Chapter Twelve: The Rare Treasure! Tianyan Precious Steel

Although the dish was burnt, it tasted better to Michen than any meal he had before. Perhaps this was the true flavor of home.

After finishing the meal, Qi Wu said, "Michen, come with me."

Still tidying up the dishes, Michen looked slightly puzzled.

At that moment, Qi Xiaoyun snatched the dishes away, saying, "Grandpa has something important to tell you. Leave this to me."

Following Qi Wu, Michen arrived at the innermost courtyard of the martial arts school. There stood an inconspicuous ancestral hall, its door tightly shut all year round, and Qi Wu forbade anyone from approaching it.

When Qi Xiaoyun was a child and misbehaved here, she was severely punished by Qi Wu. Since then, neither she nor Michen dared to come near this place.

What lay inside the ancestral hall remained a mystery to this day.

Qi Wu slowly approached the door of the hall. From his pocket, he took out an ancient-looking key, inserted it into the lock, and gently turned it. A long-sealed creaking sound echoed as the bolt was pushed aside.

“Stop standing there dumbfounded. Come in,” Qi Wu said.

Michen’s curiosity about this forbidden childhood place was immense. He quickened his pace and stepped inside.

Inside, there were no exotic treasures. The room was tidy, with an old-fashioned long sword mounted on the wall. But it didn’t look like a weapon—more like a token or a symbol.

Qi Wu opened a drawer and carefully took out an object wrapped in black cloth, its nature unknown. Michen sensed an extraordinary magical power emanating from it.

Qi Wu handed it over to Michen and urged him to unwrap it.

It was a heavy iron block with a faint blue sheen, far weightier than it appeared.

“This is…”

“Skyborn Precious Steel,” Qi Wu answered.

Hearing the name struck Michen like thunder from a clear sky. Skyborn Precious Steel was one of the world’s top ten rare mineral stones.

It was well known that magical materials had ranks, but rare materials were exceptions. They were not born in secret realms but were native to Earth, each possessing unique characteristics.

The defining trait of Skyborn Precious Steel was adaptability. It could blend perfectly with any magical material, even fusing two opposing attributes harmoniously.

It was a dream treasure coveted by countless master smiths.

“Now, it’s yours,” Qi Wu said.

“Master… this is too precious!” Michen hesitated to accept it.

“Take it and keep it well,” Qi Wu waved off his protests. His tone was stern, yet tinged with satisfaction.

“Michen, now that you have awakened your magic and become a hunter, it means you are destined to wield it. It belongs to you.”

At this, Michen could no longer refuse. His own long sword had been damaged in a previous fight, and with the Skyborn Precious Steel, he could forge a weapon beyond imagination.

But soon, a worry crept in. Forging such a steel was no simple task. Because of its adaptability, ordinary smiths could not handle it.

Michen understood this, and Qi Wu saw the concern on his face.

With a slight smile, Qi Wu said, “I know an old fellow who can forge Skyborn Precious Steel.”

Michen’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Qi Wu took out an earth-toned ancient bronze coin tied with a dark green cord, the knot intricately woven in three overlapping loops. On the back was inscribed “No. 45, Ganyuan Street.”

“That old man has a strange temper. Be careful not to anger him,” Qi Wu warned.

“Understood,” Michen replied.

After finishing his explanation, Qi Wu dismissed him.

Before leaving, Michen slipped some money to Qi Xiaoyun. Over the years, he had regularly sent funds to help manage the martial arts school.

Qi Xiaoyun, surprised by the thick wad of cash in the envelope, exclaimed, “Where did you get so much money?”

Michen smiled, “Now that I’m a hunter, my income is naturally higher.”

Worried, Qi Xiaoyun said, “Don’t push yourself too hard. I can handle some of the family affairs—I am your senior after all.”

“Of course, my excellent senior. You have your talents. But your current task is to study diligently and take care of Master.”

“Shut up!” Qi Xiaoyun pouted, then playfully punched Michen’s forehead.

“Ow!”

“Now you know how it hurts,” she said with a smirk.

She took out a few bills from the envelope and handed the rest back.

“I know hunting is dangerous, and you need more money than us.”

“Don’t worry about the family’s matters. I have them covered,” she said firmly.

It had been a long time since they last met. The once timid little girl who used to wet her pants had grown so strong.

Qi Xiaoyun’s attitude was resolute. Like their master, she was stubborn and unyielding.

Michen sighed in resignation.

“Well, I’m off then!”

“Take care of yourself,” Qi Xiaoyun waved goodbye.

Leaving the martial arts school, Michen immediately set off for Ganyuan Street.

Behind the martial arts school, in an unremarkable building, Qi Wu sat cross-legged on a straw mat, deep in meditation, as though restraining something. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his brow furrowed in great pain.

He coughed once, blood dark as ink staining his handkerchief.

Sighing, Qi Wu’s once dignified face now bore more signs of age.

Outside, the sound of a motorcycle engine faded away.

He gazed out the window just in time to see a withered yellow leaf fall.

Quietly, he murmured, “All I can do now is this…”

Ganyuan Street lay on the northern edge of Junyang City, at the junction of the new and old districts. There were many pre-awakening era buildings still standing, some areas remained ruins, yet to be rebuilt.

“No. 45…” Michen drove his motorcycle, scanning the surroundings.

The buildings bore no numbers, making it difficult to know the exact address.

Trusting his instinct, he followed the road forward.

Ahead stood a building emitting black smoke. Standing beside it, the air felt scorching hot.

Three bare flagpoles stood at the entrance, and the marble doorway had long since lost its inscriptions to time, though faint traditional characters reading “Forty-five” were still discernible.

“This must be the place,” Michen said and stepped inside.

The clang of hammering metal greeted him immediately.

Following the sound, he saw a towering, muscular blacksmith relentlessly pounding a glowing red iron ingot in a vice.

Noticing Michen, the blacksmith paused and turned around. A fierce tattoo resembling a raging flame adorned his face.

“No appointment? Then please leave,” the blacksmith said.

“I’m Mr. Tietu, right? I was recommended by Master Qi Wu,” Michen said, pulling out the bronze coin tied with the dark green cord.

Tietu raised his eyebrows. “So the Old Knife Demon finally parted with his Skyborn Precious Steel?”

Even Skyborn Precious Steel was known by name.

Michen nodded, getting straight to the point. “Mr. Tietu, I want to forge a blade.”

“No need to waste words,” Tietu cursed and beckoned, “Come here.”

Though unsure why, Michen obediently stepped forward, mindful of his master’s warning about Tietu’s temper.

“Get closer, stop shrinking back.”

Michen approached.

“Show me your hands!”

Michen spread his palms.

Tietu appraised him. “You’re a promising blade user—won’t disgrace the Old Knife Demon.”

Clearly pleased, he said, “I’ll forge your blade properly.”

Though unsure why, Michen felt he had won Tietu’s approval.

“Bring out the Precious Steel.”

Michen produced the Skyborn Precious Steel. The unremarkable iron block shimmered with a faint blue glow, and under the firelight, patterns akin to rippling light waves appeared on its surface.

Tietu examined it carefully and marveled, “I’d heard the Old Knife Demon had a piece of Precious Steel, but didn’t expect such fine quality!”

“Ha! I’m glad. Kid, I’ll give you a 90% discount on forging fees—200,000 yuan.”

“Twenty thousand?” Michen thought he misheard.

After giving Qi Xiaoyun some money, he only had 120,000 yuan left.

“Tch, kid, this is Skyborn Precious Steel. 200,000 is already a favor for your master,” Tietu said, picking up his hammer.

“No money, no deal. Even for Precious Steel, I’m principled—no suitable payment, no forging.”

Michen wanted to curse Tietu for the high price but immediately noticed the blacksmith’s hammer.

The hammer was pitch-black, like an unpolished raw stone, radiating strange, intense magical power.

Without his magic eye, Michen would never have noticed the orange-red flames swirling across its surface.

The sensation was familiar—just like the feeling from Skyborn Precious Steel.

Undoubtedly, the hammer was another treasure of equal renown.

Tietu noticed Michen’s expression and smirked proudly.

“Good eye—you can tell this hammer isn’t ordinary.”

“This hammer was forged from Zhu Yu fusion gold, with the power to mold and reshape all things. It’s one of the few master tools capable of forging treasures.”

“In Junyang City, I’m the only one who can forge with this Precious Steel!”

As proud as Tietu was, Michen had no choice but to accept the high price.

He gritted his teeth, “Fine, 200,000 it is.”

“But I can only pay half now. The rest after the blade is finished.”

Tietu snorted. “You’re clever, just like your master.”

“Pay up.”

One hundred thousand yuan vanished in the blink of an eye.

With the money received, Tietu immediately set to work.

“Sir, shouldn’t you tell me what kind of blade you want?”

Normally, a custom weapon would require discussing specifications.

Tietu scoffed, “You’re a brute who likes to overwhelm opponents with strength, then strike unexpectedly from odd angles.”

“Though you seem like a frontal brawler, you actually observe and counter your enemies, waiting for the perfect moment to finish them off.”

Michen was surprised. Tietu’s assessment was spot on.

“Kid, weapons speak,” Tietu said.

“As the smith, I can tell what kind of fighter you are with just one look.”

Tietu moved to the furnace and slapped the blazing fire with his bare hand.

A fiery red magic circuit lit up on his left arm, showing at least a three-star hunter’s power.

Michen never expected that this reclusive blacksmith possessed magic equal to a three-star hunter.

Tietu’s magic circuit was witchcraft-based, with the ability called “Fire Shaping.”

He could manipulate flames with magic, controlling their temperature and form, even concentrating heat to generate localized extreme temperatures.

Yet, as the fire’s heat rose, Tietu’s expression grew grimmer.

“Damn, still not enough…”

“Without the Molten Fire Core, the temperature won’t reach what’s needed!”

The Molten Fire Core was a grade-three fire-element mineral, primarily found in the C-rank secret realm “Broken Sword Canyon.” It was even rarer than the Taki Jade Sprout.

“Wait a moment, let me check the last commission,” Tietu muttered.

The commission had been posted for nearly a month, yet no one had completed it.

Tietu cursed, “What are these hunters doing? Can’t even finish such a simple job?”

Michen was curious. Gathering Molten Fire Core wasn’t a particularly difficult commission. Why had no one completed it?

He glanced over the offered reward.

Only 20,000 yuan!

Considering that collecting Molten Fire Core was a two-star hunter commission, the reasonable fee should be no less than 100,000 yuan.

“Sir, your reward is too low. No one wants to take it,” Michen said.

Tietu sneered, “Of course I know it’s low, but do you think anyone would help me without expecting a proper weapon as a reward?”

“Hmph, young people these days only care about immediate gain, no understanding of favors.”

Michen was speechless.

Master smiths were indeed unpredictable.

Suddenly, an idea struck him.

“By the way, Mr. Tietu, can I take on the Molten Fire Core commission?”

“You?” Tietu hesitated, then reconsidered.

“Not impossible.”

“But that’s your request. No extra pay.”

Michen grinned, “I don’t need the reward, but can you give me a discount on the forging costs afterward?”

“How much of a discount?”

“Eighty thousand.”

“Eighty thousand? Kid, you’ve got big dreams. Two ten-thousands for eighty—do you take me for a fool?”

“How dare I! You know I take great risks doing commissions.”

“I have a condition.”

“What condition?” Tietu was intrigued.

“If I die, the Precious Steel is yours.”

Upon hearing this, Tietu was moved.

Without hesitation, he agreed.

To Tietu, 20,000 or 80,000 didn’t make much difference. The key was obtaining the Skyborn Precious Steel—a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

From Michen’s perspective, short on funds, any discount helped.

Moreover, with his magic and attributes improved, he needed a challenging commission to test himself.

Broken Sword Canyon was the perfect opportunity.

The two quickly reached an agreement.

Tietu transferred the commission to Michen. Though it was a two-star task, direct assignment bypassed any level restrictions.