"Considering your fighting style, I only prepared a few special-purpose offensive Soul Tool; the core one is still your sword."
"Your path is different from ours. These Soul Tool are just aids; the core still relies on the cultivation and enhancement of your own Qi and Blood."
"I can see that the knife I crafted... is not far from becoming a divine weapon."
Xuan Ziwen's tone carried a hint of amazement and envy. As a top-tier Soul Engineer, he was the one who could best feel the qualitative change that the sword underwent under the constant erosion of Toji's Qi and Blood.
However, as Soul Engineer, he can help cultivate a divine artifact.
This is the thing I'm most proud of.
"Thank you." Toji took the dark red ring, but unlike Du Busi, she didn't immediately examine it; she simply put it away carefully.
This expression of gratitude was one of the few sincere things he could express.
Xuan Ziwen created tools for him that would allow him to kill more efficiently and survive better, which were of immeasurable value to him.
"I should thank you." Xuan Ziwen waved his hands repeatedly, his face regaining its radiance. "Without you bringing me back, I would never have experienced the power of a nation in my entire life."
"It's impossible to squander so many rare materials! It's impossible to have so many top-notch craftsmen assisting! And it's even more impossible..." His eyes gleamed with idealism, "... to climb to the pinnacle of Soul Tool so purely and single-mindedly! You gave me the stage to realize my lifelong dream!"
Just then, as if remembering something, Xuan Ziwen called out to the back of a large soul-guided lathe beside him:
" Caitou! Come here!"
A tall, robust figure strode out in response.
It was He Caitou. The taciturn, hate-filled boy from back then had now grown into a tall, handsome young man with strong muscles, a dark complexion, and a much more composed gaze.
But when he looked at Toji, the deep respect and gratitude he felt were still clearly visible. He quickly walked to Xuan Ziwen's side and bowed respectfully.
"Teacher, Poison Sect Master, Toji Shen'er."
"Look." Xuan Ziwen put his arm around He Caitou's broad shoulder and pushed him forward, his face beaming with pride and satisfaction. "This is my last disciple, He Caitou, Level 6 Soul Engineer. How old is he? Such talent, such hard work."
"Hey, at least my skills have a successor! He'll be able to pass on all my knowledge and ideas, and carry them forward!"
"This is more important than giving me a mountain of gold!"
He Caitou was a little embarrassed by the teacher's praise; a slight blush rose on his dark face, but his eyes remained firm. He bowed deeply to Toji once more.
"Without Toji Shen'er's life-saving grace and bringing me here, Caitou would have long since turned to dust, and there would be no me today. I will never forget Caitou kindness!"
Looking at his prized disciple and the two powerful figures before him who were capable of shaking the very fabric of the continent, Xuan Ziwen felt all the pent-up emotions in his chest dissipate, and the fatigue of the past few days seemed to lessen considerably.
He burst into hearty laughter, the sound echoing in the research room filled with the hum of Soul Tool, brimming with a sense of accomplishment and boundless anticipation for the future.
With these powers and these inheritances, the new era of soul guidance, belonging to the Heaven Dou Empire and to Xuan Ziwen, has only just begun.
Xuan Ziwen's hearty laughter still echoed in the metallic air, a sound of pride in his achievements and anticipation for the future.
However, the laughter receded quickly like a tide, and the excited red glow on his face dimmed, replaced by a mixture of fatigue, solemnity, and a hint of... unspeakable embarrassment.
He took a deep breath, as if trying to suppress something, and his gaze towards Du Busi and Toji became exceptionally serious, even carrying a hint of reckless abandon.
"However..." His voice lowered as he rubbed his bloodshot eyes, "I'm still feeling excited, but I have to pour some cold water on you all... and on His Majesty as well."
Du Busi was admiringly playing with the shimmering silver storage ring when he heard this, and raised a thick eyebrow:
"Pour cold water on me? You just brought out so many precious things, what cold water could there be?"
Xuan Ziwen gave a wry smile, pointed to the expensive and sophisticated instruments around him, then to the ring in Du Busi's hand, and finally spread his hands, making an empty gesture.
"Poison Sect Master, what you're holding, and what the elders are wearing, including Toji's set... they're beautiful, powerful, and have endless potential, right?"
"Yes, very good!" Du Busi nodded.
"But they..." Xuan Ziwen at this moment carried a kind of cold, honest tone unique to researchers, "... were all built with mountains of gold and silver, no, with the entire Heaven Dou Empire's mountains of gold and silver."
"To ensure the armaments were in place before that madman Xu Tianran could launch his retaliation, I emptied the empire's treasury."
He emphasized the word "hollow out," his tone resolute.
"What?" Du Busi's smile froze instantly, his copper-bell-like eyes widening in disbelief. "Emptyed out? That old bastard Vikes didn't mention this to me!"
"His Majesty probably didn't have the heart to say it, or he hasn't had a chance to say it yet," Xuan Ziwen sighed helplessly. "He went to great lengths to keep me in line and let me do things my way, granting my every request."
"Rare metals, Soul Beast materials, energy Soul Power crystals... anything on the list, even if it's only the size of a fingernail, will be supplied to me first."
"Just think about it, dozens of Level 9 Soul Tool, plus the matching Life-Bound Soul Tool, and the trial-and-error losses of the Core Array... that's an astronomical figure!"
"Currently, the Empire's warehouses, aside from the military and civilian supplies needed to maintain basic operations, are almost empty of materials that can be used to manufacture high-level Soul Tool."
He rubbed his temples, his weariness deepening. "Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. Without ingredients, how can I continue my research?"
"What should we do to equip ordinary elite Soul Master teams with more sophisticated Soul Tool?"
What about repairing and upgrading existing equipment?
"Even... our reserves are running low to cope with a potentially even more intense offensive of Soul Tool that the Sun Moon Empire might launch!"
Xuan Ziwen's gaze swept across Du Busi and Toji's faces, carrying a persistence and pleading characteristic unique to researchers:
"Therefore, Poison Sect Master, I have a request... or Toji, a crucial request concerning our ability to continue resisting the Sun Moon Empire in the future."
He paused for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts, but ultimately chose the most direct approach:
"I need materials, a large quantity of top-grade Soul Tool crafting materials! The more the better! The faster the better!"
"Otherwise, the advantage we've just established with Soul Tool will soon be wiped out by the Sun Moon Empire with resources and time."