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Although his face had grown pale from severe dehydration, Quan Yi's eyes gleamed with exhilaration, his expression unable to hide his overflowing joy.
He retrieved a water pouch from the Heart of Fierce Sun and took small sips, replenishing his body carefully.
The academy's mimic environment training ground had its greatest strength and weakness in the same aspect—its extreme heat.
Even with his iron will and tempered body, Quan Yi couldn't sustain meditation indefinitely in such harsh conditions. Twenty hours was already his absolute limit.
This session had taken longer than expected, but thankfully, he had finished just in time.
And more importantly—he had successfully broken through to level 20.
Everything had been worth it.
The Next Morning – Faculty Office
"Teacher Bai Yan, I'd like to request a leave of absence."
Quan Yi stood before Bai Yan's desk, his tone serious.
"I may be late next semester. I'm not sure of the exact return date yet. Would it be possible to get approval?"
He had deliberately sought out Bai Yan because he knew she was still on campus. He wanted to make sure his absence wouldn't cause any issues.
Acquiring his second soul ring could take longer than expected, and he didn't want to risk being penalized for arriving late.
Bai Yan glanced at him, then nodded without hesitation.
"Approved."
She didn't ask for details—because she understood Quan Yi's nature.
She knew he was someone who always followed through on his words.
And given her extensive experience sparring with him, she could already guess his real reason for requesting leave.
He was going to hunt for his second soul ring.
"Thank you, Teacher. I appreciate your hard work."
"Mn. Just be careful."
From her expression, Quan Yi could tell—she had already figured everything out.
With that, he bowed in respect, then turned and left the office.
His next destination—Quan Family Boutique
"Uncle Ying, could you deliver this letter to my parents?"
Quan Yi handed over a sealed envelope.
For the past year, he had written home every month, keeping his parents updated on his academy life and discussing any difficulties he encountered in his studies.
Though it wasn't as instantaneous as modern communication from his past life, handwritten letters carried a depth of sincerity that technology never could.
But this letter was different from the others.
This time, its main purpose was to inform his parents that he would meet them directly in the Soul Beast Forest.
Uncle Ying nodded. "Alright. When do you plan to leave? It'll take some time for the letter to reach home, so we can afford to set out at a steady pace."
Quan Yi considered for a moment before replying.
"I have a few things to take care of first. Let's set off in a week."
"Understood. I'll make the arrangements."
Over the years, the Quan family had been collecting Soul Beast meat, and with that, they had also gathered a great deal of information on different Soul Beasts.
Half a year ago, Quan Yi had received a letter from his parents, mentioning that a specific type of Soul Beast matching his requirements had been sighted in a certain forest.
Now that he had finally reached level 20, there was no reason to delay.
He was heading directly to the Soul Beast Forest.
But before that, there was one more place he needed to visit.
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The midday sun blazed mercilessly over the bustling city, its scorching heat radiating off the stone-paved streets.
At this hour, pedestrians were scarce, seeking shelter from the oppressive heat.
Then—
The rhythmic clatter of hooves shattered the silence.
A carriage moved briskly down the avenue, carrying Quan Yi toward his next destination.
Unlike the bustling city center, the place he sought lay far beyond the heart of the city, near its outer edges.
Because of the distance, he had opted for a horse-drawn carriage.
After half an hour, the carriage came to a stop in front of a modest yet sturdy-looking shop.
Quan Yi stepped down, glancing up at the weathered wooden plaque hanging above the entrance.
"Yuan's Blacksmith Shop."
This was his destination.
As soon as he stepped inside, a muscular young man emerged, greeting him with enthusiasm.
"Welcome, customer! Are you here to commission some ironwork?"
Quan Yi nodded politely before responding.
"Hello, brother. I'm not here for a custom order this time. I'd like to meet the owner of this shop."
At those words, the young man's previously bright expression visibly dimmed. With a sigh, he turned and called toward the back of the shop.
"Father! Someone's here to see you."
Quan Yi raised an eyebrow, realizing—this young man must be the blacksmith's son.
A moment later, heavy footsteps echoed from within the shop.
Soon, a middle-aged man with a massive, muscular frame stepped forward. His stature wasn't particularly tall, but his physique radiated strength, and he carried himself with an unyielding aura.
Despite his rugged build, his appearance was unexpectedly meticulous—his clothes were well-kept, his hands clean despite his profession. It was clear that he held himself to high standards.
"I'm the owner of this shop," the man stated in a deep, steady voice. "What do you need?"
Quan Yi took a careful look at him before speaking.
"Master Yuan, my name is Quan Yi. I've come today to discuss something important with you. Do you remember an order from half a year ago—someone who commissioned iron balls and iron pipes?"
As he spoke, Quan Yi reached into his robe and retrieved a black iron pipe and a few iron balls.
The iron pipe was sealed at one end—crafted with precision and care.
Master Yuan's eyes flickered with recognition as he glanced at the items.
"Yes, I remember. Is there a problem?"
"Just to confirm, these were made by you, correct?"
"Of course." The blacksmith nodded confidently.
"Good. In that case…" Quan Yi's voice grew more serious.
"I'd like to buy your shop."
"What?!"
The blacksmith's face darkened instantly.
He slammed a massive palm onto the workbench, the wood groaning under the force.
"This shop has been in my family for generations! Even if I'm struggling, I'd never sell it!"
Recently, Yuan's Blacksmith Shop had been on the verge of bankruptcy due to poor business. As a result, many people had approached Blacksmith Yuan in an attempt to buy him out.
This topic had become a sensitive issue—so Quan Yi's proposal immediately set him on edge.
"No, Master Yuan, you misunderstand." Quan Yi shook his head calmly.
"I don't want to take your shop away from you."
"I want to buy it—with you included."
"And from now on, my family will continue to fund your forging within this shop."
The blacksmith's frown deepened.
"...What? Are you saying you want to 'buy' me? Boy, are you joking? What kind of nonsense is this?"
Blacksmith Yuan let out a gruff laugh, utterly baffled by Quan Yi's words.
"Master Yuan, let me be clear—I respect your forging skills greatly. However, with all due respect, you have no talent for business."
"That's why your shop is in crisis right now."
"But if my family acquires this shop, you won't have to worry about business anymore."
"You'll be free to focus entirely on your craft."
Quan Yi's eyes remained steady and unwavering as he spoke.
Blacksmith Yuan fell silent, studying the young man before him.
Half a year ago, Quan Yi had tasked his Uncle Ying with commissioning the same order—iron pipes and iron balls—from every blacksmith shop in the city.
Among them, Yuan's Blacksmith Shop stood out as one of the finest in craftsmanship.
However, despite their exceptional skill, the Yuan family struggled to sustain their business.
Blacksmith Yuan was a man of strict discipline and unyielding principles. He pursued quality above all else, refusing to compromise on excellence.
As a result, his products were too expensive for the common market.
And yet—despite the high costs, he refused to lower quality to meet demand.
This led to a vicious cycle:
Prices too high → Low sales
Low sales → Business decline
Business decline → Desperate price cuts
Price cuts → Losses, because costs remained the same
In short, a slow but inevitable downfall.
Now, only Blacksmith Yuan and his son remained to keep the business running.
And yet—this same stubbornness was exactly why Quan Yi wanted him.
Why The Yuan Family?
Quan Yi wasn't here to exploit a dying shop.
He was here because he valued Blacksmith Yuan's unwavering pursuit of perfection.
He didn't want a merchant.
He wanted a true craftsman—one who would never compromise on quality.
And that's why he chose to invest in Yuan's Blacksmith Shop.