When Xu Zihuang regained consciousness, it was already the afternoon of the following day.
He pushed open the floor-to-ceiling windows on the balcony, breathing in the fresh air tinged with a hint of warmth while gazing at the dazzling sunset in the distant west. Instantly, his mind felt clear.
This feeling of complete physical relaxation was truly wonderful.
Today, the sky over Mingdu was unusually clear for once. The clouds, dyed rose-gold by the setting sun, slowly churned. A gentle evening breeze caressed Xu Zihuang's cheeks, lifting a few strands of purple hair from his forehead and temples.
His gaze and mind emptied at the same moment.
He had now stayed at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy for nearly two years. Only he himself knew the full extent of what he had gained during this time. What he had shown to the academy's higher-ups was merely the tip of the iceberg.
Even Fan Yu and He Caitou only had a rough understanding of his abilities as a soul engineer.
Although he had not yet personally attempted to craft a class-7 soul tool, he undeniably possessed the capabilities of a class-7 soul engineer.
Soul power level had never been the sole measure of strength. With his terrifyingly deep foundation, his soul power at level 59 was nearly comparable to that of an ordinary Soul Sage, more than sufficient to support him in continuously engraving a class-7 core array from start to finish.
Beyond that, Xu Zihuang had also memorized the construction methods for over a hundred class-7 and class-8 soul tools, as well as one type of class-9 stationary soul cannon.
If Jing Hongchen ever learned of all this, he would probably spit blood in rage.
Jing Hongchen was outstanding in every aspect except his personality. He was stubborn, quick to anger, and dictatorial; one could even call him arrogantly self-opinionated.
He was destined to pay the price for his arrogance.
After another hour of meditative cultivation, Xu Zihuang adjusted his body to its peak condition and went to the cafeteria in the sixth-year dormitory building for dinner.
As always, the dishes were made from the finest parts of soul beasts' top-tier cuisine. A single meal costs over a hundred gold soul coins. In his two years at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, he had spent at least several hundred thousand gold soul coins on food alone.
But he didn't mind. As a high-ranking soul engineer, he would never lack money, so there was no need to skimp in this regard.
There was no reason to subject himself to unnecessary hardship.
Just as Xu Zihuang sat down with his tray, Fan Yu and He Caitou, who knew what he had been working on recently, came looking for him.
The master and disciple could barely conceal their excitement.
Fan Yu shot Xu Zihuang an inquiring glance. Seeing Xu Zihuang nod with a smile, he couldn't help but clench his fists.
That was the blueprint for a class-9 stationary soul cannon. Even if someone offered a 100,000-year soul ring and 100,000-year soul bone in exchange, he would never agree.
This was no exaggeration. If the design for a class-9 stationary soul cannon were auctioned in any of the three great empires of the original Douluo Continent, it would drive countless powers into a frenzy.
Especially the imperial families of those three empires.
A class-9 stationary soul cannon was a true top-tier strategic weapon. Used properly, it could single-handedly alter the course of a war.
"Caitou, go order a few more dishes," Fan Yu said, patting He Caitou's shoulder before sitting across from Xu Zihuang.
"Yes, Teacher." He Caitou grinned foolishly in excitement and hurried to the window, selling premium dishes.
Fan Yu looked at Xu Zihuang with a complicated yet deeply gratified expression. Using soul power to transmit sound privately, he said with a sigh, "Tianhuang, keep those blueprints for yourself. Honestly, you've already contributed more than enough to the academy. You have every right to decide what to do with them."
"Teacher Fan Yu, I currently have no use for the class-9 stationary soul cannon blueprints. I've seen how much the academy has invested in and valued me. I'm willing to hand them over for the academy to research," Xu Zihuang replied with a gentle smile. Only sincerity could be seen in his eyes.
These were not empty words. After all, not just anyone could produce a class-9 stationary soul cannon.
Even if he gave these blueprints to Shrek Academy, they wouldn't be able to manufacture one for decades at least; it wouldn't affect the overall situation.
After weighing his options, it was better to use them to gain favor. Even just for Elder Mu's dragon pill, it was worth it.
Fan Yu pondered for a moment, the gratification in his eyes deepening. He smiled and said,
"I already said it's entirely up to you. But if you're willing to let the academy research them, just let Hallmaster Xian and Dean Qian make copies. Keep the originals yourself."
For any soul engineer, blueprints drawn by their own hand held extraordinary significance, especially blueprints for a class-9 stationary soul cannon.
Xu Zihuang did not refuse, and their private sound transmission ended there.
Because He Caitou had returned, carrying a tray in each of his broad hands, each tray holding three fragrant, appetizing dishes.
"Let's eat first," Fan Yu said, beckoning the two to dig in. While eating, the three of them chatted, but their open conversation naturally avoided sensitive topics.
After dinner, the trio parted ways. Fan Yu and He Caitou had their own research to attend to, while Xu Zihuang returned to his dormitory to begin his nightly meditative cultivation for the night.
Having completed the blueprints for the class-9 stationary soul cannon, his studies in the Illustrious Virtue Hall could be considered concluded for now. Opportunities to come into contact with soul tool creation methods of that level were rare. For the remaining seven months, he planned to focus mainly on consolidating his soul tool knowledge and cultivating soul power.
Besides that, there was one other matter that concerned him: the mid-term assessment to be held in three days at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's testing grounds.
This was a tradition at the academy. Compared to Shrek Academy, the learning atmosphere here was far more relaxed; students didn't have to constantly worry about failing the annual advancement exam and being expelled.
Instead, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy held this mid-term assessment to evaluate students' progress over the past six months while providing motivation and encouragement.
Students who performed outstandingly would receive rewards in the form of rare metal quotas.
Like Shrek, the assessment format was combat-based. The difference was that students here were allowed to use soul tools, provided they had made them themselves.
Students from the Soul Control Department who could not craft soul tools would undergo a separate evaluation.
Xu Zihuang was interested in this mid-term assessment not because he needed to participate, but because he wanted to observe the girl named Bingxue.
The academy's higher-ups weren't incompetent. The moment a possessor of the Ice Snow Maiden martial soul appeared, she immediately received attention.
After confirming that Bingxue truly possessed the ultimate ice attribute, Jing Hongchen had been in an excellent mood for quite some time.
It was the first time an ultimate-attribute soul master had appeared at their Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. What they lacked most were precisely these kinds of exceptional genius soul masters.
Moreover, the talent Bingxue displayed in soul engineering made Jing Hongchen even more excited.
In just half a year, she had gone from zero foundation to becoming a class-2 soul engineer and skipping grades to the third year.
Grades at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy were determined by ability.
Reaching class-1 soul engineer allowed promotion to the second year; reaching class-2 naturally placed one in the third year.
All of this only further confirmed the suspicions in Xu Zihuang's heart.
However, before he could even go watch that mid-term assessment, a massive turn of events occurred.
That very night after parting with Fan Yu and He Caitou, a chill-tinged breeze drifted into the dormitory from the balcony.
Xu Zihuang sat cross-legged on his bed, his entire body shimmering with brilliant golden soul power. Dense soul power surged rapidly through his exceptionally tough and broad meridians.
One advantage of ultimate-attribute soul masters, besides their extraordinarily deep foundations, was that they encountered no bottlenecks during cultivation. As long as they accumulated enough soul power, breaking through would come naturally.
According to Xu Zihuang's calculations, in another two or three months, he would smoothly reach level 60.
At that time, he would not yet be seventeen years old.
A sixteen-year-old Soul Emperor; in the memories of his previous life, only Wang Dong had achieved this. Although both of Wang Dong's martial souls were top-tier, they still paled considerably compared to his Golden Eyes and Purple Huang Thunder Prison Dragon. Moreover, Wang Dong lacked the soul power boost from an ultimate martial soul. The total soul power required for both of them to reach level 60 was on entirely different levels.
The weight of their achievements simply wasn't comparable.
Cold starlight spilled down, stretching the shadow of the balcony railing.
Xu Zihuang seemed to sense something and abruptly opened his eyes. A flash of purple-gold light passed through his pupils, carrying a soul-stirring aura.
At the spot his gaze focused on, a disheveled old man suddenly materialized out of thin air.
"Elder Xuan?!" Seeing the figure, Xu Zihuang stood up and called out in shock.
Indeed, the newcomer was none other than the level-98 Super Douluo of the Sea God's Pavilion, the Taotie Douluo, Elder Xuan.
Though Elder Xuan still had his usual unkempt hair and scruffy appearance, the white robe he wore was, unusually, free of oil stains.
His expression carried sorrow, but upon discovering Xu Zihuang's astonishing perception and soul power rank, a trace of consolation finally appeared deep in his heart.
"Elder Mu, you truly didn't misjudge him."
Elder Xuan sighed softly in his heart, then gripped Xu Zihuang's shoulder and said gravely,
"Tianhuang, come back to the academy with me."
In the next instant, as if space itself had shifted, Xu Zihuang's figure suddenly appeared a thousand meters above Mingdu. Enveloped in Elder Xuan's vast earthy-yellow soul power, they turned into a streak of yellow light shooting eastward.
In just a few breaths, Mingdu was left far behind them.
Guessing his heart, Xu Zihuang couldn't help asking, "Elder Xuan, is Elder Mu… alright?"
Elder Xuan turned to look at Xu Zihuang and let out a heavy breath.
"Tianhuang, you've done extremely well these past two years; both Elder Mu and I know it. But Elder Mu can no longer continue guarding the academy. I came specifically this time to bring you back to see Elder Mu off on his final journey."
Hearing these words, Xu Zihuang fell silent.
Elder Xuan's mood was equally heavy; he said nothing more and simply carried Xu Zihuang at full speed toward Shrek Academy.
Straight-up slipping back to Shrek. The old man is finally going to drop his loot.
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