Back to Ironspire;
Gilbert said evenly, "These were made yesterday. Each one holds one-eighth of a cubic meter of space. Enough for your use."
Ray froze.
In his three years at the elementary academy, coupled with Gilbert's teachings, he knew exactly what these were.
"Teacher… these are storage soul tools?" His voice trembled. "I can't accept this. They're far too valuable."
Gilbert waved it off. "Lowest-grade storage soul tools. No soul power battery either. Only Soul Masters can use them by injecting their own soul power. They're not worth much. You've worked for me all these years, and I didn't pay you well. Consider this a bonus."
"But… I already accepted the Heavy Silver," Ray protested weakly.
A storage soul tool. Two of them. Something he never even dared to dream of owning was now placed before him. His heart raced, torn between gratitude and guilt.
Gilbert didn't give him a chance to refuse.
He grabbed Ray's wrist and slid a dull grey ring onto it. The ring contracted smoothly, fitting him perfectly. Then he did the same to the other wrist.
The rings were plain, almost unremarkable, yet to Ray... they felt heavier than gold. His vision blurred slightly.
"Teacher…"
Gilbert's face remained stern. "A fist never leaves the hand, music never leaves the mouth. For a blacksmith, the hammer never leaves his grasp. Are you planning to carry your hammers openly on the street?"
He continued, "Blood-sacrificed Thousand Refined metals must be used often. Your aura, blood, and soul power will nurture them. The longer you stay together, the deeper the bond. If you grow strong enough in the future, they might even awaken another refinement effect."
He paused briefly. "Go home. Pack your things. Come see me once more before you leave for West Ocean City."
Ray suddenly remembered something. "Teacher… you said these were your own creations. Does that mean you're a Soul Guide Master?"
Gilbert was silent for a moment. "I can be considered one. But I prefer being a blacksmith. I can't walk very far on the path of a Soul Guide Master. You'll understand why one day."
Then his gaze sharpened. "Cultivate your soul power properly. Soul power is the foundation of everything. Even innate divine strength has limits. On the Xynnar Continent, no matter the profession, soul power becomes indispensable at higher levels. And in the future, you must never fuse with spirit souls carelessly."
"Yes," Ray answered solemnly.
"Try the rings," Gilbert said. "Inject soul power and guide them with your mind."
Ray nodded and picked up his two Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers.
Soul tools had long since permeated daily life.
Not all of them even required soul power anymore. Humanity had learned to harness wind, water, sunlight, and artificial energy sources to replicate soul energy. These powered vehicles, lamps, forging stations, and above all, soul mechas, now the federation's primary weapons.
Yet despite seeing soul tools everywhere, this was the first time Ray owned one.
More than that, from the engraved array inscriptions, he could tell these rings were not low-grade at all. They were custom-made. Their true value was far higher than Gilbert claimed.
He accepted them anyway.
Some kindnesses could not be repaid with words.
A dim silver glow flickered as Ray willed the rings to activate. The weight in his hands vanished as both Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers were drawn into the rings.
One-eighth of a cubic meter wasn't large, but it was more than enough for a short forging hammer under fifty centimeters in length.
Activating the rings consumed a bit of soul power, but the cost was negligible. Even at rank eleven, Ray felt no strain.
With another thought, the hammers reappeared in his hands.
Storage soul tools.
Gilbert nodded in satisfaction. "Go. And remember my warnings."
"Yes."
On the way home, Ray felt as though he were floating.
Peak special-effect Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers.
A pair of Heavy Silver storage rings.
Each one was priceless to him.
"Dear… have you really decided?" Selina asked softly, her eyes filled with worry.
Wilheim sighed deeply. "My weakness has already affected our son's future. I can't continue like this. For Ray's sake, this hardship is nothing. I've already given my word."
Selina's eyes reddened. "But if you do this… who knows how long it will be before we see our son again?"
Wilheim lowered his head. "If Ray were ordinary, he could have lived an ordinary, peaceful life with us. But he isn't ordinary. He's outstanding."
He clenched his fists. "If not for my weakness, perhaps he could've fused with a better spirit soul. He could have gone even further."
"Gilbert told me Ray has incredible perseverance and maturity beyond his years. He's a natural for forging. If he continues learning under Gilbert, he will surpass him one day. Gilbert is already a six-star master blacksmith. What level will Ray reach when he surpasses that?"
He raised his head, eyes firm. "No matter how much he forges, he's still a Soul Master. His soul power and spirit soul are his foundation. I've lived timidly for too many years. Too many years of quiet compromise."
A long silence followed.
Then Wilheim spoke again, his voice steady.
"Now it's our son's turn. From today onward, I will fight for him."
*
West Ocean City
The second-largest seaside city of the Crescent Federation.
Its greatest pride was its port, a colossal hub that connected sea routes and fed the city endless wealth drawn from the ocean. Trade ships came and went day and night, carrying resources, passengers, and stories from distant waters.
With a population exceeding three million, West Ocean City thrived on the maritime industry. Even when compared to other cities across the federation, it firmly stood among the top tier.
Time had treated West Ocean kindly.
The city possessed a long history, and its appearance reflected that.
Rather than chasing excessive modern embellishment, West Ocean retained a simple, restrained aesthetic.
Over the past several centuries, the Crescent Federation had deliberately preserved many ancient districts, allowing buildings that were thousands of years old to coexist with modern soul technology.
Stone streets and historic structures blended seamlessly with soul-powered lights and vehicles, giving the city a dignified, timeless atmosphere.
West Ocean City Soul Train Station;
A dark blue Soul Train slid smoothly into the station and came to a quiet stop.
In West Ocean City, nearly every soul train shared the same deep-blue color scheme.
As the doors opened, passengers poured out in an orderly flow. Greetings were exchanged, footsteps echoed, and within moments the station returned to its usual rhythm of motion and noise as people dispersed toward the exits.
Ray clutched his rucksack tightly as he followed the crowd. His eyes wandered everywhere, unable to hide his curiosity.
This was his first time in such a large city.
The station ceiling was supported by countless metal tubes, neatly arranged and precisely welded. With just one glance, Ray could tell they had been cast and pressed using standard forging methods. The craftsmanship fascinated him, even in a place meant only for transit.
Yet despite his curiosity, his expression remained slightly tense.
Everything here was unfamiliar.
For a nine-year-old child, standing alone in a city of millions was naturally intimidating.
He had come to West Ocean City to enroll in West Ocean Academy. He had originally thought his parents would accompany him, but his father had insisted he experience the journey on his own. After buying his ticket, they had personally escorted him onto the Soul Train and watched it depart.
It was the first time Ray had ever traveled so far from home.
Even as he left, Selina's voice echoed endlessly in his ears, reminding him of this and that. By the time he arrived, his head felt empty, and all he could do was follow the flow of people forward, his face full of uncertainty.
As he walked, the crowd suddenly split apart.
Ahead stood a sleek black Soul car parked directly on the platform.
People instinctively moved aside.
Even without knowing the brand, Ray could tell it was high-class. The body was slender and polished, its lines sharp and elegant. Instead of ordinary wheels, it used caterpillar tracks, marking it as a powerful all-terrain vehicle.
Two men in black suits stood by the car doors, scanning the crowd with sharp eyes.
When Ray approached, one of them suddenly stiffened.
"Young Master!"