Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 56 - 54: Entry Assessment, 50-Refine Weapon

Chapter 56: Chapter 54: Entry Assessment, 50-Refine Weapon

Applying for a blacksmith?

The man turned around to scrutinize the young boy thoroughly, thinking he must have misheard, "Blacksmith?"

"That’s right."

The man was deeply skeptical, although the boy was tall and looked somewhat strong, his face seemed young, at most sixteen or seventeen.

Forging is not something you can fake; it’s the real skills hammered out blow by blow. Many apprentices spend three to five years doing odd jobs, and without ten years of practice, they probably can’t even forge a twenty-refined weapon.

But since the Forging Workshop is open for business and the notice was posted at the end of last year, the man couldn’t refuse directly and ruin their reputation. Anyway, everyone needs to be tested before joining the workshop, so let him have a go.

"Alright, since you’re persistent, come with me." The man had no choice but to impatiently lead the boy into the Forging Workshop.

Whoosh, whoosh!

As they passed the forging rooms, the raging flames were visible, and the surrounding temperature noticeably rose by more than ten degrees. Dozens of shirtless blacksmiths were sweating heavily, with sparks flying as their hammers rose and fell, resembling fireflies dancing.

The collective forging rooms were bustling with activity, yet the boy was attracted by five secluded bluish-stone forging rooms deeper inside. Three of them, with plaques bearing ’Cold Pool’, ’Cyan Blade’, and ’Xuan Iron’, resounded with the clanging of forging, while the other two unmarked rooms were silent.

"Those are the private forging rooms of the three Master Blacksmiths." Seeing Su Mu pause, the guide explained, "Our Forging Workshop has a heritage over a hundred years. The first Workshop Master set up five independent forging rooms for Entry Level Blacksmiths, and the second Workshop Master assigned three of them to the three most skilled Master Blacksmiths, leaving the other two to inspire future generations."

Establishing five private forging rooms at its peak!

The boy was amazed. Setting up five means there should have been five Master Blacksmiths capable of crafting Grade-Entering Weapons during the workshop’s heyday.

At the same time, a thought arose in Su Mu’s mind.

He would need to forge a spear in the future, and having such a private forging room would save a lot of trouble and be much more convenient.

With this in mind, Su Mu set a small goal for himself: to first secure one private forging room.

"Master Chen, this person..."

Soon, the man led Su Mu to a room stacked with iron materials. An elderly, lean, swarthy but muscular man glanced at the two and immediately showed impatience, interrupting.

"Get lost! I’m here to assess blacksmiths, Wu Ning, why did you bring a child here?"

"I’m already annoyed enough that out of the last group of a dozen applicants, only one was qualified."

After a scolding, the guide’s face flushed a bit, "Master Chen, this kid is here to apply for the blacksmith position; it’s the Workshop Master’s decision..."

After the man Wu Ning mentioned the Workshop Master, the elder gave Su Mu a proper look, "Kid, pick up that forging hammer and let me see a few strikes."

Wu Ning’s face showed anticipation as he heard those words. This brat caused him to get scolded by Master Chen, and now he’s bound to make a fool of himself.

The hammer Master Chen referred to weighed fifty-three pounds, not something an ordinary person could handle easily.

"Okay."

The boy accepted without hesitation and walked directly to the forging platform. When Su Mu grasped the hammer, the elder’s impatient eyes slightly changed.

Whoosh.

As the hammer was swung down, there was a rush of wind, followed by a heavy slam.

Clang!

A crisp and ear-piercing metallic sound instantly erupted.

"Alright, kid, you’ve got some promise, but let me tell you this: our Forging Workshop has strict standards. Before you can officially join, you need to independently forge a weapon within a month; an apprentice standard is ten-refined or twenty-refined."

"As for the standard for a formal blacksmith, it’s to forge a fifty-refined weapon alone. Given your youth, if you can forge a thirty-refined one, I might put in a good word for you with the Workshop Master."

At this point, Wu Ning, who was expecting a good show, was shocked. He only saw that this kid had some strength, but couldn’t understand why Su Mu earned such high regard from Master Chen Yuntian, who was one of the three current Master Blacksmiths in the workshop.

Su Mu’s forging skill had reached perfection, so it was no surprise that this hammer stroke caught Chen Yuntian’s attention.

"Alright, I’ll leave it to you, Master Chen, to arrange."

"Wu Ning, take this boy to the forging room." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Wherever there are blacksmiths, there is a fiery temperament, so Wu Ning swiftly led Su Mu to a collective forging room where many people were busy forging weapons.

Seeing Wu Ning bring a new person, they all cast curious glances, but when their eyes landed on Su Mu, they showed the same contempt Wu Ning had earlier.

These people were all applicants for the blacksmith position.

"This forging furnace and platform are now yours. I will have enough materials for a fifty-refined weapon sent over. Do you need someone to handle the fire?"

"Sure, thanks."

Soon after, an apprentice around Su Mu’s age arrived, initially surprised to see him, then helplessly sighed, realizing that his time here might be wasted.

The apprentice’s reaction didn’t bother Su Mu.

"Is this Red Copper Ore?"

Su Mu’s eyes lit up upon seeing two baskets of dark red ore. Merging Red Copper with Refined Iron in specific proportions can significantly enhance the metal’s strength and folding limit, allowing for the crafting of higher-quality blade weapons.

Noticing Su Mu intently staring at the commonly found Red Copper Ore, the apprentice could only feel more resigned.

"A fifty-refined weapon as the standard... Let’s see my current forging limits!"

Su Mu’s heart itched with excitement. Back when he was in the iron shop in Qingshui Town, his forging skills were restrained by the tools and materials there. Now, he finally has the chance to put his skills to the test.

Su Mu immediately crossed his arms and pulled off his clothes, revealing a fit physique. As he used the tongs to pick up the ore, his muscles shifted powerfully, and the apprentice felt the mild-mannered boy’s demeanor change completely.

Clang!

The first resounding strike woke the apprentice from his daze, only to be stunned again by Su Mu’s hammering, as swift and intense as a storm. Even the other blacksmith applicants in the forging room were greatly surprised.

"The furnace isn’t hot enough, put more effort into it."

"Ah, yes!"

The apprentice’s earlier contempt vanished in a short time, and he became more restrained in front of Su Mu, realizing that in blacksmithing, respect comes from true skill, not seniority.

Watching the hammer dance on the platform and hearing the clear, pleasing metallic sounds, the apprentice quietly swallowed.

"So strong, this new master seems as good as, or even better than, the seasoned blacksmiths!"

Outside the forging room, Chen Yuntian observed everything, showing surprise and appreciation in his eyes.

"Good kid, I underestimated him."

A person outside may just see the spectacle, but those inside can discern the craft. With Chen Yuntian’s expertise, he could tell this newcomer had remarkable talent just from his forging skills.

Clang, clang, clang!

Time quietly passed with the sound of hammering, and by the end of the day, the apprentice was thoroughly impressed by Su Mu.

"Close the furnace, close the furnace!"

Several calls came from outside, signaling it was time to close the forge. Master Chen, who had been observing, entered the forging room, "Weapons aren’t forged in a day. That’s it for today, let’s all rest up."

The metallic clanging inside the forging room gradually ceased. As Su Mu set down his hammer, the apprentice approached, "I’ll handle this. My name is Xiaozheng."

Chen Yuntian called out to Su Mu from outside the forging room, "Hey kid, can we talk for a bit?"

Strolling through the workshop, Chen Yuntian came straight to the point, "Kid, you have abundant qi power; have you trained in martial arts before?"

"Yes, I’ve trained a bit."

"Martial arts are good; you need a strong body to do this work. Our Workshop Master himself is skilled in martial arts... Well, it’s late, you should get some rest."

Watching the boy leave, the elder stroked his beard, knowing some things are best left unsaid, waiting for young people to discover for themselves.

"Anyway, this kid isn’t going anywhere, there’s plenty of time."

...