Chương 62: The Ancestor’s Inheritance — Stirring Fire to Break Gold

"This is the ancestral inheritance site," Sun Tiexin said calmly.

"Just now I made a move against County Lieutenant Wang. His cultivation and mine were at the same level, yet he couldn't withstand a single exchange. Do you know why?" He seemed quite satisfied with Su Zhe's shocked expression and asked with a light chuckle.

"This furnace has the ability to refine and purify internal energy. In other words, Master has long been using it to purify his inner force. Under the same amount of internal energy, your power becomes ten times more refined than ordinary cultivators."

"That's why County Lieutenant Wang stood no chance against you," Su Zhe replied immediately. Sun Tiexin was slightly taken aback. He had originally intended to show off in front of his disciple. He hadn't expected Su Zhe to see through everything so clearly. Back when Sun Tiexin's own master brought him here, it took him several days just to understand the furnace's properties.

"You brat… you really ruin the mood," Sun Tiexin sighed.

"Still… you are the only person who has mastered three martial techniques to their full perfection."

"Your talent in craftsmanship is also extremely high… perhaps, as the legend says, you are truly qualified to obtain the ancestor's inheritance."

"In that case, it makes sense that you could see through the furnace's mystery at a glance." With that, Sun Tiexin stepped forward and placed both palms lightly on the furnace.

"Focus your mind. Circulate your internal energy," he commanded. A thunderous surge erupted within him. Powerful "Iron Bull" internal energy flowed through his body, and a vivid phantom of a bull's strength formed around his arms—far more solid than the one Su Zhe had manifested.

"Remember the heart method," Sun Tiexin said as he demonstrated:"Energy rises from the Dantian to the Shanzhong point, guided through Xuanji to Jianjing. From Quchi to Waiguan, all channels must remain unblocked. Then the internal force flows directly into Laogong." As he spoke, he continuously demonstrated the circulation route. The Refining Fire Furnace responded immediately as his internal energy entered it. Flames within the furnace began to rise steadily.

Above the flames hung a golden lock—suspended three feet above the fire. At first, the flames were far below it. But now, they surged upward. One foot… two feet… three feet! The flames finally touched the golden lock. But the entire process lasted only ten breaths. Sun Tiexin quickly withdrew his hands, gasping for breath.

"Hah… hah… hah…"

"Damn it… this is exhausting…"

"With my strength, maintaining a three-foot flame for ten breaths is already my limit."

"If I want to melt that fine-gold lock completely, I'd need at least a full incense stick's time." Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. An incense stick of time—roughly three hundred breaths. In other words, he could only sustain one-thirtieth of the required duration.

"Your task is simple," he continued.

"You must push the flames to three feet high and sustain it for a full incense stick. Only then can the golden lock be melted, and the ancestor's inheritance revealed."

"This Refining Fire Furnace is a divine artifact left by the ancestor. Whenever internal energy is exhausted, it will return a purer form of that energy back into the body. We call it the 'after-rhyme' effect."

"Repeated cycles of this 'after-rhyme' will refine your internal energy to an extreme purity. Even though I am not yet at the fourth tier, a true fourth-tier cultivator would struggle to defeat me in over a hundred exchanges."

"Strictly speaking, people like me, Yang Dingtian, and Wang Shan are all considered 'half-step fourth tier.' Of course, such a realm doesn't officially exist—it's just that the Blacksmith Gang possesses ancestral treasures that defy reason, allowing us to reach near-invincible strength at the third tier." Sun Tiexin explained patiently. Su Zhe nodded, absorbing everything. In the dim underground chamber, clarity began to form in his eyes. This world was divided into nine provinces.

The province of Yangzhou was further divided into four prefectures, and within Tang Prefecture alone, there were eighteen counties. The Blacksmith Gang, though dominant in Lu County, was still just a small force in the grand scheme of things. Yet even in such a "small place," they possessed something like the Refining Fire Furnace—a treasure capable of purifying internal energy. That was nothing short of heaven-defying fortune.

It meant that, at the same level, a cultivator's combat power could increase by more than tenfold.

"Master, what does it mean that mastering three martial techniques to perfection grants inheritance?" Su Zhe asked calmly after a moment.

"That is only a legend," Sun Tiexin replied.

"It is said that our Blacksmith Gang has existed for over nine hundred years."

"Our ancestor was not only a master craftsman, but also studied geomancy and earth divination."

"Before his death, he left a prophecy: if someone could master three martial techniques to perfection, they might be able to merge three forces and melt the golden lock."

"But such a genius only appears once in a thousand years in Lu County."

"By that logic… you are exactly that kind of once-in-a-thousand-years talent. I cannot say for certain whether you are the one foretold by the ancestor, but no one else here surpasses your talent." He paused and sighed.

"Wang Shan is so desperate to join the Sword Forging Manor because he wants to break through to the fourth tier."

"At the fourth tier—Meridian Opening Realm—the eight extraordinary meridians are unblocked, and internal energy circulates endlessly. Only then can one sustain the furnace for the required time and melt the lock."

"But that is taking a shortcut."

"The ancestor said: third tier breaking gold earns the inheritance. Fourth tier breaking gold merely breaks it by brute force."

"Wang Shan wants to use the furnace to refine his energy and become invincible among equals."

"But I am different. I am the direct inheritor of the Artisan Hall lineage."

"If the ancestor said third tier is enough, then I will follow that rule—even if I never reach fourth tier." Sun Tiexin's eyes darkened slightly, his tone carrying restrained anger. That golden lock was forged from fourth-tier refined metal. If it were forcibly destroyed, the inheritance itself would be ruined. And then how could he face the ancestors of their lineage? This was the root of the conflict between him and Wang Shan—differences in belief. Su Zhe nodded slowly after understanding everything.

"Whether I am a thousand-year genius or not, I do not know."

"But I do know one thing."

"I have… a cheat." The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"The ancestor's craftsmanship is truly remarkable—this furnace alone proves it."

"This inheritance, this furnace, even those night pearls…"

"Since I've seen them, they might as well all belong to Su Zhe." After all, he was always generous—how could he allow such treasures to remain buried in obscurity?

"By the way, Master," Su Zhe suddenly asked, "why is Wang Shan so determined to have Yu Yi join the Sword Forging Manor?"

"I'm not a cruel man. If he were more generous, I could even recommend him to become a Black Rider."

"Hah!" Sun Tiexin sneered.

"You think the Black Riders of the Sword Forging Manor are easy to join?"

"They are the manor's military force in name—but in truth, they are expendable shock troops. They take the lead in every siege and assault."

"Those who are recommended and later become core disciples' mentors might be treated slightly better. Otherwise, they are the lowest tier—poor resources, highest mortality." Su Zhe finally understood. If he entered the Sword Forging Manor, even if he recommended Wang Shan, he would gain nothing. Meanwhile, Wang Shan's entire foundation was in Lu County. Once he left, he would be starting from scratch. Cultivation depends heavily on resources—how could he rise under such conditions?

But if Yu Yi became a core disciple, Wang Shan would become her mentor and receive significant support. The Black Riders were a closed circle—those inside wanted out, and those outside wanted in. And Su Zhe's mentor was Sun Tiexin. That alone meant his conflict with Wang Shan was irreconcilable.

"Now that you understand everything," Sun Tiexin said, patting Su Zhe on the shoulder, "I'm leaving for battle tomorrow."

"Hurry up and circulate your internal energy into the furnace. I'll guide you one last time."

"Got it." Su Zhe strode forward. Inheritance. Treasure. Your Su ancestor has arrived.