Level 7 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell

"That works. Wu Feng and I can be class monitor and deputy class monitor."

Once the two had reached an agreement, Mu Jin spoke up. "In that case, Ning Tian will be class monitor, and Wu Feng will be deputy class monitor."

After the class monitors had been chosen, Mu Jin shot Zhou Yi a provocative look, then led the students back to their classroom.

Zhou Yi stood on the field, glaring furiously at Mu Jin's retreating figure.

"Why aren't such outstanding students in my class? And that little girl is a three-ring Soul Elder too! No, I'm going to see the dean and ask him to transfer them to my class. Students this gifted should be taught by me."

She called over a healing-type Soul Saint to treat her students, then flew straight to Yan Shaozhe's office without looking back.

As expected, Yan Shaozhe gave her a thorough scolding, and she came back empty-handed. She also learned who Yue Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were. They weren't students she could get transferred just by resorting to petty tricks.

Class Nine.

Back in the classroom, Mu Jin wrote the words "Soul Master" on the blackboard.

"Yue Hongchen, tell us what these words mean to you."

Called on, Yue Hongchen stood up, a smile spreading across his face once more. His voice was gentle and warm. "Soul Masters are the most unique profession on the continent. Broadly speaking, they're divided into Power Attack System, Control System, Agility Attack System, Defense System, Support System, Food System, and others. To become a Soul Master, you need to awaken a Martial Soul and possess Innate Soul Power. Martial Souls are divided into Beast Martial Souls, Tool Martial Souls, Plant Martial Souls, Food Martial Souls, Elemental Martial Souls, and others."

"You could say that a Soul Master's future is determined the day they awaken their Martial Soul at six. Unless they encounter some extraordinary opportunity, their Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power determine their potential."

Mu Jin nodded slightly. "Well said. Everyone here has made it to Shrek, so none of you are ordinary. Your talents can take you further and grant you greater strength, but..."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the students.

"On the continent today, even those without exceptional talent can become strong. Does anyone know why?"

"Soul Tools," Yue Hongchen answered.

"Exactly. Soul Tools." Mu Jin gave Yue Hongchen an approving glance. As expected of a genius from the Hongchen Family.

"The development of Soul Tools came from the Sun Moon Continent. A thousand years ago, after the Sun Moon Continent collided with the Douluo Continent, Soul Tools entered our world for good. They completely overturned everything we thought we knew about them."

"I don't know a great deal about Soul Tools. All I can say is that if your talent isn't particularly outstanding, you can consider becoming a Soul Engineer. If you have a knack for Soul Tools, even if you're eliminated from the Martial Soul Department, you can join the Soul Tool Department and stay at the academy."

"As for an introduction to Soul Tools, Yue Hongchen, would you tell us a little about them?"

Yue Hongchen nodded. After considering how much he could say, he began. "Without my grandfather's permission, I can't say too much about Soul Tools. But I can give you a brief introduction, in the hope that some of you with the right talent will become Soul Engineers."

"Ordinary Soul Tools are divided into offensive and defensive types. The one I'm going to introduce is called a Fixed Soul Tool Cannon Shell."

At Yue Hongchen's signal, the students moved their desks to the sides, clearing space in the classroom for him.

Yue Hongchen walked to the middle of the classroom and took a shell from his Soul Guiding Ring.

Its body was a dark silver, covered in web-like gilded formations. Seven diamond-shaped Soul Crystals were set into grooves along its surface, glimmering with a deep purple light. The shell was about three feet long, with twisted lightning patterns engraved on its tail. Even before it was activated, it radiated a terrifying pressure, as if a small thunderstorm had been sealed inside.

"This is a Level 7 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell—the Sky-Splitting Thunder."

Everyone stared at the metal behemoth beside Yue Hongchen. It looked terrifying, but they had no idea how powerful it actually was.

Seeing their reactions, Yue Hongchen continued, "Level 1 and 2 Soul Tools can threaten Soul Masters between levels 10 and 30. A Level 2 ray gun or shield can counter a two-ring Soul Skill and block an attack from a three-ring Soul Elder.

"Levels 3 and 4 can threaten Soul Masters between levels 30 and 50. A Level 3 shield can block a Soul Ancestor's fourth Soul Skill, while a Level 4 shield can withstand a Soul King's Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Skill.

"Levels 5 and 6 can threaten Soul Masters between levels 50 and 80. A Level 5 fixed shell can injure a Soul King, while a Level 6 one can threaten an ordinary Soul Douluo. An Invincible Shield of the same level can block a Soul Douluo's attack.

"And a Level 7 fixed shell can kill a Soul Saint."

To prove he wasn't exaggerating, Yue Hongchen began channeling Soul Power into the Fixed Soul Tool Cannon Shell.

The moment his Soul Power flowed into it, the Soul Crystals lit up one after another. Gilded patterns coursed along the shell's body with a crackling hiss. The surrounding air ionized and warped slightly, while tiny arcs of electricity danced across the shell, scorching little black marks into the floor.

At the same time, a chill of mortal danger crept over every student. The air seemed to freeze, and even breathing became a careful affair.

Yue Hongchen's voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable force. "This isn't an illusion, nor am I exaggerating. The moment Soul Power enters it, it locks onto this area. Any living thing that tries to approach will become its target."

His fingers gently brushed the shell. The Sky-Splitting Thunder's hum grew lower, as if a slumbering beast had been roused. "And this is just an ordinary Level 7 shell." Yue Hongchen's gaze swept over the students.

The classroom fell silent. Only the crackle of electricity from the shell echoed through the air. Mu Jin's eyes grew thoughtful as she watched Yue Hongchen and the students, whose eyes shone with curiosity and longing.

"Go on," Mu Jin said softly, a hint of approval in her voice.

Yue Hongchen took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind. He took a black token from his Soul Guiding Ring. Intricate patterns were carved into it: the crest of the Hongchen Family. He pressed the token against the shell, and it burst into brilliant light, intertwining with the shell's gilded formations.

"This token is the key to activating a Soul Tool," Yue Hongchen explained. "Soul Tools of different levels require Soul Engineers of different levels to operate them. A Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell needs to be activated by a Soul Engineer at the Titled Douluo level. Otherwise, not only will it fail to unleash its power, it may backfire on its user."

He paused, then continued. "A Soul Tool's power depends not only on its level and the Soul Engineer's Soul Power, but also on how well the engineer understands and controls it. A Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell is powerful enough to destroy a city and could even inflict fatal injuries on a Titled Douluo."

Yue Hongchen's tone turned grave. "But Soul Tools are double-edged swords. If used improperly, they can hurt their user just as easily as their enemy. So every Soul Engineer must stay alert and use Soul Tools with caution."

The atmosphere in the classroom grew heavier. As the students watched the shell radiating danger, they felt both fear and a yearning for its immense power.

Mu Jin walked over to Yue Hongchen and patted him on the shoulder. "Very well explained, Yue Hongchen."

Yue Hongchen smiled faintly and nodded.

"All right." Mu Jin cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention back to her. "That's all for today. Classes officially begin tomorrow: theory in the morning and physical training in the afternoon. If you don't think your talent is enough to see you through the outer court and want to pursue the path of a Soul Engineer, you can talk to me after class."

With that, she left the classroom. The students rose and followed, carrying with them the shock of what they had seen and hopes for the future.

After Yue Hongchen's explanation and their close-up look at the Level 7 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell, Soul Tools had taken root in the hearts of these passionate young students. Ning Tian was especially interested. As a Support System student, she had no combat ability, and Soul Tools could make up for that.

In a corner of the classroom, a figure appeared silently. Zhou Yi stood there, watching Yue Hongchen and Mu Jin walk away, a complicated light in her eyes. Yue Hongchen's explanation had taught her a great deal too. In particular, that Fixed Soul Tool Cannon Shell was something Shrek's Soul Tool Department still couldn't make.