A Pseudo-Level 2? [Please Recommend, Invest, and Collect!]

That was why Su Luoheng had gained an even clearer understanding of Teacher Ran's teaching ability. He looked up at Ran Yuming with admiration, and the confusion on his face vanished in an instant.

He turned to Ran Yuming, who was smiling, and thanked him sincerely. "Thank you for guiding me, teacher!"

Ran Yuming, who had been watching him the whole time, set down his teacup and asked with a faint smile, "Do you understand where you went wrong?"

"Mm."

Su Luoheng calmed his excitement and nodded. "The Core Array isn't the main point. Soul Guide inscriptions are the greatest benefit Analysis brings to studying Soul Skills. Take this Level 2 Core Array, for example. The reason it succeeded was that you understand Soul Guide inscriptions so well. I failed for the same reason."

"Good."

Ran Yuming nodded at Su Luoheng with a faint smile, pleased with his summary.

But he added one more thing.

"Actually, aside from the different materials, your Soul Power Level was another reason you failed."

"Hm?"

"If you were inscribing a Level 2 Core Array with Level 20 Soul Power, you wouldn't have failed. Your Soul Power Level is only 17 right now. When you try to activate the Soul Guide Circuit, you need to pour in a great deal of Soul Power. But you inscribed it according to the standard pattern, so your Soul Power ended up getting blocked."

"I see..."

Su Luoheng's expression cleared as he understood what his teacher meant.

A flicker of approval passed through Ran Yuming's eyes.

In any world, clever students always earned more attention from their teachers. What teacher didn't like a student who understood things the moment they were explained?

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ran Yuming also taught Su Luoheng more about Soul Tool inscriptions.

These were little tricks Ran Yuming had worked out over the years. Every Soul Engineer had different habits and experience, so ordinary teachers generally didn't explain such things in detail.

Su Luoheng was recovering his Soul Power at the moment.

He couldn't make a Core Array yet, but he couldn't let this time go to waste.

A short while later.

Looking at the Soul Tool in his hands, Su Luoheng had a sudden thought and asked, "Teacher, can I count as a Level 2 Soul Engineer now?"

"What do you think?"

Ran Yuming looked at Su Luoheng with an amused smile.

"I suppose... I could?"

"You don't know how this Core Array succeeded?"

"Hehe..."

Su Luoheng smiled and scratched his head.

"You little rascal, you've got quite the imagination."

Ran Yuming couldn't help laughing. "Just focus on making your Soul Tools. We'll talk when you can make a Level 2 Soul Tool on your own."

"But teacher, didn't you say people should have dreams?" Su Luoheng edged closer with a cheeky grin.

Ran Yuming shot him a reproachful glance, but a smile still tugged at his lips. "That was so you'd have a goal, not so you'd spend every day dreaming."

"All right, stop sweet-talking me. You've rested long enough, and your Soul Power has mostly recovered. You can't leave until you make one more Core Array today."

"Ow!"

As he spoke, Ran Yuming kicked someone over to the workbench.

"Another one?"

"That's way too many!"

"..."

Though Su Luoheng kept complaining, he never slacked off when it was time to get serious.

He immediately got back to making Soul Tools.

Afterword: I made it onto the recommendation list. Please support me with recommendations, monthly tickets, and the like! This salted fish doesn't want to be eliminated in the first round~~

Chapter 46: A Pseudo-Level 2? [Please Recommend, Invest, and Collect!]

An hour later.

As Soul Power flowed into it, the metal block cracked.

As expected, without Teacher Ran's reminders, he still hadn't managed to succeed.

Although he had done his best to avoid the problems from before, he still hadn't inscribed a successful Core Array.

"Ugh..."

Su Luoheng sighed and put down the carving knife.

He picked up the failed metal block and examined it, carefully reviewing what had gone wrong this time.

He had expected this, so he wasn't surprised.

Learning to make Soul Tools had never been something one could master overnight. Even with help from Analysis, mastering how to inscribe Soul Guide Circuits would take time.

So Su Luoheng quickly adjusted his mindset and calmly accepted the failure.

He had found a clear direction. Once he absorbed what he had learned today, he would naturally become a Level 2 Soul Engineer.

So he stopped dwelling on whether this attempt had succeeded or failed.

After identifying what had gone wrong, he threw himself back into the experiment.

Just then, Ran Yuming came over and patted him on the shoulder, rousing Su Luoheng from his absorption in the Soul Tool experiment.

He looked up at Elder Ran. "Teacher?"

"It's about time. Let's stop here for today."

Su Luoheng had been at it for nearly two hours. His Soul Power and mental strength were almost spent, and he was close to being unable to continue.

"Has it really been that long?"

Hearing Elder Ran's words, Su Luoheng stretched in surprise.

He'd thought it had been an hour at most. He hadn't realized the night had already fallen.

Now that he thought about it, he really was tired.

"From now on, come to the laboratory to study every afternoon after class. You should come during holidays, too. This is our lab's identification badge. Keep it safe."

As he spoke, Ran Yuming handed Su Luoheng a bright silver token.

"Your main task now is to get comfortable with Soul Guide Circuits. Until I give you other assignments, you need to inscribe and review two Core Arrays every day. As for the metal materials in the laboratory, use whatever you like. You don't need to report it to me."

"Yes, thank you, teacher."

Hearing this, Su Luoheng knew he had chosen the right teacher. Letting him use all the metal materials he wanted went far beyond mere generosity.

He had guessed that his teacher would provide materials, but he'd never imagined he would be so lavish.

Ran Yuming waved a hand. "All right, go get some rest."

Su Luoheng respectfully bowed and was about to leave the laboratory when Ran Yuming glanced at the five books on the table and suddenly remembered the bet they'd made that morning while testing Soul Skills. He'd chosen books for Su Luoheng that afternoon, but got so busy he nearly forgot about them. Luckily, he'd remembered in the end.

"Luo Heng, wait a moment."

Ran Yuming handed Su Luoheng the five carefully selected books on Soul Tools. "Take these five books home and study them. They'll help you a lot."

"Thank you, teacher."

"All right, off you go."

Su Luoheng left the laboratory with a beaming smile.

This apprenticeship was an absolute steal!

Now that he was Elder Ran's student, wouldn't he be able to read all the books in that room whenever he wanted?

Su Luoheng: Teacher Ran, you're my god!

"..."

Soon, Su Luoheng disappeared down the hallway. Looking at the failed Core Arrays left on the table, Ran Yuming wore a faint, satisfied smile.

He hadn't succeeded, but he had made great progress compared to his first attempt.

Ran Yuming believed it wouldn't be long before Su Luoheng officially advanced to Level 2 Soul Engineer.

He was very pleased with the boy's ability to learn~

Humming a little tune, Ran Yuming left the laboratory.

Although Su Luoheng had become Ran Yuming's student, he didn't make a big announcement about it. Every day, he went between the classroom, laboratory, and dormitory, living a life of study on a three-point route.

Besides the regular classes, Ran Yuming would sometimes give him extra lessons.

Elder Ran was busy most of the time, so Su Luoheng was often alone in the laboratory.

But every week, Ran Yuming made time to answer his questions.

The studying was arduous, but Su Luoheng's days were always fulfilling.

If Teacher Ran hadn't refused, he would have wanted to live in the laboratory. Who could understand the temptation of unlimited metal materials to a Soul Engineer?

With Elder Ran's careful guidance and all the resources he could use, Su Luoheng made rapid progress with Soul Tools.

After almost a week of practice and study, he finally managed to make a Level 2 Soul Tool on his own!

If he had been in the Douluo Three Kingdoms, Su Luoheng would already have been a Level 2 Soul Engineer.

But by the standards of the Sun Moon Empire, that still wasn't enough.

A Level 2 Soul Engineer could definitely make Level 2 Soul Tools, but being able to make Level 2 Soul Tools didn't necessarily make someone a Level 2 Soul Engineer.

So someone like Su Luoheng, who could only forge one kind of Level 2 Soul Tool, was still a Level 1 Soul Engineer. They had to master five kinds of Soul Tools to be called a Level 2 Soul Engineer. That was also why "second-rate goods" was the Sun Moon Empire's general opinion of Soul Engineers from the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

This gave rise to a hierarchy:

Soul Engineers certified by Mingde Hall > Soul Engineers of the Sun Moon Empire > Soul Engineers of the Douluo Three Kingdoms;

That was also why, in the original story, Xuan Ziwen had retested Huo Yuhao's Soul Engineer abilities after seeing his Level 3 Soul Engineer Badge.

The Douluo Three Kingdoms were far too lax in awarding Soul Engineer certifications.

The Sun Moon Empire, where Soul Engineers were paramount, naturally looked down on the Douluo Three Kingdoms for being so casual.

They considered it disrespectful to the rank of Soul Engineer.

As he studied under Ran Yuming, Su Luoheng had to admit that the gap between his mother and his teacher was like a chasm. At first, he thought it might be because Teacher Ran was a Level 7 Soul Engineer. But later, he had also attended lessons taught by other Level 7 Soul Engineers and found that they were inferior to his teacher in every respect. In his opinion, Teacher Ran was no worse than the academy's Level 8 Soul Engineers.

At last, Su Luoheng understood: his teacher was no ordinary man!

But he was also puzzled. With his knowledge and abilities, Ran Yuming shouldn't have been only a Level 7 Soul Engineer.

But Teacher Ran had never brought it up, and Su Luoheng couldn't find a chance to ask.

Time passed in a flash.

Su Luoheng continued to improve in the field of Level 2 Soul Tools, and his mastery of Soul Guide Circuits grew more and more skillful. In just one month, he independently made a second Level 2 Soul Tool. Another month and a half later, he completed a third and fourth Level 2 Soul Tool one after another...

Even Ran Yuming, his teacher, couldn't help praising how quickly he was improving.

In the field of Level 2 Soul Tools, there wasn't much more he could teach Su Luoheng. The only advantages he had now were the keen eye and experience of an advanced Soul Engineer.

Su Luoheng finally began making the last Level 2 Soul Tool.