"Don't run! Explain yourself!"
Ning Rongrong waved her little fists as she chased after Xiao Wu.
Watching the two figures grow more distant, Gu Yuena and the other two fell silent.
Zi Ji blinked and asked,
"Master, should we chase after them?"
"..."
-_-||
Several more days passed.
In the Laboratory, Ye Yun excitedly looked at a fist-sized bead on the workbench.
This was an Artificial Soul Ring made using Flame Sparrow genes.
It came with a Charging Device. As long as the Artificial Soul Ring was placed inside the Charging Box,
it could automatically absorb the surrounding Soul Power to fill its ring age, reaching a maximum of four hundred thousand years.
Holding the Artificial Soul Ring, its fiery glow flowing within it, Ye Yun walked straight out of the Laboratory. He took out his phone, logged into the Internal Network, and posted an announcement.
[The first Artificial Soul Ring has been refined, using the Soul Beast Flame Sparrow as its source material. There is no upper limit to the age of the Artificial Soul Ring. How much it can bear depends entirely on the user's physique and the endurance of their martial soul. The first soul master to fuse with an Artificial Soul Ring will surely go down in history. There is only one slot. The best candidate will be selected.]
Just seconds after the announcement was posted, the Internal Network erupted, comments flooding the screen at incredible speed.
"Huoyun: Young Master! I'm a level-fifty Soul King, and I still haven't obtained my fourth Soul Ring! I've been waiting for an Artificial Soul Ring forever! Pick me, pick me!!
Liu Gan: I'm a level-forty Soul Ancestor. My martial soul is the Crimson Flame Bird, which shares the same origin as the Flame Sparrow. I want to compete for the slot too!!
..."
In just a few minutes, hundreds of applications popped up in the Internal Network's comment section. They refreshed so quickly that the words were nearly impossible to read.
Everywhere he looked were self-recommendations from fire-attribute soul masters within the clan. Each one was scrambling to secure this one-of-a-kind opportunity.
Soul masters of other attributes could only watch with envy, gathering in the comments to discuss it.
[So envious. Becoming the first person to fuse with an Artificial Soul Ring would put you straight into Douluo history. Who wouldn't want that honor?]
[That's obvious. I want it too! Unfortunately, my martial soul's attribute doesn't match. Otherwise, I'd fight with everything I had for a chance!]
[Heh, heh, heh. Breaking the ancient rule of hunting Soul Beasts to obtain rings... with this move, Young Master has completely rewritten the continent's soul master system!]
[Heh, good thing we came early. I heard the people outside drawing lots are already past number forty thousand.]
[Really?!]
[Of course it's true. Think about it. Cultivating Soul Power in the clan is several times faster, and there are all kinds of sect benefits. Who wouldn't be tempted?]
[That's true.]
Just as Ye Yun swiped across the screen, preparing to assess the qualifications of the applicants and decide on the candidates,
a private message notification suddenly popped up. The sender was Ning Fengzhi.
[Xiao Yun, the mass-produced Soul Guidance Phones have now been sold to major cities across the continent. In the Heaven Dou Empire, almost everyone with spare money has one. The appearance of Artificial Soul Rings is an enormous selling point. Should we notify the entire network and use this Soul Ring fusion to build up the reputation of Artificial Soul Rings?]
Seeing the message, Ye Yun raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise appearing in his eyes.
He had not expected the phones to spread so quickly. He had thought those people would wait and observe a little longer.
His finger tapped the screen as he swiftly replied.
[Sure. In one hour, I'll start a continent-wide livestream. Anyone with a phone can enter the Livestream Room and watch the entire Artificial Soul Ring fusion process in real time.] [Understood. I'll immediately arrange for disciples to push the notification across the entire network.]
Ning Fengzhi replied instantly, handling matters decisively and efficiently.
Ye Yun put away his phone and looked down at the Artificial Flame Sparrow Soul Ring in his palm. It was crimson and warm, wreathed in hazy flames, and a faint smile flickered in his eyes.
This had originally been nothing more than an internal test for the sect. Now, however, he could use this livestream to let the entire Douluo Continent witness the birth and fusion of an Artificial Soul Ring with their own eyes.
From this day onward, the ironclad rule that had endured for tens of thousands of years—hunting Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings—would finally begin to loosen.
With a single push from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's backend, the message instantly spread throughout the Heaven Dou Empire.
Throughout Heaven Dou, the phone interfaces of commoners, nobles, and soul masters alike all displayed a pinned notification, glaringly conspicuous.
[Major announcement: The first Artificial Flame Sparrow Soul Ring will be publicly fused in a livestream one hour from now. Those interested may enter Livestream Room 4848438 to watch the entire process.]
The instant they saw the contents, countless people's expressions changed drastically, their eyes filled with shock.
Many were still reeling from the revelation of the Artificial Soul Ring concept a few days ago. They had assumed it was merely a rumor and were still waiting to see whether it was true.
Yet who could have imagined that after only a few short days, they were already going to publicly fuse a Soul Ring!
This pace was simply terrifying!
For a time, people in streets and alleys, as well as in major sects, all stopped what they were doing. They tightly gripped their phones and quietly waited for the livestream to begin, intending to witness this momentous event that would overturn the continent's common knowledge.
It was not only the Heaven Dou Empire. The continent's major top-tier sects had long since purchased dozens of Soul Guidance Phones in advance, and they too saw the news.
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, inside the clan's main hall.
Clan Head Yu Yuanzhen held a Soul Guidance Phone with gilded edges. Staring at the notification, his brows were drawn tightly together, his expression incomparably grave.
Artificial Soul Rings. Publicly broadcasting their fusion.
Every word shook the rules of soul master cultivation that had been passed down for tens of thousands of years.
If Artificial Soul Rings truly worked, then the method of obtaining Soul Rings by hunting Soul Beasts would be completely eliminated.
Furthermore, according to the rumors, the Harmony clan possessed something that could accelerate Soul Power cultivation.
Cultivating there for one month was equivalent to cultivating outside for four months, and on top of that, there was no need to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Soul Rings.
The structure of the Upper Three Sects and the balance of the continent's soul master forces would both be completely rewritten.
"Men! Immediately summon all clan elders to the main hall for discussion!"
Yu Yuanzhen spoke in a deep voice, his tone filled with gravity. At his command, all the high-ranking elders of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan hurried toward the clan's main hall.
Yu Yuanzhen raised his eyes toward the elders in the hall, his voice slow and heavy.
"You have all seen the notification about the public fusion of an Artificial Soul Ring on your phones, haven't you?"
Several white-haired elders in the hall all looked grave. They nodded in unison, their expressions utterly unpleasant.
"Then what do you think we should do now?" Yu Yuanzhen asked deeply.
The main hall fell into brief silence. A moment later, the calm and steady First Elder stepped forward, his gaze firm as he spoke.
"Clan Head, I believe that our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan must take the initiative to set aside our pride and form an alliance with the Harmony clan."
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall exploded.
The hot-tempered and arrogant Third Elder slammed his palm onto the stone table. A deafening boom shook the teacups in the hall, and he immediately roared in rebuke,
"You coward!!"
"Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan possesses the continent's number-one beast martial soul and a foundation built over ten thousand years. Why should we lower our heads and cling to them?!"
"Have you forgotten what happened before? Our clan disciples went to visit them, only to be ruthlessly driven out the door, utterly humiliating us! Have you forgotten that disgrace?"
"If you ask me, we should directly join forces with others and fight the Harmony clan!"
Third Elder's face was full of hostility, Soul Power faintly leaking from his body. He was filled with defiance and pride.
The First Elder's expression did not change as he solemnly refuted him. "Third Elder, acting on impulse is meaningless!"
"That was then. Things are different now! Artificial Soul Rings have broken the continent's rules. They possess heaven-defying technology. Even if we do not form an alliance, we will only be slowly crushed in the future, perhaps even falling from our position among the Upper Three Sects!
Moreover, look at this thing called a phone. Do you still not understand how convenient it is?
Who can guarantee that they do not possess other things as well?!"
Before you continue