Level 1 Soul Engineer / Gift

"Sure, sure! Take this, child. It's your test slip."

The testing teacher's attitude instantly turned warm. He kept his eyes fixed on Su Luoheng, as if afraid he might run off. In truth, if he hadn't been on duty, he would have wanted to escort him there personally.

"Thank you, teacher."

"It's nothing, it's nothing. Hurry and get to the next part of the examination."

Su Luoheng awkwardly rubbed his nose. He still wasn't used to having so many people watching him.

He quickly took the test slip and headed for the second-round examination site.

The second round consisted of two tests.

One tested a Soul Master's abilities, and the other tested a Soul Engineer's abilities.

As long as a candidate passed either one, they could pass the examination and officially become a student of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

The second-round examination site wasn't too far from the first, and the academy had thoughtfully put up signs to guide the candidates. Su Luoheng soon arrived without a hitch.

Quite a few students had already passed the first round, so by the time he arrived, a line had formed.

Although nearly a third of the students had been eliminated during the first round, the number of Soul Masters applying to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy was enormous. The second-round examination was also more complicated. Even though there were half again as many testing stations as in the first round, a long queue had still formed, stretching as far as the eye could see in a sea of heads.

It was like trying to clear a fish bone from your throat.

While he waited, Su Luoheng looked around.

The second round was much simpler than the first. All it needed was one teacher, one table, and a few small gadgets.

There was none of the large Soul Guidance Tester equipment used during the first round.

Though everything looked ordinary, Su Luoheng noticed something different when he examined it closely: the Soul Engineer Badges worn by the academy's teachers were all Level 6 or higher!

A Level 6 Soul Engineer was the equivalent of a Soul Emperor among Soul Masters.

There were at least fifty testing stations here, which showed just how strong the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy's teaching staff was.

It was no less impressive than Shrek Academy.

Although the second round had two different kinds of tests, candidates weren't separated into different lines.

The teachers in charge of the examinations were all at least Level 6 Soul Engineers, and the prerequisite for becoming a Soul Engineer was having enough Soul Power to support the work. So whether a candidate was being tested on Soul Engineer or Soul Master abilities, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy's teachers were qualified to judge them.

Nearly another half hour passed.

As time went by, Su Luoheng finally reached the front of the line.

After watching carefully, he figured out how they evaluated candidates. Whether it was a Soul Master test or a Soul Engineer test, the teachers made their own judgments and also used small Soul Tools. They were probably similar to the Soul Guidance Tester outside, which the Sun Moon Empire used to evaluate people's abilities.

Another quarter of an hour passed before it was finally Su Luoheng's turn.

The teacher in charge wore a Soul Engineer's robe. What surprised Su Luoheng was that, unlike the other teachers, he didn't wear a badge identifying him as a Soul Engineer. He also looked at least a generation older than the others, appearing to be in his sixties.

Still, given his age and the fact that he was overseeing the second round, he had to be at least a Level 6 Soul Engineer.

And it didn't take long for Su Luoheng to notice what made him stand out!

Age had its advantages. The trials of time had honed his eyes into sharp instruments for reading people. His deep-set eyes held a pair of dark brown pupils whose depth seemed to pierce the soul. Whenever he looked at a candidate, it gave them the feeling that he could see right through them. None of the other teachers had that same ability. Perhaps that was exactly why he had been chosen to oversee the second round.

His evaluations of the previous candidates had also been especially objective and fair. But because his precise, detailed judgments had eliminated so many candidates whose abilities were merely passable, his line had allowed almost half as many candidates through as the other lines. Quite a few couldn't bear the pressure of such a strict examination and chose to switch to another teacher's line.

That was why Su Luoheng, who had been at the back of the line, had reached the front in just an hour.

The old man took the test slip but didn't look at it right away. Instead, he sized Su Luoheng up from head to toe. As the old man's spiritual power pressed against him, it stirred Su Luoheng's Sea of Spirit. Su Luoheng was secretly shocked. Judging by the old man's spiritual power, there was an eighty percent chance he was a Mental Attribute Soul Master too.

When the old man looked away, that spiritual pressure vanished.

The old man had also sensed the Mental Attribute of Su Luoheng's Soul Power. His expression shifted slightly, and he gave a small nod, apparently satisfied with his first impression.

"Not bad."

He offered rare praise, but soon returned to his earlier impassive expression.

"Kid, do you want to test your Soul Master or Soul Engineer abilities first?"

"Soul Master."

"Release your Martial Soul."

At that, Su Luoheng focused his thoughts. The desolate landscape of his Unlimited Blade Works Martial Soul appeared behind him, and a pale yellow Soul Ring surfaced beneath his feet. The wasteland remained just as barren, but it now held many weapons, most of them swords. On closer inspection, they were all weapons he had analyzed using his First Soul Skill over the past few days.

"As expected, it has a Mental Attribute."

The familiar fluctuation of a Mental Attribute made the old man nod. But when he saw the Martial Soul as a whole, surprise crossed his face. "Your Martial Soul is rather unusual. What's it called?"

"Unlimited Blade Works."

"That does suit your Martial Soul. All right, put it away."

Chapter 21: Level 1 Soul Engineer [Please Recommend, Invest, and Collect!]

The old man glanced at the swords in the Martial Soul and chuckled, then gestured for Su Luoheng to put it away as he picked up the personal information sheet he had set aside on the table.

This was how he liked to conduct his examinations.

For the Soul Master test, he always had candidates release their Martial Souls first.

If their Martial Soul wasn't strong enough to meet the requirements, there was no need to look any further at their information. Earlier, five or six students had switched to the Soul Tool test for that very reason, only to fail and be eliminated in the end.

"Martial Soul: Unlimited Blade Works. Mental Attribute... Bone age: nine. Soul Power: ten, seven, seventeen levels?!"

The hand stroking his long beard suddenly clenched and jerked downward. He nearly pulled his beard out, but he had no time to worry about whether it hurt. His previously casual expression turned serious, and he stared wide-eyed at the test slip, examining it again and again.

Bone age: nine. Soul Power: Level 17.

There was no sign that the data on the test slip had been altered.

Was this kid really nine years old and already at Level 17 Soul Power? Or had he gotten there by taking pills?

At the thought, the old man's expression froze. He said in a low voice, "Kid, hold out your arm!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he grabbed Su Luoheng's right hand. Powerful spiritual force surged into his body along his arm and began to examine him thoroughly. Su Luoheng didn't resist. Besides, against a Level 6 Soul Engineer at the Soul Emperor level, his own meager spiritual power wouldn't have been enough to resist.

A moment later, the old man withdrew his spiritual power, and Su Luoheng was freed from that feeling of restraint.

The old man, however, was utterly shocked.

The boy's Soul Power really was at Level 17. More importantly, there were no traces of medicinal pills left in his body. That meant he had reached Level 17 entirely through his own talent, not by taking pills that increased his Soul Power at the cost of his potential.

"Kid, are you really at Level 17 Soul Power?" Even though both the test report and his own examination had already confirmed the level, he couldn't help asking.

"Mm."

Su Luoheng frowned and pulled his arm back. He was displeased by the old man's actions just now, but still nodded in confirmation. After all, he still wanted to join the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

After hearing Su Luoheng confirm it once more, the old man was clearly still reeling from the shock. His expression shifted uncontrollably for a moment.

In the end, it transformed into a broad smile.

A nine-year-old genius with a Mental Attribute Martial Soul and Level 17 Soul Power, who had never taken a single pill to boost his cultivation—such a candidate was a rare find! How long had it been since a genius like this had joined the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy? Even the two youngsters from Hall Master Hongchen's family, two years ago, hadn't been as impressive at this age.

There were some things they had to admit: although the Sun Moon Empire had a slight edge in Soul Tools, the quality of its Soul Masters was far inferior to that of the original Douluo Three Kingdoms. Every year, Shrek Academy had at least seven or eight students with talent like Su Luoheng's.

That was precisely why Shrek Academy, with its access to the finest students from three kingdoms, remained the continent's number one academy. Even though it clung to old ways, and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy worked hard, the gap in natural talent and resources meant that even a hundred years from now, they still wouldn't be able to shake Shrek Academy's standing.

"Nine years old and Level 17 Soul Power. You're quite the kid!"

The old man gave Su Luoheng's shoulder a hearty slap, his admiration plain in his eyes. "Not bad, not bad! You've passed my examination. On behalf of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, I welcome you!"

"Huh?"

Su Luoheng froze and pointed to the Soul Tool beside them. "Teacher, isn't there another test?"

"No need. Your Soul Power talent is already more than enough. You can enter our academy directly."

The old man waved a hand. If even an outstanding student like Su Luoheng couldn't pass the examination, then they might as well eliminate all the candidates still waiting in line.

"Teacher, I don't mean the Soul Master test. I mean the Soul Engineer examination," Su Luoheng explained.

"Soul Engineer? Kid, you know about Soul Tools too?"

The old man was even more surprised, then patiently explained, "Our Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy assigns students to year groups based on their Soul Engineer level. If you only know the basics, you'll still be assigned to the first year, so there's no need to waste time here."

"Teacher, I'm already a Level 1 Soul Engineer," Su Luoheng said seriously.

"Kid, don't joke about something like that." The old man frowned, clearly unconvinced that Su Luoheng could reach Level 17 Soul Power while also achieving Level 1 Soul Engineer proficiency.

"Teacher, you can test me." Su Luoheng was calm and confident. If his Soul Power weren't holding him back, he might even have been a Level 2 Soul Engineer. Unfortunately, he had learned about Soul Tools on his own at home with his mother, so he didn't have a Soul Engineer Badge to prove it. Otherwise, he would have been more convincing.

"Well, aren't you a confident little fellow?"

Seeing the boy's confidence, the old man smiled.

"Here. Take a look."

The old man took out a sheet of white paper and, with a flick of his hand, wrote down the names of several Core Arrays: an acceleration array, a strength array, a reflux array, and others.

"Kid, I've written down thirteen Level 1 arrays in all. You have five minutes to pick at least three of them and combine them to make a Soul Tool."

"With your Level 1 Soul Engineer abilities, you should be able to manage that, right?"

This wasn't the academy's official test. He had simply become interested and decided to put the boy to the test.

For most students taking the Soul Engineer examination, it was enough to ask about Soul Tool knowledge and have them identify the names of Core Arrays.

Still, the old man was careful to keep the test fair.

If the boy really was a Level 1 Soul Engineer, he ought to be able to find the correct combination of arrays.

Su Luoheng didn't flinch. After glancing at the Core Arrays on the page, he let the corner of his mouth curl upward. What a coincidence—he had seen the workings of a Soul Tool at the market yesterday, and the old man had given him just the Core Arrays he needed to make one! With that thought, he calmly took the pen and paper the old man handed him and began to write and draw rapidly.

When the five minutes were up, Su Luoheng stopped writing at the same time.

"Kid, if—"

"Teacher, I'm done."

"Hm?!"

The old man's eyes filled with both surprise and curiosity. He hurriedly took the page.

A combination of Core Arrays for a Soul Tool was laid out on the paper. The overall construction and the way the Core Arrays were combined were flawless. He had even had time to draw the casing!

Good heavens...

Nine years old, Level 17 Soul Power, and already a Level 1 Soul Engineer. What kind of genius had just walked into the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy?

The old man was once again shocked. At the same time, he looked at Su Luoheng with burning enthusiasm.

Chapter 22: A Gift [Please Recommend, Invest, and Collect!]

He had originally thought this kid was a Soul Master genius, but it turned out he was a Soul Engineer genius too! As a Soul Engineer himself, he admired talent in Soul Engineering even more than a candidate's Soul Master abilities. With both talents combined, even an old man who had seen plenty of geniuses couldn't remain calm.

"Little fellow, how did you manage that?"

The old man's sudden change in attitude left Su Luoheng at a loss.

He knew his Soul Skill was special, but this was a bit too much of a change.

He took two steps back without drawing attention to himself and explained, "My mother is a Soul Engineer. I just studied with her for a while, and before I knew it, I'd become a Level 1 Soul Engineer."

"Just studied for a while...and became one?" The old man's expression turned peculiar. For a moment, he didn't know what to make of such a boast. Having a Soul Engineer in the family did help, but it still didn't explain becoming a Level 1 Soul Engineer at nine, did it?

"Mm."

Su Luoheng nodded calmly, taking a little revenge.

But he didn't forget his purpose, and added, "Oh, right, teacher. I haven't told you yet: my First Soul Skill is Weapon Analysis."

"A-Analysis? You can analyze Soul Tools?" The old man suddenly thought of something, his piercing gaze as sharp as a sword.

Su Luoheng looked perfectly composed. "Mm."

After a brief moment of thought, the old man raised a hand. An invisible barrier separated the two of them, so the candidates behind him couldn't hear their conversation.

Only after doing so did he ask in a low voice, "What level of Soul Tool can you analyze now?"

"If it's a sword-type Soul Tool, Level 3. Other Soul Tools, Level 2," Su Luoheng answered directly.

"Tell me how it's constructed." A flash of blue light appeared in the old man's palm, and a sword-shaped Soul Tool materialized.

Su Luoheng took the Soul Tool from the old man without hesitation. He converted his Soul Power into spiritual power and completely enveloped it. At the same time, he activated his Unlimited Blade Works Martial Soul. His pale yellow Soul Ring shone with a soft light, and Weapon Analysis began!