Looking at the beautiful scene before him, Zhu Jiuyang's eyes were full of fascination.
This was true forging!
"Xiao Ming, I had a special feeling just now..."
After admiring his masterpiece, Zhu Jiuyang immediately told Su Ming about the sensations he experienced during forging, sharing all the experience accumulated this time.
"Teacher, it's only because you are a Spirit Douluo that you could withstand it. Anyone else, whose Martial Spirit could persist for so long?"
Su Ming understood what Zhu Jiuyang meant, but could only helplessly inform him of the reality.
The reality was that even if he knew this was the path after Spirit Refinement, he couldn't attempt it.
His cultivation level wasn't sufficient.
"Like you said, Teacher, after Spirit Refinement, it should be possible to further bestow upon the Spirit Refined metal a 'heritage'. This heritage might be a kind of talent, different from the特性 (characteristics) born when awakening spirituality."
Although he directly told Zhu Jiuyang that his own cultivation was insufficient to try this method, Su Ming still 'pondered' for a while, analyzing Zhu Jiuyang's discovery.
"If Thousand Refinements is about awakening the metal's spirituality, and Spirit Refinement is about bestowing life upon the metal, then the state you felt, Teacher, should be about bestowing heritage upon the metal, which is bestowing a soul upon the metal. I plan to name it Soul Refinement."
Zhu Jiuyang had no objection to his disciple naming it ahead of him; on the contrary, he was very satisfied with the name Su Ming proposed.
"Soul Refinement! What a great name, Soul Refinement!"
"Of course, Teacher, we are now only considered Level Five Blacksmiths in the new blacksmithing system. Level Six Blacksmiths are also at the Spirit Refinement level, but they need to master the technique of Fusion Forging," Su Ming said. "Compared to Soul Refinement, I think we should first thoroughly research Fusion Forging."
Zhu Jiuyang nodded.
"That makes sense. The Jade Silver you explored and developed earlier, fusing Spirit Heavy Silver and Spirit Magic Crystal, indeed surpasses any single rare metal in all aspects."
He agreed with Su Ming's point.
Rather than exploring that Soul Refinement, it was better to solidify the foundation first, master Fusion Forging, and then elevate Fusion Forging to the Spirit Refinement level as well.
"Actually, Teacher, regarding the special state you entered today, after hearing your description, I think Fusion Forging becomes even more important."
"Oh?"
Facing Zhu Jiuyang's puzzled gaze, Su Ming explained seriously: "I think the gap between us and Soul Refinement isn't just a lack of forging technique, but a flaw in our thinking."
This was also an insight of his. Just moments ago, a flash of inspiration passed through his mind, giving him a new understanding of Soul Refinement.
Not only that, but in the Douluo 3 era, he also immediately found Zhen Hua to verify his insight.
"Fusion Forging is absolutely crucial for Soul Refinement. The so-called bestowing of heritage, if it's only the heritage of the blacksmith, that would be too shallow. After all, expecting a blacksmith to be proficient in forging while also mastering different heritages to bestow upon metals is simply unbelievable."
"Rather than the blacksmith's own Martial Spirit serving as the heritage bestowed upon Soul Refined metal, it would be better to fuse the characteristics between metals to draw out the so-called talent!"
"And what is needed for this is Fusion Forging!"
Zhu Jiuyang's breathing became rapid.
"Xiao Ming, you are truly a born blacksmith!"
The future Zhen Hua also gave Su Ming a confirming reply.
The so-called Spirit Alloy formulas are actually types of heritages. Different Spirit Masters, when choosing different Spirit Alloys for crafting their Battle Armor, are selecting the heritage suitable for themselves, adding this heritage's enhancement to their Martial Spirit.
After speaking, Su Ming closed his eyes, sat down cross-legged, and further organized his thoughts.
Seeing this, Zhu Jiuyang did not disturb his disciple.
He began recovering his state alone, while also pondering what Su Ming had said.
"Fusion Forging... every type of Spirit Alloy needs to be explored. Perhaps any two rare metals can be fusion forged, but the fusion ratio and the forging method all need to be explored. This requires a long time; it needs the subsequent development of the Blacksmith Association to perfect, not something for Xiao Ming and me to perfect."
"For Xiao Ming and me, the key is those Fusion Forging formulas that can succeed without extensive trial and error—that is, rare metals with inherently similar characteristics, or those that are easy to combine. The Fusion Forging between such rare metals is the focus of exploration for Xiao Ming and me."
"The concept of rare metals has been further refined by Xiao Ming and me. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is searching everywhere on the continent, and the association has temporarily gained control over two rare metal veins."
"But this is not enough. The variety of rare metals is still too small. We need to find more rare metals to discover easier combinations."
"And this requires collecting rare metals on a larger scale, searching for rare metal veins more extensively. Before that, the association must have sufficient support."
"Cooperation..."
Zhu Jiuyang attached greater importance to the upcoming negotiations.
At the same time, he began thinking again about the problem he was reluctant to face.
"Spirit Hall, Qian Family..."
Half a month had passed since the Blacksmith Association auctioned twelve pieces of Spirit Metal.
Su Ming felt the atmosphere in the association had become strange, with a vague feeling of being watched.
"The feeling from faith cannot be wrong. It seems various parties have already sent people to investigate."
Su Ming, led by Ning Yuan, found Sword Douluo Chen Xin.
"Senior, the agreed-upon opportunity for you to act, to help my teacher hunt a spirit ring, should be used now, right?"
Chen Xin didn't quibble with Su Ming, merely nodding in agreement.
He didn't question whether this differed from the agreement.
One act is one act.
Hunting a spirit or providing deterrence, it's all the same.
Seeing Chen Xin had no objection, Su Ming breathed a sigh of relief. He exited the room where Chen Xin was meditating and returned to the forging studio; he also had his own forging studio on the fifth floor.
As Su Ming left, Ning Yuan watched his retreating figure, recalling the instructions Ning Fengzhi gave him when he left the clan over a year ago.
"If during your tenure the Blacksmith Association cooperates with the Spirit Hall, Uncle Sword should act to deter them if necessary. You should use this as a bargaining chip to seek further benefits for the clan."
"Pity. The Clan Leader still miscalculated slightly. The clan needs to rein itself in a bit now." Ning Yuan pondered secretly. "Zhu Jiuyang's Spirit Soul didn't require Elder Sword's intervention. This act of deterrence uses the intervention opportunity from the transaction, not cashing in a favor."
He sighed.
There were many aspects of the cooperation between Su Ming and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan that were not ideal, but he had still accommodated this initial shareholder. Allowing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to use the Spirit Soul formation for a year provided them an excellent opportunity to win over forging talents, laying a good initial foundation within the Blacksmith Association.
Over the past year, relying on their vast wealth and possession of the Spirit Soul formation, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had recruited a significant proportion of the blacksmiths in the association.
"After this intervention, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will no longer have priority recruitment rights."
Ning Yuan was clear about this.
But he also didn't consider it a bad thing.
"After this, multiple factions will form within the association, balancing each other. Xiao Ming should also officially begin externally teaching the Spirit Infusion Technique, right..."
(Chapter End)