What Do You Mean by "Beggar's Workshop"? Don't Talk Nonsense

Su Ming's tone was relaxed and unrestrained, carrying an air of absolute confidence:

"Since you don't believe me, let's make a bet. Let your young mistress study Soul Tools with me for a period of time, and afterward, I'll have her spar with you directly.

When that time comes, you can see for yourself whether she can use the power of Soul Tools to defeat you head-on."

This blatant provocation instantly struck a nerve with Wu Feng's competitive spirit.

She immediately widened her eyes, lifted her chin, and retorted coldly with an air of arrogance, her tone dripping with disdain and contempt:

"A bet is a bet, who's afraid of whom! They're nothing but trinkets made from scrap metal; what kind of ability could they possibly have?

When the time comes to fight, I'll use one Dragon Fire Scorches the Plains and burn all these so-called Soul Tools to ashes!"

Ning Tian watched the two of them bickering endlessly while using her as a wager, shaking her head helplessly, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.

However, seeing Su Ming's calm, composed, and confident demeanor from start to finish, her deep-seated perceptions began to waver quietly.

After a moment of contemplation, she asked softly, filled with doubt and curiosity:

"Senior Su Ming, are Soul Tools... really as powerful as you say? In my understanding, Soul Tools are merely auxiliary items for low-level soul masters. Before reaching the seven-ring Soul Saint level, one might gain some slight advantage with them.

But once a soul master breaks through the seventh ring, their martial soul origin is completely solidified and their soul power becomes immensely thick, rendering the role of Soul Tools negligible; they simply cannot shake a high-level soul master."

Hearing Ning Tian's question, Su Ming's expression lifted slightly, his eyes carrying a confidence and pride that transcended the era as he spoke slowly:

"That is merely your ingrained perception, an old concept that has long fallen behind the times."

He knew well that after ten thousand years of change in Douluo, soul tool technology had undergone a subversive revolution and was no longer the useless, auxiliary item of the past.

"In the past, the effectiveness of Soul Tools did indeed plummet after the seventh ring, struggling to keep up with the combat rhythm of high-level soul masters.

But the era is different now. The Sun Moon Empire has spent hundreds of years delving into soul tool technology, developing countless new high-level soul tool technologies and forbidden soul weapons.

Today's top-tier Soul Tools have long broken free from the shackles of the old era."

Su Ming's gaze was distant, his tone carrying absolute certainty:

"It is no exaggeration to say that today's rapidly evolving high-level soul tool technology, when pitted against the Original Heaven Soul, Dou Ling, and Star Luo, the three nations dominated by traditional martial soul cultivation systems, is a complete dimensional crush. Fighting them is no different from fighting infants in swaddling clothes."

"Furthermore, the Soul Tools my team is researching are different. We are pursuing a brand-new subject that no one has delved into before; our approach is novel, our system is unique, and we have completely jumped out of the shackles of current traditional Soul Tools.

Once fully developed, the power and practical value they can unleash will far exceed conventional soul tool equipment. In terms of comprehensive strength, they are absolutely more powerful than the mainstream research results of the Shrek Academy Soul Tool Department."

Su Ming walked along the tree-lined path with his hands behind his back, a calm and flamboyant smile playing on his lips, his brows filled with absolute certainty.

The young man stood tall and straight, sunlight filtering through the sycamore leaves overhead, casting dappled light onto his handsome profile.

It made that confidence appear even more dazzling; there was no trace of vanity, but rather something that made people subconsciously inclined to believe him.

Wu Feng, Ning Tian, and Nanmen Yun'er, standing to his side, all keenly captured this conviction emanating from the depths of Su Ming's heart and couldn't help but glance at him.

The straightforward Wu Feng secretly sized up Su Ming's confident appearance, muttering to herself and unable to stop the internal grumbling:

At the end of the day, aren't they just piles of welded iron? Soul Tool research has always been conventional, and the entire continent's soul tool system is already set in stone. Where does he get the confidence to challenge the Shrek Academy Soul Tool Department? He's being far too arrogant.

Ning Tian, however, did not have such shallow thoughts as Wu Feng.

As a genius disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, her vision far exceeded that of her peers. She knew that the Shrek Academy Soul Tool Department represented the peak of the younger generation's research standards on the continent, and ordinary soul tool researchers would never dare to compare themselves to it.

Since Su Ming dared to make such wild claims, he was either arrogant and boastful, or he held a truly subversive research direction in his hands.

She lowered her eyes, her slender fingers gently rubbing the patterns on her cuffs, silently thinking and weighing the situation for a long time.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had immense financial resources, yet it always lacked a unique, self-developed system of high-level Soul Tools.

If she could get involved with Su Ming's unique research project, it would be of great benefit to the sect's future.

After careful consideration, Ning Tian finally looked up, her gaze clear and solemn, and spoke slowly to Su Ming:

"Senior Su Ming, I have decided to join your research team."

After a pause, she timely put forward her bottom line and demands, her tone sincere yet neither humble nor pushy:

"I only have one condition: if your soul tool research achieves a major breakthrough in the future and produces mature results, I hope you will prioritize providing assistance to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for the sect's use."

Su Ming's eyes brightened upon hearing this, and without a moment's hesitation, he nodded in agreement.

He saw it clearly: Ning Tian was the young sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, sitting on the massive resources and endless wealth of a top-tier sect.

With her joining the team, the most troublesome problems—research funding, rare materials, and high-level soul tool consumables—would be solved in an instant.

Providing some research results to the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect was a mutually beneficial arrangement; it was no trouble at all for him.

"No problem, it's a deal!" Su Ming agreed readily, his smile widening.

"Since you have officially joined my team, I will take you all to see my exclusive laboratory now, so you can get an early understanding of our research projects."

With that, Su Ming turned and stepped forward, leading the three of them toward a secluded area deep within the academy.

The four of them walked along the tree-lined paths of the academy, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves and making a soft, whispering sound.

After a moment of silence along the way, the irrepressibly curious Wu Feng couldn't help but quicken her pace, leaning toward Su Ming's side to ask:

"Hey, Su Ming, we've been talking for so long, but who exactly is in your research team?"

She looked Su Ming up and down, her face full of inquiry:

"You keep saying your project is a one-of-a-kind, high-level study with extreme difficulty, so the team must be quite large, right? Otherwise, how could you possibly support such a novel and massive project?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Ning Tian, who was walking quietly alongside, and the gentle and quiet Nanmen Yun'er both raised their eyes to look at Su Ming, their gazes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Indeed, a project capable of crushing the Shrek Soul Tool Department must surely be backed by a large, elite professional team.

Su Ming, who was leading the way at the front, paused slightly.

Feeling the three pairs of eyes fixed on him, a flicker of undeniable guilt flashed through his heart, and his confidence quietly withered by half.

But in front of the three new members, he absolutely could not show weakness. He forcibly suppressed his inner embarrassment, tried his best to maintain a calm and composed appearance, and feigned profundity as he argued:

"You don't understand. The higher-level and more top-secret the research, the fewer people who know about it. My project has an extremely high threshold.

It only accepts top-tier elite talent; ordinary students aren't even qualified to participate. Naturally, the team size is streamlined—quality is better than quantity!"

Hearing Su Ming's high-sounding explanation, Ning Tian and the others behind him nodded as if in thought.

However, while he might fool Ning Tian and Nanmen Yun'er, he could not fool Wu Feng, whose mind was straightforward and whose observation skills were sharp.

She saw through Su Ming's flickering eyes and lack of confidence at a glance. She immediately widened her eyes and questioned him with a face full of suspicion:

"Streamlined? I think you're just feeling guilty! Don't try to gloss over it; tell me straight, how many people are actually on the team?"

Driven into a corner with no way out, Su Ming could only slowly turn his head, avoiding their gazes. His mouth drooped slightly, and his voice became soft and weak as he uttered two words:

"Two people."

In an instant, the sound of the wind in the forest seemed to go still.

Ning Tian's delicate brows stiffened, and her gentle expression was instantly filled with astonishment.

Nanmen Yun'er also widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief; clearly, she had never expected this answer.

After two short seconds of dead silence, a piercing exclamation suddenly exploded, shaking the surrounding branches and leaves so violently that several withered leaves drifted down from the canopy.

"What?!"

Wu Feng's eyes were wide open, her mouth agape, her face full of incredulity. Her tone was filled with a sense of collapse and speechlessness:

"Two people?! There are only two people in total? What kind of revolutionary Soul Tool can two people research? Su Ming, you have some nerve!

So you've been fooling us from the very beginning, coaxing Ning Tian into jumping into your little beggar's workshop, right?"

Seeing the stunned and speechless expressions of the three, especially Wu Feng's righteous indignation, Su Ming immediately became unhappy and frowned as he retorted:

"What beggar's workshop? What do you mean by fooling? Wu Feng, can you not talk so harshly!"

He puffed out his chest, forcibly regaining some of his confidence, and said righteously:

"My team has an extremely high threshold. I'd rather have nothing than settle for less; it's not like just anyone can join! No matter how many ordinary, mediocre people you have, they would only drag down the research progress. So what if the number is small? The intrinsic value cannot be measured by headcount!"

"You still dare to argue! A two-person workshop—if that's not a beggar's den, what is?" Wu Feng remained relentless, her face full of complaints.

Su Ming couldn't be bothered to engage in a war of words anymore. He curled his lip and quickened his pace, his movements betraying a lack of confidence:

"What do you know! Empty words are useless. Once we get to the laboratory and you see what we're researching with your own eyes, you'll realize just how shallow you are!"

With that, he strode forward, deliberately putting some distance between himself and the three behind him to avoid their gazes.

Wu Feng continued to follow behind, muttering and complaining the whole way; the sound of her incessant grumbling was endless.

Ning Tian and Nanmen Yun'er exchanged a look, both unable to laugh or cry. Their curiosity and confusion grew even stronger as they followed closely behind Su Ming, soon arriving at the door of the mysterious, exclusive laboratory.