No One Told Me That This Isn’t a Game (Patreon)

Chapter 18: Voices Like Sheep

"Senior Wang, Senior Hu, today's conversation has been truly beneficial for me! We should organize such gatherings more often in the future!"

On the second floor of the Smelting Forge, at the entrance of the tea room.

Lu Lilu escorted Master Wang and Master Hu out, excessively courteous with his words.

Master Wang smiled and said, "Master Lu is too polite. You are young, but your skills surpass ours!"

Master Hu added, "I have to admit when someone is better."

Becoming Zero World is an extraordinary realm with extremely high individual combat power. Over seventy percent of the population engages in adventuring or related professions. Those who don't venture into adventures are the minority.

In such an environment, blacksmiths and alchemists are considered prestigious professions. Those who have real skills and can craft excellent weapons and equipment are considered "respected" individuals.

Masters Lu, Wang, and Hu are renowned figures in Fengming City and even throughout 96511.

When they sat together, chatting over tea, it resembled an "academic exchange" among scholars—truly elegant and sophisticated.

Not a mere affectation.

"Master Lu, are you free now?"

During the conversation, a shop assistant approached.

Lu Lilu looked at him and asked, "What's the matter?"

The assistant pointed in the direction of the workshop, "We have a customer in the shop who wants to borrow the workshop to forge a spiritual weapon! The boss asked me to check if you could come over and take a look."

A spiritual weapon?!

Lu Lilu was slightly startled, and Master Wang and Master Hu exchanged a glance.

"Haha! A spiritual weapon smith? We have such great talents in 96511!" Lu Lilu smiled and turned to the two masters, "Seniors, shall we go take a look together?"

Master Hu grinned, "A spiritual weapon? Interesting! Master Wang, let's go have a look!"

"Let's go!"

"Please."

The three walked side by side, following the assistant towards the forging workshop.

In the workshop, Zuo Chang had been waiting for a while.

Hearing footsteps, he turned to look and saw two seniors and a younger man walking together.

Their skin wasn't smooth, bearing a dark-red hue as if scorched by fire for a long time.

Under their luxurious clothes, their muscles bulged, and their biceps and triceps were much more robust than an average person's, clearly indicating they were seasoned blacksmiths who had overexerted themselves.

"Here they come."

The shopkeeper greeted with a pleasant smile and introduced Masters Lu, Wang, and Hu to Zuo Chang.

Lu Lilu sized up Zuo Chang and asked, "Master Zuo, are you really here to forge a spiritual weapon?"

Zuo Chang nodded, "Yes."

"Oh– Do you need me to introduce you to the equipment in the workshop? We recently opened the Smelting Forge and purchased new equipment. You might not be familiar with the details."

"No need." Zuo Chang looked around, a hint of disdain in his eyes. "Your stuff is not advanced at all, just enough to get by."

I—

Got stiff.

My fist got stiff.

Lu Lilu had to admit, Zuo Chang's words showed some insight.

The equipment at the Smelting Forge was indeed not the most advanced.

But where could a five-digit community like 96511 get the most advanced forging equipment? Even if they got it, it wouldn't be of much use!

Master Wang was straightforward.

Seeing Zuo Chang's tender appearance, he knew he wasn't someone who could tend to the furnace. After hearing his arrogant words, he felt Zuo Chang was shallow!

He shook his head and disdainfully said, "Master Lu, I have some matters to attend to in my shop. I'll leave first."

He nodded, leaving.

Lu Lilu also felt disdainful, but he didn't show it on his face. "Forging a spiritual weapon is profound. We can provide you with the materials, Master Zuo. What do you need?"

Zuo Chang wanted Tungsten-Steel Mithril source material.

But...

Such late-game items were not common in 96511. Even if he asked, it would be futile.

At this point, he had to make do.

Zuo Chang said, "I'll make do with what's available."

The shopkeeper quickly added, "Mr. Zuo, let's make it clear—If you can't forge the spiritual weapon, you'll have to buy all the materials at the original price."

"That's only natural!"

Zuo Chang nodded with a smile, then walked towards the workshop's storage, taking out about ten pounds of processed magic steel, planning to forge a one-handed sword.

Lu Lilu stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching Zuo Chang, his heart without any ripples.

Recognized and acclaimed at such a young age, hired by the Smelting Forge at a high price to become a master, his pride was not just a little bit.

What Master Wang and Master Hu?

All mediocre!

As for this Zuo Chang—

Most likely, he was all talk and no skill.

Melting in the furnace, cooling with water, supplemented with hammering, repeating the process.

Time passed slowly.

Gradually changing, besides the magic steel that became increasingly bright and sharp-looking, there were also the expressions on Lu Lilu and Master Hu's faces.

The shopkeeper was somewhat knowledgeable.

He made a hissing sound and said, "Master Lu, Mr. Zuo seems to have some skills. Judging by his posture, he doesn't seem like a novice."

Novice?

He was an expert!

Lu Lilu was astonished. In less than an hour, his mindset shifted from disdain to curiosity, from curiosity to amazement, and finally from amazement back to curiosity!

The first time he felt curious was when he was surprised that Zuo Chang seemed to know how to forge iron.

The second time was when he was shocked by Zuo Chang's superb skills!

Now, he could be sure—after this sword in Zuo Chang's hands took shape, its quality would surpass his "Dragon Slayer"!

No.

Not surpass, but crush!

Although his inner world was in turmoil, due to his identity, Lu Lilu didn't make any unnecessary movements.

While he stayed still, Master Hu couldn't contain himself!

He quickly approached and asked, "Master Zuo, who did you learn blacksmithing from?"

Without raising his head, Zuo Chang replied, "I learn from nature and emulate the earth."

"...Who?"

"It means self-taught. I learned it on my own."

Self-taught...

Can someone achieve this level by self-teaching?

Master Hu's voice softened. This burly man with arms thicker than thighs produced a sheep-like sound, "Your skill in quenching is the most brilliant I've ever seen in my life! The quality of a sword largely depends on the control of temperature—cooling water temperature and tempering temperature are crucial! Um– Master Zuo, can you share some insights on this matter?"

Master Hu's words were not wrong.

Quenching can enhance the steel's rigidity, wear resistance, fatigue strength, and toughness.

The key factor that separates masters from novices is the ability to choose the appropriate tempering temperature based on the steel's current state.

However...

Zuo Chang didn't understand the principles at all.

The reason he could forge was purely due to his level 15 talent, "Master Artisan."

All his previous actions were based on "feeling" and "what he thought." He didn't understand a thing.

Even if Master Hu asked, Zuo Chang couldn't answer. He could only pretend to be profound and say, "There's no secret; practice makes perfect."

"Hehe– Master Zuo, I have been presumptuous and attempted to peek into the mysteries..."

Master Hu bowed, but he didn't leave.

His eyes widened, eagerly observing every move Zuo Chang made, absorbing every possible detail as if he were starved.