Chapter Eleven: Taking a Detour!

The competitive spirit among the people of this country is not just strong—it’s fierce. Just a few hours without leveling up, and the top spot on the Character Leaderboard is lost.

Title Level Class Guild
West Chu Mad Blade 18 Blade Warrior None
Blue Bat 18 Sword Warrior None
Clear Wind Taoist 18 Fire Taoist None
Morning Dew Witch 17 Dark Witch None
Lonely Scholar 17 Musician None
Backstabber 17 Blade Assassin None
Butterfly Lover 17 Archer None
Big Mouth Monk 17 Palm Monk None
West City Boy 17 Gun Warrior None

For the past few days on the leaderboard, apart from West Chu Mad Blade and myself firmly holding the top two positions, many players have repeatedly entered and exited the rankings—a colorful and fantastical convergence of heroes. But to truly stand out and win admiration, one must double their efforts.

I took Liang Wei to the mine and made three transportation runs. When we returned, the entire pile of ore had vanished. Following the scattered clues and faint traces, I discovered a new storage spot for the ore. It turned out the new boss had relocated the warehouse, right where they worked. I didn’t have the courage to steal ore under the watchful eyes of hundreds. But with the ore I already had, I was more than worried—there was a storage fee at the bank. Selling it on consignment wasn’t ideal either, as few players currently needed it. Rather than being stuck in this dilemma, I decided to challenge myself and boldly embark on a forging journey.

Following the sound of hammering, I easily found the blacksmith’s shop. An elderly blacksmith stood by a worn tarpaulin riddled with countless tiny holes burnt by sparks—almost like a fishing net. Nowadays, some fashionable ladies love to wear mesh-like clothes. Even this old man was keeping up with the trends—quite a tasteful fellow! The old blacksmith, bare-armed with strong, polished muscles, was steadily hammering away by the glowing forge. Using appraisal magic on him, I saw: Gu Tianyang, level 20, master blacksmith. One should never judge a book by its cover. This old man had reached master level in forging—hidden beneath his plain exterior was exquisite skill. Looks like I could learn a lot from him.

I approached respectfully and said, “Sir, may I practice forging under your guidance? I’m a novice, so please be patient with me.”

My polite greeting was met with silence; the old man continued rhythmically hammering without pausing. Was he putting on airs? But since I needed his help, I kept my patience and spoke more gently, “Master, could you please pause for a moment? I want to practice forging here.” Still no response! The old man’s arm muscles were taut and powerful as he gripped his hammer. Could he be deaf or mute? Again, one must not judge by appearances. I decided to try another district.

Just as I was about to leave, the old man struck a final blow on a steel blade, then swung it around satisfied. He turned to me, scrutinized me for a moment, and said with a hint of pride, “You want to learn blacksmithing from me? Do you know the essence of forging? ‘The hammer moves with the heart.’ When crafting, you must focus completely, free from distractions. Only when your heart is fully invested can you forge good equipment.”

Ah, so he had been teaching me all along. Hearing his theory, it was clear he was highly skilled. I admired him and said, “Your teaching is wise, sir. As the ancient saying goes: ‘Everywhere is a place of learning if you keep your heart attentive.’ Today, your words have proven that.”

Everyone loves flattery. The old man smiled warmly and nodded, “You’re teachable. Do you have ores ready for forging?”

“I have plenty! Please help me choose which ones are suitable for practice.” I hurriedly showed him various samples from my backpack.

“You can only practice with basic ores for now—brass ore and iron ore are fine. Gems are useless at this stage; you need to reach master level and learn fusion techniques before embedding them in equipment. This blue crystal is quite rare and a good forging material—keep it safe for later.” He pointed to the ores as if they were treasures.

Following the old blacksmith into the back room, he pointed to a small hammer beside the anvil and said, “Pick this up and get familiar with it. Feel its weight.”

I had assumed the small hammer would be light, but when I lifted it, it was twice as heavy as the Green Edge Sword. Still, the weight was manageable, and after a few swings, it felt nimble and natural. The old man nodded approvingly, then solemnly said, “Crafting equipment depends entirely on your hands. The key to forging lies in controlling the strength and finesse of your hands, as well as sensing the furnace’s temperature. When striking, don’t use brute force, but skillful power. The flexibility and durability of your equipment depend on the force and precision of your hammer strikes. Defense strength and attributes depend on your choice of materials and components. The quenching temperature determines the equipment’s durability. You must learn all this through practice. If you have questions, come ask me. Start by practicing with the molds over there!”

This was the true essence of forging—the old blacksmith was truly dedicated.

After a full day of forging, I used up all my basic ores and most of my intermediate ores. My forging skill had reached intermediate level: 754 out of 1000. Unexpectedly, my strength attribute increased by four points. Hey, hitting things might be a fun pastime—wonder if practicing other life skills would boost corresponding attributes.

Reaching intermediate forging, after several failures, I finally crafted my first piece of bronze equipment: the Black Gold Sword, level 10, requiring 10 strength and 10 agility, single-handed attack 8–11, two-handed attack 16–21, strength +3, weight 15, durability 200/200. So far, I’ve made 12 bronze items and over 30 white-quality items, ranging from levels 1 to 20. Only less than half can fetch a decent price.

The city is bustling and lively now. As players level up, equipment upgrades become necessary. Demand outstrips supply. Most of the gear I consigned this morning has sold. White items at level 12–15 sell for over 80 silver coins, bronze gear for over 3 gold coins, and even the three silver items I consigned sold well—the lowest went for 50 gold coins, and a level 16 silver spear sold for 115 gold coins. After fees, my earnings have surpassed 400 gold coins.

Liang Wei, Da Shan, and Xiao Yue enjoy the advantage of proximity. Since I introduced Liang Wei to the Da Shan siblings, they have conspired against me. Poor, upright me, a man of principle, is constantly outmaneuvered by these scheming women. Helpless, I dressed them all up in fine gear, enough to make most players envious. Da Shan was originally a good guy and sometimes spoke up for me when they bullied me together, but after I gave him the Whirlwind Axe, when I was at a disadvantage, he only sneered slyly from the sidelines. When I looked to him for help, he shamelessly bargained with me, demanding I supply his equipment from then on. Alas, poor judgment in friends.

After stocking up on essential potions, the destination this time is the Great Wind Swamp. Xiao Yue and the others are leveling there, facing crocodiles and lizards at levels 25 to 30. Though not agile, their attack power is formidable, making it tough for them. Da Shan is now level 17, just one level shy of using the Whirlwind Axe. Xiao Yue is only 15, and Liang Wei, a hunter in the swamp, is mostly just leeching experience. What else can you expect from him? Hmph, I’ll disdain him for now!

Fantasy Online.