Start practicing from Mr. Fox

Chapter 76: Initial Forging
The foxes dispersed.

Chen Ji was lying on the recliner when he realized that there was a new chapter in the Strange Stories without him noticing.

It probably appeared during the discussion after returning with the wind just now, but I didn't even notice it.

When I open it and read it now, I feel the relaxing feeling of sitting and reading Huangting.

Ding Sheng

Ding Sheng, a native of Jingxing, was born into a poor family. However, he was quick-witted and studious, and through hard work, he became wealthy and fond of brothels. Returning to his hometown to worship his ancestors, he heard that he could help the spirits. Coincidentally, his ancestor, who had accumulated merit and served as a postman in the underworld, heard this and sent Ding Sheng to deliver a message. Since living people cannot enter the underworld, he asked a tapir to enter his dreams and summon a horse. He woke up in the mornings with shaking legs and was too exhausted to speak. This repeated condition lasted three days and he was on the verge of death. The villagers thought it was a demon and asked Chen Sheng to exorcise it. He dreamt of the tapir and learned about the previous events. He also learned that there was a demon in the neighboring town, and thus he obtained the horse-armor talisman.

Every time you turn a page in a book, you gain new skills in your mind.

I remembered the drawing method and spell of the Jiama Talisman.

Chen Ji was in a daze and came to his senses, but he didn't expect that the story that appeared this time was actually about helping Mr. Ding before.

He thought it would be a loach monster.

It seems that this record is not based on the order of time, but is also related to the degree of completion?

There is also a story about the loach monster, but generally speaking, they are just acquaintances, unlike Mr. Ding, who has so many stories.

No wonder the previous talk about being crowned with the mountain god was not recorded in the book. It seems that more effort is needed.

Chen Ji thought about it and took out the armor and horse talisman left by the dream tapir to look at it.

I had seen it before when I woke up from a dream, but I could only see that there was magic power flowing on it, and I didn’t know how to use it.

Now when I take it out and look at it again, it is very clear.

By looking at the talismans, one already knows the spells and how to use them, and even has mastered how to draw the Jiama talisman for use on living people.

But I only know this one talisman.

Thinking back to the other talismans, I still didn't feel anything.

I feel a little disappointed, but I accept it calmly.

After all, it was taught by the Strange Stories, not self-taught, so one should not be greedy for too much.

I put the Jiama Talisman away again and decided to give it a try when I had the chance.

The next few days were a rare period of peace and tranquility.

Bai Shi went to the blacksmith shop early in the morning and returned late every day to forge the iron rod that Chen Ji wanted.

Bai Si continued to practice the art of attracting lightning as he did on the mountain.

Taoist Master Xiyun contacted a craftsman he was familiar with to sculpt the statues of the Five Great Emperors.

The loach monster was also absorbing the dragon soul under the water and did not come out.

Chen Ji then focused on his practice until a few days later, when Bai Si came to find him.

"Sir, Bai Shi said the iron rod is almost ready. Let's go and see if there are any modifications."

"it is good."

Chen Ji took Bai Si to check the situation.

The fire in the blacksmith shop was blazing, and the sound of hammers clanging and banging continued.

From a distance, I could see Bai Shi swinging a sledgehammer and hitting a red-hot iron rod.

It was about the thickness of a thumb, five feet long, thin in front and thick in the back, and indeed had the same shape as Chen Ji described.

However, it was divided into three parts and placed on the ground, not as a whole.

When the blacksmith saw Chen Ji coming, he nodded as a greeting and continued to hammer the iron rod with Bai Shi seriously, not daring to be distracted.

Chen Ji didn't disturb them and watched their movements carefully.

When I passed by the day before yesterday, I saw them hitting the first iron rod.

Chen Ji remembered that it was Bai Shi who was holding the stick with a clamp and turning it, while the blacksmith was swinging the hammer to forge and shape it.

Now it's just the opposite.

Bai Shi swung the hammer, and the blacksmith used pliers to turn the iron rod.

Just looking at Bai Shi's appearance, he seemed to be more relaxed than the blacksmith before.

And when Chen Ji was watching fascinated.

Bai Shi suddenly put down his hammer and shouted "good".

The blacksmith immediately took the red-hot iron rod and put it into a slender iron pipe beside him to quench it. The water that the loach monster introduced into the moonlight was indeed a good material for quenching.

After a "crackling" sound, the faint sound of gold and jade colliding could be heard.

There was joy in the blacksmith's eyes.

Take out the iron rod and point it diagonally at the ground.

There is no need to wipe it off, as the water droplets condensed after quenching will roll down without leaving any residue.

"Good...stick!"

The blacksmith subconsciously wanted to exclaim about the beautiful sword, but after seeing its shape, he realized that it was a stick and quickly changed his words.

Then he looked at Chen Ji and bowed.

"The Taoist priest is here."

"I heard that what I wanted had been forged, so I came to take a look."

"Just finished playing."

The blacksmith handed over the iron rod that had already lost its heat, with a hint of pride still on his face.

"Our family is the only one in town that can make iron rods this even. The Taoist priest really chose the right person."

Chen Ji didn't bother to answer, but turned the iron rod in his hand to feel it.

It is indeed an excellent iron rod.

Straight, round, and just the right thickness.

If I have to describe it, it would be the kind that when you put it outside and people see it, they will want to have a root.

The blacksmith then spoke.

"I've made some things for the Taoist priest on Qingliang Mountain before, but I've never seen an iron rod like this one. I wonder what it's used for?"

Chen Ji thought about it but didn't know how to answer, so he asked about Bai Shi's performance.

The blacksmith knew that this was not something he could tell himself, so he smiled apologetically and stopped asking questions, then talked seriously about Bai Shi's performance.

"Master, this disciple is truly gifted."

"It takes three years for an apprentice to become a master. One year is spent training the muscles and bones, learning to make and control fire. One year is spent forging and shaping, familiarizing oneself with the properties of iron. Another year is spent mastering forging, quenching and tempering."

"Bai Shi looks frail, but he's actually quite strong. It's only been a few days since he's forged his strength, and he's already built up into shape."

"The main body of this stick was made from a single piece of iron ingot."

"He's still a little short of perfecting his skills in shaping, but he's a rare blacksmith. If he studies diligently, he'll probably be a master in less than ten days."

"It's all thanks to Master's good teaching. Otherwise, even if I have talent, it would be useless."

Chen Ji nodded and responded with a smile.

It’s not surprising that Bai Shi has such talent.

Being able to gain wisdom and practice cultivation among many foxes, and being chosen by Miss Bai to practice and refine weapons, it is natural that this should be the case.

I didn’t know how to refine weapons before because there were no conditions in the mountains.

Now that I have practical experience, it is normal to improve faster.

However, there are indeed problems with the iron rod.

“How do we connect them together?”

"Just use a cannula. I'm prepared."

Bai Shihui replied.

"That's good."

Chen Ji looked at the sky.

The iron rod has been forged, and it is not too late now. I can try to see if the lightning-inducing technique can be successful.

So Chen Ji asked Bai Shi if he wanted to go and take a look together.

"Of course I will go." Bai Shi nodded and asked for leave from the blacksmith.

"Go ahead, go ahead. There's no work here. You haven't had a rest in a few days. Tomorrow is a good day for you to rest."

Bai Shi bowed to thank the blacksmith, picked up the remaining iron ingots from making the iron rod, and went out.

He waited until he was a little further away before looking at Chen Ji.

"Thank you, sir, for bringing me down the mountain. I have already mastered some weapon refining techniques."

“Why some?”

Chen Ji asked curiously.

"I can now smelt ordinary iron at will, but I can't use it to refine magical instruments yet."

As Bai Shi spoke, he stretched out his hand and grasped the iron ingot.

Without any movement, I saw the iron ingot slowly turn red, stretch out, and turn into a hollow casing.

After the shaping was completed, the color quickly faded and returned to the bluish-black color of an iron rod.

When struck with an iron rod, it makes a tinkling sound, like the sound of rings and pendants jingling together.

It is indeed the same as the one just forged.

"What does it feel like to become a weapon refiner?"

Chen Ji asked again.

Bai Shi thought about it and shook his head again.

"I can't explain it, but I just feel like I'm very familiar with copper and iron when I hold them. I can imagine how they will turn out. I'm a good blacksmith."

"What about the magical weapon?"

"It is only a magical tool that can be made spiritual, but we don't know how to make them spiritual, and we can't do it now."

"It really is a magical technique."

Chen Ji sighed.

Then he went back to the thanks he had just given.

"I just brought you down the mountain. You learned it on your own. If you want to thank someone, you should thank Senior Bai and Mr. Su."

"If they hadn't built a solid foundation, they would have just encountered a fox that couldn't even be chased by a dog when they came down the mountain."

"I have to thank you too, but it's all thanks to the sir's help. Now I understand people better and have made some progress in my transformation."

"Besides, the lectures you give after you come down the mountain are easier to understand than those you give on the mountain. You should have put more effort into it."

Bai Shi said seriously.

"Well……"

Chen Ji felt a little embarrassed.

This was probably the effect of the copying technique, coupled with the popularity they gained from meeting people every day.

But after explaining it in detail, he didn't need to refuse his disciple's thanks, so he accepted it with peace of mind.

Bai Si was walking nearby. After listening to Bai Shi finish speaking, he sighed and looked envious.

"That's great, you've also succeeded."

"But it's not enough yet. I need to forge a magical weapon to be considered a true success."

Bai Shi said cautiously.

"It's already good. At least I haven't even started yet, and I don't know if I can succeed today."

Bai Si shook his head and sighed, then asked Chen Ji helplessly.

"Sir, do you think there is really something wrong with my lightning-inducing technique?"

"Miss Bai taught me, so I don't think so."

Chen Ji shook his head.

"It just so happens that we have a lightning rod today. Let's call Miss Bai and Taoist Xiyun to go take a look together. Maybe this time it will work."

"Well, I'll listen to you, sir."

After a while, Chen Ji brought the little fox back to the pharmacy and explained the matter to Miss Bai and the others.

There was no one in the pharmacy, so they simply closed the shop and went together to watch Bai Si perform his magic.

There were many fellow Taoists who went with me.

Taoist Xiyun simply used the talisman boat, which was just big enough to hold everything.

It was the first time for the little foxes to see the magic boat technique. They ran around on the boat and looked at the side of the boat, quite curious.

"You guys, don't you know how to be more careful? Don't fall down and make fun of your fellow Taoists."

Miss Bai called out to the little fox.

Taoist Xiyun waved his hand.

"It's true that people are curious when they first ride a talisman boat. When I first rode it, I was even more mischievous than them. Senior Fox, just let them watch."

"If I become a fox as tall as Senior Fox in the future, I'm afraid I won't be interested in watching anymore."

"I'm sorry to bother you, fellow Taoist."

Miss Bai smiled, but did not stop the little fox anymore.

The second time Chen Ji rode the talisman boat, he was no longer as curious, but was still thinking about Bai Si's lightning-inducing technique.

There was only thunder but no crash, which was really strange.

He did remember some spells, and in order to exorcise the demon, he asked the gods of thunder to help him cast thunder.

But if there is no demon or ghost, it is impossible to attract lightning, which is too strange.

So he couldn't help but ask where the lightning-inducing technique that Miss Bai taught Bai Si came from.

"Since the Taoists thought it was useful, I tried to modify it for foxes."

Miss Bai said slowly.

Chen Ji was in a daze and didn't know what to say.

This is the first time I know that magic spells can be modified and used.

No wonder Taoist Xiyun said a few days ago that the thunder method sounded a bit like the Taoist thunder spell.

Now that I think about it, I'm afraid Miss Bai simply changed the name of the deity to Taishan Niangniang.

So he couldn't help but ask Miss Bai out of curiosity if she had ever tried it.

"of course."

"Is that done?"

"It worked naturally. There were evil spirits causing trouble at the time, and the lightning struck and killed many of them. It worked very well."

"..."

Chen Ji fell silent again.

Miss Bai is usable, but Bai Si is not. It’s hard to say why. Could it be his Taoism?

After thinking for a while, he asked again.

"Then other spells wouldn't be the same, right?"

"Some are, some aren't. It's because foxes can't learn their skills privately. There aren't many skills wild foxes can learn, so this is the only option."

Then he sighed.

"But I've tried it all. If the fox can successfully transform, these techniques will work. If it doesn't work this time, I'll try again after he transforms."

Chen Ji was about to say something when they arrived at the destination and the ship landed.

"It's just the way it is."

Chen Ji whispered, looked at Bai Si, and gave him an encouraging look.

"Sir, wait for me to attract the thunder!"

Bai Si nodded, grasped the iron rod and walked forward, just like last time.

(End of this chapter)