Chapter 278 - The Coupling Of Hardness With Softness (2/2)

Nonetheless, this was not a good time for him to continue his attempt, thus he wanted to learn the way to cultivate the path of equilibrium as fast as he could while Master Wu Hongxi was still around.

Wu Hongxi nodded and replied to the young fellow, “I told you that the key of the path of equilibrium is the coupling of hardness with softness, and the key of that is to grasp the Military Fire’s changes… Ah, you already have an unordinary understanding of the fire’s changes, so slowly think it through and ask me if you have any questions.” Ou Yangming immediately uttered, “Yes.”

The Military Fire’s changes were endless. Whether it was Wu Hongxi or Ou Yangming, they dared not say they had a comprehensive understanding of it.

Nevertheless, one would be qualified to cultivate the coupling of hardness with softness if one fathomed the change between the hot and cold temperatures.

Wu Hongxi picked up a piece of silk from the corner and noted, “This is the most basic material for the production of a cloak. It’s not the best, but it’s more than enough for you to practice now.”

Following that, he turned his wrist, causing his Military Fire to burn and spread such that it wrapped around the material.

Ou Yangming paid attention to the master’s every move. The Military Fire seemed like it was fiery, but it did not carry any heat. As such, it could not light up the silk even if it was enveloping the material. That being said, an unusual change soon took place.

The silk cloth suddenly rolled up, and its borders were filled with smoke, which was sweeping toward the center.

Ou Yangming widened his eyes right away, and an odd look was seen on his face.

The Military Fire somehow split into two, where the middle part naturally did not have any temperature but the corners were scorching hot. Due to the intense flames, the silk cloth’s corners were burned.

In spite of that, the smoke around the material did not disperse as though it was drawn and bound by a certain power. In fact, the smoke began to gather at the center. It was worth noting that Ou Yangming was incredibly sharp-eyed. He knew nothing about smithing a cloak, but by taking a glance at the material, he was certain that the burnt parts were only the cloak’s corners. As for the remaining parts, they made up a cloak’s real form.

Wu Hongxi’s eyes were bright. Whenever a blacksmith became fully immersed in smithing, one would naturally cast aside all distractions, revealing an awe-inspiring expression.

Subsequently, he waved his hand and sprinkled some peculiar powder, which happened to fuse with the dust in the middle.

The two queer substances merged and changed wonderfully at that instant. Afterward, they fell evenly on the cloak as if they were sprinkles of rain.

Ou Yangming watched quietly as the cloak slowly turned in Wu Hongxi’s hands. Everything was controlled by an invisible power.

The integration of Heaven and man-it was actually the integration of Heaven and man.

‘Didn’t he say it’s just a practice? Does he need to be so serious?’ The young fellow was puzzled.

He did not know that his outstanding performance triggered Wu Hongxi.

The boss in the smithing trade did not want to admit defeat, and he did not want to seem inferior to Ou Yangming. Hence, he gave his all when he refined the cloak, by which he performed his greatest skills.

Having said that, it was exactly because he refined the item without any reservations OU Yangming could take a look at the core content of the coupling of hardness with softness.

Wu Hongxi was displaying softness at the moment.

The smithing of ordinary equipment involved hardness instead.

If one wanted to smith wearable and usable pieces of equipment by using tough featured steel and black steel, one must grasp hardness just right.

For now, the refinement of the cloak involved softness.

Judging from Wu Hongxi’s technique and how he controlled the cloak with ease, it was clear that he had a high level of attainment in the soft aspect. The coupling of hardness with softness. Numerous bizarre thoughts appeared in Ou Yangming’s mind.

Sure enough, the secret smithing technique could make one’s imagination run wild, and it seemed like it was quite a waste to only use the secret technique on smithing art. It was not smithing art that could unleash the secret technique to its greatest extent, but martial arts.

Needless to say, Ou Yangming dared not say it to blacksmith masters like Wu Hongxi and Jin Shengjie, or he would be mercilessly reproached.

Master Wu Hongxu stopped after 15 minutes. The cloak floated high in the air for some time before it slowly descended, and it landed in front of Ou Yangming. Ou Yangming knew Master Wu had done it on purpose, so he reached out to grab the cloak. The instant his hands touched the cloak, his Military Fire burned and displayed the item’s properties in his mind.

[Item: Outstanding cloak] (Equivalent Rank: Ordinary Tool, Good Grade, Rank Three]

[Attributes: Toughness +8, Durability +8]

Much to Ou Yangming’s surprised, the cloak was of Good Grade Rank Three.

He looked at Wu Hongxi in astonishment, but the elder, who was also known as Fine Grade King, blushed and sighed. “If I’m able to accomplish the same result with hardness as I have in softness, perhaps I’ll be able to smith magic tools.”

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