The Invincible Supreme Medical God

Chapter 723 - 424 Blood Forging of Nine Heavens

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This shop doesn’t look appealing, nor does it have any precious metals, gemstones, or jeweled decorations adorning its exterior; instead, it is made of wood with a large window, showing all items’ prices—each one noticeably steep. Their prices are more than double those of the shop he had visited earlier.

Upon entering, the shop carried an old, leathery scent similar to the other, but the lighting was significantly dimmer here. The narrow alley blocked out sunlight, and the only light illuminating the walls came from a lone torch. Rhythmic hammering sounds echoed from the back of the shop.

Unlike other shops, no one greeted Yan Xiaobao as he entered, leaving the young man alone for a long while. Despite his keen desire to know whether his weapon could be repaired, he understood that rushing to the blacksmith would likely garner no assistance. An hour and a half passed as Yan Xiaobao scanned all the items in the shop.

Another hour went by, and Yan Xiaobao began to wonder if he should try a different shop as unease settled in and he paced nervously. "I need the best blacksmith if I hope to restore the ice-cold Storm Sword to its original glory—or at least something close to it." Each time he was about to leave, he murmured to himself, and finally, after waiting two and a half hours, he saw a young man around his age walk into the shop.

"Sorry for the delay," the young man said with a grin as he looked at Yan Xiaobao. Obviously aware of how long he’d left him waiting, he still dared to feign an apology. Yan Xiaobao couldn’t help but find it somewhat rude. Nevertheless, he’d come here seeking help and refrained from showing any emotion on his neutral face.

"I’m looking for Cou Ling," Yan Xiaobao said, not revealing that he felt a touch insulted, knowing that humility was essential when asking for assistance. Perseverance was something Yan Xiaobao had learned long ago.

"Cou Ling, huh?" The young man smiled and turned away, saying, "Follow me." He gestured for Yan Xiaobao to follow him as they left the front room and entered the blacksmith’s workshop. Taking in his surroundings, Yan Xiaobao could still hear the rhythmic hammering of metal. The force was so strong that the ground shook, and the harder the hammer struck, the more the floor trembled beneath the youth’s feet. Walking straight towards the noise, Yan Xiaobao soon found himself standing in front of Cou Ling.

At the sight of her, his eyebrows shot up, his eyes widening. He had expected a muscular man but instead encountered a petite woman. Despite her small frame, her muscles were well-defined, and her sweat-drenched skin glistened. As the two young men approached her, she plunged the piece of metal she held into a large bucket of water, sending forth a sharp hissing sound as it met the cold. She set the hammer down on the anvil.

"What can I do for you?" she asked, wiping sweat from her forehead with a cloth from a nearby table. Her blue eyes locked straight onto Yan Xiaobao with clarity and intensity, staring directly into the young man’s gaze.

Staring at the woman, Yan Xiaobao promptly retrieved the sword from his storage stone and placed it on the anvil between them. "I need it restored," he said. "They told me you’re the best blacksmith, so if anyone can do it, it must be you."

Her eyes glimmered faintly, but as she took the sword into her hands, her expression soured. Setting it back down on the anvil after only a few seconds, she said, "Sorry, it’s too shattered; I can’t restore it." Stunned, Yan Xiaobao stared at the blacksmith. "You didn’t even look at it properly. How can you be so sure?" he asked, but her only response was a shake of her head.

The young man who had led Yan Xiaobao into the workshop cleared his throat. "We could use Nine Heavens’ bloody forging," he suggested, catching Yan Xiaobao’s attention with a renewed sense of hope. "What is this Nine Heavens bloody forging?" he asked curiously, not missing the sharp and resentful look Cou Ling sent the young man.

"It’s impossible. There are too many conditions and prerequisites to use that forging technique. Either you’re not suited for it, or it’s far too expensive," she said dismissively, but Yan Xiaobao refused to give up. "Let’s try," he said, his lips curling upward. If there was a way to restore such a sword, he was determined to pursue it.

With another sigh, the woman took the sword back into her hands, this time genuinely examining it. She rubbed it with her hands and scraped at the rust with her fingers. Though her gaze wavered in hesitation, a stubborn determination surfaced within her. After eyeing Yan Xiaobao for a while, she finally asked, "There are many requirements for this process. First, do you have an affinity for the Metal Element?" she asked, and Yan Xiaobao nodded. Seeing this, her reluctance intensified. "Do you have the money? If we’re going to attempt Nine Heavens bloody forging, I’ll need significant payment," she said.

Confused, Yan Xiaobao glanced at the blacksmith but nodded regardless. He could be considered wealthy.

"I won’t settle for anything less than ten spirit coins," the blacksmith said, to which Yan Xiaobao immediately withdrew ten spirit coins and handed them to her. Seeing the coins, her reluctance softened slightly.

"Alright, the rules are simple," she began. "Come back here in three days, before the day’s end. We’ll need to leave the city to perform Nine Heavens bloody forging; once we’re out there, you’ll obey my every command. Even if it doesn’t make sense to you, you will do everything I instruct," the woman continued, and Yan Xiaobao nodded. He dared not oppose the woman once she had agreed to proceed with the forging. As for what kind of forging this was, Yan Xiaobao didn’t know, but it sounded both bloody and dangerous. Dangerous enough that it could not be attempted within the city boundaries.