Qian Duoduo

Jiang Che looked into Ma Xiaotao's eyes, his tone so certain that it sounded less like reassurance and more like a statement of fact.

His gaze made Ma Xiaotao feel a little flustered. A faint blush crept over her ears, but she still put on a brave front. "I know, I know. Now let go—you're going to pinch my face out of shape."

Jiang Che smiled and released her, then casually ruffled her hair, making Ma Xiaotao pout again.

"Anyway, it's been three months since I last helped suppress your Evil Fire, hasn't it? If you have time now, I can do it again."

After helping Ma Xiaotao suppress her Evil Fire, Jiang Che went to the Outer Court again, but this time he headed for the Soul Tool Department.

"Knock, knock!" He stood outside an office and rapped twice.

"Come in!" A deep, booming voice came from within.

"Dean Qian." Jiang Che opened the door and greeted him first.

Jiang Che gently closed the door behind him, his gaze settling on the burly figure behind the desk.

Qian Duoduo was holding a thick charcoal pencil, scribbling on a sheet of blueprints. At the sound of Jiang Che's voice, he looked up, his bell-like eyes sweeping over.

"Oh, it's Jiang Che." Qian Duoduo set down his pencil. His deep voice, like a hammer striking a thick steel plate, echoed through the office. "What brings you here?"

"I came to borrow some of the Soul Tool Department's equipment to make a few Soul Tools," Jiang Che explained.

At that, Qian Duoduo raised his thick brows, his bell-like eyes lighting up with interest.

"You just broke through to Titled Douluo. Shouldn't you be thinking about hunting for a Soul Ring? Why are you in the mood to study Soul Tools?" Qian Duoduo said with a chuckle.

Though he disliked Jiang Che's senior brother, he would never let his dislike of Yan Shaozhe spill over onto Jiang Che. In fact, all the old hands on Sea God Island admired Jiang Che, a talented youngster.

After all, they were old, and Jiang Che was practically someone they had watched grow up.

"There's no need to rush into hunting for a Soul Ring. If I went blindly to the Far North without preparing properly, even a few extra lives wouldn't be enough to keep me safe." Jiang Che wasn't surprised by Qian Duoduo's teasing. He laughed along with him.

"The Far North has a brutal environment, ferocious Soul Beasts, and dangers lurking in the unknown. I want to make a few high-grade Soul Tools suited to me."

"That'll strengthen me in battle and give me more ways to protect myself. Once everything's ready, I can look for a suitable Soul Ring then."

Qian Duoduo nodded repeatedly, his deep voice full of approval. He slapped a big hand down on the desk, making the Soul Tool blueprints shift slightly. "Well said! You're much steadier than your senior brother. You have a plan and don't rush into things! The Far North is no place to fool around. There's no harm in being prepared. With a head on your shoulders like that, it's no wonder you broke through to Titled Douluo at such a young age. You have a boundless future!"

"Alas, we Soul Engineers know our own shortcomings. A lot of people in the Martial Soul Department look down on us, but that's because they've never seen how far Soul Tools have come." Qian Duoduo suddenly sighed, a trace of worry in his eyes. "The people in the Martial Soul Department are still basking in the glory of defeating the Sun Moon Empire a thousand years ago. They all look down on Soul Engineers now."

"That really is a problem for most people in the Martial Soul Department. They're willing to use Soul Tools, but strongly oppose learning how to make them. If we don't change, we'll be at the mercy of others forever." Jiang Che knew Qian Duoduo was right. In the not-too-distant future, all of Shrek Academy, along with the three great empires of the Douluo Continent, would pay the price for their arrogance.

But even after breaking through to Titled Douluo, Jiang Che couldn't change any of that yet. Only after reaching Super Douluo, or even Limit Douluo, and rising in status at Shrek could he push for reform.

"You're absolutely right." Qian Duoduo stood and took a few steps around his desk. His burly frame stopped before Jiang Che, his expression carrying the hopes of an elder. "We're old. The future is in your hands now. You're the most talented of your generation, and the burden on your shoulders will be heavy."

"Tell me, what rank of Soul Tool do you want to make, and what equipment will you need? The Soul Tool Department has just about every kind of smelting and engraving device, and I can authorize some rare-metal materials for you as well."

"I want to make a push for a Level 8 Soul Tool. I plan to craft a few close-fitting Soul Tools that combine offense and defense, then make a long-range Soul Tool weapon suited to my Soul Power. I'll need a high-grade smelting furnace, a precision Soul Tool etching table, and some rare metals and Core Array materials." Jiang Che was frank about what he needed. "My Soul Tool cultivation is currently stuck at the peak of Level 7. I'd also like to use this opportunity to try to break through to Level 8 Soul Master, so I hope you'll be willing to give me some guidance, Dean Qian."

"A Level 8 Soul Tool? And you want to break through to Level 8 Soul Master?" Qian Duoduo's eyes flashed as he looked at Jiang Che with even greater approval. "You've got ambition, kid—but I like it! That's the kind of drive a Shrek student should have!"

He immediately pulled a blue token engraved with intricate Soul Tool patterns from his robes and handed it to Jiang Che. A faint current of Level 9 Soul Master Soul Power lingered around it. "Take this. You can use the high-grade private laboratory on the top floor of the Soul Tool Department. It's equipped with the best devices, more than enough to make Level 8 Soul Tools. Use whatever materials you need in the lab. Don't hold back. If you run into a bottleneck while making them, or have questions about engraving the arrays or connecting your Soul Power, come to my office anytime. I'll guide you myself."

Jiang Che took the token, feeling the warm current of Soul Power in his palm, and quickly clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for making this possible, Dean Qian."

"Why be so polite? If you make a name for yourself in Soul Toolcraft, that'll be a point of pride for all of Shrek." Qian Duoduo waved a hand and gave him a gruff warning. "Making high-grade Soul Tools isn't without risk. When engraving the arrays, stay calm and keep your Soul Power output under control. Don't rush. Safety comes first. Focus on your work in the lab. I'll give the word—no one will dare disturb you."

"I'll keep your advice in mind, Dean." Jiang Che nodded, gripped the token, and left the office. He headed straight for the Soul Tool Department's laboratory building, ready to begin crafting Soul Tools and breaking through to the next level.

"Wait!" Qian Duoduo suddenly called out as Jiang Che was about to leave.

"Is there something else?" Jiang Che turned to look at Qian Duoduo again.

Qian Duoduo returned to his seat and opened the drawer beneath his desk. He pulled out a thick notebook and carefully wiped it down.

"This is the notebook I used to record my studies of Soul Tools when I was young. It contains my thoughts and the problems I ran into each time I made a Soul Tool."

"I kept adding to it for a while after I became a Level 9 Soul Master. I hope you'll find something useful in it. There are also a few problems I still haven't solved. If you can, help me figure them out while you're at it."

As he spoke, Qian Duoduo shoved the notebook into Jiang Che's arms, giving him no chance to refuse.

Looking down at the notebook in his arms, Jiang Che felt a stir of emotion. He had grown up on Sea God Island, surrounded mostly by senior elders like Mu En, and Qian Duoduo was among them.

"Don't worry, Dean. I won't give the notebook back until I've solved those problems." Jiang Che smiled.

"Haha! Then I'll look forward to getting it back." Qian Duoduo laughed too. If Jiang Che really could solve every problem in it, there would be no doubt he had become a Level 9 Soul Master. He looked forward to Shrek having another Level 9 Soul Master.