Chapter 135: Establishing a Force?

Lou Gao could not spare a moment for doubt; he quickly picked up the gold sphere, held it before his eyes, and used every method at his disposal to try and sense the sphere.

He could feel that what was contained within that gold sphere was the metallic Spirit he had been pursuing his entire life.

After the operation just now, the metallic properties of the Board Crystal Hair Gold had actually been completely stimulated!

"Lord Zhou Heng, Senior Excellency!"

"Senior Zhou Heng! Are you still taking on apprentices?!" Although he was nearly eighty years old, Lou Gao still wept like a child; he held the gold sphere high in his hands, looking at Zhou Heng with eyes full of hot tears.

His body leaned forward, preparing to kneel down directly.

In the original work, Lou Gao was pulled into the Tang Sect simply because of the knowledge and techniques Tang San displayed.

In the end, he even threw himself into the furnace, using his life to stimulate the sharp aura of the Deep Sea Sinking Silver Mother.

What he had pursued his entire life was the higher realm of the blacksmith; for this, he would spare no cost, and even if he were to lose his life because of it, he would not feel the slightest fear.

Watching this scene, Zhou Heng hurriedly stopped Lou Gao, helped this old man who would be of great use to him into a seat, and began to explain.

"God Craftsman Lou, there is no need for such a grand gesture. I am truly not a senior; I just happened to have read ancient books and was born with some talent regarding Spirit, and combined with some fortuitous encounters later on, I was able to stimulate the Spirit within the metal.

As for the technique of blacksmithing, I can only say that I have mastered six out of seven orifices, but the seventh is blocked—I am completely ignorant.

I have a slight understanding of the higher levels, which is why I originally planned to go to Tiejiang Zhi Du to find God Craftsman Lou.

Is it not a chance bestowed upon us two by the heavens that we can meet here in this Tiandou Royal Auction House?"

The auction outside was still continuing; Zhou Heng divided his attention to keep an eye on the auction items while communicating with Lou Gao about his views on the development of blacksmithing.

Although most of Zhou Heng's views seemed somewhat too fantastical to Lou Gao, not quite like things a blacksmith could achieve.

But given that Zhou Heng had stimulated the Spirit of the metal with his bare hands right in front of him, in Lou Gao's eyes, Zhou Heng's words must be correct.

If he could not understand it, it must be because his own comprehension was too low and his aptitude too poor.

Although nearly eighty, he sat honestly in front of Zhou Heng just as he had when he was an apprentice under his teacher, listening to a portion of Zhou Heng's insights and conjectures, and firmly recording every one of Zhou Heng's words in a small notebook as if they were imperial edicts.

Through his exchange with Lou Gao, Zhou Heng was now able to understand Lou Gao's technical level.

Above Ten Thousand Forging, but not yet Spirit Forging.

Or rather, if Lou Gao were willing, with his current technique, he could already completely hammer metal to the level of Ten Thousand Forging.

But after the Ten Thousand Forging level, if one did not stimulate the Spirit of the metal and instead continued to forcefully stack the number of forgings, not only would it be difficult to increase the strength of the metal, but as the number of forgings gradually increased, various problems would gradually appear within the metal.

In terms of technique, Lou Gao had already reached the peak; the only thing Lou Gao lacked was the comprehension of intent.

Zhou Heng asked in passing about the two God Craftsmen, Tang Hao and Tai Tan, but after Lou Gao fell silent, he gave an answer that was unexpected yet reasonable.

"The Wutian Sect is born with talent in forging, and the Wutian Hammer martial soul can be considered the most perfect forging hammer.

A thousand years ago, they also relied on forging to get their start.

But later, after the Wutian Sect became a sect, they hurriedly cut ties with the profession of blacksmithing and never stepped foot into the blacksmithing industry again.

It was only a little over a hundred years ago that a peerless figure on land appeared in the Clear Sky Sect; this peerless figure did not reject the technique of forging, but was actually a blacksmith himself.

Because of the influence of this peerless figure, the Wutian Sect gradually became involved with blacksmithing again.

But they definitely did not truly become blacksmiths. Among the three God Craftsmen, Tang Wu reached the level in technique, but most of that relied on the Wutian Nine Absolutes of the Clear Sky Sect for improving force exertion and the inherent advantages of the Clear Sky Hammer in forging.

In terms of realm, he actually never reached the level of a God Craftsman; he was only considered one of the three God Craftsmen to give the Clear Sky Sect face.

That old fellow Tai Tan's technique and realm did reach the standard of a God Craftsman, but he himself gave up on further progress after becoming a God Craftsman; his technique is exactly the same as it was when he first became a God Craftsman decades ago, and it would not be an exaggeration to say it has even slightly regressed.

I am not blowing my own horn, although we are all God Craftsmen.

There are still levels of superiority in forging.

Tang Hao and Tai Tan only stepped into the realm of God Craftsman and then gave up on moving forward.

Yet for these past few decades, I have been constantly developing toward a further direction; both my technique and my realm are higher than those two.

If there is anyone in this era who can continue to take a step further in the current Blacksmith System, even if that person is not me, it cannot be those two, Tang Hao and Tai Tan.

Because those two stopped growing a long time ago."

Zhou Heng thought about it, and it seemed that what Lou Gao said was indeed correct.

That Tang Wu was high-minded and arrogant; even as a God Craftsman of the age, he looked down on other blacksmiths.

This person spent his whole life pursuing higher soul power; being able to become a God Craftsman was already due to his talent.

Naturally, it was impossible for him to give up the pursuit of soul power to delve into the art of forging.

Although Tai Tan and the Strength Clan relied on blacksmithing for a living, Tai Tan himself did not seem to display much talent in the original work.

Although he was called a God Craftsman, he had neither that kind of super-standard technique nor that kind of fanatical mindset.

Although he did not go so far as to look down on blacksmiths, Tai Tan himself and the Strength Clan certainly considered themselves Spirit Masters and a Spirit Master family.

Blacksmithing was merely a means for them to make a living; if there were other means more profitable than blacksmithing, they certainly would not mind abandoning their family's blacksmithing craft.

To say such a person is qualified is fine, but they certainly cannot be considered excellent.

Zhou Heng handed the gold sphere to Lou Gao, intending to use it as a deposit to have Lou Gao teach him forging techniques and provide assistance for his own deeper research in the future.

As a result, Lou Gao was not happy after hearing this.

"Senior Zhou Heng, are you not humiliating me?

A so-called God Craftsman is nothing more than a mortal trapped before the barrier of Spirit, finding it difficult to cross for their entire life.

And you, you were born with the crucial inspiration; with the spiritual power you have displayed, even under the guidance of an ordinary blacksmith, you will certainly be able to cross the realm of God Craftsman in the future.

I, Lou Gao, dare not speak of teaching; I can only offer up all my techniques, experience, and insights, only asking that after you, Senior Zhou Heng, research the higher realm of the blacksmith, you will allow this mortal a glimpse."

Having said this, Lou Gao calmed his chest slightly, and a somewhat fawning smile was forcibly squeezed onto his aged face.

"Senior Zhou Heng, do you have any forces? Or do you have any thoughts of establishing a force? If possible, could you allow this old bag of bones to join and contribute some effort?"

Lou Gao was a tough nut; even if a knife were held to his throat to force him to join a certain force, he would not blink an eye.

As one of the three God Craftsmen of the age, he had his own integrity.

But when it concerned higher-level forging techniques, things were different.

Even if he were not notified, once Lou Gao knew about it, he would sharpen his head to drill his way in.

Although he knew that by taking the initiative to join someone else's faction like this, his status would become very passive and awkward.

Yet Lou Gao still could not bear to let such an opportunity slip away before his eyes, even if it were only a possibility of it slipping away, that would not do.