At the age of eight, he impersonated the orphan of a military officer and went to the martial world.

Chapter 58 The Forging Workshop, The Broken Sword "Hidden Kill"

All of Wang Quanfu's words of persuasion were stuck in his throat.

He looked into Zhang Yuan's unfathomable eyes, which seemed to hold the depths of a frozen pool. There was no trace of youthful gamble or hesitation in them, only unwavering certainty.

He could only open his mouth and let out a low, unintelligible sigh before falling completely silent.

He understood that his nephew's "toughness" was not recklessness, but a way of survival based on absolute control over his own strength, the only viable path in the center of the vortex.

A brief silence fell over the carriage.

As the oxcart rounded a street corner, the clanging of forging and the scorching heat carried on the wind.

Zhang Yuan looked out the window and suddenly said, "Is that Bailianfang? Uncle, you should go back to the shop first. I need to visit Master Ouye."

Following his gaze, Wang Quanfu indeed saw the "Bai Lian Fang" shop in the west of the city, with its simple facade and a roaring fire.

A look of embarrassment and apprehension immediately crossed his face, and he nodded repeatedly, "Ah, yes, yes, you go ahead. That stubborn old man..."

"Well, Master Ou Ye's craftsmanship is undeniable, but his temper... well, he doesn't really like merchants like me. Watch your words."

He had clearly been turned away by Ou Yezhang.

Zhang Yuan got off the cart in front of Bailianfang, and the oxcart carrying Wang Quanfu drove away.

Zhang Yuan straightened his robes and bowed respectfully to the burly figure inside the open door, who was swinging a huge iron hammer, his bare upper body muscular and drenched in sweat: "Master Ou Ye."

"when--!"

The final hammer blow sent sparks flying.

Ou Yezhang stopped what he was doing, propped the hammer on the ground, wiped the sweat from his face, turned around and saw Zhang Yuan, grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: "Oh, the Zhenshan family's kid is here?"

"Wait a moment, I need to repair this broken sword that the customer urgently needs. It just needs a little bit of quenching."

"The shop has lots of things, feel free to browse around, just don't touch anything that's fresh out of the oven and get burned!"

"Yes, Master, please continue with your work." Zhang Yuan replied and stepped into the workshop filled with the atmosphere of metal and fire.

The interior of Bailianfang is more spacious and deep than it appears from the outside.

The first thing you see is a huge open space with several blazing furnaces and heavy anvils in the center, radiating heat.

More than a dozen apprentices and craftsmen, all shirtless and with muscles as tough as iron, were busy around the furnace and anvil.

Some were operating the bellows, the surging air currents causing the flames to leap several feet high.

Some were working together to hold the red-hot iron, which was being hammered by large and small hammers on the anvil.

The clanging sounds were incessant, and sparks flew up and down like festive fireworks.

The air was filled with the smells of charcoal, rust, sweat, and a unique, tanned leather.

The layout of the neighborhood is clearly defined.

Against the wall were rows of wooden shelves and stone platforms, on which were displayed all kinds of finished or unfinished weapons.

Heavy machetes, fine iron spears, gleaming swords, and menacing axes and hooks.

There were also many agricultural tools and household utensils, such as plows, hoes, and iron pots, showing that this workshop did not only serve martial artists.

In one corner of the workshop is a dedicated area for processing bows and arrows.

Several craftsmen are using specially made tools to bend the highly flexible wood to make the bow body.

Next to it were piles of tanned animal hides and tough animal sinews, used to make bowstrings and quivers.

In another corner, piles of animal hides awaiting processing or already tanned were stacked, emitting a faint, fishy, ​​and herbal odor.

Zhang Yuan walked slowly past the weapons rack, his gaze sweeping over each piece imbued with the craftsman's painstaking effort and fierce aura.

When he reached a slightly secluded wooden shelf piled with some broken objects, he suddenly stopped.

A short sword, about two feet long, completely black and with a peculiar shape, leaned against the shelf.

It broke in the middle, and the fracture was grotesque.

The blade is extremely thin, and the hilt is exceptionally simple, without any superfluous decorations, as if it exists solely for concealment and lethality.

Although it is a broken sword, it exudes an extraordinary aura.

Zhang Yuan reached out and grasped the cold, broken sword hilt.

Just the instant your fingertips touch!

"Buzz—"

A sudden jolt ran through the depths of his consciousness!

This time, there are no fragmented battlefield scenes; instead, there is a chilling, murderous intent that sends shivers down your spine!

It felt as if I were in absolute darkness, my senses were amplified to an extreme degree, and my heartbeat and breathing sounded like drums.

Countless techniques for stealth, shadow movement, concealing one's presence, and using the most tricky angles to deliver a fatal blow flooded my mind!

The assassinations were swift and ruthless, each strike aimed to end the life before the target even realized it. Their grasp of timing and utilization of the environment reached the pinnacle of skill!

The cultivator's cultivation level... was something Zhang Yuan could hardly imagine at the moment—the peak of the Grandmaster realm!

【Ding! 】

[By touching a broken sword imbued with the residual malevolent intent of a top-tier master assassin, you gain insights into master-level assassination techniques (stealth, concealment, and lethal strike)!]

[Assassination comprehension slightly improved! Lifespan consumption: None (due to the sword's grade dropping, killing intent is weak and incomplete).]

Zhang Yuan felt a chill run down his spine.

This unassuming broken sword was once owned by such a terrifying being!

"Kid, you have a good eye." Ou Yechang, who had finished quenching the broken sword at some point, walked over carrying a bucket of water. When he saw the broken sword in Zhang Yuan's hand, his rough voice rang out, "What a pity, this was originally a top-quality 'Hidden Killer,' a masterpiece among superior mortal weapons."

"The blade is infused with a trace of 'Shadow Iron,' making it ideal for assassination and stealth. It is virtually silent when swung and can automatically conceal its light, even slightly interfering with the opponent's perception."

"Its master... alas, was also a remarkable figure, but unfortunately he perished. The sword perished along with its master, its spiritual essence was greatly diminished, and it broke, its grade has dropped, it's not even as good as a low-grade mortal weapon."

He put down the bucket, took the broken sword from Zhang Yuan's hand, and weighed it in his hand.

"All utensils are divided into three grades: inferior, middle, and superior."

"The lower grade is tough and sharp, made from the essence of iron; the middle grade can better transmit true qi and force, increasing the martial artist's power by three points."

"A superior mortal weapon must incorporate a trace of spiritual materials from heaven and earth, giving it a slight spiritual quality. It can not only better bear and amplify the true essence of a martial artist, but also subtly communicate with its master's mind, making the sword intent it unleashes more concentrated and pure, and its power multiplied."

As he spoke, Ou Yezhang walked to a smaller anvil and threw the remains of the broken sword into the charcoal stove next to it to reheat it.

As he pumped the bellows, he said, "Although this 'Hidden Kill' technique is ruined, the trace of Shadow Iron within it still remains, and it would be a pity to throw it away."

"Let me see if I can reforge it and make you a handy little gadget."

The furnace fire blazed fiercely, turning the broken sword blade a deep red.

Ou Yechang used long tongs to pick it up, placed it on the anvil, and began to forge it with a unique and rhythmic beat, swinging the sledgehammer.

His movements appear expansive and powerful, but in reality, every landing point and force is incredibly precise, containing a method of harmonizing materials and guiding spirituality.

The dark red iron block was folded and stretched like dough under his hammer, impurities were hammered out little by little, and sparks flew everywhere.

Zhang Yuan watched intently.

【Ding! 】

[Observe master-level forging techniques (Hundred Refinements Iron Forging Method, Spiritual Material Guidance Technique), does it consume lifespan: six months, to comprehend the essence of basic forging?]

A lifespan of six months?

He can still bear this kind of loss.

Zhang Yuan silently recited in his mind: "Confirm consumption."