The chasm between them was now a void that words could not begin to describe. The last successful forging of a Soul Weapon had been pure, unadulterated luck; even if he gathered the materials for twenty identical Soul Weapons now, success would not be guaranteed. If he used those materials instead for Forged Battle Weapons, he could confidently create twenty top-tier Battle Weapons.

“Is the gap between a Battle Weapon and a Soul Weapon so vast that it’s a vacuum?” Black looked at Qian Jin. “Weapons that surpass top-tier Battle Weapons but fall short of Soul Weapons—let’s call them Super Battle Weapons. They have no official rank, and they fail to become Soul Weapons purely due to material composition.”

Qian Jin nodded slowly. From the first day he learned forging from Uncle Black, the lesson was absolute: to forge a Divine Weapon, one must use the materials designated for Divine Weapons. Without the finest materials, forging equipment of that caliber was impossible.

“So, what Uncle means is…” Qian Jin pondered Black’s intent, asking quietly, “Are Super Battle Weapons essentially flawed Soul Weapons? They lack the ability to elevate one to Sainthood, but they still possess considerable power—are they merely foundational practice for forging Soul Weapons?”

Black gave a slight nod, and even his usually expressionless face cracked into a faint, satisfied smile.

Seeing Black’s reaction, Qian Jin could only manage a bitter smile. If he told the blacksmiths of the True Strategy Dynasty that Super Battle Weapons were the ‘progeny of the fallen Soul Weapon,’ a mere ‘foundation’... “...foundation! Foundational practice! A group of them would probably drop dead from shock right here, wouldn't they?”

Only a blacksmith of Black’s caliber would dare refer to equipment like Super Battle Weapons as mere groundwork!

“Go forge a weapon. Do not use Soul Weapon materials, but attempt to forge a Soul Weapon.”

Qian Jin dutifully walked back to the forging station. He grasped the blacksmith’s hammer once more, tossing pieces of fine metal into the flames. The Blacksmith Breathing Technique spun with extraordinary smoothness, adjusted by the focus of his Battle Heart. Strands of power flowed out through the Eighteen Strikes of Ascent Peak, erupting into brilliant sparks and thunderous impacts of metal that became the courtyard’s dominant rhythm.

After only a few hours, Qian Jin ceased forging. Though the weapon was not complete, he already sensed that the materials, refined by the two distinct flames within the Heart of Earth Fire, were transforming into something vastly different from before.

Yes! If a weapon forged this way... Qian Jin clenched his fists tightly. A weapon forged this way would undoubtedly surpass a Level Ten Top-Tier Battle Weapon, yet still fall far short of a Soul Weapon—a unique piece of equipment existing precariously between the two, difficult to categorize further.

Super Battle Weapon! All of this now depended not on the blacksmith’s technical skill, but on the blacksmith’s inherent quality—what Uncle Black referred to as superior aptitude.

Without something like the Heart of Earth Fire, even forging a top-tier Battle Weapon would be incredibly difficult, let alone a Soul Weapon. The requirements for temperature control and every other aspect would become exponentially more demanding.

Heart of Earth Fire... Heart of Earth Fire...

Qian Jin realized the value of this Heart of Earth Fire was in no way inferior to the Wind and Cloud Battle Heart, which could simulate the Battle Skills of Bloodline Warriors. It was a pity that the capabilities of the third Battle Heart remained completely unknown. The only certainty was that it could regulate the Wind and Cloud Battle Heart and the Heart of Earth Fire, increasing the rotational speed of the Battle Qi to even greater heights.

Even if the third Battle Heart possessed no special abilities, Qian Jin believed he would possess significant capital for the upcoming Newcomer King Tournament.

Especially the top-tier Battle Skill from the Ice Flame Battle Qi Secret Tome: Absolute Zero! Unleashed to its fullest extent, it could even stop time within its radius of effect! He had initially thought he’d never have the chance to master it, but now, with the ability to increase his Ice Flame Battle Qi through practicing the Blacksmith Breathing Technique...

This terrifying Battle Skill, Absolute Zero, which had seemed utterly unattainable, now had a renewed chance of being mastered!

In the Newcomer King Tournament, the Qian Family had their invincible Qian, Qian, Kun, and Two Battle Skills. He himself possessed the Eighteen Strikes of Ascent Peak, Ten Thousand Shadows, and now, Absolute Zero, to counter them.

Golden Battle Heart! Condensing a Golden Battle Heart! Qian Jin felt an urgent need to forge a Golden Battle Heart.

Whichever of the three Battle Hearts condensed into a Golden Battle Heart first, the power it unleashed could not be measured by the standards of ordinary Golden Battle Hearts. The mutual synergy between the three Battle Hearts and the power they could unleash...

Qian Jin himself desperately wanted to know what level of power could be unleashed when all three Battle Hearts transformed into Golden Battle Hearts.

“Player Qian Jin’s game time...”

Eight hours, theoretically, was not an extraordinarily long time for a Warrior, or even for an ordinary person—it was just a brief interval.

Yi, however, had never felt time stretch so agonizingly. Eight hours seemed as long as a year, a decade, perhaps even a century. He felt on the verge of complete collapse from the wait.

The door groaned in a harsh complaint as it slowly pushed outward and apart. Sunlight instantly flooded the room’s dark floor and space, and Yi’s heart tightened with tension.

“Hm?”

Yi blinked, seeing Qian Jin emerge from the room. How could his aura have changed so much in such a short time? He couldn't quite place the change, but there was an undeniable air of profound self-confidence emanating from his brow.

Yi stood up and glanced at Mu Gui Wuxin, who was sitting cross-legged, practicing Battle Qi. A few hours ago, Yi had learned an utterly shocking piece of news: Qian Jin had indeed forged a Soul Weapon!

The True Strategy Dynasty had already seen its first ordinary Warrior achieve Sainthood—his name was Fabredis, one of the Three Heroes of the War Hall from years past! Fabredis, who had long ago perfected his Battle Soul to the tenth level’s extreme!

On one side stood Fabredis, who had successfully entered Sainthood, and on the other, Mu Gui Wuxin, holding a Soul Weapon and waiting for Qian Jin to assist him in achieving Sainthood. Yi’s heart, which he had managed to keep barely steady, could no longer remain calm.

Sainthood—it was filled with temptation! The Nine Worms and Nine Grasses poison constantly threatened life and strength. Even as the leader of the second-largest horse bandit faction beyond the border, if his strength were to gradually decline, the second and third-in-command of the bandit group could rebel at any moment.

Such betrayals were far too common in the borderlands. Whoever’s fist was stronger, whose blade was sharper, whose resolve was harder—that person became the leader of the bandit band. This naked law of the jungle left Yi in a constant state of peril.

Without strength, he might not even keep his life, let alone maintain his bandit faction! Achieving Sainthood meant eradicating that accursed venom and opening up countless possibilities for revenge!

He would risk it all! Yi took a deep breath, slowly opened his eyes, and looked at Qian Jin: “I will be your shadow. There is only one condition: you cannot stop me from seeking revenge.”

“Be my shadow, and you cannot seek revenge for three years,” Qian Jin replied, looking at Yi. “I don’t know who your enemy is, but they are likely strong. Even if you achieve Sainthood now, while it’s unstable, you might not be able to exact revenge. And even if you could, you’d likely be maimed, which would significantly reduce your value as a shadow.”

“Fine! No problem!”

Yi nodded decisively. He had sorted everything out. Letting go of his control over the bandit faction and abandoning the wealth he had plundered over the years suddenly made his heart feel lighter.

A look of triumphant joy spread across Qian Jin’s face. The dull-witted Mu Ncezheng watched from the side, clicking his tongue in amazement. He had actually recruited a powerhouse with a Battle Soul ranked eight or nine as a shadow? And this powerhouse was the leader of the second-largest border bandit group! All those forces in his hands...

If Qian Jin could obtain a noble title, those bandits beyond the border could instantly become his private guard force—a formidable contingent even on the Human-Demon Battlefield.

Coupled with the Torrential Fortress, the Everlasting Smithing Guild and Apothecary Guild, and that organization called the Wu Dao Society... Mu Ncezheng realized that the combined strength of Qian Jin's assets surpassed that of many established noble families who had accumulated power over generations.

Most terrifyingly... Mu Ncezheng realized that all this influence had been built bit by bit by Qian Jin’s own two hands! This was unlike many young, famous Warriors who inherited power structures already a century or even a millennium old due to their advantageous family backgrounds.

Such influence, while perhaps not matching the terrifying might of the Three Ultimate Bloodlines, demonstrated an unparalleled capability! Mu Ncezheng had to secretly nod in praise. The speed and ability with which he built this influence far surpassed that of typical family scions.

Even a famed young expert like Qian Wushuang, who could easily organize his own faction, relied on the terrifyingly vast Qian Family backing him and the external rumor that he would awaken the power of an Ultimate Bloodline.

Both ordinary Warriors and slightly less gifted Bloodline Warriors flocked to follow Qian Wushuang, drawn by the prospect of becoming his retinue, based on his potential to wield Ultimate Bloodline power.

Compared to those Bloodline Geniuses who started with immense innate advantages... Mu Ncezheng measured them silently. In this area of capability, Qian Jin was superior! He wondered if Qian Jin’s influence would continue to expand in the future?

A retinue? Mu Ncezheng sighed. How could a man like this become a mere retinue?

No! Mu Ncezheng vigorously shook his head. How could I entertain thoughts of retreating? Even though he saved me, I must challenge this high-difficulty feat and recruit him as my own retinue; only then can I display how exceptional my own abilities are.

But... Mu Ncezheng subconsciously frowned, an odd reluctance rising within him at the thought of Qian Jin becoming his retinue.

What is happening to me? Mu Ncezheng’s brow furrowed tightly. It would be an extraordinary honor for Qian Jin to become the retinue of a future Emperor. Why would I not want him to? What did I want him to become?

A friend? Impossible! I am a Prince! I may become the Emperor in the future. I cannot think this way! I must suppress this damned notion, kill it completely!