After a small gathering hosted by Xuan Ziwen, Jiang Hai's return caused little stir. Before long, everyone threw themselves back into researching and crafting soul tools.
In the director's office, separate from District Twelve, the Civilization Research Institute's five leading figures-Jiang Hai, Xuan Ziwen, Shi Jingcheng, Xue Linglong, and Li Qingfeng-gathered together.
The Civilization Research Institute's senior decision-making structure resembled Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion. At present, the five of them made all the decisions, while Jiang Hai, as the institute's director, held veto power.
After reporting on the Civilization Research Institute's development over the past few years, Xuan Ziwen began reporting on their research progress.
"At present, I oversee District One's research. The core array for the lifebound soul tool has been provisionally perfected and reached the level of a Level 9 soul tool. We've conducted numerous simulated test runs and haven't found any problems so far. However, inscribing the array on a human body places an enormous burden on it. Only the body of a soul master at Level 90 or above could withstand it. Practical verification is far too difficult, and none of us knows whether problems will arise once it actually begins operating."
Their lifebound soul tool research had not reached a point where there was no room for improvement. But no matter how perfect their design was, without practical testing, the lifebound soul tool remained a castle in the air. Although they had already inscribed a preliminary core array on Li Qingfeng's body, until the tool was fully refined, no one dared rule out the dangers it might contain.
Whether Jiang Hai or Li Qingfeng suffered a mishap, it would be an enormous loss to the Civilization Research Institute. But if someone truly had to try it, Xuan Ziwen actually favored the latter.
Naturally, Li