When Ou Yangming exited the dark cave, Ni Xuetian opened his eyes and looked eagerly at the young fellow.

Ou Yangming informed with a smile, "I smithed a magic tool for Big Yellow."

"Very well. Thank you, Lil' Friend Ou," Ni Xuetian responded with a serious face.

"Senior, you're being too polite, I ought to do so," Ou Yangming quickly replied to him.

"Now that Big Yellow has a magic tool to protect itself, perhaps…" Ni Xuetian sighed and forced a smile after a pause. "Lil' Friend Ou, let's go."

They were at an important place for the Ni family, after all, and Ou Yangming was still an outsider, so they could not stay there for long.

A thought crossed Ou Yangming's mind. He thought as he saw how Ni Xuetian was hesitant to finish his sentence, 'Could the thing that Ni Xuetian is unwilling to talk about be related to Big Yellow too?'

Nonetheless, he did not question the elder.

The two of them left the Chaos Cave and exited the ravine. When they were heading back to the prefecture, Ni Xuetian noted with a deep voice, "Lil' Friend Ou, I received news that Yinghong and He Liangce are safe and sound, so they should return after two days.

Ou Yangming was relieved. Ni Xuetian had already assured him before, but he was only fully at ease after he received confirmation.

Due to their traveling speed, they returned to the Ni residence in no time.

Ou Yangming bid the elder farewell and returned to Old Craftsman's room.

The old man was not in his room, but Ou Yangming's ears twitched as he heard sounds coming from the smithing workshop.

He grinned. 'Old Man is still the same; he can't sit still.'

Ou Yangming headed to the smithing workshop curiously because he could sense that the old man was not the only person inside.

He was puzzled. 'This is the Ni residence. Besides, when did Old Craftsman ever let anyone watch when he smiths?'

When Ou Yangming pushed the door open and noticed the people inside, he was slightly stunned.

Apart from Old Craftsman and Ni Yunhong, there were two familiar faces.

They were Zhong Yunda and Wang Zhongtong, who were the old man's close friends from the Immense Forest Military Camp.

Everyone in the room was focused on Old Craftsman, who was paying close attention to his Military Fire.

Ni Yunhong nodded at Ou Yangming when he entered but the old man was so immersed in the smithing process that he was not distracted at all.

Ou Yangming's eyes lit up when he fixed his gaze on Old Craftsman.

The old man was swaying his hands a little at that moment, and his Military Fire followed suit. When the fire burned, there was a vague feeling of it corresponding with the world, and it was a feeling that Ou Yangming was extremely familiar with.

It was the integration of Heaven and man.

There was no doubt to it; it was the integration of Heaven and man's way of nature.

Unknowingly, Ou Yangming curled his lips into a faint smile.

The young fellow had apprehended the state due to his experiences in various aspects, but what induced him to take the leap was when he watched Old Craftsman perform the Layering Art.

Old Craftsman poured his lifelong wisdom and energy into the study of Military Fire Smithing Art.

The Layering Art was also the skill that Old Craftsman was the proudest of. In fact, he had already perceived a hint of the integration of Heaven and man's network when he performed the skill.

Despite that, the old man's body was already declining. Although he had enough experience, his body was not strong enough for him to continue to explore the state.

After consuming the Life-prolonging Golden Pill and when the drug's effect was completely unfolded, Old Craftsman experienced a new lease of life.

With plenty of resources in the Ni residence and his love for smithing art, Old Craftsman finally succeeded in taking the crucial leap.

The old man did not have a high cultivation base in martial arts, thus he could not apply the integration of Heaven and man in that aspect. That said, he greatly improved in smithing art, and was now far beyond what he achieved in the past.

"Puff…"

Old Craftsman exhaled deeply when the Military Fire disappeared. He shook his head when he looked at the longsword in his hands.

Ou Yangming said with a smile, "Old Man, you're smithing a divine weapon again. Let me take a look at it."

"B*stard, you're finally back." Old Craftsman smiled when he looked up and saw the young fellow.

"Old Man, I came to see you as soon as I returned, so you should reward me." Ou Yangming chuckled.

"Take it, this is your reward." Old Craftsman casually tossed the longsword to him.

Ou Yangming used his Military Fire after he caught the longsword. He uttered in astonishment, "The peak of Fine Grade Rank Five."

The weapon was at the peak of Fine Grade, but on second thought, the old man could also smith a piece of equipment of this standard in the past. Given that he had comprehended the integration of Heaven and man, his capability doubled, and it was no longer a difficult task for him.

Zhong Yunda immediately voiced out, "Ah, Old Craftsman, we came for that sword, but you gave it to Master Lil' Ou just like that. How are we going to report on our mission?"

Ou Yangming was startled. "Master Zhong, you're…"

Zhong Yunda laughed out loud. "Ever since the two of you left, the Armament Camp couldn't produce good pieces of equipment. We discussed with Supervisor Kang and decided to send two old fellas here every month so as to have a long chat with Old Craftsman, but also to take a few items back if any of you smithed something valuable."

Ou Yangming looked at Old Craftsman, who was glowing in high spirits and cheerful, so he was at ease.

It was just a few pieces of equipment anyway. If Old Man would be delighted to see his old friends, not to mention pieces of Fine Grade equipment, Ou Yangming would be willing to submit a magic tool every month.

Ni Yunhong cleared his throat. "Brother Ou, General Fang also contributed to getting the two of them here."

Ou Yangming nodded and remembered the kind gesture.

Old Craftsman waved his hand and asked, "Young fella, how did you smith that magic tool?"

The young fellow was dumbfounded, and he scratched his head as he answered, "Old Man, didn't I tell you already?"

"I don't want to hear your nonsense about mountains and water. What does smithing a magic tool have to do with mountains and water?" Old Craftsman remarked unreasonably.

Ou Yangming furrowed his eyebrows as he felt troubled. He had many ways to counterattack if someone else were to pester him with unreasonable demands, but he was perturbed because the person was Old Craftsman.

Zhong Yunda and Wang Zhongtong1 were instantly attentive. They were dubious when they first heard that Ou Yangming could smith a magic tool.

Since Old Craftsman had just questioned the young fellow about it, the credibility of that statement became completely different.

"Master Lil' Ou, is that weapon on your for General Chen?" Zhong Yunda asked with a deep voice.

"Ah, I forgot about serious business." Old Craftsman slapped his forehead and looked at the spear. "This is…"

Ou Yangming nodded. "Old man, we accomplished our mission by good luck. We found the peculiar bamboo in the dense forest, and I successfully fit the spear tip to it."

The journey was dangerous and they had many encounters, but he briefly talked about it because he did not want the old man to worry.

Old Craftsman took the spear and studied it carefully. He looked at the weapon so gently that it was as if he was looking at his lover. The other three men were not any better, making it evident that blacksmiths could not resist a magic tool.

The old man sighed after a long time and passed the spear to the three eager men.

"Young fella, don't be too happy yet," Old Craftsman said in a serious tone, "One day, I'll definitely be able to smith a magic tool too!"

Ou Yangming nodded. "Old Man, you were able to fathom the integration of Heaven and man, so it's only natural that you'll smith a magic tool in the future."

"I know you're only making me happy, but I'm indeed overjoyed." Old Craftsman laughed out loud and stroked his beard. "General Chen has come to the Prefecture Military Camp, so let's send this weapon to him since you're back. I see you brought back two bamboos—are you planning to smith a spear for yourself too?"

"Old Man, I can't hide anything from you." Ou Yangming laughed.

"Smith a spear here and let me take a look at it then," Old Craftsman instructed.

Ni Yunhong and the other men looked up with bright eyes at Ou Yangming.

It was a rare opportunity for them to admire a magic tool, but how could it be compared with witnessing the refining process?

Ou Yangming did not refuse the request. He retrieved a rare stone and enveloped it with his Military Fire.

An odd power slowly gushed out from his body, and it was so strange and mighty that even the people around him felt like they were suffocating.

It was the power of breaking the barrier—a display of power for overcoming worldly limits to advance to a higher level.

Ni Yunhong and the two other men paid full attention and were in awe, whereas Old Craftsman's face changed as he reached out his hand to calculate something.

At last, a flash of an unusual light was seen in the MIlitary Fire as the stone's potential was released. It eventually burst and transformed into an incredibly sharp spear tip.

It was not Ou Yangming's first time smithing a magic tool, but each time he smithed a piece of equipment of this level, he gave his all without slacking at all.

He worked swiftly and reached for one of the untypical bamboos the instant the spear tip was formed. As his Military Fire spread and extended, the bamboo was also wrapped up.

The rare bamboo was so magical that it slowly became as tough as titanium after it was broken off from the main stem. Its toughness was not inferior to a magic tool's at all.

Ou Yangming previously did not attach the spear tip to the bamboo, which was only used as a stick by ordinary people.

However, the young fellow's Military Fire was different. When he fused the purple light with the fire on purpose, the indestructible bamboo slowly softened.

Ou Yangming was elated because he guessed it right.

He turned his wrist to embed the newly-smithed spear tip in the bamboo.

Next, a brand new magic spear was formed in front of the other people.

Author originally wrote Wang Zhongyuan, which is a typo. We've corrected it for the context