Commanding Wind and Cloud

Chapter 78: The First Project

Translator: Vicki Editor: Chrissy

The reason why the Qian Family could grow into a giant and become one of the three pillar families in Zence Empire was because of the Elf King bloodline. Once the Elf King bloodline was awakened within someone, they would instantly become a dual warrior and mage. When he or she initiated their Elf King bloodline and entered the Elf King Form battle state, his or her fighting ability would increase even more.

"Even if I can't train as a dual warrior and mage…" Qian Jin grabbed the mage hat and said to himself confidently, "I can still become a great warrior."

The village in the Endless World was as quiet and peaceful as ever. When Blake saw Qian Jin appear on the doorstep, his cloudy eyes shined up a bit. "There are three orders there. Finish them first so you can get some money to purchase Anti-Fatigue Medical Powder," he said.

"Business?" Qian Jin walked up to the anvil and picked up three cow leather sheets that were sitting around it. He was surprised to see that the orders were very different from his imagination. He thought that the orders were for weapons and armors, but they were a kitchen knife for Aunty Wang who lived on the east side of the village, and a sickle and hoe for Uncle Luke who lived on the west side of the village.

"Their standards are pretty high; you need to go and read some books." Blake pointed at the room. "Grab the book on the left-hand side of the bookshelf. It's on the bottom shelf to your right."

[Forging Techniques and Key Points]. Qian Jin blew a very thick layer of dust off the book and read the title. He flipped open the book and found that this book collected and summarized everything about forging.

It ranged from blades and polearms to basic kitchen knives. As long as it was an item made from metal, they all required similar transferrable basic techniques. The strength required for each strike by the hammer was different based on different locations. Every strike had to be calculated as the thickness, length, width, density, and material of the items needed to be factored in.

"[Geometry]?" Qian Jin was slightly surprised. Blake's description of forging was very similar to the training needed to build houses in Zence Empire. This subject was summarized and consolidated by Wolposki hundreds of years ago. Most people who understood this subject were craftsmen by trade. If Qian Jin didn't read about this subject in the Qian Family's library, he never would have understood what this book that Blake wrote was talking about.

[Forging Techniques and Key Points] was even simpler compared to Wolposki's [Geometry]. It was a book written with a lot of knowledge and care so that readers like Qian Jin who weren't craftsmen and had very limited knowledge could quickly understand the laws and rules that Blake wrote.

Deng! Deng! Deng…

Blake knocked the door with his pipe and rushed him. "Are you done yet? Come out and finish the orders when you are done. From now on, come here and read that book every day for two hours…"

"Oh, okay. I understand." Qian Jin unwillingly put the book back onto the shelf. He wanted to read the book a bit more. [Forging Techniques and Key Points] had completely changed his mind about forging and blacksmithing. Forging wasn't only about shaping a material's appearance; it also wasn't just about using high level Refined Iron, Purified Iron or other metals to make real weapons by pressing them together into a higher density.

There were many things that one had to consider when forging a weapon. For example, one had to consider the air-resistance during strikes, chops, and swings. The different angles and positions used to block opponent's attacks also had to be accounted for. How could a weapon weaken the force from collisions and strengthen the damage dealt…

Complicated! This was an extremely complicated matter! It went far beyond the scope of what blacksmiths like Franklin believed that blacksmithing encompassed!

Qian Jin picked up the simple kitchen knife's blueprint again and suddenly realized that every part of the knife had different levels of brightness. The different brightness levels represented different hammering strengths required.

This wasn't because the blueprint was special; it was an instinctual sensation Qian Jin felt after he read [Forging Technique and Key Points]. There were actually no brightness levels or spots on the blueprint.

Immediately, Qian Jin knew how to forge the kitchen knife. The big hammer in his hand smashed down onto a normal piece of iron ore after the Forging Breathe Technique kicked in.

Iron ore, Refined Iron, and Purified Iron! Qian Jin hammered a piece of Purified Iron directly. With his understanding of [Forging Techniques and Key Points], Qian Jin hammered the Purified Iron repeatedly. The hammer in his hand also changed continuously as the forging process continued.

For part of the forging process, he used a heavy hammer that weighed about two hundred pounds, while for the other portion, he used a small hammer weighing three to five pounds. To forge a kitchen knife, different places on the knife required different hammering forces. At this point, Qian Jin truly understood how hard it would be to use one hammer to forge an item.

Tink! After red hot sparks splashed out, a burning kitchen knife soaked into the cold water in the barrel. Chsiiiiiiii! It was the sound of a thousand degree knife cutting through water. White steam immediately rose from the surface of the water following the sound, and it covered a cubic meter space.

After the kitchen knife was dragged out of the water, it shined with a chilling light. Qian Jin squatted down by the water barrel and placed the knife onto a normal grindstone. He was about to start the final stage of forging: Grinding and Sharpening.

The ear-piercing noise made from the friction of the metal and stone resonating in the workshop as Qian Jin pulled the knife across the grindstone repeatedly. The maximum level of Sharpening was Bladewashing. This wasn't a superpower; it was only a huge elevation of the technique! It was similar to blacksmithing. Someone who could forge Purified Iron required a leap in technique compared to someone who could forge Level 10 Refined Iron.

The high-pitched knife sharpening noise stopped, and the kitchen knife on the grindstone reflected the sunlight shining on it. From the reflection of the light, Qian Jin felt that just the chilling light coming off of the knife was sharp enough to cut through his skin!

"So tšhis is my first project?"

Qian Jin picked up the kitchen knife and pointed it at the sky as he turned his wrist from left to right. The feeling he was getting was mostly proudness. Although it was only a kitchen knife, it looked like a very fine piece of work.

"Player Qian Jin, Forge Master Quest completed. Received the kitchen knife. You are now a Forge Master."

The System Wizard's voice suddenly sounded. Qian Jin looked at Blake in surprise, but he saw the old blacksmith pick up a sharp blade from the ground, weigh it in his hands and suddenly swing his arm! The blade cut through the air and flew towards Qian Jin in an instant!

Qian Jin chopped forward at the blade that was flying at him with the kitchen knife in his hand subconsciously. The two "weapons" smashed into each other and made a crisp metal colliding noise. After a series of beautiful sparks, the battle blade was cut in half by Qian Jin's kitchen knife!

"Is this real?" Qian Jin looked at the kitchen knife in his hand; he couldn't believe what he saw.

"It's alright." Blake put the pipe in his mouth and said, "Although it looks ugly, it's a Warrior Weapon."

"Player Qian Jin learned the First Hammering Technique of the Eighteen Blade Elevating Strikes."

"Eighteen Blade Elevating Strike?" Qian Jin quickly opened up his Status and realized that it was the technique that didn't have a name before.

Blake raised his thousand pound iron hammer and smashed down at an iron ore. After that, he threw the heavy hammer to the side and asked Qian Jin irresponsibly, "Did you remember that?"

"Eh…" Qian Jin wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. "What is this? His teaching lasted hours before, but is it only one strike today? Luckily, I have the foundation for the First Hammering Technique of the Eighteen Blade Elevating Strikes down. Otherwise, I would have lost my face by now," he thought to himself.

"Finish the orders first, and then forge a weapon for yourself. After, you can practice this strike."

Blake didn't go back to squatting down by the corner this time. After he spoke, he clasped his hands behind his back as he left the workshop and went for a little walk on the street.