The reason why the gate-keeping disciple of the Artifact Forging Pavilion brought out the Star-Patterned Steel was because, in their era, it was the introductory material used to assess whether an artifact forger was qualified.
Only by perfectly removing the impurities from the Star-Patterned Steel could one be considered to have truly entered the world of artifact forgers.
In this day and age, Star-Patterned Steel is incredibly precious, so it naturally couldn't be wasted like that anymore. However, almost every cultivator who practiced the orthodox path of artifact forging had heard of the legend of Star-Patterned Steel.
This was also why the previous disciple was immediately chased away as soon as fire appeared in his palm.
Using fire on Star-Patterned Steel was something only an absolute novice would do.
Before the forging platform, Li Shuang and Huo Lie almost simultaneously began their work.
Their hammers steadily struck the Star-Patterned Steel, producing crisp clanging sounds.
Huo Lie was a demon cultivator who specialized in body cultivation. In the Central Continent, body cultivators were generally recognized as the most suitable for concurrently practicing artifact forging.
Body cultivators did not cultivate their Dantian or Nascent Souls; all their cultivation was spread throughout their muscles. They were completely ignorant of spells, but their physical strength could withstand spell attacks. When it came to actual combat, body cultivators had another advantage: their cultivated spiritual power had already integrated into their physical bodies and would never dissipate. While spell cultivators might fail due to depleted spiritual power, body cultivators did not have this problem. Relatively speaking, their stamina was much better than that of spell cultivators.
And this incredible control over their bodies, as well as superior stamina, were precisely what was needed for artifact forging!
The disciples guarding the pavilion couldn't help but be slightly surprised by Huo Lie's bulging muscles.
"This new disciple is actually a body cultivator."
"Isn't the Fifth Elder in the sect also a body cultivator? He's probably a disciple valued by the Fifth Elder."
"Body cultivators indeed have a natural advantage in forging."
"He has a good chance of passing the assessment."
The two briefly exchanged words, and then their expressions subtly changed. They suddenly looked in Li Shuang's direction.
This... this is...
Li Shuang didn't have the almost abnormal control over her body that body cultivators possessed, but while she hammered, without needing to do anything special, vast amounts of spiritual energy from heaven and earth were naturally drawn to her!
She didn't seem to be exerting much force, yet her forging speed was significantly faster than Huo Lie's. Under her continuous striking, the Star-Patterned Steel's color had already begun to change.
A change in color is a sign that impurities are beginning to be removed!
It had only just begun.
She had already started to draw out impurities.
"Breathing technique, it's a breathing technique!" The gate-keeping disciple's voice subconsciously lowered.
Li Shuang's hammering had a unique rhythm, a rhythm that made her whole being seem to merge with the Heavenly Dao.
If one were to say.
Huo Lie was still at the level of skill.
Then Li Shuang was already infinitely close to the Dao.
"This batch of elite disciples seems quite interesting," the gate-keeping disciple said, a strange smile playing on his lips.
Especially this Li Shuang.
Her breathing technique might even play a role in the final forging.
Time flew by.
Huo Lie and Li Shuang were both intently hammering the Star-Patterned Steel.
Just half an hour later, Li Shuang stopped.
Under her forging, the piece of Star-Patterned Steel had shrunk by almost half. The entire stone also appeared increasingly lustrous.
"Finished," Li Shuang handed over the Star-Patterned Steel.
A gate-keeping disciple didn't take it, but asked coolly, "Are you sure all impurities have been removed?"
Li Shuang nodded.
Then, without inspecting it, he raised his hand and suddenly sent a wisp of true fire into it.
At this moment, the Star-Patterned Steel was still in Li Shuang's hand. If there were any impurities that hadn't been removed, it would explode instantly upon contact with the true fire.
Li Shuang remained calm, not moving at all, and not even using spiritual power for defense.
After a moment.
The Star-Patterned Steel was perfectly intact; all impurities had been removed!
A smile also appeared on the gate-keeping disciple's face: "It seems my Artifact Forging Pavilion has gained a promising talent. Li Shuang, you may enter. Keep this piece of Star-Patterned Steel for yourself as a plaything."
"Thank you." Li Shuang put away the Star-Patterned Steel and entered the Artifact Forging Pavilion.
Li Shuang had already succeeded, which secretly startled Huo Lie, but he didn't dare to slow down his actions in the slightest.
As the strongest among the younger generation of body cultivators, he was also an absolute top performer in the path of artifact forging.
Now.
In the path he was most skilled at, he had actually lost to Li Shuang?
Even Li and You Lan didn't have such ability!
This Li Shuang was truly too mysterious and too versatile.
Huo Lie momentarily found it hard to understand Cang Yin; this person was simply too unreasonably powerful.
Huo Lie was still working hard outside.
Li Shuang had already entered the interior of the Artifact Forging Pavilion.
Upon entering, waves of scorching heat assailed her. Various flames burned, and numerous artifact forgers were busily at work.
After Li Shuang walked in, no one paid any attention to her.
So now, the question was.
Who was Senior Brother Lin?
Li Shuang activated the Reincarnation Art and said, "Senior Brother Lin, Senior Brother Dashi asked me to come and help."
No one reacted.
Li Shuang continued to activate her technique, calling out three times. From behind a melting furnace, a middle-aged man with a full beard finally emerged.
The man looked at Li Shuang, a little surprised.
Lin An sending her wasn't unusual.
What was unusual was that the gate-keeping disciples actually let her in!
Senior Brother Lin said calmly, "Then go ahead and try."
Li Shuang obediently walked over.
Senior Brother Lin said nothing, but simply threw a pile of ores at her.
Some of these ores Li Shuang recognized, others she did not.
But Senior Brother Lin had no intention of explaining, merely instructing her to begin refining.
Li Shuang was not flustered.
She had exchanged for the "Record of Exotic Items," and recognized most of the ores.
Even if she didn't recognize them, she still had the Heaven and Earth Melting Furnace!
Li Shuang skillfully began to refine the ores.
Senior Brother Lin remained silent, but kept observing Li Shuang.
Seeing Li Shuang's skillful movements and excellent efficiency, a satisfied smile finally appeared on his face.
This time.
Lin An had indeed sent a good helper.
While Li Shuang was engrossed in refining, Huo Lie, at the last moment, barely completed his task and was also allowed in.
Originally, finding Senior Brother Lin would have been a challenge.
But now.
As soon as he saw Li Shuang's location, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
A master wouldn't make a mistake.
The person next to her was most likely Senior Brother Lin.
Huo Lie quickly walked over.
Senior Brother Lin glanced at Huo Lie and likewise threw some ores at him.
Senior Brother Lin's smile was strange: "Oh, two this time. Huo Lie, is it? Let me see what you can do."
Huo Lie did not dare to neglect, and diligently began his task.
The refining of the first few ores was relatively simple, but when he reached the fourth one, his expression changed slightly.
This thing... he didn't recognize it!
Huo Lie's movements only paused for a moment before Senior Brother Lin's eerie gaze drifted over.
All the artifact forgers nearby also seemed to receive some kind of summons, turning to look.