"So this is Ring Detonation. Hiss, what domineering Soul Power! I haven't even detonated any particularly powerful Soul Rings, yet the burst of Soul Power is already this terrifying!"
The Su Clan's First Elder had only given it a slight try, shattering just his first five Soul Rings, yet his Soul Power had surged by more than thirty percent for a short time.
Those Soul Rings were only a little over ten thousand years old at most, while he was a Titled Douluo-and one with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and exceptionally condensed Soul Power at that.
If he shattered the remaining Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings as well, the First Elder was certain his Soul Power would more than double for a short time.
As for that final Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, the First Elder felt that, at that moment, in terms of the sheer density of Soul Power alone, even a Level 95 Super Douluo would have to give him a wide berth.
"Good, good, good! This really is a treasure. Even with its current restrictions preventing us from using it as our normal state, even my first eight Soul Rings can unleash a Titled Douluo's cultivation. With the better eighth Soul Rings the Second Elder and the others have, their instantaneous bursts of Soul Power would absolutely exceed those of an ordinary Titled Douluo."
"As for losing our Soul Skills after shattering our Soul Rings, that hardly matters. I've already reached Titled Douluo. If I properly develop a batch of Level 9 Soul Tools, would I lack ways to attack?"
"This Ring Detonation is practically tailor-made for Soul Engineers like us!"
The First Elder spoke excitedly, but Su Yun frowned as he listened.
Douluo II focused on the clash between Soul Engineers and Soul Masters. Looking at the situation between nations, Soul Tools had indeed won, but when it came to actual strength, Soul Tools could be considered a meta trap.
Even setting aside god-level situations like Tang San's, below the gods alone, a Level 99 Huo Yuhao could thrash Kong Deming.
Kong Deming's strength had been demonstrated by trampling over the Supreme Elder, but what sort of fellow was that Supreme Elder?
At Level 98, he had been the weakest Level 98, and at Level 99, he had also been the weakest Level 99.
After researching Soul Tools for so many years, all Kong Deming had managed was to defeat a fellow like that. Had he not researched Soul Tools, with his aptitude as someone with Twin Martial Souls, he might well have been able to suppress the Supreme Elder as a Soul Master.
Soul Tools were a bona fide meta trap. Using them was fine, but researching and making them oneself was a pure waste of time.
"There's no need to research Soul Tools. Just buy ready-made ones. Until Soul Tools develop the ability to greatly amplify a Soul Master's combat strength, no one in the Su Clan is permitted to research their production anymore."
Su Yun directly set the clan's course, completely rejecting the development of Soul Tools.
At his words, the elders' expressions turned somewhat unpleasant, especially the Fourth Elder, who managed the money.
"Young patriarch, Soul Tools aren't merely a matter of improving combat strength. More importantly, they're also the clan's main source of income, especially now."
"The clan has already bought two decent-quality ten-thousand-year spiritual-type head Soul Bones. We've now lost ninety percent of the clan's businesses. If the First Elder could show himself, losing that ninety percent would be no great matter."
"But the problem is the color of the First Elder's Soul Rings. He still can't appear before the world."
"And without a Titled Douluo, we're merely a Soul Douluo clan. Without income from Soul Tools, especially at a time like this, we can barely keep the clan running, let alone obtain the powerful Soul Tools we'll need in the fighting to come."
As the Fourth Elder laid out his analysis, Su Yun frowned.
Just as the Fourth Elder had said, Soul Tools were indeed a source of income for the clan, and the First Elder really could not appear before the world anytime soon.
As for using Soul Tools as weapons, although Su Yun had Dou Techniques, the higher their grade, the longer they took to learn. Mastering them thoroughly would take even more time.
Even with Xiao Yan's talent, learning high-grade Dou Techniques took quite some time.
Soul Tools were different. Once one obtained them, a few hours of careful study would be enough to understand them fully.
What the Su Clan needed most was time to grow. Before reaching Super Douluo, Soul Tools were clearly more suitable and saved more cultivation time.
But one problem stood in the Su Clan's way: no money.
Thanks to the current timeline being Douluo II, when Soul Bones were at their cheapest, even a mere Soul Douluo clan like the Su Clan could afford Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones.
But Soul Bones were ultimately nothing cheap, and the Su Clan had previously had only one Soul Douluo. Better-quality Soul Bones cost what amounted to an astronomical sum for them.
They could grit their teeth and afford them, but afterward, the clan's finances would be severely depleted.
If the clan's Titled Douluo made an appearance, the financial problem could be solved instantly. Gifts congratulating him on becoming a Titled Douluo could fill every hole in their accounts at once. He could even borrow money on the strength of his standing as a Titled Douluo, rapidly raising the level of resources available to the Su Clan.
But the problem was the current color of the First Elder's Soul Rings. He could not show himself.
Aside from a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was guaranteed to yield a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. The Sun Moon Imperial Family very likely knew this as well.
Even if the Sun Moon Imperial Family did not know, the Holy Spirit Cult certainly did. Counting on the clan's emergence of a Titled Douluo to clear its debts was not possible for the time being.
"I didn't think it through just now. But Soul Tool production still has to be cut. It takes too much time. Soul Power comes first; we can buy Soul Tools later."
"As for money, we can find a way to borrow some first."
"Borrow? Young patriarch, the matter of the First Elder still cannot spread. At the end of the day, we're still a Soul Douluo clan right now. We can't even be a clan with four Soul Douluos. Otherwise, if our combat strength suddenly skyrockets and someone comes to investigate, I'm afraid we won't be able to hide the First Elder's situation."
"And if we only reveal one more Soul Douluo, together with the one others already assume the clan has, I'm afraid a clan with two Soul Douluos won't be able to borrow much."
"At least, not enough to equip the clan with high-level Soul Tools. Relying only on the Level 7 Soul Tools we have, even if I can burst out with Titled Douluo-level cultivation, I still can't defeat a Titled Douluo because of the limits of their power."
"To fight a Titled Douluo, we'd need at least Level 8 Soul Tools. To kill one, we'd need Level 9 Soul Tools paired with Ring Detonation. As for Level 8 or even Level 9 Soul Tools, we'd certainly like ones we didn't have to make ourselves, but the problem is that we simply can't afford them."
Su Yun nodded. "I know that. I wasn't counting on borrowing money as a Soul Douluo either. Ultimately, a mere Soul Douluo has little investment value."
At his words, the First Elder seemed to think of something.
"Young patriarch, you mean..."
"Do you think someone with a ten-thousand-year Fourth Soul Ring would be worth nurturing as a future Titled Douluo? Could her clan borrow enough money because of her, and qualify to borrow Level 9 Soul Tools?"