Nobody told me this wasn't a game.

This is getting more and more unpredictable!

The shopkeeper shook his head vigorously, and Lychee couldn't sit still anymore!

She turned to face Zuo Chang, considered for a moment, and then said, "Zuo Chang... I understand that you don't want to lose face in front of me, but you have to do things within your capabilities. Of course, I admire capable people, but I also like honest people."

The shopkeeper also said, "How can you make magical artifacts so easily? Sir, you must be joking with us! Putting aside everything else, the magical materials necessary for making magical artifacts—hmm?!"

The shopkeeper's words were interrupted.

He was taken aback at first, then his eyes widened as he stared intently at a round blue stone in Zuo Chang's hand that emitted a soft glow.

This……

this is……

The shopkeeper hurriedly pulled out his glasses, put them on his nose, and squatted down to examine them closely: "This is... the Heart of the Tranquil Moon!"

Zuo Chang did not answer, but said, "I'll borrow your workshop for a bit, so you can broaden your horizons."

The shopkeeper looked up: "Who are you, sir?"

Zuo Chang smiled slightly: "To lend or not to lend?"

"...Borrow! Forging magical artifacts requires not only magical materials but also masterful skills. Not just anyone can do it! If you can truly broaden my horizons, I'll not only lend you my workshop, but my forging workshop will also provide other materials for free. Whatever you need, I'll have it!"

Zuo Chang stood up and said, "Lead the way."

Chapter 18 A Voice Like a Sheep

"Senior Wang, Senior Hu, I have benefited greatly from today's gathering! We should hold more of these kinds of get-togethers in the future!"

The second floor of the casting workshop, at the entrance of the tea room.

Lu Li saw Master Wang and Master Hu off, being extremely polite with them.

Master Wang smiled and said, "Master Lu, you're too kind. You're so young, yet your skills are already beyond ours!"

Master Hu also said, "I have to admit I'm getting old."

The Ascended World is an extraordinary world where individuals possess extremely high combat strength, and more than 70% of the population are adventurers or work in the adventurer profession.

Those who never take risks are actually in the minority.

Such an environment is bound to be very different from ordinary society.

Here, blacksmiths and alchemists are upper-class professions. Those who have real skills and can forge excellent weapons and equipment are people of "status".

Masters Lu, Wang, and Hu are renowned figures in Fengming City and even throughout 96511.

They sat together, drinking tea and chatting, holding an "academic exchange meeting" like scholars—that was truly elegant and highbrow.

It is by no means a pretentious affectation.

"Master Lu, are you free now?"

During the conversation, a shop assistant came over.

Lu Li looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"

The shop assistant pointed towards the workshop: "A customer came into our shop, saying he wants to borrow the workshop to forge a magical artifact! The shopkeeper asked me to ask you if you'd like to go take a look?"

A magical artifact?!

Lu Li was slightly taken aback, and Master Wang and Master Hu also exchanged a glance.

"Ha! A spirit weapon blacksmith? We in 96511 have such a talent!" Lu Li smiled and turned to his two masters. "Seniors, shall we go and take a look?"

Master Hu chuckled and said, "A magical artifact? Interesting! Master Wang, let's go take a look!"

"Let's go then!"

"please."

The three walked side by side with the shop assistant toward the forging workshop.

Zuo Chang had been waiting in the workshop for a while.

He heard footsteps, turned around, and saw three people, two old and one young, coming together.

Their skin was not smooth; it had a scorched, dark reddish-brown color.

Beneath the brocade robes, his muscles bulged, his biceps and triceps far stronger than the average person's; it was clear he had overused the hammer and was no longer in good shape.

"I'm coming."

The shopkeeper, with a beaming smile, introduced Lu Li and the other two masters to Zuo Chang.

Lu Li sized up Zuo Chang and asked, "Master Zuo, is this the one you want to forge a magical artifact?"

Zuo Chang nodded: "Yes."

"Oh... Do you need me to introduce you to all the equipment in the workshop? Our casting workshop is newly opened, and we chose new equipment when we purchased it. You probably don't know the details."

"No need." Zuo Chang looked around, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "Your stuff isn't that advanced; it's just enough."

I--

Hard.

The fist is hard.

Lu Li had to admit that Zuo Chang's words were somewhat insightful.

The equipment in the casting workshop was indeed not the most advanced.

But where can a five-digit community like 96511 get the most advanced forging equipment?

Even if we make it, we won't need it!

Master Wang is a straightforward person.

Looking at Zuo Chang's delicate skin, he knew he wasn't the type to tend the furnace. And hearing his arrogant words, he felt he was really shallow!

He shook his head and said dismissively, "Master Lu, I have some things to take care of at the shop, so I'll be leaving now."

He clasped his hands in a fist salute and left.

Lu Li was equally disdainful, but he didn't show it on his face: "Forging spiritual weapons is a profound skill. We can provide you with the materials. Master Zuo, what do you want?"

I want tungsten steel mithril source material.

but……

The kind of stuff you don't see much of in the late game, 96511 definitely doesn't have, so asking is pointless.

At this point, we can only make do.

Zuo Chang said, "I'll decide what to do with it."

The shopkeeper quickly added, "Mr. Zuo, we have an agreement beforehand—if you can't create the magical artifact, you'll have to buy all the materials at the original price."

"Of course!"

Zuo Chang smiled and nodded, then walked to the workshop warehouse and took out about ten pounds of processed magical steel, intending to make a one-handed sword.

Lu Li stood with his hands behind his back, calmly looking at Zuo Chang, his heart unmoved.

At such a young age, he has already gained recognition and popularity, and was hired by the foundry as a master craftsman at a high price. His arrogance is more than just a little bit.

What Master Wang and Master Hu?

They're all mediocre!

As for this Zuo Chang—

Most likely, they are ignorant and incompetent.

The process involves melting in a hot furnace, cooling with water, and then hammering, repeating this process over and over.

Time passes slowly.

What gradually changed, besides the increasingly shiny and bright magical steel that looked very sharp, was also the complexion of Lu Li and Master Hu.

The shopkeeper was somewhat of an expert.

He hissed and said, "Master Lu, this Mr. Zuo seems to have some skill. Judging from his demeanor, he doesn't seem like a novice."

What newbie?

This is an expert!

Lu Li was horrified. In less than an hour, his attitude changed from disdain to doubt, from doubt to surprise, and finally back to doubt!

My first doubt was that Zuo Chang seemed to actually know how to forge iron;

The second source of doubt was the astonishment at Zuo Chang's superb skills!

He was now certain that the quality of the sword in Zuo Chang's hand, once completed, would surpass that of his "Dragon Slayer"!

No.

It's not just surpassing, it's crushing!

Although his heart was in turmoil, Lu Li refrained from taking any unnecessary actions due to his status.

He didn't move, and Master Hu couldn't stand up anymore!

Master Hu quickly stepped forward and asked, "Master Zuo, who did you learn forging from?"

Zuo Chang didn't even look up: "Learn from heaven and earth, and emulate nature."

"……who?"

"It means I learned it on my own, I learned it on my own."

Self-taught...

Can someone reach this level through self-study?

Master Hu spoke softly, his voice as gentle as a sheep's: "Your quenching technique is truly the best I've ever seen! The quality of a sword largely depends on temperature control—the temperature of the cooling water and the tempering temperature are both very important! Uh... Master Zuo, could you perhaps offer some pointers on the secrets of this?"

Master Hu is right.

Quenching can improve the rigidity, wear resistance, fatigue strength and toughness of steel.

The ability to select the appropriate tempering temperature to improve quality based on the current state of the steel is the dividing line between a master and a novice.