"As for our defeat, I believe it resulted from several factors. First, soul tools have immense potential, but four thousand years ago, our technology was still extremely limited. We had yet to develop soul tools capable of matching their Limit Douluos, and even against Titled Douluos and above, soul tools were clearly at a disadvantage."
Xu Cheng spoke calmly.
"The reason we could win battles against the three empires was simply that our low-level soul tools far surpassed the so-called Tang Sect Hidden Weapons. Whether in ease of use, range, or power, the latter fell far short, and they were expensive to manufacture... That was why we kept winning large-scale battles between armies."
"At the time, the three empires' greatest combat assets-all their Titled Douluos combined-numbered only a little over twenty."
"But once Shrek Academy assembled sixty Titled Douluos, we suffered a crushing defeat. Therefore, I believe that elite combat power will always be a major weight on the scales of war, tipping victory toward one side."
"Of course, in my view, that shortcoming has now been remedied. After four thousand years of development, we have created Level 10 Soul Tools capable of matching Limit Douluos, while Level 9 Soul Engineers, our top combat assets, have continued to spring up like bamboo shoots after rain..."
"Second, we had no rivals. Four thousand years ago, the Sun Moon Continent was content with the status quo. Most soul tool research was driven by personal interest or a desire to improve one's own strength, so soul tool development progressed slowly."
"But after four thousand years of an arms race, the Sun Moon Empire has felt ample pressure, and soul tool technology has begun advancing explosively. From close combat to long-range attacks, and even the Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon, progress has been nothing short of rapid..."
"Let me interrupt you."
With his hands clasped behind his back, the old man studied Xu Cheng with an intrigued smile.
"Cheng, I support and agree with your arguments, but scholars in the field raised these points long ago. They've practically been studied to death."
"I'd like to hear something different. Can you do that?"
"..."
"Yes." Despite being interrupted, Xu Cheng showed no sign of panic.
He understood that this was the real test.
Unlike those who merely recited from textbooks, the true heavyweights all had insights of their own...
"I believe the Sun Moon Empire's current development should actually lean toward wearable exoskeletons or humanoid mechas. That should, at least, be the central theme for one stage of development. Lower the requirements for operating them, and even low-level Soul Masters could pilot high-level mechas, though there are still quite a few issues with physical tolerance and powering them with soul power..."
"..."
His words fell.
A flash of astonishment crossed the old man's eyes.
The reason was simple.
Humanoid mecha technology was precisely the key project Mingde Hall was currently tackling, as well as the central theme of its future plans. Where did the Sun Moon Empire fall short?
Manpower. Talent.
One could put it this way: without soul tools, the Sun Moon Empire's strength probably would not even measure up to the Dou Ling Empire, the weakest of the three empires.
But technology changed everything.
Since they lacked talent, they could lower the requirements for using soul tools.
For example, if a Level 3 Soul Engineer could use a level 5 soul tool, would that not make him a match for a level 50 Soul Master?
Then their shortage of talent would also be greatly alleviated.
And if the concept truly worked, using Milk Bottles charged in advance to serve the role of a steam engine, then it would be like Blue Star-even ordinary people could pilot mechas and roam the universe.
Moreover, every component could be manufactured industrially...
But what puzzled the old man was that only a handful of people knew about this project: the hall master of Mingde Hall, Elder Kong, himself, the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire... No more than could be counted on two hands.
It was one of the Sun Moon Empire's most closely guarded secrets.
How did this child know about it?
Could it be... that he really came up with it himself?
While the old man pondered, Xu Cheng continued speaking.
"Second, we should focus on long-range delivery and information."
"Long-range delivery is essentially about how to transport soul tools over great distances to... take Shrek Academy, for example. It's roughly fifty thousand kilometers away. We would have to account for weather, wind, and other factors, as well as interception by Shrek Academy's experts. But imagine, if-and I do mean if-"
Xu Cheng spoke with easy confidence.
He did not notice in the slightest that Xiao Hongchen was already staring with his jaw hanging open.
"We pressed a button right now, and a missile carrying dozens of Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Cannons soared into the sky, passed through the territories of the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire, then slipped past all of Shrek Academy's detection without a sound and exploded thunderously above Shrek City. What a magnificent spectacle that would be."
"In the past, we were too absorbed in researching the power of soul tools. Their power is absolutely sufficient now. What we lack is guidance..."
"Second, information."
"To put it simply, take the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft produced by our Mingde Hall. What are battles fought with? Information! Any tactic starts with gathering clear intelligence on the enemy, then making the appropriate deployments. But when everything about the enemy is laid bare before our eyes, do their tactics still have any meaning?"
Ju Zi had taken this to its utmost in her war against the Star Luo Empire.
Had Huo Gua not broken the deadlock, hundreds of thousands of troops would still have been firmly pinned down...
"And information can also be used for guidance. Precision missile strikes inevitably depend on information. As for satellites, as for radar..."
"Riiing!!!"
Only when the bell rang to end class-
Did Xu Cheng fall silent, still wishing he could say more.
At that moment, the entire New Class One was deathly quiet.
Never mind a group of eleven-year-old boys and girls who had only recently begun learning about soul tools-even Mingde Hall teachers with a solid grounding in theory would probably have been left repeatedly dumbfounded by these ideas.
And that was indeed the case.
The Level 9 Soul Engineer standing at the lectern let out a long breath.
He looked at Xu Cheng.
At that moment, he was certain.
That earlier theory about mechas was absolutely something this boy had worked out himself!
As for his other theories, they absolutely stood at the forefront of the entire soul tool field!
Although some of the ideas sounded a little immature to a veteran Soul Engineer like him, they were still more than enough to warrant dedicated research projects of their own...
Was this really a prince?
Cheng Baiqing developed a keen interest in him.
"Class dismissed."
The old man picked up his book, glanced at Xu Cheng again, and leisurely left.
As for the students of New Class One around him-
They, too, seemed so stunned by these new theories that they could not speak.
There was also a little more admiration in their gazes as they looked at Xu Cheng.
Not because of his imperial status, but genuine... admiration from the heart.
Xu Cheng also nodded with a cheerful smile.
Quite a few of them might well become his core team in the future.
New Class One gathered the most talented group of children of the same age from across the entire Sun Moon Empire that year.
Once they left the classroom-
"Xu Cheng, tell me one more fucking time that this is your first time learning about soul tools, and our fucking friendship is over!" Xiao Hongchen bared his teeth and glared at him.
"It really-"
"Friendship over!!!"
Xu Cheng spread his hands like a little bear.
Still, this first encounter had left a deep impression on the heavyweight.
Approaching him again in the future would not seem too abrupt...
Before you continue