Gan Jin felt a thrill run down his spine, raising goosebumps all over. A Soul Forger! Even the most powerful warriors and mages would never dare to put on airs around a Soul Forger; they would all step forward to respectfully address them as Master.

Even families with immense power, or entire empires, would offer countless favorable conditions just to recruit one. To join such a master was far beyond the status of a mere retainer or courtier.

A Soul Forger! Wherever they went, they were revered and honored—a special status that essentially meant taking payment without needing to lift a finger. When in a good mood, they might casually craft a trinket, and the family or empire would be overjoyed.

“A Soul Forger, ha!” Gan Jin shook his head repeatedly with delight. “To be honest, even within the Gan family, I only ever heard tales of us supporting a Soul Forger; I’ve never actually met one. If I could truly become a Soul Forger one day…”

Gan Jin couldn't stop his mouth from watering.

One gold coin. Back then, working a month in other shops usually earned him only a single gold coin as payment.

Gan Jin was ecstatic. In a short time, just by swinging his blacksmith’s hammer vigorously, he had earned the equivalent of a gold coin. His steps felt light as he walked, and he whistled a tune as he headed into the cloth shop. He picked out a piece of fabric suitable for bedsheets. He didn't haggle for half an hour over a single copper piece like he used to with the shop matron; he simply paid the price and walked out.

The hat! Gan Jin’s mind was consumed by that cursed hat that had turned his appearance into a ‘crime against beauty,’ and the game it led to, called Endless World.

Just by hammering iron within that game, coming out here made fetching water feel effortless. Arm wrestling? He had easily beaten Rudy, who ranked third in pure strength among those his age, like a child. Even the blacksmith shop, which never accepted students from the Oakland Academy of Magic and Warriors, had treated him like a distinguished guest.

All of this—because of that peculiar hat! Gan Jin whistled and quickened his pace back toward the school, eager to see what else Endless World held.

Walking past the residences, Gan Jin traversed the corridor outside his own room. He noticed several students from other rooms along the same hallway watching him covertly through the cracks in their doors with strange looks.

“What’s going on here?” Gan Jin frowned in confusion. Could it be that the misfortune of his ‘crime against beauty’ appearance had become common knowledge?

His door was open—or rather, it hadn't been pushed open, but kicked in.

The door panel, intact not long ago, now lay quietly on the floor in several pieces of varying sizes. There were clear signs of a struggle inside the room. The mess tin he used for fetching food from the canteen lay bent and deformed on the ground, clearly stomped upon, and his water cup had been smashed into fragments on the floor.

A thief? A robbery? Gan Jin stood at the doorway, gazing at the wreckage, and his first thought was of the hat. He strode quickly into the room.

The hat was exactly as he had left it, tied beneath the bed board, completely undamaged.

Gan Jin stood up and surveyed the room again. Nothing seemed to be missing. The state of the cup and the mess tin indicated that someone had clearly struggled and resisted fiercely here.

As for a thief or robber? Gan Jin shook his head. Unless the burglar wanted to die but lacked the courage for suicide, they wouldn't dare break into the Oakland Academy of Magic and Warriors to steal. This was a school dedicated to training those who would fight on the front lines against demons; the warrior and mage students would have no hesitation in eliminating any wrongdoer as if they were demons themselves.

On the small table usually used for dishes, there lay an envelope addressed simply: To be opened by Gan Jin. Those few stark characters conveyed an unsettling sense of agitation.

Gan Jin snatched the crudely written note, biting down hard on his lip. Had this kid gone mad? Had beating him last time not been enough? And Ro Lin, why did he have to go after the campus beauty, Julia? That woman was as proud as a peacock; why pursue her?

Gan Jin glanced at Ro Lin’s bed, then at his own. When he first arrived at the school, he had been practically penniless. If Ro Lin hadn't constantly staged losing bets to covertly support his living expenses, Gan Jin might not have even had time to practice, having to spend all his time working just to survive.

Since gaining independence, Gan Jin realized that life was not easy. But since he had already chosen to leave, he had to stand tall and make something of himself, no matter how difficult things became.

Gan Jin tossed the hastily scribbled note aside and turned to walk out the door. Ro Lin was his only friend in this school, and he owed him a considerable debt of gratitude. As a man, one must clearly distinguish between kindness and malice. As a warrior, he must certainly not shrink from a challenge.

“The little woods, is it?” Gan Jin walked down the corridor, ignoring the sympathetic looks from the other students, shrugging slightly as he muttered to himself, “Fine! I’ll use this chance to establish my dominance and make those guys constantly gunning for my ranking behave.”

Gan Jin quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor, leaving the student dormitory area behind. The students hiding in their rooms watched the spot where Gan Jin vanished, shaking their heads repeatedly. This time, Gan Jin was truly in deep trouble. Perhaps he didn't know? Casius had no intention of engaging him in a fair one-on-one warrior duel. Furthermore, word was that he had paid a hefty price to hire Zuo Luntianren, who ranked eighth among the first-year warriors—a fighter whose rank and power surpassed Gan Jin’s. Zuo Luntianren’s Demonic Ape Beast Fighting Technique was even praised by the teachers.

Zuo Luntianren—that was no lowlife like Casius. A few bold warrior students hesitated for a moment, then ran in the direction Gan Jin had taken. A battle featuring a top-ten ranked fighter was not something one saw every day. How long could Gan Jin last against a warrior ranked above him before being defeated?

The backyard of the Oakland Academy of Magic and Warriors was a substantial earthen mound, large enough to be described as a small mountain. It was densely covered with all sorts of trees. Its original purpose was to simulate training environments for the students, as any student might eventually find themselves on the front lines fighting demons to protect the safety of the masses; practicing in varied environments was always beneficial.

Now, this small hill covered in trees, forming a small forest, had become the primary venue for students to settle personal vendettas privately.

:The weekend is here again... Tonight at the stroke of midnight, which is 00:00, Gao Lou will rush off the rankings again. Of course, I’ll release another chapter then, so for those who aren't asleep, please come and show your support.

Oh, right, because this week’s 'Essence' quota has been used up, a new Essence will appear at midnight. If any friends are still awake, please leave a message here, and I’ll add the Essence then. B