"Anything within my abilities is fine," Ray replied honestly.

"Our Association also rents forging workshops," Kaelan added. "Do you plan to work here?"

Ray shook his head. "My teacher allows me to use his forging workshop in West Ocean City. I'll complete my tasks there. Thank you."

A hint of disappointment flashed through Kaelan's eyes, but he nodded. "Very well. However, remember this: once you accept a task, you must complete it. Failure means compensation for damaged materials. The counter in the center is for accepting tasks. The one on the left is for submitting completed items, and the one on the right is for purchasing metals. Our Association carries almost every rare metal on the market. The quantity you can buy each month depends on your rank. The fourth and fifth floors are where finished products are sold. You can take a look if you have time."

"Yes, Grandmaster," Ray replied respectfully.

At the moment, he had no intention of buying metals or forged products. He simply didn't have the money. What he wanted was to earn enough to buy a hundred-year spirit soul.

Kaelan led him to the two-star counter. Behind it stood a staff member, and before it floated ten soul screens. Tasks could be accepted with a simple touch.

Following Kaelan's instructions, Ray placed his hand on a screen. A list of tasks immediately appeared, showing requirements, quantities, and payments.

"The Association takes ten percent of the payment," Kaelan explained. "The rest is yours."

Ray's eyes sharpened.

Task 1: Refine Sky Dragon Iron

Requirement: Hundred Refinement

Time Limit: 30 days

Quantity: 10 pieces

Payment: 2,000 federation coins per piece

That meant 20,000 federation coins for completing the task.

To Ray, this was a massive sum.

After completing Thousand Refinement on Heavy Silver, he was confident in his ability to refine rare metals. For the first time, he truly felt how lucrative blacksmithing could be.

Without hesitation, he selected the task.

A window popped up asking for the delivery address. After entering it, the screen requested his blacksmith badge.

Ray removed the badge and placed it on the panel.

Di!

"Congratulations, Second-Rank Blacksmith Ray. You have successfully accepted a second-rank task: Sky Dragon Iron Refinement. Materials will be delivered to the specified location within three days."

His badge bounced back into his hand.

"That's it?" Ray looked up at Kaelan.

Kaelan nodded. "Simple, right? But since this is your first task, be extremely careful. The payment looks generous, but many blacksmiths lose money because they fail tasks. If there's a flaw, compensation often costs far more than the reward."

"Yes, Grandmaster." Ray felt a sudden pressure in his chest and etched the warning into his mind.

"Do you have a soul communicator?" Kaelan asked.

Ray shook his head, his face flushing slightly. He didn't have the money for something like that.

Kaelan chuckled. "Then I have two things for you."

Kaelan smiled and said, "Soul communicators are issued to every new member of the Association. Since every blacksmith needs one, you can treat it as a benefit of joining. As for this ring, the President asked me to give it to you. Consider it a temporary loan. It has a storage capacity of ten cubic meters, which will make submitting your work much more convenient. Otherwise, how would you carry around so much metal?"

Ray's breath caught.

A ten–cubic–meter storage ring…

He couldn't even begin to imagine its value. Compared to this, even a hundred–year spirit soul seemed less dazzling.

Kaelan placed both items into Ray's hands. "Take them. As long as you complete Association tasks, there won't be any issues. You can regard this ring as equipment issued by the Association. Normally, it's only given to fourth–rank blacksmiths, but the President believes you'll reach that level sooner rather than later. Don't disappoint us."

Ray stepped back and knelt down respectfully. "Thank you, Grandmaster Kaelan. Please also convey my thanks to the President."

Kaelan hurriedly helped him up, chuckling as he rubbed Ray's head. "Even if I'm not your teacher, it's still my duty to remind you of something. Every profession is merely a different road leading to the same peak. Although forging today no longer relies entirely on soul power, reaching the true summit still requires cultivation. No matter what, you must not neglect your training as a Soul Master."

"Yes!" Ray nodded firmly.

His dream had always been clear. No matter how far he walked on the path of blacksmithing, he would never abandon the road of a Soul Master.

It wasn't until he walked out of the Blacksmith's Association that Ray finally felt as though he were waking from a dream.

A soul communicator.

A ten–cubic–meter storage ring.

Is Kaelan's personal contact already stored inside?

He stared at the ring on his right ring finger. Its worth was unfathomable, likely even exceeding that of a hundred–year spirit soul.

What Ray didn't know was that this ring wasn't even standard issue for fourth–rank blacksmiths. Only fifth–rank Master Craftsmen were qualified to receive such equipment.

Nigel had clearly invested heavily in this child.

The Association's benefits are incredible…

Suddenly, Ray remembered something else.

He wasn't just a blacksmith. He was also a Soul Master.

He still needed to register with the Soul Master's Association.

After asking for directions, he found that the Soul Master's Association wasn't far away. Since it was still early, he decided to make the trip.

The Soul Master's Association was comparable in size to the Blacksmith's Association.

As a one–ring Soul Master, Ray was only allowed on the first floor. After displaying his soul ring, he completed his registration and received his monthly allowance of one thousand federation coins.

The atmosphere here was completely different. No one paid the slightest attention to a child with only a ten–year spirit soul.

Still, Ray was delighted.

When he returned to the dormitory, Lucius, Miel, and Raziel Phoenix were already meditating. He climbed quietly onto his bed and began circulating his soul power according to the meditation technique Alfred had taught them.

Teacher had said special training would begin tomorrow night.

Ray couldn't help but wonder what kind of torment awaited them.

His soul power began circulating along a more complex route. Gradually, he entered a deep meditative state, the faint energy in his body flowing through his meridians, accumulating drop by drop.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.