Ding! Ding ding!

Ding ding!

With 9 points in Strength and 9 points in Stamina, Wangchuan indeed had more powerful force and control. His hands alternated in hammering with a rapid rhythm.

A double strike in one breath could significantly shorten the impact time of the Hundred-Tempered Steel.

While others had logged off to rest, Wangchuan stood alone by the forge and high-temperature furnace in the backyard of the Blacksmith Shop, repeatedly hammering the red-hot iron blocks.

While Heipi was off somewhere enjoying time with his girlfriend, the firelight cast on Wangchuan's body as he focused intently.

Blacksmith Sun came by several times to observe, and seeing Wangchuan's increasingly skilled techniques and movements, he smiled with satisfaction.

Hiss!

The scorching iron block quickly cooled in the water bucket, then was thrown back into the high-temperature furnace.

Wangchuan clamped out another red-hot iron block, fixed it, and began to hammer...

Clang!

Clang clang!

Clang clang!!

The dull hammering was quite pleasing to the ear, full of rhythm.

Sparks flew with impact.

In the furnace, there were now four red-hot iron blocks, and counting the one being forged, it equaled five Hundred-Tempered Steel Ingots being forged simultaneously.

He worked tirelessly until midnight.

Wangchuan successfully forged five Hundred-Tempered Steel Ingots.

Blacksmith Sun came over, inspected them with satisfaction, and gave him ten Large Copper Coins:

"Go rest."

After fifty thousand consecutive hammer strikes, Wangchuan was indeed exhausted:

"Thank you, Master."

Then he found a room to lie down and logged out of the game.

"Forging five Hundred-Tempered Steel Ingots a day is already my limit. I can't increase it any further; adding more tasks would burden my body."

"One hundred Copper Coins, equivalent to a daily bonus of three hundred, is already quite good."

"I'll stick with this for now."

Wangchuan knew he had pushed his abilities to the limit.

Maintaining this pace, earning over twenty thousand a month, he had finally escaped the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.

Day rose and set.

Quickly...

Twenty days passed.

Wangchuan finally experienced a small breakthrough.

The Hundred-Tempered Steel Forging Art advanced from Beginner Level to Minor Accomplishment.

And this breakthrough was accompanied by a system notification:

"Ding!"

"The life skill 'Hundred-Tempered Steel Forging Art' has advanced from Beginner Level to Minor Accomplishment, rewarding 1 point in Strength."

Wangchuan was taken aback.

Such a pleasant surprise?

He had only intended to solidify his foundation to forge better Hundred-Tempered Steel and raise his value, not expecting an unexpected reward.

Wangchuan quickly calmed down and pondered:

"Continuous heavy labor, like forging iron, stimulates nerves and muscle groups, enhancing physical fitness."

"Possibly, the Minor Accomplishment level of life skills triggers a system reward due to millions of hammering actions, enhancing attributes."

In this way, it made sense.

But Wangchuan also noticed a new level appearing after this life skill:

Hundred-Tempered Steel Forging Art Minor Accomplishment, next level 'Mastery Through Practice' (0/300).

Meaning he needed to forge three hundred Hundred-Tempered Steel Ingots.

Wangchuan calculated that forging five ingots a day, he could reach the next level of life skill in about two months and receive the next level of rewards.

...

Ding dong.

At midnight, a notification sounded from his phone.

A text message about his salary arrived.

Wangchuan's heart raced with excitement.

He opened it to see:

"Warring States Studio has transferred 27,800 yuan to you, note (salary + bonus), your bank card balance is 28,100 yuan."

At the moment he received his first month's salary, Wangchuan was so thrilled he clenched his fist tightly:

Awesome!

A large sum of money had arrived.

His pockets were finally no longer empty!

After a month of hard work and persistence, he had reaped the rewards.

Wangchuan was exhilarated, eager to share the good news with his parents, even with his old fans.

But realizing he couldn't explain where his salary came from and couldn't disclose anything related to "Spirit Realm"...

To keep his hard-earned job, he ultimately bit his tongue and held back.

Clutching his phone, he tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep.

The next day, waking up, even the air in the game felt incredibly fresh.

Walking along the field paths outside Blackstone Village, his steps were light.

"Wangchuan."

"Considering the time, you've been with the company for a month now. Did you get your salary?" Heipi noticed the smile on Wangchuan's face and strolled over, lowering his voice to ask.

Wangchuan nodded:

"It was paid right after midnight last night."

"How much?"

"Not telling you."

Wangchuan answered decisively: "Who told you all to keep it a secret."

Lin Dahai laughed heartily:

"See, I knew it, Wangchuan may be young, but he's sharp as a tack."

Old Li said to Wangchuan:

"Wangchuan, Heipi probably ran out of money. Don't lend him any, this guy borrows money for his girlfriend and still owes me two thousand."

"Heipi asked you for money too?" Fatty Wei Zhe looked surprised.

Everyone turned their attention to Heipi.

Wangchuan understood.

Everyone had probably been borrowed from by Heipi...

And...

Explore the extended edition on pawread dot com.

None had been repaid.

Heipi looked dumbfounded, quickly dismissing the idea of borrowing money, with a face full of disdain: "I'm just short on cash for now. Once I'm flush, I'll settle all accounts with you."

No one continued to tease Heipi, and they continued on their way.

Suddenly.

Wangchuan gazed at the vast fields of golden rice and sighed:

"The rice is ripe."

"It should be time for the autumn harvest soon."

"Probably in the next few days."

Lin Dahai added.

At noon, the convoy came to collect the ore.

While everyone was resting, the merchant didn't leave immediately but announced to everyone: "Ladies and gentlemen, we won't be coming for the next seven days."

"Huh?"

"Why?"

Over forty miners rose in shock, and the pancakes in their hands suddenly lost their flavor.

Without the convoy to collect ore, how would they work? How would they earn money?

The merchant was prepared and explained:

"The authorities have announced that it's time for the autumn harvest. To prevent wild boars from the mountains from ruining the crops, all labor in Huishui County will be mobilized to harvest the rice! Chances are, your Village Chief in Blackstone Village will also issue a harvest task, and you can find work there."

"We'll be back in seven days to resume collecting ore as usual."

Hearing this, everyone suddenly understood and felt relieved.

The merchant caravan left.

That afternoon, everyone returned to the village, and sure enough, they heard the Village Chief announce that starting tomorrow morning, everyone would leave the village to harvest rice. One basket could be exchanged for three Copper Coins.

However, everyone needed to purchase a sickle.

Sickles weren't expensive, five Copper Coins each.

Many people rushed to the Blacksmith Shop to buy sickles.

Blacksmith Sun said to Wangchuan:

"You don't need to go for the rice harvest task tomorrow."

"Master, why?"

"Harvesting rice wears down sickles quickly, so we need to speed up sickle production." Blacksmith Sun said sternly:

"Moreover, it's late autumn now, and as per usual, many wild boars will come down from the mountains to forage, leading to significant weapon wear. From now on, our Blacksmith Shop needs to produce farm tools and weapons on a large scale, especially iron arrowheads. Tonight, I'll teach you how to forge arrowheads."