The morning air was cool, almost too calm, as the twins stood before two towering blocks of iron in the training courtyard. Dawn hadn't fully broken. The sky was just a pale ink smear across the edge of the mountains. Birds weren't even awake yet.
Nailed to the side of the shed was a board, scrawled with one line of Tang Hao's iconic sharp handwriting:
"Hit the block. Ten thousand times. No excuses."
Tang San stared at the slab, silent. Tang Yan squinted at the board, then groaned theatrically.
"Are we training or breaking a seal on an ancient demon?"
System:"Host's complaint level: maximum. Work ethic: reluctantly high."
Tianmeng Bug:"If sarcasm were strength, you'd be a Title Douluo by now."
Despite the protests, they got to work.
The iron slabs didn't budge.
The Chaos Clock Hammer Technique was more than a fancy name—it was a way to grind down not just iron, but ego. With every strike, soul power resonated from shoulder to wrist, twisting muscle memory into something new.
Tang San's movements were calm, methodical, his strikes tight and structured. Tang Yan's were wild and fierce, sweeping arcs full of raw momentum. But both pushed forward, breathing in unison, hammering like the heartbeat of the mountain.
They collapsed together after hitting their thirty-sixth strike in one breath.
"Just forty-five more to match Father," Tang San whispered between gasps.
"That's cute," Tang Yan wheezed. "I think my spine is trying to escape."
The Forge Awakens
That afternoon, Tang Yan returned to the humble forge granted by Yu Xiaogang. The walls still smelled of soot and oil. Metal bars from the system's inventory lay stacked on the table—raw, untamed.
He rolled up his sleeves.
"Let's turn pain into progress."
He worked through his blacksmith knowledge—using both instinct and structure from his Level 1 Inheritance. At first, the results were awful. Uneven spiritual resonance. Metal that warped on contact. Sparks that flickered then died.
But something clicked after the third failure.
He stopped forcing the hammer and began to flow with it—syncing the Chaos Clock rhythm from his earlier training. The hammer began to ring differently. Each strike started to hum. Metal turned soft and responsive. Killing, Gold, and Life attributes subtly flowed into the workpiece.
System:"Host breakthrough detected: Crafting success rate—acceptable."
Tianmeng:"Still ugly, but ugly with purpose."
Armor of Purpose
By dusk, two sets of gear rested on the worktable.
Bracelets and anklets forged from tempered alloy, their cores dense with spiritual weight veins.Body armor—lightweight but forged with hidden weight layers. Resistant, pressure-bearing, and soul-conductive.
Tang Yan handed Tang San a set wordlessly.
"Time to carry your future."
Tang San nodded and strapped them on. The pressure was immediate, but tolerable—forcing the soul power in his limbs to circulate more actively.
Tang Yan smiled faintly. "No soul power enchantments. Just raw training. But… the Xu Void Technique will sing while we wear them."
System:"Armor resonance passive. Xu Void harmony achieved. Rate of cultivation: +500% under stress."
Elixir of Endurance
As they sat to rest, Tang Yan opened a small gourd and offered it to Tang San.
"Remember the herbs Mother gave me? I brewed them."
Tang San blinked. "That smells… potent."
"It's designed to do two things: fix what breaks… and build what's not ready."
The elixir flowed through their bodies like molten silk. Tang San felt warmth flood his limbs, his muscles ease, and his spirit lighten. This wasn't just recovery—it was reprogramming the body itself.
"Next time we collapse," Tang Yan said, "we'll stand up stronger."
Tianmeng:"Host acting like a responsible older sibling. Alert the heavens."
Progress Under Pressure
By late afternoon, clad in armor, Tang San resumed hammer training.
The weight of the gear slowed him—at first.
Then something changed.
With each strike, the chaos rhythm pulsed deeper. His breathing aligned. His spear's form flashed behind his eyes. And on the final hit of the set, a wave of soul power rippled through the block.
"Strike 45," Tang Yan said, eyes wide. "He's syncing."
System:"Body-soul-martial resonance: active. Tang San has entered the forge."
A Blade Meant for Mercy
As twilight settled, Tang Yan approached Tang San's bedside. In his hand was a short dagger, beautifully forged. The blade shimmered faintly with golden and green threads.
"A gift. It's made from life-hardened steel. Laced with healing thread. It won't kill—it'll disable, disrupt. Use it when you need a softer choice."
Tang San held the blade reverently. "I'll use it wisely."
The Watchers Speak
From the spirit veil, high above the mortal realm, Gu Yuena held her fan to her chest.
"He forged adaptive soul armor… with integrated resistance. At his age."
Bi Ji leaned against a tree. "He's turning inheritance concepts into daily life. That's terrifying."
Ah Yin just smiled softly. "They're making their own paths. That's how legends begin."
Tang Hao muttered behind them, arms crossed.
"In three days… I'll test them myself."
System:"Tang Hao Arc incoming. Warning: emotional and physical bruising inevitable."
End of Chapter 65