Chapter 198 - 198: [DD2]: 198

Credits: DammS Three days later. With Su Yu's promotion to a Level 5 Soul Engineer, he officially qualified to enter Illustrious Virtue Hall as a seeded student. Today was the day he would formally join Illustrious Virtue Hall. Morning. After tidying up his appearance, Su Yu headed toward Illustrious Virtue Hall. The familiar metallic ambiance greeted him immediately. The grand, cold, and rigid design contrasted sharply with the outside world. This wasn't Su Yu's first time entering Illustrious Virtue Hall, but today marked his debut as an official member. From this day on, he was truly a part of Illustrious Virtue Hall. His identity card had already been delivered the day before, allowing him to pass through multiple checkpoints effortlessly and enter the public hall of Illustrious Virtue Hall. Rows of large metallic tables stretched into the distance. Metallic domes, walls, and equipment gave the entire place a distinct metallic aroma. Even in the early morning, the massive hall was bustling with activity. Illustrious Virtue Hall housed the continent's largest soul tool production base, where soul engineers worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk. Soul engineers were often intensely passionate individuals, driven by a special love for soul tools. Pulling all-nighters for research was routine, and some even worked for days without sleep, driven by sheer obsession. This dedication was the key to Illustrious Virtue Hall's status as the continent's top institution. As Su Yu stepped into the hall, he didn't bother to keep his footsteps light. Compared to the deafening hum of metal forging, his steps were barely noticeable. Without stopping, Su Yu headed deeper into the hall. He knew little about his upcoming assignments or who his mentor might be. Naturally, he sought out familiar faces. Fortunately, Su Yu knew a few people in Illustrious Virtue Hall. Before long, he spotted Ma Rulong, who grinned broadly upon seeing him. Beside Ma Rulong stood Mi Jia and others, all offering friendly smiles. Their bond had been solidified during the competition, where they had won the championship together. "Heh, I knew you'd join Illustrious Virtue Hall soon. As expected!" Xiao Xiaofeng slapped Su Yu's shoulder, giving him a thumbs-up. "A twelve-year-old Level 5 Soul Engineer? That's insane!" Once competitive with Su Yu, Xiao Xiaofeng now fully acknowledged his abilities. Despite his young age, Su Yu's skills were undeniably genuine. "Xiaofeng's right. You've set a record for the academy, one that probably won't be broken for at least a thousand years," Ma Rulong added, clearly impressed. Su Yu's extraordinary talent was undeniable—so impressive that it wasn't even worth envying. "You're exaggerating," Su Yu said with a wave of his hand. Smiling, he asked, "I heard that Illustrious Virtue Hall conducts studies in groups. Do you know which group I've been assigned to?" Ma Rulong shook his head. "No clue. I haven't heard anything." "Hehe, of course, you're in our group!" A slightly dramatic voice chimed in. Xiao Hongchen sauntered over with an exaggerated swagger, looking as smug as ever. Beside him was Meng Hongchen. The moment Meng Hongchen spotted Su Yu, she quickened her pace, almost skipping over to him. "Yu~" Meng Hongchen stopped in front of Su Yu, her bright eyes sparkling and her face adorned with a sweet smile. Since they were in Illustrious Virtue Hall, Meng Hongchen wore the same pale moon-colored uniform as everyone else. But beauty shone through any attire—her natural elegance made even a simple uniform striking. "Meng'er." Su Yu smiled gently and took her hand. At that moment, Xiao Hongchen approached, maintaining his mix of aloofness and flamboyance, though there was a hint of humor in his demeanor. "Brother-in-law, you played me dirty last time!" Xiao Hongchen began, pretending to be aggrieved. "How so?" Su Yu asked, puzzled. Seeing Su Yu's confusion, Xiao Hongchen huffed. "You messed with the old man and then left me to take the heat! Do you know how furious he was? I barely escaped with my skin intact." His expression turned pitiful as he recounted the ordeal. Su Yu: "..." Giving Xiao Hongchen a strange look, he said, "Brother Xiao, you didn't take that seriously, did you?" "I was joking." " 'Kings and nobles are not born superior.' Did you think that applies here?" Su Yu chuckled. In a world devoid of extraordinary power, such ideals might hold water. But on the Douluo Continent, where martial souls and bloodlines reigned supreme, lineage truly determined everything. Without a fortuitous encounter, it was nearly impossible for someone with a weak martial soul to rise to the top. Cases like Ji Juechen were one in tens of thousands of years. As it stood, the imperial family's power far exceeded that of the Hongchen family. The best course of action was to do nothing. Xiao Hongchen: Σ(°△°|||)︴ Xiao Hongchen's Death Stare (JPG): At first, Xiao Hongchen was stunned, then furious. His face quickly turned aggrieved as he glared at Su Yu with deadpan, fish-like eyes. You're telling me I believed you, only to find out you were joking? Does that mean I got beaten up for no reason?! "I think we need a fight to clarify the dynamics of our relationship," Xiao Hongchen declared, his tone anything but friendly, as if Su Yu owed him a million gold coins. Meng Hongchen, with an innocent expression, said, "But brother, can you even beat Yu?" Her voice was pure, yet her words were vicious—like a knife stabbing straight into Xiao Hongchen's heart. The worst part? It was his little sister wielding the knife. Clutching his chest, Xiao Hongchen looked utterly devastated. What a good sister. Truly a good sister. Sёarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When stabbing your brother, you don't even hesitate. Do you even understand what it means to save face? All he wanted was to blow off some steam verbally. He didn't believe Su Yu would beat him up in public. But before Su Yu even responded, Meng Hongchen had already betrayed him with her words. It hurt. It hurt too much. "Su Yu, I challenge you to a duel!" Xiao Hongchen shouted, his voice fierce yet lacking conviction. "I forfeit," Su Yu said, shrugging. "You're not allowed to forfeit!" Xiao Hongchen persisted, unwilling to let it go. Su Yu narrowed his eyes and rolled up his sleeves. "Are you sure about that?" Seeing Su Yu's stance, Xiao Hongchen instinctively took two steps back. Wait, what? You're ready to fight me?! He couldn't help but recall the beating he'd taken from Su Yu during the preliminary selection and shrank back in fear. This guy wouldn't dare, would he? Seeing Xiao Hongchen's expression, Ma Rulong and the others burst into laughter. This guy truly was a clown—a pure, unadulterated clown. "All right, Xiao Hongchen, enough joking. What did you mean when you said I'm in the same group as you?" Su Yu asked, waving his hand dismissively. "It's exactly what it sounds like. You, me, and Meng make up a team," Xiao Hongchen said proudly, lifting his chin. "And our mentor?" "Who else? It's the old man, of course," Xiao Hongchen replied confidently. Just as Xiao Hongchen had said, half an hour later, Su Yu met their mentor, Jing Hongchen himself. Jing Hongchen, the head of Illustrious Virtue Hall, was their instructor. Su Yu, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen formed his only team. Three special students—a trio of connected individuals. A Level 5 Soul Engineer being mentored by a top-tier Level 9 Soul Engineer like Jing Hongchen was an exceptional privilege. Su Yu couldn't help but think of the original story, where Huo Yuhao's mentor at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy had been an impressive Level 8 Soul Engineer, Xuan Ziwen. Even so, Xuan Ziwen, despite being a top talent in Illustrious Virtue Hall, was leagues behind Jing Hongchen. The hall master's guidance was a privilege reserved for Su Yu alone, thanks to his connections. Being the beneficiary of this special treatment felt undeniably satisfying. "Hall Master, how will our learning tasks be arranged?" Su Yu asked, his curiosity piqued. The opportunity to learn directly from Jing Hongchen was something most could only dream of. "Before we get to that, tell me—what do you think a soul tool is?" Jing Hongchen asked. Without hesitation, Su Yu replied, "At its core, I believe a soul tool is a technology that drives human civilization forward." "The development of soul tools represents the advancement of human civilization. If their potential is fully realized, soul tools can transform every aspect of human life." Jing Hongchen was surprised by the response, clearly not expecting such an insightful answer. "I thought you'd say a soul tool is a weapon or a tool, but I didn't expect you to grasp its essence so deeply," he said, openly expressing his admiration. "You've recognized the true nature of soul tools. "Those on the Douluo Continent who see soul tools merely as weapons are still outsiders in this field." Jing Hongchen didn't hold back his praise. Su Yu's perspective greatly satisfied him. Su Yu's expression remained calm. In essence, soul tools were Douluo's version of technology. Reducing them to mere weapons was far too narrow a view. "You've demonstrated thoughtfulness and understanding, Su Yu," Jing Hongchen continued with a smile. "That's excellent. To become a truly great Soul Engineer, you must go beyond blind study and understand the significance of soul tools." "You're now ready to continue your journey in soul engineering." "Your chosen specialization is in high-powered ranged soul tools and close-combat soul tools, correct?" "Yes," Su Yu nodded. "Why?" "Because I'm a soul master," Su Yu replied. "I naturally gravitate toward close-combat soul tools. As for high-powered ranged tools, I simply admire their overwhelming power." Jing Hongchen: "..." That answer left him speechless. He had expected Su Yu to provide a compelling and persuasive reason. And that's it? "So, just because you like powerful firepower, you chose to specialize in high-explosive ranged soul tools?" "Is that a problem?" Su Yu shot back. "...No problem," Jing Hongchen replied after a moment, resigned. "As long as you're happy." Though he was at a loss for words, he didn't argue further. If Su Yu wanted to study it, who was he to stop him? "Well, since you're so enthusiastic about it, I'll assign you your first task: independently design a Level 5 ranged soul tool," Jing Hongchen instructed. "Let me see what creative ideas you can come up with." As soul tools advanced, innovation became increasingly vital. Soul tool development was rooted in generations of exploration and innovation. A single groundbreaking idea could be invaluable. "Alright," Su Yu agreed without hesitation. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. If I'm unavailable, you can consult any mentor in Illustrious Virtue Hall who isn't occupied," Jing Hongchen added. This level of privilege was unprecedented and demonstrated how much Jing Hongchen valued Su Yu. Su Yu nodded, clearly pleased with the arrangement. "Alright then, head over with Meng and the others. Your lab station has been set up right next to hers," Jing Hongchen said before leaving. As the head of Illustrious Virtue Hall, he had plenty of other responsibilities. No sooner had Jing Hongchen left than Meng Hongchen gleefully bounced over to Su Yu. From now on, she could stick by him every day. Su Yu smiled and let Meng Hongchen lead him to his station. The lab stations in Illustrious Virtue Hall were impressively equipped, each outfitted with a variety of buttons corresponding to different materials. Pressing a button would dispense the respective metal. Typically, each station had a material usage limit per set time period, such as a monthly quota. However, Su Yu's station was an exception. It had a daily replenishment system with no limit on materials—a perk unique to him. This privilege extended only to Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen as well. The trio of connected insiders lived up to their reputation. Su Yu found his station and began preparing to design the Level 5 soul tool. For him, this wasn't uncharted territory. Every competent Soul Engineer designed their tools. Although Su Yu was currently using a full-body soul tool armor designed by Jing Hongchen, it didn't mean he lacked the skill to create his own. Wang Dong'er's equipment had all been crafted by Su Yu himself. Su Yu took out a pen and paper and started drafting the core formation array. For a soul tool, the core formation array was paramount. Its arrangement and optimization were the foundation for crafting the corresponding soul tool. Su Yu alternated between jotting down notes and sketching designs. Sometimes, his face lit up with inspiration, and at other times, his brows furrowed in concentration. He had entered a state of deep thought. Designing a brand-new, personalized soul tool was no simple task. The arrangement and combination of formation arrays posed significant challenges. As Su Yu revised his work, his ideas gradually took shape. A week later, Su Yu unveiled his finished design and successfully crafted a Level 5 ranged soul tool. He named it Tiger's Might Cannon!