Star Tower

Elder Kong said nothing. He grabbed Ye Chenxing's hand, pulled a badge engraved with six dazzling stars from his storage ring, and slapped it into the boy's palm without another word.

"Elder Kong, this..." Ye Chenxing looked at the badge in his hand and scratched his head. "My Rank Six Soul Guide Device isn't completely finished yet. Does this really count as Rank Six?"

"You brat, stop acting modest after getting such a bargain!" Kong Deming laughed and scolded him, smacking his back as he blew out his beard and glared. "If you aren't qualified to wear this badge today, then every Soul Engineer in the entire empire with a Rank Six badge will have to resign tonight! Wear it when I tell you to wear it!"

Ye Chenxing grinned and casually pinned the metal badge symbolizing his status as a Rank Six Soul Engineer to his chest.

An eleven-year-old Rank Six Soul Engineer!

Even in the Sun Moon Empire, where soul guidance technology was far ahead of the rest of the world, reaching Rank Six already made one a backbone-level talent.

Yet Ye Chenxing had achieved this at the mere age of eleven. Without question, he had set a new record for the Sun Moon Empire.

Looking at the smile on the boy's face, Kong Deming felt a trace of melancholy amid his pride and relief.

"Chenxing..." The old man's voice carried the weathered weight of time as his profound gaze settled on the radiant youth before him.

"My original wish was for you to one day lead the Sun Moon Empire and unify the continent. To be honest, I have spent my life obsessed with Soul Guide Devices. Most of the time, I cast aside the humiliating history of our ancestors' defeat at the hands of the original Three Douluo Kingdoms and the forced change of our name." Kong Deming's expression was complicated, his tone full of expectation. "But it has always remained a thorn in my heart. Your appearance has allowed me to truly see a chance to make up for that regret."

"I had originally thought that, in the future, whether you became a consecrated protector of the Sun Moon Empire behind the scenes like me, or stepped directly onto the stage and ruled this land, I would support you with everything I had. I cultivated you so devotedly only because I wanted you to become strong enough."

"But now, after seeing the talent you have displayed in Soul Guide Devices, I have begun to waver..." Kong Deming gave a bitter smile, his eyes filled with remembrance. "In you, I seem to see my younger self."

"You may not know this, but I am actually... a wielder of Twin Martial Souls."

"Chenxing, I have to admit that you are far more outstanding than I was in my youth. Whether it is your potential as a Soul Engineer or your talent as a soul master, the same is true."

"My talent was already something the Sun Moon Empire saw only once in a thousand years. But you may be one in ten thousand years, perhaps even unprecedented and never to be surpassed. Back then, if I had chosen to focus on cultivating my Martial Soul, I would likely have become the first person in the Sun Moon Empire's ten-thousand-year history to glimpse the realm of a Limit Douluo."

"But I ultimately chose Soul Guide Devices."

Kong Deming's gaze became fervent and sincere. "Chenxing, I have selfish desires as well. If I cannot find someone with peerless talent to inherit my abilities, I would rather take them into the grave with me. I once desperately longed for someone who could completely inherit my legacy. Now, you have appeared, possessing these two unparalleled talents. This is likely my best chance to pass down the legacy of Soul Guide Devices."

"But I hope even more that you can be free." The old man turned around and faced away from the boy. "The path you choose is entirely up to you. But I dare guarantee that, with your talent, your future attainments in Soul Guide Devices will definitely far surpass mine!"

"Think it over carefully, Chenxing. This will determine the path of your life."

Elder Kong turned his head away and said no more. He knew full well that this unbelievable child needed a quiet space to consider such a matter that concerned his lifelong development.

However, to his surprise, Ye Chenxing's voice sounded from behind him after only a moment.

"Elder Kong, I've already decided."

Kong Deming abruptly turned around. "Chenxing, for something this important, you must think it through carefully. Do not act on impulse!"

Ye Chenxing's gaze was clear as he answered with utter certainty, "Elder Kong, since you say my talent is unprecedented and will never be surpassed, why can't I forge a path of my own?"

"Soul Guide Devices, Martial Souls—I want them both. I will become the first person on the continent to break through to Limit Douluo as a Rank Ten Soul Engineer."

Kong Deming's entire body jolted.

That was right. No one had ever possessed a Martial Soul with Double Ultimate Attributes while also having such monstrous talent as a Soul Engineer—talent so great that even he, the Sun Moon Empire's greatest Soul Engineer in a thousand years, had to concede defeat.

After a long while, hearty laughter erupted within the laboratory.

"Hahahaha! Good! A Rank Ten Soul Engineer! A Limit Douluo!" Kong Deming laughed heartily and forcefully patted Ye Chenxing's shoulder, his eyes full of gratification. "I truly have become senile. When I was young, I was never so restrained. Yet now that I am old and have encountered a junior even more outstanding than myself, I have become so hesitant and concerned. Chenxing, go walk the path you wish to walk! I will never stop you!"

Seeing Elder Kong's relieved expression, Ye Chenxing curled his lips into a confident smile.

Of course, he had no worries or inner conflict whatsoever. Huo Yuhao had managed to cultivate both Martial Souls and Soul Guide Devices in the original story, so there was no reason he could not do the same. Besides, with Archer's cheat-like passive skill in Soul Guide Devices, the success rate of his Soul Guide Device research would reach 100%!

In other words, as long as his soul power rank increased, his level in Soul Guide Devices would automatically rise as well.

Only children had to choose. Of course, he wanted everything!

During the brief time they had been talking, that Soul-Control Tool Machine had actually finished taking shape, producing every single component required for a Rank Four Soul Guide Device without the slightest discrepancy.

By now, Ye Yulin and Jing Hongchen had skillfully assembled those components. Two well-traveled Rank Nine Soul Engineers were actually gathered around a mere Rank Four Soul Guide Device, showering it with praise. If word of this got out, it would be a truly rare sight.

Kong Deming frowned slightly and snatched the Rank Four Soul Guide Device from Jing Hongchen's hand. He placed it on his palm and inspected it closely. After looking for only a few seconds, his expression immediately changed.

Jing Hongchen and Ye Yulin were also baffled. They stepped forward to explain, "Elder Kong, I inspected it very carefully just now. The components produced by Chenxing's Soul-Control Tool Machine are no different at all from those manually polished by an ordinary Rank Four Soul Engineer. They are even... superior to manual work in terms of precision and error control!"

Kong Deming took a deep breath, heavily slapped the Soul Guide Device onto the table, and let out a long sigh. "Have you two still not realized it? Chenxing's invention can produce a Rank Four Soul Guide Device in such a short time. What will happen if this thing enters the military?"

At those words, Jing Hongchen and Ye Yulin both sucked in a cold breath. They were naturally not ignorant children. With only a slight prompt, an extremely terrifying thought exploded in their minds.

If this machine entered the military and was used for assembly-line production of Fixed Soul Guidance Cannons or other soul guidance weapons... what would that mean?

Within three years, the Sun Moon Empire's army would launch a full-scale attack on the original Three Douluo Kingdoms. Faced with such endless mass-produced soul guidance firepower, the other side would have no ability to fight back!

At that thought, cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of these two top Soul Engineers.

War was about to begin!

"I will not allow it to enter the military."

Ye Chenxing gently shook his head, his tone firm.

"Or rather, I will decide what this thing is used to produce."

Ye Chenxing did not consider himself some great philanthropist, but neither did he wish to see countless lives destroyed. Once the meat grinder called war began to turn, ordinary civilians would suffer the most. That was a tragic sight he did not wish to witness.

Looking at the three high-ranking figures of the Sun Moon Empire before him, he presented his own view. "In the future, my Soul Guide Devices will mainly be used to produce civilian soul guidance devices for ordinary people."

"Next, I will begin researching Sealed Milk Bottles and mineral energy sources that can replace soul power, allowing ordinary people without soul power to use Soul Guide Devices and even participate in Soul Guide Device research."

"I want to produce auxiliary tools for low-level ordinary soul masters and even civilians without soul power—tools for medical care, communication, entertainment, and more. I could even create devices that allow them to awaken Martial Souls on their own, and devices that generate soul rings independently."

Upon hearing this, all three old men stared with their mouths wide open in shock.

Ye Chenxing actually had such ideas!

Kong Deming in particular felt not only shock, but even deeper gratification in his eyes.

Anyone with proper values would naturally hope that their successor possessed a compassionate heart broad enough to embrace the world.

"Elder Kong, the reason the hawkish faction—the pro-war faction—has been growing stronger within the country is largely because the Sun Moon Empire's internal contradictions are too severe, and they are eager to use war to divert attention." Ye Chenxing spoke eloquently. "The emergence and widespread adoption of these civilian products will definitely greatly ease domestic pressure. And besides..."

Ye Chenxing gave a mysterious smile. "I will find a way to let these things flow into the original Three Douluo Kingdoms. From clothing, food, housing, and transportation to every other aspect of daily life, I will make their people yearn for the Sun Moon Empire and change the way they think."

In Ye Chenxing's eyes, the commoners of the Douluo Continent lived truly miserable lives.

A commoner with a useless Martial Soul had no hope of ever turning his life around. Even if he was lucky enough to awaken soul power and seemingly rose overnight into the so-called nobility, compared with those true nobles with inherited legacies, he would still be no different from those without soul power.

Moreover, among those with useless Martial Souls, only one in a hundred could awaken soul power. Their descendants could very well become ordinary people without soul power once more. As the saying went, the rich relied on technology, while the poor relied on mutation. Perhaps only a Mutated Martial Soul could truly change their fate.

But Mutated Martial Souls were undoubtedly even rarer, not to mention that they were divided into beneficial mutations and harmful mutations.

Not everyone could drink pesticide and become a Limit Douluo.

Oh, no, Spirit Hall had gone out of business. Many people did not even have the opportunity to awaken a Martial Soul.

Although conditions in the Sun Moon Empire were slightly better, they were not much better. Civilians without Martial Souls or soul power, aside from having somewhat more convenient lives, were not much different from those in the original Three Douluo Kingdoms.

But if you were fortunate enough to awaken soul power, congratulations—you still had a chance to break out.

Even if you did not possess exceptional Martial Soul talent, as long as you awakened soul power, you would at least have the chance to study Soul Guide Devices. This kind of study was different from cultivation. If talent was lacking, effort could make up for it. Even if your soul power rank held you back, the Sun Moon Empire had a whole set of pill-taking packages to ensure that your Martial Soul talent would not delay your Soul Engineer rank. It might not turn your life around, but at least you would have something to strive toward.

What? You said it would exhaust your potential?

What was he supposed to do if he had no potential to begin with?

Therefore, Ye Chenxing hoped that the commoner class of the Douluo Continent could improve their lives while also being able to use Soul Guide Devices without relying on soul power. This would narrow the gap between soul masters and ordinary civilians.

Without spilling a drop of blood, he would thoroughly weaken the ruling foundation of the noble class from within.

Of course, he also understood that all of this treated the symptoms but not the root cause. But there was no need to worry... when the time came, a god capable of changing the rules of the world would naturally step forward and completely reform Douluo Star's unhealthy cultivation system.

That day would not be far away.

Besides genuinely wanting to help civilians through the development of civilian Soul Guide Devices, Ye Chenxing also had another selfish motive.

His greatest cheat, the Fantasy Tree, had not yet truly grown into its complete form.

If he wanted the Fantasy Tree to continue growing, relying solely on the natural treasures of Douluo Star and soul power gained through cultivation was simply not enough. After all, he also had to keep resources for his own cultivation.

After considering it from every angle, there was only one type of energy he could most easily access at present, and one that was most closely connected to gods.

Faith Power!

The faith of the sea alone had allowed Poseidon to become a powerful Rank One God. The sparse population of the ancient Douluo Continent had been enough to nurture the Angel God. Now, not only had the population exploded, but there were two continents together. If they could provide him with Faith Power, it would definitely be an enormous tonic for the Fantasy Tree.

"Excellent idea! I fully support it!" Jing Hongchen slapped his thigh, his face full of excitement. "Chenxing, whatever you want to produce for civilians, Illustrious Virtue Hall will handle it all! If you need money, we have money. If you need people, we have people!"

"You!" Ye Yulin glared, unable to stop himself from cursing inwardly.

That old fox Jing Hongchen was actually using this opportunity to pull Ye Chenxing toward his side again!

Damn it, could money really do whatever it wanted?!

Before Ye Chenxing could speak, Elder Kong suddenly opened his mouth.

"A good plan, but I would like to make some adjustments." Kong Deming waved a hand, his eyes bright as he looked at Ye Chenxing. "I have decided that I will personally step forward and help you establish a new faction! We will gather together all Soul Engineers focused on civilian applications and all doves who advocate peace, then help you realize this idea!"

"As for resources, take whatever you need from me. I will personally guarantee it for you!"

Jing Hongchen was completely dumbfounded. He had truly never expected Elder Kong to steal Ye Chenxing away again. He had failed to take him as a disciple last time, and now he even wanted to snatch away the role of angel investor?

That was cheating!

Jing Hongchen hurriedly said, "Elder Kong, this..."

Kong Deming shot him a sidelong glance. "Jing Hongchen, do you have any objections?"

"No! Absolutely none! And Chenxing, don't worry. Whatever Elder Kong contributes, I'll contribute the same!"

Ye Chenxing was also greatly shocked and immediately lowered his head to offer solemn thanks.

He had originally planned to proceed step by step, first making a name for his products before establishing an organization. He had not expected Elder Kong to be so generous.

What did it mean for Kong Deming to invest?

This time, it was Musk investing in the original version of himself.

Kong Deming stroked his beard and smiled. "Since this is a brand-new beginning, give it a name."

Ye Chenxing raised his head in thought, then spoke after a moment.

"You have Illustrious Virtue Hall in the Sun Moon Empire, so my faction..."

"Will be called the 'Star Tower.'"