The clang of hammers echoed in the blacksmith shop as Ye Chen, his thin frame taut with concentration, landed the final blow on the iron billet. Sparks exploded in a fiery cascade, illuminating the stunned faces of the apprentices gathered around him.
"Fifth Refinement! How is this possible?" one apprentice exclaimed, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Ye Chen set the hammer down, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The room was thick with tension, disbelief, and a hint of jealousy.
Even Li Han, the stern master of the shop, couldn't hide his astonishment. He inspected the iron closely, his sharp eyes confirming what everyone had just witnessed. "You've truly achieved the Fifth Refinement," he muttered, his voice low but filled with awe.
The apprentices murmured among themselves, some in admiration, others in resentment. None of them had expected this from Ye Chen, who had been in the shop for barely two months.
Li Han straightened, fixing Ye Chen with a piercing gaze. "Have you studied blacksmithing before?"
Ye Chen hesitated, then answered, "My ancestors were blacksmiths. I inherited a book on forging techniques, but I've never forged before. I've only watched and learned by observing others in the shop."
Li Han nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. "To achieve this with no formal training... Your talent is undeniable."
Though his tone remained calm, Li Han couldn't suppress a flicker of excitement. Ye Chen's potential was unlike anything he had seen in years. Talent like this was rare, especially in a world as harsh and unforgiving as Red Night City.
"You three, follow me," Li Han said, his voice snapping the apprentices out of their stupor. He led Ye Chen and two other senior apprentices to a room behind the main shop.
The forging room was dimly lit, the walls lined with tools and scraps of metal. A faint heat radiated from a nearby forge, casting flickering shadows across the room. Li Han turned to face the three apprentices.
"You've proven yourselves capable of forging refined iron," he said, his voice steady but commanding. "But there's a difference between forging iron and crafting weapons. If you want to become true blacksmiths, this is where you begin."
Li Han picked up a hammer, its head glinting faintly in the firelight. "I will teach you the Li's Three Hammer Technique. It's a foundational technique, simple yet effective. Master this, and you'll be able to forge weapons of higher quality."
With deliberate slowness, Li Han demonstrated the technique. Each movement was precise, each strike purposeful. Despite its simplicity, there was a grace and power to the sequence that spoke of years of refinement.
When he finished, he handed the hammer to the apprentices. "Your turn. Watch your form and control your strength. Precision is key."
The senior apprentices stepped forward, their movements awkward and hesitant. Despite their experience, they struggled to replicate Li Han's technique.
When Ye Chen's turn came, he gripped the hammer tightly, his muscles taut with anticipation. He closed his eyes for a moment, visualizing the sequence. Then he began.
The first strike landed true, followed by the second and third. His movements were fluid, almost instinctive, as if the hammer were an extension of his arm.
Li Han's eyes widened. "Perfect form on your first try... This talent..." He trailed off, his mind racing. Ye Chen wasn't just skilled—he was exceptional.
Over the next few days, Ye Chen continued to practice, his progress astonishing even to himself. The Li's Three Hammer Technique became second nature, each strike feeling more precise and powerful than the last.
Ten days later, Ye Chen stood at the forge, his movements confident and deliberate. The iron in his hands glowed a brilliant orange as he hammered it into shape.
"Level Ten Refined Iron," Li Han declared, inspecting Ye Chen's work. "You've officially reached the level of a quasi-blacksmith."
The apprentices murmured in awe, but Ye Chen remained focused. He had earned the right to use a private forge for an hour each day, a privilege reserved for only the most promising apprentices.
For every ten pieces of refined iron he forged, he would earn one tael of silver—a fortune compared to his previous earnings. With this newfound wealth, Ye Chen's life began to change. He ate better, his body growing stronger with each passing day.
Yet, in the quiet moments, when the forge's fire dimmed and the shop grew silent, Ye Chen's thoughts turned to the world outside. Red Night City was a dangerous place, where power ruled and weakness was a death sentence.
He summoned the panel in his mind.
[Host: Ye Chen]
[Cultivation: None]
[Dao Fruit: Forging (Lv1, 34%)]
Despite his progress, he knew that forging alone wouldn't protect him. In a city where martial artists reigned supreme, he needed strength—real strength.
---
Martial arts were the key to survival in this world. Without cultivation, Ye Chen was vulnerable to the countless dangers lurking in Red Night City. He considered his options carefully.
The first was to join a martial arts hall, where he could learn under experienced instructors. However, the fees were exorbitant.
The second was to purchase martial arts manuals from the market. But authenticity was never guaranteed, and without guidance, learning from a manual was nearly impossible.
The third option was to serve as a guard for a noble family. While they offered martial training, such positions often came with a lifetime of servitude—a fate Ye Chen was determined to avoid.
After much deliberation, Ye Chen decided to save his earnings and seek entry into a martial arts hall. It was his best chance to gain the strength he needed to carve out a place for himself in this unforgiving world.
---
As the days turned into weeks, Ye Chen's routine became a relentless cycle of forging and saving. The city around him remained as dark and treacherous as ever. Murders, disappearances, and power struggles were daily occurrences in the Outer District.
But Ye Chen refused to falter. Each strike of his hammer was a step closer to his goal, a spark in the darkness that surrounded him.
One day, as he walked home through the narrow, shadowed streets, he heard the faint sound of footsteps behind him. He tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the small dagger hidden in his sleeve.
In Red Night City, even the smallest mistake could be fatal. But Ye Chen wasn't the same starving boy who had stumbled into Li Ji's Blacksmith Shop. He was stronger now—strong enough to fight back.