Xu Haoyang looked at his son's expression with a hint of helplessness.
"Since that's what you've chosen, and we happened to come across such a fine Soul Beast, I can only grant your wish."
After having Xu Zhengyang stay where he was, Xu Haoyang's Soul Tool wings suddenly jetted out Soul Power, propelling him toward the Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger at tremendous speed.
Even while eating, the Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger reacted extremely quickly. It let out a tiger's roar at the enemy before it, making the entire ground tremble, and terrifying flames erupted from its body, surging straight toward Xu Haoyang.
But just then, Soul Power flashed around Xu Haoyang, and a shield shaped like a black tortoise instantly appeared before him, forcibly blocking the Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger's attack. This was the Class 4 Soul Tool, the Black Tortoise Shield.
Immediately afterward, countless cannon barrels rapidly appeared all over Xu Haoyang's body. All the soul cannons instantly unleashed terrifying power, their fire engulfing the area around the Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger.
No matter how formidable the Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger was, it immediately paled in comparison when faced with Soul King-level attacks from so many soul cannons. Even its sturdy iron armor was blasted open with wound after wound beneath their fire.
A trace of fear appeared in the Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger's eyes. As a mere hundred-year Soul Beast, it had little power to resist a Soul King-level expert, especially one who was also a Class 4 Soul Engineer. It turned around and tried to leave.
Unfortunately, Xu Haoyang gave him no chance at all. He suddenly flung out an enormous net, wreathed entirely in lightning. No matter how fast the Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger ran, it was still caught within the net.
The lightning on the enormous net was especially destructive. In mere seconds, it pierced through the iron armor. This was the Class 4 Soul Tool, the Thunder Flame Enemy-Binding Net. Not only did it possess the destructive power of the lightning attribute, but it was also exceptionally tough. Anyone below Soul Ancestor would find it difficult to escape unless they had a special Martial Soul.
Watching from the side, Xu Zhengyang was somewhat stunned. This was his first time seeing his father in actual combat, especially using Soul Tools in actual combat.
The whole process was a dazzling flurry, and could even be called a sweep through rotten wood and withered branches. Judging by his father's combat power, he could easily defeat even a thousand-year Soul Beast, and might even be capable of putting up a fight against a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.
Xu Zhengyang knew full well that although his father was only a Class 4 Soul Engineer, he possessed Soul King-level strength. He also carried several Class 5 Soul Tools. Some had been passed down by his elders, while others he had purchased at great expense. All were life-saving items he had prepared long ago.
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang vaguely began to understand that Soul Tools could indeed hold an overwhelming advantage over Soul Masters. Especially at lower Soul Power ranks, Soul Tools could have an even greater effect.
Take this Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger, for instance. Its strength was actually quite impressive. As a tiger-type Soul Beast known for its explosive power, it was already no weaker than an ordinary thousand-year Soul Beast. Yet it had been utterly powerless to fight back against his father. An ordinary Soul King would probably have had to put more thought into dealing with it instead.
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang began to question his previous decision. Was I right or wrong to reject Soul Tools so strongly?
Of course, Xu Zhengyang also understood very clearly that if he used Soul Tools over a long period, he would gradually slacken in cultivating his Martial Soul, and might even grow dependent on Soul Tools. That would slow his cultivation considerably.
In the history he knew, although the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's overall Soul Power was much higher than Shrek Academy's, whenever the two sides actually fought, Shrek Academy held the advantage every time.
This was because everyone at Shrek Academy had gained their strength through countless hardships in cultivation. Even the entire academy was filled with competition. Every student underwent extremely strict training and tempering between life and death before developing exceptionally powerful combat instincts.
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was precisely the opposite. Although their Soul Power was very high, most of it had been forcibly raised with drugs. As a result, their upper limits were comparatively restricted. In particular, after reaching the Soul Sage realm, their cultivation would slow considerably. This also meant that the Sun Moon Empire had no true experts on the path of Soul Masters.
A Soul Master's time and mental stamina were ultimately limited. This was the trade-off all Soul Masters in the Sun Moon Empire made. They believed Soul Tools were more practical and more powerful, which was why they neglected tempering their bodies, leaving their Soul Power relatively insubstantial, and even lacked genuine combat and life-and-death experience.
It was not as though Xu Zhengyang had never considered following Huo Yuhao's path, but that road was simply impassable. Because Huo Yuhao's Martial Soul consisted of his eyes and brain, and especially because he possessed the Skydream Iceworm's million-year first Soul Ring, his spiritual strength far surpassed that of ordinary people. He therefore had enough mental stamina to cultivate both his Martial Soul and Soul Tools.
In theory, apart from those with spiritual-type Body Martial Souls, no one could follow Huo Yuhao's path. As Xu Zhengyang had said, a person's mental stamina was ultimately limited. With their spiritual power kept under constant strain, either problems would arise in their cultivation, or they would collapse.
While Xu Zhengyang was marveling, his father, Xu Haoyang, had already finished hunting down the Ironclad Explosive Flame Tiger. The tiger was now restrained within the net, severely wounded and utterly powerless to resist.
Looking at his son's shocked expression, Xu Haoyang instead began to laugh.
"Zhengyang, this is how we Soul Engineers truly fight. I know you're determined to study Martial Souls, but below Soul Sage, the strength a Soul Engineer can unleash far exceeds your imagination. And selling these Soul Tools I make earns a great deal of money. Otherwise, how would I have the money to buy you a Mysterious Water Pill, or even buy more high-grade Soul Tools?"
Xu Zhengyang nodded. "Dad, I really was shaken today, but my original resolve won't change. Cultivating my Martial Soul will still be my main focus. Perhaps I'll consider taking Soul Tools as an elective and start trying my hand at some Soul Tool research."
Seeing the change in his son's attitude, Xu Haoyang looked somewhat gratified.
Just then, Xu Haoyang took something out of a Soul Tool. It looked somewhat blackened, with a slightly crystalline sheen, and gave off an enticing fragrance. It was a piece of whale glue, a piece of thousand-year whale glue.
"Zhengyang, I actually didn't want you coming into contact with whale glue so early, either. But I also know your personality. You're determined to pursue the limits of Soul Rings and the limits of physical fitness, so I prepared this for you long ago."
Xu Zhengyang was momentarily speechless. "Dad, did you prepare this whale glue for me, or for yourself? Our Dongyang City might lack other things, but whale glue certainly isn't scarce."
Xu Haoyang knocked his son on the head. "You brat, always overthinking things. But I'll ask you one last time. This whale glue has an aphrodisiac side effect, and the first dose will have the best effect. Are you ready? Perhaps you'll have a chance to obtain ten-thousand-year whale glue in the future."
Xu Zhengyang looked somewhat resolute. "Dad, I'll never regret what happens today. Not just this Soul Ring-every Soul Ring I get in the future must be the strongest, and must surpass the limit."