They waited a while longer, and the delivery arrived.
“Sir, please sign for this!”
One ton of steel, one ton of coal, and a set of forging tools, a total cost of 150,000 yen.
The bulk of the expense was naturally the coal and steel.
Unlike the mainland, Sakura Country relied on imports for various materials, making steel and coal comparatively more expensive. Of course, a ton was only a few hundred yen more expensive than in their country.
Yotsuya Miko and Lu Li carried the items to the courtyard, quickly setting up a blacksmith’s workshop.
“So heavy!”
Yotsuya Miko felt a little existential crisis, “Can we really forge these iron bars into swords?”
For a blooming maiden, forging was too difficult.
In fact, if Lu Li hadn't become a wild spirit, he wouldn't be doing such a thankless task either.
“Don't worry.”
At this moment, Lu Li looked relaxed, lit the fire, and began experimenting with forging.
As the sounds of hammering echoed, sparks flew, and the steel bar began to deform, gradually transforming into a long sword-shaped blade.
After merging with his counterpart in this world, and then becoming a spirit, Lu Li didn't even know how powerful he had become.
The most crucial aspect was that due to the manifestation of skills, he felt as if he had been forging for decades, every blow landing perfectly.
Even though it was his first time forging, he was not unfamiliar with the process. Within a short time, the steel bar transformed into a three-foot-long sword, exuding a chilling gleam. A light flick of the blade severed a tree trunk as thick as a wrist.
“Amazing!”
Yotsuya Miko exclaimed.
This casually forged weapon was even more powerful than the legendary divine weapons.
Lu Li laughed, “This was forged by a spirit, you know!”
While talking, he used the dry wood from the old house to make a sword handle and scabbard, tossing them to Yotsuya Miko.
“Miko, this is your weapon. Give it a name.”
“I'll call it Zanshin,” Miko drew the long sword, the blade was like a clear spring reflecting her face, her heart couldn't help but feel invigorated, “I'm going to try it out in the village.”
With a treasure sword in her possession, Yotsuya Miko naturally couldn't stay put.
Lu Li didn't stop her, but picked up another steel bar and started forging again.
One sword blank…
Two sword blanks…
By the time Yotsuya Miko returned after having her fun, Lu Li had already forged nine sword blanks, only waiting for the installation of the sword guards, handles, and scabbards before harvesting nine treasure swords.
Seeing Yotsuya Miko return, Lu Li extinguished the fire, ending the forging.
“How was it?”
“Amazingly useful!” Yotsuya Miko was extremely happy, “With this sword, even those giant ghosts a few meters tall can be chopped down.”
“Don't rush it. Let's update your grace first, then teach you swordsmanship.”
Yotsuya Miko's eyes lit up, “It's time to update grace?”
“Mhm.” Lu Li nodded, “I also want to see how much progress you’ve made, Miko.”
Yotsuya Miko couldn't wait, she entered the house and exposed her back.
Lu Li took out a spare steel needle, squeezed out a drop of blood, and dripped it onto Miko's back. Instantly, Miko's grace data appeared.
Yotsuya Miko
Lv.1
Strength: I0→I25
Durability: I0→I6
Dexterity: I0→I5
Agility: I0→I6
Magic: I0→I66
Magic: 【】【】【】
Skills: 【Yin-Yang Eye】(omitted) 【Exterminate Ghosts】(omitted)
“Your ability values have increased by over a hundred points in just two days, you're really amazing!” Lu Li exclaimed, he imprinted the ability values and handed them to Yotsuya Miko.
Yotsuya Miko took them, her eyes fell on the magic column, “My magic has increased so much?”
“Your Yin-Yang Eye is constantly activated, consuming magic, naturally, it will increase quickly.” Lu Li explained, “At this rate of magic increase, if you awaken another magic, Miko, your attack power will quickly become extremely strong. Come, I'll teach you swordsmanship.”
Yotsuya Miko put on her clothes and came to the open ground.
“These sword techniques are based on a synthesis of swordsmanship from various countries. While not extraordinary, they are sufficient for you at this stage.”
Lu Li explained, then began to demonstrate each move step by step.
Yotsuya Miko listened attentively, asking questions from time to time, her learning progress was rapid.
Having received the grace of a spirit and unlocked her body's potential, Yotsuya Miko's learning ability was naturally far beyond that of ordinary people.
In a short time, she had learned the entire set of sword techniques and went to practice on her own.
Lu Li watched for a while, nodded in satisfaction, and turned around to equip the forged swords with handles and scabbards.
He worked until dusk, finally completing the task, harvesting nine treasure swords.
And Yotsuya Miko, her basic swordsmanship had become very proficient.
“We should head back. If it's any later, we won't catch the train.” Lu Li wrapped the nine long swords in cloth for easy carrying, and then tidied up the forge with Yotsuya Miko, before setting off for Tokyo.
“Divine Spirit, let’s keep hunting ghosts tonight,” Yotsuya Miko said with enthusiasm after dinner.
With the updated grace, Yotsuya Miko could feel the improvement in her physical abilities, her heart filled with enthusiasm.
“Alright,” Lu Li nodded, “Tonight, we’ll continue.”
As long as his dependents wanted to progress, he wouldn't refuse.
In the alley.
Yotsuya Miko executed a sword technique, charging at a three-meter-tall evil spirit. A flash of coldness, and the evil spirit's arm was instantly severed.
Slaying ordinary evil spirits felt like shattering foam.
After killing this evil spirit, Yotsuya Miko felt something different, the long sword seemed to have struck a rubber tire.
If not for the sharpness of the treasure sword, or if she had used a fruit knife, she probably wouldn't have been able to cut through it.
“Can you see it?”
“Roar!”
The evil spirit roared, its eyes flashing with ferocious light. Even with one hand missing, it showed no fear, its other hand reaching out to grab Yotsuya Miko.
Yotsuya Miko nimbly dodged, her sword technique changed, she struck again at the remaining arm of the evil spirit. Cold light flashed, and the evil spirit’s arm was severed again.
Swish, swish, swish, with a series of sword strikes, the evil spirit was directly reduced to a human stick.
The intelligence of the evil spirit was not high after all, it relied on its towering stature, it was not proficient in fighting.
Yotsuya Miko had already become accustomed to slaying ghosts, coupled with her proficient basic swordsmanship, slaying evil spirits was naturally effortless.
With the final strike, Yotsuya Miko lightly leaped into the air, a downward slash, the evil spirit was cut in half, turning into ashes amidst a scream.
“These evil spirits are much more powerful than other evil spirits, they’re not easy to kill!”
Yotsuya Miko sheathed her sword and sighed.
Lu Li stepped forward, “But the training this kind of evil spirit provides is incomparable to other evil spirits. If you keep slaying weak ghosts, your dexterity, agility, and endurance will increase very slowly.”
Yotsuya Miko nodded, “Let’s continue.”
They continued until ten o’clock at night, Yotsuya Miko had slain nearly thirty giant evil spirits, before finally stopping.
Even with the grace, Yotsuya Miko felt her body aching, unable to continue.
Seeing this, Lu Li thoughtfully sent Yotsuya Miko home, then turned to head back home. As he walked halfway, it began to rain.