Wang Chen stood in the courtyard, his long black hair flowing even without wind.
As the soul core condensed, the power of space was no longer an imperceptible force in his eyes.
During the condensation process, the soul core had absorbed a massive amount of spatial power, thus forming a natural connection with space itself.
This was the fundamental reason why a soul core could draw energy directly from space.
Having fused the soul core into his body, it had become a part of him; as a result, Wang Chen could clearly sense the interaction between the core and spatial force.
Moreover, during condensation, he had absorbed far more spatial energy than most other Titled Douluo.
This made Wang Chen's perception of space especially keen and precise.
Recalling the process of observing spatial fissures earlier, Wang Chen sat cross-legged, restoring his mental energy before consuming it again to activate the Black Book's comprehension-enhancing function.
At once, a flash of insight burst within his mind.
His tangible-but-formless spiritual power fully attuned to the connection between the soul core and the spatial force.
In that instant, the world around him transformed.
Countless spatial nodes appeared in Wang Chen's spiritual perception.
He himself was also a spatial node — or more precisely, the soul core within his body was one.
High-density soul power and spiritual power converged in his palm.
Under his control, the surrounding spatial nodes trembled slightly, and the space near his palm rippled like flowing water — mysterious and profound.
This was precisely why only powerhouses of Titled Douluo level or higher could craft spatial-type soul tools.
Only those who had condensed a soul core and possessed sufficiently strong spiritual power were qualified to perceive and manipulate spatial energy.
The weak simply had no right to sense it at all.
Gathering back his soul power and mental force, Wang Chen ended his perception of space.
The sun-shaped mark that had appeared on his body due to the soul core also faded away.
The entire courtyard instantly returned to calm.
If not for the damaged defenses and cracked villa walls, it would have seemed as if nothing had happened at all.
Wang Chen thought to himself,
"Now, I finally have enough strength to forge a ninth-rank soul tool."
———————————————
The next day, life in the Wang Family resumed as usual.
During Wang Chen's soul core condensation, all clan members had been gathered at the perimeter of the estate.
They only knew that the patriarch was in secluded cultivation — none realized that he was condensing a soul core.
After completing his cultivation, Wang Chen dismissed the clan members and allowed them to return to their posts.
He had no intention of publicly announcing that he had formed a soul core.
Lately, he had already drawn enough attention — his terrifying feat of killing a Titled Douluo-level evil soul master as a Soul Emperor had made him famous throughout the Sun Moon Empire.
He had been accepted as Kong Deming's personal disciple and even granted marriage by the Emperor himself.
Even if others learned that he had now condensed a soul core, they might be shocked at first — but it would end there.
After all, someone who could already slay a Titled Douluo forming a Titled Douluo's signature core was hardly unexpected.
Thus, Wang Chen saw no benefit in publicizing it.
It would only make him a topic of gossip among the empire's soul engineers and bring no real gain — possibly even harm.
At present, Wang Chen already stood at the pinnacle of mortal rank.
Unless he reached the same level as Kong Deming, no matter what else he did, the rewards would be no more than wealth and cultivation resources.
More importantly, Wang Chen planned to leave Mingdu soon for the Star Dou Forest in search of the Skydream Iceworm.
If news spread that he had condensed his soul core and greatly enhanced his strength, the Holy Spirit Cult would undoubtedly send even stronger people to monitor him.
Currently, those watching him were at the Super Douluo level.
If stronger observers were sent, it might even be Ye Xishui or Long Xiaoyao, both Limit Douluo at rank ninety-nine.
Wang Chen was confident he could evade the surveillance of a Super Douluo, leaving Mingdu unnoticed.
But escaping the perception of a Limit Douluo — that, he could not guarantee.
If that happened, he would have no choice but to remain in Mingdu for safety, unable to go to the Star Dou Forest at all.
Such a situation would cause him immense losses and expose him to far greater danger.
Therefore, Wang Chen had no intention of doing something so foolish.
———————————————
At this moment, inside Wang Chen's Soul Tool Workshop.
After a full night's rest, Wang Chen was in peak condition as he began his crafting work.
This time, in addition to creating the Divine Suppression Spear, the soul tool perfectly attuned to his Martial Soul and intended to become his Life-Bound Soul Tool,
he also planned to craft two more ninth-rank soul tools: a flying-type soul tool and a soul tool armor.
Although he could now fly freely for long periods using his soul core's power,
with a ninth-rank flight soul tool, his speed would be even faster, and soul power consumption for the same distance far smaller.
In battle — whether chasing or retreating — this would grant him a decisive advantage.
As for the soul tool armor… although at its essence it was merely a shell inscribed with core arrays, far inferior to a full humanoid soul tool,
it could still enhance Wang Chen's close-combat capabilities, improving both offense and defense.
His Soul-Tool Spirit Martial Soul did not strengthen his body as much as beast-type spirits did.
When fighting top-tier experts of equal strength in close quarters, he might fall at a disadvantage.
Thus, the soul tool armor was crucial for him — especially since his Martial Soul could amplify soul tools, boosting their power.
He hadn't used soul tools much before simply because his soul power had been insufficient.
He couldn't power a ninth-rank soul tool, and seventh- or eighth-rank tools were meaningless for someone of Titled Douluo-level might.
But now that he had condensed a soul core and gained vastly greater soul power,
he finally had enough energy to operate ninth-rank soul tools — strengthening himself even further.
On the silver-white crafting table, Wang Chen laid out pieces of the finest rare metals:
Heavenly Fiend Black Iron, Heavenly Martial Origin Stone, Sun Crystal, Golden Cloud Iron…
Most of these top-tier materials were gifts from the Emperor and offerings from ninth-rank soul engineers to Kong Deming.
There was enough to craft three ninth-rank soul tools — more than sufficient.
Wang Chen, in his best condition, decided to start by creating the Divine Suppression Spear,
the weapon that would merge with his Martial Soul to become his Life-Bound Soul Tool.
He took out a gleaming golden engraving knife — a gift from Kong Deming — called the Sunmark Engraving Knife.
Ranked seventh on the Craftsman Blade List, it was incomparably sharp;
even the rare metals used for ninth-rank soul tools could be cut effortlessly, leaving perfectly smooth traces.
When engraving ninth-rank core arrays, it increased success rate by 20%.
Furthermore, soul tools crafted with it would inherit the Sunmark Trait, which burned the enemy's soul power, accelerating their energy depletion.
If his teacher weren't the strongest soul engineer in the Sun Moon Empire, Wang Chen would never have obtained such a ranked tool.
Holding the Sunmark Knife, warm and perfectly balanced in his hand, Wang Chen felt satisfaction surge within him.
He then infused his Soul-Tool Spirit Martial Soul into the rare metal that would form the spear's core array.
Following the blueprint he had designed earlier, he began engraving the core formation array.
The Divine Suppression Spear was a spatial-type soul tool, its skill: Space Imprisonment.
Thus, engraving its core required the unique spatial inscription technique created by Elder Kong himself.
Harnessing spatial power, one must inscribe the rare metal three-dimensionally from within — a method that carved not only the surface but its inner layers as well.
Wang Chen focused completely, activating the soul core in his upper dantian.
Borrowing its strength and his spatial perception, his soul and spiritual power erupted simultaneously, vibrating the surrounding spatial nodes.
Spatial power flowed out from the trembling nodes.
Using his tangible-but-formless spiritual energy, Wang Chen carefully guided it — beginning the engraving process.
The blade of the Sunmark Knife shimmered with faint silver-white light, merging with the rhythm of space itself.
As the knife's edge touched the metal, faint sizzling sounds echoed — as though cutting through space itself.
Each carved line brimmed with spatial power.
The core arrays were not flat patterns but three-dimensional formations, constructing miniature spaces within the metal's interior.
The process was extremely delicate.
Even the smallest error could cause the array to collapse or trigger a spatial backlash, destroying the rare metal entirely.
Thus, Wang Chen maintained absolute focus, every motion precise to perfection.
Time slipped by.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, but his hands never wavered.
Gradually, intricate patterns emerged, glowing faintly with silver light.
Finally, the last array was engraved.
Wang Chen exhaled deeply — tired but exhilarated.
He waved his hands, merging all arrays together, then injected soul power to verify their flawless operation.
After confirming everything was stable, he began assembling the other components.
Half an hour later, a silver-white spear appeared in his hands.
Its shaft was adorned with faint, complex black patterns — deep and mysterious.
Gripping it, Wang Chen felt the immense power pulsing within. His heart trembled with excitement.
"At last, the Divine Suppression Spear is complete."
He swung it lightly; the weapon emitted a resonant hum as he poured soul power into it.
The Space Imprisonment skill activated instantly.
Centered on Wang Chen, space within a two-hundred-meter radius grew dense and oppressive.
Everything froze in place — even the air stopped flowing.
Next, following the Life-Bound Soul Tool Method, Wang Chen invoked the power of heaven and earth to merge his Martial Soul with the Divine Suppression Spear.
This method emphasized Unity of Heaven and Man, Unity of Human and Tool — the perfect fusion of all three.
Therefore, the requirements were exceedingly high:
One had to master the Heaven-Man Unity realm, fully control their Martial Soul, and forge a top-tier soul tool perfectly compatible with it.
Only someone who had reached the pinnacle of both soul master and soul engineer paths could use it.
At present, across the entire Sun Moon Empire — indeed, the whole continent — Wang Chen alone met all the conditions.
Under the power of heaven and earth, the pale phantom of his Martial Soul merged into the Divine Suppression Spear.
As the fusion deepened, the faint black patterns grew darker, turning pitch-black.
Spatial power gathered at the spear's tip, emanating immense pressure.
The Divine Suppression Spear, now his Life-Bound Soul Tool, had grown vastly stronger.
Its Space Imprisonment power had doubled — what once matched a Titled Douluo now rivaled a Super Douluo.
To test its might, Wang Chen poured soul power into the spear once more.
Space Imprisonment!
This time, the silvery-white spatial energy was so dense it became visible to the naked eye.
To test its limit, Wang Chen deliberately enveloped his own hand within the imprisoned space.
He tried every means — activating his soul core, using battle techniques, invoking his origin power — yet he could not break free.
Only by unleashing his Ring-Explosion Secret Technique did he manage to withdraw his hand after three seconds.
Through this personal experiment, Wang Chen confirmed that a rank-ninety-five Super Douluo could not resist this imprisonment.
Even a rank-ninety-six Super Douluo would be trapped for at least one second — and in a battle between top-level experts, one second was enough for him to turn the opponent into a beehive.
The only unknown left was how high-level a soul master this Space Imprisonment could restrain.
Since each level past ninety-five brought vast increases in power and partial control of spatial energy,
ranks ninety-seven and ninety-eight might affect its effectiveness — but the test could wait.
Smiling faintly as he examined the Divine Suppression Spear, Wang Chen was clearly satisfied.
After completing its fusion, he began crafting the flying soul tool and soul tool armor.
Time flew by, and half a month passed.
Now fully prepared, Wang Chen disguised himself, relying on his Heaven-Man Unity realm and partial grasp of spatial power.
Easily, he slipped past the Holy Spirit Cult's Super Douluo monitor and silently departed from Mingdu.
———————————————
Seven days later — White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
Huo Yuhao gazed at the mansion with hatred burning in his eyes.
"Mother, one day I will return and trample everything here beneath my feet.
From today onward, I'll take your surname — my name shall be Huo Yuhao."
Then, he turned and walked toward the Star Dou Forest.
Not far away, unseen, Wang Chen watched him coldly and began to follow.
Half a day later, on the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest—
A crystal-white, translucent iceworm covered in ten golden patterns spoke to Huo Yuhao:
"At last, I've met a human with a spiritual attribute.
Too bad your big brother can't cry — otherwise I'd be in tears right now!"
Just then, the Skydream Iceworm turned its gaze to Huo Yuhao's left rear.
"Who's there? Come out for me!"
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