Douluo Dalu 2: You are an Evil Soul Master, but also a good person ?

Experimental Building.

First Floor.

Lin Jiayi led the entire new Class 1 in single file.

They passed through a long corridor, surrounded by various experimental areas. Many first and second-year students were either conducting research during their free time or, like the new Class 1, attending a class.

As they rounded the corridor, Lin Jiayi stopped at Experimental Area 14.

He directed everyone to enter Areas 14 and 15.

Each experimental area was equipped with twenty low-level workstations, suitable for lower-grade students. Each class typically consisted of around forty students...

Xiao Hongchen, familiar with the process, pulled Xu Cheng along, and the two stood at adjacent workstations.

The former began adjusting the machinery, metal grinders, experimental tables, molds, and more.

Seeing this, Xu Cheng followed suit, mimicking Xiao Hongchen's actions.

Although his movements were slightly clumsy, the other students in Class 1 were as skilled as Xiao Hongchen, clearly having done this many times before.

Despite Xu Cheng's slower start, no one looked down on him, especially the girls. If it weren't for Xiao Hongchen "hogging" him, some might have already come over to teach him hands-on...

Xu Cheng couldn't help but sigh.

Starting from childhood, the Sun Moon Empire truly deserved its title as the leading nation in soul tools.

"A soul tool consists of a core formation, external circuits, and a metal shell," Lin Jiayi began, pacing behind the students as they adjusted their equipment.

"First, the external circuits. They are the channels connecting the core formation to the metal shell. Once you can replicate the core formation, you'll understand its connection points to the metal shell and its various nodes. The simplest node is the activation point, which every Level 1 Soul Engineer must master."

"If the activation node is wrong, the entire soul tool is a failure!"

"Other nodes include energy storage (milk bottles), safety mechanisms, preheating devices, and so on. Of course, these are for higher grades. A Level 1 Soul Engineer only needs to master the activation node to qualify."

"Next is the external metal. It determines the soul tool's durability and the power it can withstand. It's crucial. A powerful soul tool without sturdy metal will melt before it can even be fired, leading to disastrous consequences!"

"..."

As Xu Cheng listened to Lin Jiayi's explanation, he glanced at Xiao Hongchen, who looked bored, and whispered, "You're already a Level 3 Soul Engineer. Isn't staying here a waste of time?"

"I wish I could leave!" Xiao Hongchen complained. "But Grandpa ordered me to follow the curriculum. I'm only allowed to do my own activities after class or during breaks."

"If you're already at Level 3, why not take the advanced exam?"

"Grandpa said I have to wait at least half a semester before I can take the advanced exam," Xiao Hongchen said, frustrated.

Xu Cheng pondered.

It seemed that Grandpa Jing Hongchen was betting on him.

Making an early investment, huh?

Did he really have that much confidence in him?

Or... did he know something?

"Anyway, I can teach you! I'm bored anyway," Xiao Hongchen leaned forward, resting his arms on the workstation, turning to Xu Cheng with a casual smile.

"Sure," Xu Cheng agreed with a smile.

"Here, take this Level 1 core formation and start analyzing it. Once you can analyze it successfully, the rest is easy. With my guidance, you'll become a Level 1 Soul Engineer within five months, no problem," Xiao Hongchen handed Xu Cheng a small piece of metal from the workstation.

"So this is the core formation," Xu Cheng took it, examining the intricate patterns on the metal.

Of course, only when soul power was injected and circulated through the patterns would the soul tool's power be unleashed.

"Analyzing..."

As Xu Cheng studied it, a strange sensation suddenly filled his mind, as if the complex patterns on the metal were being broken down into individual symbols, floating in the air, their operational rules and soul power flow clearly displayed before him.

This must be what it feels like to cheat...

Knowledge entered his mind in a different way.

In less than a minute, the analysis was complete.

The "Proficient" level skill was truly impressive, Xu Cheng thought to himself, marveling.

Previous charitable acts had granted him several skills, including Mental Perception (Beginner): Able to sense all living beings within a 100-meter radius in 3D. Sensory Enhancement (Beginner): Amplifies vision, smell, and hearing by three times, adjustable. Cellular Immunity Boost (Beginner): Enhances cell activity, providing stronger resistance to toxins, and more.

But most were at the beginner level and quite niche.

Only the skill obtained from saving Tang Ya was miraculous. With the addition of Tianmeng's spiritual power in the future, it would be a game-changer.

It really pays to be involved with the main characters of Douluo Dalu 2...

The mission rewards were truly something...

"Take your time. When I first started with soul tools, it took me over two months to successfully analyze a Level 1 soul tool," Xiao Hongchen patted Xu Cheng's shoulder, trying to comfort him, fearing he might get discouraged.

"After analyzing, the next step is replication, right?" Xu Cheng suddenly asked.

"Yeah, once you replicate it successfully, you're pretty much on your way to becoming a Level 1 Soul Engineer. When I first..."

Xiao Hongchen's voice trailed off, his eye twitching as he watched Xu Cheng pick up a new piece of metal from the workstation, fix it in place, and start replicating with an engraving tool...

Although he wanted to tease Xu Cheng, he carefully removed his arm from the latter's shoulder, afraid of disturbing the replication process. He knew all too well how mentally taxing it was for a soul engineer to replicate. External interference could disrupt their focus...

Even when other students successfully replicated, they celebrated quietly, careful not to disturb others.

"..."

"Look, does this count as success?"

Xu Cheng nudged Xiao Hongchen awake.

The latter stretched lazily. Replicating a Level 1 core formation was trivial for him, something he could do in his sleep. The quiet environment had lulled him into a nap on the workstation.

"Let me see... huh?"

Xiao Hongchen's drowsiness vanished, his pupils contracting sharply.

A piece of metal lay on Xu Cheng's workstation, engraved with patterns, alongside metal shavings. Clearly, it was the one Xu Cheng had been working on before he fell asleep.

But...

Having been exposed to soul tools since childhood, with his grandfather being the head of the Mingde Hall and a seasoned Level 9 Soul Engineer, Xiao Hongchen was intimately familiar with core formations, especially Level 1 ones.

Yet, at first glance, he couldn't find any flaws in Xu Cheng's work!

(End of Chapter)