Chapter 55: Can I Go Home After the Photoshoot?
"I knew it, the materials are impossible to find…" Ye Chen grimaced as he scrolled through the list.
Level 10 wasn't even the limit—there were Level 11 and 12 soul tools—but the materials for those simply couldn't exist in this world.
Ye Chen continued to browse and soon found the blueprints and materials for a Level 9 Soul Cannon.
[Level 9 Soul Cannon Shell]
[Core Materials: Blazing Flame Crystal Core, Ten-Thousand-Year Emerald Tree Essence or the life essence of three Soul Sages, Earthfire Core, …]
[Effect: Instantly releases immense energy, causing large-scale indiscriminate destructive impact.]
[Blueprint: …]
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"No wonder Level 9 Soul Cannons are so rare. Damn, they even require sacrifices..."
Ye Chen was genuinely shocked when he read that.
It was clearly a method exclusive to the Evil Soul Masters.
Originally, the Sun Moon Empire had no Level 9 Soul Cannons at all. But after cooperating with the Holy Spirit Cult—they did.
Of course, sacrificing lives wasn't strictly required; it was just cost-effective.
When materials were lacking, human lives could be used instead. In this fantasy world, the act of sacrifice could replace countless rare resources.
Real Level 9 Soul Cannons didn't need that step.
But when materials were too scarce, the "value-for-cost" of a life became quite high…
Naturally, all that was far beyond Ye Chen's current reach.
Even if he had the blueprint, he couldn't make one yet.
So, Ye Chen looked lower and searched for a Level 1 soul tool.
Before long, he found something intriguing and practical:
["Flowlight Image Box": Can record scenes and, with special paper, produce physical photos.]
[Materials: Level 1 rare metal, silica…]
[Blueprint: …]
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"This one's great! And it doesn't even look that difficult~"
Ye Chen's eyes lit up instantly as he studied the design.
In this world, soul tools could only be crafted by soul masters—who mostly focused on combat.
So household-type tools like this were rare in the three great empires. Most were smuggled in from the Sun Moon Empire, and their price multiplied several hundred times.
Ye Chen wasn't sure whether the Sun Moon Empire had anything like this, but he was determined to build one himself.
After all, a beautiful life deserved to be recorded.
With a camera, he could invite the girls out every now and then for some lovely pictures.
And after the shoot… don't let them go home right away—hehehe…
Photography was wonderful—especially the "intimate" kind.
In his previous life, photographers with even average charm were never short of companions. And the handsome, rich, and smooth-talking ones? They always had plenty.
One shoot, one night.
In this world, it probably wouldn't be any different.
...
Glancing at the materials around him, Ye Chen got right to work.
Since it was only a Level 1 soul tool, all required materials were readily available. He only needed to engrave the core formation.
Although he was still technically a beginner Soul Engineer, he had already mastered the engraving process. With a complete blueprint, making a Level 1 tool wasn't difficult at all.
At his will, the blueprint of the Flowlight Image Box etched itself clearly in his mind—as if he had practiced it countless times before.
Ye Chen felt certain that crafting this soul tool would be far easier than mere replication.
Copying was starting from zero; creating meant he already had all the knowledge—he just needed one proper execution.
Without hesitation, he picked up a piece of rare Level 1 metal and a basic engraving knife, then began his work.
Though a Level 1 soul formation was far more complex than what he had previously inscribed, Ye Chen handled it effortlessly—moving as if he had rehearsed the process countless times.
Crack—
A sharp snapping sound echoed as the array fractured.
Ye Chen: …
"Well, it's got its challenges, I'll admit…" He grinned wryly and grabbed another metal disc to start again.
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Finally, half an hour later—
Ye Chen set his engraving knife down gently and injected his soul power into the completed core.
Hum—
A soft silver glow rippled across its surface, signifying that the core law circle functioned perfectly.
"Took me three failures and half an hour to get it right. Guess I'm still not quite fluent yet~" Ye Chen sighed, mildly disappointed.
If Xian Lin'er had heard that, she would've gritted her teeth in envy—
After all, when she'd first started engraving basic arrays, it had taken her three whole months to master one.
Ye Chen had achieved it in barely thirty minutes.
Even though the soul tool itself wasn't finished yet, Ye Chen had officially become a Level 1 Soul Engineer.
As for assembling the casing, that was straightforward—he just needed to follow the blueprint.
However, since he had never learned forging techniques...
"Forget it, I'll just wait until Xian Lin'er returns. I'll have her teach me personally."
Ye Chen decided silently.
As for how to explain this newly engraved formation, he wasn't worried.
The Flowlight Image Box's array contained nothing too advanced—it was simply an innovation of existing core formations.
There were over ninety basic core laws; their combinations could form millions of new variants.
No one else would recognize its function—to others, it would just look like an odd, useless arrangement of basic circuits.
Until the full device was built, no one would know what it could do.
Once it was done, Ye Chen would feign curiosity, add a few studied references, and present the completed Flowlight Image Box.
Everyone would attribute his success to his legendary "heaven-defying talent."
No one would ever suspect he possessed an otherworldly source of knowledge.
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Meanwhile,
At the Sea God Pavilion.
The council of elders had just adjourned and hadn't even left Sea God Island yet—when Xian Lin'er summoned everyone back again.
"Lin'er, what's this about? You dragged all of us old geezers back here again?" Elder Song frowned at her, mildly annoyed.
His daughter always kept him on edge—it was exhausting.
All the elders had returned, including Yan Shaozhe and Cai Meier. The only one missing was Mu En, likely resting in the outer court dormitory. Xian Lin'er didn't dare disturb him anyway.
But this group was more than enough.
Once everyone was present, Xian Lin'er didn't bother with suspense. Smiling proudly, she announced, "Honored elders, I have good news! I recently brought Ye Chen to the Soul Tool Department for a quick test—and to my surprise, his talent there is extraordinary! Even greater than Fan Yu's!"
"What! Lin'er, you took Xiao Chen to the Soul Tool Department?! Why didn't you tell me?"
Yan Shaozhe immediately exploded in outrage.
Good grief, was she blatantly poaching his student? Too much!
"Hmph, he's my disciple, and I wanted to test him. Why should I need your permission?"
Xian Lin'er huffed proudly, glaring at him with smug satisfaction.
Seeing him flustered filled her heart with inexplicable pleasure.
Women could be quite vengeful—and her grudge against Yan Shaozhe's affair with Cai Meier was one she could easily hold for life.
"W-What did you just say… your disciple???"
Yan Shaozhe froze completely, an ominous feeling welling in his chest.
(END CHAPTER)
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