Chapter Twenty-One: The Ascetic Formation is Complete!

After I gathered the ore, the old man had already finished refining all the tungsten steel ore. He was now squeezing and kneading a lump of mud about the size of a thumb, like a child holding his breath, stubbornly struggling with it, venting his frustration on the clay. Could it be that this old man had reversed his age and become childish again, bored enough to play with mud? I teased him, “Old man, you’re in quite the mood. How old are you this year? Still shamelessly playing with mud—aren’t you ashamed?”

“That boy, what do you know? This is Rainbow Clay; it’s essential for gem fusion. You think just having gems makes fusion easy?” The blacksmith defended himself with his thick neck.

I examined the Rainbow Clay between his fingers carefully. Its colors were indeed unlike ordinary mud, streaked with rainbow-like stripes inside and out. As the old man continuously kneaded it, the various colored bands pressed and twisted against each other but never merged improperly. The clay constantly changed shape in his fingers, incredibly soft and highly malleable. Curious, I asked, “Old man, can you really fuse gems just by kneading like this?”

“You… ignorant boy, haven’t you heard of the ‘Spirit of Fusion’ Rainbow Clay? This sticky clay only appears in places where rainbows linger year-round. It absorbs the essence of seven-colored light and has been washed by a thousand years of flowing water, never dispersing. After blending the seven-color essence, its adhesive power is unmatched in the world. It serves as the bridge for gem fusion. The fusion requires a precise temperature—not too hot, not too cold—and then external force evenly applied to stimulate it, lasting about an hour.” The old man was proud of his vast knowledge, speaking animatedly, spittle flying. He thrust the clay into my hand, “Hold it carefully. Knead it the way I just showed you. We still need about half an hour more of heat. Remember, the force must be even. Refine the ore you gather for me; low purity will affect success. Don’t lose this Rainbow Clay—it’s precious. I have less than nine pieces total and have already used seven.”

“Got it. This clay is a relic thousands of years old, after all.” I handled the clay cautiously. Strangely, it felt like a water pouch—formless yet not sticky. Heh… something with such character, even if it’s just mud, has collector’s value. The old man only had two pieces left, and my Golden Armor depended on it. If I could successfully forge the armor, I’d be willing to worship this clay.

“Boy, watch my hammering and forging process carefully. I’m starting now,” the old man said solemnly once everything was ready.

I set aside my relaxed attitude, my heart stirred with excitement. To witness the forging of golden equipment firsthand would surely deepen my understanding of smithing. I resolved to observe diligently, hoping to reach master level someday. Heh, if possible, I’d even set up a production line for golden gear in a factory and just wait by the side to count the money. The old man, so serious when linked to gold coins, looked endearingly earnest. By the way, the blacksmith’s hammer must be better than his ordinary iron hammer. “Old man, would using this iron hammer of mine improve the forging?”

He didn’t even glance at the hammer in my hand and said proudly, “That silver iron hammer might be useful to you, but to me, it’s no different from any common hammer. You must understand, ‘the essence lies in the mind.’ The hammer follows the heart. I’ve wielded hammers for over forty years; external factors affect me almost not at all. Even the simplest hammer can become an extension of my flesh and blood. That’s the master’s ‘craftsmanship.’” Then, swinging the hammer swiftly, his motions flowed like running clouds and flowing water—so skillful. The ‘ding ding ding’ sounds rang continuously, rhythmic like a melody, sharp as a summer rain, yet never noisy. His wrist trembled tightly, his expression grave, hammer strokes like rainfall. I was deeply impressed, carefully noting his attention to detail.

The breastplate took shape beneath his hammer, its lines perfect and smooth. The plate was broad and sturdy, with steel ribs clearly defined. It tapered at the lower abdomen, with four slanting ribs on each side, smooth yet resistant to force, able to disperse impact sideways effectively. This reinforced the vital chest area, and the streamlined shape gave the armor an imposing presence. The shoulder guards had steel wings angled outward—both beautiful and functional for defense. Even unfinished, the armor’s extraordinary form made me admire the old blacksmith even more. “Boy, the armor mold is ready. What do you think? Not bad for an old man’s craftsmanship, right?” The blacksmith proudly displayed the exquisite black steel armor.

“Old man, your strikes are precise, fast, steady, and seamless. It’s hard not to admire. But to reach your level, I’m afraid I’m hopeless.” I stroked the smooth battle armor; the cold metal stirred my heart. This would be my loyal companion in battles and boss fights, witnessing my glorious journey. Everyone has their specialty; even if I can’t reach the old man’s forging level, I won’t regret it.

Sensing my slight disappointment, the old man encouraged me, “Don’t be discouraged! Crafting skills come from years of practice, but once you grasp the essentials, you can find your own path and create a forging style unique to you. Every successful blacksmith has their own signature method. I, the old man, have always focused on ‘stability.’ I never strike lightly, so I’ve only forged five golden sets so far, but my success rate is over 60%, which is a miracle to others. Many masters produce a lot of golden gear, but that’s built on high failure rates and poor stats. My principle is ‘better to have less than flawed work.’ A failed piece only brings regret. Remember, learning isn’t mere imitation. If you only follow others’ footsteps, you’ll never surpass them. You’ll live forever in their shadow, never breaking through.”

His words shocked me deeply. How could all these intelligent NPCs designed by the fantasy mainframe be so philosophical and perceptive? Every slight emotional shift of mine escaped his notice, and many spoke like philosophers. But it made sense—they were old, experienced, and wise. As the saying goes, they’ve crossed more bridges than I’ve walked roads and eaten more salt than I’ve eaten rice. Naturally, they see things more profoundly and far-sightedly. His every word was precious, stirring my soul greatly. Isn’t life itself like this? I’ve always tried to live uniquely; to others, it might seem rebellious or heretical. But I know my own path. Though I’ve been lost and disappointed, I persisted because this is the path I chose. A person who loves life doesn’t live just to survive or to chase desires. Life shouldn’t control us; rather, we live for love. If what you do isn’t your own will, how can you be happy and enjoy life? Walk your own path and let others talk.

The old man nodded, “Right, boy. You seem thoughtful, clearly enlightened. But now is not the time to ponder. Half the journey is the hardest. The most critical step—the ‘fusion’—has yet to begin. Give me the Rainbow Clay.”

Under the old man’s controlled high heat, the armor slowly glowed red. Beads of sweat evaporated before falling, turning into white mist. He carefully tapped the armor. Two blood-red bloodstone gems shone even brighter in the firelight, gradually shrinking as they rolled. Where they passed, the black armor was stained with a faint red protective film. The molten gem liquid seeped into the armor, emitting a soft red glow. The black and red swirled, looking mesmerizingly vivid. After the bloodstone disappeared completely, the old man cautiously embedded the Earth Spirit Stone into the hollow navel of the armor. He carefully applied the Rainbow Clay where the gem met the armor, then instructed me to vigorously pump the bellows, heating the Earth Spirit Stone to a high temperature.

After more than ten minutes, the gem, Rainbow Clay, and armor gradually fused. Spectacular seven-colored light burst forth, flowing gently over every piece of steel like water. The colorful glow gradually solidified, attaching firmly to the armor. The red and gold hues slowly absorbed the other colors, becoming dominant. Finally, a dazzling golden circle formed around the navel, where the hollow once was now a thumb-sized golden gem. The shoulder guards and ribs all turned a bright shrimp-red. What were once slight gaps now appeared flawless after the gem fusion, the yellow and red mingling strikingly.

A system notification appeared: “Congratulations on mastering the blacksmith skill ‘Fusion’ through observation and completing the hidden C-rank quest ‘Forge Armor.’ Rewards: 200 reputation, 2 charisma.” Ha! I never expected a simple meal could accomplish a C-rank hidden quest and earn me a piece of golden armor. Though most materials were mine, the knowledge gained was priceless! The old man’s excited voice broke my self-congratulatory daydream. “Boy, it’s a success! Haha, my sixth golden piece and the best by far. I can die without regrets now!”

“Old man, you’ve got great luck. Name this armor—it came from your hammer,” I said to the jubilant blacksmith.

“You ignorant boy! It’s not luck; it’s my superb skill!” He dismissed my jest. “You name the armor since it’s yours to wear. Tell me when you’ve decided.” He then rubbed the armor’s surface with his rough hands. The sight looked oddly like a wealthy old man fondling a young lover.

“Old man, call it Earth Spirit Armor.”

“Hmm, though the name’s ordinary, it’s fitting, since it was the Earth Spirit Stone that made this possible.”

Taking the formidable armor, I checked its stats: Earth Spirit Armor, Golden Armor, level 40, strength requirement 80, agility requirement 40, defense 85–148, defense boost 10%, critical strike chance +3%, damage reduction 15% (reduces damage taken by 15%), weight 80, durability 600/600. Unfortunately, I couldn’t equip it yet, but the stats were undeniable. Golden gear’s attributes truly outclass silver. Wearing this armor would drastically reduce the potions needed during leveling.

“Old man, I won’t say much, but in a couple of days, I’ll bring the Five Greats of the World to have a proper drink with you!” I expressed my gratitude.

“Good! I’ll be waiting anytime you have time,” the old man replied, beaming with pride.

“Let’s settle it then. I’ll practice forging first. I had some insights just now; I need to strike while the iron is hot.” With the newly acquired master-level ‘Fusion’ skill, I wanted to try integrating gems into my forging to see if it could improve the success rate of silver equipment.

Though monotonous and dull, forging each shining piece of silver gear brought a strong sense of achievement. After a day’s work, I had crafted nine silver items—five armor pieces and four weapons, all level 20 to 35. Though this used up my stockpile of gems, these quality items would bring me considerable income. It was a pity that mid-level gems were hard to come by; otherwise, opening a smithy specializing in equipment could be quite lucrative.