Lucius coughed lightly. "You might want to defeat Lily first before saying that."

When Lily's name came up, Raziel Phoenix couldn't help but sigh.

Over the past week, he had sparred with her more than once or twice. No matter how unwilling he was to admit it, the truth sat heavily on his chest. At his current level, he simply couldn't defeat Lily.

Her control over the six elements was too unpredictable. There were no fixed rhythms, no patterns to exploit.

Every exchange felt like walking into a shifting maze. On top of that, her first soul skill, Elemental Tide, amplified her endurance so much that even a battle of soul power attrition was hopeless. No matter how fast or sharp he was, he would eventually lose.

Ray broke the silence. "It's getting late. Let's meditate. I won't be attending school tomorrow. I need to meet my teacher."

The Intermediate Academy had a weekly break, allowing students to do as they pleased. Ray hadn't had time to finish forging the Sky Dragon Iron, and it had been weighing on his mind. Gilbert's call felt like perfect timing. He had work to do as well.

*

Early the next morning, Ray left the academy after breakfast and hurried toward Gilbert's forging workshop.

Before he even entered, the sharp clang of metal echoed through the street.

Ding! Ding! Dang! Dang!

"Teacher!" Ray unlocked the door and stepped inside, finding Gilbert already busy at work.

Gilbert glanced at him. "Mm. You look energetic. Seems you've been cultivating diligently."

Ray scratched his head awkwardly. "But… blacksmithing…"

Gilbert waved a hand dismissively. "You've already mastered Thousand Refinement. That's a qualitative leap. It can't be improved through brute practice alone. At your age, raising your soul power is still the priority. You did nothing wrong."

He paused, then added, "From now on, come here every weekend. Change your clothes. I'll help you get fully accustomed to using the Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers. You can complete your task this afternoon."

Gilbert couldn't bring himself to remain cold toward his disciple.

When he had asked Grandmaster Kaelan for Ray's contact number, he had been hounded for ages. Even the President himself had personally approached him. That alone spoke volumes.

Nigel was one of the ten great Saint Craftsmen on the continent. Even beyond blacksmithing, his status was towering. If not for his wife's ties to West Ocean City, he would never have come here.

Yesterday, Nigel had even offered to guide Ray personally if he had questions. How could Gilbert not feel both pride and pressure?

Yet deep down, he felt his own teaching was enough. There was also a selfish reason. If Ray were handed over now, who would be recognized as his true teacher in the future?

That was why Gilbert deliberately restrained him. He didn't allow Ray to reveal his full Thousand Refinement ability, nor did he push him to advance directly to third rank.

Ray's talent wasn't just his innate divine strength. Such strength was rare, but not unheard of. What truly mattered at higher ranks was comprehension and soul power. Without sufficient soul power, breakthroughs became impossible.

Gilbert himself was proof of that.

Ray's innate strength compensated for his current lack of soul power. More importantly, his comprehension bordered on the frightening. He could enter a state of extreme focus during forging, especially during Thousand Refinement, where he seemed to sense the life hidden within metal.

Gilbert still remembered how difficult it had been for him to occasionally reach that state. He hadn't managed it until he became a fourth-rank blacksmith.

Ray, on the other hand, had laid a rock-solid foundation through three years of relentless diligence. This obedient, talented child… Gilbert was unwilling to let him be taken away.

He intended to nurture Ray to Master Craftsman before letting his true brilliance shine.

After changing clothes, Ray began forging with his Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers.

At first, the Stacked Hammers effect caused slight instability. These hammers had been forged through blood sacrifice. With continued practice, Ray gradually synchronized with them.

If the tungsten hammers were two hearts beating together, then these Heavy Silver hammers felt like an extension of his heart and soul. The sensation was strange, soothing, and unforgettable.

Once immersed in that state, using the Heavy Silver hammers felt completely natural.

Gilbert watched closely. Ray's movements were simple, almost plain, yet perfectly precise. His eyes glowed faintly as sparks reflected within them.

Gilbert sighed softly.

Only now was this child's brilliance truly beginning to show.

By dusk, Ray completed the forging of the Sky Dragon Iron. The day's work was done.

"Come," Gilbert said. "I'll take you to the Association to submit your task. You can pick up another one afterward."

"Yes!" Ray replied eagerly.

Gilbert knew that with a week's buffer, no one would suspect Ray's true level.

The Blacksmith's Association was bustling in the evening. Gilbert brought Ray straight to the second floor. After inspection, the task was approved.

20,000 federation coins.

It was the first time Ray had received such a sum. He immediately handed it over. "Teacher, for you."

Gilbert shook his head. "Once you reached the second rank, your apprenticeship was effectively complete. This belongs to you."

"But I used your workshop," Ray insisted.

Gilbert smiled. "Do you think I care? Also, your parents told me not to worry. You don't need to call home."

"Oh… okay."

Holding the coins, Ray felt a quiet joy bloom in his chest. This was wealth earned through his own hands.

After collecting another second-rank task, they left the Association.

"Teacher, I'll treat you to a meal!" Ray offered eagerly.

Gilbert shook his head. "Go eat at the academy. I have other matters to attend to. Remember, come forge every week. Each month, you must produce several Thousand Refined items. I'll leave materials in the workshop. Those will be your fee for using it."

"Yes!" Ray answered without hesitation.

With the Stacked Hammers effect of the Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers, the difficulty of performing Thousand Refinement had dropped noticeably. What once demanded absolute focus and strain now flowed with far greater smoothness.

Time slipped by quietly.

For six days each week, Ray devoted himself to cultivation and training. On the remaining day, he forged. Life settled into a relentless but orderly rhythm.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Ray, Lily, and Raziel Phoenix stood inside Alfred's office. With his arms folded, Alfred informed them that the Class Promotion Tournament would begin the following week.

Only then did Ray realize how quickly time had flown.

Over these two months, all three of them had changed dramatically. The most obvious change was forged under Alfred's merciless "special training." They had developed an unspoken understanding of one another, and their cooperation had grown far smoother than before.

Among the three, Lily was unquestionably the strongest.

Even when Raziel Phoenix went all out, he still couldn't close the gap between them.

However, Raziel Phoenix's progress was nothing short of shocking. His soul power had climbed to Rank 19. One more step, and he would acquire his second soul ring, officially becoming a Soul Grandmaster.

Lily's soul power had risen by two ranks, reaching Rank 17.

As for Ray, despite possessing Silverfalls Vine, he trained relentlessly. Under Alfred's guidance, he refined his control over his martial soul while cultivating with an advanced meditation method. His soul power rose steadily to Rank 12.

At this pace, reaching Rank 20 before graduating from the Intermediate Academy was all but guaranteed.

Ray didn't compare himself to Raziel Phoenix or Lily. He understood his own limits and was satisfied with his steady improvement.

"Teacher," Raziel Phoenix asked eagerly, "who is class four sending to fight us? Do you have any information?"

Alfred replied coldly, "If you need information on a mere class four just to win, can you still call yourselves my students? You have only one task next week."

He looked at them sharply.

"Crush your opponents. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" all three answered in unison.

Alfred continued, "The tournament will have one match per day until it ends. I'll give you a target."

He paused.

"Fight your way to the fourth grade."

Ray's pupils contracted.

Raziel Phoenix swallowed hard.

Fourth grade.

Students there had already obtained their second soul ring. Some third-grade students were already Soul Grandmasters. Yet they, first-year students, were expected to fight all the way up.

Alfred spoke indifferently, "I mean the fourth grade's Class One. Defeat them, and you'll receive a reward. Fail, and I'll wipe out all of your class achievements."

Raziel Phoenix protested, "Teacher, isn't that too ruthless?"

Alfred replied calmly, "If you find it ruthless, you may withdraw. Only Ray and Lily will participate."

"Perfect," Lily said flatly while fiddling with her fingers. "I don't need dead weight."

"You—!" Raziel Phoenix glared at her.

Ever since Lily began suppressing him with absolute strength, Raziel Phoenix had treated her like a natural enemy.

Lily tilted her head and stared back. "Can't accept it?"

Raziel Phoenix turned to Ray.

Ray shrugged helplessly. "The teacher never changes his mind. You'd better give it your all, young man."

Alfred's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

He was extremely pleased with these three.

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