Shrek Academy
Soul Tool Division
Qian Ran was immersed in crafting his very first Rank 7 soul tool, watched intently by Fan Yu, Qian Duoduo, and Xian Lin'er.
His entire focus was locked onto the task, left hand gripping a fiery red piece of metal while his right hand wielded the Blade of Life's Vigil. After its purification, the Devouring Spirit Engraving Knife now radiated pure life force. If the engraving knives were ranked again, the Blade of Life's Vigil would undoubtedly climb to an exceptionally high position.
The engraving knife danced at Qian Ran's fingertips, its movements graceful like a mesmerizing performance. For those without extremely high cultivation levels, his hand movements were simply too fast to follow.
Qian Ran's mental strength had reached an extraordinary level. He could see ten steps ahead while taking the first. As he meticulously carved intricate arrays into the core, his mind had already mapped out the subsequent steps of the process.
His hand speed dictated his production speed, and Qian Ran's hands moved with astonishing swiftness.
To craft a Rank 7 soul tool so effortlessly was a feat that even Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu—both Rank 8 soul engineers—could not achieve. Soul tools of Rank 7 or higher were incredibly complex, and a single flaw in any core formation array could significantly impact the tool's final performance.
Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu were utterly stunned.
Even as seasoned Rank 8 soul engineers, their work lacked the seamless elegance Qian Ran exhibited. From material preparation to the engraving of core arrays, Qian Ran performed every step with perfect fluidity, without a single pause.
Such a level of mastery was generally seen only in soul engineers working on tools they had crafted so many times the process had become second nature.
But Qian Ran?
Was he a Rank 8 soul engineer masquerading as a Rank 6?
"Unbelievable," Fan Yu murmured.
"Ridiculous," Qian Duoduo added, eyes wide.
Xian Lin'er, her beautiful eyes fixed on Qian Ran, felt her heart stir.
Men were most attractive when they were fully engrossed in their craft. Watching Qian Ran create a soul tool was as enthralling to her as it might be for him to watch her perform a passionate dance.
She hadn't expected Qian Ran to advance to crafting Rank 7 soul tools so quickly.
Currently, the youngest Rank 7 soul engineer at Shrek Academy was over 30 years old, and there were only a handful of Rank 8 soul engineers in total.
For Qian Ran, so young, to reach such heights, he had already surpassed the so-called prodigies of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. How he had learned so quickly remained a mystery.
"It's finished," Qian Ran finally announced as he completed the core of the Rank 7 soul tool. All that remained was to design the outer casing, and the project would be done.
From concept to completion, the entire process had taken only a few hours—a pace that left Fan Yu and Qian Duoduo far behind. If they learned Qian Ran had designed this exquisite Rank 7 soul tool in just a few dozen minutes, they might have had a meltdown on the spot.
"Let me test it," Qian Duoduo said eagerly, picking up the soul tool like it was a work of art. Most soul tools created by engineers were utilitarian in appearance, but Qian Ran's creation radiated a sense of elegance and design that even the most pragmatic observer couldn't ignore.
Testing the tool was essential, and Qian Duoduo immediately set about evaluating its performance, with Fan Yu close behind.
Ten minutes later, the results were in.
"Qian Ran, this soul tool outperforms most Rank 7 soul tools by a significant margin. It has high damage output and low soul power consumption. If a typical Soul Sage were to use this in battle, their combat strength would skyrocket," Qian Duoduo said with admiration.
Not all soul tools that met Rank 7 standards were practical in combat. Many engineers created tools with impressive stats on paper but cumbersome designs, making them less effective than simply using one's soul skills. Tools like that were essentially garbage.
"Give him another year or two, and he might reach Rank 8," Fan Yu said enviously. Despite dedicating his life to soul tool research, he was nowhere near Qian Ran's level.
As one of Shrek Academy's top talents in soul engineering, even Fan Yu felt eclipsed.
"Qian Ran, don't tell me… does your sect have a Rank 9 soul engineer?" Qian Duoduo asked suddenly, his tone a mix of disbelief and curiosity. "We haven't even had time to teach you the theories behind Rank 7 soul tools, yet you're already crafting them so effortlessly. That's beyond mere talent. Where did you learn everything a Rank 7 soul engineer needs to know?"
The only plausible explanation was that Qian Ran had access to other resources, perhaps even a legacy from a Rank 9 soul engineer.
Xian Lin'er's gaze turned curious. She, too, believed this theory. If Qian Ran had the guidance of a Rank 9 soul engineer, his rapid progress would make sense.
"Well… sort of," Qian Ran admitted after a brief pause.
The truth was that he possessed a comprehensive library of knowledge covering soul tools from Rank 1 to Rank 9, a reward from the system after signing in with Meng Hongchen. This knowledge was like an error-free textbook, fully system-verified and complete.
In contrast, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy's theories were developed through trial and error and not guaranteed to be entirely accurate. But Qian Ran's knowledge? Flawless.
"Are you serious? Your sect has a Rank 9 soul engineer? That's incredible!" The three stared at Qian Ran, their expressions a mix of astonishment and envy.
Rank 9 soul engineers were exceedingly rare. Shrek Academy had always lagged behind the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy in this field. The Sun Moon Empire guarded their top-tier soul engineering knowledge fiercely, allowing only those within the Mingde Hall to access theories above Rank 8.
"We have our own ways," Qian Ran said, flashing a subtle smile.
"Enough questions. Even if Qian Ran has access to a Rank 9 soul engineer's legacy, that's his business. What's it to you?" Xian Lin'er said sharply, glaring at Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu.
Given her relationship with Qian Ran, she was confident that he wouldn't withhold good resources from her.
If she could become a Rank 9 soul engineer, Xian Lin'er might actually develop an interest in soul tools.
Previously, she hadn't cared much for them. Rank 8 soul tools were of little use to someone of her caliber as a Hyper Douluo. A Rank 8 soul tool couldn't significantly enhance a Hyper Douluo's combat abilities. Even the head of the Soul Engineering Department had been somewhat indifferent toward soul tools before Qian Ran's emergence.
But things were different now. If she could advance to Rank 9 and create Rank 9 soul tools, her combat power would see a substantial boost.
Hearing Xian Lin'er's words, Qian Duoduo couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.
Fan Yu, on the other hand, remained as eager as ever. Becoming a Rank 9 soul engineer was his lifelong dream. If joining Qian Ran's sect could make that dream a reality, he would willingly pay any price—even if it meant leaving Shrek Academy.
(End of Chapter)