His parents were gone. Vivienne had disappeared. In this city, Gilbert was the only person he truly depended on. The thought of being cast aside made his eyes burn red.

Nigel's gentle voice immediately followed. "Silly child. Who said your teacher is leaving you? Even if you study under me, Gilbert is still your teacher. You'll simply have one more. That's all."

Gilbert froze.

In the blacksmith world, inheritance was strict. One disciple, one master. Taking another teacher was seen as betrayal.

Ray didn't know this. Gilbert did.

Yet Nigel had just swept aside centuries of tradition.

Nigel met Gilbert's stunned gaze calmly. "I won't hide it. Part of me wants Ray as my sole disciple. Who wouldn't? But more than that, I want him to grow properly and become a legend. You are the beginning of that legend. Why can't a legend have two teachers?"

Gilbert's emotions surged violently.

He understood now. Nigel was treating him as an equal.

And truthfully… Gilbert didn't want to let go of Ray either.

Ray looked from Gilbert to Nigel. Two teachers?

Gilbert placed a hand on Ray's head and smiled faintly. "What are you waiting for? The president is a Saint Blacksmith who reached Soul Forging years ago. You can count those at his level on one hand."

Ray looked at Gilbert again, confirming the sincerity in his eyes. Then he turned to Nigel and spoke solemnly, "Teacher."

Since he was already kneeling, the gesture was natural.

Nigel smiled warmly. "Good. Get up."

Ray hurriedly stood, and the heavy atmosphere in the office finally eased.

Gilbert let out a long breath and forced a smile. "You could've told me earlier," he muttered, casting Nigel a sideways look.

Nigel laughed. "Why would I? You looked like a walking corpse all day. Besides, I've seen you brood for years. You're talented, but your soul power limits you. You accepted reality and devoted yourself to teaching anyway. That's something worthy of respect."

Gilbert coughed awkwardly. "Enough about old wounds. Tell me, how do you plan to teach him?"

Nigel turned to Ray. "Your priority is still your studies. I've heard about class zero and your performance in the tournament. That's excellent. Continue cultivating and raising your soul power."

"Innate divine strength has given you a head start in forging," Nigel continued, "but soul power is indispensable if you want to reach the peak. Every top-tier blacksmith is a Soul Master. Your future ceiling depends on your cultivation."

He spoke firmly. "You don't need to worry about resources. The association will fully support you. We'll handle your next spirit soul and help you cultivate your spiritual power. But effort still rests on you."

"Remember this," Nigel concluded. "Thousand Refinement is only the gate. Spirit Forging is the true entrance to the world of blacksmiths. I hope you reach Spirit Forging before twenty, and Soul Forging by thirty."

Ray listened, his heart pounding.

A new path had quietly unfolded before him.

Gilbert stared at Nigel, stunned. "Isn't that… too fast? Saint rank by thirty?"

Nigel gave a helpless, almost bitter smile. "Too fast? On the contrary, it might already be late. Youth is when a person has the most vitality. If you don't push forward, both body and spirit begin to decline. My plan may sound aggressive, but don't forget Ray is only nine. He still has twenty-one years before he turns thirty. If he can't reach Saint rank in those twenty-one years, then the chances afterward will be slim."

He turned his gaze to Ray. "What is your current spiritual power?"

"I tested it today," Ray replied honestly. "Sixty-six points."

"Spirit Connection realm?" Nigel and Gilbert exclaimed at the same time, their eyes lighting up.

Nine years old. Spirit Connection.

The implication alone was staggering.

Nigel couldn't help blurting out, "No wonder your perception in forging is so sharp. It's your spiritual power. Excellent. This means I no longer need to worry about your ability to fuse with another spirit soul. From now on, your focus should be on cultivating soul power."

Ray nodded. "I'm confident I can earn enough through forging to cover my cultivation expenses, as long as the association can help me find the materials I need when the time comes."

His confidence wasn't blind. His income was rising steadily, and he was already close to the threshold of becoming a fourth-rank blacksmith.

Nigel didn't rush to arrange forging lessons. Instead, he simply set a future time for Ray to come back to the association.

Soon after, Gilbert and Nigel sent Ray off first, staying behind to discuss other matters.

After submitting his finished task and collecting his reward, Ray left the Blacksmith's Association.

His mood was exceptionally bright.

President Nigel was a Saint Blacksmith. With him as a second teacher, Ray would avoid countless detours on the forging path. More importantly, the association's resources were now open to him. Those four thousand-year spirit items suddenly didn't feel so impossibly distant anymore.

Break the second seal before fifteen.

That goal burned clearly in his heart.

Grandpa Mel had promised a "pleasant surprise" after breaking the second seal. The first seal had already given him golden scales, the dragon claw, and strength that pushed him into class zero. What kind of change would the second seal bring?

The only lingering problem was still his soul power.

Although he was close to rank fourteen, Ray could feel the influence of the Golden Dragon King's soul fragment slowly fading. It had strengthened his body and mutated his Silverfalls Vine, but it hadn't increased his cultivation speed. Cultivation, after all, was a long road that no shortcut could truly replace.

Lost in thought, he walked forward.

"Hey!"

A voice snapped him out of his reverie.

Ray turned to see Rachel standing at the entrance, her expression complicated.

"Hello, senior sister," he greeted politely, though a trace of surprise crept into his voice.

Rachel looked at him coolly. "You've taken my dad as your master. From now on, you should call me senior disciple sister."

"Oh… hello, senior disciple sister," Ray corrected himself obediently.

"You're heading back to the academy?" Rachel asked.

"Yes."

"Then come on." She turned and walked ahead without waiting.

Ray hurried after her, scratching his head. He really didn't understand why she wanted to walk back with him.

"What do you think of Heavy Silver?" Rachel suddenly asked.

That question immediately caught his attention.

"Heavy Silver is extremely dense," Ray replied without hesitation. "But its internal structure is granular. During Thousand Refinement, I can feel those granules shifting. I just keep hammering until the gaps shrink. When they're small enough, the refinement is complete. The metal… it responds. It tells me how much force to use."

"The metal speaks to you?" Rachel stopped short, stunned.

That answer echoed something her father had once told her.

Listen to the metal.

For the first time, her pride wavered. Ray wasn't repeating the theory. He was experiencing it.

The essence of Thousand Refinement lay in understanding the metal's will.

The rest of the walk passed in silence.

Ray didn't mind at all. His thoughts drifted freely, buoyant and light.

Before long, West Ocean Academy came into view.

*

Night had fallen.

As they approached the dormitory, Ray noticed someone sitting on the steps. Rachel was still distracted and nearly walked straight into him.

"Senior disciple sister, careful!" Ray reached out and pulled her back.

Rachel instinctively struggled, but the grip on her hand didn't budge at all.

So strong… she thought.

The person on the steps lifted his head. "You're finally back."

Ray blinked. "Oh. It's you."

Volt stood up slowly. His face looked worn, but his eyes were bright.

"You can let go now," Rachel said coolly.

"Sorry." Ray immediately released her hand.

"Rach?" A pleasant voice sounded from behind them.

Ray turned and froze.

Uriel stood there in white robes, bathed in soft light. Her tall figure and graceful legs seemed to glow under the soul lamps.

"Uriel? What are you doing here?" Rachel asked, her mood instantly lifting.

Uriel walked over and linked arms with her, whispering a few words.

Rachel flushed slightly. "Alright, let's go."

She pulled Uriel into the dormitory.

Uriel glanced back and smiled, waving at Ray before disappearing inside.

Ray stood there, dazed.

Raziel Phoenix's words echoed in his mind.

Every boy has a senior sister etched into his heart.

Is she… mine?

A chill ran through him. What am I thinking?

But… she really was beautiful.

Volt stepped forward. "I have something I want to talk to you about. Are you free?"

Ray sighed helplessly. "You've waited this long already. How could I say no? Come on. My place or yours?"

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