"By the way, Rongrong, help me collect some Plate Crystal Gold (also known as Hair Crystal). I have a use for it."
Seeing the spirit-refined Sunfire Iron Bow body on the forging platform still missing its bowstring, Chu Chengzhou spoke to Ning Rongrong.
"Plate Crystal Gold? What is that?"
Ning Rongrong was somewhat suspicious.
"Plate Crystal Gold is a rare metal nurtured by crystal. The raw ore generally appears as murky crystal, and in its normal state, Plate Crystal Gold is only the size of a grain of rice. After infusing soul power, it transforms into fine golden needles."
As he spoke, Chu Chengzhou took out a box from his storage necklace, picked up a piece of Plate Crystal Gold, and showed it to Ning Rongrong.
This box of Plate Crystal Gold was something he had picked up at a bargain from Flender's black market when he and Xiao Wu first came to Soto City, and the quantity wasn't very large.
Originally, Chu Chengzhou thought this amount of Plate Crystal Gold would be sufficient since his initial idea was to use it to craft arrowheads with extremely strong piercing effects.
However, later Chu Chengzhou discovered that this stuff wasn't just suitable for serving as natural hidden weapons or crafting arrowheads.
Plate Crystal Gold had excellent elasticity. If melted and then spirit-refined into threads, it could be woven into a rope, which would make an excellent bowstring.
Moreover, if the bowstring was made not from spirit beast tendons but from spirit-refined Plate Crystal Gold, his great bow could be stored inside his body.
"Pfft!"
Seeing the three-inch golden needle, fine as a hair, in Chu Chengzhou's hand, Xiao Wu couldn't help but laugh.
She remembered well how someone's butt had been pricked by this thing, and the shrill screams were unforgettable.
"What are you laughing at?"
Chu Chengzhou glared at Xiao Wu with a black face.
No need to say, this little rabbit must have recalled his dark history.
Xiao Wu quickly covered her mouth and even mimed zipping her lips shut.
"No problem, Senior Chu, leave the matter of Plate Crystal Gold to me!"
Ning Rongrong looked somewhat puzzled but still puffed out her chest and promised confidently.
It was just a special type of rare ore. Her family owned countless mines spread across the entire Tian Dou Empire, so finding it wouldn't be a problem.
Gurgle
Suddenly, a strange sound emanated from Zhu Zhuqing's body.
All present were soul masters with extraordinary hearing, so they immediately turned to look.
Meeting their gazes, Zhu Zhuqing blushed.
"Let's go eat!"
Chu Chengzhou smiled, stowed the spirit-refined Sunfire Iron Bow body from the forging platform, waved his hand, and led the three towards the dining hall.
After lunch, Xiao Wu was eager to test the defensive capabilities of the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor.
To be honest, although the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor was crafted by Chu Chengzhou himself, he couldn't be sure about its real defense level. They needed to find a skilled person to test it.
After some discussion, the four approached Li Yusong.
The ten-thousand-year-old Fire Phoenix summon could also serve as a testing subject. After all, Little Red was quite powerful, definitely among the top five-ring Soul Kings, comparable to six-ring Soul Emperors with poor soul ring configurations.
However, the Fire Phoenix summon was an aerial unit. Chu Chengzhou hadn't finished crafting his great bow yet, and Xiao Wu lacked aerial combat ability. Using the Fire Phoenix summon as a test subject wouldn't effectively demonstrate the results.
Fortunately, there weren't just seven students in the academy; there were also five teachers with considerable strength.
Forget about Flender and Zhao Wují, the two seven-ring Soul Sages. The Azure Cloud Patterned Armor wasn't true Battle Armor, so it definitely couldn't withstand them. Shao Xin was a food-type soul master, and even without the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor, Xiao Wu could handle this food-type Soul Sage.
Among the remaining two six-ring Soul Emperors, Li Yusong was an offensive-type soul master, and Lu Qibin was a control-type soul master. Naturally, the target for testing would be none other than Li Yusong.
Moreover, Li Yusong's soul ring configuration was quite poor: white, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black. Compared to peers with optimal soul ring configurations, Li Yusong was an entire major level behind.
However, Li Yusong was still a six-ring Soul Emperor, and his Dragon Pattern Staff martial soul was relatively powerful. If the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor could withstand Li Yusong's sixth-rank offensive soul skill upon entering ten thousand years, then soul masters below level 60—except for a few geniuses or unreasonable outliers—basically couldn't break through the defense.
"What brings you here?"
Seeing Chu Chengzhou and the others arrive together, Li Yusong was curious.
"Teacher Li, I'd like your guidance!"
Xiao Wu stepped forward, bowed slightly, and addressed Li Yusong.
"Oh? You want to challenge me, little girl?"
A smile appeared on Li Yusong's face.
"Mhm mhm!"
"Alright, let's go to the training ground."
Without hesitation, Li Yusong readily agreed.
He had nothing better to do all day in the academy, and guiding students wasn't bad either.
At Shrek Academy's training ground, Xiao Wu and Li Yusong stood twenty meters apart, while Chu Chengzhou and the others watched from the side.
"Teacher Li, please!"
With a surge of soul power, the Soft Bone Rabbit martial soul enveloped Xiao Wu, revealing her disguised yellow, yellow, purple, and purple soul rings.
Simultaneously, a blue-gold light flashed, and the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor manifested. The previously pink princess-like Xiao Wu instantly transformed into a female warrior clad in blue-gold armor.
Seeing this, Li Yusong's eyes widened.
"Xiao Wu, what is that?"
Rubbing his eyes to ensure it wasn't an illusion, Li Yusong immediately asked curiously.
Soul masters wearing armor weren't unheard of, but there should at least be a process of putting it on, right?
Your body flashes with blue light, and in the blink of an eye, you're already dressed? Is there such advanced armor?
"Armor~"
Blinking, Xiao Wu answered Li Yusong's question.
Li Yusong: "."
Is this what I asked?
"Cough, Teacher Li, this is a type of armor soul tool."
Noticing Li Yusong's speechlessness, Xiao Wu explained.
She didn't mention that the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor was crafted by Chu Chengzhou. Such a treasure didn't need to be broadcasted everywhere to avoid drawing unwanted attention to Chu Chengzhou once word got out. It was enough to say it was an accidentally acquired armor-type soul tool.
"Soul tool?"
Li Yusong raised an eyebrow, believing it to be true.
After all, excluding martial souls, any special device like this could only be a soul tool.
"Come on!"
The Dragon Pattern Staff martial soul manifested, and the white, yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black soul rings shone brightly. Li Yusong slammed his Dragon Pattern Staff onto the ground, signaling Xiao Wu to attack.
Receiving Li Yusong's signal, Xiao Wu lightly tapped her toes and darted forward rapidly.
"Dragon Roar!"
Facing the charging Xiao Wu, Li Yusong gave a light shout, pointing his Dragon Pattern Staff at Xiao Wu. His first white soul ring suddenly lit up.
Roar—
Instantly, the dense dragon scales covering the Dragon Pattern Staff glowed red, followed by an invisible sonic wave spreading out.
Li Yusong's first soul ring was obtained from killing a tiger-type spirit beast over eighty years old. The first soul skill, Dragon Roar, inherited one of the tiger-type spirit beast's abilities: Tiger Roar, combined with the Dragon Pattern Staff martial soul. Its effect was to intimidate opponents, with specific effects depending on the disparity in mental power between both parties.
The invisible sonic wave arrived in an instant, but Xiao Wu's movement only paused slightly before ignoring this soul skill.
Xiao Wu was a Level 42 Soul Ancestor, and Li Yusong was a Level 63 Soul Emperor. Their soul power differed by two major levels. However, Xiao Wu's daily practice of the Divine Tempering technique wasn't wasted. Although her mental power wasn't as strong as Li Yusong's six-ringed soul power, the gap wasn't as large as the soul power difference.
Moreover, although Li Yusong's Dragon Pattern Staff martial soul was decent, his soul skills' years were too low, not even reaching a century-level soul skill. How strong could the effect be?
In the blink of an eye, the twenty-meter distance closed. Approaching Li Yusong, Xiao Wu, clad in Azure Cloud Patterned Armor, bent her right knee and snapped her foot out, heading straight for Li Yusong's chin.
Seeing this, Li Yusong shifted his body to the right, dodging the kick, and simultaneously raised his Dragon Pattern Staff. Like a dragon emerging, he struck Xiao Wu's chest unapologetically.
Xiao Wu was wearing 'soul tool armor,' so her defense was undoubtedly strong. Plus, he hadn't used a soul skill. Li Yusong wasn't worried that hitting her solidly would cause significant injury.
There was a substantial level gap between them. Xiao Wu, unable to dodge in time, was hit in the chest by the staff.
Clang!
The forceful Dragon Pattern Staff struck the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor, producing a metallic clang.
Xiao Wu felt a tremendous force hit her, causing her to retreat two steps.
As for anything else, with the spirit-refined Azure Cloud Patterned Armor, this level of attack was far from breaking through the defense, though it couldn't completely negate the impact force of the attack.
One strike failed, resulting in a minor loss, but Xiao Wu wasn't injured at all. Satisfied with the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor's defense, she lightly tapped her toes and launched another attack at Li Yusong.
Li Yusong had been a soul master for decades, not a genius, but he had extensive combat experience. Xiao Wu's attacks were all deflected one by one, and he occasionally countered.
However, the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor's defense was extremely strong. Every time the Dragon Pattern Staff struck Xiao Wu, he could only temporarily repel her, unable to inflict any injuries.
"Third soul skill, Teleportation!"
Once again repelled, Xiao Wu's third soul ring shone, and faint spatial fluctuations rippled out. Her figure disappeared from the spot.
In the next moment, Xiao Wu appeared behind Li Yusong.
Immediately, Xiao Wu placed her hands on the ground, her legs springing up to rest on Li Yusong's left and right shoulders.
When Li Yusong felt the sudden weight on his shoulders and caught a glimpse of a blue-gold hue appearing on both shoulders out of the corner of his eye, a soft shout came from behind: "Waist Arch!"
In an instant, Li Yusong felt a tremendous force on his neck, as if he was being yanked by the neck into the air, then smashed heavily to the ground.
Boom!
With his head down, Li Yusong barely managed to gather soul power around him as he crashed directly onto the ground. The entire training ground trembled slightly, raising a cloud of dust.
Young people disregard martial ethics, using the Teleportation soul skill to ambush. At this moment, with his head hitting the ground first, Li Yusong was somewhat dazed from the fall.
Actually, Li Yusong didn't know that Xiao Wu had held back.
Otherwise, at this moment, Xiao Wu could have easily administered the Eight-Section Throw combo on him.
However, as Xiao Wu's signature move, while the Eight-Section Throw was indeed powerful, it was also a self-created soul skill involving 'pressing and grinding' a person, unsuitable to use on teachers and friends. This counted as giving face to Teacher Li Yusong.
The elderly man with slightly gray hair looked badly shaken but, as a six-ring Soul Emperor, Li Yusong hadn't suffered any serious harm. Before the dust settled, he gently rotated his neck and stood up.
"Cough, good girl! Never thought this old man would fall for it!"
Li Yusong's expression became solemn.
Initially, confident in his status as a six-ring Soul Emperor, he hadn't taken seriously Xiao Wu's challenge as a four-ring Soul Ancestor, given the vast level gap between them.
But as the battle progressed, discovering that Xiao Wu wearing the blue-gold armor had super-strong defensive capabilities, Li Yusong began taking her seriously.
Having suffered another significant blow at this moment, there was no longer any trace of initial ease in Li Yusong's eyes.
"Teacher Li, use your soul skills! I still want to test how far this armor's defense can go!"
Relying on formidable defenses and gaining an advantage through an ambush, Xiao Wu said.
"Fourth soul skill, Dragon Vortex Slash!"
Instantly, Li Yusong's fourth soul ring lit up. Amidst surging soul power, he forcefully threw his Dragon Pattern Staff martial soul.
As soon as the Dragon Pattern Staff left his hand, it began to rotate rapidly, centered in the middle with both ends as the outer circle. In an instant, the rapidly spinning Dragon Pattern Staff whipped up a vortex, rushing towards Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu neither dodged nor avoided, instead channeling soul power into the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor. She stepped back half a step with her left leg, arms guarding her head, preparing to withstand the thousand-year-level offensive soul skill unleashed by Li Yusong with the infused soul power of the spirit-refined armor.
Spiritually forged metal wasn't ordinary material. The rare metal Blue Coppertite itself possessed excellent soul power conductivity. With soul power infusion, the defensive capability of the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor would become stronger.
No longer relying solely on the inherent defense of the spirit-refined metal, it could also stack with the defensive power of Xiao Wu's own protective soul power.
The next second, the rapidly spinning Dragon Pattern Staff resembled a high-speed rotating grinding wheel, cutting into Xiao Wu clad in the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor.
Clang clang clang—!
For a while, continuous metallic collision sounds rang out.
Three seconds later, the Dragon Pattern Staff flew back, returning to Li Yusong's hand.
"Girl, impressive defense!"
Looking at the pristine Azure Cloud Patterned Armor on Xiao Wu, showing no signs of denting, Li Yusong's pupils contracted, and he couldn't help but exclaim.
His soul ring configuration was indeed lacking, but the age of his fourth soul ring had reached at least a purple millennium.
A six-ring Soul Emperor's millennium soul skill failing to break through an armor was one thing, but leaving absolutely no trace?
Was this elder soul master outdated, or was this set of blue-gold armor soul tools of an exceptionally high level?
"Hehe~"
Hearing Li Yusong's praise, Xiao Wu proudly chuckled.
"I'll make one final move. If you can withstand this, then there's nothing more I can do."
Li Yusong's expression turned grave.
The millennium-level fourth soul skill naturally wasn't Li Yusong's strongest move; the ten-thousand-year sixth soul skill was.
"Bring it on!"
Xiao Wu's expression was equally grave, but she had full confidence in her Azure Cloud Patterned Armor.
Even if it couldn't fully withstand the attack, it certainly wouldn't cost her life.
Moreover, if it truly couldn't hold up, she still had the absolute defense soul skill: Invincible Golden Body as a last resort.
"Sixth soul skill, Dragon Shadow Break!"
Li Yusong's sixth soul ring shone brightly, and amidst surging soul power, his Dragon Pattern Staff martial soul emitted waves of dragon roars, then he forcefully hurled it.
The moment it left his hand, the Dragon Pattern Staff grew larger with the wind, transforming into a black dragon shadow radiating bloody light, shooting explosively towards Xiao Wu nearby.
Boom!
The instant the black dragon shadow struck Xiao Wu, a loud explosion resounded on the training ground.
Terrifying force surged, and Xiao Wu, like a human sandbag, was immediately knocked dozens of meters away, then heavily crashed onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Seeing this, Chu Chengzhou and the others watching rushed over.
But before they could approach, Xiao Wu, covered in dust, crawled up from the ground.
"Xiao Wu, are you alright?"
Ning Rongrong asked, concerned.
"Spit, spit. Still okay, just feeling a bit suffocated."
Spitting out the sand she accidentally swallowed, Xiao Wu, breathing heavily, waved her hand.
"Not bad. Judging by the slight dent on the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor, it should be able to withstand most attacks from soul masters under level 60."
Seeing Xiao Wu's Azure Cloud Patterned Armor with only a small dent, Chu Chengzhou nodded in satisfaction.
Keep in mind, Li Yusong was a six-ring Soul Emperor. Though his soul ring configuration was poor, his sixth soul ring had reached ten thousand years. The power of this move surpassed many five-ring Soul Kings' ten-thousand-year old fifth offensive soul skills.
Being able to withstand such a level of attack demonstrated that spirit-refined metal was indeed extraordinary.
Of course, Xiao Wu's ability to withstand it relied not solely on the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor's formidable defense but also on her robust physique, which was a crucial factor.
If her physique were too weak, even if the Azure Cloud Patterned Armor could block the attack, the violent impact and shock generated during the assault would injure or even kill the soul master internally.
"Such a powerful armor! It's hard to imagine how strong the soul masters of that era were."
Seeing Xiao Wu stand up like nothing happened after withstanding his ten-thousand-year sixth soul skill, Li Yusong couldn't help but sigh.
Apart from some microphones, soul-guided lights, and other everyday soul tools, all soul tools on the continent, including storage soul tools, were passed down from ancient times.
Naturally, Li Yusong automatically assumed that Chu Chengzhou's crafted Azure Cloud Patterned Armor was an ancient armor-type soul tool handed down.
"Yes, I saw in an ancient book that some soul tools could even allow low-level soul masters or even ordinary people to slaughter Title Douluo!"
Chu Chengzhou earnestly spouted nonsense.
"Really?"
Li Yusong's eyes widened.
Title Douluo were peak powerhouses on the continent. The entire Balak Kingdom didn't have a single Title Douluo. Such mighty individuals could be killed by low-level soul masters or even ordinary people wielding soul tools?
"Eh, I'm not very sure. Perhaps the author exaggerated wildly?"
You believed my lie? Scratching his head, Chu Chengzhou had to continue making things up.
However, future high-grade fixed-installation soul-guided cannons could indeed take down Title Douluos, and not just Title Douluos but even deities could be slaughtered.
"Never mind, let's not talk about that!
Xiao Wu, your soul tool armor is really strong, but teacher must warn you. Your talent isn't bad, and your future achievements will surely surpass mine. Don't overly rely on this soul tool in the future.
Bear in mind, I am only a six-ring Soul Emperor. There are bound to be many soul masters on the continent who can break through this armor's defense."
Li Yusong solemnly warned Xiao Wu.
"Mhm mhm!"
Xiao Wu quickly nodded.
This point didn't require Li Yusong's reminder; she was clearly aware of it herself.
"Alright, you guys go do what you need to do."
Waving his hand, Li Yusong left the training ground without looking back.
People value face. As a six-ring Soul Emperor unable to defeat Xiao Wu, a four-ring Soul Ancestor—even if she relied on a special soul tool—Li Yusong still felt his old face couldn't bear it.
To avoid staying and continuing the awkwardness, it was best to leave first.
In the Forge
The Fire Phoenix summon was spewing scorching Phoenix Flame, burning a large number of rice-sized golden metal particles in the crucible.
As the Phoenix Flame burned, a large number of rice-sized Plate Crystal Gold began to melt, converging into a pool of hot orange-red liquid.
Subsequently, under Chu Chengzhou's soul power manipulation, the melted Plate Crystal Gold gathered into a nearly two-inch square metal ingot.
All the Plate Crystal Gold picked up at a bargain from Flender was there now, nearly two inches square—not too much, but not too little either.
After all, Chu Chengzhou didn't plan to use Plate Crystal Gold for large pieces; he just wanted to make a bowstring and cast some arrowheads.
Plate Crystal Gold in its natural state, without soul power infusion, appeared as rice-sized particles, but that didn't mean Plate Crystal Gold could only appear as particles.
Any metal has a melting point. Once it reaches the melting point, it turns into high-temperature liquid metal. Upon cooling, it naturally wouldn't revert to particle form.
After cooling it in water using tongs, Chu Chengzhou fished out the gold ingot-like Plate Crystal Gold ingot.
"Hmm? Quite soft?"
The Plate Crystal Gold ingot looked like a standard cube, but when Chu Chengzhou squeezed it in his hand, he found it was as soft as when it was in granular form, akin to rubber products.
Without much thought, Chu Chengzhou placed it on the forging platform and began spiritual forging.
Thud thud thud—
Different from the booming sound earlier, due to the soft texture of Plate Crystal Gold, the sound produced by the Heavy Silver hammer striking was rather dull and slippery.
Fortunately, you might doubt Chu Chengzhou's strength, but you couldn't doubt Master Chu's blacksmithing skills. When it came to blacksmithing, he was the most professional on the continent; even the renowned Three Great Divine Craftsmen, including the Hao Tian Douluo, couldn't match him.
Perhaps other masters might struggle to spiritually forge Plate Crystal Gold, but Master Chu had absolutely no issues.
Given the small volume of Plate Crystal Gold, this forging session was quick for Chu Chengzhou.
Within less than half an hour, a brilliant golden flame ignited in the forge room.
Using the same routine, cut wrist to bleed, performing a blood sacrifice ritual for the spirit-refined Plate Crystal Gold.
After having the Fire Phoenix reheat the crucible, Chu Chengzhou began shaping the Plate Crystal Gold.
Soon, compared to its original volume, the significantly shrunk spirit-refined Plate Crystal Gold transformed into a five-foot-long radiant golden bowstring and over a hundred sharp-looking triangular arrowheads.
Originally, Chu Chengzhou planned to melt the spirit-refined Plate Crystal Gold, draw it into threads, and weave it into a bowstring. However, he found that Plate Crystal Gold had excellent elasticity, seemingly eliminating the need for thread-drawing weaving, so he directly formed a bowstring with a diameter of half a centimeter.
Taking out the pre-made spirit-refined Sunfire Iron Bow body, he attached the spirit-refined Plate Crystal Gold bowstring. The Scorching Sun-Chasing Bow was complete!
Holding the bow in his left hand and generating fiery-red soul power in his right, a fiery-red soul-powered arrow suddenly condensed.
After careful perception, Chu Chengzhou found that compared to the previous Thousand-Refined Heavy Silver Bow, the power of the soul-powered arrows formed through the Scorching Sun-Chasing Bow increased by about twenty percent.
The rare metal Yang Iron itself could amplify fire-attribute soul power, and after spiritual forging, the amplification effect improved further.
Of course, this amplification effect was only effective for fire-attribute soul power. If Chu Chengzhou condensed other attributes or non-attribute soul-powered arrows, there would be no amplification effect.
"Not bad!"
Satisfied, Chu Chengzhou dispersed the soul-powered arrow and then looked expectantly at the hundred-odd golden triangular arrowheads on the forging platform.
If holding the Scorching Sun-Chasing Bow, his soul-powered arrows could pose a fatal threat to four-ring Soul Ancestors and even five-ring Soul Kings, then with the addition of extremely piercing spirit-refined Plate Crystal Gold armor-piercing arrows, could he possibly one-shot Soul Emperors or even Soul Sages?
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