Soul-Guidance Device-Zhuge Divine Crossbow?
First it fell on the general, then it shifted to the gloomy-looking young man behind him with his face half-covered.
How to crack the Soul Tool of the Spirit Hall Empire?
This young man has quite the nerve!
Inside the main hall, there was an initial deathly silence, followed by hushed whispers and undisguised questioning glances.
"He cracked the Soul Tool of the Spirit Hall Empire?"
"The Empire's research team has gathered top geniuses and veterans from all sides, yet progress has been slow after so long. How dare this unknown young man spout such arrogant words?"
"Is General Zhang grasping at straws in his desperation?"
Even Tang Yuehua, who had been quietly listening from behind the Clear Sky Sect Master, couldn't help but look at Tang San in shock.
She knew her nephew was exceptionally talented, but even with the empire concentrating its forces, they couldn't quickly conquer him. Where did this young master get such absolute confidence?
Chapter 280 Soul Tool - Godly Zhuge Crossbow?
Feeling the suspicious and scrutinizing gazes coming from all directions, Tang San was not intimidated at all. Instead, a long-lost sense of pride and confidence welled up in his heart.
In his previous life, he was a once-in-a-century genius of the Tang Sect, proficient in various mechanisms, poisons, and Hidden Weapon, and possessing an exceptional understanding of the properties of various precision structures and materials.
Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus, Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles, Peacock Plume... which one isn't a masterpiece of craftsmanship?
In his view, the so-called Soul Tool is nothing more than another form of "device," and its essence remains the same despite all the variations!
With his talent, wouldn't it be a piece of cake?
Thinking of this, he took a deep breath, stepped out from behind General Zhang, and faced the arrogant young man in the main seat, as well as all the questioning gazes around him.
"Your Highness, esteemed officials," Tang San said, his voice neither humble nor arrogant, "I am fully aware of the gravity of this matter; it is no child's play, and I dare not speak falsely."
Tang San paused briefly, looked around at everyone, and continued, "I have been studying mechanical devices since childhood and have developed my own unique style. Although the Soul Tool of the Spirit Hall Empire seem complex, I believe their fundamental nature is not insurmountable."
His words contained no boasting, only a confident statement of facts.
"I am willing to sign a pledge!" Tang San's voice suddenly rose, filled with a do-or-die determination. "If I cannot crack the Core Array of at least one standard Soul Tool within the stipulated time and come up with a feasible imitation or improvement plan, I am willing to accept punishment!"
"I implore Your Highness to give me another chance!"
The gaze directed at Tang San gradually shifted from skepticism to hesitation and confusion. So confident—could this young man really be capable?
A pledge of allegiance! This is a gamble with one's life and fortune!
General Zhang listened intently, his palms sweating. Why was Tang Yin making a pledge without warning?
You have to understand that he brought the people with him; if Tang Yin fails, he will also be implicated.
Pei Qinhu nodded after hearing Tang San's confident words. "In that case, we would like to ask this young Mr. Tang Yin for his assistance. If successful, my Star Luo Empire will reward him handsomely."
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After receiving official authorization, Tang San's temporary workshop was quickly filled with various supplies.
Rare metal ingots shimmering with different luster, several valuable Spirit Hall Empire standard Soul Tool seized from the black market or the front lines, and a set of rather sophisticated Soul Tool research and manufacturing tools were all delivered to him.
Just as Tang San was getting ready to make a big splash, there was a gentle knock on the door.
Upon opening the door, Tang Yuehua stood outside with a solemn expression.
Unlike General Zhang, who was easily persuaded by Tang San's words and confident demeanor, she knew her nephew's background well. He grew up in Holy Soul Village and later attended Nuoding Academy and Shrek Academy, where he learned and practiced Martial Soul cultivation and combat techniques. He had never systematically studied Soul Tool.
"Mistress." Tang Yuehua entered the room, closed the door to shut out the noise, and her tone was filled with undisguised worry. "Tell your aunt the truth, what exactly are you trying to do? You have no prior experience with Soul Tool research, how could you possibly crack the Spirit Hall Empire's core technology in such a short time? Do you know what the consequences are if you fail to fulfill the pledge you made? It's not child's play, it really means death!"
She looked at Tang San's face, which now appeared ordinary and even tinged with gloom from long-term repression, and her heart was filled with confusion and worry.
She felt that after this reunion, this nephew, whom she already didn't know, made her more cautious, no... to be precise, more afraid. His thoughts were so deep that they were hard to fathom, and even Tang Yuehua, who had been in aristocratic circles for many years, couldn't see through them.
A barely perceptible hint of impatience flashed in Tang San's eyes. He felt that Tang Yuehua was too indecisive and hesitant, and simply could not understand his ambition and ability.
However, he maintained a respectful demeanor and explained calmly, "Aunt, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. Since I dared to make this pledge, I must be fairly confident. You don't need to worry too much."
He gave another round of evasive answers, reassuring Tang Yuehua and making her believe him.
Tang Yuehua wanted to say something more, but seeing Tang San's expression—clearly unwilling to talk more, and even subtly suggesting he was seeing her off—she had no choice but to swallow back her worries and doubts.
She gave Tang San a deep look, then sighed, "You'd better watch yourself."
After saying that, she turned and left the room.
Hearing the footsteps receding outside the door, Tang San's calm expression vanished instantly, replaced by a coldness. He slammed the door shut without hesitation.
Outside the door, Tang Yuehua did not leave immediately. She stood in the shadows of the corridor, recalling Tang San's seemingly calm yet stubborn and aloof face, and a strong sense of unease and regret welled up in her heart.
"Perhaps... choosing to reconnect with this nephew in the first place was a mistake," she murmured to herself, her voice filled with weariness and confusion.
She felt that Tang San was like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, carrying her wildly toward an unknown and dangerous direction, and she was powerless to stop him.
Back in his room, isolated from the outside world, Tang San's gaze swept intensely over the mountain of rare metal materials, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
He reached out and stroked a piece of heavy silver, a smile playing on his lips.
He didn't even glance at the few Soul Tool of the Spirit Hall Empire that the Star Luo Empire regarded as treasures and were eager to be deciphered.
"Deep-sea silver, Cold Heart Iron Essence, mithril... these are all top-tier materials for crafting Hidden Weapon. Unfortunately, they lack the potent poisons. Although my Man Faced Demon Spider venom can substitute, its effectiveness is still significantly reduced..."
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In the days that followed, Tang San's room was kept closed, and even his meals were delivered to his room.
The assistants sent by the Star Luo Restoration Organization were all refused entry without hesitation and strictly forbidden from approaching.
Inside, the room was dimly lit, and various rare metal materials were scattered on the table.
The standard Soul Tool sent for "research and analysis" were haphazardly piled in a corner, some even covered in dust.
Tang San glanced at it these past few days, but quickly lost interest and put it aside, ignoring it completely.
Under Qian Xunji's strict orders, all standard Soul Tool of the Spirit Hall Empire are equipped with sophisticated anti-theft devices at their cores. Unless opened in a specific way, forcibly dismantling them will only trigger a self-destruct program, instantly destroying the internal soul wire circuits and intricate structures. This is the key reason why the Star Luo Restoration Organization has invested a lot of manpower and resources but has never been able to successfully replicate them.
In his previous life, Tang San was a God King who held power in the Divine Realm. He always looked down on the Soul Tool system that later emerged in the Douluo Continent.
In his view, those were nothing more than fancy tricks that missed the fundamentals of Soul Master's cultivation. (In reality, he couldn't understand those complex, almost mystical, Soul Path diagrams at all, nor did he want to.)
His pride was rooted in the Tang Sect's unique skills, and in those exquisitely crafted, deadly Hidden Weapon!
He firmly believed that with his Tang Sect Hidden Weapons skills, which far surpassed those of this era, he was capable of developing weapons that would satisfy the Star Luo Restoration Organization and could completely replace these "flashy but impractical" Soul Tool.
At this moment, he was completely focused on carving the internal mechanism diagram on a piece of deep-sea sunken silver, his eyes concentrated and fervent.
In his view, these rare materials were nothing more than a meager "reward" prepaid by the other party.
With such meager materials, you dare to presume to buy out the Tang Sect's Hidden Weapon inheritance?
Tang San sneered inwardly.
He had already made up his mind that once he had demonstrated the power of his Hidden Weapon and piqued the other party's interest to gain the upper hand, he would then engage in a cooperative transaction with the Star Luo Empire, just like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School in his previous life.
Of course, even if he wanted to rob me, I could use these Hidden Weapon to fight my way out.
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When the appointed day arrived, the door, which had been tightly closed for several days, finally creaked open from the inside.
Tang San walked out slowly, his face showing a hint of fatigue, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, even containing a hint of arrogance.
He was holding an inconspicuous black wooden box in his hands.
Upon seeing this, General Zhang, who had been waiting anxiously outside the door, immediately strode over.
His gaze immediately locked onto the black box, instinctively assuming that this was the prototype of the Soul Tool that Tang San had successfully cracked and even improved upon!
Overwhelmed with excitement, he reached out to take it.
However, Tang San frowned, sidestepped General Zhang's hand, and said with obvious displeasure and coldness, "General, since I have promised, I will naturally do it. Why are you in such a hurry? Do you not trust me?"
General Zhang was speechless, a tightness gripping his chest. Heaven knows how he'd been coping these past few days!
Tang Yin rashly made a pledge, then locked himself in his room and disappeared without a trace. Several times, Tang Yin was on the verge of banging on the door.
Now he's actually asking himself a question?
Thinking that it might be best not to offend Tang Yin if he really did possess the technology of Soul Tool, General Zhang suppressed his anger and maintained a kind and amiable smile, "Mr. Tang Yin, you misunderstand. Of course, I believe you. However, this matter is of great importance, concerning the lives of countless soldiers on the front lines and the great cause of restoring the country. To be on the safe side, I should examine it first before handing it over to Your Highness. What do you think?"
His words were reasonable, and Tang San's expression softened upon hearing them. He stopped trying to stop him and allowed General Zhang to take the black wooden box.
General Zhang took a deep breath and, filled with excitement and anticipation, carefully opened the box lid.
However, when the contents of the box came into view, the excited and expectant expression on his face instantly froze.
"What... what is this?"
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Inside the box lay a completely different object from any Soul Tool he knew. It resembled a crossbow, about eight inches long, and was made entirely of refined iron, gleaming with a cold light. The first four inches were sharp cones with twelve tiny blood grooves, like the bleeding holes on a sword; the last four inches were cylindrical.
This is precisely the best of the Tang Sect's mechanical Hidden Weapon — the Godly Zhuge Crossbow!
With a smug look on his face, Tang San began to speak eloquently, "This item is called the ' Godly Zhuge Crossbow '."
He explained its characteristics in detail, "It requires no Soul Power, and even ordinary people can activate it. Within fifty meters, it is enough to pierce through boulders! Its power is enough to pose a fatal threat to Soul Master below level sixty!"
He specifically emphasized the words "below level 60" and "lethal threat," his tone brimming with confidence.
In their previous life, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was able to resist and retreat during the Spirit Hall's surprise attack precisely because of its large arsenal of Godly Zhuge Crossbow, thus avoiding the fate of being wiped out.
However, Tang San did not go to the trouble of telling General Zhang that the Godly Zhuge Crossbow would make a popping sound when fired, unlike the hidden Sleeve Arrow.
General Zhang listened carefully to Tang San's account, his expression gradually shifting from initial astonishment to uncertainty.
He picked up the cold Godly Zhuge Crossbow and examined it repeatedly, trying to find the energy circuit or core that Soul Tool should have, but to no avail.
"Are you sure?" General Zhang raised his head, his gaze sharp as he looked at Tang San, his tone heavy as he confirmed again, "This item... really works on Soul Master below level sixty?"
"Of course!" Tang San answered decisively, without the slightest hesitation. He had absolute confidence in the skills of the Tang Sect.
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In fact, General Zhang, as a commander who had led troops for many years, had a pure and pragmatic mindset.
He was not concerned with whether a weapon was Soul Tool or not. In his mind, the only standard for measuring the value of a weapon was whether it could effectively kill the enemy and help him defeat the Spirit Hall Empire.
Therefore, after the initial shock and confirmation, he quickly accepted the "Godly Zhuge Crossbow," a peculiar weapon that was not Soul Tool.
In fact, a deeper expectation arose in his heart: if Tang Yin could develop crossbows that could deal with Soul Master below level 60, given time, he might be able to create a "divine weapon" that was comparable to or even surpassed the Martial Soul of the Soul Emperor's Soul Guidance Cannon!