Su Ming introduced himself following Ma Rulong's format.
"Su Ming. Martial Soul: Spirit Power. Spirit Power: Level 37. Class 4 Spirit Engineer."
His introduction surprised Ma Rulong quite a bit.
"Only Level 37?"
You're eleven years old, capable of advancing to Class 4 Spirit Engineer, but only Level 37?
Although creating Spirit Tools above one's level becomes increasingly difficult later on, Spirit Engineers in the Sun Moon Empire don't typically create higher-level tools in the early stages either.
In the early phases, using medicine allows one to quickly pass the stages before Level 30, then learn to create Class 1, 2, and 3 Spirit Tools. During this process, one slowly continues taking medicine to advance to the four-ring level.
After reaching four rings, one then spends time learning to create Class 4 Spirit Tools.
This was the general growth path for an excellent Spirit Engineer.
Around the four or five-ring stage, a Spirit Engineer's body gradually develops a significant rejection of drugs, and their effectiveness begins to decrease. But by diligently taking other medicines to aid digestion for a period, one can eventually resume taking Spirit Power-boosting medicine.
During this process, only if the efficiency of Spirit Power growth becomes truly unacceptably low would one choose to create tools above their level.
Ma Rulong was like that. He created a Class 6 Spirit Tool at the five-ring stage because he simply couldn't resist the temptation of Class 6 tools.
Precisely because of this, he knew very well how difficult it was to create a Class 6 tool at five rings, and he also knew that once he reached six rings, it would be fundamentally impossible for him to create a Class 7 tool above his level.
So now he focused all his energy on breaking through to six rings.
In fact, he had been stuck at five rings for nearly four years.
Breaking through to six rings wasn't the main point; there were still seven and eight rings after that, and for him, the time required would only grow longer.
Every time he thought about possibly spending ten years or even longer stuck at the Spirit Emperor level in his future life, unable to taste the experience of Class 7 Spirit Tools, Ma Rulong felt a wave of sadness.
Xiao Hongchen, who was sitting on the ground with his legs crossed, seemed to realize something. He raised an eyebrow and asked,
"You cultivated your Spirit Power purely through training?"
Eleven years old, three rings. Was that exaggerated?
Exaggerated!
Absurd!
In the three Douluo empires, only a handful of individuals could achieve becoming a Spirit Elder by age eleven, let alone Su Ming's Spirit Power being as high as Level 37.
His level was somewhat excessive for the cultivation speed of a Martial Soul-type Spirit Master from the three Douluo empires, but far too slow for the cultivation speed of a Spirit Engineer genius from the Sun Moon Empire.
However, Xiao Hongchen still guessed that Su Ming had advanced purely through cultivation.
Because a genius on his level must have their merits.
It seemed now that this genius, capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him, had chosen to break the records of the three Douluo empires instead!
"It seems that, under the pressure of my records, he had to find another path."
Xiao Hongchen felt secretly pleased.
In his mind, he had reconstructed the entire story, believing that his records had forced this ambitious junior, Su Ming, to seek an alternative.
In his fantasy, Su Ming must have cursed him, the 'first saint', for being born just two years earlier and blocking his path to record-breaking, then desperately searched for and found another direction to set records.
Su Ming, of course, was unaware of Xiao Hongchen's internal fantasy and simply shook his head slightly.
Seeing Su Ming shake his head, Ma Rulong and the others frowned, including Director Gao.
Xiao Hongchen was also taken aback and looked at Su Ming.
"I haven't taken any of those... medicine, the kind that directly boosts Spirit Power. But over the past five years, I have eaten Whale Glue, which does increase Spirit Power."
"Whale Glue? You ate it to absorb higher-year Spirit Rings?" Director Gao said.
Su Ming nodded and continued explaining, "And absorbing higher-year Spirit Rings also indirectly boosts Spirit Power."
"If you haven't taken boosting medicine and have no residual drug energy in your body, then this counts as pure cultivation," Ma Rulong said solemnly.
Xiao Hongchen, who had initially relaxed, now felt tension rise again.
He felt the pressure!
"Very well. Level 37 at eleven years old has indeed broken the record in the Spirit Master world of the three Douluo empires. Moreover, the record he broke deals a greater blow to them. I'm actually lagging behind in this aspect."
This Su Ming really found a breakthrough direction.
"So, you're actually following the Spirit Engineer path prevalent in the three Douluo empires?" Director Gao's voice held a trace of surprise.
If Su Ming weren't from the Su family, he would have immediately considered whether Su Ming was a spy.
"More or less."
Su Ming answered vaguely.
He felt a gaze upon him and looked over. It was Xiao Hongchen.
Xiao Hongchen now wore a smile.
A very friendly one.
Ma Rulong looked at Xiao Hongchen in surprise.
This prickly guy always acted like he was the king of heaven during training sessions, looking down on everyone else, being utterly punchable. Why was he being so friendly this time?
He suddenly understood the reason for Xiao Hongchen's change.
Did he think Su Ming's talent was worthy of him?
Ma Rulong felt secretly annoyed. This damned brat is looking down on us all again, in his subtle way.
"Today's training aims to check your progress and understand your respective strengths."
Director Gao's words drew everyone's attention.
"Normally, everything would proceed as usual, with your main and substitute members mixed into two groups for a six-versus-six practical combat. But since Su Ming has joined today, the format needs to change."
"Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, you two form one group. Pick four main members, excluding Ma Rulong. The remaining people, plus Su Ming and the other three substitutes, form the other team. Six versus seven. How about that?"
Usually, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were in opposing groups. Putting them together today meant they possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
So, essentially, it would be the sibling pair plus one main member versus Su Ming's side's four substitute members.
Three against four. Who had the advantage?
Director Gao wasn't sure either, hence this grouping.
Xiao Hongchen gave Director Gao a mental thumbs-up for placing him and Su Ming in opposing groups.
"Meng, you hold off on two of them later. I'll test Su Ming's strength."
Jing Hongchen looked at the immensely pleased Su Can standing before him, feeling shocked and doubtful.
"You succeeded?"
How long had it been since he announced his seclusion to attempt creating a Class 9 Spirit Tool?
Five attempts at most?
Succeeding in just five attempts?
"I succeeded."
Su Can's voice was excited.
"Your Class 9 Spirit Tool uses a core formation of your own design, completely original? Are you sure it meets the Class 9 standard?"
Jing Hongchen asked for confirmation.
"Certain. The Hall Master can inspect it," Su Can said confidently.
"Can you describe the basic features of your Class 9 Spirit Tool?"
"The Class 9 Spirit Tool I designed is called the 'Skyfire Shield'. It can control flames to gather into a dragon form for attack, while also generating a defensive barrier."
Jing Hongchen listened to Su Can's description and nodded slowly.
It sounded quite plausible.
Capable of both attack and defense, it would definitely be an excellent new type of Spirit Tool for any Spirit Engineer.
"How effective is it?"
"The attack power of the fire dragon reaches Level 92 according to Mingde Hall's power assessment standards. As for the shield's defense, it reaches Level 94."
Jing Hongchen wasn't just listening; he was also reviewing the materials Su Can had handed over, which contained the test data.
The defense being two levels stronger than the attack power earned Jing Hongchen's approval.
Here it is, here it is, sorry for the wait!
(Chapter End)