Level 7 Soul Tool, Infinity Edge

"You..."

"Are you sure you don't know the first thing about this?"

Xian Lin'er stared blankly at the scene before her, astonishment flickering across her face.

"Let's say I don't."

Chu Ge nodded lightly without even glancing at Xian Lin'er. At that moment, his entire being was focused on the workbench before him.

His concentration was so intense that it exceeded even his own expectations.

[Side quest: The path of a Soul Engineer]

[The host has the potential to become a Soul Engineer. Rely on your talent and work hard to create a Level 1 Soul Tool, truly setting foot on this path.]

[Reward: Adaptive Soul Tool]

"Hmm?"

Chu Ge's eyes immediately lit up, and his hands moved even faster. Since the system was ready to give him a reward, he certainly couldn't afford to dawdle.

"Such an intricate core... never mind low-level Soul Tools like Level 1 or Level 2-even I would probably struggle to replicate it..."

Watching Chu Ge's hands at work, Xian Lin'er's eyes filled with wonder, and even deep admiration.

Didn't know the first thing? Only a ghost would believe that.

The man before her was definitely an accomplished Soul Engineer as well, though perhaps his level wasn't particularly high. Otherwise, he would have sought her out instead of staying with Yan Shaozhe.

"He's finally starting to shape it. I wonder what his creation will be... is that the Infinity Edge?"

As he began shaping it, Xian Lin'er quickly froze. She knew this Soul Tool all too well. Wasn't it the Infinity Edge?

But this was a Level 6 Soul Tool.

Due to its unusual properties, although this Soul Tool was only Level 6, its actual power fell little short of Level 7.

It was also several times harder to make than an ordinary Level 6 Soul Tool. What he was doing was scarcely any different from attempting to make a Level 7 Soul Tool.

"The Infinity Edge is a Soul Tool I only recently developed. There shouldn't be a second one on the continent. Does that mean he grasped its properties this quickly? Still, his version probably won't be as powerful as the original..."

A thoughtful look crossed Xian Lin'er's face, and she soon settled on that conclusion. Yet, only moments later...

When that gleaming Infinity Edge appeared before her in all its reality, even Xian Lin'er, the dean of the Soul Tool Department, couldn't help being utterly dumbstruck.

"A complete Infinity Edge..."

"Level 6?!"

Xian Lin'er's mouth fell wide open as she blurted it out.

He had made it. He had really made it?!

This was a genuine Level 6 Soul Tool, and one whose power rivaled a Level 7 Soul Tool at that. Its capabilities were beyond question!

Moreover, she was certain the man before her couldn't possibly have seen these blueprints before. Yet he had made it this quickly?

"Just like that..."

"He simply went and made it?"

Fan Yu's face was filled with disbelief. Was making this thing really so easy? Obviously not.

Even a Level 8 Soul Engineer like him needed a certain amount of time to make a Soul Tool of this caliber. Xian Lin'er, a long-established Titled Douluo, might be much faster, but even she couldn't possibly be this fast!

Besides being a Titled Douluo, just how formidable were Chu Ge's abilities as a Soul Engineer?

With a smile on his face, Chu Ge gazed at the creation before him and gently stroked it.

It was a blade that gleamed gold from end to end, longer than a saber and broader than a sword. Looking at it, one word involuntarily surfaced in his mind: alike.

It really looked almost exactly like the Infinity Warblade.

[Through tireless effort, you have finally become a Soul Tool that has created a Soul Tool. You are hereby awarded the title of Level 1 Soul Engineer. Host, please keep up the good work.]

[Congratulations to the host on completing the quest. Reward obtained: Advanced Soul Tool Blueprint]

"A Level 1 Soul Engineer..."

Hearing the voice in his mind, Chu Ge wore an unconcerned expression, though a hint of laughter shone in his eyes.

As for Xian Lin'er's amazement, he merely smiled. This Soul Tool of his wasn't so simple.

"No."

"It's Level 7."

Then, just as Xian Lin'er was almost wondering whether she had misheard, he uttered those few simple words.

As he toyed with the Infinity Edge in his hand, his face wore a cheerful smile.

"Huh?"

"How is that possible!"

Xian Lin'er stared blankly at the man before her, but a moment later, she still shook her head and couldn't help exclaiming.

A Level 7 Soul Tool?

This had to be a dream!

Because he had already shocked her so deeply, she had almost instinctively believed what he said. But how could this possibly be true?

Achieving a breakthrough in a Soul Tool was clearly not that easy.

"This is only a Level 6 Soul Tool. How could it become a Level 7 Soul Tool? Unless..."

"What if I refined its core structure and improved its quality?"

Facing Xian Lin'er as she earnestly explained, Chu Ge smiled faintly and spoke calmly.

His tone was as light as the breeze and drifting clouds.

"Improved its quality? How could it be that easy?"

"You..."

"Let me see!"

Xian Lin'er froze, then took the Infinity Edge before her into her hands, her face full of disbelief as she spoke, unwilling to accept it.

This Soul Tool was highly unstable, with almost no room left to improve its quality. Level 6 was already the limit for this melee Soul Tool. How could it possibly...

Once she actually poured her soul power into the Soul Tool, Xian Lin'er, formidable woman though she was, instantly became like a girl who had scarcely seen the world.

It was different. Far too different.

Of course she had made the Infinity Edge before, but this one felt completely different. Even its aura had undergone a qualitative leap.

Level 7. This was a genuine Level 7 Soul Tool!

The upper limit of the damage it could inflict was far higher than before.

"The current Infinity Edge has a higher ceiling than before, while also being easier to use."

"Under the original design, only someone at least as strong as a peak Soul King or an ordinary Soul Emperor could use it. But now, even a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster can use it..."

"This is a Soul Tool that grows stronger with its wielder, allowing even low-level Soul Masters to experience the power of Soul Tools."

What he knew about the Infinity Edge flashed through Chu Ge's mind as he spoke calmly. Although this was his first time making one, thanks to his God Level talent, he could only be described as a fish in water.

Moreover, he was clearly very satisfied with this first creation of his. It was Level 7, after all. Not bad at all.

"Mm..."

"So that's how it is."

Xian Lin'er murmured an acknowledgment, a thoughtful look crossing her face. His words had opened her eyes.

The greatest advantage of Soul Engineers had never been making the strong stronger, but being able to make even the weak strong.

On the Sun Moon Continent, Soul Tools were widespread. Almost everyone with soul power became a Soul Engineer, even if their level wasn't high.

Their overall strength far surpassed that of the Douluo Continent.

Clearly, making Soul Tools ought to be more about helping weaker Soul Masters improve-for instance, enabling a Soul Grandmaster to unleash damage at the level of a Soul Elder.

Rather than the current situation, where, aside from top Soul Engineers who could unleash power at the level of a Super Douluo with the cultivation of a Titled Douluo...

What happened far more often was Soul Saints buying Soul Tools that could exert power at the level of a Soul Emperor...

That was how Soul Tools worked on the Douluo Continent.

Moreover, their Soul Tool Department was already struggling. Now, they could promote Soul Tools along these lines and try to popularize them among low-level Soul Masters.

Of course, Chu Ge knew nothing of Xian Lin'er's thoughts. Even if he had, he would probably have fallen into contemplation.

Popularizing Soul Tools might genuinely be possible elsewhere, but at Shrek Academy, which only accepted geniuses and even practiced double standards...

It was absolutely impossible.

(End of chapter)