Chapter 190
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Chapter 190
The clang of hammer on anvil rang out at a steady pace. It struck repeatedly until it came time to quench the metal, steam billowing out of the bucket. Sweat dripped down Antons forehead, as this time he wasnt just watching but making the attempt himself. It wasnt anything marvelous, just a building nail. It was little more than a slab of metal that tapered to a point, but he was just beginning.
It was possible for him to completely negate the heat of a simple forge with his energy, but it seemed outside of the spirit of the work. Besides, if he couldnt tolerate a little discomfort he would never have gotten good at anything.
When Grant had first started down the path of a smith, Anton had just started teaching him how to use energy. Hed barely reached the second star at that point, and while he had some experience as an apprentice his actual experience as a smith was limited. But with tempered muscles and the financial help to set up a forge, hed begun his journey. Now, two and a half years later, Grant was nearing the peak of Body Tempering and had a steady flow of customers from Windrip and Stregate.
Its possible to fortify the inner portion of whatever youre forging so that your hammer blows dont push it too far, Grant said, Though its really better to achieve that with pure technique. If you really do flatten something too far, its possible to more directly alter the structure if you have to, but doing it wrong leaves the metal weak. Anton nodded. Altering things on a small level took very precise and accurate energy control to last. You use some muscles more than others, but the most important thing is knowing how much strength to use. Just swinging harder doesnt help much, with normal metals. I havent gotten much practice with anything cultivators use.
Anton continued to work with Grant, watching him smith. Most of his energy usage while doing so was internal, to improve his body as he worked. Anton had to bow to Grants expertise in what areas needed to be tempered properly, but he could provide some advice on how. He regularly visited Windrip to help people with their cultivation, but he was constantly learning new improvements. While many of them were extremely slight changes, they could significantly alter the future trajectory of a cultivator. For those who just wanted to live, it probably wouldnt matter- and with just the core portions of the Ninety-Nine Stars people werent doing poorly. But Anton wasnt happy with just settling for good enough. If people were willing to work with him to be their best, he would happily continue improving with them. And maybe he would be good enough to make things better than nails soon enough. Unlike a regular apprentice, he could afford to fix things if he messed up from trying to learn too quickly. He wasnt going to be a burden on those he was learning from just because he showed up irregularly.
-----
The next week, Derya took him out to the market. The first part of weaving is picking good thread. It takes a practiced eye, but theres more to it than that. She had been an experienced weaver when he first helped her get set up in Windrip already, but cultivation had allowed her to take things to the next level. Since her work wasnt as physically demanding as blacksmithing, shed been cultivating more slowly after achieving the most useful portions of Body Tempering. You can sense when a spool of thread has a weakness. I do not buy from those merchants who regularly have poor quality thread. What good is it to just look good on the outside? She held up one spool to the merchant, a young woman, This ones bad in the middle, dear.
The young woman took it and set it aside, Ill take your word for it.
You wouldnt have to, if you would cultivate. You could pick it out for yourself.
Where would I find time for that? she asked. I have to be here all day or managing shipments or taking care of the house.
Its not all sitting on your rear in meditation, dear, Derya smiled, It can be done at the same time as practical work. And it doesnt always take many years. Id be willing to bet you could sense bad thread by next spring. Sooner, if you have more talent than me. She looked to Anton, Antons the one who taught me, and hes gone much further in just four years.
Translation efforts were still undergoing, but it was clear that the Luminous Ocean Society had some sort of warning to make use of. More importantly, the Secret Realm seemed to be meant for training people with more than just the tower that had heavy energy pressure, and it was fully intact. While the Order didnt have control over the area, and anyone could come and go as they pleased, they could make regular expeditions to the area as long as they brought elders for security.
Again, Anton said. He would continue until he was confident in maintaining his control without thinking about it then Timothy would be the one with the sword. If Anton overcame all of that, learning the basics of the anti-ascension techniques wouldnt be terribly difficult either. It was problematic that Anton was the only one, at the moment, who could make use of any ascension energy. It could take him years to be relevant in that regard, since a proper ascension cultivator would be beyond Life Transformation in terms of power, or perhaps matching it except for the denser form of energy- but that was still quite a bit out of his reach.
-----
Vandale stood in front of Anton atop the peak, holding a small ball of energy in his hand. It was comparable in density to a smouldering orb in his other hand, though Anton could feel clear differences. This is it, Im afraid, Vandale said. In theory, I should be closer to the ascension energy and thus able to reach out for it but its difficult. In theory this was what I was trying to obtain for so many years, and simply that act makes me unsuitable for Fleeting Youth. His energy senses swept over Anton, I see the practice of it is changing your core. Youre still making proper advancements in the Ninety-Nine Stars, but you feel different.
The ascension energy still isnt part of me, Anton said, Nor do I think it can ever be. Its more like stealing it or borrowing it, since its quite willing to be under my control.
Energy doesnt much care who controls it, Vandale agreed. Even this ascension energy is simply not easily accessed from where we are. But I imagine Everheart knew more about it than anyone who had not actually ascended. A shame he is not around to ask, but I doubt his answer would be helpful regardless. Though he might have yet left information around.
If he had a prediction on when the next event would be, Anton said, I imagine hed reveal a tomb or equivalent at what he felt was an appropriate time before it. Unless he ascended, in which case I would presume he wouldnt have been interested in making it easier to defeat him if he ever returned. Even Fleeting Youth could have been completed before he became aware of those events.
Yes, Vandale said. I wouldnt count on any results from him. But we just have to produce someone of our own like Everheart.
Id never want to be like him, Anton said.
Oh, I didnt mean an asshole. Just a genius, Vandale tossed both balls of energy into the air, letting them unravel and explode against each other. We definitely dont need anyone with his personality. Just someone with the guts to make wide-sweeping moves. Id be glad to try, but unfortunately I can guarantee I wouldnt be able to see it through to the end.
... Ill think about it, Anton said.
A bit too late for that, I think. Its already begun. So do try to stay alive for the rest of it all.
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Chapter 190
The clang of hammer on anvil rang out at a steady pace. It struck repeatedly until it came time to quench the metal, steam billowing out of the bucket. Sweat dripped down Antons forehead, as this time he wasnt just watching but making the attempt himself. It wasnt anything marvelous, just a building nail. It was little more than a slab of metal that tapered to a point, but he was just beginning.
It was possible for him to completely negate the heat of a simple forge with his energy, but it seemed outside of the spirit of the work. Besides, if he couldnt tolerate a little discomfort he would never have gotten good at anything.
When Grant had first started down the path of a smith, Anton had just started teaching him how to use energy. Hed barely reached the second star at that point, and while he had some experience as an apprentice his actual experience as a smith was limited. But with tempered muscles and the financial help to set up a forge, hed begun his journey. Now, two and a half years later, Grant was nearing the peak of Body Tempering and had a steady flow of customers from Windrip and Stregate.
Its possible to fortify the inner portion of whatever youre forging so that your hammer blows dont push it too far, Grant said, Though its really better to achieve that with pure technique. If you really do flatten something too far, its possible to more directly alter the structure if you have to, but doing it wrong leaves the metal weak. Anton nodded. Altering things on a small level took very precise and accurate energy control to last. You use some muscles more than others, but the most important thing is knowing how much strength to use. Just swinging harder doesnt help much, with normal metals. I havent gotten much practice with anything cultivators use.
Anton continued to work with Grant, watching him smith. Most of his energy usage while doing so was internal, to improve his body as he worked. Anton had to bow to Grants expertise in what areas needed to be tempered properly, but he could provide some advice on how. He regularly visited Windrip to help people with their cultivation, but he was constantly learning new improvements. While many of them were extremely slight changes, they could significantly alter the future trajectory of a cultivator. For those who just wanted to live, it probably wouldnt matter- and with just the core portions of the Ninety-Nine Stars people werent doing poorly. But Anton wasnt happy with just settling for good enough. If people were willing to work with him to be their best, he would happily continue improving with them. And maybe he would be good enough to make things better than nails soon enough. Unlike a regular apprentice, he could afford to fix things if he messed up from trying to learn too quickly. He wasnt going to be a burden on those he was learning from just because he showed up irregularly.
-----
The next week, Derya took him out to the market. The first part of weaving is picking good thread. It takes a practiced eye, but theres more to it than that. She had been an experienced weaver when he first helped her get set up in Windrip already, but cultivation had allowed her to take things to the next level. Since her work wasnt as physically demanding as blacksmithing, shed been cultivating more slowly after achieving the most useful portions of Body Tempering. You can sense when a spool of thread has a weakness. I do not buy from those merchants who regularly have poor quality thread. What good is it to just look good on the outside? She held up one spool to the merchant, a young woman, This ones bad in the middle, dear.
The young woman took it and set it aside, Ill take your word for it.
You wouldnt have to, if you would cultivate. You could pick it out for yourself.
Where would I find time for that? she asked. I have to be here all day or managing shipments or taking care of the house.
Its not all sitting on your rear in meditation, dear, Derya smiled, It can be done at the same time as practical work. And it doesnt always take many years. Id be willing to bet you could sense bad thread by next spring. Sooner, if you have more talent than me. She looked to Anton, Antons the one who taught me, and hes gone much further in just four years.
Translation efforts were still undergoing, but it was clear that the Luminous Ocean Society had some sort of warning to make use of. More importantly, the Secret Realm seemed to be meant for training people with more than just the tower that had heavy energy pressure, and it was fully intact. While the Order didnt have control over the area, and anyone could come and go as they pleased, they could make regular expeditions to the area as long as they brought elders for security.
Again, Anton said. He would continue until he was confident in maintaining his control without thinking about it then Timothy would be the one with the sword. If Anton overcame all of that, learning the basics of the anti-ascension techniques wouldnt be terribly difficult either. It was problematic that Anton was the only one, at the moment, who could make use of any ascension energy. It could take him years to be relevant in that regard, since a proper ascension cultivator would be beyond Life Transformation in terms of power, or perhaps matching it except for the denser form of energy- but that was still quite a bit out of his reach.
-----
Vandale stood in front of Anton atop the peak, holding a small ball of energy in his hand. It was comparable in density to a smouldering orb in his other hand, though Anton could feel clear differences. This is it, Im afraid, Vandale said. In theory, I should be closer to the ascension energy and thus able to reach out for it but its difficult. In theory this was what I was trying to obtain for so many years, and simply that act makes me unsuitable for Fleeting Youth. His energy senses swept over Anton, I see the practice of it is changing your core. Youre still making proper advancements in the Ninety-Nine Stars, but you feel different.
The ascension energy still isnt part of me, Anton said, Nor do I think it can ever be. Its more like stealing it or borrowing it, since its quite willing to be under my control.
Energy doesnt much care who controls it, Vandale agreed. Even this ascension energy is simply not easily accessed from where we are. But I imagine Everheart knew more about it than anyone who had not actually ascended. A shame he is not around to ask, but I doubt his answer would be helpful regardless. Though he might have yet left information around.
If he had a prediction on when the next event would be, Anton said, I imagine hed reveal a tomb or equivalent at what he felt was an appropriate time before it. Unless he ascended, in which case I would presume he wouldnt have been interested in making it easier to defeat him if he ever returned. Even Fleeting Youth could have been completed before he became aware of those events.
Yes, Vandale said. I wouldnt count on any results from him. But we just have to produce someone of our own like Everheart.
Id never want to be like him, Anton said.
Oh, I didnt mean an asshole. Just a genius, Vandale tossed both balls of energy into the air, letting them unravel and explode against each other. We definitely dont need anyone with his personality. Just someone with the guts to make wide-sweeping moves. Id be glad to try, but unfortunately I can guarantee I wouldnt be able to see it through to the end.
... Ill think about it, Anton said.
A bit too late for that, I think. Its already begun. So do try to stay alive for the rest of it all.
Chapter 190The clang of hammer on anvil rang out at a steady pace. It struck repeatedly until it came time to quench the metal, steam billowing out of the bucket. Sweat dripped down Antons forehead, as this time he wasnt just watching but making the attempt himself. It wasnt anything marvelous, just a building nail. It was little more than a slab of metal that tapered to a point, but he was just beginning. It was possible for him to completely negate the heat of a simple forge with his energy, but it seemed outside of the spirit of the work. Besides, if he couldnt tolerate a little discomfort he would never have gotten good at anything. When Grant had first started down the path of a smith, Anton had just started teaching him how to use energy. Hed barely reached the second star at that point, and while he had some experience as an apprentice his actual experience as a smith was limited. But with tempered muscles and the financial help to set up a forge, hed begun his journey. Now, two and a half years later, Grant was nearing the peak of Body Tempering and had a steady flow of customers from Windrip and Stregate. Its possible to fortify the inner portion of whatever youre forging so that your hammer blows dont push it too far, Grant said, Though its really better to achieve that with pure technique. If you really do flatten something too far, its possible to more directly alter the structure if you have to, but doing it wrong leaves the metal weak. Anton nodded. Altering things on a small level took very precise and accurate energy control to last. You use some muscles more than others, but the most important thing is knowing how much strength to use. Just swinging harder doesnt help much, with normal metals. I havent gotten much practice with anything cultivators use.Anton continued to work with Grant, watching him smith. Most of his energy usage while doing so was internal, to improve his body as he worked. Anton had to bow to Grants expertise in what areas needed to be tempered properly, but he could provide some advice on how. He regularly visited Windrip to help people with their cultivation, but he was constantly learning new improvements. While many of them were extremely slight changes, they could significantly alter the future trajectory of a cultivator. For those who just wanted to live, it probably wouldnt matter- and with just the core portions of the Ninety-Nine Stars people werent doing poorly. But Anton wasnt happy with just settling for good enough. If people were willing to work with him to be their best, he would happily continue improving with them. And maybe he would be good enough to make things better than nails soon enough. Unlike a regular apprentice, he could afford to fix things if he messed up from trying to learn too quickly. He wasnt going to be a burden on those he was learning from just because he showed up irregularly.-----The next week, Derya took him out to the market. The first part of weaving is picking good thread. It takes a practiced eye, but theres more to it than that. She had been an experienced weaver when he first helped her get set up in Windrip already, but cultivation had allowed her to take things to the next level. Since her work wasnt as physically demanding as blacksmithing, shed been cultivating more slowly after achieving the most useful portions of Body Tempering. You can sense when a spool of thread has a weakness. I do not buy from those merchants who regularly have poor quality thread. What good is it to just look good on the outside? She held up one spool to the merchant, a young woman, This ones bad in the middle, dear.The young woman took it and set it aside, Ill take your word for it.You wouldnt have to, if you would cultivate. You could pick it out for yourself.Where would I find time for that? she asked. I have to be here all day or managing shipments or taking care of the house.Its not all sitting on your rear in meditation, dear, Derya smiled, It can be done at the same time as practical work. And it doesnt always take many years. Id be willing to bet you could sense bad thread by next spring. Sooner, if you have more talent than me. She looked to Anton, Antons the one who taught me, and hes gone much further in just four years.Translation efforts were still undergoing, but it was clear that the Luminous Ocean Society had some sort of warning to make use of. More importantly, the Secret Realm seemed to be meant for training people with more than just the tower that had heavy energy pressure, and it was fully intact. While the Order didnt have control over the area, and anyone could come and go as they pleased, they could make regular expeditions to the area as long as they brought elders for security. Again, Anton said. He would continue until he was confident in maintaining his control without thinking about it then Timothy would be the one with the sword. If Anton overcame all of that, learning the basics of the anti-ascension techniques wouldnt be terribly difficult either. It was problematic that Anton was the only one, at the moment, who could make use of any ascension energy. It could take him years to be relevant in that regard, since a proper ascension cultivator would be beyond Life Transformation in terms of power, or perhaps matching it except for the denser form of energy- but that was still quite a bit out of his reach.-----Vandale stood in front of Anton atop the peak, holding a small ball of energy in his hand. It was comparable in density to a smouldering orb in his other hand, though Anton could feel clear differences. This is it, Im afraid, Vandale said. In theory, I should be closer to the ascension energy and thus able to reach out for it but its difficult. In theory this was what I was trying to obtain for so many years, and simply that act makes me unsuitable for Fleeting Youth. His energy senses swept over Anton, I see the practice of it is changing your core. Youre still making proper advancements in the Ninety-Nine Stars, but you feel different.The ascension energy still isnt part of me, Anton said, Nor do I think it can ever be. Its more like stealing it or borrowing it, since its quite willing to be under my control.Energy doesnt much care who controls it, Vandale agreed. Even this ascension energy is simply not easily accessed from where we are. But I imagine Everheart knew more about it than anyone who had not actually ascended. A shame he is not around to ask, but I doubt his answer would be helpful regardless. Though he might have yet left information around.If he had a prediction on when the next event would be, Anton said, I imagine hed reveal a tomb or equivalent at what he felt was an appropriate time before it. Unless he ascended, in which case I would presume he wouldnt have been interested in making it easier to defeat him if he ever returned. Even Fleeting Youth could have been completed before he became aware of those events.Yes, Vandale said. I wouldnt count on any results from him. But we just have to produce someone of our own like Everheart.Id never want to be like him, Anton said.Oh, I didnt mean an asshole. Just a genius, Vandale tossed both balls of energy into the air, letting them unravel and explode against each other. We definitely dont need anyone with his personality. Just someone with the guts to make wide-sweeping moves. Id be glad to try, but unfortunately I can guarantee I wouldnt be able to see it through to the end.... Ill think about it, Anton said.A bit too late for that, I think. Its already begun. So do try to stay alive for the rest of it all.
