Chapter 2: Low-Tier Yellow Rank Battle Weapon – Water-Patterned Golden Dagger!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Inside the forging room, Jiang Lin placed a fist-sized, golden-glimmering ore into a small blast furnace he had crafted entirely by hand from clay and bricks. Then he added some coal stones collected from the market, sealed the furnace, and began pumping the simple bellows nonstop to raise the internal temperature.
Under the scorching heat, beads of sweat slid down Jiang Lin's cheeks, and before long, his back was drenched in sweat.
"It's said there's a mystical flame in the world called 'Heavenly Flame', possessing immense power. If that's out of reach, then even a Beast Flame—one of those extraordinary flames far stronger than ordinary ones—might greatly benefit forging, right?" Sweat dripped from his forehead as his arms kept pulling the bellows, never resting. It was hard to imagine such a small body held such incredible strength.
"This body's talent for cultivating Dou Qi isn't bad either. If I didn't intentionally hold back, I probably could've internalized Dou Qi and reached the first stage within a month."
"But… no. Without enough power to protect myself, being too impressive will only invite unnecessary trouble."
"My Dou Qi attribute is Metal in Fire. The fire-type Dou Qi contains a trace of Geng Metal essence, making it the most suitable for forging."
"In my past life, I was just a materials science grad student waiting to die, wasting time. I think I pulled a few all-nighters in a row, then fell asleep and somehow ended up here… nearly starved to death in that valley. If I hadn't idly picked up some crafting skills during downtime, I'd have died with just a tourist's footprint left behind."
The best Dou Qi attribute for alchemists is Wood in Fire—fire-type Dou Qi with a trace of green wood essence. But that didn't mean Jiang Lin's Metal in Fire attribute couldn't be used for alchemy. In this world, there are alchemists who refine pills using natural flames. Wood in Fire is the best innate trait, but not the only requirement for becoming an alchemist.
"After fumbling around Qingshan Town at the foot of the Magic Beast Mountains for six months, I've yet to see any significant emphasis placed on forging. I must take the path of a forger to quietly increase my strength without drawing attention."
As he smelted the golden metal in the furnace, Jiang Lin's mind began to wander amid the repetitive work.
"The lofty status of alchemists reflects this world's view on power—it values personal strength, individual might. Weapons, armor, and other external things are seen as insignificant."
"What is metaphysical is called Dao; what is physical is called Tool. But if a tool can carry the Dao… then it becomes the embryo of a 'magical treasure'."
As a materialist graduate student in materials science, Jiang Lin's worldview had always been simple and pragmatic: if it exists, it makes sense. If it makes sense, it can be replicated!
Ordinary weapons in this high-powered world where people can move mountains and chase the moon were not very impactful. But Jiang Lin always remembered what his mentor used to say: "Basic materials form the foundation of civilization—its ideology, development, cosmology. The only real difference between a technological and a fantasy civilization lies in one thing: whether or not extraordinary materials are discovered!"
"Oh, teacher… That little assistant you always overworked ended up being the first to discover extraordinary materials… only to get thrown not abroad—but into another world."
He didn't know how much time had passed. The sun outside had grown blazing hot. Jiang Lin took up tongs, opened the furnace despite the intense heat, and poured the molten metal—now turned to crimson liquid—into a rectangular mold he had prepared.
"In Mother's books, it's said that pills of sixth rank and above begin to develop faint spiritual awareness. If I could apply the same set of rules used in alchemy to forging… would I be able to create magical treasures?"
Jiang Lin skillfully quenched the forearm-sized, solidified metal block in various liquids, then pulled it out with the tongs. With his other hand, he lifted a small hammer and began the reforging process to temper the steel.
Human physique in this world was far better than in Jiang Lin's past life. His ten-year-old body now easily outperformed the weak one he had when he'd spent all day holed up in a lab.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The crisp, rhythmic ringing continued to echo. Jiang Lin wasn't in a rush—he seemed to have entered a meditative state. Without saying a word, he kept hammering the red-hot iron with precision and rhythm. To someone watching, if not for his precise strikes and subtle repositioning, it might've looked like he was just spacing out.
Jiang Lin's mind was most clear when doing repetitive work. His mentor once said that if he could stop slacking off, with his ability to enter a meditative state at will, he'd surely become a master in some field.
"What beautiful flowing patterns…" Despite his youthful energy, Jiang Lin began feeling the ache in his forearm. But when he saw the light-blue ore growing thinner in his hands, and intricate patterns appearing on the blade from repeated folding and forging, his spirit soared.
Reinvigorated, Jiang Lin began shaping the metal into a dagger about 20 centimeters long and two fingers wide. With the handle, the total length would be about 25 centimeters.
Sizzle!
The red-hot dagger was plunged into a special liquid for rapid cooling, and under the sunlight, the blade reflected a beautiful bluish-gold hue.
Sharpening!
Quenching!
As the dagger neared completion, Jiang Lin's energy surged again.
Until a light, pleasant voice called from outside: "Xiao Linzi! Still hammering away? It's time to eat—why aren't you rushing for food today?"
"Ah! W-why aren't you wearing any clothes?!"
Following the sound of metal, Xiao Yi Xian—dressed in white—pushed open the door to Jiang Lin's forge and saw him drenched in sweat, shirtless, fully focused beside the furnace, polishing something intently.
He looked up with a smile. "Lunchtime already? Just a sec, I'm almost done."
Xiao Yi Xian stood at the door, unsure whether to enter or not, eyes locked on Jiang Lin's bare torso. As she hesitated, Jiang Lin stood up, holding a dagger whose blade glowed with a bluish-cyan light. Near the blade's edge were elegant golden patterns resembling flowing water—exquisitely beautiful.
"What's that?" Xiao Yi Xian's gaze was instantly drawn to the dazzling dagger in his hand.
"Low-tier Yellow Rank battle weapon—Water-Patterned Golden Dagger."
As he spoke, Jiang Lin turned toward a wooden rod nearby, about the thickness of an arm. He infused his sole wisp of Dou Qi into the dagger. A faint aura emerged along the glowing blade—
Swish!
Clean cut in two!
(END CHAPTER)
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