The Laboratory's Apprentice

"The main framework for the Data Divine Ring is basically complete. It's time to show off some technology and radical moves."

Chen Fu, with his messy black hair, murmured to himself as he looked at the Azure Blue ring before him. He had already finished editing the core program; all that was left was to increase the data volume.

"Ning Tian, you'll be responsible for Lin Pavilion's Level One and Level Two Soul Tools from now on."

"But Teacher, I've only been learning from you for three months! I've grasped the theory for simple Level One Soul Tools, but I can't process some of the material properties for Level Two Soul Tools!"

A little girl's head popped out from the "trash heap," her face full of grievance. Was this not making things difficult for her, a mere Soul Master? Her father had hired this teacher for her, and as soon as she finished her basic studies, he gave her a set of theoretical textbooks that were more advanced than she was, stipulating that she had to finish them within half a year.

"How many times have I told you, the traditional grading of Soul Tools is bullshit."

Chen Fu summoned Little Blue and began cleaning up the laboratory, which the little girl had made somewhat messy with her explosions. Large amounts of consumables floated into the air, were sorted, and then melted down into new secondary consumables. Fortunately, her father was wealthy enough to withstand her extravagance.

As the saying goes, practice leads to true knowledge. Chen Fu had Ning Tian personally handle many key theoretical operations. It didn't matter if the circuits were burned or exploded during troubleshooting; for the more dangerous ones, he had already used Little Blue to constantly monitor the data of the consumables and forcibly suppress them if any anomalies occurred.

In this way, Chen Fu imparted his concepts and theories of Soul Tools to Ning Tian while also personally creating opportunities for her to practice.

"How far have you gotten with that textbook?"

"I'm stuck at the part about the systematization and miniaturization of Soul Tool circuit layouts. It's like reading a celestial book ≥﹏≤"

Ning Tian's pretty face was a little dejected. Three months of study had made her realize just how extraordinary her teacher was. In terms of technological development concepts for Soul Tools, he was like an anomaly. No, it would be more accurate to say that compared to Chen Fu, all other Soul Engineers were the anomalies!

Although she was now being flooded with a lot of high-end theories, she still couldn't handle more advanced materials even with the Soul Power support from the Ark's core. Her repeated failures in practical exercises made her doubt whether she was truly suited to be a Soul Engineer.

"Miniaturization, huh? That's good. You're quite diligent."

Looking at the girl kneeling before him, her face dark and almost reaching his shoulders, he couldn't help but stroke her somewhat messy hair.

"You've learned up to that point, so theoretically, you should be able to handle traditional Level Four Soul Tools as well." Chen Fu stroked his chin, estimating the technical reserves required to craft a Level Four Soul Tool.

"Huh? Teacher, I can't even make Level Two work properly, and you want me to make Level Four? You're just exploiting child labor (ó﹏ò)"

Ning Tian's little face fell. She thought, Not everyone has a Martial Soul to assist them in specialized research like Teacher.

"Are you thinking that not everyone has a Martial Soul that's suitable for specialized research?"

Chen Fu guessed the little girl's thoughts in an instant.

"Soul Power is a means, not an end. Therefore, Martial Souls are also just a means, not an end."

Chen Fu stood up, patted his clothes, and then summoned his Martial Soul, the Technology Throne.

[Name: Chen Fu (Creator)]
[Level: 50 (+1)]
[Martial Soul: Technology Throne (Little Blue)]
[Soul Rings: Data Divine Ring, Colorless Soul Ring (Cultivating), Colorless Soul Ring (Cultivating), Colorless Soul Ring (Cultivating)]
[Soul Skills: Force x4]

Clang!

The Soul Rings behind him were arranged in a matrix using the Melting Ring technology, with a disc composed of Ark Soul Tools embedded around the outer edge.

[Creator Mode Activated]
[Ark Core Add-on Module Linked]

"It was meaningless to make it alone before, but now I can make it for you to practice with."

Large amounts of metal materials were enveloped by Soul Power within the scepter of the Technology Throne, melting and shaping at a visible speed.

This method could also be used against enemies, but high-level Soul Masters had Soul Power barriers and vitality, making the effect less pronounced. Of course, under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be Chen Fu's turn to act.

"Teacher, what are you doing?"

Ning Tian watched with some envy as Chen Fu entered the mode named [Creator], then looked at the unknown metal Soul Tool gradually taking shape in the air.

She could only use the Ark's Soul Power disc with the assistance of large machinery; she couldn't be as free and easy as her teacher.

As for the source of Soul Power that Chen Fu used extensively from the Ark, one type could be stored by himself, containing his own spiritual will as the core source Soul Power, used for some core research involving the spirit. The second type, used as general Soul Power, could utilize the Soul Power stored by other Soul Masters for ordinary experimental projects.

Converting specialized Soul Power into general Soul Power was why the first-generation Ark allowed Shrek's Soul Tool Academy to resist for three years without giving up. Traditional "milk bottles" could only produce and consume their own, and their shelf life was very short. The Ark, on the other hand, was "tasted by thousands of lips" and "time never defeats beauty."

Furthermore, there were two oversized power banks downstairs in the laboratory, essentially handling the entire laboratory's "electricity bill."

"Don't be too envious of this; it's just Level Two energy technology. Once I develop my Level Three energy technology experiment, this will be outdated."

Chen Fu sketched the circuit diagram with his mental power while instructing Little Blue to adjust the Soul Tool's structure according to the blueprint. Rather than making the Ark larger in capacity, he preferred to achieve a qualitative change.

"Okay, I don't understand anyway."

Ning Tian was a little helpless. She had some entry point into applied technology, but energy technology was like a misplaced dimension for her. With her teacher Chen Fu's philosophy, traditional "milk bottles" were considered Level One energy, only capable of temporary energy replenishment. The second-generation Ark was Level Two energy, capable of general Soul Power usage. It was truly difficult to imagine what the Level Three energy her teacher spoke of would be like.

As Chen Fu finished sketching the details of this two-meter-long, single-bed-like Soul Tool with his mental power, Little Blue also completed the material editing according to the established program.

Bang!

The substantial, large Soul Tool landed firmly on the ground, passing over Ning Tian's head and kicking up fine metal shavings.

"Wow, Teacher, you didn't even remind me!"

Ning Tian puffed out her cheeks and scrambled up from the floor, shaking her little fists at Chen Fu.

"It was all pre-measured, there was no way to mess it up."

He pressed down on the girl's head with one hand while the other gestured in the air, directing Little Blue to adjust its appearance. Some completely unnecessary scroll patterns appeared on the Soul Tool's surface. These scrolls would flicker with an Azure Blue light depending on the Soul Tool's operational status.

Chen Fu had to admit, he was a bit of a looks guy. When he could balance both performance and appearance, he always tried his best to achieve a harmonious unity.

For example:

"Teacher, what do you call this Soul Tool that looks like a big table?"

"Machine Tool."

"The emergence of the first-generation Machine Tool symbolized the formal implementation of the 'tool controls tool' concept. Of course, we still feel regret that Instructor Chen Fu did not bestow a title upon it, even though its name was indeed concise and comprehensive." --History of Modern Soul Tool Development

Thanks to student Deng Feng for the tip, thanks to reader with last four digits 6200 for the monthly ticket, and thanks to all my buddies for your support.