Blue Coppertite was notoriously difficult. When Ray had forged it previously, he had relied heavily on the Purple Demon Eyes to avoid failure.

As the hammer fell, the metal's surface rippled. The vein-like patterns shifted constantly, changing shape with every strike.

That was the nightmare of Blue Coppertite.

Its internal structure transformed under pressure. One mistake, and the metal would collapse into useless scrap.

Yet Ray didn't hesitate.

One arm rose.

The other fell.

His hammers moved in perfect alternation, striking without pause.

Kaelan's eyebrows shot upward.

So fast? He isn't even examining it?

Even as a sixth-rank blacksmith, Kaelan would need several minutes to carefully inspect Blue Coppertite before beginning. Ray hadn't paused for even a breath.

The strikes grew heavier.

The Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers screamed through the air as if they weighed nothing. Blow after blow landed like thunder, merging through the Stacked Hammers effect into a strange rhythm.

It sounded like rain beating against a forest of banana leaves.

As though dozens of blacksmiths were forging together in perfect harmony.

Rachel watched silently.

At some point, her feelings toward Ray had changed.

When strength gaps were small, jealousy was born.

When the gap became insurmountable, jealousy vanished.

She was still struggling to break through Thousand Refinement.

Ray was already a fourth-rank blacksmith.

That distance couldn't be crossed in days or even months.

When she saw the second-grade Blue Coppertite he forged, her view of him shifted completely.

For the first time, her mind didn't think, "That annoying guy again."

Instead, a strange thought surfaced.

He's actually kind of charming while doing forging.

The thought slipped by unnoticed, buried before she could react to it.

Nigel's gaze burned as he watched the metal.

Ray's strikes weren't just fast.

They were precise.

Each hammer fell exactly at the core of the metal's shifting ripples. Using the Stacked Hammers effect, Ray controlled the force perfectly, neither excessive nor lacking.

He had absolute control over the Blue Coppertite.

Then Nigel noticed it.

The faint purple glow in Ray's eyes.

That looks like…

His pupils contracted.

If it really is that… then everything makes sense.

Time slipped by, tick by tick.

Under normal circumstances, Thousand Refinement took several hours. Yet beneath the ceaseless storm of Ray's twin hammers, the Blue Coppertite had already shrunk to one-third of its original size in barely fifteen minutes. Its deep blue hue grew purer by the second, while the once-chaotic ripples on its surface slowed, settled, and finally stabilized.

So fast?

Kaelan's breath hitched.

The Stacked Hammers effect certainly played a role, but speed alone couldn't explain this. What truly drove such efficiency was Ray's judgment, strength, and intimate understanding of the metal's internal rhythm.

At some point, Ray no longer looked like a boy forging metal.

He looked like an extension of the hammers themselves.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The final strike fell.

An azure halo, nearly a third of a meter wide, burst from the Blue Coppertite like a ring of light, then was reabsorbed in the blink of an eye.

"A halo!" Kaelan exclaimed.

Only second-grade metals and above could produce such a phenomenon.

Moreover, the halo reflected how much spirit had been infused into the metal. This was the true meaning behind the term Half-Spirit Refinement.

And that halo just now…

Kaelan wiped cold sweat from his brow.

That wasn't an ordinary second-grade halo. Was this kid seriously about to forge first-grade metal right in front of them?

Nigel raised a hand sharply. "That's enough."

He stepped forward, took the Blue Coppertite from Ray's grasp, and examined it closely. After a moment, he nodded. "We'll end the test here. You've successfully Thousand Refined a second-grade Blue Coppertite. You've officially passed the fourth-rank blacksmith assessment."

Since Ray could do this with Blue Coppertite, there was no need to test him with any lesser metal.

"It didn't quite reach first grade?" Kaelan asked.

Nigel shook his head. "Just short. Very close, though. You'll earn a great deal from this piece when you take on future commissions. Go back and prepare for the Grand Banquet of the Sea and Sky. It begins in one month."

"But… Teacher, what about classes?" Ray asked hesitantly.

Nigel waved it off. "The association will handle that. You'll spend the remaining time forging. I'll teach you once a week from now on. It seems I'll need to start instructing you on first-grade forging techniques."

Ray grinned. "Yes, Teacher. Thank you."

"I'll go with you," Rachel said, surprisingly volunteering to walk him back to the academy.

*

The moment they left the Blacksmith's Association, Rachel reached out and pinched Ray's cheek.

"Ow! Senior Sister, what was that for?" Ray protested.

Rachel snorted. "I'm checking if you're human. Aren't people supposed to be equal? You don't even have an extra face, so how are you improving this fast?"

"I really don't have a second face," Ray muttered, embarrassed.

Rachel suddenly broke into a grin. "Hey, can I ask you something? If no one ends up better than me at the Skysea Alliance Tournament, can you let me take first place? I'll give you the prize money. All of it. Even the metals."

Ray blinked. "Okay."

Okay?

Rachel froze. "Wait, what? You agreed just like that?"

Ray nodded seriously. "Sure. Fame doesn't matter much. First or second place won't differ much anyway. If I can make more money by taking second, why not?"

Rachel smacked his head lightly. "I'm convinced. You really only think about money. I was joking! If I actually stole first place from you, my dad would skin me alive."

A faint smile curved Ray's lips. "The President wouldn't do that. He looks at you like you're made of glass. But I mean it. If no one is better than you, you can take first. I'll take the prize money."

His sincerity left Rachel momentarily stunned.

"You're not doing this for my dad, are you?" she asked softly.

Ray shook his head. "That's not it. He once said the tallest tree gets torn apart by the wind. I'm still young. If people find out I'm already a fourth-rank blacksmith, what do you think will happen? I'm far from Spirit Refinement. First place doesn't mean much to me yet. Second place is safer and still profitable."

Rachel studied him curiously. "Then tell me. Why do you need so much money?"

Ray let out a bitter smile. "My cultivation path is different. I need a lot of heavenly treasures to evolve my martial soul. That's where my strength comes from. You know my martial soul is Silverfalls Vine. Look."

He raised his right hand.

Golden scales shimmered into existence.

Rachel stared, speechless. She reached out and tapped them lightly. A crisp metallic sound rang out.

"So this is it?" she whispered. "This is why you're in class zero?"

Ray nodded.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell my dad?" she asked suspiciously.

"I don't plan on hiding it from anyone either," Ray replied honestly.

Rachel nodded, satisfied. "Then forget it. I'll look out for you at the academy. If anyone dares bully you, just tell me their name."

Ray didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Senior Sister, I don't get into fights."

She raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then who sent his roommates flying out of a second-floor window on the first day?"

"Me."

"Oh, right." Rachel suddenly leaned closer. "Do you like Uriel?"

Ray's face exploded into red. "N-No! I don't! I really don't!"

Rachel burst into laughter. "Look at you! Aren't you usually calm? I get it. You're confused about feelings and pretending otherwise. It's obvious you like her."

"I don't!" Ray protested desperately. "She's just nice! And pretty! And gentle! Anyone can appreciate that!"

Rachel raised an eyebrow. "So you're saying I'm not pretty or gentle enough for you to like?"

"I—I—" Ray froze.

That's exactly what I'm saying…

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