Second Profession Choice, The First Person to Exploit Souls (Part 2)

Chapter 8: Second Profession Choice, The First to Squeeze a Soul Spirit (Part 2)

"Battle armor can be traced back ten thousand years to the predecessor of the Sun Moon Federation, the Sun Moon Empire. Back then, Soul Tool Masters wondered if they could use soul tools to amplify soul masters, allowing their overall strength to leap across ranks. Thus, humanoid soul tools were born," Leng Yaozhu said.

"The Spirit Pagoda's ancestor, Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao, made a second improvement on the basis of humanoid soul tools, creating the recognized prototype of battle armor in the Soul Master Realm—the Ice Extreme War God Armor. Xuanzhen, you are my direct disciple. I set two goals for you, and I hope you will always remember them and strive toward them unceasingly. First, Extreme Douluo Quasi-God. Second, Four-Word Battle Armor Master."

Leng Yaozhu's expression was stern. A noble birth did not mean a lifetime of coasting and waiting to die; rather, it implied strictness, especially for geniuses. They were the root of the great powers' strength. With the divine realm gone, the Extreme Douluo Quasi-God was the peak of a soul master's personal cultivation, and the Four-Word Battle Armor Master was the summit of soul tool craftsmanship. Leng Yaozhu had cultivated Zhao Xuanzhen with these two goals since he was six, essentially telling him clearly: You are the limit of Douluo Continent!

Zhao Xuanzhen nodded heavily, but silently told himself that Quasi-God and Four-Word Battle Armor Master were only halfway. He would surely surpass the world's limits!

Leng Yaozhu curved her lips and said, "Battle armor currently has four levels, from one-word to four-word. Each level is worlds apart. To become a battle armor master, the prerequisite is to learn a second profession related to battle armor. The formation of battle armor is divided into four steps: forging metal, designing battle armor blueprints, crafting and assembling the soul tool core formation, and repairing and perfecting it. Based on this, battle armor masters form four major professions: Forger, Mecha Designer, Mecha Manufacturer, and Mecha Repairer. Today's lesson is about second profession direction. If you want your battle armor to be powerful, it must suit you. The battle armor master and the armor are intimately connected. During the crafting process, your martial soul merges with it, creating resonance, gradually becoming one with the armor. The Mecha Designer has the highest compatibility with battle armor. No one knows you better than yourself. The strength of battle armor is also related to compatibility. Perfect compatibility provides a twenty-rank soul power boost, allowing a soul master's combat strength to leap across two major realms. The Mecha Manufacturer's process is meticulous, requiring a lot of repetitive practice to inscribe the core formation. The Mecha Repairer leans more toward logistics, understanding some design and manufacturing knowledge, but participates less in crafting battle armor, facing more difficulties in fusion. The Forger is the hardest to get into, requiring the most talent, and the mid-term investment cost ranks first among the four major professions. After breaking through to the seventh-rank Saint Craftsman, high-level forgers become talents that major powers compete to invite, after all, the prerequisite for crafting battle armor is forging metal."

Leng Yaozhu finished introducing the four major professions one by one: "Xuanzhen, you can think for a while about which second profession to learn, then give me an answer. Youth is an advantage; you have more capital to make mistakes."

This was the advantage of starting with a top-tier power. The teacher focused on early education. In another timeline, Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan entered Shrek Academy at thirteen, with only a pitiful first-rank second profession. Even excluding the bug that was Tang Wulin, their peers had third-rank or even fourth-rank professionals. The two broke through to ninth-rank second professions in their twenties, showing their talent wasn't weak. What they lacked was the awareness cultivated by their family elders from a young age. In comparison, Sky Phoenix Douluo was worthy of being a Title Douluo of her generation, "squeezing" children from the age of six.

Leng Yaozhu quietly watched Zhao Xuanzhen, who was deep in thought, anticipating his choice. Her words carried a hidden bias: she praised mecha design, neither praised nor criticized mecha manufacturing, lightly stepped on mecha repair, and gave a fair evaluation of forging. No one is perfect; everyone has selfish motives. As a Four-Word Battle Armor Master, Leng Yaozhu had long broken through to ninth-rank in her second profession. She was a Ninth Rank Mecha Designer and Eighth Rank Mecha Manufacturer, so it was only natural she wanted her disciple to follow her path. Not disparaging forging was merely giving face to the Godly Craftsman, who was unique in the world.

After a moment, Zhao Xuanzhen made his decision: "Teacher, I'll learn mecha design, mecha manufacturing, and mecha repair. I'll advance in all three major professions together."

"Why?" Leng Yaozhu's eyebrows furrowed. Zhao Xuanzhen's choice of mecha design pleased her, but his appetite was too big. Having cultivated two secondary professions herself, she understood their difficulty all too well.

"On the surface, there are four second professions, but in reality, there are only two: Forger and Soul Tool Master," Zhao Xuanzhen explained. "According to the Continent Historical Records, the earliest battle armor masters were Soul Tool Masters. After countless hardships, Soul Tool Masters researched the first set of battle armor. The principles were too complex, and only a few Soul Tool Masters grasped the crafting secrets. So, Soul Tool Masters gradually evolved into three second professions, lowering the individual talent requirements, allowing battle armor masters to craft battle armor together. Mecha design, mecha manufacturing, and mecha repair are essentially a trinity, interconnected. Mecha repair includes knowledge of design and manufacturing. A mecha designer must consider manufacturing issues when designing battle armor. A mecha manufacturer must also understand the essence of design. Unify the three, handle everything yourself, and you can craft perfectly compatible battle armor."

"Teacher understands. As you wish." Leng Yaozhu's tone was light, her clear eyes brimming with laughter.

A good teacher was a rare creature, and a genius disciple was also rare in the world, let alone one with exceptional talent, independent ideas, and a willingness to work hard. No matter how strict Leng Yaozhu was, she couldn't find any fault with Zhao Xuanzhen.

"Xuanzhen, let's make a pact." Leng Yaozhu extended her jade-white palm. "Within five years, break through to fourth-rank in all three second professions, and don't let your soul power cultivation fall behind either. Otherwise, you'll have to make a choice."

"Alright." With a crisp smack, the master and disciple lightly clapped hands, sealing the pact.

Everyone had innate talents and interests. There was no need to force oneself to learn forging, but the Godly Craftsman's ability to "Control the World" with four-word battle armor was truly heaven-defying. Zhao Xuanzhen already had a plan. In time, a being would emerge from his Bagua Qimen and take the seat of the Godly Craftsman!

In the following time, Leng Yaozhu lectured on the knowledge of two second professions. Beginners couldn't yet touch the profound levels of mecha or battle armor, so she started with basic soul tools. With a Ninth Rank Mecha Designer and Eighth Rank Mecha Manufacturer imparting experience firsthand, Zhao Xuanzhen was like a sponge, greedily absorbing knowledge.

Suddenly, his peripheral vision caught sight of the Spirit Water Porpoise dozing off to the side. In non-combat situations, the Spirit Water Porpoise consumed almost no host soul power when moving in the outside world. Zhao Xuanzhen had let it out for some fresh air and to bond. Now, the host was studying hard while the soul spirit was slacking off... Well, water porpoises didn't go to school, didn't work, didn't have 8 AM classes, didn't learn battle armor... Damn it! Lord Tun Tun, I'm sorry for not letting you have enough fun...

"Teacher, pause for a moment." Zhao Xuanzhen, irritated by the Spirit Water Porpoise's leisurely attitude, grabbed a battle armor design book and opened it in front of it. "Come on, learn this. Later, you'll help me make battle armor!"

The first to squeeze a soul spirit!