Wei Xuan was suddenly grabbed and lifted, his instincts reacting before thought. His palm struck out sharply, landing squarely on Jing Hongchen's chest.
Caught completely off guard, Jing Hongchen stumbled back several steps, frost quickly spreading over his robes where the blow had landed.
When Wei Xuan realized who it was, the sharpness in his gaze faded. He hadn't extended his spiritual sense earlier and therefore hadn't sensed Jing Hongchen rushing toward him — the reflexive strike had been pure instinct.
"Hall Master Hongchen, calm yourself," Wei Xuan said evenly.
"Yes, yes, I'll calm down!" Jing Hongchen replied, still trembling with excitement, paying no mind to the thin layer of frost on his chest. "Your Highness — tell me, did you really modify this formation array?"
Wei Xuan didn't deny it. "I did make a few changes."
That single confirmation left Jing Hongchen frozen for a heartbeat — and then ecstatic. "How did you do it?" he demanded breathlessly.
"How else?" Wei Xuan replied lightly. "I saw what was wrong and fixed it. It's really simple."
"Simple?" Jing Hongchen's mouth twitched. That might sound simple — but what he'd just done was anything but.
Speechless, Jing Hongchen took the component and began examining it over and over again, carefully sensing the energy flow through the lines.
Seeing him fall silent, Wei Xuan could only shrug helplessly. He turned and sat down to continue eating his lunch.
A few minutes later, Jing Hongchen hurried over again. Wei Xuan sensed it and stood up before he could be grabbed once more.
"Your Highness," Jing Hongchen said, eyes gleaming, "besides third-tier formations, can you improve others as well?"
Wei Xuan studied him for a moment, then replied with deliberate understatement: "Probably."
That single word made Jing Hongchen leap up like a child, laughing aloud in pure joy. Gone was any trace of dignity — the revered Hall Master was now just a man overtaken by exhilaration.
"Your Highness, you're a genius — no, a super genius! Our empire's Soul Toolcraft will enter a new era because of you!" Jing Hongchen said, practically glowing.
He moved in for an enthusiastic hug — which Wei Xuan neatly sidestepped.
"Hall Master, please… calm down," Wei Xuan said, backing up until there was a full ten meters between them.
Realizing his own loss of composure, Jing Hongchen coughed awkwardly. "Ahem… I may have gotten a little carried away."
Carried away? You almost went mad, Wei Xuan thought privately.
"If you can improve formations of the fourth, fifth, or even higher tiers…" Jing Hongchen muttered again, voice shaking. "The implications would be unimaginable!"
Wei Xuan could understand his excitement. For someone who had devoted his life to Soul Engineering, there was nothing more thrilling than a potential revolution in the field.
"We can discuss that later. I still need to finish this Soul Tool," Wei Xuan said.
"Yes, yes — of course," Jing Hongchen said quickly, trying to steady himself. "Please continue. I can't wait to see what kind of power your improved arrays can unleash."
After resting and recovering his Soul Power, Wei Xuan resumed engraving. The second component required two new arrays — far more intricate and profound than the previous pair.
By the time he finished, night had fallen. After dinner, Wei Xuan decided to rest instead of continuing — he knew his limits.
That night, he meditated, circulating his cultivation method to restore both energy and stamina.
The next several days passed in similar rhythm: engraving by day, meditation by night.
Ten days later, he finally completed the last component — the core assembly — which held five ordinary arrays and three core arrays. It was the most complex piece by far.
After two hours of rest, Wei Xuan began the final stage: assembly.
Within half an hour, the components came together into a strange, cannon-shaped structure.
But it still wasn't complete. He began engraving additional formations — not inside, but on the outer surface.
Jing Hongchen frowned deeply. Formations on the outside?
No Soul Engineer did that — outer engravings weakened stability and reduced performance. At best, they were ornamental.
But as the intricate lines began to take shape, his doubt turned into astonishment.
Hours passed, the sound of the engraving knife filling the room until late at night. At last, Wei Xuan drew the final line.
"Done," he exhaled, relief in his voice.
Before them stood a compact double-barreled cannon, one barrel large, one smaller. The smaller served as the control interface — wide enough for an adult man's arm. The larger glowed faintly with icy blue light, its inner surface veiled by a crystalline sheen that hid the internal structure.
It was elegant, simple — yet the patterns etched along its surface gave it an air of power.
"This is… a Soul Cannon?" Jing Hongchen asked, picking it up and turning it over.
It looked like one — but lacked a visible firing mechanism.
Wei Xuan nodded and gestured toward the smaller barrel. "Place your hand inside."
Skeptical, Jing Hongchen did so — and instantly his eyes widened.
The inner barrel contracted with mechanical precision, reshaping to fit his arm perfectly, as if the cannon had become part of his body.
He stared in wonder. Without explanation, he already understood how it functioned. Tentatively, he infused a trace of Soul Power.
White light coursed along the engraved arrays, and the surrounding energy was drawn into the cannon.
The large barrel's glow intensified — a sphere of icy blue light condensed at the muzzle, and freezing air spread outward, lowering the temperature sharply.
Sensing the buildup, Jing Hongchen threw out a Soul Power Shield.
Boom!
A burst of frigid energy exploded forth — a compact ice-blue projectile slammed into the shield, detonating in a storm of frost and shards. The impact sent a wave of icy shock across the lab, scattering tools and papers everywhere.
No flames — only frozen shrapnel that sliced the air like knives. The shield froze solid, encased in a five-centimeter layer of ice.
Jing Hongchen's pupils shrank. He approached the frozen barrier — beneath the ice, cracks had spread across the shield's surface.
It had nearly shattered a fourth-tier Soul Shield in one strike.
Under normal circumstances, shields could fully withstand attacks of the same tier. That this one cracked meant the cannon's destructive power had reached the peak of fourth-tier strength — perhaps even approaching fifth-tier.
"A fourth-tier weapon… nearly fifth-tier!" Jing Hongchen whispered, stunned.
Then he turned, beaming with pride. "Your Highness — congratulations! You've just crafted a peak fourth-tier Soul Tool! That makes you a fourth-tier Soul Engineer! Six years old — the youngest in history!"
Wei Xuan smiled faintly. "Hall Master Hongchen, did you forget? This Soul Tool only has six core arrays. Technically, it's still third-tier."
Jing Hongchen froze, his expression stiffening. "…Ah. Right. Six core arrays."
A beat later, realization dawned — and he laughed again, louder this time. "Even better! A third-tier weapon with the power of a fourth or even fifth-tier Soul Cannon — remarkable! Absolutely remarkable!"
Indeed, that was what made it so revolutionary. It wasn't just a matter of power — it proved Wei Xuan's improved arrays dramatically amplified the tool's capabilities.
The outer engravings, once dismissed as useless, were in fact energy convergence formations — stabilizing and amplifying the weapon's force without damaging its structure.
And their performance was every bit as effective as internal arrays.
Wei Xuan smiled with quiet pride. Jing Hongchen had only drawn out seventy percent of the cannon's true potential. Only Wei Xuan, with his Extreme Ice Soul Power, could unleash its full destructive strength.
"Let me see it."
A calm yet excited voice rang out from behind them.
Both turned — standing in the doorway was Kong Deming, the golden-robed elder with gray-white hair.
"Teacher," Jing Hongchen greeted quickly, bowing deeply. The sight of him instantly sobered him from his excitement.
"Bring it here," Kong Deming said, extending a hand.
Jing Hongchen immediately removed the cannon and presented it respectfully.
Kong Deming turned it in his hands, fingertips brushing its surface like one might handle a priceless relic. His eyes gleamed with fascination.
"This is my teacher," Jing Hongchen whispered to Wei Xuan. "You may address him as Elder Kong."
"Your teacher… Elder Kong?" Wei Xuan repeated softly, studying the man.
"You must treat him with utmost respect," Jing Hongchen said seriously. "Even His Majesty greets him with full ceremony. Don't be disrespectful."
Kong Deming examined the cannon for a full ten minutes before finally lifting his gaze — meeting Wei Xuan's eyes directly.
"Would you be willing," he asked, voice calm yet commanding, "to become my disciple?"
Wei Xuan didn't show much reaction. He could feel the immense power radiating from this man — stronger than any aura he had sensed, even from the mighty beasts of the Extreme North.
It was clear that Kong Deming's mastery of Soul Tools was unparalleled.
But even so — to Wei Xuan, that wasn't enough.
"Your Highness, don't just stand there!" Jing Hongchen whispered urgently. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! You must accept!"
Kong Deming rarely took disciples — and never sought one himself. For him to make the offer first was unprecedented.
But Wei Xuan only shook his head. "I'm sorry. I don't wish to take any master."
Kong Deming blinked, caught off guard. "Why? Every Soul Engineer needs a teacher to reach greater heights. No one else on this continent could guide you better than I."
His tone held genuine surprise — and disappointment.
"Your Highness, Elder Kong is the greatest Soul Engineer alive," Jing Hongchen pleaded. "With his guidance, even reaching the tenth-tier realm would be possible!"
But Wei Xuan's expression remained calm. "I appreciate the offer, Elder Kong. Truly. But as I said — I wish to follow my own path."
His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Kong Deming fell silent for a long moment, then sighed softly. "Very well. Since you are unwilling, I won't force it. But if you ever face difficulty in your research, you may come to me."
Wei Xuan nodded and smiled. "I will."
Kong Deming's gaze softened. "What do you call this Soul Tool?" he asked at last, curiosity glinting in his eyes.
For the first time in years, even the master of the Worship Hall felt genuine awe — not for a ninth-tier masterpiece, but for a third-tier cannon that defied all logic.
(End of Chapter)