My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

The "Forging Steel Hammer" blacksmith shop is located on a side street in Summertown.

Even before you get close, you can hear the rhythmic sound of blacksmithing coming from inside:

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Each sound was steady and powerful, accompanied by the whooshing sound of the bellows.

Xiuqi pushed open the door of the blacksmith shop, and a wave of heat hit him.

The shop was filled with all sorts of ironware: farm tools, weapons, armor parts, and several finished longswords and battle axes hanging on the wall.

A shirtless dwarf was wielding a hammer in front of a furnace. He was muscular, and his bronze skin was covered with beads of sweat and tiny scars from sparks.

Hearing the door open, he yelled without looking up, "Look at what you want to buy yourself, and order something else later!"

Xiuqi said calmly, "I want to sell some equipment and order a few more."

Only then did the dwarf Baal raise his head.

When he saw Xiu Qi, his impatient expression instantly turned into joy. Just as he was about to go forward and hug Xiu Qi, he saw a huge figure standing in front of the gate.

"Gods, fucking..." Baal muttered.

"Hey, long time no see, old buddy! This is my companion, his name is Ado!"

"These are for sale." Xiuqi placed the equipment he had obtained from the three adventurers on the workbench:

A worn-out scale armor, two leather armors, a broad-bladed short axe, and two daggers.

Bal composed himself and walked over to inspect the equipment.

His large fingers traced the seams of the scales, tapped the axe blade, and then tested the sharpness of the dagger.

"The scale armor is badly worn and needs major repairs. 3 gold coins." He quoted the price. "Two pieces of leather armor, 15 silver coins each, for a total of 30 silver coins."

The axe is crudely made, but the steel is decent; it costs 1 gold coin. The daggers are ordinary quality; both cost 10 silver coins in total.

"A total of 6 gold coins."

This price is slightly lower than the market price, but within a reasonable range.

"Okay." Xiuqi nodded.

Baal pushed the equipment aside, his gaze drifting back to the enormous figure outside the door: "So, is it for custom-made equipment?"

Ado was squatting outside the door, curiously looking at a pottery stall across the street.

Its enormous size almost blocked the sunlight streaming through the door.

"Yes," Xiuqi said.

"It needs a full-body cloak and chainmail. It also needs a mace of suitable weight and a shield large enough."

Baal stroked his chin, looking Ado up and down: "How tall is it? How much does it weigh?"

"Ten feet tall, weighing about 1,200 pounds," Xiuqi reported the estimated figures.

The blacksmith gasped, "Damn it... how much iron and steel will I need?"

He began rapidly calculating on the paper, muttering to himself: "The chainmail requires at least... the length and weight of the mace... the dimensions of the shield..."

A few minutes later, he looked up: "A cloak of chainmail, woven with fine steel rings, with a thick linen cloak on the outside, capable of withstanding ordinary swords and arrows."

A standard robe and chainmail set costs 20 gold coins, but given your companion's enormous size, a custom-made one would cost me 50 gold coins.

Spiked club, hardwood handle, steel hammerhead, with barbs, 4 gold coins.

A giant shield, oak core covered with iron plating, reinforced edges, 1 gold coin.

He gave a figure: "A total of 55 gold coins, and a one-week construction period."

This price is not cheap, but considering Hodor's size and the dwarf Baal's masterful forging skills, it is still acceptable.

Xiuqi took out 10 gold coins from his purse and placed them on the worktable: "This is a deposit. The rest will be paid upon delivery."

He had just received 15 gold and 6 silver from the mission settlement and 6 gold from selling equipment, but in the blink of an eye, he had spent 55 gold, which made him feel a little pained.

But upon further reflection, he felt relieved.

For just 55 gold, one can arm an incredibly strong ogre warrior to the teeth—an opportunity many nobles would only dream of.

The cloak-and-chain armor comes with a protective hood that provides up to level 6 protection.

Although it doesn't match the protection level of plate armor level 7 and plate armor level 8, it's sufficient.

With the addition of Ador's level 2 Hardened Skin talent, he's practically a mobile fortress.

If the magic [Blade Protection] is applied, Xiuqi's level 4 [Blade Protection] can provide up to 65% resistance to blunt, piercing, and slashing damage.

He even started daydreaming about the image of being directly attacked by a steel monster with 15 points of strength—it was simply too wonderful.

All of this investment was well worth it.

Baal put away the gold coins, his expression softening considerably: "Alright. Let it in; I need to take its dimensions."

Ado cautiously squeezed into the blacksmith's shop, its head almost touching the roof beam. Baal, holding a tape measure, began to measure it—shoulder width, chest circumference, arm length, leg length... Each measurement made the blacksmith's expression even more serious.

"The biggest armor I've ever made in my life was for a half-giant mercenary," Baal said as he took notes. "That guy was eight feet tall and had been giving me a headache for a month. You, my partner... are quite a challenge."

After taking the measurements, Barr put away the measuring tape: "Come back in a week to pick it up. Let me know in advance if there are any adjustments needed."

Xiuqi nodded his thanks and left the blacksmith shop with Ado.

As they walked out the door, Baal, watching Ado's massive figure recede into the distance, suddenly called out, "Kid!"

Xiuqi turned around.

"Take good care of your big guy," the blacksmith said, his tone unusually gentle. "In this world, it's not easy to find a reliable companion."

Xiu Qi nodded slightly, then turned and left.

......

In the afternoon, at the Royal Academy of Solmar in Harbor City, at the Arcane Academy training ground.

The practice field is ten times more lively than usual right now.

The stands were filled with hundreds of students—magic apprentices from the Arcane Academy, novice knights from the Knight Academy, scholars from the Sage Academy, and even students from noble academies dressed in fine silk robes.

All eyes were focused on the fighting platform in the center of the training ground.

Fernand stood on the platform, dressed in an exquisite dark blue mage's robe, holding an oak staff inlaid with sapphires.

His expression was calm, with even a faint smile on his lips, as if he was confident of victory in the upcoming duel.

Seated on the judges' table were three masters: York, the chief instructor of the Evocation School; a stern-faced middle-aged female mage; and a kind old man with gray hair and a short stature—who was none other than Alvin, the chief instructor of the Protection School and Xiuqi's mentor.

Master Alvin was anxiously looking toward the entrance to the training ground, his wrinkled hands constantly stroking his staff.

He glanced at the magic clock on the wall—there were less than five minutes left until the agreed duel.

"Alvin, why haven't your apprentices arrived yet?" Master York said in a low voice.

"Apprentice Xiuqi is always punctual; he is never late..." Master Alvin's voice sounded somewhat anxious.

Unless something unexpected happens.

He didn't say the second half of his sentence, but the mentors present all understood.

In the front row of the stands, Jasmine sat quietly.

Today, the Marquis's daughter wore a bright white silk dress, and her fiery red hair was tied up with a hairband.

Her expression was calm, but her bright eyes kept glancing toward the entrance.

The whispers around her reached her ears:

"Does that first-year student from Class C really dare to come? His opponent is second-year student Fernand, a genius from Class A."

"I've heard that Xiuqi apprentices have a high affinity for the defensive school of thought, but in other aspects... they're just average."

"So-so? I heard he almost came in last place in his first-year year-end evaluation."

"Then why did he accept the duel? Was he courting death?"

Jasmine gently clenched her hands.

She didn't believe that Xiuqi was the kind of person who would back down at the last minute.

Although she had only met him twice, her subconscious told her that the fellow villager who kept surprising her was the same kind of person as her.

Wise and resilient.

If he didn't come, it must be for some irresistible reason.

But... now everyone in the entire practice area is waiting here.

If he really doesn't come, he will not only lose the duel, but also be branded a coward.

The hands of the magic clock jumped another notch.

On the judges' panel, the middle-aged female mentor stood up:

"Time is almost up..."

According to the academy's rules, if one party fails to arrive by the agreed time, they are considered to have forfeited, and the duel will be lost.

Master Alvin's brow furrowed even deeper.

Fernand gracefully performed a mage's salute on the stage, his voice echoing throughout the training ground: "Perhaps the apprentice Xiuqi has changed his mind."

I can understand—after all, wisely avoiding a battle you can't win is also a kind of wisdom.

A few suppressed laughs came from the audience.

Jasmine bit her lip.

Master Alvin glanced at the magic clock, sighed, and prepared to announce the outcome of the duel.

At that very moment—

The door to the practice area was pushed open.

A gray figure appeared in the doorway.

He looked travel-worn, his gray robe still covered in dust from the journey, and his long black hair was somewhat disheveled, as if he had just experienced a long trek.

But those eyes—clear, calm, without the slightest hint of panic.

Xiuqi walked into the training ground and, under everyone's gaze, walked step by step toward the dueling platform.

His steps were steady, and the longsword at his waist swayed gently with each step, the cool glow emanating from its hilt appearing and disappearing under the magical lights of the training ground.

The stands fell silent instantly.

Master Alvin let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back comfortably in his chair.