Dragon Gland Thermonuclear Cannon, Ye Yulin: Find Your Courage and Charge at the Stars Divine Needles (4K)

In the Hongchen Class classroom, thirty students raced against the clock to construct soul tools.

Soul tool workbenches of Mingde Hall quality were luxuries beyond the reach of ordinary soul engineers. Using them was sheer, exquisite pleasure.

"Phew!"

Ye Guyi blew a spray of metal shavings away with her red lips, then raised her sleeve to wipe the fine beads of sweat from her forehead.

Her mastery of the Aurora Sword had reached the point of perfection, so she needed no other offensive soul tools at her side. Instead, the angel maiden used this opportunity to make a support tool-a Soul Tool Thruster that would boost her bursts of flight speed.

Soul Tool Thrusters were relatively easy to construct. Ye Guyi finished the quiz first and turned her brilliant golden eyes to her right, where Lin Qing was fully focused, his carving knife steady, precise, and decisive as he constantly shifted angles to carve the red demon fine gold.

Their homeroom teacher, Xuan Ziwen, stood just behind Lin Qing's shoulder, his eyes bright and intent. Immersed in the ocean of soul tool construction, he nodded repeatedly at Lin Qing's movements, which flowed like drifting clouds and running water.

One worked while the other watched. For two straight hours, they maintained the perfect harmony of a model teacher and student. When Wang Shaojie and Zi Mu finished and noticed them, both their expressions darkened.

Xuan Ziwen was their supervising teacher, yet he had never watched their soul tool construction as though appreciating a master's artwork. Usually, after watching for three minutes, he would hesitate to speak, then sigh deeply, revealing a helplessness that said, "How can anyone be this clumsy?"

Silver-white light flickered as the carving of the red demon fine gold neared completion. Lin Qing grew increasingly solemn and focused, carefully refining the core array with his knife. A faint dragon's roar echoed through the Hongchen Class classroom.

The core array merged into the sunfire iron casing. The dragon's roar abruptly changed, becoming clear and resonant, while blazing white flames of light surged toward the ceiling. The temperature of the entire classroom instantly rose.

As a soul tool scholar obsessed with research, Xuan Ziwen was even more excited than Lin Qing. He watched the enormous soul cannon lying before him with nervous anticipation. Its massive frame exceeded the workbench's length, leaving both ends suspended in midair. Its dragon-shaped body was crimson-gold throughout, magnificent and dazzling, with oppressive power spilling from it.

The Dragon Gland Thermonuclear Cannon.

The overhead Soul Guidance Lamps illuminated the Dragon Gland Thermonuclear Cannon, revealing its intricate, overlapping soul guidance patterns. Unlike the cold, hard texture of ordinary soul tools, the Dragon Gland Thermonuclear Cannon radiated astonishing heat.

Red demon fine gold and sunfire iron were both fire-attribute rare metals, so a soul tool created from them naturally possessed high-temperature properties.

"Lin Qing, may your teacher touch it?" Xuan Ziwen could barely suppress his desire to stroke the Dragon Gland Thermonuclear Cannon.

Lin Qing stepped aside, answering through action. Xuan Ziwen wasted no time on polite refusals and gently ran his palm along the cannon's body.

As Mingde Hall's Chief Researcher, Xuan Ziwen was the man Kong Deming favored to become the next Level 9 Soul Engineer. Having received Kong Deming's guidance several times, he understood Master Kong's construction philosophy and carving techniques. Several of Lin Qing's finer touches clearly bore Kong Deming's influence.

Though they lacked the formal title of master and disciple, they had the substance of that relationship. Lin Qing was gradually making Kong Deming's century of experience his own. Moreover, with his ultimate talent in the machine element, Metal Sublimation elevated the life essence of rare metals. The soul tools he created could not be measured by their nominal levels.

A magnificent pattern of a coiling fire dragon was branded into the side of the Dragon Gland Thermonuclear Cannon, with rings of crimson-gold light rippling outward. Inside lay the red demon fine gold soul guidance core, where the heat was strongest. Xuan Ziwen paused his fingertips there for a moment and faintly sensed tiny puffs of scorching dragon breath.

"High heat, high pressure, high explosive power." With three phrases, Xuan Ziwen precisely summarized the Dragon Gland Thermonuclear Cannon's core functions. "Red demon fine gold serves as the material, engraved with multiple explosive soul guidance arrays. The casing uses heat-resistant sunfire iron to ensure the soul tool won't be destroyed by the explosive combustion inside.

"Ultimate metal stimulates the rare metals' vitality. This soul tool has practically become a living metal creature. Its unique spirituality grants it power far beyond even the Super-Concentrated Soul Guidance Cannon, which is unrivaled at its level. Its destructive power in a head-on bombardment is unmatched."

"Unrivaled at its level?"

At those words, Xiao Hongchen's cheek twitched. These past two days, he could not bear hearing "unrivaled among his peers"-or any synonymous expression!

"Thank you for the praise, Teacher Xuan," Lin Qing said leisurely. "I never used particularly valuable rare metals in the soul tools I made before. Ever since enrolling in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, I've been planning to create a soul weapon that could settle matters with a single hammer blow. Today, I finally got my wish."

"Your work is outstanding. I believe you'll certainly become a pillar of the empire." Xuan Ziwen did not stint on praise.

"Some top-tier soul guidance arrays are passed down orally among older soul engineers and never taught to outsiders. You must have encountered an opportunity. Don't let it slip away. Seize this hard-won chance."

Kong Deming's generosity in teaching him the Sun Wheel Soul Guidance Array spoke for itself. Xuan Ziwen was hinting that Lin Qing should cling tightly to the Sun Moon Empire's stoutest thigh and ascend from the realm of rookies to the realm of fellow experts-and then grandmasters!

"Riiing-"

The bell rang. Xuan Ziwen had always opposed keeping students after class, so he briefly concluded, "The classroom quiz is over. From the cultivation resources generously provided by the academy, you should all have felt Dean Hongchen's great expectations for the Hongchen Class.

"This afternoon's practical combat training will take place in Test Zone Zero. Lin Qing will organize everyone and lead you there to report in. Starting today, Lin Qing will also serve as the Hongchen Class monitor. Does anyone object?"

Everyone turned in perfect unison toward Xiao Hongchen, who had stood shoulder to shoulder with Lin Qing as a rival genius three months earlier. Their first clash had ended in Brother Xiao's crushing defeat. Many Sun Moon students jokingly called him Brother Xiao the Defeated, but some classmates still staunchly supported his transformation into an avenger and a triumphant hero's return!

"What are you looking at me for? Lin Qing ranked first in the assessment's total score. It's only right that he becomes class monitor." Xiao Hongchen forced himself to remain calm.

Had he still been the high-spirited Xiao Hongchen, he would undoubtedly have charged headfirst into challenging Lin Qing for the monitor's seat today. But the current Xiao Hongchen had already been reduced to Brother Xiao, teetering on the brink of lying flat and accepting all mockery. He had no desire to rub his scalp against the Azure Heavenly Emperor's soles.

With Xiao Hongchen declining to challenge him, the others had even less courage. They enthusiastically endorsed Lin Qing's appointment.

Even Wang Shaojie, who looked down on immigrants from Douluo because of his royal blood, dared not challenge Lin Qing to a one-on-one battle between real men.

After all, Lin Qing dared to strike ruthlessly. That vicious elbow strike during the Hongchen Class selection tournament remained vivid in Wang Shaojie's memory. Without help from a healing-type soul master retained by the Royal Family, he would probably still be lying at home, groaning in pain.

"Class monitor, huh..."

Lin Qing, on the other hand, was uninterested. An empty title was hardly worth mentioning. Could a class monitor join Mingde Hall's standing committee?

Hmm, worth a try.

That afternoon, in Test Zone Zero.

After enjoying a lavish, personally tailored lunch, all thirty students entered Test Zone Zero with full stomachs, not a single one missing. They eagerly awaited the Level 9 Soul Engineer who would serve as their guest instructor on the first day of school.

Starlight descended upon the ground, and a balding old man smiled. "Hello, students of the Hongchen Class. I'm your practical combat teacher today, Ye Yulin."

Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin!

Recently, Ye Yulin and Jing Hongchen had shared both joys and hardships. The relationship between the two Level 9 Soul Engineers had progressed by leaps and bounds, making them inseparable old boating-

-buddies. Naturally, the Hall Master invited Starry Sky Douluo to fire the opening shot of their Level 9 Soul Engineer lessons.

"What you learn on paper always feels shallow. Whether you're a soul master or a soul engineer, actual combat remains an important part of cultivation. My duty is to find ways to train your practical combat abilities."

Ye Yulin took out a student roster and went straight to the point. "This afternoon, I'll divide the Hongchen Class evenly into ten groups, with three students in each. Unite as one and work together in battle.

"Group one: Ye Guyi, Meng Hongchen, Keke.

"Group two: Nana, Lan Xiu, Tang Gang.

"Group ten: Lin Qing, Xiao Hongchen, Ju Zi."

The thirty students exchanged wide-eyed looks. Starry Sky Douluo had definitely done this deliberately-he had broken up every combination of close friends!

"Group one, enter the field. Everyone else, withdraw to the spectator seats."

Starry Sky Douluo called for the Hongchen Class to take their positions. For some reason, Lin Qing detected a strange excitement in the balding old codger's turbulent gaze, as though he had prepared a basketful of nasty tricks and was only waiting to torment weak, helpless lab rats!

Ye Guyi, Meng Hongchen, and Keke strode onto the field with spirited confidence. All three girls were combat-oriented soul engineers, each with her own strengths. They were undoubtedly the second-best team among the Hongchen Class's ten groups, behind only Lin Qing and Xiao Hongchen's partnership.

"Your objective is to destroy every high-altitude soul tool. Training begins!"

A rather unrestrained laugh echoed across the sky. Ye Yulin raised his hand and tossed clusters of shining silver light into the clouds. It was as though morning stars had appeared in the daytime sky!

"Stars Divine Needles!"

Meng Hongchen looked up, her icy-blue pupils abruptly widening.

The Level-Five Soul Tool, Stars Divine Needle, was the creation that had made Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin famous. Both the Level 9 Soul Tools, the Sun Divine Needle and the Sun Moon Divine Needle, had been developed from it. The Stars Divine Needle was essentially a miniature Sun Moon Divine Needle, with exceptional high-altitude striking capabilities!

Nearly a hundred Stars Divine Needles hung high in the sky, but Ye Yulin had no intention of stopping. Two purple-black spheres followed them up, their demonic eyeballs shining amid the magnificent field of stars.

The Level 7 Soul Tool, Eye of Fear!

Another signature high-altitude soul tool!

With a hundred Stars Divine Needles providing cover, the Level 7 Eyes of Fear could knock down the youngsters one after another. Never mind that only three girls were on the field-even if the entire Hongchen Class attacked together, they would face a bitter struggle.

"Meng, the Eyes of Fear are a huge threat. We have to eliminate them first. We'll take one each. Keke, provide covering fire," Ye Guyi said, setting their tactics.

"Got it!"

Meng Hongchen and Keke had considerable combat experience. Thanks to the Hongchen Class challenge tournament, they also had a basic understanding of their teammates' specialties and quickly reached an agreement.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Pure white wings burst from Ye Guyi's back. Her Level 4 Soul Tool Thruster spewed golden exhaust flames, sending her streaking into the sky. Unwilling to fall behind, Meng Hongchen activated her Soul Guidance Aircraft with an icy-blue rapier in hand. She refused to lag behind anyone in front of Lin Qing.

Keke chose not to fly. Sitting down where she stood, she deployed thick metal cannon barrels from her petite body, instantly becoming a ferocious metal hedgehog as she activated the soul engineer's strongest burst-combat method: Soul Tool Turret Tactics!

As Guyi and Meng entered their aerial territory, the Stars Divine Needles sounded shrill alarms. Blood-red markers locked onto the two girls, and Stars Rays swept in every direction!

"Boom-"

A hundred Level-Five Soul Tools attacked simultaneously. Silver rays shot out with fierce speed, their dazzling brilliance blotting out the sky and sun. Keke was dumbfounded. Her ground-to-air attacks were like eggs hurled against stone, and the Soul Tool Turret's firepower was swallowed by the rays filling the heavens.

Keke's support achieved nothing and dragged Meng Hongchen down with her. The Stars Divine Needles were cold soul weapons, leaving the Vermilion-Sun Ice Toad's deadly poison utterly useless. The close-combat assassin fell before her campaign could succeed and was ultimately rescued from the battlefield by Ye Yulin.

With both teammates eliminated, only a streak of platinum light remained, weaving and darting through the air. Ye Guyi's aerial combat techniques stood in a league of their own within the Hongchen Class. She narrowly skimmed past rays in cramped gaps, her Aurora Sword blasting apart Stars Divine Needles along the way as she charged toward a Level 7 Eye of Fear!

The next second, the demonic eyeballs blazed. Two Level 7 Fear Rays fired in succession, bombarding the still-advancing Ye Guyi!

There was nowhere to dodge. The Fear Rays and Stars Divine Needles formed an exquisite encirclement, sealing every escape route. For the first time in her life, the angel maiden lost an aerial battle!

"Little lady, these high-altitude soul tools of mine pack quite a punch, don't they?"

Ye Yulin rescued Ye Guyi, then gazed skyward at a forty-five-degree angle, deliberately cultivating the imposing air of a Level 9 Soul Engineer. Unfortunately, his bald head somewhat spoiled the effect, reflecting the sunlight pouring down like a light bulb.

"They're very strong..."

Ye Guyi's golden eyes burned. Her heart might be clear and innocent, but she was also exceptionally clever. She had realized how terrifying the power unleashed by combining a holy angel with high-altitude soul tools could be.

"You and I share a surname. Come to the usual spot in the library this weekend, and I'll teach you a trick or two." Ye Yulin smiled.

"Thank you, Senior Starry Sky!"

Ye Guyi hurriedly cupped her hands in salute, accepting the Level 9 Soul Engineer's goodwill. Her once-uncertain path as a soul engineer gradually gained direction. The holy angel and high-altitude soul engineering would complement each other perfectly!

"Group two, enter!"

Having successfully achieved his goal, Ye Yulin felt deeply gratified, secretly delighted that his craft now had a successor. He promptly called the second team forward for their beating.

Nana, Lan Xiu, and Tang Gang performed even more disastrously.

Nana struggled a couple of times, but a salted fish remained a salted fish even after flipping over. The two consecutive pole vaults with lone bamboo looked like a clown act, and Tang Gang could not even touch the metal edges of the Stars Divine Needles.

Lan Xiu was effectively showing off high-altitude soul tools at Master Ye's own door. Ye Yulin easily dismantled the Nine Radiances' coordinated attacks.

One Hongchen Class team after another tremblingly entered Test Zone Zero to face Ye Yulin. It was as though they were facing a soul engineer version of Ye Guyi. Giving up aerial combat meant slow suicide, while engaging in it put them at an absolute disadvantage. Both palm and back of the hand were covered in thorns; they had to choose between chocolate-flavored shit and shit-flavored chocolate, then swallow it.

"Group nine!"

Three figures stood trembling on the testing zone's metal floor. At the sight of the Stars Divine Needles poised to strike overhead, intense fear left their bodies limp, turning them into boneless chicken strips!

"What are those cowardly expressions?"

"And what are those tears of fear?"

Starry Sky Douluo descended from the sky, spread his arms, and thundered, "You are the Sun Moon Empire's finest young people! The academy established the Hongchen Class to nurture you into Level 9 Soul Engineers like me!

"Children, the Sun Moon Empire's future belongs to those who come after us. Find your fearless courage and charge at the Stars Divine Needles!"