Moben Town is an ordinary town on the southern border of the Bauhinia Empire on the Deep Blue Continent, located in a remote area, and there are no outstanding characteristics, the only thing that is commendable is probably only the folk customs are relatively simple.

The sky was hazy, a few rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, and the cold of early autumn reflected on the houses and streets, and most of the townspeople had already gotten up and started working, except for the children, who were still asleep.

However, in the only blacksmith shop in town, a child has been sweating profusely wielding a hammer for almost an hour.

It was a handsome boy with short black hair and two black eyes with a slight purple glow, which looked like two rare black gems in the light of the fire.

His name is Lei Xiu, born in an ordinary family in Moben Town, he is nine years old this year, his father died early, he has been dependent on his mother since he was a child, and he barely survives on the meager income obtained by his mother to sew clothes for others.

Although Lei Xiu is young, he is very sensible, he has been working in this blacksmith shop since he was seven and a half years old, although the owner of the blacksmith shop, Roger Grandpa, although he has a withdrawn personality, he is a very good person, he knows that Lei Xiu's family is in difficulty, so he not only teaches Lei Xiu the ability to strike iron, but also gives him two silver coins every month.

Looking at the red and softened iron in front of him, the special trumpet hammer in Lei Xiu's hand struck it steadily and quickly, making a series of rhythmic crisp sounds, looking focused and serious.

The blazing breath of the stove overflowed, and in the face of the unbearable high temperature of ordinary adults, Xiao Lei Xiu did not feel the slightest discomfort, if you look closely, you will find that his breathing is very rhythmic, sometimes deep and long, sometimes rapid and turbulent, giving people a sense of rhythm.

After another half an hour, the iron had turned into the rough embryo of a handleless sickle, and Xiao Lei Xiu put down the hammer in his hand, wiped his sweat casually, and sat on a rough wooden bench for a short rest.

"This breathing method taught me by Roger Grandpa is so amazing, not only does I not be afraid of fire, but even my strength is much stronger than before, but my body has always felt numb in the past few days, I don't know what's going on, I'll ask him later. ”

After muttering to himself, Lei Xiu's eyes gradually shifted to a rough dirt wall on the left, on which there was only a half-human-tall bladeless long knife hanging on the unadorned wall.

The blade is dark and unpretentious, only the handle is a dull bronze, and it is shaped into a hideous beast head that Lei Xiu has never seen before, and the eyes on both sides of the beast head are inlaid with two blue stones without the slightest luster.

This knife didn't seem to be anything unusual at first glance, but Lei Xiu had seen it once fall to the ground, and it actually smashed a small hole into the solid bluestone ground.

At that time, Lei Xiu wanted to know how much this black knife weighed, but Roger never told him.

Now that Roger is not here, and he has felt that his strength has increased a lot recently, thinking about it, the curious Lei Xiu couldn't help but stand up and walked towards the black knife.

And just when he grasped the bronze handle of the black knife and felt the cold touch, a light cough startled him and he quickly retracted his hand.

After turning his head and seeing someone coming, Lei Xiu scratched his head embarrassedly and said, "Grandpa Roger, you're here." ”

At the gate, a tall and thin old man wrapped in a black robe walked in, the old man's facial features were angular, the short white hair on the top of his head stood straight up, and a pair of brown eyes seemed to be cloudy, but they contained a sharpness, as if two lightning bolts that could split the dark clouds!

Glancing at the black knife on the wall, Roger looked at Lei Xiu's nervous little face, and a soft color appeared at the corner of his eyes, "That knife is not something you can pick up now, wait a few years, and I will let you know how heavy it weighs." ”

With a bright smile on his face, Lei Xiu nodded obediently, and then ran to the stove and said, "I've already knocked out Uncle Mali's scythe, take a look." ”

Walking slowly to the stove, Roger used iron tongs to tweezer the rough embryo, looked at it carefully, and said with a satisfied smile, "Yes, the iron quality is very uniform, it seems that you have already mastered the trick of striking iron." ”

With a burst of excitement in his heart, Lei Xiu's little face flushed slightly, and he suddenly blinked his eyes and said, "By the way, Grandpa Roger, I always feel numb in my body these days, like there are small insects crawling inside, what's going on?"

His cloudy eyes shrank slightly, Roger looked at Lei Xiu in surprise, and said in a low voice, "Oh? It's only been a year and a half, and you feel this way?"

Shocked by Roger's gaze, Lei Xiu nodded nervously, and then said, "Yes, it started three days ago, is there any problem?"

With his brows furrowed, Roger muttered, "Come here, stretch out your hand and show me." ”

trotted two steps and came to Roger's side, and Lei Xiu stretched out his immature and strong arm in front of Roger.

After the big thick and rough hand grasped Lei Xiu's wrist, Roger closed his eyes, and Lei Xiu immediately felt two gentle air currents spread from his wrist to his whole body, making him feel a comfortable feeling of numbness all over his body.

After a while, Roger's face showed a smile that was even more satisfied than just now, and he nodded, "Very good, little Lei Xiu, how long do you practice the breathing method I taught you in a day?"

Frowning and thinking about it, Lei Xiu said, "I don't know, but except for eating and sleeping, I basically breathe in this way, and I was very uncomfortable at first, but it didn't take long to get used to it." ”

Patting Lei Xiu's head, Roger smiled with relief, "Good boy, don't worry, it's not a bad thing, well, it seems that you can use that thing in advance." ”

After speaking, under Lei Xiu's puzzled gaze, Roger walked into the house, and when he came out after a while, he was carrying a small copper box in his hand.

Calling Lei Xiu to his side, Roger put the box on the table, gently stroked the box with both hands, his expression was solemn, but his eyes showed a sense of remembrance and vicissitudes.

With a crisp sound, the box opened, Lei Xiu stood on tiptoe and looked inside, only to see that on a piece of red brocade, there were four dull bronze bracers, which were said to be bracers, but their appearance was very rough, like four randomly made flat copper rings.

Looking at the four bracers curiously, although Lei Xiu had a lot of questions in his heart, he didn't speak, just waiting for Roger quietly.

Looking at the bracers in distraction, it took a moment for Roger to sigh softly and take one of them out.

"Put this bracer on your right hand, and the other three on your left hand and both ankles, be careful, they're heavy. ”

After hearing Roger's words, although Lei Xiu was mentally prepared, when he took over the bracer, his hand sank, and he almost took off the bracer and fell to the ground.

Looking at this inconspicuous-looking but amazingly heavy bronze bracer on his hand, Lei Xiu's heart was full of surprise, you know, he has been working in the blacksmith shop for nearly two years, and when it comes to the strength of his wrist, it is not much worse than that of an adult, but when he holds this bracer, he has a feeling of almost being unable to use it.

Shaking his head with a smile, Roger spoke, "I forgot, the weight of this bracer is too much for you now, I'll help you put it on." ”

Seeing Roger's big hand stretched out, Lei Xiu made a mistake and said stubbornly, "No, I can do it myself." ”

Smiling slightly, Roger didn't speak, just watched Lei Xiu slowly and clumsily raise the bracers, open the lock, and put the lock back on after reaching in with his right hand.

After putting on the bracer, Lei Xiu's right hand drooped violently, and it took a lot of effort to raise it again, this bracer according to his speculation, it weighed at least thirty catties, if it weren't for his perennial iron, coupled with that strange breathing method, he would not be able to wear it if he was tired.

After putting on all the four bracers, Lei Xiu sweated again, his body was extremely heavy, and he had to use all his body's strength to even move, for a while, he even had a feeling that he couldn't even straighten his waist, but the strange thing was that these four bracers were like tailor-made for him, tightly clinging to the flesh and skin, and the edges were also smooth, not to mention the weight, it was quite comfortable to wear.

Looking at Lei Xiu's funny appearance that he was not comfortable with, Roger smiled, "Hehe, it's very heavy, it's okay, I'll teach you another breathing method, and when you get used to it, it won't be so uncomfortable." ”

After hearing this, Lei Xiu's eyes suddenly lit up, for Roger's breathing method, he had personally experienced that kind of magical effect, and when it came to this kind of breathing method, it was much more interesting than striking iron.

"Grandpa Roger, can I learn this breathing technique so that I can become more powerful? ”

Shaking his head, Roger said, "It's not that simple, although the second breathing method I taught you can make you stronger, but whether you can adapt to the weight of the wrist brace depends on whether you use it or not." ”

After finishing speaking, Roger patted Lei Xiu on the shoulder, and continued, "Didn't you say that you practice the first breathing method every day except for eating and sleeping? ”

"How is it possible to use this breathing technique when eating and sleeping?

Looking at Lei Xiu's surprised face, Roger said indifferently, "There is no trick, just one word, practice! Practice every day as long as you are awake, over the years, just take this breathing method as an instinct of yours." ”

After hearing Roger's words, Lei Xiu's eyes showed a look of excitement, if he said that as long as he worked hard and diligently, he could achieve his goal, he had absolute confidence, since he was six years old, the last thing he was afraid of was hardship.

Smiling with satisfaction, Roger said, "Okay, now I'll teach you the second breathing method, listen carefully, inhale once, exhale four times, inhale five times in a row, exhale twice, and when you produce that kind of airflow that numbs you, remember, run the airflow to the ......."

After carefully explaining for an hour, until Lei Xiu completely memorized this breathing method, Roger nodded with satisfaction and said, "Very good, from now on, you can use this breathing method, and also, you just brought these four bracers, you must not be used to it for a while, don't strike iron today, go home and get used to it." ”

Hearing this, Lei Xiu shook his head again and again, "No need, Grandpa Roger, I haven't worked much today, I can still help you." ”

Looking at Lei Xiu's embarrassed little face, Roger smiled, "Okay, don't be such a mother-in-law, even if you stay here today, you can't help me anything, go home, by the way, you can take these five silver coins, you have performed well recently, and your salary will be so much in the future." A flash of pity flashed in his eyes, and Roger sighed and said, "Hey, you're growing your body, buy more meat to eat, don't be too frugal." ”

With a look of gratitude in his dark eyes, Lei Xiu laboriously stretched out his hands and silently took the silver coin, bowed heavily, and said, "Thank you, Grandpa Roger." ”

"Okay, how many times have I told you, men can't be so verbose, be bold, go back. ”

His gaze gradually retracted as Lei Xiu walked out of the door, Roger raised his head and exhaled deeply, shook his head and smiled, "Hey, I really didn't expect that this little bit of progress has been so fast, if this is the case, the progress should be a little faster." ”

After speaking, Roger's eyes couldn't help but look at the black war knife on the wall, shook his head and smiled, and then walked to the furnace and continued to process the rough embryo that Lei Xiu had made before.

The sound of striking iron like heavy thunder sounded rhythmically, and at this time, the sun had fully risen, and a new day had arrived.