Sun Moon Empire's Coercion

If [Ascension] alone would merely stir Shrek High-level into action, then combined with the largely mature [Awakening Soul Array Diagram], it was enough to drive any soul master who understood their effects into a frenzy.

Chen Fu's research had always been systematic. These technologies did not exist independently; on the contrary, they complemented one another.

Of course, technology was a double-edged sword, and at present, that sharp blade had fallen rather gently upon the Soul Beasts.

The materials required for the [Ascension] plan over the past year had been staggering, causing prices in Shrek City to soar. Prices for related Soul Tool materials in the three neighboring countries had also risen.

That Shrek was making a major move had become the consensus among nearly all factions across the two continents.

Among the many rumors, one was by far the most widespread: Shrek Academy was going to build a Level Nine Soul Tool!

Based on the inventor of the Battle Soul Instrument among their candidates, as well as the [Blazing Sun] sold externally by the academy to recoup funds, the various factions had largely concluded that Shrek Academy might be paving the way for that monstrous Student Soul Engineer teacher of theirs.

"In a sense, they were right."

Chen Fu neither confirmed nor denied the rumor. In terms of technical level, [Ascension] could indeed only be considered a Level Nine Soul Tool... wonder.

It contained no divine power, no air of mystery. It was simply a Level Nine Soul Tool wonder that could be analyzed and replicated—just somewhat larger, somewhat more precise, and somewhat more powerful. Nothing more.

With a wave of his hand, Chen Fu dismissed the battle report displayed on the blue Soul Power screen. He sat silently in his seat, fingers interlaced as he calmly watched the Pavilion Elders across from him.

He had not actually wanted to attend this Sea God Pavilion meeting, but since its outcome would affect the [Ascension] plan, Chen Fu had come.

"Four Soul Engineer legions from Sun Moon have advanced toward the Star Luo Border and clashed with Star Luo's White Tiger Legion at dawn yesterday."

"The outcome was somewhat unexpected. The White Tiger Legion is at a disadvantage."

Seated firmly upon the raised platform, Xuan Zi read the battle report in an emotionless tone.

"Does this battle demonstrate the importance of Soul Tools on the battlefield?"

The Douluo Pavilion Elders, who had once scoffed at Soul Tools as external aids, now nodded repeatedly, agreeing that Soul Tools should be developed vigorously—developed with every effort possible.

"Their purpose in starting this conflict is obvious. They have a Level Nine strategic Soul Engineer themselves, so they understand very well just how terrifying a Level Nine Soul Tool is in war."

"We already surpass them in soul master cultivation. If we gain Level Nine Soul Tools as well, they will have no chance of victory whatsoever. It seems their wolfish ambitions remain undying."

Chen Fu silently watched Xuan Zi and the other Pavilion Elders discuss the matter without saying a word.

Though he bore an inescapable share of responsibility for the outbreak of this conflict.

To give a simple example: Mingde Hall of the Sun Moon Empire was one of the primary major buyers of Lin Pavilion's Battle Soul Instruments.

As for whether Mingde Hall bought them to crack them, slept with them as pillows, or used them for skincare and UV protection, Chen Fu did not care. In any case, their orders had never decreased.

However, what caught Chen Fu's attention was the coordinated offense and defense displayed by the Sun Moon Empire's four legions during this border conflict.

So he extracted the key information and secretly used [Youlan] to simulate the battle.

He immediately discovered a suspicious point.

Well, damn. There was a 99% chance that they possessed some sort of real-time Communication Soul Tool with a range of ten kilometers.

Silently unfolding a small Soul Power screen, Chen Fu ignored the Sea God Pavilion Elders, who had stopped their discussion to look at him. His Spiritual Power stirred his Soul Power as he ran calculations and coded.

Based on the information Sun Moon had revealed so far, as well as the intelligence a Peerless Douluo had obtained by selling his looks, Chen Fu roughly deduced Mingde Hall's development direction.

Mm... given their level and technical reserves, they really could do it.

Amid a torrent of data, a crude three-dimensional model of a long, antenna-equipped Soul Tool gradually took shape in Chen Fu's hands.

"..."

Xuan Zi lowered his head for another look at the second battle report he had just received, then laboriously compared it with the model on Chen Fu's small screen.

"Did you really give them the technology? That can't be right, though?"

The second battle report in Xuan Zi's hand was a condemnation sent by Star Luo half an hour ago, accusing Shrek of possibly leaking Battle Soul Instrument technology to the Sun Moon Empire. Attached was a picture of the Communication Soul Tool that the White Tiger Duke had seized from the battlefield.

"It's only a deduction. If I had truly given it to them, what you would be holding right now would be a plea for help from the Star Luo Royal Family."

"They imitate without copying, learn without becoming identical. Their craftsmanship and concepts are quite good."

As he answered, Chen Fu did not forget to take a jab at the Soul Tool Academy's persistent desire to copy his work.

As an aside, it was said that the "Evil Soul Master" squad that had breached Chen Fu's father's City Lord's Mansion back then had been wiped out half a year ago. The one leading the operation had been the new baron city lord who came from the Duke's Mansion.

It was said those "Evil Soul Masters" had been eradicated so thoroughly that no one in the Holy Spirit Cult could even be found who knew them. After Long Xiaoyao learned from Mu En that Chen Fu's entire family had once been slaughtered by "Evil Soul Masters," he had immediately gone to the Holy Spirit Cult in person to verify it.

Honestly... twelve-year-old children really were easy to bully.

"So, what is the result of your discussion? Will you slow down construction of [Ascension]? Will you compromise with the Sun Moon Empire?"

Chen Fu decided to swiftly end this meaningless discussion. They merely wanted him to see how much the academy had sacrificed for him and all that nonsense. A familiar tactic—he had fallen for it plenty of times when he was young in his previous life.

Slow down the construction of [Ascension]? Damn it, even if Sun Moon fought its way into the Star Luo capital, they could forget about it!

Anger immediately surged within the Pavilion Elders. You were allowed to have a Level Nine Soul Tool, but we were not? If our academy had not been a neutral force, we should have wiped out your Sun Moon imperial family last time!

What did people live for?

Some lived merely to survive. Some lived to fill their stomachs. Others lived to marry a passable wife.

Those were merely the thoughts of Ordinary People who had been ruled for countless millennia. But for the Pavilion Elders, who had cultivated to the level of Titled Douluo, increasing their strength had essentially become the pursuit of their entire lives.

Without a fierce desire to grow stronger, they could never have broken through layer after layer of hardships and ultimately attained the rank of Titled Douluo.

The [Ascension] Soul Tool wonder could clearly greatly improve their cultivation. The food had already been brought to their mouths—if even that were knocked away, could Shrek still call itself the strongest force?

"So, what is your decision?"

With his fingers interlaced and the backs of his hands supporting his chin, Chen Fu looked at the crowd opposite him, who had fallen into an inexplicable silence.

"Shao Zhe, lead a team to the border and take a look around."

At the urging of the Pavilion Elders' gazes, Xuan Zi spoke and made the decision. Shrek had to let the Sun Moon Empire know what the foundations of the number one power truly meant.

Young people these days... they really weren't easy to fool anymore. Watching Young Man simply say "Oh" before turning and leaving, Xuan Zi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

To deal with this person, Xuan Zi had considered many methods, yet none had borne fruit. He didn't care for what Shrek had, while Shrek coveted what he possessed immensely.

Yet without harming the bond between teacher and student, no matter how they "coerced and tempted" him, the brat never gave Shrek what it wanted most.

Watching Chen Fu already play [Ark] in countless new ways, their failure to copy the first-generation [Ark] after three years had made them realize the value of the technology.

Although Chen Fu had indeed been supporting Shrek's Soul Tool Academy to some extent, and Fan Yu and the others had gradually begun getting on track.

But with an "unparalleled beauty" right beside them, if they claimed they had no thoughts about it, not a single person in Sea God Pavilion would believe them.

Thanks to [A Jun Lan Han Qian], [Liu Hao 210], and [Book Friend 8378] for the monthly tickets, and thanks to my good brothers for the recommendation tickets (ω｀)