The awakening hall slowly emptied.
Children whispered excitedly about their martial souls. Branch family elders congratulated one another politely. A few attendants quietly recorded the results of the ceremony in thin metal-bound ledgers.
But Xiao Hongchen barely noticed any of it.
He was thinking.
The golden toad martial soul had already faded back into his body, yet he could still feel it faintly—like a quiet presence resting somewhere deep within his chest. When he focused, he sensed its nature clearly: dense, heavy, almost metallic. Even now it seemed faintly aware of the metal structures around the hall.
Interesting.
That instinctive attraction toward metal confirmed something important.
The Three-Legged Golden Toad wasn't just a beast spirit. It had a natural resonance with valuable materials.
If cultivated properly, it could become something far more dangerous than the version seen in the original story.
But that required knowledge.
A lot of knowledge.
Fortunately, he had been born into the one family on the continent that treated knowledge like currency.
The Hongchen family.
"Stop standing there."
Meng Hongchen nudged him with her elbow.
"You're staring into space again."
He blinked and looked down at her.
"You finished your awakening already?"
She rolled her eyes.
"Obviously. My martial soul is still the Vermillion Eyed Ice Toad."
Her voice carried pride, but also a hint of challenge.
She extended one hand.
A pale blue spirit light flickered above her palm.
A small toad appeared.
Unlike his golden martial soul, hers looked crystalline and cold. Its eyes glowed a vivid crimson, and faint frost formed in the air around it.
Ice poison.
A dangerous combination.
In the original timeline, Meng Hongchen's martial soul was feared precisely because her ice toxin was extremely difficult to counter.
Xiao Hongchen nodded slowly.
"Not bad."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Not bad?"
She leaned closer.
"My martial soul can freeze poison inside someone's body."
"I know."
"You're supposed to sound more impressed."
"I am impressed."
"You don't look impressed."
He shrugged.
She crossed her arms.
"You're annoying."
He almost laughed.
A few minutes later, the ceremony finally ended.
The Hongchen family members began leaving the hall in small groups. Some headed toward the training grounds. Others toward private research chambers deeper within the estate.
Xiao Hongchen, however, had been given a direct instruction.
Come to the family library.
And when Jing Hongchen gave an order like that, it was not optional.
The Hongchen library was located in the deepest section of the estate.
Unlike the noisy outer courtyards filled with workshops and experimental labs, this part of the estate was quiet.
Almost sacred.
Two armored attendants stood outside the entrance doors. They bowed slightly as Xiao Hongchen approached.
Neither asked questions.
The doors opened silently.
Inside was a world of knowledge.
Towering shelves stretched toward the ceiling, filled with scrolls, books, metal plates engraved with technical diagrams, and sealed spirit storage crystals containing recorded information. Dim golden lamps hung from the ceiling, illuminating rows of research tables.
Even in his past life, Xiao Hongchen had loved libraries.
But this one was different.
This was not just history and philosophy.
This was engineering knowledge of an entire empire.
Blueprints.
Weapon theory.
Soul tool mechanics.
Metallurgy.
Spirit beast research.
Cultivation theory.
Everything.
He felt a small thrill run through him.
This was exactly the kind of place someone with a biochip-style thinking system could turn into a treasure trove.
And if he eventually developed something similar to a nanomachine support system, the knowledge here would become even more valuable.
He stepped forward.
Footsteps echoed softly through the hall.
Then a voice spoke from the far end.
"You took longer than I expected."
Jing Hongchen stood near one of the central research tables.
He had already removed his ceremonial robe. Beneath it he wore a simple dark scholar's outfit reinforced with thin metal plates.
Even dressed casually, the old man radiated authority.
Xiao Hongchen bowed slightly.
"Grandfather."
Jing Hongchen studied him silently.
For a few seconds the library felt very quiet.
Then the old man spoke.
"Extend your martial soul again."
Xiao Hongchen did.
Golden light formed above his palm as the Three-Legged Golden Toad appeared.
Jing Hongchen stepped closer.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the spirit.
"A rare martial soul."
His voice remained calm.
"But rarity means nothing if it cannot be used properly."
Xiao Hongchen nodded.
"I understand."
Jing Hongchen continued.
"The Three-Legged Golden Toad possesses three primary characteristics."
He raised one finger.
"Metal affinity."
Second finger.
"Treasure sensing."
Third finger.
"Devouring potential."
The old man looked directly at him.
"If cultivated correctly, it can refine valuable materials and convert them into strength."
That matched what Xiao Hongchen had sensed earlier.
Good.
His understanding of the spirit was already accurate.
Jing Hongchen folded his hands behind his back.
"Most soul masters rely entirely on spirit beasts for power."
He shook his head.
"That is inefficient."
The old man gestured toward the shelves.
"The Sun Moon Empire does not rely on spirit beasts alone."
He tapped the table beside him.
"We build weapons."
"Soul tools."
Xiao Hongchen nodded again.
Soul tools were the defining technology of the Sun Moon Empire.
While the rest of the continent relied on martial souls and traditional cultivation, the Sun Moon Empire had combined engineering with spirit power.
The result was terrifying.
Even a weaker soul master could become dangerous with the right soul tool.
Jing Hongchen spoke again.
"You will learn both paths."
His gaze sharpened.
"Soul master cultivation."
"And soul engineering."
Xiao Hongchen did not hesitate.
"Yes, Grandfather."
The old man seemed satisfied.
"Good."
He turned and walked toward a large shelf.
After a moment, he removed three books and placed them on the table.
"These are your starting texts."
Xiao Hongchen stepped forward.
The titles were engraved in silver lettering.
Foundations of Soul Power Cultivation
Introduction to Soul Tool Mechanics
Metallurgical Properties of Spirit Alloys
His eyes lit up slightly.
This was perfect.
Cultivation alone would not make him powerful enough to control his future.
But combining cultivation with advanced metallurgy and engineering?
That was a completely different story.
Especially if he applied knowledge from his previous life.
Jing Hongchen watched his reaction carefully.
"You seem pleased."
"I am."
"Why?"
Xiao Hongchen answered honestly.
"Because knowledge is power."
For a moment the old man's expression changed.
Very slightly.
Then he nodded.
"Correct."
Several hours passed.
Xiao Hongchen read.
He read about soul power circulation.
He read about spirit beast absorption rules.
He read about soul tool energy cores.
He read about metal refinement techniques.
The more he read, the more ideas formed in his mind.
In the original timeline, Xiao Hongchen had relied heavily on the natural abilities of his martial soul.
But that was inefficient.
He could do better.
Much better.
The Three-Legged Golden Toad could devour and refine metal.
If he combined that ability with advanced metallurgy…
He could create custom alloys.
Not just ordinary metals.
But materials with unique properties.
Stronger.
More conductive.
More compatible with soul power.
His mind drifted briefly to concepts from his previous life.
Vibranium.
Adamantium.
Uru.
Obviously those materials didn't exist in this world.
But the concept of advanced alloys did.
If he could develop something similar using spirit metals…
The results could be incredible.
And if those materials were integrated into soul tools…
Or even used to strengthen his own body through cultivation…
His future strength would grow far beyond the original timeline.
He smiled faintly.
Jing Hongchen returned several hours later.
The old man stopped when he saw the stack of books Xiao Hongchen had already finished.
"You read quickly."
"I remember things well."
"Show me."
Xiao Hongchen explained the core concept of soul tool energy flow.
Then he described the differences between spirit metals.
Then he outlined the first stage of soul power circulation.
Jing Hongchen listened carefully.
Finally he nodded.
"Your comprehension is excellent."
Then he added something unexpected.
"Perhaps too excellent."
Xiao Hongchen stayed silent.
The old man studied him again.
"You think differently from most children."
He paused.
"That may become either your greatest strength."
"Or your greatest weakness."
Xiao Hongchen met his gaze calmly.
"I will make sure it becomes a strength."
For the first time that day, Jing Hongchen smiled slightly.
"Good."
As evening approached, Xiao Hongchen left the library.
The sky above the estate glowed orange with sunset.
In the distance, the workshops of the Sun Moon Empire continued operating.
Steam rose from industrial towers.
Soul-powered engines hummed.
Metal sparks flew from massive forging halls.
The empire never truly slept.
Xiao Hongchen stood at the edge of the courtyard and watched the city.
This world was dangerous.
Powerful enemies existed everywhere.
Shrek Academy.
Spirit beasts.
Future wars.
Even the Divine Realm itself.
But he was not afraid.
Because unlike most cultivators…
He would not rely on fate.
He would rely on knowledge.
And knowledge, when used correctly, could reshape the world.
He looked down at his hand.
Golden light flickered briefly as the Three-Legged Golden Toad appeared again.
The small spirit opened its mouth slightly.
As if hungry.
Xiao Hongchen smiled.
"Don't worry."
"There will be plenty to eat."
Metal.
Knowledge.
Power.
Everything would become part of his path.
And this time…
The story of Douluo Continent would not unfold the same way.
Not anymore.