Understanding the Principles of Soul Tools

Three months had passed since Wang Nan's first Inspection Mission ended. During those three months, he had not carried out another mission. Instead, he attended an extra class each day with the other reservists, where other Oversight Group members shared their experiences. They summarized what they had learned and drew lessons from past mistakes, and he had gained quite a lot from it.

That afternoon, Wang Nan had just left the cafeteria when he ran into Lin Xiao, who had come looking for him.

Wang Nan had grown somewhat used to it. Over the past three months, Lin Xiao had made countless trips to the Martial Soul Department to help him adjust his Soul Tools.

"This afternoon is when we test the results. Come with me to the Soul Tool Test Area now. If anything doesn't fit right, I can still adjust it for you."

Since it concerned Lin Xiao's Promotion Assessment, Wang Nan naturally did not refuse and went with her to the Soul Tool Test Area.

An arena had already been set up there for that afternoon's Promotion Assessment. If he had guessed correctly, the assessment would once again involve actual combat.

"Come on, I'll secure it for you first." Lin Xiao walked around behind Wang Nan and fastened the Soul Tool Thruster to his back, then took out four smaller components.

"Senior Sister Lin, shouldn't I handle these myself?"

"Don't move. I'll help you. This afternoon is my Promotion Assessment—I won't feel at ease unless I install everything myself."

As she spoke, Lin Xiao bent down and secured the components to Wang Nan's forearms and calves.

"Here, give it a try."

Wang Nan tried channeling Soul Power into the Soul Tool Thruster. A glow immediately lit up behind his back, and his body abruptly rose into the air. As he continued feeding it Soul Power, the light behind him grew brighter, and he climbed higher and higher.

"Try the other components!" Lin Xiao called up at Wang Nan.

Wang Nan nodded and channeled Soul Power into the components on his legs. Two blue lights lit up around his ankles, and his body shot straight forward. With no obstacles in the air, he was even faster than he was on the ground.

After confirming that there was no problem with the leg components, Wang Nan focused on his arms.

Blue light flashed around his wrists. As Wang Nan pushed both hands forward, his body tilted backward and flipped once through the air.

After completing those movements, all the lights flared at once. Wang Nan darted, turned, and circled through the air without pause, only slowly descending to the ground after a while.

"Junior Brother, you're getting more and more skilled at controlling this Soul Tool Thruster."

Wang Nan had trained with a staff since childhood, so his coordination had always been good. Coupled with the fact that Lin Xiao's Soul Tool was truly outstanding, he was now no worse than Soul Masters of the same level who flew using their Martial Souls.

"Whether you can pass this afternoon's assessment will depend entirely on your performance." As Lin Xiao inspected the Soul Tool Thruster for any issues after use, she spoke to Wang Nan.

"The Soul Tool Senior Sister Lin made is excellent. You'll definitely pass without any trouble."

Lin Xiao covered her mouth and laughed. "Then I'll take that as a good omen. If I pass this assessment, you can come to me anytime you have any questions about Soul Tools."

After the two chatted for a while, it was time for the Soul Tool Department's Promotion Assessment. The other Core Disciples and Soul Tool Department students also gradually arrived at the test area.

This was the academy's first year implementing the combination of Soul Masters and Soul Engineers. Because of this initiative, some of the academy's resources had been shifted from the Martial Soul Department to the Soul Tool Department. Qian Duoduo therefore placed great importance on these students being trained as Support Type Soul Engineers, and he had personally come for that afternoon's assessment.

"Dean Qian."

"You don't need to be so formal. Just conduct the assessment according to the original plan."

Qian Duoduo's appearance was entirely at odds with his name. He had short white hair and stood over two meters tall. Standing there, he resembled a statue carved from granite. Only the slightly sly smile on his face carried a hint of "Qian Duoduo."

Fan Yu stepped forward. Only after seeing Qian Duoduo nod did he speak. "Due to the Soul Tool Department's adjustments, your Promotion Assessment was postponed until today. If any of you can successfully pass this assessment, you will become the academy's first batch of Support Type Soul Engineers."

As he spoke, Fan Yu shifted aside, revealing several Soul Engineers behind him. "Next, the Martial Soul Department students assisting with the assessment will engage in one-on-one combat with the Soul Engineers behind me. Your assessment results will be determined by your performance in battle. Victory or defeat will not determine the final result."

"Additionally, during the assessment, you may only use one Soul Tool provided by the assessed student. Using any other Soul Tool will be considered a failure. Understood?"

"Understood."

"Good. First group: assessed student, Lin Xiao. Assisting student, Wang Nan. Soul Tool used: Level Three Soul Tool Thruster."

For some reason, Wang Nan had been placed first, but he did not mind. He stepped forward and came before Fan Yu.

Qian Duoduo, standing to the side, frowned slightly. He remembered that ordinary Soul Tool Thrusters were only Level Two Soul Tools. Even if they had been improved upon, could they really raise a Soul Elder's combat strength by twenty percent?

"Ye Xiaosheng, you'll be his opponent."

"Yes, Teacher Fan." A male student stepped out from behind Fan Yu, wearing a Level Three Soul Engineer badge on his chest.

"Prepare yourselves. The assessment begins!"

Wang Nan and Ye Xiaosheng took their places on opposite sides of the arena. The moment Fan Yu finished speaking, several metal tubes extended from Ye Xiaosheng's arms.

This was one of the most common long-range Soul Tools: the Soul Light Ray.

As Ye Xiaosheng's Soul Rings rose, white light began to gather at the tips of the metal tubes. They were clearly about to fire.

Blue light flared behind Wang Nan, and his figure rapidly began moving from side to side. He might not know Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, but he knew how to use Soul Tools. Relying on a Soul Master's powerful physique, he repeatedly activated the Soul Tool Thruster, constantly swaying left and right as he swiftly closed in on Ye Xiaosheng in a zigzag pattern.

Ye Xiaosheng had no ability like Spiritual Detection. Watching Wang Nan constantly shift positions, he could not lock onto him for a time. He could only fire six Soul Light Rays at once, attempting to hit Wang Nan through sheer volume.

Then, before Ye Xiaosheng's astonished eyes, Wang Nan "flew."

Ye Xiaosheng's attacks had all been aimed at the ground. Now that Wang Nan had "flown" up, nothing stood in his way. He immediately unleashed his Soul Power at full force, crossing the entire arena in an instant and arriving before Ye Xiaosheng.

As Ye Xiaosheng fled, he activated the Soul Tool Shield on his body.

But how could someone running on the ground outrun someone flying through the air? Wang Nan swiftly caught up to Ye Xiaosheng, and his Coiling Dragon Staff was already coming down.

"Alright, you can stop now."

Fan Yu called off the match. Once a low-level Soul Engineer was approached by a Soul Master, they had no ability to resist whatsoever—especially when Wang Nan was a Core Disciple of the Martial Soul Department.

Fan Yu turned to look at Qian Duoduo.

"Wonderful." Qian Duoduo slowly applauded.

"It seemed our Soul Tool Department's assessment standards had some issues. Our goal was to train Soul Engineers similar to Support Type Soul Masters, so our assessment criteria had been aligned with theirs."

"But this match offered a new concept. Soul Engineers and Support Type Soul Masters are completely different. With Soul Tools, we can provide Soul Masters with more flexible and diverse assistance. After all, I've never heard of any Support Type Martial Soul that could grant a Soul Master the ability to fly."

As he spoke, Qian Duoduo looked at Lin Xiao. "You've passed the assessment. Also, was this idea yours?"

"No, Junior Brother Wang was the first to think of it."

"Really?" Qian Duoduo looked at Wang Nan, his eyes full of fondness. The moment he opened his mouth, he nearly tried to poach someone from the Martial Soul Department, but after thinking it over, he held himself back. "Student Wang Nan, feel free to come visit the Soul Tool Department more often when you have time."

"Thank you, Dean Qian. I will."

Qian Duoduo nodded and turned to the next student awaiting assessment.

The assessments for the remaining students also went fairly smoothly. Though none were as simple and straightforward as the Soul Tool Thruster, they were all outstanding Soul Engineers and had all sorts of wildly imaginative ideas.

Qian Duoduo made the decision on the spot to keep every one of them. A Promotion Assessment with a one hundred percent pass rate was unprecedented even in Shrek Academy's history.