First-Word Battle Armor—Fire!

Xuan Zi's voice rose higher, his entire body tensed.

He felt as though his worldview was being reshaped.

"For real?! Are you sure?! Are you certain about what you just said?!"

Ji Jing did not answer, merely watching him indifferently.

Those golden-red eyes held not a hint of jest.

Xuan Zi felt a churning in his gut under that gaze.

He paced back and forth, one hand pressing against the back of a chair while the thumb of his other hand incessantly rubbed his wine gourd, his eyes filled with irrepressible shock.

He certainly knew how absurd this sounded.

A Spirit King defeating a Spirit Saint—in any sect or academy, that was the kind of thing people told as a joke.

However...

He raised his eyes, once again sizing up the red-haired youth before him.

This kid was related to the gods; he had been certain of that for a long time.

Xuan Zi took a sharp breath, then let out the air he had been holding in his throat with a heavy exhale:

"...The credibility is very high."

This sentence sounded as if it were meant for others, yet also as if he were speaking to himself.

He sat back down in his chair and grabbed his wine gourd to take a long swig.

"You kid are truly extraordinary."

"Don't be so quick to draw conclusions."

Ji Jing said calmly, his tone carrying a touch of casualness.

"I still have a few points to clarify."

Xuan Zi raised a hand, signaling for him to speak.

Ji Jing nodded and began:

"For now, Wang Dong cannot wear a full set of First-Word Battle Armor."

"The spirit power consumption of a full set of battle armor is several times higher than a single piece, and her current physical constitution cannot support it."

"But I am already capable. My battle armor will be finished in a couple of days, and you will understand when the time comes."

Xuan Zi's eyes lit up, his body leaning forward.

Ji Jing, however, did not let him interrupt, shifting the topic:

"However, there is one thing I must make clear in advance."

He scanned the people in the private room, his gaze finally landing on Xuan Zi.

"The reason I can take full responsibility for crafting Wang Dong's battle armor is because we possess Perfect Martial Soul Fusion."

"I am more familiar with her martial soul and spirit power than she is herself. But if it were anyone else, I could not handle the entire process."

"Why?"

Dai Yueheng leaned forward slightly, asking earnestly.

"Because the metal used to forge battle armor has life."

Ji Jing explained.

"Metal has life, so the battle armor itself also has life."

"Only things with life can truly resonate with the wearer, becoming as responsive as one's own limbs, a seamless whole."

"This is also the fundamental reason why it is so powerful."

The private room fell silent once more.

Xiao Xiao blinked, tentatively speaking up:

"Then... is there no way for others to possess battle armor?"

"Not necessarily."

Ji Jing shook his head.

"I divide the production of battle armor into four parts."

He held up one finger.

"The most difficult is forging."

"The forger deals with the metal, bestowing upon it the transformation of life. This is the step with the highest threshold, and also the step most deeply connected to the battle armor."

"Next are Mecha Design and Mecha Manufacturing."

"This step determines the overall structure of the battle armor; the technical threshold is lower than forging, but it is by no means simple."

"Following that is Mecha Repair."

His tone lightened slightly at this point.

"However, the importance of this aspect decreases as the grade of the Battle Armor increases. By the time one reaches Three-Word Battle Armor, the metal can self-repair, and the need for manual maintenance becomes quite limited."

"The deeper one's involvement in the creation process, the stronger the bond between the Battle Armor and the wearer, and the higher the potential performance on the battlefield."

After speaking, Ji Jing picked up the tea in front of him and took a slow, unhurried sip.

The private room fell into a period of silence.

In the end, it was Ji Jing who broke the silence:

"I will organize a complete system of knowledge."

"Forging, design, manufacturing, repair—every part, categorized and filed, clearly organized. Then, I will strive to have the academy equip it first, pushing it out step by step from the inside out."

Xuan Zi stroked his beard, his eyes fixed on him with a heavy gaze.

In the past, he had always turned up his nose at the Soul Guidance industry.

But now, he could no longer remain indifferent.

"Very well."

He picked up his wine gourd, tilted his head back, and took a swig.

"As for the academy, this old man will report to the Sea God Pavilion and provide you with full support."

He paused, as if remembering something, and added:

"Soul Guidance technology must be promoted eventually."

"Just like the Flying Soul Tool that fills the streets now, and the immensely powerful Soul Cannon. I only hope you can implement it within the academy first."

"That goes without saying."

Ji Jing nodded.

As the others dispersed, the several rooms belonging to Shrek Academy in the Star Luo Grand Hotel fell into silence.

Everyone began to digest what they had seen and heard today, and even more so, began to look forward to the appearance of the full set of Battle Armor.

Two days later.

Star Luo Empire, Star Luo Plaza.

The elimination rounds of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament were in full swing. Today, Shrek Academy welcomed their opponents for this round—

Zhengtian Academy.

When the referee loudly announced that the format for this match was a "seven-on-seven team battle," the entire spectator stand erupted in thunderous cheers.

In the Shrek Academy waiting area, Ji Jing rubbed his wrists and waved at Wang Dong and the others behind him who were eager to jump into action:

"Just watch from below; I'll go up alone to stretch my muscles."

"Good luck, I believe in you."

Wang Dong stood by Ji Jing's side, encouraging him with a firm gaze.

Ji Jing smiled slightly. Under the gaze of the masses, he shoved his hands into his pockets, his expression lazy, and walked up the steps one by one onto the wide Soul Fighting Arena.

Opposite him, the seven members of Zhengtian Academy were already lined up, each with a grave expression, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Zhengtian Academy's lineup was nothing if not powerful.

Standing at the very front was the captain, Ye Wuqing, nineteen years old, with a cultivation level as high as rank 58, a Power Attack System Battle Soul King, with the Golden Leaf martial soul.

Beside him was the rank 53 Power Attack System Battle Soul King Yu Mengdi, with the Angel martial soul.

On the other side was the rank 52 Power Attack System Battle Soul King Tang Xiaolei, with the Purple Brilliance Bow martial soul.

As for the remaining four Soul Ancestor, while they could be considered geniuses in ordinary academies, in front of Shrek, they weren't even worth remembering by name.

"Shrek is only sending one person?"

Ye Wuqing's brows locked tight; he felt deeply insulted, but thinking of Shrek Academy's reputation, he dared not be the least bit careless.

"Form up!"

Ji Jing stood in the center of the Soul Fighting Arena, watching the seven people waiting in formation opposite him, a playful arc tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Match, begin!"

Following the referee's command.

Ji Jing softly spat out a single word:

"Fire."

In an instant, an indescribable, extreme heat erupted from the center of Ji Jing!

"Hum—!"

Accompanied by a crisp, long chime, pieces of armor, glowing with a noble golden-red hue, appeared on Ji Jing's body.

In the blink of an eye, a set of golden-red First-Word Battle Armor had perfectly covered Ji Jing's entire body!