After resting on the ground for a while, and after his arms stopped twitching, Fili crossed his legs, straightened his sitting posture, and began to meditate according to the method taught by the old blacksmith.
It is indeed useful to consume your physical energy to the limit by swinging a sword. It can not only improve your arm strength, but also improve your proficiency with weapons, and it can also temper the "qi" in your body.
Now Feili felt that the thin "qi" in his body seemed to be slightly stronger than before.
Well, of course this might just be his imagination.
"If this continues, I will be kicked out of here, right?"
Feili knew that even though he had entered the profession, he could not be regarded as the old blacksmith's apprentice. Now he could only be regarded as a trainee disciple at best.
The old blacksmith asked him to split stones, which was a test for formal apprenticeship. Although the old blacksmith did not tell the time limit of this test, it has been a month, and he still only cut off a narrow tip of the black stone, and the distance was about
There is still quite a long way to go before it is completely split, so it stands to reason that it is almost time for him to pack up and leave.
That piece of black stone is indeed very hard, but it is actually just a dark rock that has been washed by running water. It is not a strange stone that can be hacked for a month.
However, the old blacksmith would not let this test become a passing test that anyone could pass. Fili only had three opportunities to split rocks every day, and he could only split one sword each time.
Although the old blacksmith never supervises Fili when he chops the stone, if he wants to do anything to the stone, it won't work no matter how he thinks about it.
The marks on the black stone are very obvious. A sword mark is a sword mark. An ordinary person can see how many sword marks there are on the black stone, let alone an old blacksmith who is obviously an expert.
Moreover, if he does not have the ability to break black stones but uses other methods to break black stones, then when the old blacksmith asks him to perform a live demonstration, no matter how realistic he has done before, it will be in vain.
What is true cannot be false, and what is false cannot be true.
Being opportunistic will only get him kicked out of the school quickly.
"Now go and give it a try."
After feeling that his physical condition was almost adjusted, Fili picked up the iron sword on the ground and walked towards the waterfall.
There were originally many poisonous insects and wild beasts on this mountain, and it is said that there were also man-eating monsters nesting on the mountain. In the early years, I had not heard of anyone living on this mountain, and because there might be dangerous monsters in the mountain, Lian Yi boldly
Big hunters stay away from this place.
About sixty years ago, the local Adventurers Association issued a mission to explore this mountain forest. However, this place is inaccessible, and according to local historical records, the possibility of any ancient ruins or treasures appearing here is extremely small. In addition, this mountain
The land has lush vegetation and no mineral veins, so there is no place for development. However, in response to the empire's policy of actively reclaiming wasteland and developing land throughout the country, the Adventurer Association issued a long-term mission to explore this mountainous area. Of course, the reward was very small.
The mission hung on the board for more than a week, and finally a local newcomer adventure team took over the mission.
In fact, only some fledgling adventurers are willing to take on such a thankless task.
A month before they entered this deep mountain forest, the members of this team were still sending messenger pigeons to convey messages to the outside world to report on the progress of their daily missions. However, a month after they entered the mountains, the news suddenly stopped completely.
Another half month passed, and when the task deadline came, no member came back.
This matter once attracted the attention of the local sheriff. After receiving the news, the local officials immediately dispatched militiamen to the mountains and forests to find this team. However, because this militia team, which was no less armed than the regular army, was attacked by unknown monsters on the way, several people appeared.
There were casualties among the members, and the rescue had to be abandoned after considering the danger of continuing deeper.
This incident caused quite a stir. Of course, no matter how big the incident is, it will subside over time. There are very few people who still remember this missing team of adventurers.
However, that adventure team still left something behind. The captain who led the missing newcomer adventure team at that time was named Noster, so this unknown mountainous area was officially named "Noster Mountain".
Later, this "Noster Mountain" was classified as a dangerous area and ordinary people were prohibited from entering.
Although the mountain where the blacksmith shop is located is also within the scope of the Noster Mountains, there are many villages nearby. Although it is classified as a dangerous zone, the villagers living here have no real sense of it, and they will still go to the mountain to chop wood.
Wood makes a fire, but it won't go deep.
I don't know when it started, but a blacksmith shop suddenly opened on this hill on the edge of the "Noster Mountains", and the news about this strange old blacksmith was spread to nearby villages.
When people discovered that this mountain was not as dangerous as rumored, people gradually began to walk in this mountain, and some even funded the construction of a simple mountain trail.
However, the only human resident in this mountain is the old blacksmith. After all, no one would live in a remote mountain. In other words, the old blacksmith can actually be regarded as the "master of the mountain."
"Phew, we're here! After walking so many times, it still feels a little far away."
Fili wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at the waterfall rushing down from the cliff.
The water falling from a height of more than 20 meters violently hit the already rounded stones below, and the splashing water droplets formed a cloud-like mist, printing a vague rainbow in the bright sunshine.
If the old blacksmith hadn't led the way, Fili wouldn't have known there was such a place in the mountains.
Although the scenery of the waterfall is beautiful, the rumbling sound of flowing water will hit the eardrums here all year round. It is not suitable for ordinary people to live here. Besides, the old blacksmith is a quiet person. This place is hundreds of meters away from the old blacksmith's residence.
Can't hear the sound of the waterfall.
"Then give it a try, the first sword today."
Feili pulled out the iron sword from his waist and pointed it at the black stone on the shore that had a corner cut off.
Hold your breath and concentrate, mobilize the "qi" to circulate throughout the body, hold the sword with both hands, and keep the lower body stable.
Feili had done this countless times to adjust his condition to the best. He had indeed grown a lot. At least at this time, his posture was no different from that of a real swordsman.
"Drink!!"
Fili let out a cry and slashed the black stone with the sword that was imbued with the fruits of his hard work.
clang!!
The iron sword collided with the black stone and sparked, and the heavy sound seemed to overwhelm the sound of the waterfall in an instant. Of course, this might just be Fili's illusion.
"Oh, no."
Feili inserted the iron sword on the ground and took a step forward to examine the sword marks on the black stone.
He still remembers that the first time he cut the black stone, he only left a half-inch deep sword mark, but now the latest sword mark is already two inches deep. It can be said that his progress is indeed more than just a little bit.
However, this newly cut sword mark is still just a small wound on the black stone that is half a man tall. There is still an extremely long way to go to cut off the black stone with a sword.
"Damn! How can I catch up with her like this!!"
Fili punched the black stone. Of course, the cold and heavy black stone did not move at all, but Fili's hand had several wounds scratched by the pitted sword marks on it.
I can only go back first.
Even if he wasn't injured, the energy in both hands was almost exhausted after the previous sword strike, so swinging the second sword now would just be a waste of opportunity.
Fili, who was in low spirits, returned to the blacksmith shop with his iron sword. The old blacksmith was not there, so the blacksmith shop was naturally closed.
Fili went to the hut on the right behind the shop.
There is a table in the middle of this simple hut with only a dozen square meters, and today's meals are placed on it.
There was no doubt that the plate of wild vegetable soup and fruit and vegetable salad was made by her. Just after taking a bite, Fili felt that his depressed state suddenly became clear.
She is a gentle person, and her thoughts are equally delicate. Before the trip, she prepared dishes for Philly that would not affect the taste even if they were cold, eliminating the need for Philly to make a fire to heat the food.
That girl was nominally Feili's senior sister, but she was similar in age to Feili, and their apprenticeships were only a few minutes apart.
When I met her for the first time, I thought she was a pampered princess, but I didn't expect that once she started doing these chores, she would be even more efficient than a child born in a rural area like me.
After taking a few casual bites, Feili went to a small cabinet in the corner to find gauze and hemostatic drops, then sat on a stool by the table and bandaged his wounds skillfully.
Even if it is just such a basic exercise, it is normal to injure yourself.
Phillip was often injured when he was learning a craft in the village. Of course, those were minor injuries caused by accidental collisions, but here he often strained muscles or cut his hands and feet. Fortunately, the medicine given by the old blacksmith was very effective, even if
I accidentally dislocated my hand while chopping rocks, and after using the ointment here, it only took half a day to recover.
After the bandage was completed, Fili put the gauze and potion back into place, then sat in his usual position at the table and started eating.
Normally, the three masters and apprentices would dine at this table, but the old blacksmith might delay the meal due to work in the blacksmith shop.
The old blacksmith did not set any troublesome rules: the master did not serve the table, the apprentice was not allowed to eat... Such troublesome rules. He was a very casual person. The old blacksmith would prepare the ingredients for every meal, but he would not cook the food.
It all depends on his mood.
The old blacksmith usually has something to do and is usually not in a good mood, so the two of them often finish the meals on weekdays. The old blacksmith also said that since you prepare the meals yourself, you will naturally want to eat them when you are hungry.
Just eat.
It's just that Philip doesn't know how to cook. It's his mother who is responsible for preparing the daily meals at home. Philip goes out to work with his father every day, and is often exhausted when he comes back. He really doesn't do much housework, at most.
Just help the family wash dishes.
However, this is not a problem that Fili needs to worry about.
Because she took over all the chores here.
Although Fili will help her, he is often overwhelmed by her efficient processing ability.
When he thinks of her, Fili will involuntarily clench his hands, so that he can recall the delicate touch in his hands that day.
She is a perfect girl.
So perfect that just standing next to her makes you feel ashamed.
The dream of becoming a great hero is not actually the real reason why I stay here shamelessly.
If he leaves here, he may never see a girl like her again in his life, right?
No, that's not right.
Not "maybe", but "absolutely"!
Only here could he get so close to this girl who was supposed to be unattainable.
That's why he must pass the test. Only by passing this test can he continue to stay with her.
"But……"
Fili looked at the empty seat on the left and murmured as if he was dreaming.
"How on earth am I going to catch up with you? Nia."