He knew full well that the development of Soul Tools was unstoppable, and he also understood the divide and conflict between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department.
He hoped to use this opportunity to encourage the two sides to interact and understand each other more deeply.
Seeing that Mu En had made his decision, no one dared object further. They all agreed.
"Teacher, since Bei Bei has such a talent for Soul Tools, why not let him study to become a Soul Engineer as well?" Xian Lin'er suggested.
"No. Bei Bei's Martial Soul has enormous untapped potential. He doesn't have that much time to waste," Yan Shaozhe immediately objected. "Besides, Teacher said that Bei Bei's Martial Soul might evolve again."
At Yan Shaozhe's words, everyone was startled. Bei Bei's Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul was already close to Ultimate Light. If it evolved again, wouldn't it become an Ultimate Martial Soul?
"Are you serious?" Xian Lin'er asked, finding it hard to believe.
"Of course. Teacher and I already have some preliminary ideas." Yan Shaozhe nodded solemnly.
Seeing this, Xian Lin'er said nothing more and dropped the idea of having Bei Bei study Soul Tools.
At that moment, Mu En slowly spoke. "If Bei Bei is truly interested, there's no harm in letting him give it a try."
"But could that affect his cultivation?" Yan Shaozhe asked with a slight frown.
"With me keeping an eye on him, there won't be any problems," Mu En replied.
Since his teacher had said so, Yan Shaozhe couldn't insist on opposing it. After all, Mu En was entirely responsible for Bei Bei's cultivation.
"Since that's what you think, Teacher, then let Bei Bei give it a try. But please keep a close eye on him, and don't let Soul Tools distract him from cultivating his Martial Soul," Yan Shaozhe finally conceded.
Hearing Yan Shaozhe give way, Xian Lin'er smiled with relief. "Thank you, Teacher, and thank you, Dean Yan, for understanding. If Bei Bei becomes a Soul Engineer, he might help the Soul Tool Department develop even faster."
"If there's nothing else, then this meeting is adjourned," Mu En said.
Everyone rose and left.
Yan Shaozhe, however, wore a worried expression as he left. He was concerned that Soul Tools might interfere with Bei Bei's cultivation.
If Bei Bei could evolve into Ultimate Light, then his disciple, Ma Xiaotao, might have a chance to cleanse her Evil Fire. That was why he had to take this matter seriously.
Xian Lin'er, by contrast, was in a rather cheerful mood. The Soul Tool Department had rarely managed to win a round against the Martial Soul Department, but this time it had.
Even more encouragingly, Elder Mu had approved Bei Bei's study of Soul Tools.
This would undoubtedly give the Soul Tool Department a brighter future.
Meanwhile, Bei Bei, who was still cultivating in his room, had no idea what had happened at Sea God Pavilion.
In the days that followed, Bei Bei diligently trained for an hour each day in the Gravity Chamber.
From time to time, he also went to the Soul Tool Department to study Soul Tool theory and asked Fan Yu to make some Soul Tools for him.
Two years passed in the blink of an eye. Bei Bei was now ten years old, and his Soul Power Level had successfully reached rank thirty. He was just one Soul Ring away from becoming a true Soul Elder.
Bei Bei was training in the Gravity Chamber. Compared to two years ago, he had grown much taller, and his build was stronger and leaner.
At first, he had only been able to do simple exercises under five times the normal gravity. Now, he could handle high-intensity training under eight times the normal gravity.
Over the past two years, the Soul Tool Department had successfully completed construction of the academy's Gravity Chambers, prompting some changes to the Martial Soul Department's curriculum.
Bei Bei's Gravity Chamber had also been upgraded by Fan Yu along the way.
It could now be adjusted to a maximum of fifty times normal gravity.
Several devices designed specifically for physical training had also been added, such as a Nerve Reaction Testing Soul Tool.
It consisted of numerous launch ports installed around the room. During training, beams of light shot in from all directions, some fast and some slow, their trajectories completely erratic.
If a trainee dodged them all, they passed. Otherwise, they failed.
It trained a Soul Master's reflexes, dodging speed, and powers of observation.
When Bei Bei finished training and stepped out of the Gravity Chamber, he found Zhang Lexuan had been waiting outside for a long time.
"Sister Lexuan, are you done cultivating?" Bei Bei asked with a smile.
"Mm. I finally broke through to rank seventy and became a Soul Saint before the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament," Zhang Lexuan replied with a nod.
"That's wonderful! Now we can go get our Soul Rings together, and I can watch you compete too," Bei Bei said excitedly.
"Go wash up first. Elder Mu will be taking us to get our Soul Rings this time," Zhang Lexuan said.
"Hm? What about Xuan Zi? I thought he was usually in charge of things like this," Bei Bei asked, puzzled.
"Xuan Zi has to take the other competitors to the Soul Master Tournament in the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire," Zhang Lexuan explained.
Bei Bei nodded. As long as Xuan Zi wasn't the one leading them, he felt more at ease.
After a quick wash, Bei Bei set off with Zhang Lexuan.
At the same time.
At the White Tiger Duke Mansion.
Six-year-old Huo Yuhao was undergoing the important ceremony that could determine the course of a person's life: Martial Soul Awakening.
As the illegitimate child of the White Tiger Duke and a maid, Huo Yuhao and his mother were bullied by everyone in the Duke's Mansion. The Duchess despised and oppressed them in particular.
But if Huo Yuhao awakened a White Tiger Martial Soul, their situation might improve.
Unfortunately, things did not go as they hoped. Huo Yuhao awakened a Body Martial Soul, the Spirit Eye, and his innate Soul Power was a pitiful rank one.
As a result, Huo Yuhao's mother wasn't even given a title. The Duchess drove her into the woodshed and cut off every source of income they had.
Huo Yuhao and his mother could only wash the servants' clothes and dig for wild greens to scrape by.
Shrek Academy.
When Bei Bei and Zhang Lexuan arrived beneath the Golden Ancient Tree, Mu En was already waiting for them.
His body was bent almost ninety degrees, supported by a cane made from the trunk of the Golden Ancient Tree.
"Great-Grandfather, have you been waiting long?" Bei Bei hurried forward to support Mu En's arm. Zhang Lexuan supported him from the other side.
Mu En waved a hand. "I'm not so old that I can't walk yet. Let's go!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, dazzling golden light burst from his body. It enveloped Bei Bei and Zhang Lexuan, transforming into a brilliant beam that shot toward the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest.
The terrifying spiritual power of Mu En, a rank ninety-nine Limit Douluo, suddenly spread out.
He quickly found a habitat of Sub-Dragon Soul Beasts in the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"It's a White Armored Earth Dragon, a Sub-Dragon species with particularly strong defenses," Mu En said, surveying the area.
"Great-Grandfather, do you think I could absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring as my third Soul Ring? With my physical condition now, I should be able to withstand it," Bei Bei asked.