Xiao Hongchen was woken by a knock at the door.
"Master, it's time to get up."
The voice was soft, tinged with restraint. It belonged to Nana.
Hmm, he would have preferred her to wake him while standing beside the bed.
Xiao Hongchen sat up, rubbed his eyes, and replied, "I know."
After breakfast, Xiao Hongchen headed to Mingde Hall as usual. Even though he was on vacation, his tasks hadn't stopped.
He pushed open the door to Xuan Ziwen's laboratory and had just stepped inside when
a figure lunged straight at him.
"Xiao Hongchen!"
Xuan Ziwen grabbed him with both arms, squeezing so hard that Xiao Hongchen nearly lost his footing.
"What is it this time, Teacher Xuan?"
"It worked!"
Xuan Ziwen's voice rang out beside his ear, brimming with barely contained joy.
"The Sealed Milk Bottle! A Sealed Milk Bottle that doesn't lose Soul Power—it worked!"
"Teacher Xuan, let go first—"
"Do you know what this means?" Xuan Ziwen hadn't heard a word he said. His eyes were shining. "The entire Soul Master system is going to be completely rewritten. Before long, even ordinary people will be able to use Soul Tools..."
"Teacher Xuan, I only care whether this can take the research on Humanoid Soul Tools any further."
Xuan Ziwen's excited stream of words abruptly stopped.
"It can."
He spoke slowly, each word deliberate, his tone more solemn than ever.
"Once the sealing technology matures, we'll be able to solve the energy-loss problem at its root. That's the biggest obstacle to the long-term operation of Humanoid Soul Tools."
He turned and walked over to the desk. Picking up the Level Five Sealed Milk Bottle, he placed it in front of Xiao Hongchen.
Xiao Hongchen took the little bottle and turned it over in his hands.
The bottle was made from a special material, and its opening bore a layer of dense, almost invisible patterns. He channeled his Soul Power into it, but not a trace of energy seemed to escape.
"The idea for sealing that you gave me before was a huge inspiration. I was only able to finish it so smoothly because I built on that."
"So," Xuan Ziwen said, standing across from him with a serious expression, "we'll share the patent for the Sealed Milk Bottle. Don't refuse. You've earned it."
Xiao Hongchen was touched. What a good teacher. Although this thing wasn't much use to him right now, he still nodded.
"All right. Thank you, Teacher Xuan."
Even without his help, Xuan Ziwen would have figured it out in a few years. It would simply have taken him a few more years of detours.
"Also, let's go visit Elder Kong now."
Xuan Ziwen straightened his collar, his expression turning serious.
"This Sealed Milk Bottle technology will be very useful for his research. You guessed right: his main focus is portable Humanoid Soul Tools, the exact opposite of the large-scale Humanoid Soul Tools that Mingde Hall mainly studies."
Xiao Hongchen looked up. "Elder Kong of the Worship Hall?"
"You know about him?" Xuan Ziwen glanced at him in surprise and put the little bottle away. "He's my master, the person closest to becoming a Level 10 Soul Engineer. Your grandfather was also once guided by him. Before we take this out, we need his approval. Besides..."
He paused and looked at Xiao Hongchen.
"You'll have to meet him sooner or later, so we might as well go today."
Xiao Hongchen didn't ask any more questions. He stood up.
"Then let's go."
The two of them left the laboratory and headed toward the Worship Hall.
Kong Deming.
The man hailed as the "Father of Soul Engineers"—Xiao Hongchen had wanted to meet him for a long time.
His achievements were impossible to overlook in the history of the entire Douluo Continent. The Life-Bound Soul Tool he would later create, the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield, was powerful enough to contend with the Level 99 Taotie Douluo. It was a Level-Ten Soul Tool that had ushered in a new era.
And Xiao Hongchen wanted more than that.
His thoughts kept circling back to the Humanoid Soul Tool he had only managed to envision so far.
If he could advance his Humanoid Soul Tool another step and create Battle Armor ahead of its time, that would be the best possible outcome.
The thought had been lingering in his mind for a long time. Every so often, he would take it out and turn it over, refining it again. The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed—and the more he felt something was still missing.
Perhaps Kong Deming could give him some inspiration.
Xuan Ziwen brought him to the imperial palace.
The Worship Hall stood in a corner of the palace and was dedicated to protecting the emperor.
It was hard to say why, decades ago, they had simply allowed the current emperor to launch a coup.
Led by Xuan Ziwen, Xiao Hongchen went through layer upon layer of security checks before finally reaching the door at the very heart of the Worship Hall.
Xuan Ziwen stopped at the door, straightened his collar, and glanced back at Xiao Hongchen, lowering his voice.
"Once we're inside, answer whatever he asks. There's no need to hide anything. He can see right through you."
Xiao Hongchen nodded.
Only then did Xuan Ziwen raise his hand and knock three times.
There was a brief silence inside.
"Come in."
The room was brightly lit.
Bookshelves lined the walls, crammed with volumes and all kinds of Soul Tool components.
At the center stood a broad desk. Behind it sat a tall old man with short silver-gray hair, looking down at something. He held a slender carving knife in his hand, working with calm, meticulous precision.
At just one glance, Xiao Hongchen could sense how powerful the old man was. He looked unremarkable, yet carried a presence that was hard to explain.
Both he and Jing Hongchen were Level 94 Ninth-Level Soul Engineers, but Jing Hongchen's aura was sharp, while Kong Deming's was steady and reassuring. His grandfather was far behind Elder Kong in terms of cultivation.
Kong Deming looked up.
"Ah, it's Xiao Xuan and a boy from the Hongchen Family. What brings you here?"
Although they had never met, the Hongchen Family's distinctive silver hair and the boy's resemblance to Jing Hongchen had let him guess Xiao Hongchen's identity.
Xuan Ziwen stepped forward and gently placed his creation on one corner of the desk. His voice was barely able to contain his excitement.
"Master, I've made the Sealed Milk Bottle."
The carving knife in Kong Deming's hand paused.
He set it down, picked up the bottle, and turned it over in his palm, probing inside with his Soul Power.
The energy remained completely still. Not a trace had escaped.
His brow twitched. He turned the bottle around twice, then examined the construction of its sealing layer closely. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.
"Very ingenious."
He looked up at Xuan Ziwen. His tone was even, yet carried genuine praise.
"Nicely done. You finished it much earlier than I expected."
Xuan Ziwen stood ramrod straight, barely concealing his delight, but still spoke earnestly.
"Master, although I'm the one who completed it, the key idea came from Xiao Hongchen."
He stepped aside to let Xiao Hongchen come forward.
"He's also made a major breakthrough in his research on self-recharging Milk Bottles. He can already ensure they recharge themselves within a year."
"I brought him here because I wanted him to discuss Humanoid Soul Tools with you. His ideas are unconventional, and he should be able to offer you a different perspective."
Only then did Kong Deming turn his full attention to Xiao Hongchen and study him carefully.
Xiao Hongchen didn't shy away. He cupped his hands.
"Elder Kong."
"Sit."
The two of them took their seats, and Xiao Hongchen began by explaining the principles behind his Milk Bottle.
"The younger generation is impressive. Young people really do think more freely."
Kong Deming nodded again and again.
His praise made Xiao Hongchen blush a little. After all, he hadn't come up with the ideas himself; he had merely distilled the experience of those who came before him in his previous life.
"Now, let's get to the point." Kong Deming looked at Xiao Hongchen. "What did you want to discuss with me about Humanoid Soul Tools?"
Xiao Hongchen gathered his thoughts and spoke.
"I want to make a Humanoid Soul Tool my Life-Bound Soul Tool."
Before you continue