Soon, two months had passed.
Even though it had only been two months, many events had unfolded across the Douluo Continent.
The first major event: according to confirmed reports, the current Dean of the Soul Tool Department at Shrek Academy is now a Soul Saint who is only 22 years old and possesses a cultivation level of only Rank 70.
However, it is said that this Soul Saint is a supreme genius. Based on his development of the "soul power storage device," he has already become an 8th-rank soul tool engineer. Furthermore, he has developed a heaven-defying item known as the "artificial soul ring." He is a "monster" in the truest sense of the word!
The second major event also concerns that Dean "Skydream." Under his leadership and with the full support of Shrek, an organization named the Spirit Transmission Pagoda has spread across the original three empires of the Douluo Continent at an incredibly absurd speed.
At the same time, the curse that prevents soul beasts from producing absorbable soul rings has also begun to spread rapidly.
Some people have linked the timing of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda's "artificial soul rings" with the soul beasts' inability to produce absorbable rings. However, there is no evidence, and they are powerless against the Spirit Transmission Pagoda.
Combined with the superiority of the "artificial soul rings," no one can resist such a temptation.
The vast majority of commoners in the three empires are excited about the appearance of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda.
This is because the Spirit Transmission Pagoda not only helps awaken martial souls for free but also gifts the first soul ring for free. The only price is that, for a certain period, one must go to the Spirit Transmission Pagoda to transport soul power into a specific device—a cost that is almost negligible.
Consequently, the prestige of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda has accumulated with extraordinary speed. Naturally, as the Pagoda Master of the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, Huo Yuhao has harvested a massive amount of emotional power. Simultaneously... small amounts of faith power have also begun to emerge bit by bit.
It is a promising start.
However, while some are happy, others are grieving.
While the original three empires of the Douluo Continent are joyful, the Sun Moon Empire cannot find any reason to celebrate.
The Spirit Transmission Pagoda clearly has no intention of opening branches on their side, yet the curse preventing soul beasts from yielding absorbable soul rings has begun to spread within the Sun Moon Empire.
It must be noted that the Sun Moon Empire provides mandatory martial soul awakening for every citizen. Although the number of citizens who actually awaken soul power is meager, the total number of soul masters is incomparable to the original three empires, where one has to pay to awaken a martial soul.
Even though the vast majority are low-level soul masters, this results in the Sun Moon Empire having several times more soul masters than the original three empires combined.
Thus, panic has begun to spread uncontrollably within the Sun Moon Empire, and it is growing increasingly intense.
Illustrious Virtue Hall, Laboratory.
Every soul tool engineer in the Sun Moon Empire ranked 8th-rank or higher is gathered here. Everyone occupies a workbench, burying their heads in engraving.
Further above, Xu Tianran, who is here to monitor on behalf of the Emperor, listens to a report from a nearby attendant. His brow is lowered; he is clearly in a foul mood.
Just as he was about to lose his temper, an elderly man walked in slowly. Xu Tianran's expression instantly smoothed over, revealing a warm smile:
"Elder Kong, how are things going? Is there any progress?"
Kong Deming shook his head and said softly:
"I am sorry, Prince Regent. We still do not know where the problem lies."
Over a month ago, the Sun Moon Empire dispatched two Titled Douluo in an attempt to kidnap the genius named "Skydream" back to the empire.
However, the final result was the death of one Titled Douluo, while the other barely managed to return to the Sun Moon Empire at the cost of being heavily injured, having seized a complete "artificial soul ring device."
Without any hesitation, they chose to dismantle and decipher the device to solve the problem of soul beasts being unable to produce soul rings.
The result, however, was that no one could replicate the "artificial soul ring device."
Clearly, there were no anti-copying measures installed. Clearly, any 5th-rank soul tool engineer could take one look and create a 1-to-1 identical replica... but it just wouldn't work!
Even the stolen device could be dismantled and reassembled and still function, but the replicas they made were useless!
It was simply unscientific.
"...Is there no other way?"
Xu Tianran's expression was conflicted. If this still failed, he might have to pay a massive price to ask the Holy Spirit Cult to take action...
In fact, over a month ago, to ensure they secured the talent named "Skydream," he had already paid a heavy price to have the Holy Spirit Cult act once.
Furthermore, to ensure absolute success, the one who took action was the Sixth Enshrinement, the Rank 96 Scorpion Tiger Douluo!
Yet, he never returned! Because of this, he had even been threatened at his door by the Holy Spirit Cult once again, and had to pay further prices just to preserve his life!
The people of the Holy Spirit Cult are madmen!
He only hated that he had paid such a high price yet gained absolutely nothing!
Xu Tianran took a deep breath and then spoke helplessly:
"Elder Kong, my Father the Emperor has already issued an order. We must find a way to develop a viable 'artificial soul ring device,' otherwise the Empire is in peril."
Xu Tianran's words were by no means alarmist.
The profession of soul tool engineer is, in essence, a branch that relies on the soul master system.
Now, with soul beasts unable to produce soul rings and the source of soul rings disappearing, they have yet to find a substitute. This is almost equivalent to the entire Empire grinding to a halt.
If this is not resolved, their Empire will surely be devoured whole by the original three empires of the Douluo Continent.
"I am aware... but I still have no leads. However, based on some of Master 'Skydream's' previous works, his control over soul power seems to far exceed that of a Titled Douluo."
"So... I am wondering if we can let some soul tool engineers whose control over soul power exceeds their own level give it a try," Kong Deming suggested.
Xu Tianran frowned slightly: "Are you certain this method is feasible?"
"I don't know... but it is one of the few possibilities we have left..."
"Is that so..."
Xu Tianran fell into thought. Suddenly, something occurred to him, and he spoke up quickly:
"I wonder if Elder Kong has heard of Hall Master Jing Hongchen's disciple?"
Kong Deming frowned slightly, but soon recalled information about the individual: "Is it that child named Huo Yuhao?"
"Yes, it is him. I heard that child is a genius. At less than nine years old, with the help of that 'soul power storage device,' he forcibly became a 4th-rank soul tool engineer."
"I heard that the child's talent for soul power control and mental power control is terrifyingly abnormal, even surpassing many 6th-rank soul tool engineers... perhaps we could let him try?"
"This..."
Currently, Xu Tianran's power has not yet reached the point where he can act as a dictator within the Sun Moon Empire.
His goal was simple: to use Kong Deming's hand to see how much Jing Hongchen valued Huo Yuhao, and to evaluate if there was any potential to exploit him.
This was a casual move on the chessboard—if it proved useful, everyone would be happy; if not, there was no great loss.
However, if possible, he still hoped that this child named Huo Yuhao could give him a surprise.
After all, the Sun Moon Empire is truly starting to descend into chaos.