"The main framework of the Data Soul Ring is basically complete. It's time to show off some real technology and ruthless craftsmanship."
Chen Fu, his messy black hair in disarray, looked at the Youlan ring before him and muttered to himself. He had already finished coding the core program; all that remained was supplementing 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 studying under you for three months! I've already mastered the basic theory of simple Level One Soul Tools, but I can't process some of the materials used in Level Two Soul Tools!"
A little girl poked her head out from the "trash heap," her face full of grievance. Wasn't this making things difficult for a tiny Soul Master like her? When she came to report to the teacher her father had arranged for her, just after finishing her elementary fundamentals, he had handed her a set of theoretical textbooks beyond her level and ordered her to finish them within half a year.
"How many times have I told you? The traditional classification of Soul Tools is bullshit."
Chen Fu summoned Little Blue and had it thoroughly clean the laboratory, which the little girl had blown into a mess. Large amounts of consumable materials floated into the air, were sorted, then melted down into new secondary consumables. Thankfully, her father was rich enough to endure her wrecking things like this.
Practice produced true knowledge. Chen Fu had Ning Tian personally handle many key theories. It did not matter if she wired something incorrectly and burned or blew it up. For the more dangerous parts, he had long since arranged for Little Blue to monitor the consumables' data at all times and forcibly suppress any abnormalities.
That was how Chen Fu taught Ning Tian his concepts and theories of Soul Tools while personally creating opportunities for her to practice.
"How far have you gotten with that set of textbooks?"
"I got stuck on the orderly layout and miniaturization of Soul Tool circuits. It's basically like reading a heavenly tome ≥﹏≤"
Ning Tian's pretty little face was somewhat dejected. Three months of study had shown her just how different her teacher truly was. His ideas regarding the development of Soul Tool technology made him seem like an outlier. No—compared to Chen Fu, every other Soul Engineer was the outlier!
Although she had now been stuffed full of advanced theories, she still could not do anything with slightly higher-grade materials, even with the Soul Power support of the [Ark] Core. Her repeated failures in practical lessons even made her question, again and again, whether she was truly suited to become a Soul Engineer.
"Miniaturization, huh? Not bad. You've been working hard."
Looking at the little girl kneeling before him, her face smudged black and her height nearly reaching his shoulders, he could not help reaching out to rub her slightly messy long hair.
"You've gotten that far. By all rights, you should be able to start working on traditional Level Four Soul Tools too." Chen Fu rubbed his chin, estimating the technical groundwork needed to produce a Level Four Soul Tool.
"Huh? Teacher, I still can't even make a Level Two one properly, and you want me to make a Level Four one? You're abusing child labor! (ó﹏ò)"
Ning Tian's little face fell. It wasn't like everyone had a martial soul that helped them with research like Teacher did.
"Are you thinking that not everyone has a martial soul suited specifically for research?"
Chen Fu saw through the little girl's thoughts at a glance.
"Soul Power is a means, not an end. Martial souls are also merely a means, not an end."
Chen Fu rose and dusted off his clothes before summoning his martial soul, the Technology Throne.
[Name: Chen Fu (Creator)] [Level: Level 50 (+1)] [Martial Soul: Technology Throne (Little Blue)] [Soul Rings: Data Divine Ring, Colorless Soul Ring (Cultivation), Colorless Soul Ring (Cultivation), Colorless Soul Ring (Cultivation)] [Soul Skills: Compulsion ×4]
Clang!
The Soul Rings behind him spread out in a matrix through Melting Ring technology, with a circular disk composed of [Ark] Soul Tools embedded around the outer edge.
[Creator Mode Activated] [Ark Core Add-On Module Linked]
"There was no point in making it when I was alone, but now I can make one for you to practice with."
Large quantities of metal materials were wrapped in Soul Power under the authority of the Technology Throne, melting and taking shape at a visible speed.
This method could actually be used in combat as well, but Advanced Soul Masters possessed Soul Power barriers and vitality, making its effects less obvious. Of course, under normal circumstances, it would not be Chen Fu's turn to act anyway.
"Teacher, what are you making?"
Watching Chen Fu enter the mode named [Creator] with some envy, Ning Tian then looked toward the unknown metal Soul Tool gradually taking shape in the air.
She could only use the [Ark] Soul Power wheel with the assistance of large machinery; she could not wield it as freely as her teacher did.
As for the source of the [Ark] Soul Power Chen Fu used in large quantities, one type was core Soul Power containing his own Spiritual Will, which he stored whenever he had time for key research involving spiritual matters.
The second type was universal Soul Power, which could be stored from other Soul Masters and used for ordinary experimental projects.
Converting exclusive Soul Power into universal Soul Power—this was why the first-generation [Ark] had made Shrek Soul Tool Academy stubbornly hold on for three years.
Traditional "Milk Bottles" could only be used by the people who filled them, and their shelf life was very short. The [Ark], on the other hand, was like "a single pair of crimson lips sampled by ten thousand," and "time never defeats a beauty."
Moreover, there were two enormous power banks downstairs in the laboratory, basically covering the entire laboratory's "electricity bill."
"Don't envy this too much. It's only Level Two Energy Technology. Once I develop Level Three Energy Technology, this will be outdated."
As Chen Fu used his Spiritual Power to sketch the circuit blueprint, he directed Little Blue to adjust the Soul Tool's structure according to the design.
Rather than increasing the Ark's capacity, he preferred to bring about a qualitative transformation in the Ark.
"Fine. It's not like I understand any of it anyway."
Ning Tian was somewhat helpless. She still had some grasp of applied technology, but Energy Technology was like something from an entirely different time and space to her. According to Teacher Chen Fu's concepts, traditional "Milk Bottles" counted as Level One Energy Technology and could only provide temporary energy replenishment. The second-generation Ark was Level Two Energy Technology and could make Soul Power universal. She truly could not imagine what the Level Three Energy Technology her teacher spoke of would look like.
Once Chen Fu had finished using his Spiritual Power to outline the details of the two-meter-long Soul Tool, which resembled a single bed, Little Blue also completed its material editing according to the established program.
Bang!
The heavy large-scale Soul Tool passed over Ning Tian's head and landed steadily on the ground, kicking up fine metal scraps across the floor.
"Wow, Teacher, you didn't even warn me!"
Ning Tian climbed up from the floor with puffed cheeks and waved her little fists at Chen Fu.
"I calculated the measurements in advance. It wouldn't have missed."
One hand pressed down on the little girl's head, while the other traced through the air, directing Little Blue to adjust its appearance. Completely unnecessary repeating-pattern circuit designs appeared over the Soul Tool's surface, their patterns flashing with a faint blue glow according to the Soul Tool's operation.
Chen Fu had to admit that he cared a little about appearances. Whenever he could balance performance and aesthetics, he tried his best to achieve harmony between them.
For example:
"Teacher, what is this Soul Tool that looks like a huge table called?"
"A machine tool."
"The emergence of the first-generation machine tool marked the formal implementation of the concept of 'using tools to make tools.' Naturally, we still regret that Mentor Chen Fu did not grant it a title, even if its name was indeed concise and fitting." —History of Modern Soul Tool Development
Thanks to Xue Sheng Deng Feng for the reward, thanks to the reader whose number ends in 6200 for the monthly vote, and thanks to all of you for your support.
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