Chapter 134: The First Step of Craftsmanship

Li Yan said, "If possible, I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention the different paths I'm studying to others. I'd rather not become the center of attention any more than I already am."

Ji Xin nodded without hesitation. "Of course."

Then a playful smile gradually appeared on her face. "But only if you promise me something."

Li Yan looked at her with slight curiosity. "What is it?"

"I want you to spar with me occasionally." She folded her arms lightly before continuing. "I've watched your swordsmanship several times now. I think crossing swords with you will help me improve."

Li Yan considered her request for a few moments before giving a small nod. "Very well."

His expression remained calm. "Whenever you need a sparring partner, let me know."

Ji Xin's smile widened slightly. "Deal."

With a wave of her hand, a palm-sized Communication Artifact appeared above her hand. "Then let's exchange contact signatures."

Li Yan nodded and summoned his own Communication Artifact.

The two artifacts floated toward each other until they touched lightly.

As both of them circulated a thin strand of Qi into their respective artifacts, delicate runes briefly illuminated their surfaces before flowing from one artifact to the other. Moments later, the glow gradually faded, signifying that both contact signatures had been successfully recorded.

Li Yan put away his artifact before speaking. "If you try contacting me and don't receive a response, then I'm most likely in the Hunting Ground. And you have to wait for my return."

Ji Xin nodded. "I'll remember that."

Without saying anything further, she turned and walked back toward her table. Before sitting down, however, she instinctively glanced back one last time.

Li Yan had already reopened his book. His entire attention had returned to Craftsmanship, as though nothing around him existed.

Ji Xin watched him quietly for another brief moment before a faint smile appeared upon her lips. "What an unusual person…"

With that quiet thought, she resumed her own studies.

Although Ji Xin hadn't planned to tell anyone about Li Yan's multiple paths, when she heard him ask her to keep it secret, she saw it as a chance to strike a deal with him and get his help with her swordsmanship.

But she hadn't expected Li Yan to agree so easily, so naturally, she was pleased.

What she didn't know was that Li Yan had not agreed because of the secret she knew about him; a few days earlier, Ji Hong had already asked him to help Ji Xin, but he hadn't had time to tell her.

He also didn't want to go to her and say that her grandfather wanted Li Yan to teach her, because he didn't know how she would react or whether she would think he was looking down on her.

Now that she had asked too, why would he refuse?

The second floor of the Shadow Knowledge Pavilion gradually returned to silence, disturbed only by the occasional turning of pages.

Just like that, time quietly slipped away.

Night gradually descended upon the Shadow Haven Sect, yet the Shadow Knowledge Pavilion remained illuminated by Qi lamps.

Li Yan remained seated before the same wooden table.

Book after book disappeared from one stack before reappearing on another after he had finished studying it. His Spiritual Sense flowed continuously across every page, while his Spiritual Consciousness organized the knowledge with remarkable efficiency.

Compared to alchemy, Craftsmanship demanded a broader understanding of materials themselves.

Different metals possess different melting points.

Different alloys required different proportions.

Even two materials with similar appearances could behave entirely differently once placed inside the furnace.

Fortunately, Li Yan already possessed a solid foundation from months of studying herbs, minerals, magical beasts, and the arts of refinement and purification. Many concepts naturally complemented one another, allowing his understanding of Craftsmanship to deepen at an astonishing pace.

Without realizing it, the first night quietly passed.

The morning sun rose, replacing the darkness of night. More disciples gradually entered the pavilion, while others quietly departed after studying all night.

Li Yan never left his seat except to return completed books and collect new ones.

His concentration never wavered.

The second day passed much like the first.

By the time another night descended, the stack of books beside him had become noticeably smaller.

The following afternoon, nearly three days after entering the Shadow Knowledge Pavilion, Li Yan slowly closed the final Craftsmanship manual resting before him.

He remained seated for several moments, silently reviewing everything he had learned.

Material purification, alloy creation, artifact formation, and rune carving—each stage of the crafting process gradually connected within his mind until they formed one complete and coherent system.

Only after confirming that no obvious gaps remained in his understanding did Li Yan rise from his seat. He carefully returned every manual to its proper place before quietly leaving the Shadow Knowledge Pavilion.

After leaving the pavilion, Li Yan stopped briefly at one of the food stalls within the Sect and ate a simple meal before returning directly to his residence.

Three days of uninterrupted study had left both his body and mind slightly fatigued.

After taking a warm bath, he lay down upon his bed.

Before long, sleep claimed him.

*****

The next morning, Li Yan purchased enough Tier-4 Magical Beast meat to sustain himself for several days before returning once more to his residence.

After entering the private chamber he normally used for alchemy, he stood silently for a moment.

With a wave of his hand, the familiar pill furnace disappeared into his storage ring.

In its place, a much heavier furnace appeared.

Unlike the elegant design of an alchemy furnace, the Craftsman Furnace possessed thick walls of dark metal reinforced with countless heat-resistant inscriptions. Its construction emphasized stability over refinement, allowing it to withstand the much higher temperatures required to forge metals.

Li Yan sat cross-legged before it.

Another wave of his hand summoned a scroll onto the table before him—Mortal-Tier Mid-Level Craftsmanship Technique.

This was one of the items Ji Hong had quietly helped him obtain.

Li Yan slowly opened the scroll.

His Spiritual Sense immediately spread across the parchment while his Spiritual Consciousness carefully analyzed every line recorded within.

Unlike alchemy, where herbs gradually yielded beneath controlled flames, Craftsmanship demanded absolute precision at every stage of creation.

Temperature alone could determine success or failure.

A slight excess could destroy a material's natural properties. Too little heat would leave hidden impurities buried within the metal.

As Li Yan continued reading, he gradually understood why experienced craftsmen valued foundation above all else.

Every stage depended upon the one before it.

Impure materials could never produce perfect alloys. An unstable alloy would inevitably create flaws during shaping. Even perfectly carved runes would fail if the internal structure lacked harmony.

The entire process resembled an unbroken chain.

Should one link fail, every stage afterward would suffer.

Hours quietly passed.

Only after thoroughly understanding the principles behind every stage did Li Yan finally put the scroll away.

Theory alone could never produce a craftsman. Practice was equally important. He raised his right hand.

A stream of Golden Feather Peacock Flame emerged from his palm before flowing steadily into the Craftsman Furnace.

Instead of forging immediately, Li Yan focused solely on controlling the high temperature.

The flames gradually rose.

Then fell.

Again and again, he adjusted their intensity with painstaking precision until each change became smooth and effortless.

Only after becoming satisfied with his flame control did he move to the next exercise.

A simple metal plate appeared before him.

Holding a Tier-4 Carving Knife, Li Yan slowly circulated Qi through the blade before attempting the most basic rune patterns recorded within the manuals.

One stroke.

Then another.

Each line demanded unwavering stability.

Whenever even the slightest deviation appeared, he discarded the practice piece without hesitation and began again.

Afterward, he practiced guiding Qi through molten metals, visualizing simple shapes while carefully coordinating his flame control with his Spiritual Sense.

None of the exercises produced a true artifact.

They existed solely to strengthen the countless fundamental skills upon which successful craftsmanship depended.

Time quietly continued to pass.

When exhaustion finally forced him to stop, Li Yan consumed a portion of Tier-4 Magical Beast meat before resuming his practice once more.

By the time another day and a half had passed, every basic movement had gradually become familiar beneath his hands.

Only then did Li Yan slowly look toward the neatly arranged crafting materials resting beside the furnace.

After nearly two days of practicing the fundamentals of Craftsmanship, Li Yan finally believed his foundation was sufficient to attempt forging his first true artifact.

He slowly raised his hand.

With a wave of his sleeve, forty-five scrolls appeared neatly upon the floor beside him. Each scroll contained the blueprint for a different Tier-1 artifact.

Daggers. Short swords. Long swords. Spears. Shields. Gauntlets. Bows. Utility knives.

Even several simple farming and mining tools were mixed among them.

Li Yan's gaze calmly swept across the collection.

Unlike alchemy pill recipes, craftsmanship blueprints did not divide into levels. Each tier featured distinct artifact designs with varying materials, internal structures, rune arrangements, and levels of crafting complexity.

A blueprint merely recorded the ideal design of an artifact. The level of the finished artifact would ultimately depend on the craftsman's execution rather than the blueprint itself.

Although Li Yan understood the blueprint in theory, theory and practice were entirely different matters—his first attempt needed to minimize unnecessary variables.

After several moments of consideration, he picked up a single scroll.

A dagger.

The remaining forty-four scrolls disappeared back into his storage ring with a wave of his hand.

Li Yan slowly unrolled the blueprint.

Immediately, a complete illustration of the dagger appeared before him.

Unlike ordinary drawings, a craftsmanship blueprint contained far more than the artifact's appearance.

Every dimension had been recorded precisely. Overall length. Blade length. Blade width. Blade thickness. Handle proportions. Center of balance. Weight. Even the smallest curves near the guard were measured precisely.

Beside the illustration lay the required materials, their proportions, the recommended refining temperatures, the alloy formula, and the complete rune arrangement.

Li Yan did not begin immediately.

Instead, he quietly studied every detail.

His Spiritual Sense spread across the entire blueprint while his Spiritual Consciousness carefully reconstructed every line within his mind.

Nothing escaped his observation.

Several minutes passed.

Gradually, the blueprint fell out of his focus.

In its place, an image slowly formed inside his Spiritual Consciousness. A perfectly completed dagger. Every curve. Every edge. Every surface.

Even the microscopic pathways through which Qi would eventually circulate within the runes became increasingly vivid.

Li Yan silently observed the mental image.

Whenever he noticed even the slightest uncertainty, he returned his attention to the blueprint before correcting it.

Only after repeating the process several times did the image become perfectly stable. The completed dagger now existed clearly within his mind.

Only then did he roll the blueprint closed and place it carefully beside him. His gaze shifted toward the crafting materials arranged nearby.

With a gentle wave of his hand, several pieces of common Iron, Black Iron, and a small quantity of common Copper floated into the air before landing before him.

These were all neutral materials.

Their compatibility made them ideal for beginners learning the foundations of Craftsmanship. Li Yan picked up the largest piece of common iron. His Spiritual Sense slowly swept through the metal.

Its internal structure immediately appeared within his Spiritual Consciousness. Tiny mineral impurities remained scattered throughout the ore.

Although almost invisible to ordinary craftsmen, they appeared as clearly as daylight before Li Yan's Spiritual Consciousness.

He nodded slightly before inspecting every remaining material in the same manner.

Each possessed a different impurity distribution.

Different densities.

Different internal structures.

Only after completing the inspection did Li Yan ignite his flame. A stream of golden fire flowed steadily into the Craftsman Furnace.

Unlike alchemy, the furnace did not immediately respond. Its thick walls gradually absorbed the heat.

Li Yan patiently increased the temperature little by little. His Spiritual Sense remained fixed upon the furnace's interior. He carefully observed every subtle change.

Only after confirming the furnace had reached the required temperature did he place the common Iron inside.

The Golden Feather Peacock Flame immediately surrounded the metal.

Rather than recklessly increasing the fire, Li Yan adjusted its temperature with remarkable precision.

The common Iron gradually softened. Its edges slowly lost their rigid shape before melting into a glowing liquid. Within the glowing liquid metal, countless tiny impurities drifted like grains of black sand.

Li Yan's expression remained calm. His Qi flowed steadily into the flames. The temperature increased slightly. Several impurities dissolved immediately.

Others resisted.

Li Yan calmly reduced the heat once more. Moments later, he increased it again by only the slightest amount.

Each adjustment was measured. Each change served a purpose. The impurities gradually separated from the molten metal and floated to the surface.

Using Qi, Li Yan gently guided them away.

Dark fragments gathered along one side of the furnace before being completely burned away by the flame.

Time quietly passed.

The molten common Iron gradually became increasingly pure. Its originally dull gray color slowly transformed into a bright silver sheen. Only after his Spiritual Sense could no longer detect any remaining impurities did Li Yan move to the next material.

Black Iron.

Then common Copper.

Each required a different temperature. Each demanded different adjustments. Several times, Li Yan deliberately lowered the flame instead of increasing it, allowing the materials to stabilize before continuing.

His movements remained smooth and patient throughout the entire process.

Minutes quietly slipped away.

By the time the final material had been purified, a thin layer of sweat covered his forehead. Yet his eyes remained perfectly calm.

The first step of Craftsmanship had finally been completed.