Master craftsman Lin saw that as Lu Qing's heavy hammer slammed down...
Under immense force, the red-hot iron bar, sparking everywhere, was squeezed and collapsed, turning into an iron disc.
Then Lu Qing folded it up and hammered it down again, turning it into an iron disc once more.
And so, Lu Qing continued hammering away, one blow after another.
The iron bar was easily flattened by him, just like dough.
But Master Lin and his apprentices knew that it wasn't that the iron bar was as soft as dough, but rather that Lu Qing's strength was truly astonishing.
Each hammer blow could easily flatten the iron bar.
Most importantly, Master Lin and the others noticed that Lu Qing didn't just use brute force to smash down.
Instead, each hammer blow contains various variations, just reaching the limit of the iron bar, squeezing out the impurities inside, without using too much force and breaking it.
"One hammer blow at a time? How is that possible?"
Watching Lu Qing wield the heavy hammer with effortless ease, forging one blow after another, the old craftsman Lin was already stunned, muttering to himself in a daze.
My heart was filled with indescribable shock.
He never imagined that forging iron blanks could be done like this.
Each hammer blow was a forging process; such incredible forging skills were something even the most skilled blacksmiths he had ever seen could not achieve.
But to his surprise, it actually happened right in front of him.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
In the backyard of Zhuxin Workshop, Lu Qing kept swinging his heavy hammer. With each strike, the immense force of the impact shook the entire backyard.
Everyone who witnessed this powerful and beautiful scene was mesmerized.
Even Chief Steward Wei was no exception.
Because of his higher cultivation level, he could better appreciate just how terrifying Lu Qing's hammer technique was.
He estimated that even with his mastery of the Inner Organ Realm, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand more than a few blows from Lu Qing.
And so, Lu Qing continued to train for more than an hour, seemingly without fatigue.
Suddenly, he sensed something and realized something, so he stopped folding and forging, and began to shape the iron bar in his hand.
Gradually, the iron bar in his hand changed its shape and began to take on the form of a sword.
when!
With another hammer blow, sparks flew, and Lu Qing finally stopped forging, placing the shaped sword blank in his hand into the cool water.
laugh!
Amidst the misty haze, Lu Qing took out the sword blank and examined it intently.
A rich red light emerged from the sword embryo.
【Thousand-Refined Sword Embryo: A sword embryo formed through repeated folding and forging, reaching the thousand-refinement level.】
【Only through repeated forging can a weapon be perfected; a sword embryo of the Thousand Forging level already possesses the potential to become a magical artifact.】
【Due to limitations in the material, this sword blank has reached its limit; further forging and folding will not improve its quality.】
really.
After reading the information about the sword embryo, Lu Qing understood.
He had already noticed it when he was forging it earlier.
It was clear that the iron bar had reached its limit, and there was no point in continuing to fold and forge it.
It seems that ordinary iron is ultimately just ordinary iron, and its quality cannot be improved by endless folding and forging.
The "thousand-refinement" level is already the limit of quality for these iron bars.
"Young Master Lu, may I have the honor of seeing this sword prototype?"
At this moment, Master Lin asked in a trembling voice.
His eyes were full of hope.
"Of course."
Lu Qing casually handed the sword blank in his hand to the old craftsman.
Master craftsman Lin respectfully accepted the sword blank with both hands and examined it carefully.
This time, his disciples also disregarded the master-disciple etiquette and all gathered around to examine the sword prototype.
The sword blank that Lu Qing forged this time was slightly smaller than the previous one because he had completely removed the impurities from it.
Of course, this was not something that Master Lin and his apprentices paid attention to.
They immediately began to examine the patterns on the sword blank.
Then, when you see the incredibly detailed texture.
Master craftsman Lin trembled violently: "These patterns... they really are a thousand-refined treasure embryo! This sword embryo has already reached the thousand-refining level!"
"Master, have you truly reached the Thousand Refinements level?"
The disciples had never seen refined iron of the thousand-times-refined level before, and upon hearing this, they were equally shocked.
"No mistake, the fine lines are like scales, this is the mark of a thousand-refined treasure embryo!"
Hearing their master's absolutely certain tone, all the disciples were in an uproar.
They all huddled together, staring fervently at the sword blank, wishing their eyes were glued to it.
For a blacksmith, to be able to see ironware of the highest quality is a great honor!
Master craftsman Lin held the sword blank, his lips trembling slightly as he looked at Lu Qing.
In fact, he had some idea of the quality of this sword blank beforehand.
After all, he had watched Lu Qing forge the sword blank from beginning to end, and although he didn't count how many times it was folded and forged, he had a general idea.
But precisely because of this, he was even more shaken when he actually saw the patterns on the sword blank that marked the level of a thousand refinements.
The forging skills that Lu Qing displayed when he forged this sword blank were truly breathtaking.
The technique of forging with a single hammer blow—such a miraculous method—actually exists!
Master craftsman Lin had never met a master forging expert, so he didn't know the extent of such a master's forging skills.
But he was certain that Lu Qing's forging skills, putting aside everything else, were probably no less than any master forging expert in the forging process alone!
"A thousand-refined treasure embryo?"
Even Chief Steward Wei couldn't help but slightly open his mouth.
He didn't expect that Lu Qing would actually forge a sword embryo of the Thousand Refinement level.
You should know that even the Wei family doesn't have many swords like this in their collection.
"Young Master Lu, thank you for bestowing this treasure upon me."
Master craftsman Lin presented the sword blank to Lu Qing with a respectful expression.
He looked as respectful as an apprentice facing a master craftsman.
"It's just a sword blank, Master Lin, there's no need to be so serious," Lu Qing said with a smile, without accepting the sword. "I happen to have something I'd like to ask for your help with."
"Young Master Lu, please speak. I will do my utmost to help as long as it is within my power!" Master Lin hurriedly said.
"It's nothing major, just about this sword blank. I'd like to ask the old craftsman to help me make it into a longsword."
A good friend of mine has a joyous occasion in a few days, and I would like to give him this sword as a congratulatory gift. Would that be acceptable?
“That’s no problem, but why doesn’t Young Master Lu do it himself?” Master Lin asked with some confusion.
"To be honest, old craftsman, I only have some understanding of forging. I am quite unfamiliar with other casting techniques and cannot compare with your rich experience."
To forge a perfect sword, it takes more than just forging a blank.
There are still processes to follow, such as inlaying, polishing, and sharpening, which Lu Qing is not familiar with.
"I see. Don't worry, Young Master Lu, this old man will certainly live up to your expectations and make this precious sword!"
Master craftsman Lin was somewhat excited. Being able to personally forge a thousand-times-refined sword was an unprecedented experience for him.
However, after the initial excitement, he suddenly remembered something.
"But Young Master Lu, didn't you say before that you came here to borrow the furnace to forge a weapon for yourself? Could it be that this sword blank isn't forging one for yourself?"
"My weapon isn't in a hurry yet," Lu Qing shook his head.
"I came here this time just to hone my forging skills. After I have gathered the materials, I am afraid I will have to bother the old craftsman again."
