Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

He had never seen these details in "Thor's Hammer" before, but they gave him a sudden realization, as if the skill that had been stuck at a bottleneck for many years was beginning to loosen.

While he was lost in thought, Tian Guang, who was standing to the side, had already figured out what was going on.

The Farmer's Twenty-Four Earthly Branches were created by understanding the principles of nature and the growth of plants, emphasizing following the natural order and leveraging existing forces.

In Tian Guang's eyes, Xu Qing's hammer-wielding movements, though seemingly simple, were in harmony with the great Dao.

This is not just blacksmithing; it is clearly an interpretation of a Dao, a Dao that perfectly integrates tools and people, strength and reason.

Tian Guang couldn't help but marvel.

Xu Qing's sword-making skills were already among the best in the world, yet he also possessed such profound martial arts skills.

No wonder he was unwilling to join the peasant family. Such a person should not be bound by any force. Just like this iron hammer in his hands, he can not only forge iron and create weapons, but also develop martial arts. He is free and unrestrained.

Tian Guang quietly slowed his breathing, afraid of disturbing the two who were immersed in the hammering technique.

Looking at Da Tiechui's infatuated expression, he had already vaguely made up his mind. If Xu Qing was willing to give Da Tiechui some pointers, this strongman might really become a great help to the Farmer's Clan. And if Xu Qing could take Da Tiechui as his apprentice, the connection between him and the Farmer's Clan would be even closer in the future.

At this moment, Xu Qing's hammer suddenly stopped, and the crisp sound of striking iron came to an abrupt halt.

He gently placed the hammer on the anvil, turned to look at the still dazed hammer, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "How much did you understand?"

Big Hammer suddenly snapped out of his daze, a hint of embarrassment on his face, yet also an undisguised eagerness. He bowed deeply to Xu Qing, his voice trembling with excitement: "Sir, your hammering technique... is truly superb. This junior humbly requests your guidance!"

"I'll give you some pointers!" Xu Qing's gaze fell on the big iron hammer. "No problem."

"However, you should know that to gain something, you have to give something in return."

"So, what can you offer in return?"

Chapter 145 Passing on Knowledge and Instruction, the Sword Named Thunderclap!

Big Iron Hammer's expression hardened.

On the other side, Tian Guang's fingers, which were behind his back, paused slightly, and a hint of undisguised surprise flashed in his eyes.

Before coming here, he had considered countless ways to recruit strongmen, such as offering them large sums of money or expressing his feelings to them.

As for despicable methods like coercion and intimidation, Tian Guang disdained them from the bottom of his heart. He knew better than anyone that a forced relationship would not be sweet, and even if he used force to compel someone into joining the farm, that person would never be truly loyal.

At most, it was just to point out the perilous situation of being surrounded by bandits, letting them know that only by relying on a powerful force could they be protected. But he never expected that Xu Qing would use the simplest method to firmly hook the heartstrings of this "fierce tiger".

Of course, those few hammer blows weren't simple either.

Those few hammer swings seemed ordinary, but in Tian Guang's eyes they were full of mystery. The arc of the hammer handle as it rotated in his palm, the force of the hammerhead hitting the iron billet, and even the rhythm of his breathing and the hammering were all perfectly synchronized, as if he had touched the realm of skill approaching the Tao.

"This... I..."

The sledgehammer froze in place, clearly lost in confused thought because of Xu Qing's words.

He was a boorish man who barely knew any characters and couldn't understand what this man, who looked younger than him, wanted from him.

From initial doubts to later conviction after repeated reflection.

He had neither gold nor silver, nor any secrets; there was really nothing about him that anyone would covet.

Having figured this out, Big Hammer suddenly knelt down on one knee, his rough, hoarse voice filled with urgency: "As long as you are willing to teach me forging skills, I... I am willing to go through fire and water!"

There is no order of precedence in learning; those who are accomplished are teachers.

Although Big Iron Hammer looked stronger and older than Xu Qing, Xu Qing's hammer skills had already impressed him. His effortless and graceful movements were just like when his late master taught him, and he was even more skilled than his master.

If one could learn such skills, one might truly break through the bottleneck of Thor's hammer and step into a new realm never before touched.

"Would you be willing to go through fire and water?" Xu Qing leaned forward slightly, his gaze falling on the taut shoulder of the big iron hammer, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable power.

Big Hammer suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with determination: "I keep my word, I'm willing to do anything!"

“That’s perfect. I do have something for you to do.” Xu Qing straightened up, tapping the anvil beside him lightly with his fingertips. “I want you to take the title of the number one swordsman in Yan.”

Big Hammer's eyes widened in shock, his dark face filled with astonishment: "The number one swordsman of Yan? But I... I don't know how to use a sword at all!"

"Whether you can use a sword or not isn't that important," Xu Qing interrupted him, his gaze falling on the burly body of the man with the big iron hammer. "You were able to repel more than twenty Hu bandits with just an iron hammer, which is enough to show your strength. The rhythm of your hammer swing just now further proves your control over force. With your innate superhuman strength, you can use a sword like a hammer. If you were equipped with a heavy sword, just a few basic movements like swinging, smashing, and slashing would be enough to defeat more than 90% of the swordsmen in Yan."

He paused, then said with an unwavering certainty, "I'll take care of the sword. All you need to do is hold the sword and win the matches."

Despite it being their first meeting, Xu Qing acted as if she had already planned everything, forcefully deciding on Da Tiechui's future.

Big Hammer tried to speak up several times, but when he met Xu Qing's deep eyes, the words in his throat seemed to be blocked by an invisible force. In the end, he could only clench his fists and silently nod in agreement.

Afterwards, Xu Qing accompanied Da Tiechui to finish forging the unfinished kitchen knife. He only gave a few pointers during the quenching process, which made Da Tiechui suddenly understand.

After finishing his work, Tian Guang looked at the spacious blacksmith shop in front of him and didn't need to worry about finding a place to stay.

In the past, when Big Hammer lived with his master, there was still room to spare. Now that he was all alone, it was easy for him to vacate two rooms to accommodate Xu Qing and the other person.

"Mr. Xu Qing, I really can't figure out what you're thinking."

After nightfall, Tian Guang sighed to Xu Qing.

"Wasn't it Mr. Tian Guang who brought me here and suggested that I participate in the sword duel?" Xu Qing looked up at him, his tone carrying a hint of a half-smile. "I was just doing what you suggested."

Tian Guang opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment. When he said those words before, it was more of a joke. He just wanted to invite Xu Qing to come along, to visit each other more often, and to strengthen their friendship.

But to his utter surprise, Xu Qing actually sent Big Iron Hammer to participate in the sword duel, and even more unexpectedly, the other party actually agreed.

He was well aware of the coincidence; Da Tiechui was a blacksmith, and Xu Qing was a top-notch swordsmith, so the two naturally shared a professional connection.

Xu Qing was able to guide Da Tiechui on forging techniques, and Da Tiechui needed Xu Qing's help, which led to this matter.

While he was pondering, Xu Qing suddenly changed the subject: "Speaking of which, I heard that the famous sword Juque, forged by Ou Yezi in the past, is now in the hands of the Farmer's family?"

Tian Guang paused for a moment, then nodded: "Indeed, it's in a farmhouse. Mr. Xu Qing thinks that a large iron hammer is very suitable for the Giant Sword?"

He pondered to himself, since Xu Qing had asked the Great Iron Hammer to participate in the sword fight, he must need a suitable weapon. Could it be that he wanted the Farmer's Clan to give him the Giant Sword?

If the Giant Sword were unclaimed, he wouldn't mind giving it away as a gift, since recruiting the Great Iron Hammer was his original goal. But alas...

“The Juque Sword is indeed only usable by those born with divine strength. If it were in the past, you could have asked for it and I would have had it delivered to you immediately, since it has been lying dormant in the farm for many years.” Tian Guang sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness. “But things are different now. That sword found its owner several years ago and now it has an owner.”

Xu Qing knew, of course, who the owner of the Giant Sword was, but he still shook his head with feigned regret: "Mr. Tian Guang, that's not very kind of you."

"How am I being unfair?" Tian Guang said, feeling both amused and exasperated. He felt that his status as a peasant hero had lost all weight in front of Xu Qing. "What you're saying doesn't make sense."

"According to you, the Giant Sword requires a person with innate divine strength to use it, and the Farmer's Clan already has someone who can wield it, yet you still want to bring the Great Iron Hammer into the Farmer's Clan as well. Mr. Tian Guang's appetite is quite extraordinary." Xu Qing's lips curled into a slight smile.

Tian Guang touched his nose and smiled憨厚ly: "The more talented and extraordinary people like these, the better. Since we've encountered them, we can't just let them slip away."

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing stopped joking and said seriously, "Since the Great Sword has an owner, I will reforge a new sword for the Great Iron Hammer."

This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; even if Tian Guangzhen were willing to give him the Juque sword, he wouldn't agree.

If the Great Iron Hammer were to gain fame through the Giant Sword, it would ultimately be the name of Ou Yezi that would be promoted, not the prestige of the swords forged by Xu Qing.

For the next few days, the fire in the blacksmith's shop was almost never extinguished.

Big Hammer had been working as a blacksmith with his master since he was a child, and in terms of seniority, he was much more experienced than Xu Qing. However, Xu Qing could always explain his long-standing confusion in the most concise way.

Whether it's controlling the heat during forging, choosing the right water quality during quenching, or even adjusting the way you hold the hammer handle, he has benefited greatly from all of these techniques.

What moved him even more was that Xu Qing had integrated hammer techniques with sword techniques, teaching him how to transform the moves of Thor's Hammer into sword techniques. Holding a hammer was hammer technique, and switching to a longsword was sword technique. The two seemed different, but they ultimately converged on the control of force and momentum.

In just a few days, the progress made by the big iron hammer was more significant than in the past few years.

Since his master passed away, he had to learn on his own, and no one had ever taught him so generously before.

Even knowing that Xu Qing had ulterior motives, he was filled with gratitude. This kindness of imparting knowledge and skills was more precious than gold or silver.

Later, he even took the initiative to write down the essential incantations of Thor's hammer and earnestly asked Xu Qing for guidance.

Although Xu Qing rarely fights with others, his talent, honed through years of gifting and selling swords, has already been maxed out, making him a true stat monster.

Previously, he had combined the Twenty-Four Earthly Branches of the Farmer's School with the techniques of the Yin-Yang School to create a quick-learning cultivation method.

In addition, his own mastery of hammer techniques was extraordinary. When faced with Da Tiechui's initiative to ask questions, he not only quickly understood the secrets of Thor's Hammer, but also gave Da Tiechui a lot of guidance. He even created a set of "Thor's Sword Technique" for him based on Thor's Hammer, which amazed Da Tiechui.

Besides that, the most important thing is that Xu Qing has finally figured out what kind of sword to forge for Big Iron Hammer.

At first, he thought of the Divine Sword from the "Seven Swords Descending from Heaven" series. It was a heavy sword similar to the Giant Sword. Heavy swords have no edge, and their weight alone is enough to defeat most people.

After all, an ordinary person would not be able to withstand the force of a sword falling down.

If it were to fall on someone, it could cause anything from broken bones and shattered internal organs to serious injury, or even death.

In addition, in the original story, the hammer Thor used by Mjolnir had an iron chain at the end, which could be thrown out and used as a ranged weapon.

This characteristic can also be added to the tip of the sword.

But in the end, Xu Qing abandoned this plan.

Because a simple heavy sword with iron chains is just a clumsy imitation of the Giant Sword, lacking any distinctive features.

So, after rethinking it.

Xu Qing thought of another sword.

Fortunately, a lot of sword-making materials had been obtained from various forces beforehand.

The Net, the Farmers, the Purple Maiden... and many other forces that Xu Qing collected himself provided him with an unknown amount of sword-forging materials.

In the system's workshop, these materials, while not piled up like mountains, were certainly plentiful.

Now, what Xu Qing lacks in sword forging is not materials.

It's reputation, not fame.

The best way to quickly acquire high-level traits, besides slowly accumulating them yourself and synthesizing them from lower-level ones, is to directly upgrade them with reputation.

A fourth-tier sword requires far more reputation than a third-tier sword.

Of course, collecting materials is also a good habit.

Xu Qing did not give up because of this.

That morning, Big Hammer got up early, carefully took down the blacksmith's shop sign, wrapped it carefully in coarse cloth, and then respectfully kowtowed three times to his master's memorial tablet, not caring that his forehead was red from the kowtow.

After doing all this, he turned to Xu Qing and said, "Sir, I have already said goodbye to the villagers."

He knew in his heart that Xu Qing and Tian Guang were important people from Jicheng and would never stay in Baiyang Village forever.

Xu Qing's guidance during this period showed him new possibilities, and perhaps leaving this place was a good choice.

After all, although the villagers were grateful to him for repelling the Hu bandits, they were also afraid of his fierce appearance. The food they brought him on a daily basis was more out of respect than genuine affection.

If it weren't for Xu Qing and Tian Guang, he originally planned to join the army after the autumn harvest, so that he could at least make a living with his strength.