Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 57 - 55: Vajra Body, Surpassing 50 Refinements!

Chapter 57: Chapter 55: Vajra Body, Surpassing 50 Refinements!

Su Mu informed the Pharmacist and Little Doctor in advance about applying for the blacksmith position. Currently, the research on the Poisonous Gu has reached a bottleneck stage, so there’s no need to visit the clinic daily.

The Pharmacist was first surprised upon hearing this, as he thought Su Mu was someone captivated by Martial Arts, especially since advancing to the Eighth Grade at the age of fourteen or fifteen isn’t something ordinary people can achieve.

The set of Five Animals Qigong performed by Su Mu was like a flowing stream, making the Pharmacist wonder if Su Mu had started practicing Martial Arts from the womb.

Meanwhile, the Pharmacist also had knowledge about the Forging Workshop in the city, and even had connections with both the current and former Workshop Masters, knowing the difficulty of entering it.

However, after this period of interaction, based on his understanding of Su Mu, the Pharmacist found Su Mu’s temperament to be far steadier than his peers; since he chose to apply, he’s probably well-prepared.

"Truly a prodigy, not only a Martial Dao prodigy... but even shows talent in forging?"

After his surprise, the Pharmacist understood, knowing that future detoxification would require quite a bit of silver coins, and practicing Martial Arts also consumes unlimited expenses. Entering the Forging Workshop would be a good choice.

Though the Pharmacist could understand, the Little Doctor was somewhat unable to accept this, eventually sulking for half a day before finally writing several words and drawing a picture to console herself.

According to the Forging Workshop’s regulations, all blacksmith candidates are required to temporarily stay in the guest rooms within the Forging Workshop, only leaving once the assessment is complete.

Su Mu then temporarily rested in the guest room of the Forging Workshop, having always been indifferent to his accommodation, and lamented only that during this period, he could only practice Martial Arts in the room.

"Can’t make too much noise."

This way, only the Five Animals Qigong, "Small Faceless Transformation Technique," and "Vajra Body" remained.

Braving the elements, he warmed up with the Five Animals Qigong, sitting cross-legged, first closing his eyes and going over the Secret Manual of Vajra Body in his mind, then beginning to cultivate.

Vajra Body, Eighth-Grade Cross-Training Martial Arts, belongs to the Martial Arts of Vajra Temple, one of the Five Great Powers of Cyan Cloud. It’s the advanced version of "Golden Bell Shield;" cultivators must have the foundation of Golden Bell Shield or Tiger Subduing Fist before they can cultivate, otherwise it requires double the time.

This Cross-Training Martial Arts emphasizes ’external training of muscles and bones, and internal Forging of the Golden Body, making the body like a Vajra,’ divided into three layers.

The first realm is Vajra Skin, requiring blunt weapon strikes to all body skin and flesh, accompanied by the corresponding Breathing Technique and Power operation routes, making the skin tough like rhino skin, ordinary swords and knives unable to cut through the skin.

The second realm is Vajra Bone, requiring fierce fist techniques like Tiger Subduing Fist to forge the bones beneath the flesh, while nurturing the bones with Power, achieving better results with Bone-Forger Ointment.

The third realm is Vajra Body, further forging the whole body’s acupoints, critical points, and weak spots on the basis of the first two realms, supplemented by medicated baths for nourishment and strengthening, finally achieving a body as tough as Vajra.

"Now I’ve completed the first Bone Forging... cultivating to Vajra Bone will complement Bone Forging in harmony, it’s just the right time to cultivate Vajra Body."

Su Mu previously initiated Vajra Body, currently in the first realm, Vajra Skin stage. He took a look around the courtyard outside the guest room, bringing back a smooth, thirty to forty-pound small stone to the room.

Thump thump thump!

Su Mu held the stone with one hand, incessantly striking around his body skin, assisted by the corresponding Breathing Technique and Power operation routes. He only felt his skin slowly wriggling, the stone hitting like pounding on a muffled drum, enhancing the defense of every inch of skin with each strike, making it tougher and thicker.

The long night passed without words; the next day, Su Mu got up early and went to the forging room to continue forging.

He repeatedly lifted the Forging Hammer in his hand, smashing it onto a piece of iron billet on the platform, impurities turning into sparks flying, refined with every strike.

Tenth Forge.

Twentieth Forge.

Thirty Forge.

Thirty-five Forge!

"At the limit... thirty-five Forge is the limit of ordinary iron, next it’s time to add Red Copper Ore to enhance its strength."

Su Mu had already discovered the limit of ordinary iron back in Qingshui Town, and the iron billet on the forging platform now faintly glowed with a weak sheen.

"The temperature is low, apply more force."

"Ah, yes!"

The apprentice named Xiaozheng was completely dumbfounded, marveling that this young master candidate who looked even younger than himself had astonishingly completed thirty-five Forge in just two days?

Other official blacksmith masters in the Forging Workshop would need seven days or more to achieve this.

"Could it be..."

Xiaozheng rolled his throat, swallowing hard.

With the addition of Red Copper, Su Mu continued the hammering process, merging the thirty-five Forge refined iron with the layered Red Copper on the platform, eventually becoming indistinguishable and seamless.

Clang!

Another hammer struck, causing the forging platform to tremble.

The limit of thirty-five Forge was broken in an instant.

Forty Forge.

Fifty Forge!

Until reaching fifty Forge, Su Mu showed no signs of stopping, leaving Xiaozheng both stunned and delighted, realizing working under Su Mu was indeed the right choice!

Under the waning sunset, deep in the inner courtyard of the Forging Workshop among a small garden, fragrant with birdsong and flowery aroma.

"Master Chen, have any promising candidates arrived recently for recruitment? Lord Xiao placed an order for government office weapons at the end of last year, and the workshop needs manpower quickly."

"There are a few usable people; as for promising ones, there is one... I’m a rough old fellow, not comparable to the Workshop Master and the other two master smiths, but I’ll just say, I want that kid." Chen Yuntian spoke decisively. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Once he said this, it immediately sparked the interest of two others in the small garden, one of them being the current Workshop Master of the Forging Workshop, and the other a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl.

"Oh, there’s such a promising candidate, who is it?" The Workshop Master’s thick eyebrows raised, this robust man akin to a small mountain asked.

Chen Yuntian didn’t want to reveal, so he diverted, "Workshop Master, you just leave it all to me, rest assured, no need to worry."

That thick-browed man naturally understood Master Chen’s thoughts, instead becoming more curious in his heart about who could make Master Chen so invested?

After chatting for another moment, Master Chen had just left the courtyard front door when the young girl inside also exited, giving the man a wink before leaving, with an "leave it to this girl" expression.

The man nodded lightly with a smile, knowing a father understands his daughter best.

Clang!

On the forging platform, the weak sheen of the iron billet fused with Red Copper became more distinct, its material continuously refined through hammering and folding, becoming heavy and resilient.

"Seal the furnace, seal the furnace!"

A familiar call to seal the furnace rang from outside the forging room, as Su Mu struck the last hammer, "Xiaozheng, I’ll leave it to you to tidy up here."

Xiaozheng was oblivious, frozen in place, until Su Mu had left, at which point he was overwhelmed by shock, muttering under his breath.

"Sixty-nine Forge... that little master shows no signs of stopping!"

Soon, a figure quietly approached the outside of the forging room, peeking inside for a moment, then called someone over to ask softly.

"Papa, I was a bit late, didn’t catch sight of that promising candidate, but learned their name."

"Who is it?"

"Su Mu."

"Su Mu?!"

...