"Battle Armor could be traced back to the Sun Moon Empire, the predecessor of the Sun Moon Federation ten thousand years ago.
"At the time, Soul Engineers wondered whether Soul Tools could amplify Soul Masters and elevate their overall strength to a new level. Thus, humanoid Soul Tools were born," Leng Yaozhu said.
"Spirit Pagoda ancestor, Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao, further improved humanoid Soul Tools and created the Battle Armor prototype recognized by the Soul Master Realm: the Ice Extreme War God Armor.
"Xuanzhen, you are my Direct Disciple. I have set two goals for you. I hope you will always remember them and strive toward them without cease.
"First, become an Extreme Douluo Quasi-God.
"Second, become a Four-Word Battle Armor Master."
Leng Yaozhu's expression was stern. Noble birth did not mean one could slack off and coast through life. On the contrary, it meant stricter demands, especially for geniuses. They were the foundation upon which great powers flourished.
With the God Realm gone, an Extreme Douluo Quasi-God was the pinnacle of a Soul Master's personal cultivation, while a Four-Word Battle Armor Master stood at the peak of Soul Tool craftsmanship. Leng Yaozhu had raised Zhao Xuanzhen with these two goals in mind since he was six years old. It was no different from telling him outright: you are the limit of Douluo Continent!
Zhao Xuanzhen nodded heavily, yet silently told himself that becoming a Quasi-God and a Four-Word Battle Armor Master was only halfway there. He would surely surpass the limits of the world!
Leng Yaozhu curved her lips into a smile. "Battle Armor currently has four ranks, from one-word to four-word. The gap between each rank is like heaven and earth.
"To become a Battle Armor Master, one must first master a Second Profession related to Battle Armor.
"Battle Armor takes shape through four steps: forging metal, designing Battle Armor blueprints, manufacturing, assembling, and inscribing Soul Tool Core Formations, then repairing and refining it.
"Accordingly, Battle Armor Masters have formed four major professions: Forging Master, Mecha Designer, Mecha Manufacturer, and Mecha Repairer.
"Today's lesson concerns the direction of your Second Profession. If you want your Battle Armor to become powerful, it must suit you. A Battle Armor Master and their Battle Armor are intimately connected. During its creation, one's Martial Soul merges with it and resonates with it, gradually becoming one with the Battle Armor.
"Mecha Designers have the highest compatibility with Battle Armor. No one understands you better than yourself, and the strength of Battle Armor is tied to compatibility as well. Perfect compatibility can provide a twenty-level Soul Power boost, allowing a Soul Master's combat strength to leap across two major realms.
"Mecha Manufacturing involves meticulous procedures. Inscribing Core Formations requires extensive repetitive practice. Mecha Repair is more of a support role. Though one understands some design and manufacturing knowledge, one participates less in the creation of Battle Armor and faces greater difficulties with fusion.
"Forging Masters require the most talent and are the hardest to enter. Their mid-stage investment costs rank first among the Four Major Professions. After breaking through to become a seventh-rank Saint Craftsman, high-level Forging Masters immediately become talents sought after by all great powers. After all, forged metal is a prerequisite for creating Battle Armor."
After introducing the Four Major Professions one by one, Leng Yaozhu said, "Xuanzhen, you may take some time to consider which Second Profession you want to learn, then give me your answer. Youth is an advantage—it gives you more room to make mistakes."
This was the advantage of starting out in a top-tier power. Teachers and elders valued childhood education. In another time and space, Xie Xie and Xiaoyan entered Shrek Academy at thirteen, yet their Second Professions were only a pitiful first rank. Even excluding the bug that was Tang Wulin, there were people of the same age with third- and fourth-rank professions.
The two had broken through to ninth-rank Second Professions in their twenties, proving their talent was not lacking. What they lacked was the awareness of being nurtured from childhood by family elders. By comparison, Sky Phoenix Douluo truly deserved her title as a generation's Title Douluo, exploiting children from the age of six.
Leng Yaozhu quietly watched the pondering Zhao Xuanzhen, anticipating his choice. Her words had carried an implicit bias. She had praised Mecha Design, neither praised nor criticized Mecha Manufacturing, lightly disparaged Mecha Repair, and given Forging a fair assessment.
No one was perfect; everyone had selfish motives. As a Four-Word Battle Armor Master whose Second Profession had long since surpassed the ninth rank, she was a Ninth Rank Mecha Designer and an Eighth Rank Mecha Manufacturer. Naturally, she wished for her disciple to inherit her path. Her not disparaging Forging was merely out of respect for the sole Godly Craftsman in the world.
After a while, Zhao Xuanzhen made his decision. "Teacher, I will study Mecha Design, Mecha Manufacturing, and Mecha Repair. I will advance all Three Major Professions together."
"Why?"
Leng Yaozhu's eyebrows furrowed. Zhao Xuanzhen choosing Mecha Design pleased her, but his appetite was a little too great. It was precisely because she had cultivated two Secondary Professions that she understood their difficulty even better.
"On the surface, there are four Second Professions, but in truth, there are only two: Forging Masters and Soul Engineers," Zhao Xuanzhen explained. "The Continent Historical Records state that the earliest Battle Armor Masters were Soul Engineers.
"Soul Engineers endured countless hardships to develop the first set of Battle Armor. Its principles were too complicated, and only a few Soul Engineers grasped the secrets of creating it.
"Thus, Soul Engineers gradually evolved into Three Second Professions, lowering the demands on individual talent so Battle Armor Masters could create Battle Armor through joint effort.
"Mecha Design, Mecha Manufacturing, and Mecha Repair are fundamentally a trinity, with knowledge flowing between them.
"Mecha Repair includes knowledge related to design and manufacturing. Mecha Designers must consider manufacturing issues when designing Battle Armor, while Mecha Manufacturers likewise need to understand the essence of design.
"Only by unifying all three and taking control of everything myself can I create Battle Armor with perfect compatibility."
"Your teacher understands. As you wish."
Leng Yaozhu's tone was light and cheerful, her clear eyes brimming with laughter.
Good teachers were rare creatures, and genius disciples were equally rare. Not to mention a disciple with exceptional talent, his own ideas, and the willingness to put in effort. No matter how demanding Leng Yaozhu was, she could not find a single fault with Zhao Xuanzhen.
"Xuanzhen, let us make an agreement." Leng Yaozhu extended her fair, jade-like palm. "Within five years, all three Second Professions must break through to the fourth rank, and your Soul Power Cultivation cannot fall behind either. Otherwise, you will have to make a choice."
"All right."
With a slap, master and disciple lightly clapped palms, sealing their agreement.
Everyone had things they were innately good at and interested in. There was no need to force himself to learn Forging, but the Four-Word Battle Armor of the Godly Craftsman who could Control the World was truly heaven-defying. Zhao Xuanzhen already had a plan. When the time came, a living being would emerge from Bagua Qimen and take that Godly Craftsman's Position!
For the remainder of the lesson, Leng Yaozhu explained the knowledge of two Second Professions. Beginners could not yet touch such profound subjects as Mecha or Battle Armor, so she started with basic Soul Tools.
With a Ninth Rank Mecha Designer and Eighth Rank Mecha Manufacturer personally imparting her experience, Zhao Xuanzhen was like a sponge, absorbing knowledge with all his might.
Suddenly, he caught sight of the Spirit Water Porpoise beside him dozing off from the corner of his eye.
Outside of combat, the Spirit Water Porpoise's movements in the outside world barely consumed its host's Soul Power. Zhao Xuanzhen had let it out for some fresh air and to cultivate their bond.
At this moment, the host was studying hard while the Soul Spirit slept and slacked off...
Then again, porpoises did not go to school, go to work, attend 8 AM classes, or study Battle Armor... Damn it!
Lord Tun Tun, I am so sorry I did not let you have enough fun...
"Teacher, pause for a moment."
Watching the Spirit Water Porpoise lounge about so leisurely made Zhao Xuanzhen itch all over. He grabbed a Battle Armor design book and opened it in front of it.
"Come on, learn it properly. You will help me make Battle Armor in the future!"
The first person to exploit a Soul Spirit!
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