God Slayer?

"Very well. As for the Soul Spirit Method and your teacher, I will not interfere. You are intelligent, and I trust you have a sense of propriety regarding how to handle things."

Kong Deming patted Xu Lanqing on the shoulder, his expression amiable.

He was quite satisfied with this disciple; both his character and his intellect were impeccable.

It was only a pity that he was so young; if he were of the same generation as Xu Tianran...

However, looking at it now, it was not as if there were no opportunities.

He shook his head, his aged voice sounding out:

"Lanqing, be careful of the Third Prince. The situation within the empire is tense right now. Although I am the Chief Soul Master, I have many constraints and cannot easily intervene."

Now, they could truly be considered to be standing on the same front.

"I understand, Teacher." Xu Lanqing nodded.

Likewise, for Xu Lanqing, Kong Deming was a mentor worthy of his respect.

Kong Deming's gaze fell upon the paper in Xu Lanqing's hand, and he couldn't help but smile, the wrinkles on his face twitching:

"What is this? Interested in Soul Guidance Devices? I thought you wanted to become a powerful Soul Master?"

"As a tool that provides powerful assistance, Soul Guidance Devices are also an essential part. Combining the two is what makes a truly powerful Soul Master."

Xu Lanqing raised the paper and voiced his thoughts.

"Indeed. Since our defeat, the empire has placed great importance on cultivating powerful Soul Masters. After all, the more powerful the Soul Guidance Device, the more it requires a powerful Soul Master to craft or operate it.

Basically, all powerful Martial Souls are cultivated along the path of a Soul Master. As for Soul Guidance Devices, being able to use them flexibly is considered passing.

Unfortunately, in terms of cultivating Soul Masters, we are still far behind our enemies, especially Shrek Academy."

Kong Deming sighed, feeling deeply emotional.

Then, he glanced at the content on the paper and teased with a smile:

"This is about a Class 9 Soul Guidance Device. Can you even understand it?"

"I can."

To his surprise, Xu Lanqing nodded and said, "Though I can only understand a little bit."

"Oh? Tell me about it?"

Kong Deming became interested; he wanted to see what Xu Lanqing could come up with.

Xu Lanqing flipped to the first page and pointed at the handwriting:

"This is about a Humanoid Soul Guidance Device. I don't understand the structures and such, but looking at the notes here, their ultimate goal is to strengthen the amplification capabilities of the Humanoid Soul Guidance Device.

However, the requirements for the Soul Master using it are too high; basically, no one can use it. Moreover, this Humanoid Soul Guidance Device requires multiple people to pilot it together."

"And so?"

"So why don't we try a different direction? Shrink it down and craft it into a Soul Guidance Device similar to armor—a portable version for one person to use. That could lower the requirements for the Soul Master..."

In reality, the Humanoid Soul Guidance Device was the origin of Battle Armor, and Xu Lanqing only needed to provide a train of thought; with Kong Deming's research into Soul Guidance Devices, he would naturally make the connection.

Kong Deming's eyes grew brighter and brighter. His brows furrowed and then smoothed out, and his hand unconsciously tugged at his beard.

He muttered to himself:

"But this would lead to many new problems. First is the forging—how can we shrink the volume while maintaining its function?

And then there is the design, the manufacturing, and so on..."

"For the forging, we could try imbuing the metal with spirituality. That might have miraculous effects..."

Current forging technology was already equivalent to Thousand Refinement.

The core of a high-level Soul Guidance Device was to use Thousand Refinement metal to engrave the core arrays.

"Imbuing with spirituality? Imbuing with spirituality... That's it! Why didn't I think of that?"

Kong Deming slapped his thigh hard, countless ideas flooding his mind, and he shouted in excitement.

"Lanqing, you truly are a genius when it comes to Soul Guidance Devices!"

He immediately threw himself onto the experimental table, his face flushed with excitement, writing and drawing incessantly. He had to record this inspiration that had finally appeared.

Seeing this, Xu Lanqing did not disturb him and stepped lightly toward the Ice Empress.

"What are you all talking about? I didn't understand a word of it." The Ice Empress glanced at the hard-working Kong Deming and asked curiously.

"We're discussing how to shrink that hunk of iron. Uh, well, actually, I don't really understand it either; I was just throwing out an idea." Xu Lanqing pointed at the Humanoid Soul Guidance Device.

"By the way, you just now..." He hesitated.

"Since I am a human now, I must have a new name."

The Ice Empress stood with her back straight, like a plum blossom in the cold, proud and frost-defying. Her clear, cold voice was melodious and pleasant.

"I still prefer to call you Ice Empress, or perhaps Snow Maiden. It feels more real that way." Xu Lanqing's eyes held a smile.

They were close now.

A faint, cool, and elegant fragrance, carrying a hint of sweetness, was difficult to capture, yet it constantly permeated the heart and lungs, intoxicating the senses.

The Ice Empress lowered her beautiful eyes, seeing Xu Lanqing's deep, dark, smiling gaze fixed unblinkingly upon her, so captivating.

It was enough to make one's heart flutter and mind drift.

She turned her head away, her pale, slender fingers toying with the snow-white hair draped over her chest.

"Suit yourself."

"Then I'll call you Snow Maiden from now on." Xu Lanqing seized the opportunity.

The Ice Empress's fingers paused, and she said nothing.

"Hahaha!"

An aged, booming laugh echoed through the space. Looking at the result in his hands, the old man couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear.

"Seeing you so happy, Teacher, you must have made a great breakthrough," Xu Lanqing congratulated him.

"There is progress, but it's only the beginning; there is still a long road ahead."

"The first step is always the hardest. Since we have a direction, there is hope for success."

Kong Deming nodded and said with satisfaction, "Lanqing, you've been a huge help this time."

"It is your profound knowledge, Teacher. I merely offered an idea, and besides, it is my honor to be of help to you."

"Enough, there's no need for such pleasantries. Don't I know your character by now? You've been here long enough, haven't you? I'll take you two out now."

Xu Lanqing immediately smiled and said, "Teacher truly understands me. There's no rush to leave, but since Snow Maiden and the others are new here, you see..."

As he spoke, he raised his right hand and rubbed his fingers together.

"You rascal, trying to extort your own teacher."

Kong Deming huffed, glaring at him, and said irritably, "According to the law, the Empire's Level 9 Soul Guidance Devices are strictly prohibited from being leaked."

"Look at you, Snow Maiden isn't an outsider, so how could it be considered a leak?" Xu Lanqing continued to laugh shamelessly.

The Ice Empress's breath hitched, and a beautiful flush, like a radiant sunset, rose upon her snowy face.

"Fine, fine, I'm afraid of you."

Kong Deming casually flicked his wrist, sending nine streaks of light floating before Xu Lanqing. "Just nine Soul Guidance Devices; any more and it would invite criticism."

"Thank you, Teacher! You're generous!"

Xu Lanqing was overjoyed and quickly put them away.

He had originally been satisfied with just three or four, but he hadn't expected Kong Deming to hand over nine at once.

The Ice Empress also offered a word of thanks, as Xu Lanqing had asked for them on her behalf.

"By the way, Teacher, what about this High-Energy Compression Array Soul Guidance Device?" Xu Lanqing flipped through the papers in his hand and suddenly asked.

"You mean this? It's something I led the development of; it's the pride of the Royal Research Institute right now."

Kong Deming's expression was filled with pride, but he soon sighed:

"Unfortunately, it isn't finished yet. It's a semi-finished product that can only be deployed in specific locations, and it occupies a massive amount of space, making it immobile.

Coupled with the limitations of materials and technology, who knows when it will be fully perfected."

"Then the theory behind it is true?" Xu Lanqing thought of something and swallowed hard.

"Indeed. It can infinitely compress and store soul power without any leakage. As long as there is enough soul power and enough time, theoretically, it is enough to slay a god!"

The air fell into a dead silence.