Lin Li was taken aback—what was the concept of a lost level-15 spell? When the Merlin Family tried to curry favor with the Guild of Magic, what Cromwell sent them were just a few lost level-14 spells.
And look at Macklin—gifting a level-15 spell at once!
The difference between a level-14 and 15 spell was not only one level; it was also the difference between a Magic Shooter and an Archmage. The disparity in realm doomed these two spells to be far from each other in power.
Lin Li wondered if the old man was mad. He had only wanted to forge a common iron sword; it was not even a magical equipment. He even took out a lost level-15 spell for such a broken thing. Did he have to make it into such a serious matter?
“Is it really just an iron sword?”
Seeing how solemn Lin Li was in asking that, Macklin hesitated for a moment, then added awkwardly, “It’s best… to be razor-sharp, such that it’ll be able to pierce through leather armor.”
“Razor-sharp…” Lin Li murmured, and did not continue further.
It’d be best to pierce through leather armor… What bird crap requirement was this? Could these two old fellows be more daring in their pursuit? In this city of Alanna, even buying the cheapest ironware from any weapons store would not be something as simple as piercing through a leather armor.
But it was good that they were asking for less—he could save himself some trouble…
With the level-15 spell in mind, Lin Li lifted the hammer in a merry mood.
“Ddang! Ddang! Ddang! Ddang…”
The hammer fell heavily, and sparks spattered off the anvil. Amidst the clanging sound, the red iron embryo slowly unfolded. Lin Li held the heavy hammer in his hands, but it seemed to be without any effort. He waved the hammer with such ease as if he was holding only a brush; and presently, he was using the brush to paint a scroll on the anvil. In the crisp clattering sound, the red iron embryo gradually presented the early form of a single-handed sword.
An ordinary iron sword was too simple for a Smithing Guru…
Lin Li didn’t even put much effort into it—he was merely hitting casually.
But in the eyes of two old fellows, it was like having seen a ghost…
Their eyes were dazed as they watched. They had hidden in the room for half a month, yet still failed to accomplish the task. But when it fell into the hands of this kid, it seemed to be as easy as having a meal for him. Look at how he landed the hammer, and at the strength he used for hitting—this was a standard that only a veteran blacksmith could achieve.
The two old fellows looked at each other with a strange look on their faces.
Between the two of them, Aldwin knew the most about Lin Li. At least, he knew that the kid was a real magic genius who was picked up by Andoine in the Sunset Mountains. But Andoine never seemed to have said that besides being a magic genius, the kid was an impressive blacksmith as well…?
Macklin had it even worse—he had just blown his trumpet in front of that kid, saying he was some Blacksmith Master. In the mere twinkling of an eye, he had found that the kid was 100 times better than them in workmanship. This was more embarrassing than being caught catting around…
Luckily, the old fellow’s skin was thick enough…
“Although I am not a Master of Forging, I’ve actually picked up a real Master of Forging anyhow. This is something of a feat…” Macklin consoled himself at the side.
On the other side, Lin Li had already put the iron sword into the water bucket.
There was a sizzling sound, and a plume of white mist rose—the iron sword had gone through the final quenching.
Lin Li put the hammer aside and clapped the dust on his hands.
“The iron sword is ready, Mr Macklin. As for the level-15 spell…”
The old fellow was secretly gloating when he heard a sizzling sound. By the time he had come back to his senses, that kid was already asking for the level-15 spell. Macklin gave a start of surprise. “So fast?”
Lin Li rolled his eyes, and mumbled to himself, “It’s considered slow this time…”
Macklin was not convinced. He stepped up to the bucket and tried to pick up the half sword body that had just been quenched.
He had just stretched his hand out when he felt as if something had bitten him. Macklin retracted his hand in alarm, only to find that his hand had been cut a thin slit…
The old man was dumbfounded for a moment.
“Kid, come with me!” Macklin did not even address the wound on his hand as he dragged Lin Li out of the room.
“Mr Macklin, what’s the matter?”
“Just come with me and you’ll find out.”
They left the low-rise building, and returned to the guild hall. This time, Macklin did not stop. Instead, he took Lin Li straight up the spiral staircase, all the way to a room on the third floor.
Macklin stood outside the door and whispered a short spell. Then, Lin Li saw the closed door suddenly open…
“Come in with me.”
“Okay…” Lin Li followed promptly.
The furnishings in the room were quite simple—a table and several rattan chairs were all the things in the room. Lin Li looked around and found that there was not even a trash can in it.
“Tell me frankly, kid…” Macklin’s face was grave, but his voice sounded slightly agitated. “How do you know forging?”
“This…” Lin Li hesitated for a moment, and did not know how to explain it. Was he going to tell the old man that his forging knowledge was all because of something called the Scroll of Wishes? Wouldn’t the old man kill him with one of his fireballs…
“I’m just asking, you don’t have to be so nervous.” Macklin thought the kid was frightened by his serious manner seeing the look on his face, and he immediately regretted it. This kid was the treasure of the Guild of Magic now, and he could not be frightened. If he was frightened badly, it would be trouble for the whole Guild of Magic.
The old fellow spoke some words of comfort as he squeezed out a smile on his face, but to Lin Li, it felt like a weasel paying respects to the hen—someone harboring ulterior motives.
“Mr Macklin, as a matter of fact, I do not know forging, but my family runs a blacksmith shop. I just learn whenever I’m free…” After thinking about it, Lin Li finally chose such a reason that was more easily acceptable.
“Oh…” Macklin had just asked a casual question, and the answer he had gotten was reasonable, so the old fellow naturally did not suspect anything.
“Do you know how to forge other metals besides refined iron?” Macklin seemed to be worried that he would not understand him, so he made a point of explaining, “Magical metals such as mithril.”
“I think I know a little…” Lin Li answered cautiously before knowing Macklin’s purpose.
“Great!” Macklin slapped his thigh, and stood up excitedly. “Felic, you’ve done us a great favor!”
“Ah?” Lin Li was bewildered.
“No hurry, no hurry… I’ll tell you later.” Macklin’s felt a sense of relief, and his old face was beaming. He reached out into his pocket and fumbled for a while, then pulled out a roll of crumpled parchment. “You put this away first. This is the level-15 spell, Mana Disruption.”
Lin Li received it nonchalantly. “Alright, thank you, Mr Macklin.”
“Don’t look down on this spell, kid.” Seeing the indifference on his face, the old fellow kindly reminded him, “This is a really good thing. If it weren’t for your help, I wouldn’t take it out. To tell you the truth, this is a level-15 spell, but if it’s used well, it could be more powerful than a level-17 or 18 spell. Do you understand the meaning of Mana Disruption?”
“No, I don’t…” Lin Li answered matter-of-factly.
Lin Li was not to be blamed. Such was the case of a spell recorded on a scroll—before one learnt the spell, one wouldn’t know the kind of effects it had. One could only analyze the structure of the spell from a few isolated words and phrases, and guess some useful information from it. For example, the crumpled parchment in Lin Li’s hand—he could only analyze the structure to know that it should be a spell that was highly dependant on the mental strength because there were several characters in the spell which were used to stimulate the mental strength.
“The so-called ‘Mana Disruption’ refers to the use of mental strength to deal an impact, interfering with the opponent’s mana, and thereby creating an effect similar to Mana Retroaction. Of course… you’d have to have a strong enough mental strength. If your mental strength is not strong enough, this spell, which disrupts the opponent, will probably make you suffer in turn.”
Macklin’s face revealed a trace of pride. “As long as you master this spell, even if you don’t know any other spells, you could walk with airs in front of an Archmage.”
The old fellow continued bragging, but Lin Li did not respond at all.
He was entirely appalled. What kind of a concept it was to use the mental strength to deal a direct impact…
Such a spell had come into his hands; providence was probably the only explanation for it.
Lin Li knew very well the condition of his own mental strength. The “strong enough mental strength” that Macklin had mentioned was not a problem to him at all. Under the impact of his massive mental strength, perhaps he could really be able to walk with airs in front of an Archmage…
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