The Legend of the Dragon King (Web Novel)

All sorts of elements in the surrounding space excitedly encircled him. He could clearly sense the changes in the metal attribute. His Spirit Domain rank spiritual power allowed him to sense even the most minute of the changes. On the other hand, all sorts of nature attributed elements were actually producing its effect and continued to influence the metal along with his forging process.

He could even sense the changes and influence on the metal caused by the bloodline fluctuation between his breaths. This was the benefit of high spiritual power. The spiritual power could reflect its influence on the soul master’s abilities in almost all areas. Whether it was in the soul master’s battle or the soul master’s subsidiary professions, there would be a good rise when the soul master’s spiritual power was powerful enough.

Thus, almost all the soul masters equipped with outstanding abilities in their subsidiary professions had a rather strong spiritual power. Even as such, there was almost no Saint Craftsman-rank blacksmith who had his or her spiritual power cultivation base in the Spirit Domain realm.

Even Tang Wulin’s first Saint Craftsman Teacher Mu Chen had spiritual power cultivation base only one level lower than himself. That was already enough for blacksmiths.

Tang Wulin used his Spirit Domain spiritual power cultivation base to experience the profoundness in forging. His spirit was completely immersed in the sensation and perception of metal. The comprehension allowed his entire person to completely conform with the metal. At this level of soul forging, every time he entered the soul forging process, it was equal to him creating or endowing life and intelligence to the metal. This was also the reason why the number of high-end blacksmiths was way lower than designers, makers, and mechanics.

A living metal with a rich life and intelligence would become a battle armor or mecha after the design, make and mechanic process. The later part was focused solely at molding the metal, while there was only the first process that involved creation.

It had already been quite a long period of time since Tang Wulin had entered the Saint Craftsman rank. His power of comprehension in forging was impressive, yet even as such he had done nothing but just entered the door of creating lives.

His comprehension of life force back when he was at Demon Island and also every forging task he was engaged upon becoming a Saint Craftsman provided him with very important moments to experience and learn. He was walking even further down on the path of a Saint Craftsman.

On the other hand, the true moment that allowed him to advance from rank-7 Saint Craftsman to rank-8 Saint Craftsman was this very one. His Spirit Domain rank spiritual power allowed him to fully connect with every metal element such that he could experience the difference between a metal element and other natural elements in an even more subtle manner. As a result of this experience, he was continuously improving. He felt like he was the parent for the metal forged before himself as he continuously transformed the embryo and infused the genes that belonged to himself to it.

The process of forging was long and lasting, but it felt nothing but just a split second in Tang Wulin’s perception. Every stream of gentle radiance and spiritual fluctuation that was filled with excitement and intelligence covered Tang Wulin’s entire body to offer him feedback. Only then had he regained consciousness from the complete immersion.

Tang Wulin inhaled a deep breath and stored the soul-forged heavy silver hammer in his hands. He gazed at the metal placed before himself as his lips cracked into a faint smile. He stretched out his left hand and pressed gently onto the silver metal that appeared nothing out of the ordinary and a peculiar scene emerged.

The silver metal soundlessly softened. It crept and rose upward from his fingertips. In a split second, the silver metal covered his palm, followed by his forearm, elbow and then all the way to his arm like a layer of battle armor.

It was even more peculiar that Tang Wulin could sense the longing affection radiating from the metal. It was just like the affection of a child joyous upon seeing the father and revealing his abilities to his father.

Tang Wulin shifted his consciousness. A layer of diamond-shaped scales had miraculously formed onto the surface of the metal that had the shape of his golden dragon scales. It appeared as vivid as life and the scales were even texturized.

He raised his hand and shook gently. Tang Wulin could not help smiling. There was utterly no need for him to use his forging hammers to complete the foundation shape of this metal at present. He could easily complete the two steps of shaping and forming just by using his thought control. The only problem that he could possibly face was the unwillingness to part with this metal.

Every piece of soul-forged metal felt like his own child. It was truly difficult to part with the child that was meant to be given to another person! No wonder Teacher Mu Chen once told him that the higher a blacksmith’s rank was, the more unwilling the blacksmith would be to selling his forged products. Perhaps, this was the reason.

The forging missions were soon completed. Even though it was a rather common soul-forging request, at his rank it would still cost astronomical figures. Moreover, it was so costly there was no fixed market rate for it.

It was already dusk when he came out of the forging workshop. He did not only spend time on forging, but a huge portion of the time was spent on self-reflection and comprehension.

Time was passing more quickly for Tang Wulin now as compared to before. There was not much opportunity for him to contemplate his forging experience in a profound manner like today. However, he had still benefited a lot from today’s forging process. Tang Wulin could feel that he would certainly advance to rank-8 Saint Craftsman when he could completely fuse his Spirit Domain spiritual power into the forging process.

It was a level that countless blacksmiths pursued their entire lives, yet could never achieve.

The service staff received the products from Tang Wulin’s hand and it was brought to a specialized laboratory for precision monitoring.

Soul forging was no trivial matter for it costs a lot. If the product was a counterfeit, not only would it cause heavy losses to the Blacksmith’s Association, but it would also result in a decline of the Blacksmith’s Association’s reputation at the same time.

Tang Wulin was brought to a reserved lounge to wait so he decided to make use of the time to ponder one step further about his gains from the forging process earlier.

It did not take long before someone came knocking on the door. The person that returned from the outside was not the receptionist from before, but it was a very old man.

The old man’s eyes were glimmering with vigorous spirit as he walked in through the door. His gaze fell upon Tang Wulin.

“Sir, may I ask your name? I’m basically acquainted with the Saint Craftsmen in the association, but I am not familiar with you. Please forgive my ignorance,” said the old man in a straightforward manner.

Tang Wulin could tell that the person standing before himself was supposed to be a Saint Craftsman based on his experience. He could even possibly be the director of Mingdu Blacksmith’s Association. Otherwise, he would not be speaking to Tang Wulin in such a calm manner despite being aware of Tang Wulin’s status as Saint Craftsman.

Tang Wulin smiled. “I’m a junior with superficial skills. I’ve recently advanced to Saint Craftsman and I’m the disciple of Teacher Zhen Hua. My teacher discouraged me from publicizing my identity before finishing my apprenticeship. I have just recently finished my apprenticeship.”

As he was speaking, he passed the Saint Craftsman badge pinned on his chest to the old man.

The old man received the badge and touched it ever so lightly. His expression immediately revealed respect. How could he not recognize a Saint Craftsman’s technique in forging?

The old man burst out laughing. “So you’re the disciple of the association’s president. No wonder you’re capable of forging such remarkable products. I’m Yao Ling and I happen to be the Mingdu branch’s president. May I inquire for your name, sir?”

Tang Wulin smiled and spoke, “I’m Gu Yue.” He was supposed to address himself as Long Yue, but subconsciously used Gu Yue’s name when he spoke. He was even surprised at himself, but the feeling was accompanied by some faint bitterness.

“Gu Yue?” Yao Ling thought to himself. In his heart, the man’s name was rather unfamiliar. It seemed like this person was the secret disciple of association’s president. He looked about forty years old at most but judging from his forging technique and products his standard was already very close to a rank-8 Saint Craftsman. He could even possibly be a rank-8 Saint Craftsman already. The forging missions were overly simply so maybe he could not reveal his true forging ability.

“Brother Gu Yue seldom comes here to our Mingdu branch. Do stay for a few days so that you and I can have a good exchange of our experiences. It’s been a long time since I last met the president of the association, is he still well?” asked Yao Ling.