Chapter 90: Humbly Seeking Guidance from Xiao Hongchen

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With the battle armor equipped, Su Yu's soul power surged dramatically.

Originally at the level of a Soul Ancestor, his soul power now, enhanced by the battle armor, exuded a pressure that far surpassed even a high-level Soul King.

"Martial Soul Possession!"

Xiao Hongchen instantly assumed his most powerful combat stance, his body bristling with Level 5 Soul Cannons.

Within the metallic barrier, Xiao Hongchen was brimming with confidence.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Xiao Hongchen launched the first attack, firing dozens of soul cannon rounds that arced through the air, sealing off all of Su Yu's possible escape routes.

In response, Su Yu activated the Blue Silver Domain.

His first and second soul rings glowed brilliantly.

The effects triggered by the twin soul rings were at least twice as powerful as before. Su Yu felt an immense surge of soul power welling up within him, compensating for the energy consumption of the battle armor and leaving some surplus.

Channeling this power into his battle armor, he amplified his overall attributes. The energy in his boots erupted, propelling him forward like a bolt of lightning.

A protective barrier of soul power enveloped Su Yu's body as he collided head-on with two incoming soul cannon rounds, exiting the locked zone unscathed.

Given that this was a demonstration, Su Yu naturally unleashed his full strength.

Within the Blue Silver Domain, his speed was already enhanced. With the amplification of the battle armor and the explosive power of his boots, his velocity rivaled that of top-tier Soul Emperors.

"Blue Silver Critical Lance!"

In the blink of an eye, clusters of Blue Silver Grass coalesced into a spear around Su Yu's body.

The spear, imbued with sword energy, pierced forward with deadly force.

Xiao Hongchen continued to fire soul cannons while activating his defensive systems. A soul power shield materialized outside his metallic fortress.

Crash! 

The Level 5 soul power shield shattered instantly.

The lance struck Xiao Hongchen's metallic fortress, releasing a burst of sword energy.

"What tremendous power!"

Jing Hongchen's gaze flickered. That single strike had obliterated Xiao Hongchen's Level 5 shield and nearly penetrated the thick metallic barrier.

It was worth noting that when Xiao Hongchen summoned the metallic barrier, he had reinforced it using the principles of soul tools. The barrier itself was essentially a massive, heavily fortified soul tool, functioning as a full-coverage, enhanced shield.

Its defensive capabilities were comparable to the sixth soul skill of a defense-type Soul Emperor.

Yet, even this was barely enough to withstand a single strike from Su Yu.

And the Blue Silver Critical Lance was merely one of Su Yu's weaker soul skills during his burst of power.

The Blue Silver Grass naturally lacked explosive force. Su Yu had compensated for this weakness by absorbing the mutated Sword Grass soul ring and obtaining the Severing Divine Sword.

Even without unleashing the Severing Divine Sword, the lance, carrying only residual sword energy, managed to break through Xiao Hongchen's defenses.

Moreover, this wasn't even the sword energy attached to his fourth soul skill—it was a rune-infused enhancement.

If combined with the fourth soul skill, the results would be even more devastating.

The abilities and strength Su Yu displayed provided Jing Hongchen with a clear understanding of the effectiveness of this beginner-level battle armor.

"Xuan Ziwen, it's time to start considering the development of intermediate and advanced battle armor."

"Understood."

Xuan Ziwen replied concisely, his eyes blazing as he observed Su Yu's performance, unleashing the power of a Soul Emperor while wearing beginner-level battle armor.

"This is only beginner-level battle armor!"

Turning to Meng Hongchen, Jing Hongchen instructed, "Meng, from now on, you and your brother should study under Xuan Ziwen as well."

Battle armor was most suitable when crafted by the user themselves.

Only through designing and creating it with one's own hands could it achieve maximum compatibility with its user.

Su Yu would eventually craft a set of battle armor entirely by himself.

As Soul Engineers, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen would also benefit greatly from personally crafting their own armor.

As for Jing Hongchen himself, he would wait until the theory for advanced battle armor was fully refined before beginning his own.

Advanced Battle Armor Might Not Show Significant Enhancements for Him

Xiao Hongchen's fortress was nearly breached, and beads of cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

In a hurry, he channeled soul power to repair the gap in the fortress.

However, Su Yu unsheathed the Severing Divine Sword. With his fourth soul skill unleashed, a sharp wave of sword energy completely shattered Xiao Hongchen's defense.

This was Su Yu's first time experiencing the amplification of battle armor, yet he wielded it with effortless precision. The armor seemed almost seamlessly integrated with his body, and there were no major issues with controlling his newfound power.

One strike broke through Xiao Hongchen's defense. Although it left a shallow wound on Xiao Hongchen's shoulder, it was quickly healed by activating his first soul skill.

Even the automatic-trigger defensive soul tool on Xiao Hongchen's body wasn't activated.

The mistake wasn't too significant.

"All right, let's go."

Su Yu and the others returned to Xuan Ziwen's research lab.

Meanwhile, the soul engineers who had been watching the battle at the Mingde Hall practice field were finally shaken from their daze.

"How can his explosive power be this strong?"

"I think I understand now. Most of it is thanks to that soul tool armor he's wearing."

These soul engineers were all at least Level 5 and had keen eyes.

But to see a soul tool armor capable of amplifying power to such an extent... As they recalled Su Yu donning the armor earlier, questions arose.

How difficult would it be to create such a set of armor?

If the production difficulty could be reduced...

It seemed like soul tools were on the verge of becoming an integral part of soul master combat.

Su Yu was very satisfied with this battle armor. However, since it wasn't crafted by him, he chose to leave it in Xuan Ziwen's lab.

This first piece of battle armor held special significance, making it suitable for display as a collectible here.

As for crafting his own battle armor, Su Yu planned to do so while acquiring soul rings alongside Kong Deming.

With the effectiveness of beginner-level battle armor validated, Xuan Ziwen was brimming with motivation.

His anticipation for intermediate battle armor grew even stronger.

Xiao Hongchen, on the other hand, was visibly dejected.

How could he have been defeated so easily?

He appeared lost in thought, questioning everything.

"It must be because the beginner-level battle armor is just too powerful."

Yes, that had to be it.

"I need to learn how to make beginner-level battle armor too."

"I'll craft my own battle armor."

"Once I have it, the added enhancements will let me operate Level 6 Soul Cannons with just five rings, and my strength will soar to new heights!"

"Master Xuan Ziwen, may I learn the method to craft this battle armor from you?" Xiao Hongchen, even before Meng Hongchen could persuade him, came to the realization on his own and eagerly made the request.

Jing Hongchen was taken aback.

He hadn't expected his grandson, who had been so passionate about soul cannons, to so quickly accept the integration of soul tool armor into the soul master system.

It seemed this battle had been extremely effective.

Perhaps, for future promotion of battle armor, it might be beneficial to organize matches between soul masters equipped with battle armor and those adhering to the traditional soul cannon platform system.

Hearing Xiao Hongchen's request, Xuan Ziwen waved his hand dismissively.

"No, no, don't call me 'Master.' That's too much for me."

"If you want to learn, you're welcome to study with me. Just call me Teacher Xuan from now on."

The "teacher" Xuan Ziwen referred to wasn't in the sense of a master-disciple relationship, but more like the instructor-student dynamic at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.

The relationship was a little unusual.

Xuan Ziwen and Jing Hongchen were technically on the same level, as they were both disciples of Kong Deming.

However, Xiao Hongchen, being Jing Hongchen's grandson, now had to call Xuan Ziwen his teacher. Meanwhile, Su Yu was considered Xuan Ziwen's peer, which further complicated the dynamics.

(End of Chapter)