First Soul Tool, Mysterious Heart Pattern

"Alright!"

When Wang Dong came back out of the room, she had returned to her usual attire. But after seeing her true appearance just now, Zi Yao could only see her as a tomboy.

"By the way, why do you insist on dressing as a boy?"

Zi Yao asked curiously.

"Pretty girls always attract trouble. Compared to that, being a boy is much better."

Wang Dong said smugly.

"I don't think so."

Zi Yao pushed open the door, revealing a small pile of pink envelopes stacked outside.

After dealing with those envelopes,

the two arrived at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Master Academy's training grounds.

Gravity Chambers, Mimicry Training Grounds, Practical Combat Simulation Rooms...

It could be said that the Sun Moon Empire truly deserved its reputation as the wealthiest empire. The conditions of its royal academy were absolutely among the best in the world.

Zi Yao tried out the Gravity Chamber.

Under the pressure of Twentyfold Gravity, his movements gradually slowed. Even ordinary actions rapidly consumed more stamina, while his muscles became denser and more solid.

This was far more efficient than the traditional method of running around a Training Ground.

Of course, it cost money—one hundred Gold Soul Coins per hour. It was practically burning money.

For Zi Yao, though, it was nothing.

Ice Empress and Snow Empress had left him at least three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, and that was without counting all those treasures. The money was more than enough for him to spend.

A few days later,

the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Master Academy officially began its term.

Zi Yao and Wang Dong were both in First Grade Class One, more commonly known as the Elite Class.

The class did not force students to attend lessons. Instead, it used a credit system similar to that of universities in Zi Yao's previous life, allowing students to choose which categories of Soul Tools they wished to study.

But there was one crucial matter.

The Final Exam.

At least one-third of the students were eliminated in each year's Final Exam. The mandatory requirement for advancing to the second grade was reaching the standard of a Rank 1 Soul Tool Master.

It was the same every year.

Except for Sixth Grade Students. Since Rank 6 Soul Tool Masters were already High-level Soul Tool Masters, even Rank 5 Soul Tool Masters could graduate successfully.

However, if one could become a Rank 6 Soul Tool Master, they could enter Mingde Hall as a senior instructor or researcher.

Naturally, the Practical Control Soul Tool Department was an exception.

But Zi Yao had come here to study the Sun Moon Empire's most advanced Soul Tool technology, so he naturally would not choose to graduate that way.

Zi Yao was quite interested in Soul Tools.

But compared to Soul Tools, he still placed greater importance on Soul Master cultivation.

Soul Tools were indeed powerful on the current continent.

And they would only become stronger and stronger, even becoming capable of threatening the top experts of the mortal world.

But they were ultimately external objects. They could be used for assistance and enhancement, but one could not put the cart before the horse and neglect a Soul Master's own cultivation.

His talent for Soul Tools seemed quite good.

The Myriad Spirits soul skill allowed him to disperse his Spiritual Power into all kinds of metals, enabling him to completely observe each metal's condition and impurities. Every cut he made was flawless.

As for engraving Soul Power Arrays,

when it came to the solidity of Soul Power, no one in the entire academy could compare to him.

His Spiritual Power had also gradually strengthened during the refinement of his Spiritual Origin, enough to catch up to the level of a Mental System Soul Master.

The only troublesome part was that

creating a Soul Tool—from blueprints, to research and development, to actual construction—consumed a great deal of time.

Zi Yao cultivated Soul Power during the day and refined his Spiritual Power at night. His time was truly limited.

"So this is the technological power of your plane? It really is a fascinating power." Electrolux said with great interest within the Sea of Consciousness.

A flash of inspiration struck Zi Yao.

How had he forgotten this top-tier science-minded man, someone capable of creating his own magic system?

Couldn't he simply have Electrolux help develop the blueprints for Soul Tools, then make them himself?

Electrolux readily agreed as well.

In less than four months,

Zi Yao possessed his first self-created Soul Tool. It was a bluish Steel Glove that could temporarily double the impact force after being infused with Soul Power.

This Soul Tool sparked endless debate during the academy's evaluation.

Some teachers believed it should be a Rank 3 Melee Soul Tool, because it could be perfectly worn by Zi Yao, a Soul Elder, and assist him in battle.

But others believed that, whether judging by its materials or the number of arrays, it was a Rank 2 Soul Tool. It could only be used by a Soul Elder through some clever tricks.

In the end, they settled on a middle ground and awarded the Soul Tool an excellent Rank 2.5 rating.

This result also meant Zi Yao would not need to worry about graduation evaluations for the next two years.

Wang Dong, on the other hand, had it much worse.

At first, she resisted Soul Tools and refused to study them. But when she heard that failing the Final Exam would result in expulsion, she reluctantly gave in.

Now, she stayed up every night studying by lamplight, vainly hoping to master the foundational knowledge of Soul Tools before the assessment.

Early in the morning,

Zi Yao, who had already completed the Final Exam requirements for the next two years, sat cross-legged on his wooden bed in meditation.

There was no longer any need for him to attend those basic courses. Teachers from every subject highly approved of this genius who had taught himself for less than half a year and was already capable of creating a Rank 2.5 Soul Tool. They believed they were no longer qualified to teach Zi Yao.

"Knock, knock, knock."

A knock sounded at the door.

Zi Yao withdrew from his meditative state, walked over, and opened it.

A Pink-Blue Long Hair Girl stood outside. Her exquisite face looked as though she had stepped out of a painting. A Colorful Bow was tied around her high ponytail, while her Pink-Blue Eyes were as pure as gemstones. Her delicate, petite figure carried an innocent charm.

The only thing that seemed out of place was the dark circles beneath her eyes.

"What is it?"

Zi Yao asked, holding back a laugh.

Ever since he had exposed her as a girl, Wang Dong had gradually let herself go in the Dormitory and rarely appeared dressed as a boy anymore.

"Here, this envelope is for you. It doesn't seem to be a Love Letter."

Wang Dong took out an envelope.

Zi Yao opened it and glanced over its contents, a delighted look appearing in his eyes.

Wang Dong curiously tried to lean over and take a look, but Zi Yao blocked her. She could only give up helplessly, though through the paper, she vaguely saw a Pink Heart Mark on the back.

Her listless spirits immediately soared.

She had heard of that pattern. It was the exclusive symbol of those lust-filled establishments.

"I'm heading out."

Zi Yao put on his outer robe and prepared to leave.

Wang Dong put on an indifferent expression and gave a quiet grunt. After Zi Yao left, she secretly followed after him.

Seeing was believing, hearing was not.

She believed Zi Yao was not the sort of person obsessed with lust, but she could not suppress her curiosity.

Zi Yao swiped his card to leave the academy and entered Ming Du's Underground World.

This was the other side of prosperous Ming Du. Life-and-death Soul Fighting, assassin contracts, prostitution, and human trafficking—it had everything. As long as one had money, one could get anything, even an incredibly rare Dragon Girl.

Zi Yao arrived before a hotel and walked straight inside.

Wang Dong arrived outside the hotel, glanced at its sign, and muttered, "Tender Hotel? It doesn't sound like a respectable place."

After following him inside,

she saw scantily clad maids and attendants in the corridor. Her entire face flushed red, and her heart filled with resentment toward Zi Yao. Why would he come to a place like this?

"Huh? Where did that guy go?"

She was somewhat at a loss. It seemed that she had lost Zi Yao.

Suddenly,

a hand patted her from behind.

She turned her head, only to be pressed against the pale bluish-white wall in an instant.