Kaelan frowned slightly. "President, we handed him those three items far too easily. Isn't that dangerous? A youth who acquires rare resources without struggle may not learn to cherish them. More importantly, hasn't the association given him excessive preferential treatment? That may not benefit his long-term growth."

Nigel chuckled. "On the contrary, I believe we did exactly what was needed."

He leaned back slightly and continued calmly. "Didn't you notice how anxious he was tonight? That wasn't something a child his age could fake. He was pressed for time and pressed for resources. That urgency was the reason he rushed to take the third-rank examination. He wanted access to higher-level tasks so he could earn more. All I did was lend him what he urgently needed."

Nigel's eyes sharpened. "With his talent, the association will not lose from this transaction. That's the first point."

Kaelan nodded slowly.

Nigel continued, "Second, think about the examination itself. With your sixth-rank skills, how long would it take you to Thousand Refine Heavy Silver? Could you do it twice as fast as him?"

Kaelan exhaled deeply. "No. I couldn't."

After a pause, he added, "This child's ability to merge mind and metal at such an age is frightening. He never once lost focus throughout the entire process. If he steps into Spirit Forging in the future, it will be natural. With his innate divine strength, even if his soul power lags behind, reaching the sixth rank is only a matter of time. He will surpass Gilbert."

Nigel caught the admiration in Kaelan's eyes and smiled. "Not only you. Even I envy Gilbert. He truly found a once-in-a-generation genius."

He tapped the desk lightly. "You worried he wouldn't treasure the items? I'm not concerned. His ability to enter deep concentration proves his temperament surpasses that of his peers. Calm, restrained, unwavering."

Nigel's voice grew thoughtful. "And did you notice something else? All three items he requested strengthen the body. Fire and ice temper the physique together. With his innate divine strength, this will only benefit him. As for dragon-blood essence, it is almost certainly related to his martial soul."

Kaelan listened intently.

Nigel continued, "What concerns me more is not whether we gave him too much, but how we can help him in the future. Spirit Forging relies on perception and strength. Soul Forging, however, requires vast soul power. That will be his true bottleneck."

Kaelan smiled bitterly. "President, your insight truly lives up to your position."

Nigel straightened. "This child must remain a secret. No word to other branches. When he finally steps onto the stage of the main association, I want him to shine for West Ocean City."

Kaelan laughed. "Rest assured. I've already arranged it."

He paused, then added teasingly, "President, I always thought you were impartial. Perhaps I was mistaken."

Nigel grinned slyly. "Gilbert deliberately kept him hidden. He wanted Ray to shock the world later, to step straight toward Saint Craftsman and Soul Forging. I understand that."

His eyes glimmered. "But I have my own hopes. In the past thirty years, he is the only child I've seen who might reach Heavenly Refinement. A true Divine Blacksmith of this generation."

*

Ray knew none of this.

Instead of returning to the academy, he went to a small forging workshop not far from the association.

He didn't know what would happen once the first seal was broken. He wasn't even certain the existence within his body was real. This trial would give him the answer.

And he could not risk anything happening in the dormitory.

Outside, the typhoon had fully arrived.

Wu—wu—wu!

Fierce winds howled as rain lashed sideways. Thunder rolled endlessly. By the time Ray forced open the workshop door, the sky had already sunk into darkness.

He bolted the doors, checked the windows, and finally let out a long breath.

The workshop was solid. Safe.

Strangely, despite the storm raging outside, Ray felt a quiet sense of blessing.

Yes.

Outside was chaos.

Inside was shelter.

That alone was worth gratitude.

He retrieved the three items from the pale-blue storage ring and placed them carefully on the table. Pulling over a chair, he sat down.

His heartbeat quickened.

If the Golden Dragon King truly existed, then these items would awaken the first seal.

He opened the first box.

A rush of heat spilled into the room, instantly raising the temperature and chasing away the chill from the storm. Inside lay a scarlet fruit, noticeably larger than the one he had seen at the auction. Its golden glow was denser, its heat more intense, waves of warmth visibly radiating from its surface.

Even without touching it, Ray could imagine its terrifying fire essence.

He opened the second box.

Cool air poured out, washing over the heat and restoring balance. Nestled inside was a thumbnail-sized Ice Crystal Fruit, glowing pale blue, crystal-clear, radiating calm coldness.

Fire and ice met.

The two energies countered each other, stabilizing the room's temperature. Yet Ray sensed something more. The Ice Crystal Fruit's glow subtly intensified, as if responding to its fiery counterpart.

What do I do now? Eat them?

Ray hesitated.

After feeling the energy within the fruits, he didn't dare act recklessly. Nigel's warning echoed in his mind.

He closed his eyes and focused inward.

Are you there? I've found the three items. Are you there?

There was no response.

For a moment, Ray felt foolish.

Had it all been a dream?

Then, calmly, a familiar voice echoed within his mind.

"You have found everything?"

"You found everything?"

The instant that voice echoed in his mind, it was as though a heavy gong had been struck inside Ray's head. His vision swayed, nausea surged, and the world around him collapsed into darkness once more.

When his awareness steadied, he found himself standing within that familiar pitch-black space.

The ephemeral golden figure slowly emerged before him.

This time, Ray was fully awake.

That realization alone made his heart pound. He hadn't entered this place through sleep or unconsciousness. He had crossed over while completely lucid.

Everything here was real.

"I… I think I have everything," Ray said cautiously. He hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage. "What should I call you?"

The golden figure paused, as if startled by the question. After a long moment, it answered slowly, "You may call me Grandpa Mel."

"Grandpa Mel?" Ray repeated softly.

For reasons he couldn't explain, the name stirred something deep within his heart. A strange sense of familiarity surfaced, fleeting yet undeniable.

Grandpa Mel said calmly. "Anyway, time does not wait. I can already sense the aura of the three heaven-and-earth treasures. You acquired them in a very short period. That could not have been easy."

Grandpa Mel's gaze fixed on him. "Are you prepared to break the first seal?"

Ray blinked in surprise. "Is… is there anything else I need to prepare?"

Grandpa Mel's tone deepened. "You need endurance. Strength. Courage. Dedication."

"When the first seal is broken, the suffering you experience will be beyond imagination. The pain may drive you insane or cause you to abandon everything midway. If your will collapses, your consciousness may never recover."

Ray stiffened. "You didn't say this last time. You only told me to find the three items."

Grandpa Mel replied indifferently, "Did you truly believe that undoing a seal that determines your life and death would be easy?"

"There is nothing in this world that comes without a price. To gain something, you must pay something of equal value. This applies to life, and it applies even more to cultivation."

"If Soul Masters did not endure pain, loneliness, and pressure far beyond ordinary people, how could any of them grow strong?"

Grandpa Mel continued, his voice unwavering. "The fragment of the Golden Dragon King sealed within you will fuse with your body. If the fusion succeeds, your strength will increase in all aspects. But before that happens, you must endure the pain."

"You are young," he added calmly, "but you have no other choice."

Ray fell silent.

Though young, he had grown up listening to his father's teachings. He understood that these words were not meant to frighten him, but to prepare him.

After a long pause, he lifted his head.

"Since I have no other choice," Ray said steadily, "then I will succeed."

His eyes burned with quiet determination.

He still had to find his parents.

He still had to find Vivienne.

He still had to stand beside his teammates and win the Class Promotion Tournament.

If not to become strong, then what was the point of obtaining these treasures?

"Please tell me what I need to do," Ray said.

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.