Chapter 48: The Concept of Human-Shaped Soul Tools

Page 1 of 3

After the shock had passed, Fan Yu walked over to one of the Shadow Knights and began examining it carefully.

The humanoid puppets Ye Xixuan had created were, in truth, rather crudely constructed. Many details remained far from perfected. Even the weapons they carried were merely ordinary weapons condensed through his first soul skill, not soul tools.

After all, with his current soul power and spiritual strength, it was impossible for him to create more than a hundred melee soul tools in such a short time. The only exception would be if he had engraved the required core arrays beforehand and used them as a foundation for their construction.

Even so, what Ye Xixuan had revealed still dealt Fan Yu a tremendous shock. It had practically overturned everything he had previously understood.

“Teacher Fan Yu, I control these humanoid Shadow Puppets through the abilities of my external soul bone. The transparent, spatial-attribute web shot from the tips of the Sky Spider Claws exists somewhere between substance and illusion. It can remain concealed within the void, passing through the refraction of successive spatial nodes before finally attaching itself to the connecting points of the puppets’ core joints. The web can transmit soul power. In other words, if these Shadow Puppets were holding soul tools, they could activate them entirely through my soul power.”

As he explained this to Fan Yu, Ye Xixuan controlled one of the humanoid Shadow Puppets and sent it forward.

As the humanoid puppet advanced, the armor covering its body collided piece by piece, producing a deep, heavy clamor.

Ye Xixuan suddenly flicked the fingers of his right hand upward. Countless intricate and magnificent patterns instantly appeared across the black greatsword held by the Shadow Puppet. They were unmistakably core arrays.

As soul power poured into it, the pitch-black blade was immediately veiled in a sharp, profound radiance.

The Shadow Puppet raised the greatsword high, then swung it violently downward. The sword glow seemed to tear through space, releasing a piercing howl.

Drawn by the momentum, the entire laboratory began to tremble faintly.

Fan Yu’s pupils contracted. He then turned around and stared burning-eyed at Ye Xixuan, asking urgently, “How many humanoid Shadow Puppets like this can you control at most right now?”

“If I only need them to perform simple movements, it isn’t particularly difficult. That mainly tests my ability to divide and control my spiritual power. But if I want to manipulate them with greater precision and subtlety, my current spiritual cultivation is indeed still lacking.” Ye Xixuan answered solemnly.

“Still, as my soul power cultivation improves in the future, none of that will remain a problem. The key issue lies in the expenditure of soul power. If I use so much soul power to create these humanoid Shadow Puppets and melee soul tools, and must also control them with my spiritual power, yet the final result is still inferior to my own combat strength, then the effort would hardly be worthwhile. It would only make sense if I could engrave suitable core arrays onto these humanoid Shadow Puppets, thereby reducing soul power consumption while amplifying the might of the soul tools.”

Page 2 of 3

“Humanoid soul tools...” For the first time, such a concept surfaced in Fan Yu’s mind. It coincided with the most secret research direction currently being pursued by the Sun Moon Empire.

That was also the reason Ye Xixuan had asked He Caitou to bring Fan Yu here today. Although the soul tool technology of the former three empires on the continent was separated from that of the Sun Moon Empire by an insurmountable gulf, and catching up in a short period was unrealistic, their thinking at least could not be shackled.

After pondering for a moment, Fan Yu’s eyes suddenly blazed once more.

“I must report this to Dean Xian and Dean Qian at once. The concept of humanoid soul tools may completely overturn the entire soul tool world!”

“How do you know the Sun Moon Empire hasn’t already researched humanoid soul tools?” Ye Xixuan immediately poured cold water on Fan Yu’s enthusiasm. This was precisely the consequence of rigid thinking.

Hearing those words, Fan Yu finally calmed down. In a sincere tone, he said to Ye Xixuan, “Regardless, I hope Dean Xian and Dean Qian will request a Sea God Pavilion meeting and ask the Pavilion to approve your cooperation with our Soul Tool Department’s research. After all, for the academy—and even for the former three empires of the continent—this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.”

“Teacher Fan Yu, I have no problem cooperating with the Soul Tool Department’s research, but I will certainly continue to place martial soul cultivation first.” Ye Xixuan made no attempt to conceal his thoughts. His words were utterly direct.

“Given the Sun Moon Empire’s foundation in soul tool technology, how long do you think it would take the former three empires to catch up? With my cultivation talent, however, I am confident that I can become a powerhouse capable of influencing the fate of the continent within twenty years.”

“Alas, our Soul Tool Department simply lacks the fortune to have someone like you.”

Fan Yu and Ye Xixuan looked at each other. After a long silence, all the words in Fan Yu’s heart ultimately became a sigh.

The Soul Tool Department’s Extreme Soldier Project was a complete paradox. Students with only ordinary martial soul talent were fundamentally incapable of supporting its completion, while someone with exceptional martial soul talent like Ye Xixuan could never be easily released by the Martial Soul Department.

Even the two deans of the Soul Tool Department, powerful as they were, were still inferior to the Martial Soul Department’s former dean, Yan Shaozhe, in terms of absolute strength.

How could that inspire anyone’s confidence?

Page 3 of 3

“Teacher Fan Yu, let’s end here for today.”

Ye Xixuan courteously indicated his farewell to Fan Yu. As he turned to leave, he did not forget to call out to He Caitou.

“Big Brother He, I’ll be going now.”

“Oh—oh.”

Only then did He Caitou return to his senses. With an honest, simple smile, he waved at Ye Xixuan.

The shock in his heart was actually no less than Fan Yu’s. Ye Xixuan’s remark had struck directly at the Sun Moon Empire’s most closely guarded secret.

Even when he had still been the crown prince of the Sun Moon Empire, the empire had already begun researching humanoid soul tools. So many years had passed since then, and no one knew how far that research had progressed.

After leaving the Soul Tool Department, Ye Xixuan followed the lakeside path straight toward the Martial Soul Department’s teaching building south of Shrek Square.

The outer courtyard was going on break again beginning today, and this holiday also marked the point at which the original story from his past life’s memories had begun.

Tang Ya’s soul power cultivation had only recently broken through to Rank 30. Ye Xixuan intended to take this opportunity to bring her into the Great Star Dou Forest to hunt a soul beast and obtain a soul ring.

With his current strength, even an ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beast might not be capable of threatening him. Hunting a suitable thousand-year soul beast for Tang Ya in the outer regions of the Great Star Dou Forest would pose virtually no risk at all.

Yet as he drew closer and closer to the Martial Soul Department’s teaching building, a sudden thought arose in his mind, and his expression became rather peculiar.

“Am I playing Senior Brother Bei’s part this time?”