"Does Sect Master Ning need anything?"
Seeing the newcomer, Chen Fu was a little surprised. He had originally thought it would be a steward, but it turned out to be the big boss himself.
Hearing this, Ning Yi felt somewhat helpless. His Nine Treasure Glazed Sect was usually the one granting favors to others, yet the moment they met, he was asked if he needed something.
"I happened to bring my daughter to Shrek City today to take care of some matters. I didn't expect to run into Brother Chen graduating, so I came to pay a visit."
Ning Yi tugged the little girl beside him, about ten years old, a very cute child.
"This must be Ning Tian. She's quite adorable."
Ignoring the little girl's resistance, he rubbed her head, then took a small box out of his space ring.
"A small gift for you, as a greeting present."
It was a soul tool accessory that could stabilize spiritual fluctuations,one of Chen Fu's early experiments in spirit research.
"Aren't you going to thank your big brother?"
Ning Yi did not refuse. Chen Fu's soul tools came in two categories: those he sold and those he gifted. The former were fine works, but the latter were masterpieces among masterpieces.
"Thank you, big brother." She was reluctant, yet still behaved politely and gracefully.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ning Yi left with Ning Tian.
Watching the father and daughter leave, Chen Fu could roughly guess that they would come again.
Not long after Ma Xiaotao had left earlier that morning, an unseen gaze silently fell upon him from the void.
To avoid putting pressure on Shrek Academy, Chen Fu chose to stay on the main street, where a Title Douluo was stationed at all times.
"Nirvana" was the goodwill Chen Fu showed toward the Sea God Pavilion. Instructor Fanyu should have already reported his situation to the Academy Dean.
The core energy storage technology of the Ark alone was enough to tempt Shrek Academy, yet faced with the completely unprotected first-generation Ark, the soul tool research team led by Fanyu had spent three years and still barely understood it.
Although Douluo Continent did not have strong notions of technological protection, it also did not require mandatory submission. The unprotected first-generation Ark was already an immense contribution to Shrek Academy.
The Academy did not allow him into the Inner Court partly because the Inner Court truly had nothing more to teach him regarding soul tools, and partly because they were saying: if you want protection, you must contribute in other ways.
Although Chen Fu doubted much of Shrek's teaching philosophy, the Academy was indeed quite thorough in protecting outstanding students.
They could no longer teach him, but he could take disciples.
Once the Academy cracked the Ark technology, Chen Fu's more complete core designs would no longer be threatened by prying eyes.
"Nine Treasure Glazed… Nine Treasure Glazed…" Chen Fu muttered inwardly. Even if the world had changed, the basic logic of evolution should remain the same. Martial soul evolution could finally be put on the agenda.
[Task list updated]
…
Time rewinds. Not long after Ma Xiaotao separated from Chen Fu, she headed for the Inner Court.
Touching the ring around her neck, Ma Xiaotao pondered. Although she tended to be hot-tempered around Chen Fu, she was not stupid. Bringing out the "real graduation result" at this moment carried a different meaning.
"Nirvana" was given to her alone,in fact, it was meant for the people behind her to see.
Summoning her Phoenix Wings, Ma Xiaotao shot forward, quickly flying over Sea God Lake. Several hazy figures appeared on Sea God Island in the distance.
Seeing this, Ma Xiaotao beat her wings and turned into a streak of fiery light heading straight toward them.
"Dean!"
The elder continued drinking, while the man beside him stood respectfully behind him.
"You're here. Did the little fellow send any message?"
Elder Xuan instinctively examined her, then focused his gaze on the ring around her neck.
"He said that this is his real graduation project."
Though reluctant, Ma Xiaotao still removed the Nirvana ring and handed it to the elder.
"Don't break it, or I'll burn off your beard!"
"Hahaha!"
Elder Xuan burst into laughter, casually pulling the ring into his hand. After sensing it for a moment and realizing he couldn't figure it out, he asked:
"What exactly does it do?"
"Purifies the evil fire."
Those four simple words made Elder Xuan's arm freeze mid-air. He hurriedly cupped the ring in both hands as if afraid to damage it.
Ma Xiaotao's martial soul problem had always been a source of worry for him. To think that such a troublesome issue could be resolved by a single small soul tool ring,it was unbelievable.
He turned his gaze to the man behind him. The latter immediately understood.
"Chen Fu often says that low-level soul tools pursue power, but high-level soul tools solve problems."
For example, the difference between guns and nuclear weapons: the former brings chaos, the latter brings peace.
"Elder Xuan, may I examine this soul tool?"
Fanyu was also shocked. Chen Fu's technical logic differed from his own, but surely not to this extent?
"Be careful. Don't you dare mess around!"
Since Fanyu had the highest soul tool expertise here, he might be able to see something. Elder Xuan had no choice but to carefully hand the Nirvana ring to him.
Watching Elder Xuan behaving so nervously, Fanyu felt helpless. Chen Fu's soul tools had always been renowned for their durability; they were not nearly that fragile.
"Incredible!"
Channeling his spiritual power along the soul power circuits, sensing the dense yet orderly network, Fanyu was genuinely stunned.
The first-generation Ark had allowed him to decipher parts of it, but this naturally integrated ring left him with no way to begin.
As for forcefully probing it with spiritual power,if he dared to try, Elder Xuan would certainly kill him on the spot.
The "Lin" character engraved on the curved surface of the ring meant Chen Fu had applied anti-deciphering protections.
Any wrong attempt would burn the internal circuits and destroy the soul tool.
"That kid was right. We can only learn from his technical logic and then develop and expand our own soul tools. If we follow his path exactly, we will never surpass him."
After a long silence, Fanyu sighed.
"That's not what you said about him before."
Elder Xuan narrowed his eyes at Fanyu. If he didn't explain properly, Elder Xuan would definitely make him pay for causing the loss of such a genius soul tool student.
"Chen Fu's research direction has always been the removal of soul power rank restrictions. If successful, the impact on the soul master system would be enormous."
"It's the soul master aristocratic system, Teacher Fanyu. Please don't blur the concept." Ma Xiaotao had heard Chen Fu's philosophy before. The expansion of low-level combat capability was the true driving force behind civilizational progress.
"All right, even if it's the aristocratic system,do you know how many of Shrek Academy's teachers and students come from noble families? At least eighty percent! Our academy itself is a noble institution!"
"Elder Xuan, Xiaotao, and the elders behind Sea God Pavilion are all representatives of nobility. If Chen Fu publishes the results of his unrestricted soul power research, the consequences would be disastrous!"
Elder Xuan fell silent. If a low-level soul master could wield a ninth-level soul tool weapon against him, that was a scenario he did not want to see.
Shrek's nature inclined them to protect Chen Fu, but their aristocratic roots made it difficult to accept his ideals.
"If low-level soul masters can defeat the strong, then can top-tier soul masters defeat someone even stronger?"
Ma Xiaotao's words broke the silence.
Beyond top-tier strength… that level was an unbelievably tempting thought. Elder Xuan shivered, then returned to clarity.
Balancing present interests with future possibilities was undeniably difficult.
"Xuanzi, you're getting carried away."
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