The Ancient Strengthening Technique

AST 2451 - This Might Be Another Type of Life?

Qing Shui smiled. "To be honest, the weapons here are only ordinary. I also know how to forge weapons myself and the main reason I'm here today is that I saw you outside and found you very familiar. That's why I couldn't help but come over. You won't blame me for being too straightforward, right?"

"Of course I won't. If you don't have any other matters for me, I'll be starting my work." The lady smiled.

"Your cultivation isn't bad. Why are you keeping watch over such a blacksmith store?" Qing Shui couldn't find the reason and asked.

The lady was taken by surprise for a moment and she looked at Qing Shui. It was true that she was quite strong, but what surprised her was that Qing Shui could tell. Peak Cave Realm cultivators would be considered as quite strong existences no matter where they went.

The reason why Qing Shui was stunned earlier on was also because of her strength.

"This was my father's dying wish. It's his lifelong wish to make his blacksmith store successful." The lady hesitated a bit before saying.

"To be honest, it won't be easy to expand the business with this quality. There isn't anything that can act as the prized item in the store."

"I know. Blacksmithing also requires talent and some legacies. I'm trying my best now, so I'll just leave the store as is for now. This is a place I know a little better."

Her tone was nonchalant, as if she had no emotions. She was merely being cold and not wearing any smiles. Even her occasional smiles would make her appear even colder.

"I know a little about blacksmithing as well. Can I forge something here?" Qing Shui gave it some thought before saying.

"Go ahead." The lady pointed to a forging platform.

Qing Shui nodded and began the refinement process as well as the blacksmithing. His Thousand Hammer Technique had already reached a terrifying realm and right now, Qing Shui no longer looked like he was doing blacksmithing, but instead, gave off an enjoyable feeling.

One time, two times...

After many times later, Qing Shui's work gave off a good vibe, despite the fact that not much time had passed. An ordinary piece of metal now had become a Tempered Metallic Essence. This was a qualitative change. Qing Shui didn't stop there and continued to hammer and melt it.

Thereafter, the workpiece shone once again and the grade of the Tempered Metallic Essence rose even further. It could now be comparable to those valuable metals in the game, Mythril. However, this was merely an ordinary piece of metal and all of its potential had been squeezed out entirely.

The next step was forging.

Qing Shui had a high level of mastery in that area. The Ancient Art of Forging was considered to be a school of its own.

Time passed by bit by bit and Qing Shui was completely engrossed. The lady was also deeply attracted and didn't feel a thing about the passing time.

Ding!

When the crisp sound rang out and a stream of snow-white glow flashed, both Qing Shui and the lady got back to their senses. They then stared at the three-feet longsword that was right before Qing Shui. It was snow-white like jade and had a faint divine aura.

If the lady hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed that it was possible to forge such a longsword using ordinary materials.

Legendary grade, Region False God Weapon, and divine artifact.

The legendary grade was already very powerful. However, Qing Shui took a look at this three-feet longsword and felt that it could only be considered to be mediocre amongst the legendary grade weapons. Not everyone could get their hands on divine artifacts, and many powerful cultivators could only use legendary grade weapons. There were quite a number of legendary grade weapons that blacksmiths could forge using good materials. Divine artifacts, on the other hand, required favorable climatic, geographical and human conditions.

"Take a look and see if you're satisfied with this." Qing Shui handed the three-feet longsword to the lady.

When the lady picked it, she was instantly mesmerized. She hadn't expected that the sword would be of legendary grade.

"How did you do that? Miraculous craftsman... Are you a miraculous craftsman?" The lady was a little agitated. Over the years, she had walked very far on the path of blacksmithing.

"I don't specialize in this and it has been many years since I've forged something. I've only tried it out after meeting you today," Qing Shui replied honestly.

The lady was dealt yet another blow. A blacksmith of Qing Shui's level would practically not leave his hammer. The fact that he hadn't forged anything for many years went to show that blacksmithing wasn't his main focus. Looking at the longsword in her hands, the lady let out a rare smile, "The reason you came to look for me was to forge a weapon?"

"Of course not. To be honest, I have no idea either. I just entered the store without thinking of wanting to do anything." Qing Shui looked at the lady and had the feeling of returning to the days when he was still a youth.

"I understand, but know that I'm not her after all. As time passes, you won't have the feeling as if we met before."

"I believe in fate. I'm very happy to meet you today. Since you have this blacksmith store, I'll give this hammer technique to you. I hope you'll like it." Qing Shui gave it some thought before saying.

Each time Qing Shui thought of Wenren Wugou, his heart would ache. It was also a pain in Wenren Wu-shuang's heart. Although those people were killed, their feelings of hatred wouldn't disappear and Wenren Wugou wouldn't be able to come back to life. Her death would be a needle in Qing Shui's heart that would never disappear.

Meeting that lady today gave him the feeling as if he had met Wenren Wugou once again. Therefore, Qing Shui wanted to change her. As long as she was happy and it was within his means, Qing Shui could give her everything she wanted.

"Did you like her?" The lady wasn't surprised by Qing Shui's offer.

"I'm not sure. I was very young back then. In her eyes, I was just a kid." Qing Shui smiled.

"Don't get stuck in the past. Let it go. Even if she's in the other world, she'd hope for you guys to be happy," The lady said softly.

"Then you..."

"If you're insistent on teaching me this hammer technique, I'll be glad to learn it," The lady quickly continued.

Qing Shui then taught her the Thousand Hammer Technique. She picked it up very quickly and Qing Shui was very engrossed in his teaching. He even held her hand and taught her personally. The lady looked at Qing Shui's serious expression. With no hint of frivolousness at all, she didn't stop him and let him be.

Time passed by, and when Qing Shui got back to his senses, the sky had already turned dark.

"Thank you!" The lady smiled and said.

"I should be the one saying my gratitude. Doing this makes me feel a little happy. Meeting you was a compensation for me by the heavens. Maybe this might be a little disrespectful toward you, but I'll feel happy when I see that you're happy. I hope that you can lead a happy and blissful life."

"Haha, you're treating me as her replacement." The lady shook her head, not feeling any unhappiness at all. However, her tone sounded a little forced.

"Please forgive me for my selfishness."

"It's nothing. It's also good to be able to help someone like this. This will be the only time."

"I'm already satisfied. I'll come and visit you in the future when I'm free. I'll bring my wife along," Qing Shui said seriously.

"Mmm, I don't usually leave this place."

...

Qing Shui found the manor they rented. No one asked what Qing Shui did during his absence.

They stayed there for several days, but less than a week. During that period of time, Qing Shui would visit the blacksmith store almost daily. The lady didn't tell Qing Shui her name. Her character was completely different from Wenren Wugou's, but her appearance was identical. At the very least, Qing Shui couldn't tell any difference. However, he knew that it was impossible for this lady to be Wenren Wugou.

One week later, Qing Shui and the others left. During that one week, Qing Shui gave the lady quite a number of items. However, the majority of them were martial techniques. They had gotten along well and he even helped her to nurture her constitution and performed impurities cleansing. He also gave her a set of medicinal pills. There was a note inside indicating the detailed effects of each one.

Qing Shui felt that there might be a day when she would appear before him once again. When that time arrived, she might be Wenren Wugou.