Soul Tools Show Their Might

Joander was a One-Word Battle Armor Master, which proved that his soul power cultivation had already reached the Five-Ring Soul King level.

By not releasing his martial soul or soul rings, Joander was leaving the Heaven Dou Empire a shred of dignity, but the royal guard clearly understood none of these twists and turns.

The royal guard merely felt that this man from the Divine Realm Empire was far too arrogant.

As far as the people of the Douluo Continent knew, sparring involved only martial souls and soul skills. The very idea of offensive soul tools did not exist.

Without releasing your martial soul or soul rings, you can't even use soul skills. How are you going to fight?

"Please." Joander inclined his head slightly.

The royal guard's muscles bulged and his canine teeth emerged. He attacked first, lunging fiercely at Joander.

Possessed by his Mighty Dog martial soul, the soul master opened his great, bloodthirsty maw as though he intended to bite Joander to pieces in one snap.

Joander swung the Imperial Standard Military Saber in his hand. A white-hot blade of light flew from it, slashing toward the Mighty Dog soul master like a ribbon of silk.

Sensing danger, the Mighty Dog soul master hastily checked his momentum and leaped aside, narrowly avoiding the strike.

Prince Xue Xing said to Xue Ye, "Your Majesty, that strike was equivalent to an ordinary attack from a three-ring Soul Elder."

"Mm." Xue Ye had a discerning eye and was himself a Soul Saint, so he naturally understood what he had seen.

Joander and the royal guard exchanged several more moves. For the moment, the Mighty Dog soul master, who had released his martial soul, actually could not overcome Joander, who had not.

Relying on a Level 3 Soul Tool, Joander could easily keep the royal guard occupied without even releasing his martial soul or soul spirit.

Each time, the royal guard attacked first, and Joander chose to defend.

Even when an opportunity presented itself, Joander was in no hurry to take the offensive. Instead, he began introducing soul tools to Xue Ye and the other nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire:

"Soul tools used as weapons fall into roughly three categories: melee soul tools, ranged soul tools, and fixed-installation soul tools.

"But these distinctions aren't absolute. For instance, the standard military saber just now could still deal damage at range."

Joander took on the role of commentator, swinging his saber again to force the royal guard back. Wherever the blade's light passed, it sliced through the air with a sharp hiss.

"Operating a soul tool consumes soul power. The more powerful a melee soul tool is, the more soul power it consumes.

"To do what I just did, you would need to consume one-tenth of a three-ring Soul Elder's soul power.

"Of course, I merely have the advantage of greater soul power."

Xue Ye frowned. These soul tools truly are formidable.

Joander could modestly claim that he could suppress the royal guard only because his soul power level was higher, but Xue Ye could not truly take that at face value.

Even if his soul power was greater, Joander had not used his martial soul or soul skills.

Someone relying on soul power alone could suppress a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor with a Level 3 Soul Tool. That was enough to prove how extraordinary soul tools were.

Under the gazes of Xue Ye and his nobles and ministers, the royal guard with the Mighty Dog martial soul felt considerable pressure. Cold sweat poured down his body.

Especially after several successive attacks had failed to achieve anything, he no longer dared let his guard down in the slightest.

He began running swiftly around Joander, trying to confuse his vision and find an opening.

The Mighty Dog martial soul was not of the power attack system. It was naturally adept at exploiting openings and launching sneak attacks.

Joander stood firmly in place, holding his Level 3 Soul Tool saber. His gaze remained locked on the constantly moving royal guard, and his presence grew ever steadier.

"Roar-!"

Under Xue Ye's gaze, the royal guard could not drag this out any longer.

With a furious shout, his first soul ring blazed. His speed increased again, and he became a blur as he charged at Joander from the side.

His second and fourth soul rings lit up simultaneously.

The royal guard leaped high into the air. His foreclaws became incomparably sharp, gleaming as though coated in oil, and raked toward Joander's shoulders.

If they struck home, Joander's shoulders would likely be torn open, with several bones broken.

Joander held his military saber horizontally before him.

The Mighty Dog soul master's claws struck the blade's light, sending sparks flying.

The powerful recoil hurled the royal guard backward through the air. He tumbled several times before managing to steady himself.

"Watch out!" Joander suddenly went on the offensive. He stamped his feet against the ground, raised his saber overhead, and slashed fiercely at the royal guard.

The saber emitted such intense fluctuations of soul power that even the surrounding air twisted.

"Hah!"

The royal guard represented the Heaven Dou Empire's dignity. He could not admit defeat under these circumstances and could only take the attack head-on.

Even if I have to throw away this old life today, I must...

Joander put away his Level 3 Soul Tool saber. He had no need to end the royal guard's life.

"This is only a sparring match. The point is to demonstrate soul tools to His Majesty, not to flaunt one man's brute courage."

"..."

The royal guard lowered his head in shame, not daring to look Xue Ye in the eye. He had gotten carried away just now, which was why he had been willing to risk his life to settle who was stronger.

Xue Ye paid no attention to the royal guard's expression. He did not even know the man's name.

He had merely picked someone at random to spar. Had the guard fought well, Xue Ye might have remembered his name. After a performance like this, it would already be kindness enough if Xue Ye did not call him to account.

"The Divine Realm Empire truly deserves its reputation as the nation of soul tools. In this field, it stands at the forefront."

After a few pleasantries, Xue Ye asked whether such melee soul tools could be sold to the Heaven Dou Empire.

"I am not afraid of inviting your ridicule, Minister Sima. The Heaven Dou Empire's armaments are quite unremarkable. If we could equip our forces with such excellent soul tools, we would be better able to protect our people..." Xue Ye said delicately.

Sima Lanxiao maintained a reserved air for a moment, though he was clearly weighing the benefits in his mind. He said:

"In the Divine Realm Empire's academic circles, we define soul tools as 'artificial tools created by engraving core arrays onto rare metals and gemstones, then completing the fabrication process.'

"A soul tool's core array is crucial to its manufacture. It is the heart of the soul tool. Engraving it is a complex process requiring great technical skill. Every line must meet strict standards, and the degree of complexity is difficult to imagine..."

When Long Yue heard Sima Lanxiao's words, he knew that the man intended to fleece the Heaven Dou Empire.

In the era of Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao, Level 3 Soul Tools had indeed been difficult to manufacture. Only a Soul Elder could engrave their core arrays.

But in the present-day Divine Realm Empire, production lines already existed for Level 3 Soul Tools. They could be mass-produced industrially without any difficulty whatsoever.

The only real difficulty was transportation.

Traveling from the Divine Realm Empire to the Heaven Dou Empire required crossing the vast ocean, a journey of more than a month.

"I suggest that the Heaven Dou Empire consider purchasing soul tools of other levels, such as a level-two Soul Light Ray." Sima Lanxiao signaled for Joander to demonstrate.

Joander nodded to the royal guard.

After receiving Xue Ye's permission, the Mighty Dog Battle Soul Ancestor stepped forward once again, becoming part of the Divine Realm Empire's soul tool demonstration play.