Douluo: The Chosen of Different Versions Gather, but Their Eras Are Misaligned Chapter 35

"Mm... Compared to before forging, both its hardness and ductility have improved, and even its ability to absorb soul power has become much stronger..."

Very quickly, Xuan Ziwen slipped back into the same mystifying state Bai Chen had just seen. Bai Chen was no longer surprised by it and simply pulled over a chair and sat down.

After a long while, Xuan Ziwen finally set down the metal in his hand and let out a long breath.

"This is truly an incredible technique. If it were made public, it would cause enormous upheaval throughout the entire world of soul guidance devices."

"I'm glad to have your approval."

"Enough with the pleasantries. Tell me, what is your goal?"

Xuan Ziwen pulled a chair over in front of Bai Chen and sat down.

He was merely extremely obsessed with soul guidance devices, but that did not mean he understood nothing else.

Everything Bai Chen had done since approaching him had proven that this kid had come prepared. He had no idea when this monster of a child had set his sights on him.

Yet Xuan Ziwen was unexpectedly not very resistant to it. Perhaps because Bai Chen's attitude had been good thus far, he felt more curious than wary.

Bai Chen said seriously,

"I hope you can become my teacher and teach me soul guidance device technology. In exchange, I can teach you this forging technique."

"That simple?"

Xuan Ziwen could not help but freeze.

Before seeing the finished product Bai Chen had forged, he had actually considered buying this technique.

However, after personally witnessing the quality of Thousand-Forged Metal, he had given up on that idea.

This technique was simply too precious. At his current level, he could not afford it.

Who would have thought that Bai Chen would hand this technique over to him so easily? For a moment, he felt as though he were dreaming.

Bai Chen shook his head and reminded him,

"Senior, let me make this clear first. There is no time limit on this deal of ours. In other words, once you agree, you'll have to remain my teacher indefinitely."

"But doesn't that go both ways?"

Xuan Ziwen calmly asked in return,

"By your terms, you'll also have to remain my teacher in the field of forging."

"That's right."

"Then it's a deal."

Xuan Ziwen said briskly,

"Please teach me well from now on. Uh... Sorry, what was your name again?"

Bai Chen laughed.

"Bai Chen."

"Oh, Bai Chen. Then I'll be relying on you from today onward."

Xuan Ziwen smiled happily and extended a hand to Bai Chen.

Seeing this, Bai Chen extended his hand as well and gave his a firm shake.

Thus, their deal was officially sealed.

Bai Chen released his hand and smiled.

"By the way, Teacher Xuan, would you be interested in leaving the Sun-Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and developing your career at our Nine-Treasure Glazed Sect?"

"Oh, so you're from the Nine-Treasure Glazed Sect."

Xuan Ziwen suddenly understood.

"So this technique of yours also came from the Nine-Treasure Glazed Sect?"

If that was the case, it was no longer strange.

The Reason for Learning Soul Guidance Devices

Xuan Ziwen came from the Heaven Soul Empire. He had some understanding even of the fallen Tang Sect, much less the Nine-Treasure Glazed Sect, which still wielded considerable influence.

In his impression, the Nine-Treasure Glazed Sect seemed to have risen through its special ability to sense gemstones. If so, it was hardly strange for them to possess some miraculous ability to refine metal.

At the same time, Bai Chen's maturity beyond his years now had an explanation. It seemed this child had received elite education from a young age, which was why he possessed such a mind.

After convincing himself, Xuan Ziwen shook his head at Bai Chen.

"I'm sorry, but at least for now, your Nine-Treasure Glazed Sect is far less appealing to me than Mingde Hall. Here, I can enjoy the best research environment. To me, that is what matters most. I have no reason to leave."

"I understand."

Bai Chen did not press the matter further.

There was plenty of time. There was no need to rush.

"Then let's begin class."

Xuan Ziwen straightened his posture and asked,

"First, let me ask you a non-technical question. What do you think a soul guidance device is?"

"A tool."

Bai Chen immediately answered,

"In my view, soul guidance devices are not fundamentally different from any other tools humanity has created. They are all tools humans use to overcome difficulties. Soul guidance devices simply still have soul power requirements for now."

"Mm, very good." Xuan Ziwen smiled. "I'm glad you didn't say they're weapons."

In fact, to the vast majority of Soul Masters who had just begun studying soul guidance devices, soul guidance devices were no different from weapons.

But Bai Chen did not see them that way.

From the very beginning, he had not chosen to study soul guidance devices merely to improve his combat strength.

"Then why do you want to study soul guidance devices? Or rather, what is your reason for doing so?"

"To advance society's development."

This time, Bai Chen still answered without hesitation.

Yes, this was the most important reason Bai Chen wanted to study soul guidance devices.

The nature of soul guidance devices as "tools" meant that they were not part of the same system as a Soul Master's abilities.

No matter how powerful a Soul Master was, that strength belonged only to the individual. But the soul guidance devices created by powerful Soul Engineers could truly influence all of society.

Take Xuan Ziwen before him, for example. The Sealed Milk Bottle he developed in the future gave ordinary people the initial possibility of using soul guidance devices. Perhaps his combat strength as a Soul Master was not especially great, far inferior to those renowned Title Douluo, but his place in human history was higher than that of quite a few Limit Douluo.

Bai Chen had always been proud of being human. In his view, the civilization humanity had forged through its unique creativity was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Since he existed across three eras at once and possessed such formidable talent, he naturally had to do everything he could to make the world a better place.

And the simplest, most direct way to change the world and advance humanity's development was to bring future soul guidance devices into the present.

"I see. That's truly a fine reason."

Xuan Ziwen's smile became gentler.

Over the years, he had met many Soul Engineers. Some studied soul guidance devices for money, some to increase their strength, some because their families demanded it. He himself did so out of interest. He had truly rarely encountered a Soul Engineer like Bai Chen.

There was no distinction of superiority or inferiority between reasons for studying soul guidance devices, but he admired Bai Chen's reason more.

Having received the answer he wanted, Xuan Ziwen nodded in satisfaction and asked,

"Then two final questions. How old are you now, and what level Soul Engineer are you?"

"Six years old. Level Four."

"—"

The gentle smile on Xuan Ziwen's face instantly froze.

After three seconds of silence, his shrieking voice rang throughout the entire laboratory.

"You're only six years old?!"

Bai Chen was already among the taller children his age, and recently, because of his Martial Soul, he had begun developing early. Judging solely from his appearance, most people would have estimated him to be around ten.

So although Xuan Ziwen had previously found the child mature, it had still been within a comprehensible range.

But six years old was entirely different.

"And you said you're a Level-Four Soul Engineer? Are you serious?!"

Generally speaking, a Soul Engineer's level was closely tied to their level as a Soul Master.

For most people, a Soul Engineer's level was lower than or equal to their Soul Master level.

It was common for a Soul King to be a Level-Four Soul Engineer, but it was basically impossible for one to be a Level-Six Soul Engineer.

Only a tiny number of exceptional geniuses could create soul guidance devices above their level.

Xuan Ziwen had just seen Bai Chen's number of Soul Rings. He had only one. Though a purple first Soul Ring was extraordinarily abnormal, in Xuan Ziwen's eyes, a one-ringed Level-Four Soul Engineer was even more astonishing.

Bai Chen helplessly pushed Xuan Ziwen away and said,

"Teacher Xuan, you forgot that I'm also a blacksmith. The metal I forge can reduce the difficulty of producing soul guidance devices to a certain extent."

"Even so, even so..."

For a moment, Xuan Ziwen was too flustered to speak coherently.

Bai Chen felt somewhat helpless.

He could not exactly say that, as a transmigrator, he had several more years of study than ordinary people, could he?

It took Xuan Ziwen a full ten minutes to calm down completely. With a cold expression, he said,

"Since you claim to be a Level-Four Soul Engineer, make a Level-Four soul guidance device for me right now. Let me see what you can do."

"Alright."

Bai Chen did not refuse. Since Xuan Ziwen had become his teacher, he would sooner or later learn Bai Chen's true level.

There was no harm in showing him a little.

With that thought, Bai Chen took several pieces of Thousand-Forged Metal from his Storage Soul Guidance Device.

At the same time, several dark-golden streaks flashed through the air as Darkgolden Terrorclaws sprang from the tips of his right fingers, radiating a razor-sharp aura.

"This is..."

Xuan Ziwen revealed a surprised expression. He had just been about to say something when he saw Bai Chen begin carving with the Darkgolden Terrorclaws, so he could only swallow the question that had reached his lips.

Before long, he forgot the question that had just arisen entirely and stared blankly as Bai Chen created a soul guidance device at an unimaginable speed.

The Darkgolden Terrorclaws were far sharper than ordinary carving knives. After trying them a few times, Bai Chen had completely fallen in love with them.

The Darkgolden Terrorclaw Right Palm Bone was practically equivalent to providing Bai Chen with five sharp carving knives. Working on several fronts at once, he completed a Level-Four soul guidance device in only a few minutes.

By now, Xuan Ziwen was somewhat dazed.

He swallowed with difficulty, accepted the soul guidance device, and inspected it. Only then did he say in a hoarse voice,

"Mm, this is indeed a Level-Four soul guidance device..."

Jing Ziyan

To be honest, Xuan Ziwen's confidence had rarely taken such a blow.

He was easygoing by nature, but he had his own pride. He had always believed that even across the entire Sun-Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, he was a first-rate genius. But now...

Seeing his somewhat lost expression, Bai Chen narrowed his eyes and reminded him,

"Teacher Xuan, I can only achieve this using forged metal. If you used it, you could certainly create soul guidance devices beyond your own level as well."

He understood his own situation best. There were three main reasons his achievements were so exaggerated.

First, as a transmigrator, he was born with the mentality of an adult. While other children were still acting spoiled around their parents, he had already begun teaching himself about soul guidance devices.

Second, his Martial Soul gave him an advantage. A powerful Martial Soul was definitely helpful in making soul guidance devices. His Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff was not among those that helped the most, but it had indeed played a positive role.

Third, Thousand-Forged Metal allowed him to adopt many extremely bold designs, forcibly raising the upper limit of what he could create.

Without these three reasons, his talent in the field of soul guidance devices was actually far inferior to Xuan Ziwen's. He could only be considered an ordinary genius.

However, Xuan Ziwen merely shook his head with a bitter smile.