Immortal Refiner

With the Wei Family’s influence in Origin Spring City, finding a blacksmithing workshop for Li Qing was a simple matter.

Just as Li Qing was about to fire up the forge, Old Master Wei entered carrying two fist-sized pieces of crimson metal.

”Master Li, these two pieces of Mysterious Iron were collected by my ancestors long ago. Could you possibly forge them into the blade of a curved saber?”

With that, Wei Cang handed the two unknown pieces of Mysterious Iron to Li Qing.

”Hmm, this iron’s material is so strange. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Do you know what it’s called?” Li Qing asked curiously.

Wei Cang shook his head with a wry smile. ”No, I don’t. My ancestors went through great hardship to collect these two special pieces of metal, but they never found a master craftsman skilled enough to forge them into a Divine Weapon.”

”However, according to my ancestors’ last words, this red iron might be the same material as the Demon Blade Red Lotus.”

Demon Blade Red Lotus

This blade’s reputation in the Jianghu was unparalleled, earning it numerous titles: ”The Number One Blade Under Heaven,” ”The Most Demonic Blade in the World.”

Legend had it that if a wielder of insufficient strength held the blade, their mind could be corrupted by its influence.

Of course, many of these claims were rumors, their veracity unknown.

Yet the fact that the blade had been bestowed with so many titles was proof enough of its terrifying power.

Li Qing had once been quite curious about the Demon Blade. He never expected to obtain two pieces of Mysterious Iron today that were suspected to be used in forging the Red Lotus Blade.

Unlike other metals, these two red iron pieces were incredibly light, feeling almost weightless in his hand.

Yet their surfaces were exceptionally hard. When Li Qing lightly touched the sharp edge of the red iron with his fingertip, he could faintly feel a stinging sensation.

Furthermore, when he channeled wisps of his Inner Strength into the iron, he could vaguely sense a hint of heat emanating from within.

”I’ve never forged this kind of red Mysterious Iron before,” Li Qing said calmly. ”But I’m willing to give it a try. If the attempt fails, don’t blame me.”

Wei Cang immediately replied, ”Of course, Master Li. Please proceed without hesitation or worry.”

Though he spoke these words, such an extraordinary metal was undoubtedly priceless. If it truly couldn’t be melted down, even the most magnanimous person would feel a pang of regret.

Li Qing was too lazy to worry about it anymore. Now that he had received his promise, he could forge without hesitation.

Boom!

A roaring flame erupted in the furnace, rapidly raising the temperature in the room.

The intense heat of the forge cast a red glow on Li Qing’s focused face. Strangely, though he was otherwise unremarkable in appearance, when he entered the state of iron forging, his entire demeanor seemed to settle, exuding a unique charm that was utterly captivating.

As Li Qing tossed the iron ingot into the furnace, he began to carefully examine the two pieces of red metal in his hands.

Whether it was an illusion or not, at the very moment the furnace’s temperature began to rise, Li Qing felt as though the two pieces of iron in his hands were also radiating a subtle heat.

After a moment’s thought, he decided to toss both pieces of red Mysterious Iron into the furnace together.

Whoosh!

An astonishing sight unfolded. As the red Mysterious Iron entered the furnace, the roaring flames that had been burning fiercely suddenly diminished, as if about to extinguish. The temperature that had just risen began to plummet just as quickly.

”Huh!”

As a blacksmith, Li Qing was naturally acutely sensitive to temperature changes. He grew increasingly puzzled.

”Interesting. This Crimson Iron absorbs heat so quickly...”

In a daze, he seemed to see the flames in the furnace burrowing into the two pieces of metal.

Once he confirmed that the temperature drop wasn’t an illusion, Li Qing made an immediate decision: he would continue raising the temperature.

He was determined to see just how much heat the Crimson Gold could absorb.

But every time Li Qing increased the furnace’s temperature, the crimson metal seemed like a bottomless pit, instantly devouring the flames.

Uncertain of the Crimson Iron’s capacity to absorb heat, Li Qing immediately asked Patriarch Wei to order another forge to be brought over.

At this rate, who knew when the ordinary iron in the furnace would finally turn red-hot?

Soon, two forges arrived, radiating terrifying heat.

Li Qing placed the two pieces of Crimson Iron into the second forge and maintained high temperatures in both furnaces.

After a considerable time, even the ordinary iron had been forged into red-hot iron, yet the Crimson Iron in the other forge remained largely unchanged.

If Li Qing hadn’t been unusually sensitive to changes in metal, no one else would have noticed that the two pieces of Crimson Iron had become even more vibrant, like two crimson flowers about to bloom.

Li Qing wasn’t in a hurry to remove the Crimson Iron to check its progress. Instead, he first retrieved the iron ingot, now glowing red from the furnace, and began forging it.

Bang!

With a single, powerful strike from the Peerless Hammer, the ingot flattened almost effortlessly.

Sparks flew and the dull thud of the hammer echoed through the Blacksmith Shop as each ingot was hammered into the shape Li Qing envisioned.

Li Qing worked with utmost concentration, every movement precise and deliberate. He swung the hammer, struck the metal—moving like a machine, his actions remarkably consistent.

To ensure the quality of the weapons he was forging, Li Qing had poured considerable effort into these ordinary iron ingots.

His strength was immense; each strike of his hammer achieved the effect of dozens or even hundreds of blows from an ordinary blacksmith.

Yet, Li Qing still treated each ingot as if he were an ordinary blacksmith, hammering them thousands of times to refine the metal.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The process of forging a weapon was destined to be long and tedious, even for onlookers.

After watching for a long time, Patriarch Wei finally couldn’t endure the boredom and the scorching heat any longer. He chose to leave the sweltering room, leaving Li Qing alone to continue his work.

Listening to the rhythmic hammering echoing from within, Patriarch Wei sighed again.

”Ah!”

Such an outstanding young man... why isn’t he part of the Wei Family?

From Li Qing’s meticulous forging movements and his unwavering focus, Patriarch Wei had already confirmed that the young man’s craftsmanship had reached the pinnacle of perfection.

He had no doubt that Li Qing could forge a Peerless Divine Weapon.

A young man who was both a renowned artisan of his time and an Inner Strength expert of unparalleled martial prowess truly filled him with envy.

If only the Wei Family could produce a young disciple like Li Qing, he wouldn’t have to worry about the family’s future every day!

Those good-for-nothing brats!

Thinking of this, Patriarch Wei couldn’t help but curse his family’s younger generation once more.

Just as he finished cursing under his breath, a charming and beautiful figure approached. Her outstanding aura and the two dimples on her cheeks exuded a delicate and adorable charm.

It was none other than Wei Qingqing!

”Greetings to Grandfather!” Wei Qingqing performed a graceful bow, her manner exceptionally obedient.

Wei Cang nodded stiffly in response, offering no further comment.

However, it was clear Wei Qingqing hadn’t simply happened to pass by; she had come specifically to see Wei Cang.

”Grandfather, are you really going to marry me off to that Fierce Tiger Li Qing? I don’t even know him!”

”I don’t want to marry him!”

Wei Qingqing glared at her grandfather with wide, tearful eyes, her voice pleading.

Hearing this, Wei Cang’s anger flared even higher.

”You foolish girl!”

Wei Cang pointed at his granddaughter, but ultimately refrained from harsher words. Instead, he sighed in frustration, saying, ”I’d love to marry you off to him, but he has to be willing, too.”

”You’ve been spoiled rotten, girl. Do you really think you’re a royal princess who can marry whomever you please or refuse to marry at all?”

”Let me tell you, Little Brother Li has declared he’ll devote his life to the Martial Path and won’t consider marriage!”

Hearing her grandfather’s tone, Wei Qingqing finally exhaled in relief and then stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

”Alright, then I wish Grandpa a long and healthy life! Qingqing will take her leave now!”

With that, Wei Qingqing fled as if escaping a predator.

Watching his granddaughter’s retreating figure, Wei Cang merely shook his head without saying another word and left.

However, a short while later, Wei Qingqing, who had just slipped away, inexplicably turned back.

”If he’s not here to marry me, then why is Grandpa keeping him in the family? I’ll see for myself.”

Wei Qingqing twirled a strand of hair draped over her shoulder with her slender, ivory-white fingers, her eyes sparkling with youthful mischief and cunning.

After speaking, she tiptoed towards the Blacksmith Shop, deliberately softening her footsteps.

Truth be told, she didn’t harbor any real animosity towards Li Qing.

But as a young woman on the cusp of womanhood, she had always dreamed of her future husband.

He would be handsome and dashing, a charming and elegant gentleman, ideally skilled in both literature and martial arts—perhaps even a peerless martial arts hero!

Of course, she knew such a man was rare, but when she heard she might be marrying Li Qing, she couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

After all, Li Qing’s features were rather ordinary. Not ugly, but certainly not handsome or dashing.

While wondering what Li Qing was doing, she approached the Blacksmith Shop.

Through the open door, Wei Qingqing peeked inside, hiding to the side.

Whoosh!

A wave of scorching heat slammed into her face, making her eyes water.

Wei Qingqing rubbed her beautiful eyes and peered again.

Between two glowing red forges, a shirtless young man was hammering a piece of crimson-hot iron with intense concentration.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Each swing of Li Qing’s hammer was deliberate and precise, his expression as focused as if he were handling a precious treasure. Every strike sent sparks flying.

In the sweltering heat of the shop, sweat dripped from Li Qing’s perfectly sculpted physique, not a trace of fat to be seen. Each muscle was sharply defined, lean yet aesthetically pleasing.

Drip!

Wei Qingqing, who had been secretly watching from outside the door, found her cheeks flushing red without realizing it.

She couldn’t tell whether it was the intense heat of the Blacksmith Shop or some other reason.

(End of the Chapter)

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