"This…" Yuan Ming, upon hearing Fang Ge's evaluation of him, was at a loss for words, somewhat at a loss for a response.

"However…"

At this point, Brother Fang suddenly changed the subject, and Yuan Ming thought he was going to mention some of his strengths. He perked up, feeling he could finally regain some face and confidence.

"However, the starting point doesn't determine future achievements. Up to now, of the one hundred and eighty-three Registered Disciples, only five people have managed to continuously swing the hammer a thousand times and forge a qualified Magic Artifact Iron ingot. Whether you can become the sixth depends more on if you are diligent enough, as well as if you can persevere," Fang Ge continued in a steady tone.

Although he didn't hear praise for himself, the phrase "the starting point doesn't determine future achievements" truly touched Yuan Ming's heart.

His starting point was that of a Fur Beast Slave, already as low as it could possibly be. He had just climbed over the first hurdle and become a Registered Disciple of Biluo Cave; he should make becoming an Artifact Refiner his second hurdle to overcome.

"Thank you for the teaching, Senior Brother." Yuan Ming took a deep breath and bowed with clasped fists to Fang Ge.

"Practice on your own for now… You are still only in the apprentice phase; you don't need to take on forging tasks just yet. Don't forget to eat at the Dining Hall at noon," Fang Ge said.

"Forging tasks?" asked Yuan Ming, puzzled.

"Once you're able to swing the hammer continuously five hundred and sixty times, you can start taking on some basic forging tasks. You'll help the Sect brothers refine some common sharp weapons, Hidden Weapons, or the necessary saddles for riding spirit beasts," Fang Ge answered casually.

Yuan Ming remembered that the Smoke Bomb he had used seemed to have come from the Fire Refining Hall.

"Understood," Yuan Ming nodded.

"By the way, here is the basic material for learning Artifact Refining. Take it and study. In half a month, I will come to check your learning progress, including the situation of your refining the embryo," Fang Ge said.

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Yuan Ming took the green booklet from his hand and tucked it into his chest.

After Fang Ge left with the refined Iron ingot, Yuan Ming started the fire and continued swinging the hammer to practice.

…

After the afternoon, the sound of a golden gong rang.

The Disciples, who had been busy in the Fire Workshop for most of the day, began to finish up their forging and leave one after another.

Only then did someone notice the new arrival in the Fire Workshop who looked decent but not very sturdy.

However, seeing that he was still hammering away with effort, they didn't go over to disturb him.

A quarter past the afternoon, soaked with sweat, Yuan Ming finally stopped forging. After eating at the Dining Hall and taking a bath, he dragged his fatigued body back to his accommodation.

Once he sat down in his room, he took out the booklet from his chest and saw the cover written with Southern Border characters: "Basic of Refining." He opened it and began to read.

He found that it contained the basics of Artifact Refining, detailing things like differentiating between various basic refining materials and the temperatures needed in the Fire pit for smelting different materials.

As Yuan Ming leafed through the pages, his vision began to blur. Overcome with fatigue, he fell asleep on the desk.

He didn't know how much time had passed when a gust of cool air woke him up, and he instinctively reached for the Green Fish Sword at his waist.

Unconsciously, he thought he was still in the Ten Thousand Mountains and felt a momentary fright at how soundly he had slept.

But when he recognized his surroundings, he fell into a daze again.

At that moment, a clear moonlight spilled into the room from outside, draping like a light gauze over the desk in front of him.

Now free of sleepiness, Yuan Ming sat on the floor and started practicing the Moonlight Technique with his hands forming the spell.

Unseen to him, on a branch of the pine tree outside the window, a silver cat lay sprawled lazily. K+e-e!p us go*i^n!g@ by r%eadi$n$g on *.

It rested its head on its front paws, its eyes half-closed, the moonlight flowing over it as well, reflecting a shimmering light off its silver fur.

…

Time flew by, and half a month passed.

In the casting house of the Fire Workshop, the incessant sounds of hammering rang out, and Yuan Ming, holding a Forging Hammer, struck an Iron ingot.

Fang Ge and a few other Disciples from the Fire Refining Hall watched, and Chen Wan was there as well.

"Two hundred eighty-one, two hundred eighty-two..." a Disciple counted.

Yuan Ming swung the hammer forcefully, maintaining the same strength and speed demonstrated by Fang Ge earlier, without any mistakes. However, as time went on, his strength waned and his complexion gradually turned pale.

Shortly after the count passed three hundred, his arm grew numb, and the hammer could not be raised. With a clang, it struck the anvil platform.

"Three hundred and fifteen swings. Assessment failed," Fang Ge said, shaking his head with a tone devoid of emotion.

The onlookers burst into laughter, some with expressions of mockery. They hammered countless times each day, while Yuan Ming couldn't even manage five hundred swings.

Yuan Ming was not overly annoyed. He had given it his all and saw that there was still a difference between his physical constitution and that of the Southern Border People.

Fang Ge's brows were tightly furrowed. Yuan Ming's physique clearly wasn't cut out for blacksmithing, but his diligent practice every day hadn't escaped Fang Ge's notice.

"How are you doing with the 'Basic of Refining'?" Fang Ge asked.

"I've basically memorized it all," Yuan Ming replied.

"Memorized it? Then recite the origin, features, and properties of Wutie Stone!" Fang Ge's face darkened and his voice suddenly became stern.

He had asked how Yuan Ming was doing with the book, not whether he had memorized it. The 'Basic of Refining' is the foundation of Artifact Refining in the Fire Refining Hall, and its content is both plentiful and complicated. Even the senior disciples of the Fire Refining Hall wouldn't dare claim to remember half of it.

Fang Ge, who oversaw the Fire Workshop, had a steady disposition and detested frivolous speech and those who boast and brag.

"Wutie Stone is found in the northwestern part of the Southern Border's Black Wind Mountain Range. Its nature is cold and yin, has quite good tenacity, and is suitable for forging bows and whips and other magic artifacts." After briefly recalling, Yuan Ming recited the details about Wutie Stone.

Fang Ge paused slightly and then continued, "Gold Jade."

"Gold Jade is produced by the Southern Border's Gold-plated Lake. It's extremely hard and suited for forging swords and other sharp weapons. However, this material is easily corrupted by Yin Qi and must be carefully preserved," Yuan Ming replied without hesitation.

Not only Fang Ge, but others also started to show surprise.

Chen Wan looked at Yuan Ming, a hint of something unusual flashing in her eyes.

Fang Ge inquired about several other spiritual materials, as well as the temperature needed in the fire pit for smelting them, and Yuan Ming answered each question accurately and without error.

"It seems you really have memorized it, good. Starting today, you can work on sifting materials," Fang Ge nodded slightly, his tone softening considerably.

"Yes," Yuan Ming responded with a nod.

Several male disciples who had been watching Yuan Ming's reaction showed a look of disdain.

Generally, the task of sifting materials was done by female disciples with weaker wrist strength. In the Fire Refining Hall, male disciples who sifted materials were considered spineless and ineffective. Yuan Ming's calm acceptance, in their eyes, was a display of shamelessness.

Yuan Ming was aware of the male disciples' prejudice against the task of sifting materials in the Fire Workshop, but he didn't mind. In this period, he had gradually adjusted his mentality, planning to first establish a foothold among the Registered Disciples.

"What kind of look is that? There's no distinction of high or low, noble or humble in the work within the Fire Workshop. It seems the words I've said in the past have all been ignored like wind passing by your ears," Fang Ge said with a stern face to those few.

"Brother Fang's words are correct. We have always borne your teachings in mind and dare not harbor any prejudice," they said.

"Yes, we think Junior Brother Yuan has an excellent memory and is intelligent, quite suitable for the task of sifting materials. Brother Fang's arrangement is very apt," they added.

"Brother Fang, I suddenly remembered I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first," one said.

"Oh dear, I also have matters to deal with, almost forgot," said another.

Fearing Fang Ge's anger, the group hastily muttered their apologies and then scattered.

Fang Ge sighed and said to Chen Wan who had stayed behind, "Senior Sister Chen, I still have things to handle here, so could you please take Yuan Ming to Wu Ri's casting house. He's been short of people there, and also explain the key points of sifting materials to Yuan Ming."

"Alright," Chen Wan nodded and walked towards the other side.

Yuan Ming followed her, and looking back at the departing Fang Ge, he asked, "Senior Sister Chen, why did Brother Fang sigh just now?"

"In your opinion, is there a hierarchy in the work within the Fire Workshop?" Chen Wan looked back at Yuan Ming and asked.

"If we speak of difficulty, forging is the hardest, and sifting materials is relatively simple. But whether it's forging or sifting, both are just steps in the process of Artifact Refining. Any step done poorly can affect the final outcome. So, in that sense, there really is no high or low," Yuan Ming replied without hesitation.

"It's rare to find someone with such insight, but the people in the Fire Refining Hall don't think so. As you said, among the several tasks in the Fire Workshop, forging is the hardest, and therefore the Sect values the Forging Disciples the most and provides them with the most resources. Because of this, the Forging Disciples have grown more arrogant and proud, looking down on the Sifting and Refining Disciples. The conflict between them is growing more serious, which is detrimental to the development of the Fire Refining Hall. Ever since Brother Fang took over the Fire Workshop, he has been trying to adjust such prejudices. But as you just saw, his efforts have been largely in vain, hence his disappointment and sigh," Chen Wan explained.

"I see, Brother Fang has it tough," Yuan Ming said, realizing the situation and gaining a newfound respect for Fang Ge.

"Let's not talk about this. In recent days, you must have seen the sifting work. It's quite simple: follow the Forging Disciples' instructions, crush the required ores, and sift them carefully. The only thing you need to pay attention to is not to mix up the ores. Since you are familiar with the 'Basic of Refining,' as long as you are careful, there should be no problem," Chen Wan said as they walked.

"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister Chen," Yuan Ming responded.

As they spoke, the two arrived at a small casting house.

There were only four people present. The leader was a tall young man, with a broad frame and sturdy limbs. His hands were tanned to a dark hue, a clear sign of an experienced Forging Disciple.

Two female disciples were also sifting materials nearby. One was tall and slim with a slightly dark complexion, the other looked like a young girl with chubby cheeks round with baby fat.

The last one was a bald Disciple in his early twenties, vigorously pulling the bellows to maintain the temperature of the flames in the fire pit.

Compared to other casting houses, this place had fewer people, and everyone was exceptionally busy. The two females focused on sifting materials were especially so, hardly ever resting and both covered with dust, which gave them a disheveled appearance.

"Wu Ri, this is Yuan Ming, the new Disciple of the Fire Refining Hall. He'll be helping with sifting materials here," Chen Wan said to the tall Forging Disciple who was busy hammering a piece of metal.

Wu Ri didn't respond, his attention entirely on the glowing red ingot in front of him. He hammered it nearly a hundred times in a rapid succession before stopping.

After stuffing the ingot back into the fire pit, he turned to glance at Chen Wan, and then his gaze shifted, looking at Yuan Ming with a skeptical expression. "A newcomer? Are you familiar with the ores? I may be short on people here, but I don't need someone who will make a mess of things," he said.