Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 93 - 84: The Mysteries of Heaven and Earth, the Path of Inscriptions (Second Update)

Zhao Ju, the youngest of the three master blacksmiths, appeared much thinner compared to the other two, but what drew the most attention were his long, slender fingers.

And his perpetually deadpan face, as if everyone owed him three hundred taels.

Yet at this moment, Zhao Ju's eyes were gleaming with light—he and Lin Ruoshui had returned to Qingyun City yesterday, and had learned from Chen Yuntian that within a month, Su Mu had not only mastered the entry-level Melting Gold Technique, but had even, without a teacher, grasped the skills that were hidden away by the Workshop Master and Chen Yuntian.

When they first heard this, Zhao Ju and Lin Ruoshui thought Chen Yuntian was joking. But when they continued to press him, Chen Yuntian got annoyed, and only then did they realize that Chen Yuntian was being serious.

Zhao Ju took out a key and unlocked the Cyan Blade forging room. He pushed open the door and entered, giving Su Mu the first impression of orderliness.

Unlike Master Chen Yuntian's Profound Iron Forging Room, where iron materials were piled sky-high and forging hammers lay about at random, here every tool was arranged neatly, everything exceptionally clean and tidy.

It even gave Su Mu a mild sense of compulsiveness.

Moreover, Su Mu quickly noticed that this room was roughly divided into two areas by a folding screen—one part served as the forging area, the other resembled a study, furnished with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

"Master Chen Yuntian is unconcerned with trifles, has a fiery temper... while Master Zhao Ju is methodical and loves calligraphy—their temperaments are worlds apart."

Just then, Zhao Ju asked a question much like Chen Yuntian's.

"What is the most critical step in forging?"

Su Mu paused, then answered, "I used to think it was the hammering of the iron billet, but Master Chen Yuntian's guidance taught me a lot—materials and smelting are also crucial."

"You're right, but not entirely… You are not Chen Yuntian, nor am I. What comes next, I will only teach you my understanding of forging."

Having said that, Zhao Ju walked to the study area and took out a sheet of paper. "Take a look first. When you're done, tell me what you feel."

"Yes."

Su Mu fixed his eyes on it; drawn on the paper were two symbols whose meaning was unknown.

He'd never seen such symbols, but at the moment his whole body trembled. Since achieving Comprehension 40 and Hidden-Dragon Level, even a sudden rain could be dissected into drops when Su Mu calmed his thoughts.

Su Mu's eyes vaguely saw through the rhythm of all things, able to make certain predictions.

As Su Mu's eyes narrowed, his innate talent quietly activated, a cool sensation flowing at his brow. He slipped into the state of Soul Incarnation.

Behind him, Zhao Ju fell silent, and the forging room suddenly grew quiet. In his eyes flickered reminiscence as memories from decades ago surfaced.

"Speak—what do you see?"

The young Zhao Ju had stared at the two symbols on the paper for half an hour before hesitantly answering, "This disciple is ignorant. I only feel that the symbol on the right hides a sharp edge."

This was Zhao Ju's original answer—he could only discern the right symbol, unable to grasp the left.

The previous Workshop Master, however, exclaimed in surprise and gave him a high appraisal.

"Remarkable! Zhao Ju, at first glance you could sense the mystery within—you possess extraordinary talent in this path!"

As the long memory faded back, a trace of pride showed in Zhao Ju's eyes—he wasn't just the youngest of the three master blacksmiths, but had also become a master at the youngest age.

If he could see the sharp edge on the right, what could Su Mu make out?

Zhao Ju's gaze fell upon the focused face of the youth, waiting quietly.

Meanwhile, Su Mu, in soul incarnation, trembled throughout.

Buzz-------

He suddenly felt a prickle at his cheek, as if a blade lurked on the paper; looking close, he could faintly hear a low roar, as if a demon beast clawed and tore its way out.

The right symbol on the paper, in Su Mu's eyes, looked like a sharp claw.

Su Mu shifted his gaze to the other, heavier symbol beside it.

Rumble------

That moment, the heavy symbol in Su Mu's eyes began to stretch and rise, like a small mountain about ten feet high, shuddering as it transformed into a huge Profound Turtle.

Just as he was about to look further, a voice called him back.

"Boy, steady your mind… Tell me, what do you see?"

The cool feeling at his brow vanished, the incarnation state broke, and Su Mu shuddered as he woke up.

"I saw a razor-sharp claw…"

"And a Profound Turtle formed from a mound."

When Su Mu finished speaking, even he was startled. How could two brush-drawn symbols evoke such visions?

Hearing "sharp claw" and "Profound Turtle," Zhao Ju behind him was visibly moved.

At this moment, the corner of Zhao Ju's deadpan mouth twitched uncontrollably. Being able to sense one half—catch just the edge—already marked extraordinary talent.

But this boy before him, who at first glance could speak out the mysteries in detail—what was he?

Chen Yuntian's words from yesterday echoed in his ear.

"Don't doubt it, that boy's a real freak!"

Back then Zhao Ju was half convinced; now, he was wholly persuaded.

"May I ask, Master Zhao, what is pictured on this paper?"

Su Mu's gaze burned upon the two symbols; his heart blazed. The symbols on this paper brimmed with profound mysteries, as if a new world's gate were slowly opening to him.

"Su Mu, you are quite impressive… What's written here is called inscriptions."

"Inscriptions?!"

"That's right—Inscriptions." When Zhao Ju mentioned inscriptions, a solemn look flashed on his face. Su Mu had seen the same look on Master Chen Yuntian.

Anyone who becomes a master blacksmith must be both talented and passionate in their pursuit of forging!

"The origin of inscriptions is disputed and untraceable, but there are mainly two theories. One says they are traces of the mysteries of heaven and earth—like the growth rings of trees, adding a ring each year. The earliest blacksmiths, by observing the grain of ancient wood, boulders, and iron ore, began to imitate and copy these patterns, by chance discovering symbols containing wondrous power: those are inscriptions."

"The inscription on the left is the 'Solid' inscription. When engraved on weapons or armor by special means, it makes them far sturdier and harder to destroy."

The traces of heaven's mysteries… inscriptions!

Su Mu listened, breath quickening and eyes lighting up.

"The other theory claims that inscriptions originated with ancient demon beasts. Demon beasts are born upon the Martial Path, their bodies vastly stronger than ours; if pitted against one of the same level, a martial artist would have only death awaiting them."

"The earliest blacksmiths discovered strange patterns in the bones, claws, and flesh of demon beast remains, and thus founded the path of inscriptions."

Patterns found in the blood, flesh, and bones of ancient demon beasts!

Su Mu had first heard of demon beasts from the Tiger Subduing Fist martial arts secret manual and from legends of the ancient Mountain Monarchs in Qingyun, Changfeng, and Cang River of the Three Counties.

But he'd only ever heard their names, never seen a real demon beast—and the Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau had declined over twenty years ago.

"As you saw just now—the vision of a sharp claw—is the 'Sharpness' inscription. Engraved onto a weapon, it heightens its edge and killing power."

"Weapons are implements of slaughter. Solidity and sharpness are the most basic, primal goals a blacksmith pursues—and the Solid and Sharpness inscriptions are the most fundamental of all inscriptions."

At those words, Zhao Ju watched Su Mu with an intense gaze; Su Mu felt exasperated. Master Chen hadn't looked at him like a monster until a month had passed.

But now, Master Zhao Ju was staring at him that way from the start.

"Your talent for inscriptions far exceeds my own. Chen Yuntian wasn't wrong—you are a freak." Zhao Ju did not hold back his praise. Then he changed direction, "How is your handwriting?"

Handwriting?

Su Mu was stunned. In his previous life, his handwriting wasn't unsightly, but certainly not beautiful; after graduating, he'd barely written anything.

"My writing is average."

But in Zhao Ju's ears, this meant something else. Chen Yuntian had said the kid was good in every way, except he was far too humble. Chances were, this was just his humility talking.

Chen Yuntian's teaching style for Su Mu was simple and direct—hands-on with little fuss.

Now, Zhao Ju took a nameless manuscript from his desk drawer and handed it over. "In other skills, I'm not as skilled as the other two, but when it comes to inscriptions, I have the edge. Inscription work demands intense focus—errors cannot be tolerated. One wrong move and a weapon is ruined; you must keep your mind steady and your wrist firm."

"This is my early experience learning inscriptions. In the next few days, copy and comprehend it. Once you're able to transcribe the whole thing without a single mistake, then reverse it and copy it again perfectly. Only then can we talk about moving ahead."

Su Mu suddenly felt a bit dazed, as if back in his school days, punished by the teacher to repeatedly copy texts.

Regaining his composure, Su Mu respectfully accepted the inscription manuscript with both hands.

"Master Zhao, I will study diligently."

"Go ahead. Use any paper or brushes in this forging room as you please, but do not take them out of here."

"Understood."

Only then did Su Mu realize why Master Zhao Ju's fingers were longer and thinner than those of the other two—each craftsman has their specialization, and Master Zhao Ju specializes in inscriptions.

In his previous life, Su Mu had rarely used a brush. Since coming to this world, he had only practiced copying the Silver Needle and designing long spear diagrams.

He did not hurry to copy, but first carefully studied the inscription manuscript in his hands. The manuscript was obscure and hard to grasp; after reading through, he checked against the paper Zhao Ju had left with the Solid and Sharpness inscriptions. Suddenly, he felt faint understanding.

"Heaven's mysteries… Patterns in the bones and claws of ancient demon beasts…"

Zhao Ju quietly watched Su Mu's every move out of the corner of his eye. Nodded to himself—choosing to comprehend first was the right approach.

Su Mu was highly interested in inscriptions, and focusing wholeheartedly on the manuscript, the day slipped by unnoticed.

"Seal the forge!"

A shout came from outside.

He finished his stroke—and made a mistake on one word.

Su Mu looked at his own hand, then at the written words, and finally grabbed a blank page to cover today's "masterpiece," pressing it under the ink stone.

After Su Mu left, Zhao Ju lifted the blank page and stared at the handwriting, his expression subtle.

"This time, it's not just being modest…"