Death… And Me

There were a few rooms separated for new blacksmiths. Inside, Rean found everything he could possibly want. He couldn't help but feel impressed by their equipment too. Although they follow the same medieval trait with no electronics, Rean could tell with a glance that they were the best ones he has seen since reincarnation.

Soon, an elder entered the room. He didn't seem very please with his task of testing Rean out, though.

"Is it you who wanted to take the Blacksmith Test? A kid who is still wet behind the ears?"

The elder then looked at the disciple who brought Rean.

"Why did you even let him take the test?"

The disciples shrugged his shoulders.

"It's not my fault, Elder Willio. He paid the 300 Sect points, so I can only follow the rules. You know that as well."

Elder Willio narrowed his eyes.

"Hmph! Whatever."

He then pointed at a bunch of metals on the table before saying.

"You can forge a weapon or an armor for me to see. As long as it reaches the standard of the Blacksmith Hall, you will be allowed in. But you better understand that our weapons are much better than the ones outside in weapon stores. So even if you forge a Non-Spiritual Weapon, it has to have some degree Spiritual Energy trait at the very least. Do you understand?"

Rean smiled as he nodded his head. The outer sect disciples left right after since he was still on duty too.

Rean approached the table and could see that the material was separated into non-spiritual materials and low-level spiritual ones. Rean pondered a bit and decided to go for a non-spiritual one. After all, he only wanted access to the resources and facilities, not to reveal his weapon craft secrets.

In the end, he went for his old friend, Kaz Ore. As mentioned before, there are Spiritual Kaz Ore and common ones. Regardless, Rean knew how to work with both. He also too some other simple ores which he intended to use during the process. Obviously, he wouldn't forge a weapon with a single metal but make an alloy instead.

Elder Willio saw that Rean took four types of metal in total. However, only Kaz ore was enough to forge a weapon. The rest could barely be used for anything.

"What are you trying to do? There is no combination possible if you use so little of the other metals. Are you messing with me?"

Rean shook his head as the forger temperature increased.

"Of course, not. All elder has to do is observe. I paid 300 Sect points, and have no intention of losing it."

Willio snorted but didn't say anything else.

Rean began to melt the metals while controlling the fire precisely. Still, the more he worked, the more confused Willio became. What he couldn't understand was why the metal Rean was working with hadn't gone to waste already. From what he knows, it shouldn't be going this well anymore.

'Is he really forging something?'

Suddenly, the Outer Sect disciple returned, accompanied by another disciple. It turned out that it was Julio.

"What is it, can't you see we are in the middle of a test?"

However...

"Pardon me, elder. Rean, I brought the big gallon of oil you asked. Just to be sure, I also got one extra."

Rean smiled as he pointed at a big metal container filled with cold water.

"Good. Take all the water out and put the oil in. Then turn on the fire on the side and heat it up."

After hearing those orders, Willio understood that the oil was also part of the crafting process. However, why would he change the water used to cool weapons for oil? Furthermore, he asked to heat it up? Why?

The outer sect disciple then left once more.

Time continued to pass until finally, Elder Willio saw the shape of the weapon.

"An Axe? That is quite an uncommon choice. Are you an axe user?"

Rean shook his head.

"Not really, I just felt like making an axe this time, that's all."

Elder Willio's mouth twitched. Usually, people would specialize in one type of weapon and some variant, like being good at swords but can make sabers too. But the way Rean put it, it looked like he worked with anything he felt like.

"How's the Oil?"

Julio looked at it before nodding.

"Seems to be hot enough."

Rean the put the Axe Head inside for sometime before taking it out. 

There were other Big Water Containers inside, and Elder Willio was waiting for him to eventually use one of them. However, as soon as he took the Axe Head out, Rean began to work on it. As for the cold water, Rean didn't even touch it.

"What are you doing?"

Rean looked at him and answered plainly.

"Tempering."

Elder Willio showed a puzzled expression, though.

"Temper-what?"

"Tempering. It's a heat-treating process, which is used to increase the toughness and elasticity of alloys."

"Tempering? Heat Treating? Alloys?"

It was the first time Elder Wilio heard those techniques. He didn't know if Rean was making fun of him or if they really meant something. Still, since Rean paid for the test, he had to observe to the end.

During the work, Rean infused his Spiritual Energy in the alloy, further increasing its toughness and elasticity. In fact, there were many more things Rean could have done to improve his work. Here in the cultivation world, there are spiritual energy reactive materials that he found during his self-studies. One good example would be the hot oil used for heat treating. At this moment, Rean was using just a standard oil that can be found anywhere. 

If he worked in a piece of equipment for himself, it definitely wouldn't be just simple oil. A few materials could be added, increasing the Spiritual Energy flow that he infused during the tempering process. This is just one example of the uses of Spiritual Energy that Rean found in this new world. This was also one of the secrets behind his Element Gathering Weapons.

Time passed. Rean returned the Axe Head to the forger and took it out several times. Never to use the cold water that all blacksmiths were used to in the Blacksmith Hall.

Elder Willio is a blacksmith himself, so he already could see the Rean's Axe was several times better than the ones he himself could make. Not only that, but it reached such a level using common elements that anyone could use, like the hot oil. It's just that no one had tried it before.

Finally, Rean finished crafting a good handle to attach it. As mentioned before, he wasn't going all out. Still, due to the level of the facility, his work ended better than Rean expected. The only reason it wasn't at the level of his Steelworks was that he didn't want to show the secret behind it.

"Elder Willio, I'm finished."

Rean then tossed the Axe to Willio before asking.

"Please try it out and give me an evaluation."

Elder Willio touched it and used his Spiritual Energy and Sense to check it out. In the end, he sighed and just put it away.

"There is no need. I don't know where you learned such advanced Blacksmith Techniques that even I hadn't seen before. Still, I can at least tell you that your work was excellent. If I test this axe against some of ours, the result will be obvious."

"Seems like I was too shortsighted. You are more than good enough to join our Blacksmith Hall. In fact, I would like to know if you could share those steps you took with the rest of the blacksmiths."

Rean nodded and shook his head right after.

"I don't mind sharing a few things. But I also have my secret, which I can't tell anyone that easily. I'm sure Elder Willio understands that."

Willio nodded, not finding it the least bit annoying. Just like alchemists, blacksmiths also have their own secrets that they didn't show anyone while crafting. The fact that Rean was willing to offer some of it was already excellent.

"Very good, take this token and go talk with the disciple who brought you here. He will prepare the badge that represents your standing in our Blacksmith Hall."

Rean nodded.

'The level of blacksmithing in the sect is definitely higher than outside, but it is still far from the knowledge of a metallurgist from earth. I have to make good use of it.'