Xiao Changleiming didn't spare Lucas another glance, striding directly to Fulin and pulling a fist-sized, churning Tier Four Spirit Stone from his waist pouch. "Mr. Fulin, we'll trade you for this."

Fulin proudly shot Lucas a smug glance, then secretly sent a look of gratitude toward Qian Jin. If it weren't for this student from the Oakland Academy of Magic and Warriors, how could he possibly be pressing Lucas's Blacksmith Shop like this today?

If Fabredis hadn't stopped in front of Qian Jin as if there were more to say, Fulin would have immediately handed over the Spirit Stone he'd acquired and given the young man a huge kiss, just to ensure he came out ahead of Lucas's Blacksmith Shop, even if it meant taking a loss on the trade.

Fabredis signaled for someone to bring two chairs, showing no intention of leaving right away. He motioned for Qian Jin to sit and asked, "Kid, have you ever considered continuing down the path of the blacksmith?"

Qian Jin nodded, thinking to himself, what else could he do? That peculiar Endless World seemed full of secrets, and right now, he couldn't even manage to leave the village. To explore it, he had no choice but to accept the old blacksmith's instruction in forging.

Fabredis rested one hand on his chin, studying Qian Jin with meticulous care. "You're not a Bloodline Warrior, are you?"

Qian Jin shrugged. Of course not! Any Bloodline Warrior who successfully awakened their bloodline would be prioritized and heavily nurtured by their family, or perhaps sent straight to a top-tier junior academy for magic and warriors. No one was foolish enough to send an awakened Bloodline Warrior to a third-rate place like the Oakland Academy of Magic and Warriors.

"Sigh..." Fabredis let out a slightly wistful sigh. "You have a good physique. Even if you aren't a Bloodline Warrior, if you concentrate all your efforts on martial training, you could still become a great warrior in the future. Of course, a great warrior who can't compare to a Bloodline Warrior."

Qian Jin nodded casually, but his heart felt considerably heavier. Considering the three ultimate Bloodline Warrior lineages, it should be the Qian family's Elf King bloodline's turn to reach the ultimate awakening this time. Even other bloodline warriors wouldn't be able to claim the title of number one. Though the words were harsh, they were undeniably true.

"If you split your focus with blacksmithing, you might not become a great warrior," Fabredis said with a hint of helplessness. "After all, everyone's time and energy are finite. You must consider clearly whether you absolutely must study blacksmithing while simultaneously pursuing the path of a warrior."

Everyone's energy and time were indeed limited, but the hour inside that hat could be used as two, and it even utilized time after sleep that couldn't truly be used otherwise. It caused absolutely no drain on his energy or time.

Qian Jin felt the elder's care toward a junior, and besides being moved, he also felt a twinge of guilt. The matters of the Endless World inside the hat had to remain a secret. Unable to confide in this sudden kind elder, he could only offer a deception that wasn't entirely a lie.

"Blacksmithing, I must pursue," Qian Jin shrugged. "As for the goal of becoming a great warrior, I absolutely will not abandon that either."

Fabredis gazed into Qian Jin's eyes for a long moment. Through those young eyes, which nonetheless shone with a fierce light, the determination to cultivate both fields elicited a sigh deep in his heart: Young people are always so fearless. Wasn't he the same way in his youth? Forget it! Having finally found such a promising young man, he might as well offer some guidance to help him avoid the pitfalls he himself had stumbled into back then. Hopefully, this would allow the young man to achieve good results in both domains.

"Since you are so eager to study blacksmithing, you will need guidance from a truly superior master," Fabredis frowned, his two thick golden eyebrows drawing together. "I know a dreadful Blacksmith Master in that rotten Blacksmith Guild. He owes me a favor. If you truly want to walk the path of forging, perhaps I can write you a letter of introduction to become his apprentice."

Clang... Clang...

Several blacksmiths stared at Fabredis, dumbfounded. The hammers in their hands had slipped unnoticed to the floor, and the entire smithy fell into a profound silence, broken only by the crackle of the fire, which became the main melody in the back courtyard.

A... Blacksmith Master? Fulin blinked hard, instinctively poking his ear canals with his fingers, trying to confirm he hadn't misheard. Fabredis was saying he would find Qian Jin a master who was a Blacksmith Master!

In any field, there were always the strongest experts, and above the blacksmiths were the Blacksmith Masters—the dream title of every single blacksmith! It transcended the ordinary scope of blacksmithing, standing at a height countless smiths looked up to. For them, this was akin to the reverence a commoner held for an emperor.

Such figures were constantly visited by countless blacksmiths bearing gifts, hoping to persuade them to take themselves or their offspring as apprentices so that one day they too might become Blacksmith Masters.

Fulin knew very well that being accepted by a Blacksmith Master was no easier than being accepted by a top warrior. Becoming the apprentice of such a person wasn't something money could buy.

Lucas swallowed hard repeatedly. Did the strongest figure in Oakland City actually know a Blacksmith Master? Didn't he hate blacksmithing? And a single letter could secure an apprenticeship? Did Qian Jin have too much luck?

"Given your aptitude, I estimate..." Fabredis observed Qian Jin, considering for a moment. "Ten years! He will certainly teach you wholeheartedly. If you cultivate diligently, you should be able to become a Blacksmith Master in about ten years."

"Ten years!?" Lucas cried out in shock. How old was Qian Jin? In ten years, he wouldn't even be middle-aged, and he could become a Blacksmith Master? Countless blacksmiths had worn their hair white, only to barely pass the Blacksmith Master assessment. Some, upon barely achieving the title and receiving the certificate, had died on the spot from sheer, overwhelming excitement.

This young man becoming a Blacksmith Master in a decade? Lucas secretly glanced at Fulin. If such a day came to pass, given the relationship between this smithy and Qian Jin, perhaps... No! He had to eliminate Qian Jin completely, even if it meant taking a massive risk!

A Blacksmith Master? Qian Jin raised an eyebrow. Although he didn't know exactly what Fabredis was talking about, observing the expressions of everyone around him, he sensed that this title carried immense prestige. Lucas's face had turned completely green with fear.