Chiro and Asha came up with a schedule for Quan's training. Mornings belonged to Chiro. From dawn till lunch, he would work in the forge. After lunch, he would train with Asha until nightfall, upon which he was expected to meditate upon the day's lessons, his cultivation and any Dao insights he may have. On the seventh day of the week, Chiro took the day for family, and that day Quan was with Asha.

He had a basic room at both estates to use as needed. He suspected that was so he could save face when he chose one path or the other, and he could stay in one place without needing to ask for a new room if he chose the other.

But first, he had to pass Chiro’s test as he had Asha’s. “You’ve spent years in the forge under your father’s training, with the perception of an adult while he trained you. I want to see the best sword you can make.” He then turned back to his own work, letting Quan find his own way.

Two of Chiro’s sons and apprentices showed him where he was to work. Wren and Tarleton seemed a good sort when he'd been introduced to them last night. Both were strong men, a few years older than Quan. They took after their father in looks and presented a fine group of smiths. He thanked them as he inspected his tools and work area, finding everything at least as good as his Father’s equipment. The area was spacious and had room for several more people to work comfortably if they had that many trained blacksmiths.

Quan chose a piece of slag that looked good from the iron pile. He heated it till it was red hot, then started pounding it into a flat disk. He noticed right away he was able to put much more force into his work now that he'd started his core. Soon he had a flat disk of metal that he cooled in water. Afterwards, he smashed the disk into small chunks of metal. He inspected each piece and kept the good harder pieces in one pile while the softer, less perfect chunks went into another.

Once he had enough quality pieces, he carefully stacked them together to form what would become the sword's blade. The other pile he gathered for what would be the core of the blade. Already half the morning was gone as he wrapped the blade pieces in ash and paper and thrust them into the furnace. Once red hot again, he pulled out the iron and swung his hammer to forge them into a solid piece. He did the same with the pieces left for the sword core.

His iron now mostly steel, he began the process of folding the metal. At each fold, he'd cover the iron in ash to keep the carbon from dropping too low in the metal. The work was hot, heavy and hard. But when Quan felt his arms start to tire, he cycled his Ki as he'd done when running with Asha and found he could work longer and harder than ever before.

He wondered where'd he'd fit on the superhero power scale right now. He was at least at peak human if in need of training. Though at 15, he still lacked a full adult body and physique. Just above Captain America but below, well, any other hero he could think of.

By the time evening came, Quan had managed a few folds. He was at least twice as fast as he had been in his father's forge. Exhausted, he retreated to his room to meditate and sleep after a heavy dinner, excited for tomorrow.

The next day he tried to be first in the forge, but both sons beat him. He quickly got to work. He completed seven more folds that day, giving home ten cycles and over a thousand folds into the metal. He set it aside for morning again. On the third day, he beat and twisted the metal into a U shape that could fit the softer unfolded core. He forged the two together. This would give the sword a hard-cutting shell with a softer core allowing the sword to bend and flex without breaking.

As the day progressed, he started the final shaping of the sword, amazed at how quickly he'd reached this stage and appreciating the future enhancements cultivation had in store. He pounded it out to the proper length in smooth, efficient strokes. Soon the sword started to resemble its final form as he took out a smaller hammer and shaped the details and edges he envisioned. At long last, he set his hammer down. The sword was perfect, needing now to be sharpened and polished.

Chiro came over to inspect the sword at that point. He looked at it critically and took a swing though it lacked a grip yet. "Your strokes were well placed but still lacking the countless hours of repetition that make one a master. The sword is well crafted, your father taught you well, and this sword would mark you as nearly ready to start your own forge as a newly minted master among mortal crafters.

Chiro let out a great sigh, “But this sword is dead. Completely and utterly without any Ki invested into it. I did not think a cultivator could forge a blade without putting Ki into it, at least its most basic form.

Asha told me you lacked any spiritual sense outside your body. We hoped it would manifest in a work you were familiar with." Chiro set the sword down and looked at Quan. "You can sense the flow of energy when you cultivate? As it moves within you, correct?" When Quan nodded in agreement, Chiro resumed speaking. "A spiritual sense should be as basic as breathing. If you can sense your internal Ki, there is no reason you cannot sense it outside. In fact, you must be able to if you draw ki in. I must imagine this is a result of your first life. You are blind to Ki. We must pray that it is something you did to yourself and can overcome as opposed to a true handicap from that world, or there is no hope for you as a blacksmith or a fighter."

Chiro beckoned Quan. "Meditate on what I've said tonight. Tomorrow we will start the schedule my sister and I have worked out for you. For my training, you have but one task, overcome your handicap. Your father trained you well, and you have nearly mastered mortal blacksmithing that there is nothing I can teach you until you can see properly. You may observe us in the smith to sense our flows, meditate here, or the surrounding mountainside if you think that will be of more benefit. If you have made no progress in a week, I will consult the elders for advice before dismissing you if no solution presents itself." Chiro looked warmly at Quan, "There is much honour and a good life in being a mortal blacksmith."

Quan bowed before Chiro and said, "That is not the path the universe has in store for me." Of that, Quan had no question as he left to consider his newest obstacle.