Chapter Sixteen: Acquiring a Magical Artifact for Free

“So you’re saying this… pitch-black thing… is actually a magical weapon?” Du Gu Ling asked in astonishment, his mouth agape.

“Of course! If it weren’t a magical weapon, how could it possibly be forged into a treasure of the Celestial grade?” Yuan Longba replied with pride, then coughed twice. “Naturally, it’s somewhat different from other magical weapons. Generally, when a treasure reaches the Earthly grade, it gains special abilities—breathing clouds and mist, spitting fire or summoning water, that sort of thing.”

“But this black iron giant hammer, apart from being as hard as any magical weapon, has no other abilities?” Yuan Longba’s tone turned slightly awkward as he spoke.

No wonder no one wanted it, Du Gu Ling thought to himself. Who in their right mind would want such a ridiculously heavy hammer with no special powers? But he didn’t let his thoughts show. Out loud, he simply asked, “So, in other words, it’s just a useless, heavy hammer?”

“No, no, no, you can’t say that,” Yuan Longba replied hastily. “No one before you could lift it, so it was useless. But now that you can, it’s of great value.” His voice deepened, and he spoke each word with deliberate gravity. “Young man, I intend to take you as my adopted son. From now on, you may call Tian Ci your brother, and you may call me your master. You will also become the next owner of the Iron Ox Smithy. Are you willing?”

Du Gu Ling was stunned by Yuan Longba’s words. Under normal circumstances, having lost everything and everyone, being taken in by Yuan Longba was a stroke of incredible fortune—why would he refuse?

Yet he did not immediately accept. After some hesitation, he said, “Thank you for your kindness, but I came here only to make a living for a while. Once my life is stable, I still wish to pursue immortality and resurrect my family.”

“Du Gu Ling, do you understand how arduous the path to immortality is? Forget whether you could resurrect your kin—the very process may claim your life. Even if you attain boundless power, bringing your loved ones back would be unimaginably difficult,” Yuan Longba tried to persuade, unwilling to lose such a promising youth.

Du Gu Ling responded with unwavering resolve, “My mind is made up. I will not change it.” An intangible aura of dominance emanated from him—Du Gu Ling was that sort of person; once he set his mind to something, he saw it through to the end. Even if there was only a sliver of hope, he would never give up.

Yuan Longba looked at him and suddenly felt this youth was extraordinary—a dragon among men, surely destined for greatness. He smiled. “So be it. From the moment you lifted the black iron hammer, your fate was no longer ordinary. Perhaps this place truly cannot contain you; perhaps only the vast world beyond can hold someone like you.”

He continued, “Very well, since you are determined to pursue immortality, I won’t stop you. In one year, the Celestial Veil Pavilion will hold its grand entrance ceremony. Then, I’ll have Tian Ci escort you there. For this year, stay and train with me. But remember: whether you can pursue the path of immortality depends on your fate. If you lack the fortune and are not chosen, you must honestly remain here and live your life. Understood?”

“Yes, Master Yuan,” Du Gu Ling replied joyfully.

“What? Still calling me Master Yuan? Call me Master!” Yuan Longba feigned sternness.

“Ah, yes, Master!” Du Gu Ling called out loudly.

…

…

…

And so, time passed by unnoticed.

“Uncle Du Gu, where are you?” A sweet, youthful voice echoed through the main hall of the Iron Ox Smithy.

The smiths inside shivered at the sound, as if they’d heard the most terrifying voice in the world.

“Uncle Du Gu, you’re here! Are you tired? Want to take a break? You’re sweating all over—how about I wipe it off for you?” A young girl of about sixteen circled Du Gu Ling, chattering nonstop.

This was Yuan Tian Ci’s eldest daughter, Yuan Shan Shan, a charming and lively girl, though terribly mischievous and nothing like a typical lady. But with her father always busy, her grandfather doting, and being the precious gem of the Iron Ox Smithy, her many little faults were perhaps inevitable.

Du Gu Ling had heard stories from the smiths about the trouble this little terror had caused in her younger years.

He remembered one incident when a batch of weapons had to be finished in a rush. As everyone knows, temperature is everything in smithing—without high heat, there can be no good weapons. Their forge fire was drawn from the earth’s depths, and somehow, the little terror managed to destroy the restriction the Celestial Veil Pavilion had put in place to control it. The flames surged out wildly, and if not for the city lord’s timely intervention, the consequences would have been disastrous.

Because of her antics, that batch of weapons was delayed, causing considerable loss—the worst incident by far. As for other incidents, tales of accidental injuries and ruined work would take days and nights to recount. The smiths had truly suffered beneath her reign.

Fortunately, as Miss Yuan grew older, such events became rare, though the smiths still shuddered at the sight of her.

Ever since Du Gu Ling settled in at the smithy, for some reason, the girl had turned all her attention to him, clinging to him all day. The other smiths, besides sympathizing with Du Gu Ling, secretly rejoiced—at least she was no longer tormenting them.

So, this morning, the little terror appeared in the hall looking for Du Gu Ling.

Du Gu Ling was hard at work, wielding the magical weapon he had acquired for nothing. The man-tall, pitch-black giant hammer danced in his hands, fierce and powerful. Soon, a rough iron rod was shaped into the form of a sword. With each strike, impurities flew away, and before long, a sharp mortal-grade sword was nearly complete.

Yuan Shan Shan watched from the side, her eyes shining as she looked at Du Gu Ling’s weathered white hair drifting in the breeze, his sturdy, powerful muscles, and skin tanned iron-red by the forge’s fire. Sweat rolled rhythmically down his brow with every blow—a sight overflowing with masculine allure that left her dizzy.

“Shan Shan, step back. I’m about to quench the metal—watch out for splashes,” Du Gu Ling said without looking up, focused on his work.

Shan Shan obediently replied, “Okay,” and moved aside. Strangely, she only ever listened to Du Gu Ling.

Lately, Yuan Tian Ci had often joked with Du Gu Ling, saying, “Daughters grow up so fast you can’t keep them.”

Despite calling him “Uncle Du Gu,” she was only a few years younger than him.

With the final blow, the weapon was nearly finished. Only the last step remained. Du Gu Ling gripped the glowing metal with tongs and plunged it into water—not ordinary water, but from the thousand-year-old well behind the Celestial Veil Pavilion, icy and perfect for quenching. With a hiss, steam rose, and the mortal-grade sword was complete.

Yuan Shan Shan clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Congratulations, Uncle Du Gu! Another mortal-grade weapon forged. This must be the tenth weapon you’ve made.”

Du Gu Ling took the water she handed him and drank deeply. “Go inform Ouyang Chi—Young Lord Ouyang—that he can come collect his sword this afternoon.”

Obediently, Yuan Shan Shan left, riding a carriage toward the resplendent palace at the heart of Cold Moon City.

Du Gu Ling found a seat, gazed up at the sky, and adjusted his breath, weary from labor. His thoughts wandered through all that had happened in the past year.

…

After that day, Du Gu Ling settled at the Iron Ox Smithy. News that he had lifted the black iron hammer—unmovable even by Lord Ouyang Jing—spread through Cold Moon City like wildfire.

That very afternoon, Lord Ouyang Jing himself visited the smithy. It was Du Gu Ling’s first time meeting such a formidable and esteemed man.

He remembered clearly: the city lord descended into the smithy’s courtyard atop a Seven-Star Sword, startling Du Gu Ling. Though Du Gu Ling had arrived in Cold Moon City in similar fashion, he’d been unconscious and had no memory of flying. To witness a man soar through the air left him shaken and resolute in his desire to become an immortal.

That day, Lord Ouyang Jing looked at him with deep meaning and said, “You can lift a hammer even I cannot budge. Truly, the younger generation is extraordinary.”

After the city lord left, under Master Yuan’s guidance, Du Gu Ling mastered the entire smithing process in just one month. Master Yuan often praised his intelligence—he grasped everything at once, learning with remarkable speed.

Once he’d learned all the crafts, Du Gu Ling became the smithy’s top blacksmith. Thanks to his magical weapon, he could forge treasures usually reserved for immortals, though for now, only mortal-grade ones. Still, that was an impressive feat.

In the remaining ten months, including the one just completed, he forged ten weapons.

Word spread quickly, and many sought him out to forge treasures. Following his master’s wishes, he crafted weapons for the city lord and several noble families.

Although immortals could forge weapons, it was no simple task—there was risk of failure and the process was exhausting. Now that such treasures could be purchased, and money was no obstacle, why not buy them?

The sword he’d just finished was specially crafted for the young lord, Ouyang Chi, who, like Du Gu Ling, would soon attend the Celestial Veil Pavilion’s grand entrance ceremony—an event held only once every five years. This sword was for that occasion.

Thinking of this, Du Gu Ling breathed a sigh of relief. In the month ahead, he would forge for himself a fine, practical weapon. Though his black iron hammer was formidable, he couldn’t very well soar through the skies astride a hammer.

PS: This chapter is over 3,000 words. It took me ages to finish—if you enjoyed it, please send some flowers, vote, and add to your collection. Your support means the world to me!