"Everything's beautifully made." Lan Si nodded in satisfaction. He put the parts for the semi-automatic pistol and the Bullet Press into his Soul Tool, then took out a pouch of Gold Soul Coins and smiled. "Uncle Otto, this is payment from my teacher."
Lan Si couldn't very well tell Otto the truth about having him make the gun parts. He'd decided he couldn't let Otto take a loss.
So he'd made up an eccentric teacher who didn't exist, paid a deposit of thirty Gold Soul Coins, and claimed the parts were something that teacher needed.
Thinking that Lan Si was still young and couldn't possibly know how to make such precise parts—or have that much money—Otto had been delighted that Lan Si had found a high-level Soul Master to teach him. Never suspecting a thing, he'd agreed to the job.
"Heh, keep the money. The deposit you paid last time already covered the costs. As for the little bit of labor, consider it my thanks to him for taking you on as a disciple." Otto shook his head with a hearty laugh.
"Uncle Otto, you know what my teacher's like. If I go back and he finds out you didn't take the money, he'll scold me." Lan Si still insisted on paying. Otto would definitely be taking a loss if he accepted only thirty Gold Soul Coins. The Iron Essence alone had cost more than that, and with the labor added in, it would've taken at least fifty Gold Soul Coins.
"You little rascal." Otto smiled and shook his head. He didn't refuse, but then took a short sword with a scabbard from behind the counter. "This is the short sword you didn't finish forging last time. I added some Iron Essence and finished it for you. You can take it now, too."
"Uncle Otto, I..." A warm current passed through Lan Si's heart, but Otto continued, "Whatever happens, I hope you stay safe. If one day you grow tired of the world outside, come back to this smithy. This will always be your home."
"I will." Lan Si took the short sword and nodded solemnly, then left the smithy and headed for the academy.
When he arrived, Lan Si hurried back to his room, shut the doors and windows, assembled the gun, then took out the gunpowder he'd prepared bit by bit over the past few months and began making bullets.
The night passed without incident!
The next morning, Lan Si woke from his sleep with his head on the desk. He looked at the two dozen bullets on the table, then at the pistol he'd already assembled, and smiled with satisfaction.
With this semi-automatic pistol, he'd have some means of protecting himself against Soul Masters below level forty.
After all, this specially made semi-automatic pistol packed a tremendous punch. Infused with the Soul Power formed by fusing the Supreme Universe Art and the Five Thunders Heart Art, it could even pierce steel plates several centimeters thick.
If he could make a Barrett sniper rifle someday, even a Soul Saint or Soul Douluo could be crippled before they knew what hit them.
And once his Soul Power improved, it might even be possible to seriously wound a Titled Douluo.
With a bullet chambered, memories of shooting at the range in his previous life flooded into his mind. He instinctively wanted to fire, but considering where he was, he held back. This was the dormitory building at Nuoding Academy. If he fired, the gunshot would certainly draw the attention of the instructors and students. It wouldn't be wise.
Just then, someone knocked on his door, and Yu Xiaogang's voice came from outside. "Lan Si, are you up? We should get going."
"Coming." Lan Si quickly put away the miscellaneous equipment on his desk, washed up, and hurried outside.
An hour later, the three of them had finished buying supplies. Yu Xiaogang and Tang San carried bundles of things as they climbed aboard a horse-drawn carriage bound for Soul Hunting Forest with Lan Si.
"Xiao San, this is for you." Yu Xiaogang glanced at Lan Si, the faintest trace of smugness at the corners of his mouth, then took out a jade belt and handed it to Tang San.
"Teacher, what is this?" Tang San asked curiously.
Yu Xiaogang smiled calmly and immediately began explaining Soul Tools to Tang San.
Tang San was so moved after hearing him that he was practically ready to call Yu Xiaogang his father.
"Lan Si, would you like me to put your luggage away for you?" Tang San looked at Lan Si.
"No need. I have a Soul Tool too." Lan Si raised his left hand, revealing the Heart of the Sea Blue, and stored the supplies inside.
Seeing the Soul Tool in Lan Si's hand, Tang San nodded and didn't think much of it. Since Lan Si could afford a private room at the academy, it wasn't especially surprising that he owned a Soul Tool as well.
Yu Xiaogang, however, furrowed his brow and asked Lan Si, "Lan Si, did your teacher give you that?"
"No. My parents left it to me."
Only then did Yu Xiaogang's brows relax. He continued, "Lan Si, could you show me your Martial Soul? We're about to reach Soul Hunting Forest, and I can help you figure out what suits you."
"Sure." Lan Si didn't refuse. It wasn't a secret, and Yu Xiaogang would find out sooner or later anyway.
As he spoke, he raised his right hand and activated the Supreme Universe Art. A white glow shimmered, and a Mortal Green Lotus wreathed in pale flames appeared in his palm.
"A Plant-type Martial Soul wreathed in flames. That's rare." Yu Xiaogang's brow furrowed with concern as he stared at the Cyan Lotus in Lan Si's hand.
Tang San was curious, too. He watched for a while, then asked Yu Xiaogang, "Teacher, have you figured anything out?"
Yu Xiaogang pondered for a moment, first nodding, then shaking his head. "The books I've read don't mention this kind of Martial Soul. The pale flames seem very weak, and don't appear to have any heat at all."
As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang reached out and touched the pale flames. A deep look of disappointment flashed through his eyes.
He'd originally considered taking Lan Si on as a disciple, but Lan Si's Martial Soul didn't meet his expectations and was nowhere near enough to prove his theories.
Fortunately, he hadn't given Lan Si the second Soul Tool he'd prepared. Otherwise, he would've taken a huge loss.
Still, considering that he'd confidently promised Director Su he'd take Lan Si out to hunt for a Soul Ring, he gave Lan Si some advice. "It looks like you're only suited to becoming a Support-type Soul Master. I suggest you look for a Soul Power Holy Wood. It should give you a support skill that either heals or increases Soul Power."
At that, Lan Si was so amused he nearly laughed. What a grandmaster he was—changing his tune faster every time.
The first time, after hearing that Lan Si's Innate Soul Power was level five, he'd impatiently swept off with a flick of his sleeve.
The second time, he'd acted downright arrogant.
He made it sound like this advice was some kind of handout.
If Lan Si truly unleashed the power of the Supreme Universe Art, did Yu Xiaogang really think his hand would come away unharmed?
In the original Degenerates, Li Siyuan of the Large Heaven Realm had vaporized a venomous snake as thick as a man's arm with his aura, reducing it to ashes. Lan Si's cultivation was still shallow, but he could at least make his aura reach the temperature of an ordinary flame.
Soul Hunting Forest was four hundred li from Nuoding Academy—not especially close, but not terribly far either. Along the way, Yu Xiaogang chatted animatedly with Tang San, explaining his proud theories.
Lan Si, meanwhile, took the books his parents had left him from his Soul Tool and began searching for Soul Beasts that might suit him.
At noon the next day, the three of them finally arrived at Soul Hunting Forest.
Before you continue