This was probably the best news Zhou Huai had heard all day.

Ou Yezi had spent a full three days.

Finally, just as his own personal level barely reached LV8,

he had successfully forged the first Epic-grade piece of equipment!

Zhou Huai’s thoughts stirred, and his consciousness instantly returned to his main body.

He closed his eyes.

That familiar, huge, and mysterious dial machine slowly materialized again in his sea of consciousness.

A surge of indescribable excitement welled up inside him.

He reached out and firmly pressed the antique button on the dial machine!

Countless glowing orbs spun rapidly inside the machine, light streaming and flowing, until finally, a fiery red orb shot out!

The orb exploded, transforming into a dark red scroll radiating terrifying magical fluctuations.

[Congratulations, Host! You have drawn the class: SS-grade Forbidden Spell Mage!]

Zhou Huai’s breath hitched!

SS-grade!

Unable to contain himself, he immediately opened the attribute panel.

[Doppelganger Panel (Unnamed)]

[Class: Unique Hidden Class, SS-grade Forbidden Spell Mage]

[Level: LV1]

[HP: 250/250]

[MP: 500/500]

[Strength: 52]

[Agility: 55]

[Vitality: 60]

[Spirit: 210]

[Skill List:]

[Passive Skill 1: Elemental Mastery LV1 (Passive)]

[Effect: Possesses an extraordinary understanding and affinity for basic elements. Increases all elemental damage by 30%. Reduces cast time and mana cost of all elemental spells by 30%.]

[Passive Skill 2: Mana Fountain LV1 (Passive)]

[Effect: Increases maximum mana cap by 100%. Increases mana regeneration rate by 100%.]

[Active Skill 1: Forbidden Spell · Meteor Shower LV1]

[Effect: Consumes 200 mana. After a cast time, summons 3 massive, blazing meteors that crash violently onto a designated wide area. Each meteor causes a huge explosion upon impact, dealing 350% Spirit damage as fire damage to all enemies within a medium range of the blast point, with a high chance to leave a blazing area on the ground that deals 50% Spirit damage as fire damage per second for 5 seconds. Cooldown: 30 seconds.]

Zhou Huai’s heart pounded wildly.

These stats!

Even at just level one, it could already overshadow the attribute panels of ordinary职业者 at level ten!

That Spirit stat of 210 was especially astonishing!

If this grew powerful, wouldn’t one forbidden spell be enough to devastate heaven and earth?

Only one word could describe it.

Perverted.

Even more perverted than Yasuo’s S-grade class, the Thunder Sword Hero, by several times!

[System Prompt: Please name your SS-grade doppelganger.]

Zhou Huai pondered for a moment, and the image of the classic white-robed wizard appeared in his mind.

“Since he’s a mage, and so powerful…”

“Let’s call him… Gandalf!”

He had always liked that wise and powerful wizard.

[System Prompt: Naming successful! Doppelganger ‘Gandalf’ created.]

[System Prompt: Please customize the appearance of doppelganger ‘Gandalf’.]

Zhou Huai thought it over.

In the movies, Gandalf was already elderly when he appeared, with white hair.

His own doppelganger was only level one. He couldn’t just shape him into an old man.

“I’ll use his younger version as a blueprint, and make him a bit more handsome.”

Having made up his mind, Zhou Huai began meticulously adjusting the doppelganger’s features.

Before long, the image of a young mage took shape—tall and straight, handsome, with deep, starry eyes, a refined and elegant bearing mixed with a hint of mystery.

A head of flowing silver-gray hair casually draped over his shoulders, adding an otherworldly touch.

“Perfect!” Zhou Huai was quite satisfied.

[System Prompt: Doppelganger ‘Gandalf’ appearance customized successfully!]

[System Prompt: Generating doppelganger. Please wait…]

About two hours later.

A flash of white light filled Zhou Huai’s bedroom.

There stood the youthful Gandalf, dressed in simple linen clothes that couldn’t hide his outstanding presence, appearing out of thin air.

He was a full 1.93 meters tall, a few centimeters taller even than Yasuo, standing straight as a pine tree.

Zhou Huai looked Gandalf over.

“Hmm, if he had a delicate staff in his hand, he’d look even more like a powerful mage.”

No sooner said than done.

Zhou Huai immediately issued a new order through the system to Ou Yezi, who was working hard at another secret location.

“Pause other tasks for now. Prioritize forging a mage suit set for Gandalf that he can wear at level one, along with a matching staff.”

Just then.

THUMP THUMP THUMP!

A series of urgent knocks sounded at the door.

Old Fu pushed the door open and hurried in.

When he saw the unfamiliar young man who had suddenly appeared in the room—tall, with an extraordinary bearing—he was visibly startled and stopped in his tracks.

“Young… Young Master, wh-who is this?” Old Fu’s voice carried a hint of caution.

Zhou Huai looked up from his wheelchair and gave Old Fu a gentle smile.

“Old Fu, don’t be nervous.”

“This is also my doppelganger.”

Only then did Old Fu breathe a long sigh of relief, though his eyes still gazed at Gandalf with wonder.

He composed himself, his expression turning serious, and lowered his voice. “Young Master, something’s happened!”

“The whole of Donghai City is buzzing with the news!”

“They say… the Master… he’s placed a bounty on your doppelganger, Yasuo!”

“The reward… a million Xia currency!”

Zhou Huai’s pupils contracted slightly after hearing this.

A million?

Just to kill his level-ten doppelganger?

This so-called father of his, Zhou Feng, was really willing to put up a hefty reward.

Or rather, that woman Liu Yuru had quite the influence, to make Zhou Feng go to such lengths to vent his anger for her.

“Hah, a million for the life of my doppelganger. He sure thinks highly of me.” Zhou Huai’s tone was calm, unreadable.

“Looks like, before long, more fearless idiots will be storming into the old town to find Yasuo.”

His thoughts raced.

He’d better check on Yasuo’s situation first.

With that, Zhou Huai didn’t hesitate. He closed his eyes and switched his consciousness to Yasuo, far away in the old town.

……

Right now, Yasuo was still grinding monsters under the AI’s control.

After taking over, Zhou Huai quickly returned to the shabby second-floor room where Jasmine was.

“Boss! Boss, you’re finally back!”

Jasmine was on the verge of tears from anxiety.

“Boss! We… we need to run!”

“It seems a very, very strong big shot has come outside!”

Before she could finish her sentence—

“ROOOOAR—!!!”

A piercing, earth-shattering dragon roar, full of majesty and oppressive pressure, suddenly exploded overhead!

The terrifying dragon might swept down like a tangible force, making the entire decrepit building groan ominously.

Jasmine trembled violently, her small face turning as pale as paper, almost collapsing to the floor.

Zhou Huai, controlling Yasuo, frowned deeply and quickly went to the window, carefully poking his head out to look up.

There, in the blue sky above.

A massive dragon, its entire body covered in gleaming silver scales, was spreading its huge wings and circling slowly over the old town!

Sunlight reflected off its body, giving off a cold, sacred glow.

Its molten gold dragon eyes indifferently surveyed the dead, ruined capital below.

And on the dragon’s broad back.

A tall, upright figure stood with hands clasped behind their back.