Skipping that small interlude, Chu Chengzhou led Ma Jieke toward his own residence.
"Young Master Chu, is the Heaven Dou Empire a bit done for? It's just a war, yet so many senior officers died, even the army's commander-in-chief. Feels like it's over. Maybe you should find a way out in advance?"
On the way, Ma Jieke spoke with some concern.
"Heaven Dou Empire is finished?"
Hearing this, Chu Chengzhou paused.
In a sense, Heaven Dou was indeed finished. After Qian Renxue stepped into the open one day, she would certainly not keep the name Heaven Dou Empire.
"Relax, Old Ma. Follow me and I'll make sure you eat well and live large. If you complete the task I give you, I'll see you to nine rings and Titled Douluo."
As he spoke, Chu Chengzhou patted Ma Jieke on the shoulder.
Back when Ma Jieke formally came under his command, Chu Chengzhou had already asked about it. Though Ma Jieke lagged far behind true geniuses in soul power cultivation, he had innate rank-7 soul power. Even if he had slacked in cultivation when young due to dividing his attention to soul tools, reaching seven rings, Soul Sage, in the future was absolutely not a problem.
As for after that? He still had quite a lot of spare whale brains. Even if he piled resources, he could stack Ma Jieke up to Titled Douluo.
"Titled Douluo?!"
Ma Jieke was overjoyed.
Every soul master dreams of becoming a Titled Douluo. Soul engineers are no exception.
Even so, Ma Jieke still felt worried. Researching soul tools requires a stable environment and a large supply of resources. Heaven Dou had the look of a doomed nation. It didn't seem like good ground.
Young Master Chu was strong and likely wouldn't face real danger, but a stable place for research was far better than a realm about to plunge into turmoil. For example, the Spirit Hall's stronghold, Spirit City, with a demigod-level expert holding the fort, would be excellent.
Though Ma Jieke didn't press the point, Chu Chengzhou read the worry written on his face, rolled his eyes, and said, "Old Ma, aren't you underestimating people? To be blunt, your boss's strength and influence are far beyond what you imagine."
Seeing no one eavesdropping nearby, Chu Chengzhou lowered his voice and continued, "In my view, the top forces on the continent are just six: Spirit Hall, the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire, the Clear Sky School, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
"The Pope of Spirit Hall is my mother-in-law. The master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is my father-in-law. The master of the Clear Sky School is my elder brother-in-law. The emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire is my sworn elder brother. All close ties.
"As for the Star Luo Empire and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, even together they're no match for me. What the hell are you worrying about?"
Ma Jieke was first stunned, then fell silent.
Good grief. Not only was his boss strong, he played the game hard.
Of the six great powers of the continent, the heads of three were related to his boss by marriage?
Not bad at all. Old Ma had backed the right boss. His future would be limitless.
After returning to his residence and settling Ma Jieke, Chu Chengzhou headed straight for the palace.
He hadn't tasted meat for over half a month. Time to indulge properly.
As for the Big Sister of the Moon Pavilion? Mm, he would go comfort her at night.
Early the next morning, after a wonderful afternoon and night, having unlocked a few new positions with Xiao Tianshi and Big Sister in turn, Chu Chengzhou returned home.
By late morning, in the small courtyard beside the training ground, a great hammer in four colors: yellow, blue, red, and azure, swept through the air, striking in turn the many Blue Nurturing Copper ingots floating midair.
"Clang clang clang clang clang"
In an instant, each Blue Nurturing Copper ingot flared with radiance. All had completed the Thousand Refinements.
"Young Master Chu, I feel like after your forging these blue coppers are a bit different."
As a soul engineer, Ma Jieke naturally recognized blue copper, a rare metal with excellent soul power conductivity. He could clearly sense that after the radiance appeared these blue coppers had changed, but he couldn't say exactly how. It hit his blind spot.
"Hm? You call this rare metal blue copper?"
Chu Chengzhou raised an eyebrow.
"Isn't it?"
Ma Jieke was puzzled, then quickly realized that different regions use different names for the same thing.
"Old Ma, call it whatever you want there, but from now on it's called Blue Nurturing Copper."
Chu Chengzhou pointed at the many Thousand-Refined Blue Nurturing Copper ingots.
"Alright, Young Master Chu. No problem, Young Master Chu!"
Ma Jieke answered at once.
You're the boss. You pay me. You have the final say.
"Here, try it. See what's different between this Blue Nurturing Copper and ordinary Blue Nurturing Copper."
Chu Chengzhou handed Ma Jieke a Thousand-Refined Blue Nurturing Copper ingot.
"It seems… the soul power conductivity of Blue Nurturing Copper has become stronger?"
After taking the Thousand-Refined ingot and injecting soul power to test it, Ma Jieke spoke in surprise.
"Correct. After my forging, Blue Nurturing Copper's performance is stronger.
"The forging process just now, I call Metal Thousand Refinements. Just like cultivation realms for soul masters, after Metal Thousand Refinements there are also Spirit Refinement, Soul Refinement, and Divine Refinement levels.
"Your task is to use Thousand-Refined metal to craft a special soul tool."
Chu Chengzhou nodded as he spoke.
"A special soul tool? Young Master Chu, what kind of soul tool?"
At the word task, Ma Jieke immediately straightened up.
Young Master Chu had said if he completed the assignment, he would ensure he achieved Titled Douluo. Ma Jieke would not dare be lax.
In the next moment, golden light flashed around Chu Chengzhou. The Nine Heavens Profound Spirit Armor of earth, water, fire, and wind, at Divine Refinement level, manifested. He then smiled and said, "See this? What I'm wearing is armor forged from Divine Refinement-grade metal. I am a nine-ring Titled Douluo, yet this Divine Refinement armor, by virtue of the metal's inherent properties alone, grants me a 30% all-element amplification.
"And that's only with the metal attribute's own performance. If we engrave matching soul guidance arrays, the elemental amplification will be even greater.
"This special soul tool that can massively boost a soul master's strength, I name it battle armor.
"It's foreseeable that once battle armor is born, it will have a huge impact on the soul master world.
"Old Ma, do you want to become the pioneer of battle armor whom future soul masters look up to? If you do, then get moving."