Reaching an Agreement

After hearing Su Fan's words, the Su Family Head's expression turned grave.

He stared at Su Fan, his expression shifting unpredictably.

To be honest, he truly wanted the Aperture Method Su Fan had mentioned.

Setting aside all its other effects,

the fact that Su Fan had used the Aperture Method in the Soul Master Tournament to defeat seven opponents alone as a Soul Ancestor, facing all seven members of the Shrek Team by himself, was enough to shake the entire Soul Master world.

The Soul Engineer world of the Sun Moon Empire, which regarded Soul Engineers as its faith, would be shaken as well.

What was more, during the tournament, Su Fan had revealed some information about the Aperture Method.

Though he had not explained it outright, he had deliberately displayed some of its capabilities.

For example, the strength of Apertures came from their ability to have Core Arrays inscribed within them!

This stirred the Soul Engineer world even more.

Had Su Fan not revealed this information, the Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire would only have assumed that their Soul Tool technology was inadequate and that the gap between them and the Soul Master systems of the Douluo Three Empires was enormous.

But Su Fan had now revealed that the strength of the Aperture Method originated from Soul Tool technology!

This was no small provocation to the Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire.

For one thing, it was a challenge. The Douluo Three Empires had somehow developed Soul Tool technology surpassing that of the Sun Moon Empire. How could they possibly save face?

One had to know that this had happened despite the immense technological blockade.

The Soul Tool technology of the Douluo Three Empires was supposedly so backward, yet it had developed such a path.

Even if the Aperture Method had been developed by Soul Masters of the Martial Soul Department and merely happened to work well with Core Arrays, that still would not do.

They could accept being inferior in martial soul cultivation, but when it came to applying Core Arrays, the Sun Moon Empire could not be weaker than the Douluo Three Empires.

The second point was that the Aperture Method gave the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineers an idea—or rather, a definite answer. Void Engraving Core Arrays and breaking free of rare metal limitations was indeed feasible.

It was simply that without rare metals, a carrier equivalent to them had to exist.

Now Su Fan had developed such a carrier: Apertures.

Based on a Soul Master's body, Apertures grew stronger as the Soul Master grew stronger. They were also absolutely compatible with Soul Power, and their Soul Power conductivity far surpassed that of rare metals.

No matter how exceptional rare metals were, they remained external objects. Their affinity with a Soul Master's Soul Power would never surpass that of the Soul Master's own body.

Thus, Apertures were practically the most perfect carriers for Core Arrays!

For those two reasons, the Sun Moon Empire had already swiftly devised its response.

Learn!

They had to develop it!

Advancement in Soul Tool technology could not be separated from such an atmosphere.

Therefore, having discovered the strength of the Aperture Method in this climate, the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineer world could not possibly remain indifferent.

They had to find a way to learn it.

If they could not learn it, then they would steal it—ah... ahem, they would draw inspiration from it.

If they could not even draw inspiration from it, then they would develop it independently.

With a direction already established, could they really fail to research it?

In short, no matter what, this direction would definitely become one of the major trends in future Sun Moon Soul Tool development.

The reason it was merely one major trend rather than the absolute trend was, naturally, war.

Soul Tools used in war were the true main theme.

Beyond that, civilian Soul Tools had also been developing at an astonishing rate recently, with quite a few high-level researchers tackling that field.

Therefore, this Aperture Method, which enhanced the individual strength of Soul Engineers, could only be one major trend rather than the sole trend.

Even so, it would absolutely receive great attention, especially in its early stages.

In the two years after the Soul Master Tournament results had just been announced, before the next Soul Master Tournament was held in Ming Capital, this would be the golden age for exploring the Aperture Method.

The Soul Master Tournament—an Aperture Method and Martial Dao—had left pure Soul Masters and pure Soul Engineers alike overshadowed. Having truly combined both, none of the four great empires would abandon exploration of this path.

And since the next tournament would be held in Ming Capital, the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineers would certainly do everything possible to produce results before then, just to fight for their pride.

The Su Family Head quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

He knew Su Fan had seized upon precisely this point.

Could the Sun Moon Empire obtain the specific cultivation method of the Aperture Method from the Douluo Three Empires?

Not necessarily.

The Sun Moon Empire could blockade Soul Tool technology, and the Douluo Three Empires could naturally blockade martial soul cultivation techniques.

In that case, if the Su Family could directly access the Aperture Method, then even if its research efficiency would not be the fastest, it would certainly leave everyone else far behind.

At that time, the Su Family might flourish and grow powerful on that foundation!

Everything sounded wonderful.

Unfortunately.

The Su Family Head looked at Su Fan and forced a smile.

"Su Yu, right? My Su Family can allow you to enter the family and study Soul Tools. We can even help conceal your identity to a certain extent. So long as you do not join the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy or go to Mingde Hall, we will cooperate with you as much as possible."

Su Fan narrowed his eyes slightly.

Such generous terms clearly meant that conditions would follow.

Sure enough, the Su Family Head stated his demand in the very next sentence.

"I have only one requirement. You must hand over a Soul Master who has successfully cultivated an Aperture and have him fully cooperate with our research. Naturally, we promise to guarantee his personal safety."

Su Fan looked toward Du Busi.

At a time like this, he did not want to reveal that he was Su Fan.

So when it came to such terms, he could not make the decision himself.

He still had to see what the elder thought.

The Su Family Head noticed this as well, and in his mind, Su Yu's importance dropped a little.

It seemed he was simply talented and had been sent here to learn the technology.

Du Busi noticed Su Fan's gaze, realized that Su Fan did not wish to expose himself, considered it briefly, and gave his answer.

"No."

His tone was forceful.

"No Soul Master from the Douluo Three Empires can be handed over to you. However, we can guarantee that we will share the Aperture condensation techniques mastered by the Heavenly Soul Royal Family without holding anything back, ensuring that at least three members of the Su Family condense Apertures within a year."

Du Busi changed the terms.

The Su Family Head's prepared argument came to an abrupt halt.

This condition was not bad either.

He glanced at Du Busi, rather surprised.

Handing over their own people to be controlled by others was unacceptable.

Teaching the method to their people, however, was possible.

Su Qian could not help staring at Du Busi for a while longer. He cupped his hands and could not help saying,

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. We have other conditions."

Su Qian's mouth twitched.

There were more conditions?

Was the Aperture Method really going to be traded like some priceless treasure for an astronomical price?

Of course, before he could speak, Du Busi had already quickly stated the condition.

"We also want to arrange for some people to enter the Sun Moon Empire. Rest assured, they will not join any important organizations, and you may keep track of their information, but you cannot restrict their personal freedom."

Su Qian frowned and could not help saying, "If your people cause trouble, won't my Su Family be the ones in trouble?"

"Rest assured, they will not participate in any projects related to Soul Tools, nor will they involve themselves in politics."

"Then what are they coming here for?"

Du Busi smiled at Su Qian without offering any further answer.