I Use My Secondary Job To Add Talents

Chapter 4: Eleven Refinements

The key indicator of a breakthrough from a Mortal Level Low Grade blacksmith to a Mortal Level Intermediate Grade blacksmith is the ability to forge steel with eleven or more refinements. Once one can surpass eleven refinements, it signifies entry into the ranks of Mortal Level Intermediate Grade blacksmiths, also known as Intermediate Level blacksmiths or Middle Level blacksmiths.

The iron blocks in this world are significantly different from those on Earth. Although they are both iron blocks, the iron blocks here are tougher and sharper.

Therefore, steel forged from iron blocks in this world is naturally better, but also more difficult.

In addition, there are no machines, only manual processing, so the difficulty can be imagined.

Forging steel requires not only skill and experience, but also sufficient physical strength.

Several years ago, Song Fulu was able to forge steel with eleven refinements, but he has been unable to break through and forge steel with a higher number of layers.

Now, with the breakthrough of his Auxiliary Talent, various insights flood his mind, and Song Fulu is more than ninety percent certain about his promotion.

"Dang dang dang... dang dang dang..."

Song Fulu rhythmically hammers the steel blade embryo. The blade embryo is made of steel with eleven refinements, and it was also forged by the previous owner. It only needs a little more processing to become a decent steel goose feather knife with eleven refinements.

If he were to start from scratch, it would take too long. It is better to start directly from eleven refinements and attempt to break through.

The transition from eleven refinements to twelve refinements is a hurdle that has trapped many village blacksmiths. Song Baoshi has been stuck for decades.

To break through, one needs experience, skill, physical strength, and comprehension... none can be lacking. Only then can a Middle Level blacksmith be so sought after, even in a county with a large population, they can still stand firm.

Soon, Song Fulu once again finds the inspiration he had during his talent breakthrough. The speed at which he hammers the blade embryo increases slightly, but it becomes more rhythmic, and the sound becomes more pleasant.

Song Baoshi, who is sorting iron ore, trembles all over. A look of astonishment and doubt appears on his old face. He can't care about sorting the iron ore anymore and quickly comes to Song Fulu's side to observe.

After just a moment of observation, Song Baoshi realizes something. His old eyes widen, staring unblinkingly at Song Fulu's movements, as if he is in a dream.

Could it be that in his lifetime, he can still cultivate a Middle Level blacksmith?

That is a Middle Level blacksmith who can be invincible within ten miles. Looking at the entire Stone Forest Town, within a radius of a hundred miles, there is not a single blacksmith who can reach Middle Level.

Only in Passing River City, which is just over a hundred miles away, are there Middle Level blacksmiths, and their numbers are not many.

Thinking of this, Song Baoshi's eyes become slightly moist. Although he had thought before that his adopted son might reach the level of a Middle Level blacksmith in his lifetime, who knew how long it would take? Perhaps he wouldn't live to see it.

But he never expected the surprise to come so soon. There are still a few years before his life expectancy, and he has already witnessed this day.

"Dang... dang dang... dang... dang dang..."

The sound of hammering the blade embryo becomes more rhythmic, and the movements become faster. Song Baoshi has already discovered that Song Fulu's forging skills and experience at this moment have surpassed his own, and he is rapidly pulling ahead at an extremely fast pace.

Is this the strength of a Middle Level blacksmith?

Song Baoshi takes a deep breath, his expression becoming more solemn, and his emotions becoming more excited.

"Dong..."

I don't know how long it has been. With a strange sound, the knife embryo in front of me broke through the tenth refining layer and was promoted to the eleventh refining steel.

A breakthrough, a middle-level blacksmith!

Song Fulu smiled slightly, paused for a moment, and began to forge the knife embryo again. He wanted to see his own limits.

Song Baoshi also had a smile on his face, as well as an uncontrollable excitement and satisfaction. After many years of longing, his wish was finally fulfilled in his adopted son. Even if he died today, he would have no regrets.

"Grandpa Bao, I want to forge a..."

Just at this moment, a teenager in his teens walked into the blacksmith shop, wanting Song Baoshi to forge a Goose Feather Knife for him.

Song Baoshi quickly stopped him, asking him not to make a sound so as not to disturb Song Fulu's progress.

The teenager looked at Song Baoshi and Song Fulu with confusion, not understanding what was happening, but he didn't ask further questions. He obediently stood aside and waited, watching Song Fulu forge the knife embryo with Song Baoshi.

As he watched, the teenager seemed to have noticed something and almost exclaimed in surprise, quickly covering his mouth.

There were obvious patterns on the steel in this world, making it easy to distinguish the level of refinement. The teenager could tell that Song Fulu had forged an eleventh refining steel from the patterns on the knife embryo.

This was the symbol of a middle-level blacksmith, known to many villagers, as many of them owned a ten-refining steel knife.

Realizing that Song Fulu should have broken through to the middle-level blacksmith's layer, the teenager was also extremely excited. He understood why Grandpa Bao had stopped him from making a sound.

Overjoyed, the teenager quietly left the blacksmith shop and only quickened his pace when he was far away, running towards the home of Village Chief Lu Wenshan.

"Village Chief Grandpa, Fulu has made a breakthrough. He is no longer a low-level blacksmith."

Just as he reached the door, the teenager couldn't help but shout at Lu Wenshan, who was practicing punches in the courtyard.

Lu Wenshan was the village chief of Stone Bull Village and also the top expert in the village. At only thirty-seven years old, he was a third-rate expert in Exterior Forging at the fourth layer. He had a certain reputation even in the entire Stone Forest Town.

Upon hearing the teenager's words, Lu Wenshan trembled and looked at the teenager. "Are you telling the truth? Little Fulu really broke through to become a middle-level blacksmith?"

"Really, really. I saw Fulu forge an eleventh refining steel. That's the symbol of a middle-level blacksmith. If you don't believe me, Village Chief Grandpa, go and see for yourself," the teenager hurriedly said.

Lu Wenshan clenched his fist and walked quickly towards the blacksmith shop. "I'll go right now."

He soon arrived at the blacksmith shop. At this time, Song Fulu had stopped forging the knife embryo, and the knife embryo in front of him had reached fifteen refinements.

To be able to forge a fifteen-refining steel right after breaking through was already quite impressive in terms of talent and strength.

Although it was only five more refinements than before, both the toughness and sharpness had increased by more than double. If all the villagers could equip themselves with such Goose Feather Knives, the overall strength of Stone Bull Village would greatly increase, giving them more chances of survival in this chaotic world.

Looking at the fifteen-refining steel knife embryo placed in front of Song Fulu, Lu Wenshan finally believed and was also filled with excitement. "Good, good, good. Little Fulu, with your middle-level mortal weapon, Stone Bull Village will be much safer."

Song Baoshi and Song Fulu noticed the village chief's arrival at this time and quickly invited him to sit down. Song Fulu began the final finishing touches, preparing to refine this fifteen-refining steel knife and see how it performed.

If the test results were satisfactory, Song Fulu would no longer have to worry about food shortage in the future.

(End of this chapter)