Forging Immortality: The Undying Blacksmith

Chapter 36: Golden Body Art

With the Yan family annihilated and the Righteousness Gang in power, a fragile peace settled over Obsidian City.

Li Qing, now a resident master for the gang, ignored its internal politics, immersing himself completely in the martial path.

The Yan family’s extensive martial library naturally became the property of the Righteousness Gang. Inside, countless martial arts manuals lay under a thick shroud of dust. As one of the key figures in the Yan family’s downfall, Li Qing was granted unrestricted access; the legacies within were his for the taking.

Few of these legacies were recorded in simple text. Most were patterns, carved by the founding masters who had imprinted their very will and martial essence into the medium. This method of transmission made the initial stages incredibly difficult for a novice, as the true intent hidden within the art was profoundly obscure. However, for an advanced practitioner, progress would accelerate dramatically. Daily observation of these patterns was akin to having a Master providing personal instruction.

Li Qing stepped into the cavernous library. Manuals were scattered across the floor, and the dust caking the shelves told a story of long neglect.

“Four arts are already a full plate,” he thought. “Spreading myself thinner would be foolish. Still, no harm in seeing what the Yan family hoarded. If something truly suits my style, I might consider it.”

He picked up an old animal hide scroll, brushing away the dust before unrolling it. A diagram of a palm print dominated the surface, and just by looking at it, Li Qing could feel the martial will thrumming within.

“Stone-Shattering Palm. At Great Accomplishment, one can pulverize boulders with a bare hand.”

A palm technique, just as the name implied. The described power was impressive, but it held little interest for Li Qing. Adding another palm style to his repertoire would offer a negligible boost to his overall strength. He gave it a cursory glance and placed it back on the shelf.

He moved quickly, flipping through one manual after another.

“Taiyi Sword Scripture. Eight Desolations Fist. Black Tiger Saber Technique. Thunderbolt Finger…”

He had to admit, the Yan family’s collection was formidable. It contained numerous superior-grade martial arts, and for a moment, Li Qing felt a flicker of temptation. He considered abandoning his current arts to dedicate himself to one of these.

The thought died as quickly as it came. Superior arts were alluring, but their demands on aptitude and comprehension were immense. The “Taiyi Sword Scripture,” for instance, was a dizzying maze of complex stances and moves. For someone like Li Qing, who had barely touched a sword in his life, even reaching the Novice stage would be a monumental task. Compared to such flashy swordplay, the direct, overwhelming power of a war hammer was a far better fit. It was why his current arts all followed a path of raw, ferocious power.

After a thorough search, Li Qing sighed, setting down the last scroll and preparing to leave. But then, something caught his eye. At the very bottom of a shelf, a dark golden scroll was wedged under one of the legs, propping it up.

His first thought was of gold—a solid ingot would fetch a handsome price back in Feng Country.

But when he pulled the scroll free, he saw the text inscribed upon it. This was a martial art recorded in plain writing.

“Golden Body Art”!

“To think the Yan family actually used a martial legacy to prop up a shelf,” Li Qing muttered with a wry chuckle. “Just how useless did they think this was?” Curious, he began to read.

The very first line made his expression shift.

“When this art reaches Great Accomplishment, the body becomes impervious to blade and spear, sharp weapons cannot pierce the skin, and the flesh becomes as if cast from gold and forged from iron…”

The description was breathtaking. Li Qing was baffled. Why would the Yan family discard such a powerful art?

As he read on, he couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

The “Golden Body Art” was monstrously difficult to master, divided into an absurd seven layers. Most martial arts had three layers, corresponding to the realms of Outer Force, Inner Force, and the Transformation Force of a Grandmaster. But for the “Golden Body Art,” the first layer was merely Novice. The third was considered Minor Accomplishment, and true Great Accomplishment wasn’t reached until the sixth layer. As for the seventh… even its creator had died of old age before mastering it.

Yes, he had simply run out of time.

Practicing this art was a colossal time sink. It took three years just to reach the Novice stage, then another ten to grind one’s way to Minor Accomplishment. Reaching Great Accomplishment required a full thirty years. Li Qing suspected the creator was the only person who had ever gotten that far.

To make matters worse, a special note was inscribed at the end of the scroll—the likely reason the Yan family had abandoned it entirely.

“Note: This art must not be practiced before the age of sixteen. To do so will permanently set the practitioner’s bones, stunting all future growth.”

The corner of Li Qing’s mouth twitched.

“What a fucking trap. You can only start at sixteen, which means you’re nineteen by the time you’re a Novice. Great Accomplishment? You’d be fifty-nine.”

A fifty-nine-year-old with the “Golden Body Art” at Great Accomplishment could certainly walk uncontested among Inner Force experts. But at that age, with one’s vitality and blood in decline, engaging in life-or-death combat would be a severe disadvantage.

“No wonder they used it to prop up a shelf,” he muttered. “It’s practically useless.”

He complained, but he still decided to take the scroll. This turtle-like art, in the end, was a perfect match for him. A technique that fortified the entire body was a rare find.

As for the time…

Time was the one thing Li Qing had in abundance. With over a century left to live, he wasn’t afraid of a slow grind. If he could truly master this art, then below the realm of Grandmaster, almost no one would be able to threaten his life.

Over the next few days, Li Qing began to pack. He carefully bundled the jade he’d bought at the market and the gold and silver he’d taken from the Yan estate, then slung the heavy pack over his shoulder and went to find Tian Long.

“Gang Leader Tian Long,” Li Qing said, cupping his fist. “I find I still can’t get those two wine recipes out of my head. I plan to travel for a while. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”

Tian Long, who had been buried in work, froze. “Brother Li Qing!” he said urgently. “You’re doing well here in Obsidian City. Why leave so suddenly? If you need brewing ingredients, I can have the whole gang search for you. There’s no need to go yourself!”

They had conquered this city together; Tian Long was genuinely reluctant to see him go. The unspoken truth, however, was his fear of the gang’s other retainer, Mo Nan. He worried that without Li Qing’s presence, he wouldn’t be able to control the old Inner Force master.

“Hahaha, Gang Leader, don’t try to persuade me,” Li Qing laughed heartily. “It’s not as if I’m leaving for good. I’ll be back eventually.”

Tian Long sighed again and again. He racked his brain but could think of no offer that would make Li Qing stay. After all, the man had already turned down the position of second-in-command.

“Since your mind is made up, I won’t say any more,” Tian Long said, his voice heavy with regret.

Li Qing smiled. “Before I go, however, there is one thing I must trouble you with.”

“Name it! As long as it’s within my power, I’ll give it my all!” Tian Long vowed, thumping his chest.

“It’s nothing difficult. The An family, who lived across from my old place on Zhengming Street, showed me great kindness. I hope that after I’m gone, you can look after the grandfather and his granddaughter. Consider it me repaying a debt.”

Tian Long immediately recalled the old man and the little girl who had dared to stand before him and plead for Li Qing’s life.

“Hahahaha, a small matter! Don’t you worry. As long as the Righteousness Gang stands, no one in Obsidian City will dare to bully them!” Tian Long promised without hesitation.

“Then I thank you in advance, Gang Leader,” Li Qing said with genuine sincerity. He turned to leave, then paused. “One more thing, Gang Leader. Don’t think me a meddler for saying this.”

“We destroyed the Yan family, and the Seven Kills Squad was indispensable in that fight. Now that the Righteousness Gang rules Obsidian City, I hope you won’t forget where those men came from.”

They had fought side-by-side. Li Qing had no desire to see Tian Long walk the same path as the Yan family. It was a cold, practical piece of advice: treat the people of Obsidian City well, or suffer the same fate.

Tian Long understood immediately. He realized Li Qing truly saw him as a brother, or he never would have offered such a stark warning.

His expression turned solemn. “Good brother, I will remember your words. I fought my way up from nothing. I know the suffering of the common folk better than anyone. You have my word.”

Only then did Li Qing nod and turn away completely.

“No need to see me off. Farewell.”

In front of the grand mansion, Li Qing, his heavy pack on his back, stepped onto the pitch-black street. Under the crimson moonlight, his silhouette shrank into the distance.

Tian Long stood beneath the Righteousness Gang’s new plaque, his eyes fixed on Li Qing’s departing figure. Long after he had vanished from sight, Tian Long’s voice boomed through the night.

“Get me a skilled painter! I want a portrait of my brother Li hung in the main hall! In the future, even if I am gone, should Brother Li return, this entire gang will answer to him as they would to me!”

“And another thing! There is a family named An on Zhengming Street. Bring the grandfather and granddaughter here to the gang. From this day forward, they are to be treated with the utmost respect!”