"Director Lin, I want to take the exam"

Generally speaking, this is how Soul Master Academy students approach their grading exams: they craft a soul tool specifically to pass the exam, then spend much more time building the soul tools they actually intend to use in combat.

However, Kong Bo did not intend to do that. He did not care about the efficiency of "passing the exam"; he only cared about the quality of the soul tool. This was especially true for his "Moon Shuttle." This Moon Shuttle was no ordinary soul tool; it was designed to be controlled directly by his Three Moons Martial Soul.

The materials used for a soul tool that approached the level of a "Life-Bound Soul Tool" were extremely expensive. In particular, the control array inside the Moon Shuttle required an alloy forged from two different rare metals, an alloy that Kong Deming had personally guided Kong Bo in smelting.

Compared to other soul masters, the "production speed" of Kong Bo's Moon Shuttle was incredibly slow. He first spent nearly a week drawing the complete blueprints for all eight Moon Shuttles, then spent one day forging the first, and another day forging the second.

According to Kong Bo's calculations, there were eight Moon Shuttles in total. As a Soul Master, Kong Bo could control two; for every major rank he advanced, he would be able to control two more. Naturally, with every major rank increase, the previously controlled Moon Shuttles would also require upgrades.

For example, at the Soul Master level, the power of Kong Bo's Moon Shuttle was 1, and he could manipulate two, resulting in a power of 1x2. Upon reaching the Great Soul Master level, Kong Bo would need to upgrade the shuttles, increasing the power of each individual shuttle to 2 or 3, resulting in a total power of 2x4 or 3x4. By the time he reached the Soul Ancestor level, it would be 4x6 (six shuttles) or 6x6 (six shuttles), and so on. With every major rank, the overall power of the Moon Shuttles would increase geometrically.

Once the two Moon Shuttles were completed, Kong Bo summoned his Three Moons Martial Soul and used it to imprint the shuttles with his martial soul signature. Then, Kong Bo extended his right hand and clenched his fist; the two flying shuttles folded into a mechanical triangular prism with sides of about thirty centimeters, making it very easy to carry. In the event of an emergency, Kong Bo could retrieve it directly from his storage bracelet.

"This Moon Shuttle of yours is truly ingenious," Kong Deming said. "Come, let your great-grandfather see how powerful it is."

Kong Bo summoned his Three Moons Martial Soul, and the three moons began to orbit around him. Then, Kong Bo took the mechanical triangular prism out of his storage bracelet, and it immediately resonated with his Three Moons Martial Soul.

Kong Deming nodded with satisfaction. "Good. It seems the concept of this soul tool is already on par with your great-grandfather's Silver Moon Divine Light Shield. There is one more thing I must praise you for: you make thorough preparations before crafting a soul tool and place great importance on its design. This is excellent. If one only improves their crafting technique without any design philosophy, the soul master becomes too rigid—they lack a soul."

"Your teachings are well-received, Grandfather," Kong Bo said.

"Come, show your grandfather how powerful this soul tool of your genius design is, and how it performs in battle," Kong Deming said.

Kong Bo focused his mind, and the soul power from his Three Moons Martial Soul flowed into the prism. The mechanical triangular prism transformed into two Moon Shuttles, and Kong Bo, using his martial soul as a "medium," manipulated the two light-blue shuttles, causing them to fly through the air at various speeds.

Using a martial soul to control a soul tool had another advantage besides immunity to mental interference: higher transmission efficiency. When a soul master crafted a soul tool with a higher affinity for their martial soul and then used that martial soul to control it, it felt as natural as moving one's own limbs.

"So, they are two flying swords," Kong Deming remarked. "My dear great-grandson, you will surely be very popular with the girls when you participate in soul fighting tournaments in the future."

"I am more focused on the combat capabilities of the soul tool," Kong Bo replied. "Grandfather, look at this!" Kong Bo pointed toward a target, and the two Moon Shuttles fired two light-blue soul rays, striking the mark.

"It can even function as a soul cannon! Hahahaha, this soul tool of yours is extraordinary!" Kong Deming's smile was impossible to suppress. "Tomorrow, go find your academy's Dean of Students and pass your assessment. He is in charge of the soul master grading exams."

"Understood," Kong Bo said.

"Kong Bo," Kong Deming said, gently patting Kong Bo's head. "I heard that for the past while at school, you spent every day drawing the blueprints for these shuttles. You are still a child; don't put so much pressure on yourself. Children should be happy and cheerful; there is no need to carry such a heavy burden."

"Your teachings are well-received, Great-Grandfather," Kong Bo said.

There was no helping it; Kong Bo's soul was that of an adult. Spending every day with children left him with nothing in common with them. It was far more interesting to study soul tool knowledge or learn from the memories left behind by Dottore in his mind.

I'm only six years old right now; it wouldn't be appropriate to go looking for pretty little girls, would it? Kong Bo thought. When I grow up a bit, I can flaunt my appreciation for beauty, or else I'll go mad myself. I may intend to become Dottore, but I cannot become completely insane like the Doctor.

There was one more function of Kong Bo's Moon Shuttle that he hadn't told Kong Deming: the shuttles could be shrunk down and used as carving knives. Compared to manipulating a carving knife by hand, Kong Bo's Moon Shuttles could resonate with his Three Moons Martial Soul, allowing for much more delicate operation—it was like a Douluo Continent version of a lithography machine.

After spending two days crafting the soul tool, Kong Bo went to school with his backpack on the third day and headed straight to the office of the Dean of Students, Lin Jiayi. Kong Bo knocked on the door, and a middle-aged man's voice came from within: "Enter." Kong Bo pushed the door open and walked into the office. Inside, a short, stout middle-aged man was sitting at his desk reviewing documents. He was Lin Jiayi, the Dean of Students of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

Lin Jiayi put down his pen and looked up. "Oh, Kong Bo? Is there something you need from the Dean?"

"Greetings, Dean," Kong Bo said, bowing respectfully to Lin Jiayi. "I wish to take the exam for a First-Rank Soul Master. I heard you are in charge of this."

"You... you want to take the First-Rank Soul Master exam?" Lin Jiayi looked at Kong Bo in surprise. "How long have you been at this school, and you already want to take the First-Rank exam? Even Xiao Hongchen didn't take his First-Rank Soul Master exam until he reached level 15."

"Yes," Kong Bo said. "I received some introductory education from my great-grandfather when I was younger, and I became quite interested. I kept listening, drew some diagrams myself, and showed them to my great-grandfather. He guided me on how to improve them, and now I have finally finished crafting it."

"Very well, then let the Dean see how well you have crafted your soul tool. My, the younger generation truly surpasses the old," Lin Jiayi said, rising from his chair to take Kong Bo to the soul tool testing grounds.