Aspirations to Reach the Clouds

After three years, Ling Yi's name, long dormant and almost forgotten, once again appeared before the various powers of Wood Plant City.

This time, Ling Yi was no longer just some lucky lad of no real importance. He was the fourth Blacksmith in the Water Wood Duchy!

For this, Grand Duke Mu Feng personally received the youth, who was soon to turn fourteen, and granted him the title of baron. He also made Ling Yi's hometown, North Mouth River Town, and the twenty-odd villages under its jurisdiction his territory.

He had ascended to the heavens in a single step!

From a commoner to a baron who held a fief spanning dozens of miles, he was an inspiring example in the eyes of every commoner in the Water Wood Duchy!

Though there were still great figures above him, such as viscounts and earls, as well as Grand Duke Mu Feng, who ruled the entire duchy, and several marquises, this was still a leap across class boundaries, an achievement that brought glory to his ancestors.

To give an imperfect example, if Ling Yi's branch of the family ever built an ancestral hall, his spirit tablet would sit in the very center of the topmost row!

Only then did people suddenly realize that Soul Masters were not the only ones who could obtain titles upon becoming Soul Elders. A smith who advanced to Blacksmith could also receive a noble title from the duchy!

For a time, throughout the Water Wood Duchy, the profession of smithing became highly favored by commoners and Soul Master families of modest means, all because of Ling Yi's achievement.

Soul Scholars with low Innate Soul Power and poor-quality Martial Souls, whose future achievements as Soul Masters would be limited, and even One-Ring Soul Masters, were now tempted. They considered