Ever since Mu En had been persuaded, Chen Fu could clearly feel that his experiments were proceeding much more smoothly. Whatever he wanted, he got—there was no room for bargaining.
As Shrek Academy's most treasured materials were brought out one after another, Xuan Zi nearly wondered whether Mu En had been possessed. Meanwhile, Chen Fu's Soul Soul-Inducing Capture Device gradually took shape.
During that time, Chen Fu tested the [Divine Ring] device on Mu En. Sure enough, the [Divine Ring]'s maximum output could not shake a Peerless Douluo's spiritual power; it merely made Mu En feel a little itchy.
After conducting a new round of calculations based on martial souls, he found that Soul Spirit Particles needed to be accelerated along a massive circular track before they could reach a speed capable of piercing the spiritual density of a Peerless Douluo.
After reaching that conclusion, Mu En was not in a hurry and said he would find a way to obtain the materials for the new equipment.
Finally, when the academy's autumn term ended and vacation began, Chen Fu completed his creation.
When fully unfolded, the entire device resembled a Mechanical Giant Spider the size of a building. Its densely packed yet orderly little mechanical legs created a strange impression of both Order and disarray.
After completing his inspection, Chen Fu separated the Mechanical Giant Spider's functional components and stored them in Spatial Soul Tools. He did not have a Spatial Soul Tool large enough to hold the entire machine.
During this time, his Soul Power Level had reached forty-nine, not far from fifty. As for Ma Xiaotao, she had reached level sixty half a month ago.
"Ready?"
Looking at the old man and girl waiting outside, Chen Fu nodded.
Mu En then grabbed both their hands. The surrounding space shattered like a mirror, and in an instant, the three of them teleported from Lin Pavilion to a forest of towering trees.
"This is already the outskirts of Star Dou. From here on, we just wait patiently for an opportunity."
Shrek City was not far from the Star Dou Great Forest. If the surrounding regions were included, the two could be considered neighbors.
Over the next few days, Mu En led the two of them slowly toward the core region. Their target was a Fierce Beast, so there was no need to rush.
"Little White, breathe fire."
Holding a roast chicken in his hand, Chen Fu gave the white ring an order.
"Breathe fire on your head!"
Ma Xiaotao angrily raised her fist and gave Chen Fu a light punch. The white Soul Ring's sentience had become increasingly obvious; in a sense, it was an extension of her soul.
"I was just teasing you. Little Blue, add some fire."
Chen Fu smiled, then gave an order to the Technology Throne residing within the blue Data Soul Ring.
Ma Xiaotao had given him an idea. Replacing the Technology Throne's intelligence with a Data Soul Ring integrated with his own soul was undoubtedly an excellent option.
Flames ignited from thin air, roasting the chicken in Chen Fu's hand until it was charred on the outside and tender within.
He gave half to Ma Xiaotao and the other half to Mu En, then stood and looked into the distance.
"Mu En, we've been wandering around for seven days. How come we haven't run into a Fierce Beast taking a stroll?"
"Soul Beasts live long lives and have a slow pace of life. That's normal."
Mu En accepted the roast chicken Chen Fu handed him without any distaste.
"Still, your luck is good. I just sensed that Soul Beast's aura. The Fierce Beast isn't far away."
With one child in each hand, Mu En shattered space and made a spatial leap.
After a brief sway, Chen Fu discovered that he was sitting on a furry paw pad.
"Humans!"
The sudden spiritual pressure was intercepted by Mu En before it could reach them.
Only then did Chen Fu and Ma Xiaotao react. A massive wolf-like creature stood before them, while beneath their feet was a Soul Beast that looked like a golden-furred lion.
"Touch her, and all of you will die!"
Surging black flames dyed half the sky red.
Mu En patted the Soul Beast beneath his feet, signaling it to behave, then raised a hand and wiped away the black flames filling the sky. Only then did he look at the other party. "Keep it down, Scarlet King. We're here to make a deal."
"The Auspicious Beast must not come to harm, human!"
The Soul Beast called Scarlet King had already sensed the threat of death from the tiny human before him, but the Auspicious Beast could not be allowed to suffer any mishap!
"Our target was never the Auspicious Beast."
He stroked the smooth fur of the little golden lion. "The Auspicious Beast is merely a bargaining chip to make you listen to me."
From deep within the forest, superpowerful beings had already turned their attention toward them.
Mu En looked back and extended an invitation. Times had changed; a conversation among those at the top would make things easier to explain.
"Interesting."
A man in a black robe embroidered with golden patterns silently appeared atop Scarlet King's head.
"Once you've left that place, you won't be able to leave today."
"I can still flatten half your forest, at least."
Mu En did not take the threat to heart. Both sides were supreme experts with concerns of their own, and under normal circumstances neither would choose to truly fight. Besides, the bargaining chip in his hand was far more valuable; the Auspicious Beast was merely an extra.
The black-robed man gave Mu En a deep look. He could still win one against two, but the price would not be worth it.
"Speak. What deal do you want to make?"
Mu En immediately transmitted the Soul Ring Attachment experiment to the black-robed man through Spiritual Power.
After a moment of silence, Chen Fu felt a gaze inspect him inside and out.
"This one is more curious about the first method."
"Everything must proceed step by step, isn't it?"
Indeed so, the black-robed man nodded slightly. Although the second method of Soul Ring Attachment was still using their Soul Beasts as test subjects, the Soul Beasts involved would occupy a very delicate position.
Perhaps... at certain times, a Soul Beast's choice could even turn humans against one another?
"The future of this technology is to break free from the limitations of Soul Rings. It needs an external force to make that breakthrough. Being constrained by Soul Beasts is not something I can accept."
Chen Fu spoke at the right moment. Although the humanoid being before him might be the most powerful individual he had encountered so far, he was the central figure of this experiment.
So this was your true bargaining chip, Youngster Mu? Indeed, if it could be achieved, the Auspicious Beast would only count as an extra.
"How can you ensure that what you say can be realized?"
No matter what, the black-robed man felt it was worth trying.
"By the experiment I'm conducting on myself."
Three transparent Soul Rings and one blue Soul Ring appeared before the humans and Soul Beasts.
A Soul Ring without the slightest fluctuation of Soul Beast Soul, Spiritual Power, or Soul Power appeared before him, and the black-robed man was finally moved.
He had thought Chen Fu was merely making empty promises. He had not expected that human to already be walking this path.
"Human, the beast clan accepts this deal."
He could not refuse an attempt that might change the situation in which humans and Soul Beasts had to fight to the death. After hundreds of thousands of years of accumulation, he had to admit that humans truly were favored by heaven.
Once both sides reached an agreement, Chen Fu swiftly took functional modules out of his Spatial Soul Tool and began assembling them. At the same time, he directed the humans and Soul Beasts to clear the area and establish a barrier to prevent the experiment from being affected.
The massive Spider-Type Soul Tool gradually took shape. Chen Fu named this Soul Tool, designed for Soul Ring Engraving, the Soul Ring Engraver.
Because of this, many later scholars came to a biased conclusion about why Chen Fu had not given the first-generation classic Soul Ring Engraver a title: it was ugly. —To the Greatest Guide
Once everyone became busy, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, who had been lying in the corner, saw that no one was paying attention to her. She could only climb to her feet and let out a plaintive roar toward the black-robed man standing nearby.
"Let's see if you dare run around again. Luckily, they were never after you. Otherwise, if you'd encountered an expert of this level, I might not have been able to save you in time."
The black-robed man stroked the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's smooth golden fur and secretly transmitted his voice. "Can you see anything about that human?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was a Luck Divine Beast, capable of sensing the existence of luck to a certain extent. She also possessed an extraordinary ability like the Eye of Destiny.
On hearing this, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion channeled her Soul Power and looked toward the human. Sensing this, he looked up while assembling the machinery and met her gaze, then continued installing a new module.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes became unfocused for an instant, but she quickly recovered.
"I cannot see his past or future. Yet the present I can see is a chaos..." Her crisp, ethereal voice sounded beside the black-robed man's ear.
"And..."
The little golden lion tried hard to sniff.
"He has a strange smell."
"How is it strange?"
"It just... smells very similar to the lake water and that worm."
Hearing this, the man remained silent for a long time.
Why were humans always so favored by heaven?
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