A short blade appeared in his palm. Compared to before, it was broader, with glowing vein-like patterns etched along its surface.
A white ten-year soul ring rose from beneath his feet. With a thought, Hugo fused the soul ring into the blade.
The blade extended instantly, growing another fifteen centimeters longer.
The atmosphere in the grove shifted.
The spar was about to begin.
"Did you see that?" Hugo puffed out his chest, his voice full of pride. "My first soul skill is Knife Tip. I even spent an extra ten thousand Federation Coins to invite a Spirit Master to help me choose this spirit soul. It's also a blade type, so it perfectly matches my martial soul. My Knife Tip can cut through anything!"
Ray frowned slightly. "Why are you talking so much nonsense?"
Hugo's face darkened. "You're still acting tough at a time like this? I don't want to hurt you, so hurry up and admit defeat. Otherwise, my Knife Tip won't show mercy."
As he spoke, Hugo flicked his wrist. A sharp streak of light shot out, striking a nearby sapling. The trunk, as thick as a bowl, was cleanly severed and fell to the ground.
Ray glanced at the fallen tree and said coldly, "Plants are living things too. Why cut it down for no reason?"
Hugo was about to retort when a white soul ring quietly rose around Ray's feet. At the same time, vines of Silverfalls Vine surged out from his palm.
The slender vines didn't rush forward immediately. Instead, they hovered in the air around Ray like coiled whips.
A moment later, sharp cries rang out through the grove.
Pa! Pa! Pa!
"Ow! That hurts! Ray, you're shameless! If you're capable, come closer and fight me!"
Pa! Pa! Pa!
"Ow! Ow! I surrender! I surrender! How can you even use Silverfalls Vine like this?!"
When the two of them emerged from the grove, the contrast was obvious. Hugo looked utterly miserable, his body covered in crisscrossing lash marks, while Ray remained calm and composed.
Ray still couldn't fully control his Silverfalls Vine.
Over the past few days, his search for Vivienne had left his mind unsettled, and he had neglected part of his cultivation. Yet that didn't affect the most basic application of his martial soul. Using it like a whip came naturally.
Neither of them had learned formal combat techniques yet. But the tenacity of Ray's Silverfalls Vine was terrifying. Hugo's short blade and Knife Tip had no long-range attack capability, and without speed or technique, the outcome was inevitable.
"Why? Why did I lose?" Hugo shouted angrily as Ray helped support him. "I have a soul skill! I should have won!"
Ray replied bluntly, "Teacher Gerrad already explained it. Your martial soul is suited for close combat, the agility attack path. But look at yourself. You're this fat. Where's the agility supposed to come from?"
Hugo gritted his teeth. "Then why couldn't my Knife Tip cut through your Silverfalls Vine?"
"That's its specialty," Ray answered calmly. "As long as my soul power isn't exhausted, you can't cut it."
Hugo raised his head to the sky and roared, "I'm going to lose weight! I'm going to become an agility attacker!"
Ray glanced at him. "What are you eating tonight?"
Hugo hesitated. "Probably… pork shoulder."
*Pfft*
After escorting the lightly injured Hugo home, Ray hurried to Gilbert's workshop.
To his surprise, Gilbert was already waiting for him inside.
"Teacher," Ray greeted respectfully. Ever since learning that Gilbert was a Soul Ancestor, his respect had only deepened.
Gilbert nodded. "You've graduated?"
"Yes," Ray replied.
Gilbert continued, "You'll be going to the Intermediate Soul Academy in West Ocean City?"
"Yes. I wanted to tell you… Once I leave for West Ocean City, I won't be able to continue learning forging from you here."
Gilbert snorted softly. "Just because I chose this place for its peace doesn't mean I won't leave. Most of our commissions come from West Ocean City anyway. I have a workshop there as well. When you arrive, I'll arrange a workshop for you. I'll come by occasionally to instruct you."
Warmth surged through Ray's chest. "Teacher…"
Gilbert shot him a sharp look. "Don't get sentimental. Before you go, you must pass my test. Otherwise, you're not qualified to continue learning forging under me in West Ocean City."
"A test?" Ray blinked. "What test?"
Gilbert's eyes gleamed. "The Thousand Refinements."
Ray's eyes widened. "Teacher, you're finally going to teach me Thousand Refinements?"
Gilbert nodded. "You've fused with a spirit soul. Your strength has risen enough. You should be able to endure it now. Complete one Thousand Refinements successfully, and you pass."
As he spoke, a flicker of nostalgia crossed Gilbert's face. When he first attempted Thousand Refinements, he had been fifteen years old, already past rank twenty, with the Earth Hammer martial soul. Even then, succeeding had made him a recognized talent.
And now…
"Teacher, can we begin?" Ray's excited voice pulled him back to the present.
"Not yet," Gilbert said calmly. "First, I need to check your strength. You've failed several assignments recently. One reason is distraction. The other is that you can't properly control your strength anymore."
Ray froze.
He remembered clearly. The day he fused with his spirit soul, a casual swing of his arm had split the air with a sharp crack. His strength had surged dramatically.
Because of Vivienne's disappearance and his emotional turmoil, he hadn't paid attention to this change. Only now did he realize how serious the issue was.
Gilbert led him into his own workshop. Compared to Ray's neat workspace, this one was chaotic, with tools piled everywhere. After rummaging around, Gilbert pulled out a device.
"Strength Testing Tool."
The tool was simple but precise. A square metal base supported a cylindrical pillar. Behind it stood a two-meter-tall metal column, inside which was a thin tube filled with mercury.
Strike the pillar, and the mercury would rise according to the force applied.
A fifty-kilogram forging hammer was required for the test. The tool would automatically deduct the hammer's weight from the reading.
Ray had tested his strength every year since joining the workshop.
At seven, his striking force was seventy kilograms.
At eight, it had reached one hundred kilograms.
Both results had already been shocking.
Now, at nine years old, he was about to test again.
Gilbert handed him the heavy forging hammer. "Start with your left hand."