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Chapter 12 - Ch 12: As Time Passes

Tang Yuan had been busy nonstop since obtaining his soul ring a month ago. Practically all of it was of his own making in the end. There was just simply too much to do. At the very least, he wanted to do so much. With only so many hours in the day to make use of.

Honestly, the reduced time he has to spend in cultivation is a godsend. Amongst all the things he has put on his plate. Cultivation is the one he can least afford to set aside. Everything else must come second to developing his cultivation even if everything else is incredibly useful if his cultivation is allowed to stagnate. Then the point of it will become lost in the future.

Tang Yuan with a sigh completes another of the library's books. Closing the book cover after finishing the final page. Placing the finished book on a small pile of books. He can't help, but be proud of his improvement in this regard. Originally he struggled to finish the books in the library.

Such that even when passing most of the day in the library. He struggled to finish a single book. Though most of the books are incredibly thick. What makes it worse is that a lot of them have superfluous details. Some of those details are useful, but others are completely unnecessary. Such as the author's own experiences or achievements thrown in.

The thinner books are better in many ways. Still thin is relative in this library with thin books still having a minimum of 100 pages. Those books more often follow a collection of books as well. With the collective being greater than even the thickest books.

After his Awakening Ceremony, he had much less time to come to the library. The lion's share of his time is devoted to cultivation. Though his Mental Palace could memorize content with far greater ability. His mind also became more focused and effective.

He can finish more content with greater success. Even still theirs just so many books to read. The accumulation of centuries, or perhaps even several millennia. The majority of it is within this single library. No doubt there are other stores elsewhere in the complex. Yet this library is the one Tang Yuan has known for years.

Tang Yuan loses himself in memories of the library. The smell is a complex mix of vanilla, almonds, with a level of mustiness. This mixes with the faint smell of the stones and wood of the library. The smell of the fireplace and various lanterns also wafted subtly. A distinctive smell that he had long come to almost enjoy.

A smile comes to his face as he loses himself in fond memories. As he leaves the library he runs a hand along the old wooden table. He had always sat at this table practically out of habit. The wood is smoothly carved to perfection.

He places the books on their shelves taking note of the unfinished ones. He does not carry his pace especially fast by his standards. Yet he quickly finds his way to his family quarters. He would simply have a meal in his room for the night. Yet Tang Yuan had already skipped enough family dinners recently.

Until then Tang Yuan takes a seat in a chair. He had a book or two from the library to read while waiting. As he reads his book, Tang Rong approaches him. "Young master, should I have your dinner brought to you?" she asks with a good deal of formalism. Yet her animated tone causes her casualness to escape.

"No thank you, sister Rong I plan to attend tonight's family dinner," he tells her with a clear tone. Not commenting on the partial casualness of her speech. She had already tightened up over the years becoming more like a maid. Still, she acted most casual with him sometimes. He never really said anything against it, though he did keep her at a slight distance.

It was not long before the time had come. The rest of his immediate family would gather for dinner. He got up from his chair stretching out slightly and made his own way there. Tang Rong followed behind him at a slightly smaller pace. She had stayed in the room while he was reading silently. Though she had idled herself by playing with her own feet and dress.

Entering the dining room he found that as expected few were here. His father was sitting at the head of the table. Despite not being the clan leader anymore, he is the grand elder, and the strongest member of the clan. Thus he remains at the head of the table. Mother as his wife is positioned right next to him on his left.

Tang Yuan walks over taking a seat next to his mother. "Greetings Father, and Mother nice to see you." he greets them with practiced ease with a measure of formality. They both nod at him as he sits down.

His mother focuses her attention on him. "So you're actually here to attend dinner this time Xiao Yuan?" Her words are rather accusatory in nature. Yet her tone is pleased. No doubt pleased that he appeared for dinner this time around. Seems he had chosen a good time to attend dinner.

Tang Yuan scratches his neck slightly tilting his head slightly. To look sufficiently chagrined at her words. "I have been greatly busy throughout the week. Cultivation, studying, forging, and my projects have kept me busy. Still, I am most sorry Mother." Tang Yuan explains to her in a very hesitant voice. Almost like he is trying to convince her of the worth of these activities. In truth, it is mostly an act of his, or perhaps a play is a better word.

Tang Nuan hums at his words instantly seeing through his words. "Alright that's enough of that," she says dismissively to his act. They both know that she was not serious with the opening words. At least not completely serious in her meaning.

What mother would not want to spend more time with their child? At least under normal parent-child relationships. Yet she would never desire to hurt his cultivation either. The other aspects are also important if not as much. Though Tang Yuan put on an act instead as a joke.

Still however "Sorry for not attending dinner more often. I have been busy in fact." he tells her more sincerely this time. Though he is not sorry for putting time into his actions. He is sorry for neglecting family time as a result. His mother's gaze softens noticeably at his words. "It's fine you are far from wasting your time. If anything your dedication is unmatched in my memory," she says her words gentle, but firm in her deceleration.

That was when the rest of their family joined them. Tang Zhang enters the room first looking around as he enters. Following beside him is his wife Bai Faixiang. Tang Xiao and Tang Hao follow after their parents at an even pace.

Tang Yuan watches as his brother takes the seat to the right of their father. Then his sister in law takes the seat next to him. Finally, the two brothers sit next to their mother. Tang Xiao first, and Tang Hao beside him. With that, their immediate family had fully gathered for dinner.

Tang Yuan observes those at the table opposite him. His brother sits in his same posture as normal. A sense of pride and confidence comes from his bearing. Though not to the point of arrogance or overbearing. Such is the bearing of a Titled Douluo in this world. Though perhaps it originates from knowing their father. The stronger one is the more they can see. Perhaps he can see the distance from the top.

His sister in law sits with grace and elegance in a very controlled manner. She maintains herself with the bearing of a noblewoman. Her hair is a light blonde down past her shoulders well well-maintained. Her eyes are brown, and her face is that of a noble lady. Well kept after and maintained by beauty standards.

His sister in law is also the sister of Ba He the current master of the Agility Clan. Her talent is second only to his in the clan apparently. She is a Soul Emperor nearing Soul Sage at level 67. Considering she is a decade younger than his brother that is impressive. To be honest amongst his immediate family she is the one he has the least contact with. Though they are on good terms he simply had more contact with the rest.

Tang Xiao is much the same as usual. His well-muscled body mostly filled the chair he was sitting in. He had already entered his 30s in recent years. His aura had only grown more mature in recent years.

Tang Hao was much the same though he was even more so. He was radically different from the form taken for the show. Instead of looking like a grizzled old man he looked like a noble young man. He had neither a beard nor even a mustache instead being completely clean-shaven.

Honestly, he is a dignified man like this with a level of dignity. In fact, he is a rather handsome man with disheveled hair. His eyes are the most striking feature he has. They are a yellow color, but that's not what catches one's attention. Instead, it was the burning within them, the burning flames of ambition. Perhaps the flames of fighting spirit are another term. The will to never stop on the path to the top.

Even the first time he met Tang Hao he struggled to connect him to Tang Hao. At least the first appearance shown in the series a drunkard who lived in sorrow. The thought that this man filled with a burning spirit would become that. It was hard to picture the two of them in the same measure.

It was far easier to think of him closer to the self shown at his best. Tang Yuan remembered when he was first getting into Soul Land. He witnessed Tang Hao bring his hammer down in Spirit City. Honestly, he was a major badass when that happened. Even in this life he has to respect the man for his guts or perhaps recklessness.

Tang Yuan thinks to himself and yet. He also disliked Tang Hao in the show. To be honest, he simply could not allow himself to like him. Tang Hao fell into a state of despair becoming a broken man. He basically gave up on life with the death of his wife. A shell only going through the motions of everyday life, and even less than that. If not for Tang San he likely would have committed suicide.

Tang Yuan can understand that concept to a degree. He and his family were wounded by his father's death in his past life. Yet it's because of that he finds himself disliking the future Tang Hao. Tang Yuan after mounting his father found a fire in his heart.

He refused to ever give up, to ever stop. Tang Hao chose to stop, to basically give up on living his life. Tang Yuan could simply not accept that even as he understood it slightly. The dead die and humans mourn them through life. Yet to stop living as a result of that is merely giving up. To simply give up is a disservice to oneself, and the lost. Mourn the dead, but do not allow that sadness to break you.

Tang Yuan makes that resolution in his mind clearly. Still, he does not look down on this Tang Hao. That was his future self or a possible future self. Perhaps Tang Yuan's presence will change things perhaps not. He will simply have to pay a bit of attention to Tang Hao. So that fate does not become absolute.

Tang Yuan's thoughts had lasted a number of minutes before returning. In that time the maids had begun to bring food. The table was already beginning to fill up with mouth-watering plates. He could practically taste them already, or perhaps that was an illusion. Still, the smells of the plates certainly are pleasant to his palate.

Tang Yuan quickly takes a few things near him to his plate. He was always happy to learn that food in this world was not completely alien. A great many Eastern dishes are present in this world. Of course changed by different ingredients that existed in this world. That also led to more dishes being made with the great abundance.

Tang Yuan had introduced several dishes as well. Certain things he did not desire to part with from his past life. At least the ones he had experience cooking. Also, the ones he had knowledge of to a point. Pizza, ramen, and other big ones he favored. With some difficulty, he managed to introduce them.

"I see you are as much of a glutton as ever little uncle." a voice says from the other side of the table. Tang Yuan takes a moment to place it. Rather be take that moment to come back from a food-focused state. Yet the voice's loud tone is unmistakably incredibly blunt and straightforward. Making it easy enough to place amongst the table even without the uncle part.

"I am a growing soul master I have you know brother Hao. Besides delicious food should be enjoyed properly." Tang Yuan says in a logical tone if with humor. One of his hands is holding a fork with chicken at the end of Tang Hao. Then quickly placing the chicken in his mouth when he was done.

Tang Hao continues talking to him. "That might be so, but you eat so much every time we see you. Especially for your cultivation level being so low." Tang Hao says to him. The statement was far from false.

"I love food so of course I'll eat a lot, brother Hao." Tang Yuan says to Tang Hao. Not speaking about the tie to his cultivation method. "Still speaking of cultivation how is yours going brother Hao?" Tang Yuan asks curious about his progress.

The one who answers that question is actually Tang Xiao. "Xiao Hao has recently finished training in the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer method. Finishing it in two years with perfect results." You can feel the joy coming from his tone. His face showed his pride in his brother's achievement.

To be fair it was an impressive achievement to have accomplished. Most take far more than two years to finish the training. The most skilled takes three years to two and a half. By that standard Tang Hao was absolutely a genius.

Hearing his brother's words Tang Hao puffs up slightly. It's certainly a noticeable change as his face shows his joy. It is likely as much a result of brother Xiao's words as the achievement. The words of an elder sibling can be a most heartwarming thing.

"It was a difficult experience to be sure, but I feel it was well worth it. My cultivation slowed as a result though I'm at level 49 now." Tang Hao said with only a measure of regret in his tone. He was nearing twenty now as a result the first Golden age of cultivation will end soon.

Tang Yuan does not comment on Tang Hao's words. Nearly becoming a spirit king before twenty is an impressive achievement. By all standards of normal at the very least. Yet then you think about individuals like the protagonists, and other monsters. It's basically an ordinary feat even if it's unfair to Tang Hao.

"Anyway, I heard you got your first spirit ring little uncle." Tang Hao said to Tang Yuan. "Congratulations on properly becoming a soul master. I trust that it was an interesting experience." Tang Hao asked his uncle with a level of interest. Tang Yuan despite his great maturity is the youngest of the family. Everyone treats him as the most well-protected member of the family.

Tang Yuan smiles at the memories of his first experience outside the clan's holdings. "It was a very fun experience. Though not without its challenges of course. Mainly walking, bugs, and heat though at least for me. Still, I definitely won't forget it as a special time." his face changes as he talks. First excited at the memories, then embarrassment, and finally changing to a faraway look.

For a portion of the dinner, Tang Yuan tells them of his first spirit beast hunt. This causes everyone else at the table to engage in a story time. Others decided to share stories as well.

"Then little brother dropped the knife he was so nervous." Tang Xiao tells them about Tang Hao's first soul ring. Tang Hao looked away in embarrassment.

"Mine was a golden crocodile like Xiao Yuan's. Though mine was actually smaller and younger." Tang Nuan reveals.

These stories continue as the dinner drags on longer than normal. Yet no one complains as laughter is prevalent. Tang Yuan certainly can't help laughing at his family's takes. Especially as tales are told to tease another. He would certainly need to attend more family dinners if the end up like this one.

It was in the afternoon of the day, as the clang of metal against metal resounded. A seven-year-old Tang Yuan swung his spirit down onto the heated metal. Every blow rang out with that clang of metal. A symphony of hammer and metal ringing through the room. It had been six months since he had acquired his soul ring.

He had been busy these last few months. Now he tries to perform a Hundred Refinements upon this metal. He had been practicing it more so over the last few months. To perfect his ability to perform the techniques. With some degree of success in doing so.

The metal had started as a large block when he had begun. Now he had beaten it down continuously over time. Its size had been reduced by a fifth already. Not only is he using the Disorder Hammer, but also using his spirit ability. A 20% increase in force is not something to scoff at.

The 10th blow the 11th blow, the 12th blow, the 15th, the 18th blow. He continues to unleash blow after blow each one stronger than before. He unleashes the 19th, the 20th, but then at the 21st blow, he is forced to step back. Normally he can get all the way to the 25th hammer.

His spirit ring simply makes all the difference in his blows. The impact is greater with every blow, but so is the recoil. Still, the effectiveness can't be underestimated at all. Next Tang Yuan checks the metal's current state. It had been heavily reduced in size, but its density was far greater.

"It's like cooking steak the outside looks fine. Yet unless you cut it open there is no way to see inside. At least without cutting it open. As you hammer the metal it gets closer to the desired result. You have to remember to hammer the edges as well or there will be flaws." That had been his comparison when he first took up forging. Though it becomes easier to tell with greater experience.

Tang Yuan uses his tongs to reposition the metal. Turning it on its side to forge it down once more. The clang of the hammer once more resumes. The more he forges the metal the denser it becomes. Yet the harder it becomes to better purify.

Finally, after finishing this set of hammers he steps back. Desummoning his martial soul as he does so. His soul power had nearly run out during the forging. He can only maintain his first ability for less than twenty minutes. At least starting from his best conditions anyway.

That was when his sight fell upon the metal. It had been heavily compressed again and again. The impurities are being hammered out again and again. The question is whether he had achieved the desired results. If he had purified the metal of its impurities, and allowed it to retain its inner structure.

He observed the metal for irregularities on the surface. It was smooth in appearance no cracks or irregularities. At least not any that are apparent to the eye. Tang Yuan steps back from the forge. Time to let it cool for now then I can come to a conclusion. The Metal was reddish-orange still from heating and reheating.

Tang Yuan takes a meditative pose on the ground floor of the Smithy. While he waits for the metal to cool he'll recover his soul power. That way he will be ready to return to forging the metal if necessary. As he begins he quickly begins to regain his soul power. In the last few months, his cultivation had gone well.

He had managed to progress all the way to level 14 now. A good amount in five months to be sure since acquiring his ring. As a result of that, his soul power capacity had increased. Originally he could only maintain his first ring for over 15 minutes. Two levels brought an increase of roughly less than two minutes each so far.

He wonders if he will gain a similar amount as he advances to level 20. Only time will tell if that becomes the case. Tang Yuan returns to his recovery meditation from his idle thoughts. His recovery of soul power is noticeable, but also noticeably slow as well. An hour after entering meditation he stands up. His soul power had recovered to about a third perhaps a little more.

With that, he moves over to a workbench by the forge. Taking a smaller hammer from a work bench he moves close to the metal. He strikes the metal with the hammer not too hard, and not too easily. Then he listens closely to the sound from the metal. As he did he heard a clear consistent ring from the metal.

At the very least the metal is sound and solid. The integrity of the metal is uncompromised by the forging. Tang Yuan notes the surface is still smooth and without any imperfections. The color of the metal has settled properly to dark grey. If it's not a hundred refined then it should be close to it.

Tang Yuan picks the metal up bringing it over to a wall. Placing the metal on a shelf on the wall for later use. He will turn it into something else in the future. Perhaps a sword or axe to be sold later on. He looks at the other shelves a number of his hundred forging success lines the wall. He had made real progress even if it was the easiest forging art in the future.

Blacksmithing can be a most lucrative business. Especially when it comes to the creation of armor or ornate works. Most soul masters look down on weapons besides their own Martial Soul. Armor is well sought after by them though. At this point in time, forging is simply too underdeveloped. Creating powerful weapons is practically impossible.

Exceptions being some of the works of the greatest of smiths. In Soul Land the smith Lou Gao sacrificed his life to create a top hidden weapon. By various records found he is far from the first blacksmith to do so. There is even a precedent for a great many giving their lives or others' lives.

The creations are spoken of as Artifacts points of legend in myth. Though even if a smith gives their life it might not always result in an Artifact. There are mostly only legends about artifacts in the books he's found. Most of them are completely unknown or lost to history.

It is difficult to say what these various masterpieces could be ranked as. None are likely Quasi Divine tools much less Divine Tools. At least it's unlikely to be the case. Yet they are still more than likely powerful tools or weapons.

Still, it might not be impossible to create Artifacts himself. If he can recreate the forging tools of the future. Yet that is easier said than done Tang Yuan muses to himself. He could create a hundred refined metals though even a normal smith could also.

Thousand Refinings is far more complex in nature. The light version of it is performing a thousand refinements. Such as being ten times that of the hundred refinements. Yet that is only a single part of the process. The smith has to find the metal veins like the meridians in the human body.

They must unleash a Thousand Refinements without damaging the metal's veins. They must understand the nature of the metal. Then they need to properly shape it in such a way. That the metal is refined to its utmost as possible by the smith. By the time the refinements are finished a measure of life should be instilled in the metal.

Tang Yuan can't help but imagine it, sweating just thinking about it. It's no wonder such a thing has never been known. Only appearing in the series twenty thousand years later in the future. Even if someone can refine the metal a thousand or even ten thousand times. They might not be able to achieve success without knowledge of the veins.

Accomplishing it would be the work of a long time. Years perhaps decades even with knowledge of the methods' existence. Each metal has different forms and properties no one method would work.

Thinking about this Tang Yuan determines he will need to cheat. At least if he intends to accomplish the recreation of the forge methods in good time. A method comes to mind in fact if he can accomplish it. The creation of a technique from another world. One that is ideal for forging materials and determining them.

Tang Yuan stands in the training ground that he has for himself. Several weeks had passed since his decision to recreate a technique. It was the morning of the day as he performed his physical exercises. That had only grown more rigorous as years went on.

He started with a series of warm-up exercises completing them efficiently. Proceeding to complete a mix of 50 squats, 50 sit-ups, 50 push-ups, 50 lunges, with a 5km run each day.

He had added swim exercise to maintain a moderate body. Better a contained muscle structure than an overwhelming muscle.

He then makes use of the martial arts poses he picked up in his past life. He was basically an amateur compared to others in his family. At least his father and sister really got into martial arts. Still having a measure of discipline in his hand-to-hand combat is good.

He still practices his punches and kicks every day. Yet more time is centered on Wealding his hammer. He had no real combat idea of how to use said hammer. Neither did the library, and when he asked other members of the clan. They simply told him to discover it himself for a time.

After finishing those exercises with good time for the amount. Tang Yuan proceeds to begin a series of basic yoga exercises. He was never an absolute firm practitioner of Yoga in his past life. His mother and sisters on the other hand all did so. He proceeds with the basic ones Downward Dog, Child's Pose, Warrior, Mountain Pose, and Cat Pose.

He did not originally have yoga as part of his exercises. Yet they make ideal ways to increase his flexibility further. Anything to improve his physical ability. Plus they assisted in releasing the stress from more strenuous activity.

Then after all that he proceeds to train his new techniques. Rather his two techniques are associated with each other. Both of them are from the world of Type Moon itself. Even if by their standards they are relatively simple. Reinforcement and Structural Analysis are both spells critically undervalued in that world.

He moved over to a pile of rocks he had collected or had brought here. Picking one up from the pile he prepares himself. There is already soul power reinforcement in this world. Reinforcement through the Type Moon method is by all accounts different.

The techniques he desired to create are Structural Analysis as it has use for his purpose. He could use it to analyze the flaws in his forging results. That way improving further work on them, and future work. That it would help him comprehend the world around him was another major benefit.

He started working on Reinforcement because it worked well with the other. Find the gaps in a material and fill them with Reinforcement. Training both at the same time with good results. They certainly synchronize well with each other.

Unfortunately, Reinforcement is far too dangerous to use on the body. At least not without major practice or ever. Enhancing stones on the other hand that is very possible. Looking at the rock in his hand he used his anyalis to then reinforce it. Filling in the gaps and flaws of the rocks with soul power. Making it stronger and more usable as it occurs, unfortunately.

"Dam." The rock is damaged during the process far from noticeably. "Too much energy to fast." Tang Yuan mumbles to himself. He had gotten overeager to start after his work yesterday. He then proceeds to throw the rock at a large boulder. The blow hits with power greater than normal arrows.

Reinforcement is incredibly difficult to pull off for him now. At least in the long-term use of it. Better to turn rocks into dangerous projectiles able to cause great harm. The flaws that are being filled are numerous and incredibly small. Part of what makes the reinforcement so difficult and dangerous. Controlling it is absolutely a pain without causing at least small damage. On the bright side, it was acting as an incredibly rigorous control training method.

On the other hand, he muses that his work on Structural Analysis has been more effective. At first, he had tried to use his Soul Power to try the trick. Then he realized that he wanted to analyze something to understand it. So he tried to reach out with his Spiritual Power instead. Unfortunately, he had no knowledge of how to use Spiritual Power outside the body.

Thinking about how long it took him to even start trying. It would have been impossible without the Mental Palace. He finally learned to use his Spiritual Energy with some work. He wonders if he's graduated from a novice to an apprentice. Maybe he's only now at the level of novice users of Spiritual Energy or below even that.

Using his Spiritual Energy to attack is basically impossible at the moment. Even using it to scan something requires physical contact. The scan is only so deep and not a invasive as he desired. He can view the larger flaws in something that he uses the skill on. Yet smaller ones are easily missed if noticed at all.

Tang Yuan muses to himself still it is a major step in the right direction. His analysis is able to help in finding major flaws in his work. It has also worked as a good exercise for his mental power. This caused a noticeable increase and focus of his mental power.

Once more once his spiritual abilities increase so will his use of anyalis. He will need to come up with a better name in the future. Still, as time passes he can improve upon it, and if it will come. Tang Yuan calls it a day for physical exercise and returns home. "Time for a bath."

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