Douro Continent

Chapter 208 Flying Divine Claw (Part 1)

Tang San thought for a moment and nodded, "Alright then. Actually, there's nothing to keep secret. Some things can't be learned just by wanting to." The Tang Clan's hidden weapons are so famous, how could there not be imitations? But in Tang San's world, the Tang Clan has stood for hundreds of years, yet no imitation hidden weapon has ever surpassed theirs. An ordinary Tang Clan hidden weapon craftsman needs ten years of training. Tang San possesses extremely high talent in this area, and it took him over twenty years of continuous research and crafting to reach the level of a master of mechanical hidden weapon craftsmanship. Imitation is virtually impossible.

Ning Rongrong said, "That's even better, we don't have to go back first. To be honest, I'm really afraid that Dad won't let me come out if I go back. It's also good that we don't have to train anymore for a while, so we can have some fun. Xiao Wu, where do you think we should go? Tang San, do you want to come along?"

Tang San frowned and said, "Our teacher instructed everyone to cultivate soul power. Rongrong, have you forgotten?"

Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue and laughed, "It's okay, I don't always go out to play. Right now, among the Shrek Seven Devils, my soul power is the weakest. I know I need to work hard. But I also need to relax sometimes, it's about balancing work and rest."

Xiao Wu nodded and said, "Rongrong has a point. Xiao San, would you like to come out for a walk with us?"

Tang San shook his head and said, "Never mind, I still have a lot to do. You guys go ahead. Just be careful." After saying that, he quickly took his leave; he always felt a little strange in the girls' dormitory.

Tang San had already decided what to do during these two months on his way back.

Through his previous encounter in the Star Dou Great Forest, Tang San increasingly felt his own inadequacy. Although the Eight Spider Lances gave him a significant advantage among Soul Masters of the same level, this advantage would vanish once there was a difference in level.

Tang San was generally confident of defeating Soul Masters below level 40. For those above level 40, it depended on the type and attributes of the opponent's Soul Master.

If his elemental advantage was countered by his opponent's, he believed he could put up a fight using his hidden weapons. However, if his elemental advantage was countered by his opponent, victory would be virtually impossible.

The furnace Tang San bought from the blacksmith shop last time had already been delivered to Shrek Academy. Before returning today, he also specially ordered a batch of metal from the blacksmith shop on his way back. His battle spirit had earned him more than 5,000 gold coins, so buying some high-quality metal was no problem for him.

With the metal he bought last time, he planned to enhance his weaponry over the next two months. He also planned to intensify his practice of concealed weapon techniques.

Insufficient internal energy prevents many of the Tang Clan's exquisite hidden weapons from being used effectively. Therefore, Tang San still needs to focus on improving his skills in the mechanical hidden weapons that he is most proficient in.

Although Shrek Academy was simple, it was still quite spacious. Given the limited number of teachers and students, Tang San asked Flander for an empty room when the furnace equipment arrived. Of course, rent was due.

After leaving Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong's dormitory, Tang San went straight to this house. The house was simply built of stacked rocks; although not very regular in shape, it was extremely sturdy and durable. This was the most common way for ordinary people to build houses.

The room wasn't large, about thirty square meters. It contained a casting furnace, a calcining furnace, an anvil for hammering, and casting hammers—everything was there. However, because it hadn't been used for a while, some of the metal had rusted.

In one corner of the house, there was a large pile of charcoal and various blocks of metal. Most of them were unprocessed.

Tang San tidied up the room briefly. As he held the forging hammer, a familiar feeling welled up inside him. In his mind, he couldn't help but recall the way his father taught him forging.

Although Tang Hao didn't teach Tang San for very long, that period was the closest Tang San had been to his father since birth. Tang San remembered every word Tang Hao said during that time exceptionally well.

"The master craftsman is not a blacksmith who makes divine artifacts from divine iron, but a blacksmith who forges divine artifacts from ordinary iron." Tang San murmured, repeating his father's words, as he swung the forging hammer in his hand with the force of his calf.

Without any clear objective, accompanied by the whistling wind, the forging hammer danced in the room with Tang San's hands. Each strike was imbued with internal energy. Every half-turn of his body, every transition between strikes, was perfectly timed.

The changes in his internal energy and body made Tang San more adept at using the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique. Although there was no target to strike, the exhilarating feeling of venting his emotions brought him an extremely pleasant sensation.

Tang San swung the hammer a full eighty-one times before finally stopping. His clothes were soaked with sweat. It felt exhilarating, truly exhilarating. Holding the forging hammer before himself, Tang San's mind was filled with memories of his time at the Tang Sect and learning forging from Tang Hao, a flood of emotions washing over him.

Thirteen years old meant he had been in this world for thirteen years. In this brand new world, he had gained many things he had never had before: family, friendship, martial spirit, and soul skills—all of these had completely become part of his soul.

Tang San flashed and arrived at the pile of metal. He struck a piece of refined iron with his forging hammer, which was more than half a meter in diameter. The iron tilted slightly due to the impact. He then extended his toes and gently lifted the nearly 100-pound piece of refined iron.

With his left hand reaching out, he grasped the refined iron into his hand. Tang Clan, an indelible mark, I will surely make you shine in this new world.

Tang San skillfully piled up charcoal, lit it, and started working the bellows. The refined iron was placed on the casting furnace.

A rhythmic, powerful sound from the bellows began to echo within the stone house. In just a moment, crimson flames rose, and the foundry began to function again.

Tang San never forgot his father's words, and he understood why his father said that forging divine weapons from ordinary iron was the true meaning of a master craftsman. It wasn't just about skill, but more importantly, about unwavering perseverance.

Even the most ordinary iron, if forged tens of thousands of times, will become the king of iron.

The Tang Sect has extremely high standards for the hidden weapons they manufacture, and Tang San, as a former master of mechanical hidden weapons, is even more demanding of his work. He would never allow a situation where a problem with the quality of his hidden weapons leads to a crisis for himself.

When refined iron is heated to a deep red, it resembles an enormous ruby. Only when it is fully heated to a red-hot state can the impurities within it be seen.

The forging hammer leaped into Tang San's hand, and its dance began.

Clang, clang, clang, clang… The rhythmic tapping echoed from the stone house. Tang San began his forging.

From that day on, apart from eating, Tang San didn't even go back to his dormitory to sleep. Every day, he repeated the same relentless forging process. When he was tired, he would sit down and cultivate his soul power. As soon as his energy was restored, he would continue his work.

No one knew what Tang San was making, not even Grandmaster. But Grandmaster never went to his forging room to look for him, which showed complete trust. Grandmaster believed that Tang San would never neglect his cultivation because of forging.

Xiao Wu was the only one who had ever been inside the foundry.

Xiao Wu would go to the foundry every day. She wouldn't disturb Tang San. She would just quietly put her clean clothes aside, place the water she had prepared and some peeled and pitted fruit there, and then quietly leave.

It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to Tang San, but rather that since she had met him, she had never seen him so engrossed in doing something.

Tang San's body was filled with the smell of metal, and his whole body was the color of iron gray and charcoal.

Xiao Wu was somewhat worried about Tang San's current situation. Only when she secretly entered the foundry again and saw that Tang San had changed into clean clothes and drunk all the water she brought and the empty fruit plate did she feel a little relieved.

As the days passed, the hammering in the foundry only grew more frequent. It began before dawn and continued until night completely replaced the daylight.

During this period, even when eating in the cafeteria, Tang San remained silent and contemplative.

In response to this situation, Dai Mubai also sought help from the master and Flander. The master only said one thing: do not disturb him.

Deep blue gradually replaced pure black, and in the distance, a golden thread slowly peeked through the hazy light, and dawn arrived once again.

The door to the foundry opened, and a man walked out, with messy hair, an iron-gray face, and an exposed, stained but muscular upper body.

He looked stronger than before, and seemed to have grown taller as well. A faint purple hue emanated from his eyes, possessing a captivating quality.

Looking into the distance, towards the east where the golden line gradually expands, the purple aura in my eyes grows stronger.

He quietly raised his hands, and as he clenched his fists, his entire body of steel-like muscles suddenly tensed, like a cheetah poised to pounce, full of power and wild beauty.

"Forty-nine days, a full forty-nine days. I have finally succeeded." He slowly opened his palm, and a pair of perfectly round iron balls appeared in his hand.

(End of this chapter)