Serious About Everything

The Vajra Belt was a Dragon Elephant Sect-exclusive Soul Tool. Though it was not cheap, nearly everyone in the sect had one.

Its structure was stable, with one hundred and twenty cubic meters of storage space inside. The Soul Tool core contained a small authentication program. Once bound, anyone other than its owner had to erase the previous user's imprint with Soul Power before using it. It was considered a symbol of status within the Dragon Elephant Sect.

During his years in the Dragon Elephant Sect, Chen Ming had often seen hot-tempered parents use Vajra Belts to whip the backsides of their own little brats. As a result, he had an especially deep impression of the thing and had coveted one for a long time.

Although it was a Level 4 Soul Tool, Storage Soul Tools differed from ordinary Soul Tools. Their grade was generally determined more by their internal space and craftsmanship, and they had extremely low requirements for the Soul Master's own cultivation. Even children who had just awakened their Martial Souls could quickly learn to use them, though they could not activate the shield function.

Under Great Elder Chen Ping's guidance, Chen Ming excitedly put on the Soul Tool and completed the authentication, finally obtaining the storage equipment he had long dreamed of. Then, as both the Dragon Elephant Sect's Great Elder and chief Soul Engineer, Chen Ping brought out one standard-issue piece of Dragon Elephant Sect equipment after another and explained how Chen Ming should equip himself.

"This is Elephant Skin Inner Lining, a Level 1 Soul Tool made from the hide of a Thick-hide Elephant. Its defense is average—not even as tough as our skin after Martial Soul Possession—but it is highly stretchable, odor-resistant, sweat-resistant, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant. It also has a basic insulation array inside, allowing it to regulate temperature slightly."

"Really, nobody expects much from its defense. Everyone in the sect wears it as an undershirt in daily life. Its greatest use is making sure your clothes don't burst apart when the fighting isn't too intense."

"In a few days, I'll teach you how to maintain it. Then I'll get you a few more sets so you can change into clean ones."

"These are Green Pearl Bracers, a Level 2 Soul Tool forged from metal and Jadeite Stone. They look like bracers, but once activated, they can extend into armguards, strengthening your hand and wrist strength while providing a certain level of elemental resistance and defense."

"They are also somewhat stretchable, odor-resistant, sweat-resistant, heat-resistant, and corrosion-resistant, and they don't consume much energy. They're quite effective for low-level Soul Masters. They work best at the Soul Master and Soul Grandmaster stages, and can barely remain useful past Level 30. Once you reach Level 40, they're completely useless."

Chen Ping then lowered his head to inspect Chen Ming's feet and estimate their size. After searching through his Soul Tool for a while, he took out a pair of knee-high boots wrapped around the calves and patterned with golden lines, then stuffed them into Chen Ming's hands.

"These are Dragon Pattern Boots, a Level 2 Soul Tool. They're highly stretchable, sweat-resistant, heat-resistant, cold-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and especially odor-resistant. Their function is to enhance leg strength. Once activated, they can increase the explosive power of your feet and provide shock absorption. The inner lining can be replaced. I'll teach you how later. Don't wear them until they stink too badly. Children should keep themselves clean."

Do not ask why every piece of the Dragon Elephant Sect's daily outfit had sweat-resistant and odor-resistant properties. Even Soul Masters could not change the fact that fat people sweated easily and smelled strongly once they exercised vigorously.

Soul Power could alleviate the issue somewhat, but once intense combat or exercise began, the same problems remained unavoidable. It was true that they could change clothes frequently within the sect, but they still had to consider what would happen when they went out.

After taking out a huge pile of items that were called Soul Tools but were really daily necessities, the Great Elder's expression finally turned serious. He pulled out a large object from his Soul Tool.

"Xiao Ming, catch."

"Okay!" Seeing the dark golden Soul Cannon that was over a meter long, with a muzzle wider than an ordinary bowl, Chen Ming's eyes immediately lit up. He crammed all the daily items he had been holding in his arms into the Vajra Belt Storage Soul Tool at his waist, then carefully accepted the huge thing with both hands.

It was not as though he had never touched this thing in the sect before, but... touching someone else's was definitely different from touching his own.

"This is one of our Dragon Elephant Sect's signature Soul Tools: the Level 2 Golden Elephant Soul Cannon. It has two modes. One fires Soul Tool Rays at close to medium range, while the other loads Level 2 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells for long-range strikes. It's accurate and fires quickly. It's made to deal with those bastards who bully us for having short legs and kite us... Ahem, ahem..."

As Chen Ping spoke, he realized he was getting a little worked up and gave two dry coughs.

"Don't use a Soul Cannon carelessly. This thing has great destructive power, but it also consumes a lot. You're only a prospective Soul Master, so you won't be able to bring out much of its power. One shot alone could drain you until you pass out. If you want to try it, that's not impossible, but report to us beforehand. The two of us will watch over you, and you can only use it after we tell you how."

"Also, don't point it at your own people. For our Dragon Elephant Sect, as long as we're prepared, the Soul Tool Ray mode might not even be able to break through a Soul Grandmaster's defenses. But it is still quite dangerous to clansmen below the Soul Grandmaster rank, or those who haven't activated their Martial Soul defenses."

"I won't give you any Soul Cannon Shells for now. Leaving aside how much Soul Power it takes to fire them, I don't want you developing any aftereffects. And with that explosive power, you might hurt yourself. How about..."

Chen Ping had originally wanted to say, How about I take it back and store it for you first, then give it to you in a few months? But when he saw Chen Ming clutching the Golden Elephant Soul Cannon tightly, he swallowed those words and shook his head helplessly.

"Forget it, forget it. Just be careful. And one more thing..."

"See the handle near the top of the barrel? It isn't only designed to stabilize your aim. When necessary, you can hold it like this and raise the Soul Cannon upright. Then you can use it directly as a melee weapon."

"Our Dragon Elephant Sect's Soul Cannons are designed to suit Soul Masters like us: solid, durable, explosive, and exceptionally sturdy. They definitely aren't as convenient to use as close-combat Soul Tools, but they're very handy for smashing people. But remember, remember! Before you hit someone with it, don't forget to check whether there's a shell loaded in the Soul Cannon. Don't blow yourself up!"

Following Chen Ping's instructions, Chen Ming held the Soul Cannon by its handle and gave it a swing. Holding it this way seemed quite handy as well.

Although the meter-long Soul Cannon was not especially suited to Chen Ming, who was currently only a little over one and a half meters tall and barely weighed more than a hundred jin, its balance and feel were remarkably comfortable. It gave the impression that the thing had been designed specifically for smashing people.

After finally paying respects to the ancestors' memorial tablets and coffins, Sect Master Chen Li and Great Elder Chen Ping led Chen Ming, now dressed in a Dragon Elephant Sect outfit, out of the ancestral hall.

Though there was still much to do—contacting specialists to investigate information on a suitable First Soul Ring for Chen Ming, having the medicine hall prepare Chen Ming's medicinal baths and the consumable materials for his daily cultivation, and so on—Chen Li and Chen Ping still chose to take Chen Ming first to one of the Dragon Elephant Sect's most important places: the Dragon Elephant Sect Grand Dining Hall.

There was still plenty to do, and they might end up busy all day, so eating first was definitely the right choice!

Besides being one of the top sects, the Dragon Elephant Sect's Grand Dining Hall was also among the very best even across the two continents and four nations.

Dozens of Food System Soul Masters employed by the Dragon Elephant Sect created all kinds of food, while over a hundred chefs from the four countries of the two continents bustled about in the kitchens. Pigs, cattle, sheep, and massive chunks of thawed Soul Beast meat were processed in giant pots, becoming dish after dish that entered the mouths of Dragon Elephant Sect clansmen.

Although the Dragon Elephant Sect clansmen's massive physiques were indeed largely related to their inherited bloodline and Martial Souls, they were also inseparable from their love of fine food.

They were serious about being Soul Masters, but they were equally serious about being gourmets!