From bone collectors to the supreme ruler of humanity

Chapter 111 Making Money Starts with Blacksmithing!

A week went by in a flash.

Lin Yan was busy with the Defense Department's official duties during the day, and every night when he got home, he would soak in medicine, massage, and practice his martial arts without fail. The bath tub had long been soaked in the medicinal soup and changed color, turning a dark green like medicinal residue. Even Chen Shi gave up on cleaning the bath tub.

But the results are real.

【Skill: Dragon Elephant Body Forging Technique (Beginner) (30/200)】

[Effect: Body Refinement Technique, five levels in total, currently at the first level, Skin Refinement Realm, current effect: skin toughness increased by 3%]

That day, Lin Yan washed off the medicinal soup and stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking at himself.

Her originally rough and dark skin has become much fairer and smoother, even with a faint sheen, and feels smooth to the touch.

He lightly cut the back of his hand with a knife, breaking only a layer of skin without drawing blood.

According to the cultivation method, after mastering the Skin Refining Realm, one becomes difficult to injure with ordinary swords and blades. Although he is still far from that realm, the toughness of his skin has indeed improved to the naked eye.

Another change that surprised Lin Yan was that he had grown taller.

Before, when he stood in front of the bronze mirror, the top of his head would just reach the edge of the mirror. Today, when he stood there again, the mirror couldn't even fit him anymore. Although it was only a little bit, just the width of a finger, it was still quite remarkable that he could still grow taller at this age.

"elder brother!"

Lin Xiu's voice and the sound of knocking on the door rang out simultaneously, "What are you doing cooped up inside again? Come out and eat!"

Lin Yan put on her clothes and opened the door.

Lin Xiu looked up at him and couldn't help but let out a surprised "Eh?"

"Brother, you seem to have gotten fairer."

"Yeah?

"Ugh! I still smell like medicine on you, it's awful!"

Lin Yan laughed and deliberately moved closer to Lin Xiu, but the little girl disgustedly moved away.

When he arrived at the dining room, Chen had already served him dinner. He sat down and was about to pick up his chopsticks when he saw Chen looking at him with a hesitant expression.

"Mother, what's wrong?"

Madam Chen hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Yan'er, the money for yesterday's medicine... haven't we settled it with them yet? The clerk from Jirentang came to deliver the medicine to our house today..."

Lin Yan's face turned red instantly.

"I still have some loose silver on hand," Chen said, getting up to go inside to get it. "Take it and use it first."

"No need, Mother," Lin Yan quickly stopped her. "I'll think of something myself."

He really needs to think of a solution.

His savings of over three hundred taels of silver had been completely spent during this week of cultivation. He had also sold all the herbs he had collected before, and the shopkeeper only gave him two doses of medicine on credit because he was a big customer.

He has only mastered one-seventh of the first level of the "Dragon Elephant Body Forging Technique." At this rate, he will need another five thousand taels of silver to reach the second level.

Lin Yan finished the last mouthful of porridge, put down the bowl, and went out the door.

Even at dusk, the streets of Beijing remained bustling with activity, filled with people coming and going, and shouts of vendors echoing throughout the city.

Lin Yan strolled slowly along the street, his mind racing as he considered ways to make money.

Having been penalized with six months' salary, Lin Yan could ask the Crown Prince for some financial assistance, but he didn't want to have any further dealings with the Crown Prince.

Just then, the sound of hammering came from across the street.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

The rhythm was distinct and the force was powerful; you could tell it was the work of a seasoned blacksmith just by listening to the sound.

Lin Yan looked up and saw a photo with gold lettering on a black background hanging above the door.

"The Number One Weapon Refining Shop of the Great Yan Dynasty"

That's quite a boast.

A bald man, who looked to be in his forties, was standing at the entrance of the shop, swinging a huge iron hammer and striking an iron block on an anvil.

Lin Yan remembered the broken alchemy furnace he had bought from Jubaoyuan.

The [Appraisal] indicates that it is a mid-grade Xuan treasure. If it can be repaired, it can definitely be sold for a lot of silver, and then there will be no need to worry about not having money to buy medicine.

To repair the alchemy furnace, one must learn weapon crafting, and the most basic skill in weapon crafting is blacksmithing.

How about starting your money-making journey with blacksmithing?

"Sir, what would you like to see? We have all kinds of ironware, and the quality is top-notch."

The man stopped what he was doing and grinned at Lin Yan.

Lin Yan walked into the shop and looked around.

The walls were covered with all sorts of ironware: kitchen knives, rakes, hoes, horseshoes... but they were all ordinary items, and had nothing to do with the word "weapon forging".

"Boss, your sign clearly says 'weapon forging shop,' so why are you selling farm tools?"

The man put the hammer aside, wiped his sweat, and laughed, "Alas, sir, you don't know this, but weapon forging is something for cultivators. Ordinary people can't use it or afford it. We don't earn much money at all. We still have to make more farm tools to make a living."

Lin Yan nodded and pointed to the weapons piled up in the corner.

A short knife, a long sword, and several iron spears—the workmanship was a bit rough, but they were at least proper weapons.

"Did you also fire these weapons?"

"Of course," the man patted his chest proudly. "Our family has been in the weapon-making business in the capital since the founding of the Great Yan Dynasty, and it's been passed down for eight generations now. My ancestors even forged weapons for the founding emperor. Their skills were... well, it's a pity that much of it has been lost."

"You forged weapons for the founding emperor?" Lin Yan became interested. After all, the founding emperor, Li Jianxuan, was also a fifth-grade Xiantian realm cultivator. The weapons he used were at least high-grade Xuanbao treasures.

"Of course." Seeing Lin Yan's interest, the man couldn't stop talking. "Oh, sir, you don't know, back in my family's time, which of the famous generals in the capital didn't use weapons forged in our shop? It's a pity that peace came later, and there were fewer wars. By my generation, all that's left are some basic skills. To talk about real weapon forging..." He pointed inside, "it has to be my daughter."

Lin Yan was taken aback. "Your daughter?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain to the inner room was lifted, and a person walked out.

Lin Yan looked up and saw a girl who was about twenty years old. She was very tall, even a little over half a head taller than Lin Yan.

He wore a gray-blue coarse cloth shirt, had wheat-colored skin, and possessed a heroic air about him.

He was carrying an iron hammer, a size larger than the one the man at the door was using.

"Father, instead of focusing on your blacksmithing, you've been bragging to others again?" The girl's voice was a little hoarse, and she said quite rudely.

The man chuckled sheepishly, rubbing his bald head. "Zhi'er, don't talk nonsense. This gentleman is knowledgeable. I was just chatting with him about our family history. I wasn't bragging."

Zhi'er turned her gaze to Lin Yan, looking him up and down.

"Are you a cultivator?"

Lin Yan nodded. "Second rank."

"Second-grade?" Zhi'er curled her lip, her tone clearly disdainful. "Looking at your delicate skin, you don't seem like a very capable cultivator. Here to buy weapons?"

"I won't buy it."

"Then what are you doing here?" Zhi'er slung the large iron hammer over her shoulder, glaring menacingly.

Lin Yan ignored her attitude and stared at the hammer, slowly uttering a few words.

"I want to learn weapon crafting."