The Artifact Is Complete

The Artifact Is Complete

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had grown curious at how quiet Shi Yi had been these past few days.

When Ning Rongrong once again asked Zhu Zhuqing what Shi Yi was doing, Zhu Zhuqing answered uncertainly, "He should be carving something."

"Carving?" Ning Rongrong said incredulously, then looked at the ornament on her wrist.

Zhu Zhuqing said slowly, "He never does anything meaningless. Perhaps he's training some special ability, much like how I train my reaction speed."

Ning Rongrong nodded thoughtfully. "Grandpa Bone and Sword Grandpa often compare things that seem completely unrelated to soul master cultivation. But they told me that everything around us has its own meaning."

"The two seniors are right." A low, magnetic voice rang out.

Shi Yi slowly emerged from the small house. He had tidied himself up completely. His clean, refreshing short hair was slightly tousled, while his deep, bright eyes seemed like windows capable of seeing through one's heart. The corners of his lips tilted faintly upward, always carrying a smile that was there yet not quite there.

The two girls froze slightly. Ning Rongrong's eyes unconsciously widened, as though she had been drawn in by some invisible magic and could not look away. Zhu Zhuqing came back to her senses and subtly turned her head aside. A blush rose to her cool face. This was the first time they had seen Shi Yi so carefully groomed. Usually, he only tidied himself up casually before beginning his training and research.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Shi Yi asked Ning Rongrong with a smile.

Ning Rongrong came to herself, her face flushing as she held out her hand toward Shi Yi. "Where's the thing you said you'd give me?"

Without much thought, Shi Yi took an egg-sized piece of Hair Crystal from his Soul Tool and handed it to Ning Rongrong.

"What is this?" Ning Rongrong pinched the Hair Crystal in her hand and found it incredibly soft.

"Hair Crystal is a very special metal. Combined with the Core Formation I carved into it, it can change shape at will. A piece this large is enough to form a layer of protection in front of you," Shi Yi said.

"This is a Soul Tool... but it's so soft. What kind of attack can it defend against?" Ning Rongrong asked in surprise.

Shi Yi shook his head slightly. "As long as your Soul Power is sufficient, even I, as I am now, wouldn't be able to break through this defense. Hair Crystal is especially sensitive to Soul Power, so it works even better against energy attacks formed from Soul Power. Defending against attacks below the Soul Saint rank shouldn't be a problem. A stronger Soul Emperor might be able to break it, but it would take some time. As for Soul Kings and Soul Ancestors, it would basically be impossible for them to shatter this thing."

"What? How is that possible?" Ning Rongrong stared at Shi Yi, a storm raging in her heart. Zhu Zhuqing also looked deeply at him.

"This is Hair Crystal. Do you know what that means? And this is Hair Crystal that I forged repeatedly with Disorder Splitting Wind," Shi Yi said to Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong merely shook her head blankly.

Seeing this, Shi Yi did not know how to explain it. In the original story, Tang San had used nothing more than raw Hair Crystal to break through Zhao Wuji's defenses as a Soul Grandmaster and shoot Dragon Beard Needles into his body. Even if Zhao Wuji had not been serious, it still showed just how powerful its penetration and metal strength became when enhanced by Soul Power.

"You can try it. Just inject Soul Power into it and use your control to make it form a shield," Shi Yi said with a light laugh.

Ning Rongrong injected her Soul Power into the Hair Crystal in her hand. The instant it sensed the Soul Power, the Hair Crystal's properties became unstable. Then, as Shi Yi had instructed, Ning Rongrong controlled it into floating up and forming a golden membrane as tall as a person in front of her.

Shi Yi summoned Little Ant and said to it, "Hit it hard."

"Hey... don't..." Ning Rongrong hurriedly said.

"We still need to test it. Otherwise, if you use it in battle, problems could arise. If it breaks, I can just melt it down and forge it again," Shi Yi said.

Little Ant received Shi Yi's command. Its enormous forelimbs and Sword Teeth smashed down fiercely.

With a muffled bang, Little Ant was actually thrown back by that seemingly thin and fragile golden membrane. Shi Yi could clearly sense Little Ant's surprise.

Shi Yi nodded. "Although my craftsmanship isn't mature yet, getting this effect by using Hair Crystal's properties is already quite good."

Ning Rongrong said in astonishment, "And this is only the immature stage?"

Shi Yi nodded and smiled. "This piece of Hair Crystal was just leftover material from making my carving knife. There are still many ways to improve the Core Formation. In truth, this is far from being a genuine Soul Tool. It is only the most important part of one. When I can create a defense that stores Soul Power and activates upon sensing Soul Power—something even people without Soul Power can use—then it will be a truly perfect Soul Tool."

"Can this be mass-produced?" Excitement flashed through Ning Rongrong's eyes as she looked at Shi Yi.

Shi Yi smiled. "Can you find that much Hair Crystal? Do you know how much the materials in your hand alone cost? Only a young lady like you can afford a Soul Tool made from pure Hair Crystal. I only wanted to use Hair Crystal to make a carving knife."

Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue. "What's this thing called?"

Shi Yi felt somewhat embarrassed. He had always been terrible at naming things. As long as something worked, why would he think about giving it a name?

"How about Crystal Gold Guard?" Ning Rongrong said excitedly.

Shi Yi quickly raised a thumb and laughed. "Good name."

Ning Rongrong then put it away in her Soul Tool with great satisfaction. Shi Yi took out another piece of Hair Crystal from his Soul Tool, much smaller than Ning Rongrong's, and handed it to Zhu Zhuqing.

Ning Rongrong looked at Shi Yi, unsure how she was supposed to feel.

Zhu Zhuqing seemed to sense Ning Rongrong's mood and said somewhat awkwardly, "I get one too...?"

"Everyone who sees it gets a share. There was a little left, so I used it all up. Consider it hush money. Let me show you how it works," Shi Yi said with a light laugh.

"Hair Crystal isn't only for defense. You often fight using claws and hand blades, using Soul Power as your edge. Hair Crystal can also be used as a weapon, like this." As Shi Yi spoke, he injected Soul Power into the Hair Crystal in his hand.

The Hair Crystal instantly changed form, attaching itself to Shi Yi's fingers and the sides of his palms, transforming into sharp claws and hand blades.

"Although there isn't much material, it is extremely practical. It can greatly increase your attack power. With your current level and the strength of the Hair Crystal, if you run into that turtle from Star Dou again, you should be able to use your speed to break through its defenses by concentrating your attack on a single point," Shi Yi said with a smile.

Once he finished speaking, the claws and hand blades returned to their original form, and Shi Yi held them out.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the Hair Crystal in Shi Yi's hand, a complicated expression appearing in her eyes. The design suited her perfectly, and she liked it greatly. Yet when she thought of Ning Rongrong beside her, hesitation appeared on her face.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing hesitate, Shi Yi asked doubtfully, "What? You don't like it?"

Zhu Zhuqing quickly shook her head, accepted the Hair Crystal from Shi Yi, and asked, "What about yours?"

Ning Rongrong also looked at Shi Yi curiously.

Shi Yi took out a piece of Hair Crystal about the same size as Ning Rongrong's from his Soul Tool. Unlike hers, however, its complex and densely packed patterns were clearly visible, covering the entire piece of Hair Crystal.

As Shi Yi injected Soul Power into it, the entire piece of Hair Crystal lit up in an instant, transforming into a carving knife that floated above his palm.

"What does that do?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.

Shi Yi smiled, casually throwing the carving knife. He did not seem to use much force, but before the two girls' astonished eyes, the carving knife easily pierced through a large tree as if it were made of tofu.

"So sharp," Zhu Zhuqing murmured.

Shi Yi then slowly retrieved it. His Mental Power had not yet reached the level where he could control physical objects.

Shi Yi walked over to the two girls. "This is a carving knife. Although it cannot greatly increase my strength, it is extremely meaningful. The special patterns on the Hair Crystal in your hands were all carved by it. These patterns are called Core Formations. They are equivalent to the Soul Power Channels inside a soul master's body. That is why Soul Tools can be controlled with Soul Power. A good carving knife means I can inscribe stronger metals and create more powerful Soul Tools."

Ning Rongrong now understood why Shi Yi had chosen Hair Crystal as the material. For a tool, the most important thing was that it suited the hand. A tool that could change shape naturally allowed him to accomplish twice as much with half the effort.

"How long has it been? These days, I've almost lost track of the date," Shi Yi said to the two girls.

"It has been fifty-three days. In a few more days, the Dean will take us to Heaven Dou," Ning Rongrong said.

Shi Yi nodded slightly and continued, "Then your Soul Power Levels should have broken through too. I've increased by three levels these past few days."

"Three levels? You're level thirty-four now?" Ning Rongrong asked in disbelief.

Seeing her reaction, Shi Yi came back to his senses and felt somewhat awkward. He could hardly tell them there was still medicinal power from an Immortal Herb in his body. Repeatedly swinging Hair Crystal with Disorder Splitting Wind during this period had indeed squeezed out some of that medicinal power.

"You should have broken through too, right?" Shi Yi quickly changed the subject.

Ning Rongrong nodded proudly. "Of course. But I haven't gone to obtain my Soul Ring yet. Since Shrek is going to Heaven Dou anyway, I can go home and have Sword Grandpa take me to find a Soul Ring."

Zhu Zhuqing also said softly, "I broke through. The Dean took me to obtain a Soul Ring, and I'm level thirty-two now."

Shi Yi nodded. "Mm. Now that you've broken through, Zhuqing, you can return to your previous training."

"This training is almost complete," Zhu Zhuqing said softly.

Shi Yi smiled. "Of course I know you're nearly done. Your Soul Power broke through, and you have the boost of a new Soul Ring, so naturally you're close to completing it. That previous goal was nearly impossible for you at level twenty-nine, but it was precisely that impossible goal that drove you to keep growing."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing seemed to realize something, and an enlightened expression appeared on her face.

Shi Yi paused, then said meaningfully, "As your Soul Power, strength, and speed increase, what you need to do now is return to your previous training and control your improved state as perfectly as you did at level twenty-nine. Chase a new, higher goal. Perhaps this time, you might succeed in breaking through that impossible goal before your next Soul Ring arrives."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Shi Yi and said softly, "I hope so."

Shi Yi nodded with a light laugh. "All right. Now you can take those Iron Essence Leg Weights and go to Teacher Zhao's with Rongrong. I think you should be able to move under gravity while wearing those things now."

"Then who's cooking?" Ning Rongrong glared at Shi Yi.

"There's the Cafeteria," Shi Yi said as though it were only natural.

"No. Zhuqing brought you food for so many days. You have to cook to make it up to us," Ning Rongrong said.

Shi Yi looked helpless and nodded. "Fine. Then you two should just call Teacher Zhao over to eat with us. He doesn't have any tools over there."

Very soon, Zhu Zhuqing's figure disappeared from before them. Naturally, errands were for someone from the Agility Attack System.

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the two-month rest period had ended. This land occupied by Shrek Academy had been bought by Flender back then, and there was nothing valuable there. None of the teachers objected to Yu Xiaogang's suggestion. After all, ideals were full, but reality was harsh. Without resources, there was no way the few of them could support an academy. Even raising the Shrek students had already drained the little nest egg Flender had spent years accumulating.

Seeing that the agreed time was nearly upon them, everyone packed their belongings under Flender's orders and prepared to depart for Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

When they left, everyone stood at the academy gate. Flender looked at the plaque bearing the words Shrek Academy, which now appeared somewhat worn and dilapidated, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions.

"Let's go." Flender composed himself and gave the order to depart. The group of more than ten people set out from Shrek.

"Dean, couldn't you at least get us a carriage? We're traveling entirely on foot, and we even have support-type soul masters here," Shi Yi said helplessly.

When Shi Yi had returned from Sunset Forest before, even riding in a carriage had taken five days. Traveling on foot would be faster than a carriage, but it was truly exhausting.

"You pay for it, and I won't object." Flender glared at Shi Yi with a dark expression.

Shi Yi said nothing more. Money was not the issue. If he paid for it, would that not be slapping the Dean in the face?

Seeing that Shi Yi had no objection, Flender nodded in satisfaction. "All right, little monsters. You've rested for two months. From now on, we'll speed up our journey. Every one of you must keep up with my pace, or else... heh heh."

Flender seemed to have returned to his old self, a crafty gleam in his eyes. He grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the arm, and the moment he finished speaking, he sprang forward.

Zhao Wuji also grabbed Shao Xin, while shooting Flender a glare.

And so, they set out on the road to Heaven Dou Royal Academy.