanhuan worlds he knew, these four—alchemy, crafting, talismans, and formations—were known as the pillars of auxiliary arts, holding unparalleled importance on the path of cultivation.
Could it be because the Dou Qi Continent had heavenly treasures like the Heavenly Flames to assist in alchemy?
Zhou Changqing thought not. The history of alchemists was not necessarily shorter than the history of the Heavenly Flames' discovery.
He figured it was like a technology tree. Alchemy was the first to be discovered on the Dou Qi Continent, and after people witnessed the miraculous effects of medicinal pills, the profession became wildly popular. In this great wave, all the talented individuals on the continent scrambled to become alchemists. After generations of research and development, the profession reached its current glorious state.
Meanwhile, the other arts had not yet formed a systematic practice. Even when they began to take shape later, their growth was suppressed by the overwhelming mainstream of alchemy, leading to their neglect and difficult development.
Over countless years, the idea that alchemy reigned supreme had become ingrained in people's minds. It was much like in ages past, when the belief that kings ruled by divine mandate was etched into the minds of the people, impossible to challenge.
And so, an idea had appeared in the young Zhou Changqing's mind: was there any potential in the item crafting industry?
Having transmigrated to the Dou Qi Continent, it would be a lie to say he didn't want to become an alchemist. But at the time, he wasn't sure what his elemental affinity was or if he even had the talent for it. So, as a child, he had considered delving into item crafting if alchemy wasn't an option.
It wasn't until he was nine, after breaking through to the ninth stage of Dou Zhi Qi and having his adoptive parents test his affinity, that the idea of item crafting was formally integrated into his future plans, taking root in his mind.
His family was ordinary, and he had no special cheat or advantage. To become a strong cultivator, Zhou Changqing knew he would have to earn his own resources. If he could truly achieve something in the field of item crafting, it would make acquiring those resources much easier, even if it wasn't as profitable as alchemy.
Back then, he had neither school nor work to attend to. Outside of cultivation, he had plenty of free time. Since he was idle anyway, and the world had few forms of entertainment, he decided to research item crafting just to pass the time.
If he failed, there was nothing to lose. But if he actually managed to figure something out, the rewards would be immense.
With this mindset, aside from the six months of depression following the death of his adoptive parents, Zhou Changqing had spent his spare time organizing his thoughts. He combined the knowledge from his past life with the blacksmithing skills taught by his adoptive father and began to explore the art of item crafting. Countless ideas and inspirations flashed through his mind during this time, which he recorded, organized, and compiled into a single volume.
Thus, A Feasible Conjecture on Item Crafting was born.
Now that his Dou Qi had fully converted to its attribute, he finally had the means to test the conjectures within. It was time to give it a try.
With that thought, Zhou Changqing took the book and walked into the courtyard.
...
Clang! Clang! Clang...
The familiar sound of a hammer striking metal echoed through the small courtyard. After a period of hard work, Zhou Changqing had forged the rough blank of a saber.
He carried the saber blank to a stone table and sat down, placing it before him.
Gazing at the blank, Zhou Changqing held his breath, focused his mind, and began to circulate the Dou Qi within his body. In his Dantian, the gold and silver vortex of Qi began to pulse under his mental guidance, drawing in and expelling Dou Qi.
A stream of silver, lightning-attribute Dou Qi flowed from his Dantian into his meridians, coursing through his entire body. Finally, under his precise control, the Dou Qi gathered in his hands.
At that moment, Zhou Changqing reached out and grasped both ends of the saber blank.
The next second, the lightning-attribute Dou Qi surged from his palms and poured continuously into the metal!
Instantly, a faint silver glow emanated from the saber blank! As he continued to channel his lightning Dou Qi into it, the glow grew brighter and more intense. Faint, almost imperceptible arcs of electricity even began to flicker across the blade's surface!
Thirty minutes later!
Crack!
With a soft, crisp sound, a tiny crack appeared on the surface of the saber blank, so small it was almost unnoticeable.
Seeing this crack, Zhou Changqing ceased his output of Dou Qi, a thoughtful expression on his face.