Chapter 113 The Future of Soul Tools.
Kong Xuan's identity was no secret among the academy's higher-ups, and Ma Sheng naturally knew it.
So even if he was angry, he didn't show it directly.
After all, we should have enough respect for Silver Moon Douluo. Everyone knows that he treats his grandson and granddaughter like treasures.
Ma Sheng was also afraid that if he shouted a few words at Kong Xuan today, he would be expelled from Mingde Hall the next day because he stepped into the academy gate with his left foot first.
Kong Xuan's behavior couldn't be considered bullying, since Ma Sheng had deliberately mentioned that Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen's grandfather was the dean.
He was essentially giving them a taste of their own medicine!
After a moment, Ma Sheng finally spoke, sighing, "The Soul Master Class won this competition, and I agree in principle that the seven members of the Soul Master Class will become reserve team members for the competition!"
He then glanced at Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, and added, "However, this matter is not something I can decide; the final decision rests with Dean Hongchen."
Those who had just stepped from the arena into the audience area happened to hear Ma Sheng's words.
Although it sounded like there was still room for a comeback, the five defeated Soul Masters all hung their heads at this moment, too ashamed to ask for the qualification of reserve team members.
"Alright!" Ren Jun made the final decision: "Then we'll wait for the dean's final decision."
After saying that, he turned to his students and smiled, "You all did a great job today, I'll treat you to a big meal outside of school!"
"Okay! Thank you, teacher!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Wei jumped up, and the others cheered and chattered around Ren Jun.
"Teacher, I want to eat barbecue."
"What's so great about barbecue? I know a newly opened restaurant."
"Teacher, besides the big meal, are there any other rewards?"
...
After four years of getting to know each other, even the usually taciturn Xu Tianyi and Shui Ling started to speak.
Watching the departing figures of the Soul Master class, Xiao Hongchen walked to his sister's side and sighed, "Meng, the man you've chosen is truly heartless."
Meng Hongchen, however, seemed completely unconcerned: "Competitions should be based on individual ability."
Xiao Hongchen's expression also turned serious upon hearing this: "I didn't expect them to be so strong either, but you did underestimate them."
Hearing Xiao Hongchen's voice, Xiao Ping and the other four clenched their fists, but they couldn't refute it; they had indeed underestimated their opponent.
However, they were all wondering to themselves if they could definitely win even if they didn't underestimate their opponents.
Nobody can guarantee that!
Xiao Hongchen turned his gaze to Ma Sheng and asked, "Elder Ma, what should we do now?"
"What should we do?" Ma Sheng snorted irritably, "What can we do if we're not as strong as them? Just let it be!"
After leaving those words, Ma Sheng stormed off.
However, although Ma Sheng said that, he did not really ignore it. He immediately went to the dean's office and found Jing Hongchen.
"I never expected that the Soul Master Class, which has only been established for four years, would actually become so successful. Xiao Ping and his five carefully selected students from the Soul Guidance Department still lost in the end..."
Ma Sheng recounted the events that occurred at the Soul Arena that day, and then asked, "Master, is it really true that all the spots for the reserve team will be given to these few people from the Soul Master class?"
Jing Hongchen sat behind the solid wood desk and said calmly, "These are the terms that were agreed upon beforehand. The number of participants will be determined by their strength. Since we lost the competition, this is the only way to do it."
"As for Xiao and Meng, let's do as Kong Xuan said and let them challenge the official members of this competition. Whether they can get a spot depends on their own abilities."
Ma Sheng had guessed this would be the outcome, but he gritted his teeth, still feeling somewhat unwilling.
"Master, the Soul Guidance Department is the core of the academy!"
"The Martial Soul Class has indeed produced some talented individuals. They've already secured spots in the reserve team. Give them another five years, and they'll likely be regular members in the next cohort!"
"When our Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy sends seven Soul Masters to participate in the competition, people who don't know the situation will think that our soul tools are no longer working!"
As the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, Ma Sheng naturally had very far-reaching considerations.
It was precisely because of this concern that he sought out Jing Hongchen; what he was truly worried about was the future of the Soul Guidance Department.
Jing Hongchen also sighed and looked at Ma Sheng, saying, "Shrek Academy is working hard to develop its Soul Guidance Department, so we should naturally develop on two fronts as well. We can't fall behind in either Soul Masters or Soul Guidance Masters."
Ma Sheng then said, "But Master, even so, we can't give all the reserve team spots to the Soul Master class. We should at least reserve two for the Soul Master instructors."
This time, Jing Hongchen did not answer directly. Instead, she stood up and moved her slightly plump figure out from behind the desk.
He walked over to Ma Sheng, thought for a moment, and then handed him the folder in his hand.
Ma Sheng instinctively took it, and as he opened it, Jing Hongchen's voice reached his ears: "This is the top secret of the Sun Moon Empire's soul guidance technology."
Ma Sheng paused for a moment while flipping through the folder, but he didn't think much of it.
As a titled Douluo and a level nine Soul Master, and also a member of the Mingde Hall, what technology is there that he doesn't know?
He thought this to himself, but as his gaze fell on the document in his hand, his expression gradually changed.
He went from being nonchalant to looking serious.
After reading the two-page document several times, Ma Sheng finally looked up at Jing Hongchen with disbelief and shock in his eyes: "Is everything in here true?!"
Jing Hongchen nodded: "Of course, this is the latest achievement of the Hall of Offerings!"
Ma Sheng gripped the folder tightly, his voice trembling with emotion: "Battle Armor! It can raise a five-ring Soul King's soul power level by twenty levels, giving him the power of a seven-ring Soul Saint—how is that possible?!"
What he just saw was an introduction to battle armor.
Of course, the document only describes the effects of the battle armor and does not mention the manufacturing process.
It's no wonder Ma Sheng had that expression; after all, this technology was developed over thousands of years and is now tens of thousands of years later.
For the Soul Masters of this world, the impact was naturally enormous.
Jing Hongchen also recalled the shock she felt when she saw the contents of the document, but it was no less than Ma Sheng's.
He took a deep breath and said, "It is indeed unbelievable, but I have already seen the finished battle armor on display in the Hall of Worship, and the effect is absolutely realistic!"
"Battle Armor! A soul tool specifically designed for martial souls!"
"It is precisely because of the birth of the Battle Armor that the cultivation of traditional Soul Masters will be the most important thing for the academy in the future!"
Just like how Moon was amazed by the power of soul tools, and therefore strongly supported the development of the soul tool department at Shrek Academy.
Now that Jing Hongchen has witnessed the enhancement that battle armor provides to soul masters, it is indeed incomparable to traditional soul tools. Therefore, he has made up his mind to vigorously cultivate traditional soul masters.
Ma Sheng looked somewhat dazed and muttered, "Battle armor is the future, so what's the point of these soul tools we're researching now?"
In an instant, he seemed to feel his Dao heart shattered.
"How could it not work?"
Jing Hongchen's tone was serious and his gaze was firm: "I firmly believe that the future of soul tools is not limited to battle armor. It's just that the teacher's Hall of Offerings has already yielded results!"
"The development of soul tools requires step-by-step exploration, and the humanoid soul tools of Mingde Hall will be the choice for the future!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Sheng's dazed gaze finally lit up again, his eyes shining with brilliance: "The Hall Master is right, our efforts cannot be in vain, we will definitely succeed in researching the humanoid soul tool!"
It must be said that Jing Hongchen is indeed a genius when it comes to soul tools. The humanoid soul tool he led the research and development of was the prototype of the mecha ten thousand years later.
So what he said today to encourage himself and Ma Sheng was not just empty talk.
Humanoid soul tools are indeed one of the future of soul tools!
(End of chapter)