The clanging of hammers against anvils echoed throughout the Lee Kee Blacksmith Shop, where the air hung heavy with the mingling smells of molten metal and burning charcoal.
Ye Chen stood amidst it all, his sleeves rolled up, sweat trickling down his face as he finished shaping yet another ninth-grade armor weapon. His hands moved with practiced precision, the Diamond Hammer Technique flowing through him like second nature.
As he wiped the sweat from his brow, Master Li Han approached with an urgent expression.
"Ye Chen, we need to forge more ninth-grade armor weapons," Li Han said gravely.
Ye Chen paused, sensing the weight in his master's tone. "Why the sudden rush to produce so many weapons, Master Li?"
Li Han exhaled deeply, his sharp eyes narrowing. "The Iron Legs Gang has placed an order. They need a hundred ninth-grade weapons within three months—swords, spears, and armor. We can't afford to disobey their orders."
The mention of the Iron Legs Gang made Ye Chen's heart sink. They were one of the three major gangs in Qianye City, a force known for their ruthlessness and influence.
"Why would the Iron Legs Gang need so many weapons?" Ye Chen asked cautiously. "Are they preparing for a rebellion?"
Li Han's expression darkened as he cut Ye Chen off. "Don't speak carelessly! Even the three major gangs wouldn't dare rebel.
The Iron Legs Gang is formidable, but there are families in Qianye City far stronger than them—not to mention the City Lord's Mansion that oversees everything.
No, they've ordered these weapons because they're planning to hunt a demon."
"A demon?" Ye Chen's pulse quickened at the word.
It wasn't the first time he'd heard of these dangerous creatures, but their presence always carried an ominous weight.
"Yes," Li Han confirmed. "I don't know the specifics, but the Iron Legs Gang has discovered the whereabouts of a demon. They're preparing to send dozens of Stone Skin Realm warriors to kill it. For such a hunt, high-quality weapons are essential. That's why they've placed this massive order with us."
Ye Chen understood the gravity of the situation. Refusing the Iron Legs Gang wasn't an option; their influence far outstripped that of the Lee Kee Blacksmith Shop.
"I'll begin immediately," Ye Chen said, his voice steady.
From that day onward, Ye Chen devoted himself to forging armor weapons.
Each day, the sound of his hammer striking metal reverberated through the shop. His mastery of the Diamond Hammer Technique had grown immensely, allowing him to form nine hammer afterimages with each strike—a level of mastery that surpassed even Li Han.
The sheer volume of work pushed Ye Chen to his limits, but with each weapon forged, his forging skills and physical strength improved. His efficiency soared, and his grasp of the Diamond Hammer Technique deepened.
By the end of the first month, Ye Chen had completed dozens of armor weapons, earning the respect and admiration of everyone at the blacksmith shop. Yet, the relentless workload took its toll. His body ached, and the progress in his iron sand grinding training slowed.
Despite his weariness, Ye Chen pressed on. The weapons needed to be delivered, and he couldn't afford to falter.
One evening, after finishing his work at the blacksmith shop, Ye Chen returned to the Qinggang Martial Arts School to resume his training.
As he immersed his battered hands into the scorching iron sand, he felt the familiar sting of pain that had become his constant companion.
When his session ended, Ye Chen sat in the corner of the training grounds, applying the diluted secret medicine sold at the martial arts school. The cool salve soothed his wounds, though the recovery was slow.
"Brother Ye, are you interested in chatting?" a voice interrupted.
Ye Chen looked up to see Zhang Jun, an older apprentice at the martial arts school, approaching him.
"What is it, Brother Zhang?" Ye Chen asked, his tone calm.
"I've got access to the real deal," Zhang Jun said with a conspiratorial smile. "Secret skin-resurfacing medicine—not the diluted stuff they sell here. The real medicine. Are you interested?"
Ye Chen frowned. "What do you mean by 'the real medicine'? The martial arts school sells secret medicine specifically for skin resurfacing."
Zhang Jun shook his head. "The secret medicine in the martial arts school is diluted twenty times. It costs one or two taels of silver a piece, but the effect is weak.
What I have access to is the undiluted version. It's ten times stronger and only costs ten taels of silver each."
Ye Chen's eyes narrowed. "Ten taels? That's expensive, and the martial arts school's secret medicine is certified. Why risk buying from an outside source?"
Zhang Jun leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Brother Ye, let me be honest. Your qualifications aren't great.
If you continue training at this pace, it'll take you over a year to complete the iron sand grinding stage. You'll fall behind, and if you don't reach the Stone Skin Realm within a year, you'll never be accepted as a true disciple of the Qinggang Martial Arts School."
He placed a hand on Ye Chen's shoulder. "This medicine will help you recover faster and complete the stage in half the time. Isn't that worth the investment?"
Ye Chen didn't reply immediately. His instincts warned him against trusting Zhang Jun, but the thought of accelerating his progress was tempting.
The next day, Ye Chen approached Du Hai to discuss the matter.
"Du Jiaoxi," Ye Chen began, "is it true that the secret medicine sold at the martial arts school is diluted?"
Du Hai smiled knowingly. "Ah, it seems an older apprentice has been whispering in your ear. Yes, the secret medicine sold here is diluted, but that's intentional.
Ordinary people can only absorb so much of the medicine's potency. Using undiluted secret medicine would be wasteful, and the recovery benefits wouldn't be ten times stronger—only twice as effective at best."
"Then why does the martial arts school dilute it so much?" Ye Chen asked.
"It's a matter of cost efficiency," Du Hai explained. "Diluted secret medicine provides the best balance between price and effectiveness.
If you're wealthy and wish to use the complete version, we can sell it to you—but it's fifteen taels of silver per dose."
Ye Chen nodded thoughtfully. "I'd like to purchase the complete version."
Du Hai raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? The cost is steep, and the benefits aren't as dramatic as you might think."
"I'm sure," Ye Chen said firmly.
Later that day, Ye Chen handed over fifteen taels of silver and received a vial of the complete secret medicine.
Applying it to his hands, he felt the soothing effects almost immediately. While the cost was high, the results justified the expense.
As he returned to his training, Ye Chen resolved to rely on his own effort rather than shortcuts offered by others. He had learned that the path to strength required perseverance and discipline.
Though his progress in the iron sand grinding stage was slow, Ye Chen remained steadfast.
He knew that the trials ahead would only grow more challenging, but he was prepared to face them head-on.
For Ye Chen, the forge, the iron sand, and the relentless pursuit of strength were all part of the same journey—a journey toward greatness.