Chương 18: Is This Kid Born to Be a Blacksmith?

Although Sun Tiexin was well into his years, his straightforward nature blinded him to the oddities surrounding Su Zhe.

"The Baogong technique is far more valuable than I imagined," Su Zhe mused silently.

"Even so, if given another chance, I'd still keep it for myself. It's a risky choice, sure, but I've covered my tracks well. It'll take a while before anyone suspects me." With his newfound advantage—a mysterious golden finger that granted him incredible progress—Su Zhe had already ascended to the pinnacle of the First Rank within a mere week.

"Once I reach the Third Rank and can protect myself, I'll consider presenting the Baogong to Master. Strengthening my connection with him is the safest bet," Su Zhe reflected. Calming his turbulent emotions, he resolved to bide his time, keeping a healthy distance even from Master Sun Tiexin. After all, his current strength was insufficient to truly trust anyone in the Crafting Hall. That day, Sun Tiexin devoted himself to teaching Su Zhe.

Under his guidance, Su Zhe gained a profound understanding of both martial and crafting techniques. Sun offered meticulous advice on Su Zhe's Wild Bull Hammer Technique, a method he had mastered to perfection.

"Hard work pales before the wisdom of a good teacher," Sun said, delving deep into the nuances of controlling one's strength. He broke down the technique's foundation— The Strength of a Bull —into digestible insights that made Su Zhe feel like a veil had lifted from his mind. Inspired by Sun's instructions, Su Zhe quickly grasped the essence of the teachings, surprising even the grizzled old master. Sun Tiexin, often frustrated by his other disciples, found a refreshing joy in mentoring Su Zhe.

Of his senior disciples, Sun had mixed opinions. The eldest, Guo Ju, was diligent but slow-witted, making every teaching session an exercise in frustration. The second, Xiao Xunhuan, was sharp and quick to learn but lacked patience, often leaving Sun exasperated. Yet Su Zhe struck a perfect balance between the two. Though his natural aptitude for cultivation was considered below average—a mere "Lower Tier Grade B" constitution—his resilience and work ethic stood out.

Coupled with his innate Bull-like Vitality, Su Zhe's progress was a pleasant surprise.

"During the bone-melding ceremony, he had barely reached the mid-level of the hammer technique. In just three or five days, he's nearly achieved mastery," Sun marveled.

"His vitality is even more robust than that of an ordinary First Rank martial artist at their peak. Damn it, have I stumbled upon a hidden gem?" Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. As days passed, Su Zhe continued to impress. Guo Ju delivered Su Zhe's monthly allotment—fifteen taels of silver, four packs of medicinal bath powder, and twenty vitality pills.

Living alongside his fellow disciples in the Crafting Hall, Su Zhe found camaraderie in their shared meals and training sessions. The hall's atmosphere was one of friendly competition, even over food. Every member had cultivated the Wild Bull Technique, giving them immense appetites. The slender yet muscular Xiao Xunhuan could devour meals like a beast, while the hulking Guo Ju, standing at two meters tall, treated ten bowls of rice as a mere appetizer. Su Zhe, though smaller at 1.

8 meters, held his own in this "feast of gluttons," much to the amusement of his senior brothers. In the evenings, Su Zhe would soak in a steaming medicinal bath. The herbal infusion, combined with the vitality pills, worked wonders on his body, mending even the most imperceptible training injuries. Reflecting on his humble beginnings in a small fishing village, Su Zhe couldn't help but chuckle. Back home, even the thought of such luxury would earn him a scolding from his aunt. Seven days passed in a blur.

By then, Su Zhe had nearly touched the threshold of the Second Rank but couldn't quite cross it. The bottleneck was his Wild Bull Technique, which lacked just one final breakthrough. Even so, his crafting skills had advanced at a monstrous pace. Using a 15-pound hammer, Su Zhe flawlessly forged hundreds of pounds of basic materials—black iron, fine copper, refined tin, and more. His rapid improvement stunned his fellow disciples.

"I spent six months just getting the basics right," one senior lamented.

"And the Five Metals Forging Method took me a year to master."

"Xiao Xunhuan took three months. But Su Zhe? Seven days?!"

"It's like he's a reincarnated blacksmith who skipped drinking from the River of Forgetfulness!" Sun Tiexin observed all this with astonishment. Every day, Su Zhe exceeded expectations, forcing Sun to reevaluate his original judgment.

"This kid was born for this," he thought. Despite Su Zhe's success upending the hierarchy, the atmosphere in the Crafting Hall remained lively. No one harbored resentment—only admiration. One day, Sun called out to Su Zhe.

"Su Zhe."

"Yes, Master!"

"You're a breath away from mastering the Wild Bull Hammer Technique. Normally, I'd make you hone it over six months, but you've upset all my plans with your progress. So, I'll teach you the Thousand-Tempering Technique. If you can successfully forge a weapon-grade martial implement, your hammer technique will achieve mastery!" The hall fell silent. The Thousand-Tempering Technique? A task only attempted by the most advanced disciples? The disciples were thunderstruck.

Su Zhe, however, clenched his fists, determination blazing in his eyes.

"Yes, Master. I won't let you down."