"Do you want to know my Force Signiums?" Elder Solon noticed Ezio's awe when the latter saw his Force Signiums.
"Yes, they are looking really strong." Ezio was fascinated with the Signiums. They were endless and each one of them had a different ability. One could only guess their uses by looking at them or by feeling.
"My first signium is Thousand-Years Forger. It is a constellate type of signium. I can use it to increase the success rate by 25 percent, and decrease the impurities by 25 percent. Unfortunately, the percentages aren't cumulative.
The second one is Starforger's Hammer. Increase my success by 10 percent, decrease the impurities by 10 percent when I hammer, and also increase my aptitude in forging. These two are from the second curtain.
The last one is from the third curtain. Its name is Yellow Witch's Forging Cauldron. Allows me to heat a forging furnace without a real flame, and also increases my success when I am using the metals I melted in this cauldron. Decreases the impurities by 10 percent, and increases my aptitude in forging." Elder Solon explained patiently.
"What is the constellate type of signium? This is my first time hearing it?" Ezio couldn't help but ask. He was foreign to the term.
"It is a type of signium that allows you to increase your chances in an occupation. For example, when I use the Thousand-Years Forger, the Signium increases my chance, strength, focus, and forging ability. I can also use it in fights to increase my speed, defense, and strength. But it is costlier than normal Signiums." Elder Solon explained again.
Normal Signiums such as Tian Yan's bestowed mastery over weapons or an element. But the Thousand-Years Forger didn't give any mastery. It only increased Elder Solon's ability in forging. Constellate Signiums or Occupation Signiums weren't for battles. Although some such Signiums still bestowed abilities that could be used in fights, they were usually preferred by cultivators that wanted to master at occupations.
"Now, let's start. Several factors determine the grade of the weapon namely; Quality of the material, forging technique, and Qi or Mana Force infused while forging. There are also Force Signiums that can help with occupations, such as Signiums I have, help me to forge. Some signiums can help you to tame beasts, which would allow you to be a better Beast Tamer. Some other signiums can help you to cultivate plants more efficiently, which would make you a better Botanist.
But what most of the forger doesn't know is that some special fires can help in the forging process more than all previous steps combined." Elder Solon said and raised his right hand. In his open palm started a yellow fire. It was burning beautifully in his hand. "Master Blacksmiths and Alchemists seek for Mystic Fires to help in their occupations. But they are rarer than hen's teeth. You can only find them but not seek them." Elder Solon summarized as he added several other materials into the cauldron while he was explaining.
Ezio immediately thought of the Seventh Wind of the Golden Roc, when he saw the fire burning in Elder Solon's hand. "Elder Solon, are there only special fires? Are there any special waters, or winds?" Ezio asked after he calmed himself.
"Of course there are. Every element has its Mystic creations. Even though the main elements are easier to find, there are Mystic creations for even dark and light elements. I never even heard of anyone possessing them, but I heard of their existence. But nobody easily reveals these kinds of things." Elder Solon admitted, but his last sentence moved Ezio.
"I promise to keep your secret Elder Solon," Ezio said resolutely. Elder Solon didn't even hesitate before showing his Mystic Fire to Ezio.
"I already trust you will. Now, the metal has already melted. It is time to hammer it. Because I am not familiar with dagger forging, I will use a mold. But true masters never use a mold." Elder Solon said and fished out a dozen molds. They were all daggers but of different sizes and shapes.
Ezio looked at all of them and pointed to one that was a little bit curved. It looked like a wolf fang. It was not thicker than two fingers, and only 16 cm long. It was the best choice to use it with The Azure Wolf King's Ultimate Fang.
"It looks like the Pristine Iron is more than enough for the dagger, how about I forge you a couple throwing knives with the leftovers?"
"I thank you in advance, Elder Solon."
"No worries." Elder Solon poured the melted Pristine Iron into the mold and left it to solidify for a few seconds, then started to hammer it. While he was hammering, Ezio could see some black spots surfacing in the melted metal, and dissolving into the air.
When the dagger was thinner and there were no more black spots that could be spotted, Elder Solon flared his third Force Signium, Thousand-Years Forger. All of a sudden, the speed of the hammering, and the power of each swing rose dramatically.
"Hundred Swings of the Crafter!"
In a mere minute, Elder Solon hammered the dagger a hundred times. Without waiting for a second, Elder Solon dipped the hot metal into the cold water nearby. His hand was grabbing the hot dagger without a flinch on his face.
After quenching, it was time for hammering again. It was to make the dagger stronger and minimize the formation of unintended inclinations which might lead to cracking.
After arduous two hours, Elder Solon finished the hilt of the dagger and a black leather scabbard. The dagger was looking majestic. The Pristine Iron was shinier and more beautiful than regular iron. The gray sheen was giving it an intimidating aura. It was just like a wolf fang.
"I love it." Ezio couldn't help but say.
"I am glad you like it. To think with my best, I was only able to forge a quasi-Viscount Grade weapon. At least it is an Advanced tier. I still have a long way to go, though." Elder Solon handed the dagger and said downcastly.
There were four different tiers in each rank. Namely; low, intermediate, advanced, and the pinnacle.
"A Quasi-Viscount? And advanced tier at that!" Ezio on the other hand dropped his jaw. The Baron Grade weapon was enough to make Elders go crazy with jealousy. If they knew Ezio had a Quasi-Viscount Grade Dagger, wouldn't they rob him in bright daylight?
"I don't always use my Mystic Fire when I am forging. Using it takes a heavy toll." Elder Solon really looked weary.
After grabbing his new dagger and two throwing knives, Ezio left Elder Solon's Forge. He offered money for his service but Elder Solon refused it. To thank him, Ezio told him about Fire Tiger's Cave and the Fire Iron ores in the cave. The Cave was much more valuable than the dagger Elder forged for him, but Elder Solon did it without expecting anything in return. It was much more valuable than gold.
It was almost dark when Ezio returned to his hut. He collapsed on his mattress and fell asleep. He wasn't exhausted. After all, he didn't do much when he was in the forest. But he was running for a whole day now, and it still wore him down.
He woke up before dawn the next morning. He was planning to cultivate for the day. He went into the Mysterious Room to take the pills Elder Jie gifted to him. But he couldn't find them anywhere. He was about to leave the room to search for the hut, he noticed there was a fire burning in one of the windows.
Ezio walked to the windows and read the name at the top.
"Creation Room."
"The room was dark like the Dimension Room. But one corner was lit, and an avatar of him wearing an apron with many pockets in front of it was standing in front of a cauldron. There was a case filled with vials and herbs. Some of the herbs were dangling from the ceiling. There was also some other alchemy equipment around the avatar.
The avatar was holding two pieces of pills. Looking closer, Ezio noticed they were the pills Elder Jie gifted to him.
"Such a low tier Blood Qi Pills," Avatar spoke with disdain. "Full of impurities."
"Hello, you must be Alchemist Ezio. I am, um, Ezio. Nice to make your acquaintance." Ezio greeted awkwardly.
"Hello, Main. I cannot stand seeing you eat these, so I force awaken myself." Alchemist Ezio said as his focus was still on the pills, his lips were curled with disdain. "Even though this backward sect is a low tier, these pills are the lowest quality. Since you can't make it any better, I can at least clear their impurities."
"You can do that?" Ezio was surprised and asked.
"Of course. I can also make some pills if you learn or let me learn some of the alchemy techniques, provided that you supply the materials." Alchemist Ezio said, patting his chest.
"How can I let you learn alchemy techniques?" Ezio caught the information given to him.
"I knew the Main was smart. With a sentence of mine, you already grabbed the main point." Alchemist Ezio said with a smile. Looking at Ezio for the first time. "If you lend me the manual for alchemy I can study and learn them.
Anything I learn by myself will also be learned by you and vice versa. But when you give me a manual, you can't use it until I master it, you can't even take it away from me. So be aware of that. But for clearing impurities, I don't need any techniques. Just give me the pill before you consume them, and I will clear them for you."
***
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