Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 115 - 114: Three Paths as One (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 115: Chapter 114: Three Paths as One (Please Subscribe)

Ma Lingyao helped Xu to suppress the wronged souls within his body, even assisting in refining some of them.

Xu opened his eyes and, seeing that Zhang San’s newly sworn-in teacher was there to help him, immediately expressed his gratitude.

"There’s no need for thanks. I’m doing this for the sake of that kid Zhang San. However, your problem is somewhat tricky,"

Xu promptly made a respectful gesture, asking for advice.

"Generally speaking, if a wronged soul enters a body, all you need to do is refine the soul away. After all, wronged souls are relatively scattered, and even if you die, your own soul remains very intact at the moment of death. But your situation is different..."

"When you died, too many wronged souls entered your body. To say there were a thousand might be an exaggeration, but to say there were as many as eight hundred is definitely not an overstatement."

"Although you have already refined many over this period of time, even multiplying the strength of your own soul many times, the problem is that the wronged souls you’ve refined actually carried sins, which inherently affect your own soul."

"At the same time, those sinless wronged souls, due to their similarities, have banded together and are now gradually assimilating and fusing."

"That is to say, within your body, it’s as if you are slowly transforming from a multitude of souls into two souls: one is yourself, and the other is the collective of those wronged souls. And that collective is clearly much stronger than you, many times over."

Xu’s brow furrowed upon hearing this.

"Your situation doesn’t lend itself well to simply refining it away. I suggest you continuously strengthen your own soul so that you can ultimately subdue it. Afterwards, consider using it as a Sword Spirit, or else reshape a body and transfer it into another body of yours."

"However, both of the latter options are quite difficult."

Xu, aware of the gravity of his problem, was nonetheless very grateful to Ma.

Ma returned from the yard next door and saw Pharaoh persuading Zhang San to become his disciple, immediately rushing over to intervene.

"Zhang San, don’t be fooled. I remember quite a few of Pharaoh’s disciples are still locked up in the dungeons, and even quite a few have been taken to the vegetable market for execution. If you think you’re tough enough, you might want to try it,"

Just as Pharaoh had revealed his intentions to take Zhang San as his closed-door disciple, Ma came to thwart him, provoking Pharaoh’s anger.

"So what if they’ve been executed? That’s because they had the ability; how could they possibly commit such a crime deserving of beheading without it? Zhang San, you agree, don’t you?"

Zhang San found himself unable to refute the claim at that moment.

Is this ability a bit too hardcore?

"Zhang San, don’t listen to Pharaoh. Not only do I have accomplishments in the Thousand Mechanisms Path, but I also know the Earth Fire Forging Method. By learning from me, you can not only improve your strength but also help you cultivate your Fire Movement power,"

Hearing that it could help him cultivate his Fire Movement power, Zhang San’s eyes lit up.

Seeing Zhang San’s reaction, Pharaoh felt things were going awry and shouted at Ma, "What use is a blacksmith? Besides, your Earth Fire Forging Technique is mixed with so many elements; you’ve learned everything in a jumbled mess..."

Wei, from the neighboring yard, secretly watched Pharaoh and Ma’s war of words, astonished.

Zhang San had become a sought-after commodity, with two people vying to take him on as their disciple.

Mentorship is extremely serious.

Throughout one’s life, one may have many teachers, but one can only have one true master.

If you take one master and then another, it constitutes a betrayal and an obliteration of lineage, a grave sin.

Therefore, for those with powerful inheritances, finding an outstanding successor is of great significance.

Zhang San did not stop them at first; after all, the process of Ma and Pharaoh revealing each other’s pasts allowed him to learn more about the old man.

Zhang San also knew that in this feudal world, mentorship and inheritance are crucial; only a true disciple could receive all of the skills passed down by a master.

He originally didn’t mind whether or not he would receive any inheritance, as his Sun Golden Hand was being taught to him by the old man every night.

However, following his interaction with Teacher Ma yesterday, Zhang San realized that although he could obtain basic techniques and abilities through the Sun Golden Hand, he truly needed to learn more about the application of ideas, creativity, and insights.

It was as if the technique of blowing wind, in my hands, could only cut someone else’s belt and then blow down their pants.

But under Wei’s guidance, I could call forth wind and summon rain.

Now, as I listened to the two elders verbally spar, I learned that Teacher Ma, in addition to the skills he had previously demonstrated in front of me, also had an Earth Fire Forging Method, which could forge Mysterious Weapons and grant a practitioner powerful combat capabilities.

I was keen on this unique skill.

It seemed Pharaoh had many disciples, and even his disciples had their own apprentices.

He must be a leading figure within some powerful faction.

However, that sect also sounded somewhat dangerous, with quite a few having been beheaded.

Wait, this guy couldn’t be from the Heavenly Punishment Sect, could he?

But then I thought about Pharaoh’s disdain for the doctrines of the Heavenly Punishment Sect and his admiration for imperial power, maybe he was an elder-level figure from a martial faction affiliated with the Great Sui Dynasty.

"Elders, let me say a word."

I separated the two old men who were about to literally spit in each other’s faces as they bickered.

"I believe that learning is endless. So, why not let me understand what I can learn first, and then I’ll make a choice, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Pharaoh and Ma thought it did make some sense.

"Come, since we’re at my place, let me show you the strongest forging method in the world—the Earth Fire Forging Method!"

As Ma spoke, he began to prepare for forging.

At the same time, he started explaining to me.

"The Earth Fire Forging Method is a forging method I created myself, with three origins."

"Firstly, the Imperial Path may encompass much, but to me, its core is the martial path. Hence, I integrated the martial aspect of the Imperial Path into this forging method. Forging is not only the tempering of weapons but also the tempering of oneself."

"Secondly, on almost every battlefield of Longyou Road, I’ve observed life and death, penetrated the mysteries of Yin and Yang, and through the Path of Life and Death, I’ve grasped the true meaning of weapons and incorporated it into the Earth Fire Forging Method, resulting in all weapons forged by this method being at least of low-grade Mysterious Weapon quality."

"Thirdly, the Woodcraft Making Method and Wood Seal Technique I previously taught you can also be considered part of the Thousand Mechanisms Path’s skills. Since I’ve gained insight on the Thousand Mechanisms Path, it’s impossible not to apply it to forging. Therefore, the Earth Fire Forging Method also integrates the ingenuity and calculations of the Thousand Mechanisms Path."

"In the end, I combined the essence of the three paths to create this Earth Fire Forging Method. Watch closely—"

Ma said as he swung the large hammer in his hands, striking a piece of iron ore on the forge with one blow.

With a single strike, the iron ore buzzed vibrantly.

I could even feel that, under that blow, the iron ore seemed to resonate with an exuberant sound of rebirth.

"Zhang San, this is just the beginning. The Earth Fire Forging Method, fusing the essences of three paths, consists of eighty-sixty-four hammer strikes. Now watch—"

I watched attentively and recorded all of Ma’s movements with Feng Chengying, observing carefully and studying earnestly.

After sixty-four strikes, that ordinary-looking piece of iron ore had been forged into a brand-new Horizontal Blade.

"I’ll get you a handle for this blade later, and then it will be complete. Consider it a small gift from your teacher."

Amazed by Ma Lingyao’s skill, I then realized that even though Ma had struck only sixty-four times, an entire day had passed, and the sun was now setting.

Pharaoh, standing by, couldn’t take it anymore.

"Ma, you did that on purpose, didn’t you? You need a whole day to forge a Horizontal Blade, are you trying to delay my time?"

Ma gave a smug smile, then quickly turned serious and innocent.

"Not at all, it’s just your bad luck, not a good destiny."