Wang Chen clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with joy.
He hadn't expected that just two hundred-year yellow soul rings could bring him such an increase in strength.
If it were a thousand-year, ten-thousand-year, or even hundred-thousand-year soul ring, what kind of improvement would that be?
This Ring Tempering skill was truly terrifying—worthy of being a secret technique derived from the Haotian Sect's Ring Detonation method, later modified by Shrek Academy.
If two people of equal strength fought, and one knew this secret technique while the other did not, the difference in combat power would be enormous.
Wang Chen carefully felt the power flowing through his body, and soon he sensed that his meridians were swelling uncomfortably.
He knew that this was because the soul power drawn from his soul rings was stagnating within his meridians.
He had to release the energy quickly, or holding it in too long would harm his body.
Of course, this was only because Wang Chen's physique wasn't strong enough yet. If it were, the energy from two hundred-year soul rings would never put any strain on his meridians.
To release the energy within his body, Wang Chen went to the training room beside his bedroom.
Since the Wang family's home was a two-story house, he and his parents lived on separate floors—Wang Chen upstairs, his parents downstairs.
When the house was built, soundproofing metal partitions were installed, so there was no need to worry about disturbing one another's rest.
In the training room stood a black humanoid dummy about one meter tall.
This dummy was made of refined steel mixed with a rare metal called Crystal Cloud Iron. It could withstand the third soul skill attack of a three-ring Soul Elder.
Wang Chen looked at the metal dummy and immediately took out a metal spear from his sapphire storage-type soul tool.
The spear was about one zhang (three meters) long, forged entirely from the rare metal Black Profound Gold. It could conduct soul power and was extremely durable.
Its shaft shimmered with a cold, dark light. The spear tip was diamond-shaped, incomparably sharp, and the twin edges along the sides were razor-like. The butt of the spear was heavy and round, engraved with ancient patterns that added a sense of steadiness to the weapon's overall design.
This metal spear was a third-grade melee-type soul tool named Windbreaker Spear.
Because melee soul tools consumed less soul power than ranged ones, even a two-ring Great Soul Master like Wang Chen could use it.
The Windbreaker Spear was crafted by Wang Chen himself. Within it, he had inscribed three third-grade core arrays.
The three arrays were Sharpness, Destruction, and Penetration—in other words, the spear was created purely for offense.
Wang Chen grasped the Windbreaker Spear tightly, and the two yellow soul rings around him lit up.
Tool Spirit Martial Soul—First Soul Skill: Attack; Second Soul Skill: Break!
Wang Chen's first soul skill, Attack, increased a weapon's offensive power by fifty percent. His second soul skill, Break, ignored fifty percent of an opponent's defense.
As both soul skills activated, the faint white phantom of Wang Chen's Tool Spirit merged into the Windbreaker Spear.
Under the amplification of the two soul skills, the spear burst forth with a sharp, silvery-white glow.
At the same time, Wang Chen poured a large amount of soul power into the spear.
The energy coursed through the weapon's body and flowed into its three core arrays.
After being transformed by the arrays, the nature of the soul power changed.
The altered energy gathered at the spear tip, making the Windbreaker Spear even sharper, more destructive, and more penetrating.
Under the combined enhancement of the soul skills and core arrays, the Windbreaker Spear's power reached its peak.
Wang Chen fixed his gaze on the metal dummy before him. In the next instant, he thrust his spear forward—his body moving like an eagle diving on its prey.
The spear tip sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, like a dragon bursting from the sea—heavy yet agile.
A loud tearing sound rang out as Wang Chen's spear strike pierced straight through the metal dummy that could withstand a Soul Elder's third soul skill.
Wang Chen pulled the Windbreaker Spear free and looked at the hole in the dummy's chest.
He muttered to himself, "Looks like I'll need to get a sturdier one."
That night, in the grand hall of the Second Prince's palace.
Xu Tianyu sat upright in the main seat. His skin was dark, his features refined, and he wore a bright yellow brocade robe embroidered with eight lifelike golden dragons.
Under the illumination of the soul lamps, the dragons seemed ready to soar into the air—majestic and imposing—fully displaying his noble status.
Xu Tianyu turned his gaze toward an elderly man in a purple brocade robe with white hair. "Elder Wang, you are a man of experience. There is something I wish to seek your advice on."
Wang Yan replied in a mild tone, "Your Highness flatters me. Speak freely. I've merely lived a little longer than most, so I do have some experience."
The Second Prince's voice was deep and steady. "One of my subordinates was recently caught by my elder brother, Xu Tiannan, making a small mistake. I'm not sure how to deal with it. I ask Elder Wang to enlighten me."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yan smiled broadly. "Your Highness, that depends on how 'small' the mistake truly is. If it's minor, then protect him firmly—this will help establish your authority and earn your subordinates' loyalty.
If it's serious, then cut him off as soon as possible—cleanly and completely. Don't let anyone grab hold of that tail and drag everything out into the open."
What Wang Yan meant was whether the matter implicated the prince himself.
If it didn't, protecting the subordinate was fine. But if it did, then it was best to eliminate him quickly, before the First Prince could trace the clue back and endanger the Second Prince himself.
The Second Prince pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. A glint of killing intent flashed in his eyes—it was clear he had made his decision.
Xu Tianyu looked at Wang Yan with a smile. "Elder Wang truly is a man of great wisdom. Allow me to toast to you."
Wang Yan modestly replied, "I dare not, I dare not. I've merely managed to survive a few more years than others."
As Wang Yan looked at the Second Prince, he felt quite satisfied. The reason he had chosen to place his bet on the Second Prince was twofold: first, because of the powerful backing of the prince's maternal family, giving him an advantage in raw strength; and second, because of the prince's decisiveness and ruthlessness.
Wang Yan believed that with the strong support of the Second Prince's maternal clan—and his own assistance—the prince would surely triumph over his brothers and ascend to the imperial throne.
As the two conversed happily, the Second Prince smiled and said, "Elder Wang, I've heard that your great-grandson, Wang Chen, has a rather good relationship with the granddaughter of Hall Master Hongchen—Miss Meng Hongchen?"
Wang Yan nodded. "That's true. But I still advise Your Highness not to waste your efforts. As a Rank Nine Soul Engineer, Jing Hongchen holds great power and position. He will not get involved."
The Second Prince chuckled. "Elder Wang, it's just a try. If it works, everyone will be pleased. If it doesn't, there's no loss. Don't you agree?"