"The people here probably look down on Soul Tools at first glance."
"We wouldn't dare."
"It's all right. I don't care what you think."
Bibi Dong waved a hand and spoke gravely. "The development of Soul Tools is a historical inevitability. I don't care what you think; from now on, every elder and every Spirit Hall disciple must learn to craft them. You must keep up your cultivation while you study, too. This is a subject that will benefit you for the rest of your lives."
Though the crowd was reluctant, His Holiness the Pope had spoken, so they could only agree.
"Thunder Nether, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Yes, Master... Honorable His Holiness the Pope."
After Bibi Dong left, Thunder Nether Douluo was immediately surrounded by numerous Titled Douluo elders.
"Since you've praised Soul Tools so highly, we'd like to see them for ourselves."
"Please."
Thunder Nether Douluo gave a cold smile, unconcerned, and let the crowd escort him off to demonstrate.
Since you say Soul Tools are so powerful, we really would like to see for ourselves.
As expected, Thunder Nether Douluo wielded numerous Grade 9 Soul Tools, including Grade 9 melee Soul Tools, Grade 9 Defensive Soul Tools, and Grade 9 mental-defense Soul Tools...
Many of the Titled Douluo elders present excelled at controlling their mental power. Yet all their attacks were like mud cows sinking into the sea, unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.
"What do you think, everyone?" Thunder Nether Douluo asked with a cold smile.
By now, the eyes of the Titled Douluo elders were shining. Defensive Soul Tools could even withstand an attack from a Titled Douluo, and there were Grade 9 Soul Tools suited to them as well. Most importantly, Thunder Nether Douluo was a Grade 9 Soul Engineer, which meant he could produce them continuously.
"His Holiness the Pope wants you to learn how to make Soul Tools from me. These were all made by my own hand."
"I'll pay ten times the price!"
"I'll pay twenty times!"
Thunder Nether Douluo frowned. "You'll have to pay more."
A Grade 9 Soul Engineer was never short of money, and neither was Spirit Hall. In recent days, rare metals from all over the Douluo Continent had been transported to Spirit Hall in a steady stream, under cover of secrecy.
Learning to make Soul Tools wasn't something that could be done overnight. The Titled Douluo elders, an ever-growing number of Spirit Hall disciples, and even papal disciples like Hu Liena were all gathered together for Thunder Nether Douluo to teach.
They began by learning to identify the various rare metals, then moved on to hands-on practice, taking it one step at a time.
After all, there was no shortage of rare metals. The Douluo Continent's resources of rare metals had yet to be fully exploited, and the Blacksmith Association in Gengxin City had the most advanced smelting techniques.
Most importantly, only Spirit Hall disciples could learn to make Soul Tools. Sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan weren't even allowed to come into contact with the technology. They wouldn't learn about it, even if they knew it existed.
With Thunder Nether Douluo, a Grade 9 Soul Engineer, at the helm, Spirit Hall's Soul Tool development had officially gotten on track.
With his worries temporarily put to rest, Qin Chuan had plenty of free time. He spent his days sitting cross-legged in his room, quietly cultivating.
As for Tang San... he was already ruined, anyway. His First Soul Ring was a Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo, and the Sky-Covering Cloud Jade shielded him from the Divine Realm's prying eyes. Tang San could no longer ascend to godhood. Whether he'd even dare to go to Slaughter City in the future was another question.
Ye Guyi and Qian Renxue had been cultivating under Qian Daoliu's guidance at the Angel Holy Temple. Ye Guyi had held back for a long time and had really wanted to kill Thunder Nether Douluo with a single sword strike, but she had managed to rein herself in. Out of sight, out of mind.
The Angel Holy Sword floated quietly before the three of them. Bathed in the dense holy aura of the Angel Holy Temple, Ye Guyi's Soul Power was steadily increasing.
Three days later, Ye Guyi and Qian Renxue each consumed an Aromatic Silk Beauty and an Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid. Their Soul Power increased significantly, and Qian Renxue even broke through level fifty. The next day, she went to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Soul Beast.
Qin Chuan had already decided: all his Soul Bones had to be dragon-type.
Dragons were the pinnacle of Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent. The ancient Dragon God was the ancestor of all Soul Beasts, and dragons held a pivotal place among both Soul Beasts and Martial Souls.
Current Snow Hatred Value: 510600
Qin Chuan thought it, and then did it.
He opened the system's shop page and switched to the External Soul Bone section.
Apart from the Dragon God, Soul Bones from every other Soul Beast were available.
Qin Chuan couldn't help but marvel at how powerful and all-purpose the system was.
"Exchange for the Silver Dragon King's left claw."
"Ding! 100,000 Snow Hatred Value deducted. Exchange for the Silver Dragon King's Claw successful."
Current Snow Hatred Value: 410690
A dazzling silver radiance suddenly flashed before Qin Chuan, so bright that he nearly couldn't keep his eyes open.
Within the silver light, a dragon claw covered in silver scales came into view. It looked remarkably similar to the Golden Dragon King's Claw he had absorbed a year ago.
Qin Chuan drew a deep breath, his heart racing as he reached out and touched the Silver Dragon King's Claw.
The Silver Dragon King's Claw melted into a pool of silvery liquid and swiftly flowed into Qin Chuan's left hand.
Unlike the intense pain in his right arm when he fused with the Golden Dragon King's Claw, Qin Chuan's entire left arm was enveloped in searing heat, as if a blazing fire were forging steel. Then a wave of cold swept over him. Before he could react, his entire right arm had turned pitch-black.
Fire, water, darkness...
Qin Chuan's pupils contracted. He recalled that the Golden Dragon King controlled the ultimate power of strength, while the Silver Dragon King had inherited the Dragon God's control over the elements. She could freely command fire, water, earth, wind, light, darkness, space, and more.
Qin Chuan's left arm was first scorching hot, then freezing cold, then swept by a powerful gust. He even wondered whether his hand would still be his own afterward.
Then a miraculous scene unfolded.
Qin Chuan's entire left arm was covered in a layer of tiny, fine silver scales, while his entire right arm was covered in golden scales. The scales stretched from his wrists all the way to his neck. Just as the two colors were about to meet, a radiant, multicolored scale formed three centimeters below Qin Chuan's throat. Then everything fell silent.
Qin Chuan closed his eyes, his whole mind sinking into the world around him.
He dreamed of a gigantic, multicolored dragon soaring through the sky as countless Soul Beasts bowed their heads below.
When Qin Chuan suddenly opened his eyes and came to, he realized he had only been dreaming. A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.
He looked out the window at the rising sun. Without realizing it, another day had passed.
"Soul Bone Fusion Skill: Dragon God Descent."
This was the Soul Bone Fusion Skill born after Qin Chuan absorbed the Silver Dragon King's Claw and the Golden Dragon King's Claw.
When used, it would summon a Dragon God Phantom to suppress all enemies.
Even after absorbing the Soul Bones of both Dragon Kings, Qin Chuan was still an ordinary person, with no connection to the dragon race and no Dragon God Bloodline or anything of the sort. They were nothing more than External Soul Bones. Besides, Qin Chuan had no interest in getting involved in the mess surrounding the Soul Beasts.
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