Don't overwork; it's useless even if you do.
This was Duan Jin's advice to Su Ming.
At least from his understanding, it was true. After cultivating Spirit Power to a higher level, forging would become twice as effective with half the effort.
Su Ming certainly agreed.
Cultivation level was the foundation.
This wasn't just true for now; it was the same even in the Douluo 3 era. Having a high vantage point was always more efficient than fumbling in the dark and taking detours. Wasting excessive energy on a secondary profession at low levels would hinder cultivation.
Of course, an entire era believing in cultivating from weak to strong step-by-step wasn't without reason; it was ultimately the most cost-effective way to increase strength.
Focusing solely on Spirit Power and ignoring secondary professions would, at best, make one a Spirit Sage by twenty. By learning a secondary profession, if one's Spirit Power reached Spirit King level and they simultaneously produced a One-Word Battle Armor, they could also possess strength at the Spirit Sage level.
And after that?
Which was easier: improving from Spirit Sage to Spirit Douluo, or improving from Spirit King to Spirit Emperor while also producing Two-Word Battle Armor?
The same logic applied later on.
As for starting to cultivate a secondary profession from the Spirit Sage level, it, on the contrary, disrupted one's lifelong planning rhythm. Most Spirit Masters couldn't accept wasting energy on a secondary profession when their cultivation speed had already significantly slowed down. That kind of feeling of torment would wear down their enthusiasm for the secondary profession, leading to accomplishing nothing.
Cases like En Ci were, after all, rare; otherwise, they wouldn't become legends.
It could only be said that different systems could be compatible, but one had to find the right balance. Cultivating the corresponding system at the appropriate stage was the way to go far.
Now, his body wasn't fully developed yet, and his Spirit Power wasn't very high either. Of course, Su Ming had to prioritize Spirit Power cultivation.
"This is the shop that the Teacher applied for you. The location is quite remote, but with you, a Blacksmith Master, here, it shouldn't lack business. For the next few years, you just need to run the shop yourself, complete any orders that come in, and cultivate your Spirit Power."
Su Ming took the business license, surprised that training under his teacher was so... down-to-earth.
Wow, open a shop, forge yourself, and if you don't understand something, come ask the teacher for guidance and gain experience.
"Senior Brother, I still have to go to school," Su Ming reminded Duan Jin.
Duan Jin said, "Don't worry, I enrolled you in an advanced Spirit Master academy. It's the only one in Gengxin City, called the Divine Iron Academy."
Divine Iron Academy?
Su Ming had no impression of it whatsoever.
"The Divine Iron Academy has mostly Tool Martial Spirits. It was built with funds from the Blacksmith Association. The biggest career path after graduation is also joining the Blacksmith Association and becoming a high-level blacksmith. So, enrollment is somewhat difficult, and there aren't many geniuses."
Su Ming understood.
Without many geniuses, it naturally lacked fame.
Little Ming's Forging Shop.
A middle-aged man, followed by two attendants, looked at the relatively quiet small shop and walked in.
Compared to the steamer-like environment outside, the furnaces inside this small shop weren't running at full capacity, making it feel quite cool in contrast.
"Is the owner in?"
The man addressed the child, meditating with closed eyes on a reclining chair.
Su Ming opened his eyes. "I am the owner."
"Stop joking. I have a large batch order to place," the man frowned.
"I am the owner. I am a Blacksmith Master." As he spoke, a paper certificate appeared in Su Ming's hand.
The man took the certificate and glanced at it, confirming it belonged to this child.
The certificate was legitimate, issued by the Blacksmith Association. It stated that this blacksmith, named Su Ming, who possessed Blacksmith Master level skill, was only seven years old.
"You're so young, can you even swing a hammer properly?" the man couldn't help but ask.
Su Ming rolled his eyes and didn't answer.
He'd already given you the certificate, and you're still doubting if I can lift a hammer?
I'll hammer your head.
The man also knew he'd asked a useless question, but he was genuinely surprised.
However, he was well-traveled. He quickly compared what he'd seen in the world to Su Ming's situation and accepted the premise that Su Ming could become a Blacksmith Master at such a young age.
As long as he was a Spirit Master, his Martial Spirit was strength-oriented, he was willing to put in the effort, and he had forging talent, it was possible.
"I have an order here. The quantity is a bit large. Take a look."
The man handed Su Ming a very long list.
The list recorded various required parts.
Su Ming scanned it and said hesitantly, "This is enough for over a hundred sets of armor, right?"
The man said, "Don't worry about that. It's just equipment for the support-type Spirit Masters in our sect."
Su Ming glanced at the man with a skeptical look.
Such fine armor for support-type Spirit Masters?
"Can you forge it or not?" the man said.
"Don't worry about that. I'm a Blacksmith Master. This is work even a Senior Blacksmith can do; of course, I can."
"Although the Blacksmith Association's certificate is very credible, I still need to inspect the work. Here's the deal: first forge one set of armor for me. I'll come to inspect it in three days. I'll pay five hundred Gold Spirit Coins for this one set. If it passes, I'll entrust the rest of the order to you. One hundred sets in total. I'll give you thirty thousand Gold Spirit Coins."
One hundred sets, thirty thousand Gold Spirit Coins?
Batch forging would be much more efficient, so for one hundred sets, the price per set calculated out to three hundred Gold Spirit Coins.
Su Ming estimated. Judging from the part requirements on the blueprint, it was reasonable, even slightly above market price.
"Deal. Three days is enough." Su Ming suddenly thought of something and asked, "How long does this batch order need to be completed?"
"Three months."
"Then forget it. I'm the only blacksmith here. Three days per set is the limit. It would take at least three hundred days, ten months, to finish forging." Su Ming shrugged.
The man stared at Su Ming, looking him up and down, and felt his assessment was probably accurate.
"First, use your best skills to forge this one. If the quality is acceptable, everything can be negotiated."
Su Ming was surprised that the other party still insisted.
"Alright."
After leaving Little Ming's Blacksmith Shop, the two attendants following the man asked puzzledly, "Sir Steward, this batch of armor is for the disciples within our sect. Are we really going to wait for him to forge it slowly?"
"Only about twenty-plus disciples actually need the armor right now. The rest are just reserves. Giving him time to forge is fine," the Steward said. "This child is already a Blacksmith Master at such a young age. He might not become a Grand Blacksmith Master in ten months, but three years should be enough. We can place occasional orders with him over the next three years. Once he becomes a Grand Blacksmith Master in the future, we can continue cooperating."
Once a blacksmith reached the Blacksmith Master level, it was already skilled work. Even if the profession's status wasn't high, its scarcity made up for it.
Ordinary blacksmiths were looked down upon—that was within the Spirit Master world.
High-level blacksmiths were also looked down upon, but that was by high-level Spirit Masters.
A Blacksmith Master, out in the world, had status no lower than a Spirit Master in the teens. A Grand Blacksmith Master, needless to say, had status comparable to a Spirit Ancestor. That's because, at the Master level, the products they forged could, to some extent, achieve a slight compatibility with Spirit Power, their effects far surpassing ordinary tools. Moreover, they could use their skills to repair damaged Spirit Tools unearthed from ruins.
(End of Chapter)