"Tianyu!" his father, Lin Zhentian's voice, boomed from outside the door.
Lin Tianyu carefully tucked the Basic Blacksmithing Manual under his bed and stood up. His heart still raced with the excitement of his breakthrough and the system's rewards.
"Coming, Father!" he replied, adjusting his slightly worn robes before opening the creaking door.
Lin Zhentian, the clan leader, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His weathered face, lined with years of hardship, carried an aura of authority. Though he had only reached the 1st Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, his presence still commanded respect—at least within the Lin Clan.
"Tianyu, join me in the main hall," Zhentian said, his tone as stern as ever.
"Yes, Father," Tianyu said, following him down the rickety corridor of the clan's modest residence.
---
The Lin Clan's main hall was a testament to their poverty. The wooden pillars were cracked, the furniture worn, and the decorations minimal. Despite being the clan's seat of power, it paled in comparison to the luxurious halls of even the smallest neighboring clans.
Inside, several clan members were gathered. Lin Jianhong, Tianyu's eldest brother, sat with a cold and aloof expression. At the 5th Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, he was considered the clan's greatest hope. Beside him sat Lin Feng, the second brother, at the 3rd Layer of Foundation Establishment Realm, with a smug grin plastered across his face.
Both brothers glanced at Tianyu with disdain as he entered.
"Why is he here, Father?" Lin Feng said with a sneer. "Isn't it a waste of time to involve someone stuck at the 1st Layer of Qi Refining Realm?"
Tianyu clenched his fists, the mocking tone striking a nerve. He wanted to yell, I've broken through to the 2nd Layer! But he held his tongue.
Lin Zhentian raised a hand, silencing Feng. "The Lin Clan is preparing for the monthly auction in the city. Tianyu, as a member of this clan, you will attend and assist."
"Assist? In what way?" Tianyu asked, his voice steady despite the disdainful stares from his brothers.
"The clan's forging techniques have been lackluster, but we managed to craft a batch of low-grade weapons," Zhentian said. "You will help present them and observe the auction. It's time you learned something useful."
Tianyu nodded, though he knew this was more of a chore than an opportunity.
---
After the meeting, Tianyu returned to his room. He sat cross-legged on his bed, the excitement from his breakthrough still bubbling beneath the surface.
"System, show me my current status," he said.
> [Ding! Displaying host's status.]
---
Host: Lin Tianyu
Cultivation: 2nd Layer of Qi Refining Realm
Profession Mastery:
Blacksmithing: None
Alchemy: None
Beast Taming: None
Physician: None
Formation Mastery: None
Cultivation Teaching: None
System Points: 100
---
"System," he asked, "what's the best way to improve my blacksmithing skills quickly?"
> [Suggestion: Use the rewards from your last mission. Begin studying the Basic Blacksmithing Manual and practice with a low-grade hammer.]
"Low-grade hammer?" Tianyu frowned. "I don't have one."
> [The System Store offers a Beginner Blacksmithing Hammer for 30 System Points. Would you like to purchase it?]
Tianyu pondered for a moment. "Show me the store."
The glowing interface appeared again, this time highlighting items related to blacksmithing.
---
[System Store: Blacksmithing Items]
1. Beginner Blacksmithing Hammer (30 System Points)
A hammer imbued with spiritual energy to assist novice blacksmiths in forging low-grade equipment.
2. Basic Weapon Forging Blueprint (25 System Points)
A blueprint for forging simple weapons such as swords and daggers.
3. Low-Grade Spirit Stones (Pack of 5) (15 System Points)
Spirit stones containing condensed spiritual energy.
4. Basic Blacksmithing Furnace (40 System Points)
A small furnace designed for refining low-grade materials.
5. Low-Grade Ore Pack (20 System Points)
A bundle of low-grade ores used for forging weapons.
---
Tianyu's eyes darted between the items. "System, if I want to craft something simple for practice, what do I need?"
> [Recommendation: Purchase the Beginner Blacksmithing Hammer and Low-Grade Ore Pack. Use the clan's forge for the furnace requirements.]
"Alright, purchase those two," Tianyu said decisively.
> [Purchase successful. Items sent to inventory.]
A faint glow appeared in his room as the hammer and ore pack materialized before him. The hammer was small but sturdy, its handle wrapped in a dark material that felt warm to the touch. The ore pack contained chunks of dull-gray metal, waiting to be refined.
---
The next morning, Tianyu made his way to the clan's forge—a small, dilapidated workshop that hadn't seen much use. He placed the ores into the furnace and began heating them.
"Let's see if this hammer is as useful as the system claims," he muttered, gripping the handle tightly.
As he worked, the hammer emitted a faint glow with each strike, the spiritual energy within it guiding his movements. Though he was a novice, the process felt surprisingly intuitive.
> [Ding! Blacksmithing proficiency increased.]
Tianyu grinned. "So, I can even gain proficiency while working? Not bad."
Hours passed as he refined the ores and shaped them into a simple blade. Sweat dripped down his face, but he didn't stop until the weapon was complete.
Before him lay a crude, low-grade sword. It wasn't impressive, but it was a start.
> [Congratulations! You have successfully forged your first weapon. Blacksmithing proficiency increased. Current proficiency: Beginner (5/100).]
A surge of pride filled his chest. For the first time in years, he felt like he was truly accomplishing something.
"System, can I sell this in the auction tomorrow?"
> [While it is a low-grade sword, it may still fetch a few spirit stones. However, improving its quality before the auction is recommended.]
"How do I improve it?"
> [Suggestion: Purchase a Basic Weapon Forging Blueprint for 25 System Points and refine the sword using the techniques provided.]
Tianyu sighed. "Fine, deduct the points."
> [Purchase successful. Item sent to inventory.]
A glowing scroll appeared in his hand. As he unrolled it, lines of text and diagrams illuminated the room.
"This… this is incredible," he murmured, studying the techniques.
He worked late into the night, refining the sword according to the blueprint's instructions. By dawn, the weapon shimmered faintly, exuding a sharp and refined aura.
> [Ding! Weapon upgraded to mid-tier low-grade sword.]
Satisfied, Tianyu collapsed onto his bed. Tomorrow's auction would be his first step toward proving his worth to the clan—and the world.