After a short rest, once he felt some of his stamina and soul power return, Dai Huabin slowly pushed himself to his feet.
But his eyes still fixed firmly on the direction Xu Zihuang had left, fists clenched tight.
Zhu Lu came up beside him, asking with concern, "Huabin, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I'll go back to cultivate first." Dai Huabin replied coldly, then quickly left Shrek Square.
In physical training, the gap between himself and Xu Zihuang was growing smaller, which gave him no small amount of confidence.
What he didn't know was that this was merely an illusion—Xu Zihuang had never once used soul power during physical training.
The white freshman teaching building stood at the southernmost end of Shrek Academy, closest to the lakeside path.
Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian strolled along the lakeside path after passing Shrek Square before the teaching building.
It was early spring again. The afternoon sun slowly dipped into the western sky, and the breeze blowing across Sea God Lake carried a rich misty humidity, bringing with it a hint of coolness.
Xu Zihuang took the glass of freshly pressed green fruit juice Ning Tian handed him, sipping lightly, then leaned against a towering tree by the lakeside.
The giant tree, nourished by the clear waters of Sea God Lake, remained lush and verdant even though the chill of the season had yet to fully fade.
Year by year, ring by ring. Without realizing it, Xu Zihuang had already spent his twelfth birthday at Shrek Academy.
The breeze lifted his smooth black hair, while the few violet strands at his temples and forehead danced into disarray.
Ning Tian gazed openly at him, her light-blue eyes betraying the faintest trace of shyness.
The boy and girl, facing one another in the shade of the great tree with the azure lake behind them, were a scene fit for a painting.
Passing students on the lakeside path nearby were long since used to it.
Whether Xu Zihuang or Ning Tian, both were now towering figures in the entire outer court.
One was a genius whose talent surpassed even the "Twin Stars of the Outer Court," Beibei and Xu Sanshi—the number one control-type soul master. The other was the direct heir of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, sole successor to the future Sect Master's seat.
In the eyes of many, the two were simply a match made in heaven, often the subject of endless gossip.
With her hands clasped behind her back, the close-fitting academy uniform accentuating her graceful form, Ning Tian said softly, "These past few days, Teacher Fan Yu has been saying you haven't gone to the Soul Tool Department for almost two months. He asked you to go today, to check your progress in engraving core arrays so he can better tailor next term's elective courses for you."
"It's only with you that Teacher Fan Yu shows such dedication." A trace of helplessness flickered in her eyes as she spoke.
She had started studying soul tools alongside Yu Tianhuang, yet within five months he was already engraving level 2 core arrays successfully, and had even begun attempting level 3. She, however, after an entire term, had not even managed a single successful level 1 engraving.
Through this, she had accepted that she simply had no talent for soul tool crafting. With next term's Martial Soul Department curriculum growing even heavier, she had already decided to formally give up on making soul tools.
With the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources, they had no shortage of soul engineers—her job was only to know how to use them.
Xu Zihuang nodded with a smile.
"Then let's go to the Soul Tool Department now."
Born of the Sun Moon Empire's royal family, he had no bias against soul tools. But he felt no urgency either. With twin martial souls, each the highest tier, his priority was still cultivation. He only needed his soul engineer rank to roughly keep pace with his soul power—no need to specialize now. When his cultivation reached a bottleneck, he could turn back to soul tool crafting.
He had confidence in his talent for arrays.
But what truly firmed his resolve was his imperial brother and He Caitou.
He and He Caitou shared a goal—revenge on Xu Tiannan—and had been close since childhood. He Caitou would stand by him.
Soul tools' destructive power on the battlefield was undeniable, and as someone aiming for the throne, he would inevitably lead armies himself.
With He Caitou's brilliance in crafting soul tools, that burden on him would be much lighter.
All he needed was an opportunity to reveal his identity to He Caitou. Disagreements and conflicts of interest in the future could be left aside for now.
While his thoughts churned, Xu Zihuang's expression remained unchanged as he and Ning Tian headed northwest toward the Soul Tool Department.
In Laboratory No. 12 of the Soul Tool Testing Zone.
When Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian entered, Fan Yu was already waiting, He Caitou standing at his side with his broad, simple smile.
Fan Yu's sharp gaze fixed on Xu Zihuang as he asked gravely, "Tianhuang, I heard from Ning Tian you've already begun attempting level 3 core arrays. How confident are you in succeeding?"
"Teacher Fan Yu, I'll do my best." Xu Zihuang answered with calm poise, sitting at the metal table prepared for him.
On the table lay all sorts of rare metals suited for core array engraving, each with its own color and properties. Different arrays required different metals.
Xu Zihuang deliberately hesitated before selecting a piece of brilliant golden crystal-like metal.
This was Crystal Gold, famed for its stability, most suitable for engraving a soul power compression array.
Among level 3 arrays, the compression array was considered middling—not overly complex, but far from easy to succeed in.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Zihuang cleared his mind. His violet eyes turned golden like the metal, his left hand gripping the crystal, his right wielding a fine carving blade.
His movements were swift, yet steady with each stroke.
Golden shavings fell as intricate patterns took shape.
His eyes shone with golden brilliance, unblinking, his body still as a statue. Only his fingers moved, guiding the blade, engraving as soul power infused the metal.
From start to finish, his pace never faltered.
In less than fifteen minutes, a complete level 3 compression array was finished.
Excitement lit He Caitou's eyes, while Fan Yu's hands clenched behind his back, his voice thick with emotion: "I always thought engraving arrays had no shortcuts, only trial after trial. But today, I must admit—genius truly exists."
And he wasn't wrong. The truth was even more staggering: on his voyage to Moon Pivot Island, Xu Zihuang had gone from observation to successfully engraving a level 3 array in under half a month.
Not only because of his strong foundation, but thanks to the unique gift of his Golden Eye martial soul.
Most failures stemmed from tiny errors, but such mistakes were impossible for him. With a single observation, his Golden Eye could capture every detail, etching it in his memory. When he engraved, it was like a perfect replay, stroke for stroke, depth and order flawless.
Others relied on endless repetition. The difference was obvious.
Sometimes, talent outweighed effort.
Laying down the blade, Xu Zihuang lifted the patterned crystal and gently infused soul power.
As if in answer to Fan Yu's words, the crystal glowed with a soft aura, a golden beam shooting skyward. As his soul power continued, the array activated, compressing energy until the beam grew denser and brighter.
Beside him, Ning Tian remained composed, her serene smile carrying a faint trace of pride, her clear blue eyes reflecting his image.
"Caitou, use Tianhuang's level 3 compression array to assemble a Soul Light Ray for him," Fan Yu instructed, his expression complex as he looked at Xu Zihuang again.
"To succeed in just eight months, and only in spare time… Tianhuang, your talent is unmatched, even in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Personally, I'd want nothing more than to take you as my disciple. But your genius is not limited to arrays—you outshine all your peers in martial soul cultivation as well. I won't, and cannot, choose your path for you. I only hope you don't waste this gift."
Though of the Soul Tool Department, Fan Yu's vision was broad, his character upright.
Xu Zihuang bowed respectfully. "Teacher Fan Yu, I'll keep that in mind." Compared to someone like Zhou Yi, who expelled students at whim, Fan Yu was admirable.
Honestly, he wondered how those two had ever ended up together.
After some further talk, He Caitou returned carrying a metal box. Three slender tubes protruded from it, faint white light pulsing within as soul power flowed.
Grinning broadly, He Caitou handed it over. "Junior brother, here."
This was the Soul Light Ray—compressing soul power through the array and firing it as a beam.
With the level 3 compression array embedded, this was a Level 3 Soul Light Ray Soul Tool.
Measured by range, power, and area, its effective range was about 150 meters. While its power was modest—roughly equal to a full-strength ranged attack from a three-ring Soul Elder—it was reliable and efficient.
A common long-range attack soul tool.
"Thank you, Senior Brother He." Xu Zihuang smiled, taking it and storing it away.
Fan Yu nodded. "That concludes today's lesson. With the break coming, go get some rest."
As Xu Zihuang and Ning Tian left, He Caitou still wore his simple grin.
"Teacher, why don't you take junior brother as your disciple? He's far more gifted than me. If I had a junior, you wouldn't have to torment only me."
Fan Yu rapped his knuckles on his bald head. "Torment you? Get to work."
How could he not wish for such a brilliant disciple?
Sulking, He Caitou left. Not long after, two figures approached Fan Yu—Vice Dean Qian Duoduo, and a tall, refined woman.
She stood about 1.7 meters, appearing only around fifty, with fair skin and neatly tied black hair. Dressed in a white outfit edged with gold, she looked sharp and capable. Despite her age, her beauty from youth was still clear.
Startled, Fan Yu hurriedly bowed.
"Dean Xian, Vice Dean Qian."
The woman at Qian Duoduo's side was none other than Xian Lin'er, Dean of Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department.
"Fan Yu, how is his progress?" Xian Lin'er's voice was clear, belying her years.
Fan Yu gave a wry smile. "Dean Xian, it's not about smooth progress—it's that Yu Tianhuang's talent far surpasses what I imagined. Just now, he successfully engraved a level 3 core array."
"You're certain?!" Before Xian Lin'er could speak, Qian Duoduo's eyes widened.
"I saw it myself," Fan Yu affirmed solemnly.
"But he still favors the Martial Soul Department. With next term's heavy schedule, he may have little time left for us."
At this, Xian Lin'er finally spoke:
"Do not worry about that. I will negotiate with the Martial Soul Department myself."
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