The air seemed to freeze at that very moment.
In front of the forging table, Xiao Hongchen's sweat-covered face was still locked in an expression of effort, yet the hammer in his hand had completely stopped midair.
As for Mr. Xuan, his mind seemed to crash for a split second.
What?
What did I just hear?
Finished crafting?
Too simple?
He simply couldn't connect those words with the young man standing before him—someone who had only been exposed to spirit tools for less than an hour.
Back in his own day, even he had needed three full months of systematic study and countless failed attempts before barely succeeding in crafting his first Rank 1 spirit tool.
Yes, his foundation back then couldn't compare to Liu Yuan's current level.
Liu Yuan possessed immense spirit power, an absurd physical constitution, and a terrifying natural foundation.
But still… this was ridiculous!
From learning theory to hands-on practice—had it even been half an hour?
And he was already done?
Even with Mr. Xuan's steady temperament, his worldview felt like it had just been shattered.
Almost instinctively, he took the dagger from Liu Yuan's hand and began inspecting it carefully.
Beside him, Xiao Hongchen leaned closer, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Brother Liu Yuan… you're already done?"
Even he—a once-in-a-century genius praised by his grandfather—had taken an entire month to craft his first spirit tool.
And Liu Yuan?
Half an hour?!
How was he supposed to process this?!
Mr. Xuan ignored him completely. His entire focus was on the dagger.
It felt solid and well-balanced in his hand. The metallic texture was excellent.
His fingers gently brushed along the blade, sensing the internal structure.
"…The purity of this metal… it's extremely high! The integration is perfect—almost no impurities remain!"
His pupils shrank.
For a beginner, achieving Hundred-Refining was already extraordinary.
But Liu Yuan's work?
It rivaled seasoned craftsmen who had trained for years!
Then his gaze shifted to the Core Formation.
A standard Rank 1 Sharpness Array.
Yet in his eyes, it was anything but ordinary.
The lines were smooth. The depth was consistent. The transitions were flawless—completed in one continuous flow.
Spirit power circulated through the formation without the slightest obstruction.
Perfect.
It was a textbook-perfect engraving.
Mr. Xuan injected a trace of his own spirit power into the dagger.
Buzz—
A dazzling white light burst from the blade, accompanied by a sharp aura that even made his skin tingle slightly.
Maximum amplification effect!
Mr. Xuan froze.
He examined it again. And again.
Every detail.
He tried to find even the tiniest flaw—to prove this was luck.
But there was none.
This dagger… was flawless.
"Gulp."
Beside him, Xiao Hongchen swallowed nervously.
"T-Teacher… how is it? Did it… fail?"
Mr. Xuan slowly lifted his head and looked at Liu Yuan as if staring at something inhuman.
His lips moved stiffly.
"…No."
"…It's perfect."
BOOM—!
Those words exploded across the Soul Tool Laboratory like a thunderclap.
The students, who had been waiting to see a joke, froze—
Then chaos erupted.
"What?! Perfect?!"
"Half an hour?! First try?!"
"Is he even human?!"
The entire class went wild.
Previously, Liu Yuan's strength in Spirit Cultivation had inspired awe and distance.
But now…
His monstrous comprehension ability in spirit tool crafting inspired something deeper—
Fear.
Respect.
Submission.
This wasn't just talent.
This was something beyond reason.
It wasn't "God closing a window."
This was God tearing down the door, smashing the windows, and blowing the roof clean off!
In the crowd, Ju Zi and Ke Ke stood frozen, their minds completely blank.
Not far away, Meng Hongchen's beautiful eyes shone even brighter.
She already knew Liu Yuan was powerful.
But this?
This was beyond anything she had imagined.
At this moment, any sense of balance the students once felt vanished completely.
What remained… was pure admiration from the depths of their souls.
For a true, all-around genius with no weaknesses.
Meanwhile, after his initial shock, what surged in Mr. Xuan's chest was pure, uncontrollable excitement.
Genius!
A true genius!
A peerless prodigy with unmatched talent in both Spirit Cultivation and soul tool crafting!
"HAHAHA! Good! Excellent!"
Mr. Xuan burst into laughter, grabbing Liu Yuan's shoulders as his eyes gleamed with passion.
"Liu Yuan! I underestimated you!"
"You're not specialized—you're an all-rounder!"
"Come! Rank 1 is too easy for you! We'll skip it entirely—I'll teach you Rank 2 spirit tools right now!"
Without waiting, he dragged Liu Yuan back to the forging table, launching straight into explanations of Compound Circuits and Energy Guiding Arrays.
His enthusiasm was on a completely different level now.
Seeing this, Liu Yuan could only smile helplessly.
But he didn't resist.
After all, completing the System's task didn't mean he should stop improving.
What if future missions required higher ranks?
Besides…
He had to admit—
This was actually… kind of easy.
For the rest of the afternoon, an absurd scene unfolded in the laboratory.
All the students continued their own practice—
While Mr. Xuan devoted himself entirely to Liu Yuan alone, teaching him everything from Rank 2 theory to advanced material ratios.
And Liu Yuan?
Like a sponge, absorbing everything effortlessly.
Anything he learned, he understood instantly—and could even apply flexibly.
This strange yet harmonious teaching atmosphere continued until the bell rang.
---
Later, in the cafeteria…
"Brother Liu Yuan, you're seriously a freak."
Xiao Hongchen gave a thumbs-up while stuffing his mouth with food, his face filled with genuine respect.
Meng Hongchen smiled softly.
"You really shocked everyone today."
Liu Yuan simply smiled, saying nothing.
After the meal, they parted ways.
---
Back in the dormitory…
Liu Yuan sat cross-legged on his bed, calming his mind before sinking his consciousness inward.
"System… submit task."
The familiar mechanical voice responded instantly:
[Ding! Detected that the Host has successfully crafted a perfect-quality Rank 1 spirit tool and received recognition from the instructor.]
[Time-Limited Mission: Path of the Soul Engin
eer — Completed!]
[Processing reward…]
Liu Yuan's heartbeat quickened.
This was it.
[Ding! Congratulations!]
[You have obtained: Random Pokémon Ability ×1!]
He held his breath.
What ability would it be?
[The ability you obtained is—]
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