Chapter 31 - Side Professions...

"Well, thinking a lot about it now wouldn't help much. I might as well move on to the other books, and see if I can get any inspiration from them. Especially the book about Primordial Tomes or something..." I awoke myself from my reverie of thinking about the Body Tempering Phase.

"Next on the list. Introduction to Forging." I said to myself as I picked up the book from the stack.

『Ascendance』, 100% activate!

Introduction to Forging.

Forging is a very solemn profession. If you do not have the passion for it, don't do it. It is gruelling work, and only if you have the passion, to seek the satisfaction of turning mere materials into things that you can trust your life to, would you be able to go far on this path of Forging.

Forging is a profession that requires physical strength, endurance and patience. To be able to hammer the materials into shape, to endure the blazing heat of the furnace, and the patiently and continuously heat up the materials to soften them, over and over again.

It is tough work, but if you can pull through, it can be very rewarding when you get good at it. Truth to be told, many famous swordsmen don't forge their own sword. Many famous cultivators do not forge their own weapon. So why should you?

The cultivators that have reached the peaks in their respective weapon Dao, 8 out of 10 of them made their own weapons. They may not have been great forging masters, but they intimately know their own weapons, which makes it easier for them to become one with their weapon.

I know because I myself had experienced it. I was a fanatic. I still am. I loved swords, and I loved forging, so I decided to combine both. I made as many types of swords as I could, as many of them as I can.

I made so many, I intimately knew the concept of 'sword'. I was able to reach the realm of becoming one with the sword for every sword I made after I comprehended the concept of 'sword'.

Granted, I couldn't do with any other swords, besides the ones I made, but most swordsmen can only become one with a single sword, and that was because they had the sword with them all day, every day, and meditated with it all the time.

I was able to become one with so many swords, I created a sword formation, and I was able to both cleave my enemies apart, and protect a group of people including myself at the same time.

It was from this fact, the fact that I manage to understand the concept of 'Sword' through forging, that I realised that the Dao is truly all-encompassing. All paths lead back to the source, the Great Dao. That is the legacy I wish to leave behind.

All of the swords I have ever made, I have decided to keep them together, in a sword burial with me. Whoever who has gained the recognition of a sword, may take that one with you. I wish you luck on your endeavour towards the Dao, and that you take good care of the sword that you have taken.

-Taken from the Monument of Sword Saint Duanmu at the Sword Burial.

'I see, so it was a last message or sorts. I thought it was strange that it described forging in a difficult manner, and then it turned into an autobiography...' I silently thought to myself as I deactivated『Ascendance』to flip the page and reactivated it again.

'There's more?'

Forging is the profession of making equipment. Weapons, armours, even accessories. To apply powerful formations on an accessory, it must be strong and tough enough to withstand the burden the formation places on an accessory. An example is a Spatial Ring.

A spatial ring requires the carving of a formation on the ring, then filling it with the materials used to draw the formation. The tougher the ring, the more it is able to withstand the pressure of the space inside pushing out, and the space outside pushing in.

Of course, a Formations master with a deep understanding of the concept of 'Space', will be able to negate the pressure to a certain degree due to the ingenious formations, but I do not know very much about it. I am a Forging Master, not a Formations Master.

'Ooooh... It seems like spatial rings aren't very rare...or at least, it can be made. Makes sense. The novels I've read before all said "they came from ancient times", then how the hell every cultivator after a certain level has it? Do you know how many freaking people there are when you add it all up??? Sigh.'

All things that have been forged are rated through stars, and according to cultivation base. From 1 star to 11 stars, the more excellent the forged thing is, the higher the number of stars. A Qi Cultivation 9-star sword is suitable for a cultivator to use until the peak of late stage Qi Cultivation realm. Beyond that, requires a better sword.

The criteria for rating it is dependant on 5 things, the durability of the forged item, the required properties of the forged item, flexibility of the forged item, amplification of elements, and the ability to withstand Qi in the forged item. Each of these things with have a star rating, from 1 to 10, and these 3 numbers will be added up and averaged out to get the actual star rating of the weapon.

The durability of the forged item, of course, will depend on the full force blow of a cultivator. A weapon that can withstand the full force blow of a Peak stage Qi Cultivation realm cultivator is rated a Qi Cultivation 10-star durability.

The required properties depends on what the item is for. For armours, would be the property of being able to block damage. An armour that is able to completely block the damage of a full force blow of a Peak late stage, a 9th stage Qi Cultivation realm cultivator is rated a Qi Cultivation 9-star absorption capability.

For bladed weapons, it would be sharpness. A blade that can cut through the Qi protection layer on the skin of a Peak Qi Cultivation realm cultivator is rated Qi Cultivation 10-stars sharpness. A blunt weapon is similar, but instead of cutting, it is breaking instead. A bow, however, would be stiffness of the bow instead, the ability of the bow to store power.

For accessories, it would be toughness. An accessory that is able to withstand the burden a Qi Cultivation 9-stars formation is rated similarly, Qi Cultivation 9-stars toughness.

The flexibility of the forged item is important for weapons and armours, especially armours and bows. It is the capability of the item to absorb shock, and to stretch and bend without breaking. If an item is able to absorb the full force blow, or withstand the full strength, of a Peak Qi Cultivation realm cultivator, and not break, it is rated a Qi Cultivation 10-stars flexibility.

Every cultivator focuses on one element or the other, and the ability of a forged item to amplify the cultivator's elemental ability, be it an attack, shield, or special effects, is what makes a forged item very useful. However, the amplification of elements of a forged item is very vague and hard to measure properly. As such, it may differ from place to place. However, since the Continents have lost contact, it is difficult to standardize...

On the Primordial Chaos Continent, if a forged item is able to amplify a certain element's ability of a Peak Qi Cultivation realm cultivator by 20%, it is rated as a Qi Cultivation 10-stars amplification. It means that if a lower stage cultivator uses an ability with the element this weapon is attuned to, it may be amplified further, like 50% or maybe even more.

And finally, the ability to withstand Qi in the weapon. This requires little explanation, as a weapon that cannot withstand a lot of Qi is basically crippling to a cultivator. If a forged item can withstand all of the Qi of a half step Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, it is rated Qi Cultivation 11-stars Qi vessel.

To set a clear understanding, an example will be given. A sword.

It can withstand the full force blow of a 3rd stage Foundation Establishment realm cultivator.

It can cut through the Qi protection layer on the skin of an 8th stage Cultivation realm cultivator.

It can withstand the full strength of a 5th stage Qi Cultivation realm cultivator and not break.

It is able to amplify a certain element's ability of a Peak Qi Cultivation realm cultivator by 20%.

And it can withstand all of the Qi of a half step Foundation Establishment realm cultivator.

So the sword has a Foundation Establishment 3-stars durability, a Qi Cultivation 8-stars sharpness, a Qi Cultivation 5-stars Flexibility, a Qi Cultivation 10-stars amplification, and a Qi Cultivation 11-stars Qi vessel.

A Foundation Establishment level property far exceeds a Qi Cultivation level property. As such, the grading is slightly different. As you may have noticed, the number of stars is the same as the number of the stage at whatever realm the cultivator is at. 1 to 9 stars, it is obvious, for 10 stars, it is the Peak of the realm, and for half step to the next realm, it is 11 stars.

However, when it comes to the next stage, it is incremental. A Foundation Establishment 1-star durability is equivalent to a Qi Cultivation 13-star durability. A Core Formation 1-star durability is equivalent to a Foundation Establishment 15-star durability. Each time the realm increases, 1 star is added, to signify the difference between realms.

So it is the current realm star, plus the previous realm's maximum star, 11, plus which level of cultivation realm.

Qi Cultivation to Body Tempering, add 0 stars.

Foundation Establishment to Qi Cultivation, add 1 star.

Core Formation to Foundation Establishment, add 2 stars.

Nascent Soul to Core Formation, add 3 stars, and so on.

And thus, concludes the Introduction to Forging.

'....That was super long and complicated. And it never said anything on how to forge! Bloody hell... Is it because its easier to show or something? Okay maybe. There isn't any videos or the like so it can't be helped. The woes of an ancient civilization...

And Oh my g-, I mean, Heavens! There's still 8 more to go! Thank g- Thank the Heavens that puppeteering isn't here. Damn it my habit is coming back. Heavens! Fuck god. Okay, not in that order. No staph, I don't want that image in my head... Nooooooooo~' I lamented, tired from the long read.

'Right, deactivate『Ascendance』first. I need to rest. I think I should go slowly and read one side profession book a day. Take it slow.' I thought it out after deactivating『Ascendance』and resting my forehead on my palm.

Looking out the window, the midnight sky shone with starlight through the opening, mildly illuminating the window sill.

'Come to think of it, how am I reading the books without light...' the thought came to me as I looked around.

Looking up, I found the source of light within the living room.

'Aha. Found it. So it's some kind of crystal light, probably either using formations, or using spirit stone as fuel. Oh, right, it's called Qi stones here. At any rate, it is pretty dim. Almost like a nightlight of sorts, a very soft glow. I'm surprised that I was able to read like normal with this light that is barely any better than moonlight.

But that is a good thing. Both the lighting and my apparent night vision. I can see the night stars if the lighting isn't extremely bright like fluorescent bulbs. That's definitely one thing I ain't bringing over.'

"Ugh. I think I better stop thinking. The Forging thing was a lot to take in all at once. Maybe some similar parts will overlap for the other side professions, then it wouldn't be as dreary. The dictionaries were different since I had plenty to do, to think, to contemplate. It wasn't exactly boring...

All well, I'll just do some training then. It'll take my mind off of thinking. Some quick ones, just in case mom and dad come and look for me after their 'private time'..."

I went back to the 'blind spot' of sorts that I arranged, and did my training routine for the day, every exercise +1. Completing a cycle of exercises, 2 sets of 2 push ups, 2 sets of 2 leg ups, and 2 sets of 2 squats, of which, 1 set is done very slowly, and the other set is done as fast as I could. The moment I finished another cycle, I heard hurried footsteps coming from the bedroom... at which point I hurriedly ran to the carpet and went on my knees...

******

A certain couple were hugging each other on the jade bed, nakedly entangled and enjoying each other's company and warmth, both facing each other on the only long pillow on the jade bed, and whispered softly to each other, essentially having a pillow talk, even if the concept was unknown to them.

"That was a very pleasant experience. We should do it more sometimes. Perhaps, would you like me to massage you instead, Bai Bai?"

"I would very much like it, when I come back tired. There were a few times where I was tempted to ask for a massage, but I didn't because I saw you were just as tired as I was..."

"Hmm. I didn't know that. I just sent a healing technique over to you to relieve muscle soreness, but it doesn't help with exhaustion. Actually, I did use the healing technique on myself, I just felt a little dispirited. It happens you know? I drew 7 formations today. 7! granted, 5 of them were simple ones, but they were not usually used on houses..." An Xin complained.

"I know, I'm just glad you didn't use up all your soul force, otherwise you would've fainted." Wei Bai comforted as he patted An Xin's back gently.

"Then you wouldn't have gotten to enjoy some 'fun' today, now would you?" An Xin teased.

"...I wouldn't have gotten to pamper my wife." Wei Bai retorted

"Oh, you... still, you wouldn't have, right~?" A deeper blush flushed across An Xin's ears as she light pounded his chest, and asked her teasing question again for revenge.

"...Yeah, I wouldn't have. I really have to thank Yan'er for today." Wei Bai relented, finally being a little more honest.

"...Speaking of which, Yan Yan went out into the living room didn't she? ...If I were not mistaken, didn't Yan Yan... walked out?" An Xin suddenly questioned, as if just remembered something

"Yeah. She did." Wei Bai affirmed.

"On her 2 feet...?" She questioned once more.

"..." Wei Bai widened his eyes as he stared right back at his wife.

An Xin, noticing the realisation in her husband's eyes, confirmed her suspicions and ran out of the bedroom, intending to confirm the truth with her own eyes.

******

"Yan Yan! You can walk already?! When?! Awwww! I can't believe I missed my daughter's first steps!" A surprised mom barged into the living room, wearing her birthday suit in all her beautiful glory.

"Hmm?" I hummed as I looked up from the book I was pretending to read, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

"Oh, good night mom. Did you have fun? And since when I could walk?" I teased mom a little while acting clueless and innocent.

"Eh..? Uh... En. Good...Night? Why good night?" A mild flush crept over her whole body as she nodded and asked this question.

"It is night time. And the dictionary said greetings should follow the appropriate time, like morning, afternoon, evening and night. Unless it has nothing to do with timing like salutations. So, good night." I explained my 'reasoning'.

"Un. Good night, Yan Yan. Wait no! Fufufu, Good night is used when the person you are talking to is about to sleep. It's like sweet dreams." Mom laughing guided.

"Is that so? I see. Then what about the rest?"

"Well, for good morning, you should also use it to greet a person who has just woken up, or as per the normal meaning, when you meet somebody in the morning. Otherwise, it is just a normal meaning as per the time."

"Hum, hum. Yan Yan understands. Mommy and Daddy should be very tired after relaxing just now, so let's go to sleep. Good night~" I nodded twice and crawled into the bedroom at a rather quick speed.

"..." Mom at first blushed a little at the reminder of her 'private time' and smiled at her daughter wishing her 'good night' but then just dumbfoundedly stared at the swift speed at which her daughter crawled across the living room over the doorsill into the bedroom.

"What's wrong, mom? Do you not want to sleep?" I asked as I looked back at mom after reaching out my arms to the edge of the jade bed and standing up.

"Ah, right! Here, let me help you. The bed might be a little too tall for you right now." Mom was woken up by my question and came over to carry me at my armpits.

"Good night, Xin Xin, Yan'er." Dad greeted at the other side of the bed, also in his birthday suit.

"Un. Good night mommy, daddy."

"En~ Good night~ Yan Yan, Bai Bai." Mom greeted back as she climbed into bed while hugging me at her chest.

Enjoying the warm, soft 'bed' that include mild, rhythmic massaging vibrations, I rested my tired mind, forgetting my worries for now, and closed my eyes, drifting off into sleep, totally forgetting about the fact that I had『Truth Seeker』still activated at 10% this whole time.