Godly Zhuge Crossbow

Biodata

Power Progression

Development History

Tang San forged the early Soul Tool Divine Crossbow of Zhuge after studying part of a Soul Guidance Crystal's core-formation pattern. The modification replaced refined-iron ammunition with bolts condensed from Soul Power, greatly reducing its material requirements but leaving the first model with poor durability. 62

He continued improving the design, producing a second edition with vastly greater firing endurance and a later third edition fitted with a Soul Pool. The Red Assembly accumulated these Soul Tool models while keeping their newest research secret, since relatively few people could engrave Soul Tool Core Formations. 226 383 1011

For external trade, Tang San and the Works Department instead manufactured purely mechanical Zhuge Crossbows. These lower-grade models did not require core formations, could be produced more efficiently, and were sold in batches of thousands to the Heavenly Soul Kingdom and Spirit Hall. 1011 1016

Capabilities & Limitations

Mechanical Volley Fire

The non-Soul Tool Godly Zhuge Crossbow fires sixteen refined-iron arrows per trigger pull. Its arrows are difficult for even Soul Masters to perceive in flight and can pierce thick steel, metal, stone, and Soul Ancestor-level defenses at close range. 1010 1011

• Effective range exceeds 300 meters. 1042
• Within 50 meters, it can penetrate a Soul Ancestor's defensive Soul Power. 1011 1042
• A hundred-person unit equipped with Zhuge Crossbows could rout Heaven Dou's Royal Knights through repeated volleys. 1011
• It can be operated by ordinary people and Soul Scholars rather than only trained Soul Masters. 1042

Soul Tool Fire

Soul Tool versions convert Soul Power into condensed projectiles. Early versions required the wielder to provide Soul Power, while later Soul Pool-equipped models stored it internally. 62 372 383

• Soul Power bolts possess penetration comparable to refined-iron arrows. 226
• Repeated volleys can overwhelm Soul Kings; Soul Ancestors can be killed, while Soul Elders cannot withstand the weapon's fire. 372
• Ordinary people may use Soul Tool models if their bodies can endure the weapon's recoil. 372 533
• The original model failed after about three volleys. 62
• The second edition requires thirty seconds of cooling after twenty volleys. 226

Elemental Formation Disks

Later Soul Tool Godly Zhuge Crossbows use removable Formation Disks to alter their ammunition's properties. 1056

• Explosion — Soul Power bolts detonate on impact and can tear through heavy armor. 1056
• Fire — bolts burn or produce flame effects comparable to Soul Skills. 1042 1056
• Ice — available as an elemental Soul Power arrow effect. 1056
• Piercing — enhances penetration. 1056
• Wind — increases bolt speed and range beyond 800 meters, but substantially reduces damage. 1061
• Formation Disks are manually swapped through a pull-out-and-insert mechanism; a rotating-wheel system was rejected because it increased wear and slowed ammunition changes. 1056

Anti-Replication Measures

Both mechanical and Soul Tool models contain mechanisms intended to prevent hostile reverse engineering. 275 1016 1042

• Incorrect disassembly damages internal components and renders the mechanical crossbow unusable. 1016 1042
• The mechanical version is especially difficult to copy because its tightly fitted components and safety mechanisms cannot be reconstructed through visual inspection alone. 1016
• Soul Tool models are not publicly sold because dismantling them could expose their engraved Soul Tool Core Formations. 275

Known Users and Producers

• Tang San — Original creator and principal developer; produced successive Soul Tool versions and organized mass production with the Works Department. 62 226 383 1011
• Zhou Qing — Early user of the second edition and a key figure in its Red Assembly deployment. 284 285 1042
• Red Assembly / Crimson Scarf Soldiers — Issued both mechanical and Soul Tool models for guerrilla warfare, ambushes, and conventional engagements. 1042 1045 1056
• Heavenly Soul Kingdom — Purchased 3,000 mechanical Zhuge Crossbows at 100 Gold Soul Coins each. 1011
• Spirit Hall — Purchased 3,000 mechanical Zhuge Crossbows at 10,000 Gold Soul Coins each, with arrows sold separately. 1016
• Romantina — Possesses a Soul Conductor Godly Zhuge Crossbow, though her Phoenix Wutong Mech-Staffs are considered more powerful. 998

Notable Deployments

• Zhou Qing and Tang San used second-edition Soul Tool Divine Crossbows against Hu Fangyuan at close range, firing nearly 300 Soul Power bolts and leaving him riddled with wounds. 285
• Red Assembly militia used Soul Tool Divine Crossbows of Zhuge during the ambush at Dragon Slaying Slope, forcing Marshal Ge Long's punitive army into retreat. 1045
• Red Assembly forces used the weapons to inflict heavy casualties on westbound Soul Master families and capture survivors. 1047
• Explosion-attribute Soul Tool volleys threw more than 10,000 Royal Knights into disarray by blasting through their heavy armor. 1056
• Wind-attribute bolts were used for long-range fire across the Shuangchi River, where their reduced lethality still proved dangerous to ordinary soldiers. 1061
• The later Fire-Attribute Zhuge Hand Cannon devastated the Clear Sky Empire army, piercing massed troops before detonating inside their camp. 1151