Chapter 310

Moreover, the improvement this metal gives me is not limited to speed.

Seeing Huo Yutong explain to Tang Wulin, Xuan Zhiwen also added:

When carving this core magic formation, I could clearly feel the connection between me and it; if my original success rate in carving this core formation was less than thirty percent, then using the metal you provided raises the success rate to over sixty percent.

In other words, it's more than doubled.

Tang Wulin couldn't help but open his mouth wide.

What this means for a soul engineer, even someone who knows little about soul devices, he can roughly understand.

Why is the ranking engraving knife so expensive? Besides granting soul devices special traits, the most important is that it can increase the success rate of crafting soul devices.

And as things stand, even the top-ranked engraving knife is utterly inferior compared to Tang Wulin's forging skill.

Moreover, seeing the faint dragon patterns on this ninth-level core formation, who would dare say that if this ninth-level soul device is successfully made, it won't carry the traits bestowed by Tang Wulin? Even he himself, before hearing Xuan Zhiwen say it personally, could never have imagined that spirit-forged metal would boost soul device crafting this much.

Xuan Zhiwen took a deep breath, pressed his hand on Tang Wulin's shoulder, and said sincerely:

"Tang Wulin, I now request you, as the head of the Tang Sect Soul Tool Hall and the Tang Sect's chief technical supervisor, to forge more rare metals for me; price is negotiable, and as the person in charge of Tang Sect soul tools, I still have some savings."

Xuan Zhiwen knows better than anyone what doubling the success rate means; if Tang Wulin can continuously supply him with metal, he likely could finish crafting a ninth-level soul device within half a year.

Then he would practically be a quasi-ninth-level soul engineer.

This is more important to him than anything; given his talent, his cultivation is already hard to improve further, and without mishap, breaking through to rank ninety would take many years, but now he has a ready opportunity to attempt crafting a ninth-level soul device, so he will try no matter what.

Tang Wulin quickly shook his head.

"No need, Professor Xuan; I won't take your money, I'll just make it for you every day, you just need to properly guide Yutong."

How could he possibly take Xuan Zhiwen's money, since the soul devices Xuan Zhiwen makes ultimately belong to the Tang Sect, roughly speaking they'd go into Tang Wulin's pocket anyway; taking someone's money to have them make soul devices for you is even among capitalists considered the most black-hearted.

Moreover, what position does Xuan Zhiwen hold? To put it bluntly, the development of soul devices in both the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy depends entirely on him; if he can successfully craft a ninth-level soul device, it would be a great joy for both Shrek Academy and the Tang Sect.

Anyway, with Tang Wulin's current cultivation, forging spirit-forged metal isn't that difficult; according to Xuan Zhiwen's soul device crafting speed, the metal Tang Wulin forges in one day would likely last him a month.

Helping Xuan Zhiwen consumes little time and effort, yet yields great returns; such a low-cost, high-reward job—only a fool would refuse.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Zhiwen's eyes lit up instantly.

At this moment he felt that following Huo Yutong to the Tang Sect was simply the correct choice of his life.

Huo Yutong asked: "Professor Xuan, besides forging speed and success rate increase, does the metal forged by Wulin have any other marvelous uses?"

Before, she only knew that Tang Wulin's forged metal was impressive, but she had never personally used his metal to craft a soul device, so her understanding was still lacking.

Xuan Zhiwen's expression instantly became focused, and he explained to her:

"There's much more, just as you told me before—what he does is practically an elevation of the metal itself."

"After his forging, all aspects of this gold light stone's properties have been greatly enhanced; if originally it could only be considered a rare metal of decent quality, now it already qualifies as material for the core parts of high-level soul devices."

"And most importantly, when I carve the core formation, I miraculously feel a spiritual fluctuation akin to emotion on it—Tang Wulin, did you infuse the metal with a soul?"

Tang Wulin gave a slight nod.

"Almost; more accurately, it's about awakening spirituality, which is a necessary condition for completing spirit forging." The term "spirit forging" comes from "myriad forges give life"; metal reaching this level will preliminarily give birth to its own soul, undergoing a qualitative change compared to other metals.

Since Tang Wulin also lacks experience crafting soul devices, he doesn't know how much this change helps in making them, but judging from Xuan Zhiwen's reaction, the improvement won't be small.

Xuan Zhiwen's eyes brightened.

"This is enough, Tang Wulin; you might not know, but this piece of spirit… is called spirit-forged metal, right? With its help, I even have the confidence to craft soul devices I previously dared not even imagine."

Huo Yutong blinked.

"For example?"

Xuan Zhiwen grinned, his face full of excitement.

"For example, a humanoid soul device."

Even during the Ri Yue Di Guo era, he had been very interested in crafting humanoid soul devices, but due to his insufficient skill, he could only abandon the idea.

But now it's different; with Tang Wulin's spirit-forged metal, overtaking on a curve might not just be a dream.

Huo Yutong suddenly widened her eyes; as Xuan Zhiwen's chief disciple, she naturally knows how difficult crafting a humanoid soul device is.

This is a brand-new field; as of now, soul engineers below ninth level don't even have the qualification to dabble in it.

If Xuan Zhiwen truly can craft a humanoid soul device, it might not be a dream to wipe out in one fell swoop the strength gap between the original three kingdoms of Douluo and the Ri Yue Di Guo in the soul device field.

Tang Wulin didn't have much concept of humanoid soul devices, but seeing Huo Yutong's expression, he instantly grasped the importance of this soul device.

He immediately turned to Xuan Zhiwen and said seriously:

"Professor Xuan, hand me the list of metals you want me to forge; I'll have them forged for you today."

"Good."

Xuan Zhiwen is also a straightforward person, not pretentious; he picked up pen and paper and began to write with flying vigor.

Seeing him like this, Huo Yutong gave Tang Wulin a light smile, and a gentle voice echoed in his heart.

"Professor Xuan hasn't been this happy in a long time."

"Really?"

In Tang Wulin's impression, Xuan Zhiwen has always seemed full of vitality.

"Yes." Huo Yutong lightly nodded, eyes filled with myriad feelings: "Wulin, your return this time has truly infused us with new vitality, whether for me, or for the academy and the Tang Sect alike; I feel life hasn't been this positive and upward for a long time."

Tang Wulin smiled and rubbed her little head.

"Don't worry, it will stay this way from now on."

"Mm."

Huo Yutong obediently nodded.

She trusts Tang Wulin.

(End of chapter)