"Is this contestant number sixty-six trying to create an Eighth-level Soul-guiding Device?"
Watching Su Yu forge a large amount of high-level rare metals and perform various fine hammerings, the audience started to speculate.
Among the spectators, those purely for amusement were in the minority. The majority attending were at least Soul Guides, or they came accompanied by Soul Guides.
Even those gambling on rare metals needed to have some knowledge of Soul-guiding Devices.
At this moment, Su Yu was processing a large amount of rare metals.
A pair of forging hammers swung continuously in his hands, and various rare metals were struck repeatedly between liquid and solid states. Under the infiltration of Su Yu's Soul Power, the internal structure was constantly adjusted.
The final round of the competition had a generous time allocation, lasting for a full five hours.
Su Yu had already used up an hour upon his arrival.
Forging took Su Yu a full two hours.
This showed the importance of materials themselves in the creation of Soul-guiding Devices.
The characteristics of rare metals were extraordinary; their quality was extremely high due to years of Primordial Energy penetration.
However, most rare metals could be used to create low or intermediate-level Soul-guiding Devices without issue, but they were unsuitable for advanced Soul-guiding Devices.
The creation of Eighth and Ninth-level Soul-guiding Devices required materials that were as significant as the construction and depiction of the Core Array.
Su Yu even suspected that the Ninth-level Soul-guiding Device had not broken through to Level 10 perhaps due to material limitations.
Kong Deming agreed with Su Yu's opinion. In fact, his own method of becoming a Tenth-level Soul Guide involved using his Soul Power to continuously nurture and enhance the foundation of his created Level 9 Peak Silver Moon Divine Light Shield, ultimately upgrading its Core Array to transform it into a Tenth-level Soul-guiding Device.
...
Su Yu finished forging the alloy, brushed his right hand over his brow, and the Blade of Living Beings appeared in his hand, beginning to carve onto the alloy.
Soul Power emanated from the blade tip of the Blade of Living Beings, sketching the Core Array within the alloy.
Time passed.
The creation of the Eighth-level Soul-guiding Device was completed within four hours; Su Yu could only do his best to ensure success.
As for the final quality, it depended on his forging and engraving process where Life Force continually nourished the alloy.
Fortunately, Su Yu did not make any mistakes.
At the last moment, as the final pattern was completed, dense patterns flowed across the giant metal alloy sword in Su Yu's hand, shimmering with a unique radiance.
"It succeeded!"
The spectators watched the glowing alloy giant sword in Su Yu's hand, sensing the energy fluctuation at the moment the patterns converged, directing their gaze towards Su Yu.
The panel of judges.
"Such a closely packed Core Array!"
Looking at Su Yu's location on the platform, faint projections of the Core Array could be seen in the light from the alloy giant sword.
Through these projections, they could roughly determine some basic elements of the Core Array.
The Core Array sketching on Su Yu's Eighth-level Soul-guiding Device was incredibly complex, much more so than ordinary Eighth-level Soul-guiding Devices.
But this also provided security.
Su Yu used a more complex Core Array, naturally avoiding many of the high-risk carvings prone to error.
However, engraving the Core Array to such a complex degree demonstrated Su Yu's capability.
"With his ability, if there was no time limit, he might be able to create a truly top-grade Eighth-level Soul-guiding Device!"
The only Eighth-level Soul Guide within the panel of judges exclaimed.
Even he, as a judge, had to admit that he couldn't achieve what Su Yu had done.
Being able to mitigate the risk of production failure using a more cumbersome method already illustrated a higher level of soul-guiding crafting.
Su Yu was the only contestant creating an Eighth-level Soul-guiding Device, and with his successful creation, the result of this final round of the competition was naturally determined, with no need for so-called practical testing.
An Eighth-level Soul-guiding Device, and an attack-type Soul-guiding Device like a giant sword at that.
On the other side, in the Ordinary Alliance's arena, Huo Yuhao created a Seventh-level Soul-guiding Device.
In terms of Soul-guiding Device quality, Huo Yuhao's device did not have an obviously superior trait and still needed subsequent practical tests.
However, Huo Yuhao had too many tricks up his sleeve. The crafted Soul-guiding Device was either more convenient or had unique effects.
In the end, the first place in the Ordinary Alliance's arena undoubtedly went to Huo Yuhao.
...
"How was it?"
On the way back to Mingde Hall, Su Yu inquired about Huo Yuhao's findings.
"Brother Yu, the forces behind these three major black markets are really complex."
Huo Yuhao had his Spiritual Detection Sharing on the whole time.
Even though there were soul-guiding devices in the three major black markets capable of blocking Spiritual Power, anything important would activate these soul-guiding devices, making it impossible for Huo Yuhao to probe into specifics.
However, because the blocking soul-guiding devices were activated, it made filtering much more convenient for Huo Yuhao.
He knew exactly who entered which room and activated blockers, a comprehensive grasp.
Although unaware of the specific discussions, having this list made further investigation much easier.
"Brother Yu, the forces behind these three major black markets basically encompass all the great noble families, intertwined and complicated. Are you sure we want to act against them?"
Huo Yuhao was slightly concerned.
This was a huge complication. If stirred, Mingde Hall might face enormous pressure.
"Don't worry, we won't be too harsh."