Qin Chuan's First Martial Soul

"What did you say to my sister?"

"What do you mean, what?"

"Don't play dumb with me!"

Qin Chuan followed Xiao Hongchen's gaze and saw Meng Hongchen's face flushed red, letting out silvery giggles from time to time.

Qin Chuan dodged the question: "Don't ask me about that. Are we having this duel or not?"

"I'll deal with you later."

Xiao Hongchen could only swallow his anger and stand before the pristine white workbench.

By now, the classroom was packed with onlookers outside.

When Xuan Ziwen heard that Qin Chuan and Xiao Hongchen were having a duel between soul engineers, he immediately volunteered to act as referee. In truth, he was curious about who was stronger—Qin Chuan or Xiao Hongchen.

Though based on preconceptions, Xuan Ziwen thought Xiao Hongchen had the edge. The latter had been studying soul tools for two years, and his grandfather was the dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. With that kind of upbringing, it was hard to imagine him losing.

Qin Chuan, despite being a peerless genius who had become a Second-Class Soul Engineer in just ten days, was still too young.

Meanwhile, a screen rose from Jing Hongchen's desk, clearly displaying the figures of Xiao Hongchen and Qin Chuan.

"This little one can't hold his patience already." Jing Hongchen smiled faintly.

Jing Hongchen had deliberately placed Qin Chuan in the same classroom as his grandson and granddaughter, all for this very day.

Only with healthy competition could there be progress.

On the screen, Xuan Ziwen spoke: "Second-Class Soul Engineer Qin Chuan, Second-Class Soul Engineer Xiao Hongchen, before you lies a block of Refined Iron, twenty centimeters long and ten centimeters wide. The engraving knives are all standard Diamond material. Within two hours, you are to craft a Second-Class Soul Tool, then proceed to the training ground for a soul engineer duel. Do both parties understand?"

"Understood!"

The two spoke in unison.

"Then, let the countdown begin!"

With Xuan Ziwen's command, Xiao Hongchen immediately turned serious. The moment he gripped the engraving knife, the blueprint for carving was already clear in his mind.

Xiao Hongchen's knife moved swiftly, cutting through the iron like a knife through tofu. Iron shavings flew like petals, scattering in all directions.

In no time at all, the rough shape of a cannon barrel began to take form.

"No wonder he's Jing Hongchen's grandson. Back when he mocked Huo Yuhao, I thought he was overestimating himself, but it turns out he actually has some skill." Qin Chuan thought to himself as he gripped the cold engraving knife, ideas flashing rapidly through his mind.

Qin Chuan's cuts were precise, iron shavings raining down as his hand moved faster and faster.

Soon, a single scale was carved and fell onto the pristine white workbench.

That scale was no more than five centimeters in size, thin as a cicada's wing. And from the look of it, Qin Chuan was carving a second, then a third, a fourth... more and more scales were being shaped.

Qian Renxue asked Ye Guyi in confusion: "Guyi, can you tell what kind of soul tool my little brother is crafting?"

"Old..." Ye Guyi almost instinctively called out "Old Ancestor," but the next second, she was startled by Qian Renxue's glare and quickly corrected herself: "Big sis, I originally thought Qin Chuan was crafting a defensive chest piece to wear for extra protection, since there's still a soul engineer duel ahead."

"But from the looks of it now, Qin Chuan is making a claw glove."

"A claw glove?"

"A claw glove is like the gloves we normally wear, but made of metal. The core formation is usually embedded in the palm. When activated with soul power, it can multiply combat strength several or even a dozen times over—though that's only achievable with sixth- to seventh-level soul tools."

"For a Second-Class Soul Engineer like Qin Chuan, even a threefold boost would be incredible."

After Ye Guyi finished speaking, Qian Renxue finally understood what kind of soul tool Qin Chuan was trying to make.

Time ticked by, second after second. Finally, Xiao Hongchen and Qin Chuan set down their engraving knives at the same time.

The core formations were complete. Now it was time to assemble.

No one made a sound. The vast workroom was filled only with the clatter of components colliding. Almost everyone's heart was in their throat.

Xiao Hongchen had crafted a small cannon mount, with a barrel diameter of five centimeters.

Just as Ye Guyi had said, Qin Chuan had made a claw glove, sized exactly to match the Golden Dragon King's External Soul Bone.

The two set down their respective soul tools, foreheads drenched in sweat. They glanced at each other, then turned to Xuan Ziwen ahead and said in unison: "Complete!"

Xuan Ziwen glanced at the time. Both had finished in under an hour. Qin Chuan, you truly are a peerless genius!

Xiao Hongchen was secretly shocked. He had been immersed in soul tools since childhood, had started early, learned from his grandfather's personal teachings, and studied for years to achieve this speed. Was Qin Chuan some kind of monster?

Yes, Qin Chuan was indeed a monster—but one frozen for ten thousand years.

Xuan Ziwen stepped forward to inspect Xiao Hongchen's soul cannon and nodded slightly: "A Second-Class Soul Energy Condensing Cannon. Not bad. Finishing it in such a short time is already impressive."

"Thank you, Teacher Xuan."

At any other time, Xiao Hongchen would have been insufferably proud. But seeing that six-year-old Qin Chuan had independently completed a Second-Class Soul Tool and finished at the same time as him, he already regarded him as his most formidable rival.

Xuan Ziwen walked over to Qin Chuan, picked up the claw glove, and glanced at Qin Chuan's right hand. He asked curiously: "You made a right claw glove, but... isn't the size too big?"

Because Qin Chuan's right claw glove was made to the dimensions of the Golden Dragon King's right claw, it looked unusually large.

"Teacher Xuan, I assume you've seen my medical report?"

As a key talent being cultivated by the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, of course Xuan Ziwen, as his homeroom teacher, had seen it.

Xuan Ziwen understood instantly. He glanced again at Qin Chuan's right hand and nodded slightly: "I see."

Then Xuan Ziwen put down the claw set, faced the two, and said, "According to my appraisal, Qin Chuan's claw set is also a Second-Class Soul Tool. Now, Qin Chuan and Xiao Hongchen, please bring your respective Soul Tools to the playground for a Soul Tool duel."

The academy had a dedicated arena, but Qin Chuan and Xiao Hongchen were only Second-Class Soul Engineers. Considering their young age, the duel was held on the playground.

In the center of the lush green playground was a hectare of open ground. Qin Chuan and Xiao Hongchen stood facing each other, both with solemn expressions.

This battle attracted quite a crowd. Besides the third-year students and various teachers, even Jing Hongchen had arrived.

"Hall Master, who do you think will win between Qin Chuan and Xiao Hongchen?" Lin Jiayi asked.

Jing Hongchen smiled faintly. "My grandson has just broken through to level twenty. Qin Chuan is already at level twenty-three. In terms of Soul Power Level, Qin Chuan has the advantage, but the key to victory or defeat lies not in Soul Power Level, but in the Martial Soul itself."

"Please have both Soul Engineers prepare."

Xuan Ziwen glanced at both sides. Seeing they were ready, he announced loudly, "Begin the duel!"