Future Research Directions

It had to be said that Kong Deming was a genius!

He was the first true genius Jiang Heng had encountered since coming to this world!

In just over a hundred years, he had advanced the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tools by a thousand years, breaking the laws of natural development cycles.

He had not merely made major breakthroughs in a single field; he had achieved enormous breakthroughs across every aspect, far surpassing the sages of previous generations.

Especially after Jiang Heng read Kong Deming's insights on forging a Level 10 Life Soul Tool, he became even more convinced that Kong Deming was a genius.

Limited by materials and energy, none of the dozens of Level 10 Soul Tool paths Kong Deming had envisioned could work. So, he began experimenting with his own Martial Soul.

Though Jiang Heng did not know much about the Level 10 Soul Tools of ten thousand years later, he could infer from the original work that Kong Deming's Level 10 Soul Tool followed a completely different path from those of later generations.

In a sense, the path Kong Deming had taken was one of manually crafting a divine artifact. However, constrained by his own strength, he was destined never to reach the end of that path.

He was so certain because Kong Deming's process of forging Soul Tools aligned with the direction of manually crafting divine artifacts from Electrolux's memories. Different paths led to the same destination.

The only difference was that Electrolux pursued an understanding of the world's laws, using his cultivation to comprehend heaven and earth before mastering and integrating them into a vessel.

Kong Deming, on the other hand, pursued the study, comprehension, and application of laws, refining his second Martial Soul into a Life Soul Tool!

"If a Martial Soul can become a Soul Tool, then can a Soul Tool become a Martial Soul?"

"Can Soul Beasts possess Martial Souls of their own?"

After reading Kong Deming's research notes on Soul Tools, Jiang Heng fell into deep thought.

With his current foundation and strength, even as a mere three-hundred-thousand-year Fierce Beast, he already stood among the world's top tier.

Relying solely on his body, the Innate Soul Skills he controlled, and his self-created combat techniques, he had few opponents among Rank 97 Title Douluo.

With the aid of Soul Tools and all his methods unleashed, he feared no one below a Rank 99 Limit Douluo.

Unless the opponent's Martial Soul naturally suppressed him or possessed some special ability.

Therefore, Jiang Heng needed to reconsider his goals and direction.

Using the power of the Dragon Core, he would continuously improve his strength and foundation. Then, with the opportunities within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and the remaining power of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, he would complete a transformation from acquired to innate and become a pure-blooded True Dragon.

Such matters only needed to be carried out step by step.

As long as no accidents occurred along the way, once he survived the five-hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast Heavenly Tribulation, he was confident he could raise his combat power to the level of a Demi-God.

But what came after that?

The path of cultivation after that had essentially reached its end. At most, he could rely on the Devouring Divine Ability to gain control over more attributes and powers, improve his Divine Sense and physique into the divine realm as much as possible, and endure a few more ten-thousand-year spans beneath heavenly lightning tribulations.

How could he possibly be content with that?

So, he wanted to try every possible method, to change things, to attempt to carve out a brand-new path.

He would attempt to turn Soul Tools into Martial Souls instead of mere accessories to Martial Souls.

He would attempt to let Soul Beasts possess Martial Souls, following a path where humans and Soul Beasts merged.

He would attempt to study how to condense Divine Power on Douluo Continent through the aid of external objects.

These were the directions and paths he would research in the future, once his strength could rise no further.

He and Kong Deming discussed Soul Tool research face-to-face for seven days and seven nights.

Only then did the two feel exhausted and temporarily rest.

At the same time, Xu Tianran had already arranged for the legions under his command to quietly enter Sunset Forest.

This concerned a man's virility and dignity. This time, he chose to stake everything on it.

Xu Tianran's original plan had been to start the war first, then seek an opportunity to obtain what he needed within Sunset Forest.

But he wanted to become a true man too badly. Coupled with his incomplete trust in Jiang Heng, he ultimately decided to keep something in reserve.

However, he had learned his lesson this time. He knew what should and should not be done, and before acting, he investigated all available information concerning Sunset Forest throughout the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

Xu Tianran believed his actions were extremely secretive, but he did not know that someone had already quietly spread the news that Immortal Herbs existed within Sunset Forest.

Naturally, Jiang Heng was behind this.

Many times, plans could not keep up with changes.

Jiang Heng's initial intention had been to swallow all the resources within Sunset Forest, whether Immortal Herbs or the remnants left behind by the Water and Fire Dragon Kings.

But as the continent's situation shifted, and after gradually probing Tang San's control over Douluo Continent and his bottom line, Jiang Heng realized that his original plan was extremely dangerous.

Even if he succeeded by luck, God King Tang would set his sights on him because of it.

Since that was the case, he might as well make the matter bigger, allowing everyone to profit and everyone to bear responsibility.

He would remain hidden in the dark and profit from the chaos.

Of course, since he had created this situation himself, he could not let those people gain benefits for nothing.

However they swallowed it, they would have to spit it back out the same way.

He was merely using their hands to shift the target.

News of the Immortal Herbs spread quietly. On the surface, everything appeared calm, but in truth, every major faction had already begun to act.

At this time, Jiang Heng was not in a hurry to head over and make preparations. Instead, he sought out Ye Guyi to give her an opportunity—and also a restraint.

When Jiang Heng saw Ye Guyi again, he was somewhat stunned.

How long had it been since they last met? Yet Ye Guyi's strength had already risen to Rank 70, and judging from the solidity of her Soul Power, she had clearly broken through some time ago.

"Senior!"

Seeing Jiang Heng suddenly appear before her, Ye Guyi hurriedly rose to her feet, her eyes filled with respect.

"Not bad!"

"I came this time intending to lend you a hand and let your seventh Soul Ring become a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. But now, it seems unnecessary. Through your own efforts, you have already reached the standard required to absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

Jiang Heng looked at Ye Guyi and smiled as he gave his assessment, appearing thoroughly satisfied.

In truth, he was inwardly cursing Xu Tianran for meddling.

Why had he not given Ye Guyi another Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone from the many he had on hand, helping her grow faster? Naturally, Jiang Heng had intended to find a suitable chance to get a firmer hold on her again.

Yet Xu Tianran, in his effort to please him, had actually been willing to invest so many resources in Ye Guyi.

He had given away a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone as if it were nothing.

That had somewhat disrupted Jiang Heng's plan.

Still, it was fine. Everything remained within his control.

"Senior, can my seventh Soul Ring really be a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?"

Hearing Jiang Heng say this, Ye Guyi was immediately moved again. As her thoughts raced, she began convincing herself.

Seeing her tearful look of gratitude, as though she would willingly offer herself as long as he beckoned, Jiang Heng could not help but mock inwardly how powerful a love-struck mind truly was.

"Come with me!"

Jiang Heng said no more. Instead, he brought Ye Guyi into a Cultivation Chamber.