FE—Chapter 138: Xuan Zi Prepares to Earn Merit
Jing Hongchen recovered from the shock caused by Huo Yuhao's discussion of the two-word battle armor. The soul-forging alloy with wings, fused with his own blood and soul power—Jing Hongchen was secretly amazed.
"The fusion of machinery and flesh—what an advanced concept."
Huo Yuhao saw that Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi were still somewhat dazed, so he didn't delve deeply into the details of the two-word battle armor. Instead, he simply discussed its advantages over the one-word battle armor. After all, he had not yet mastered soul forging.
Jing Hongchen couldn't calm his excitement for a long time: "I never dared to hope for the fusion of machinery and flesh."
"The two-word battle armor can even use soul-forging metal to produce spiritual wings for the wearer..." Jing Hongchen felt a mixture of admiration and complexity.
Wasn't their Illustrious Virtue Hall's research on flying soul guidance devices in vain?
Illustrious Virtue Hall's flying soul guidance device is undoubtedly the most advanced on the continent. It employs soul guidance technology and is several versions ahead of Shrek and the other three kingdoms.
Who would have thought that the two-word battle armor could generate wings—wings created by combining soul-forging metal and soul power? Just listening to it, it almost felt like rubbing a flying soul guidance device on the ground.
Jing Hongchen patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder with his broad hand, suppressing his excitement and feeling a surge of emotion.
"Yuhao, the concept of merging machinery with flesh is still too advanced for today."
Huo Yuhao smiled: "This is what happens when the number of characters in a battle armor's name increases."
According to the story in Douluo Dalu III, when a battle armor reaches four characters, it already possesses a certain degree of spirituality—like a second body for a soul master—and is also called a demigod armor.
However, forging a four-character battle armor requires the activation of heavenly tribulations, heavenly rules, and so on.
The God Realm in Douluo Dalu III was wiped out by turbulence in time and space, making it easier to activate those rules.
The God Realm in Douluo Dalu II still exists, and in principle, it's more difficult to manipulate.
But for Huo Yuhao, not only does he have some luck on the plane, but he also benefits from the Flame Emperor template, so it's not as difficult as he initially thought.
"Yuhao, does Rachel want to create a two-character battle armor directly?" Meng Hongchen chuckled, her silver-white gauntlets making a metal-hissing sound as she clenched her fists.
She looked eager to fight Di Rachel and avenge the last time Di Rachel was possessed by the Silver Dragon King and nearly blown away by a golden dragon fist.
Meng Hongchen didn't know that Di Rachel had been possessed; she thought Di Rachel was deliberately bullying her.
Thinking of her seven-ring soul saint strength after wearing the one-word battle armor, Meng Hongchen was immediately pleased and said happily: "Yuhao, don't take sides."
Huo Yuhao shook his head: "No. Since you want to beat Rachel to vent your anger, go find her later. Sister Meng, have you thought of a name for this battle armor?"
"The name of the battle armor..." Meng Hongchen tapped her chin with her silver-white fingertips, pondering for a moment. She tilted her head to look at Huo Yuhao and asked curiously: "Yuhao, what should I name my one-word battle armor?"
Huo Yuhao thought seriously: "For me, I'll probably start with a two-character battle armor like Rachel's."
"But don't worry, Sister Meng. You'll wear the one-word battle armor to participate in this Soul Master Competition, and later you'll also have your two-word battle armor."
"I know that, Yuhao." Meng Hongchen knew he wouldn't treat her poorly. She smiled: "Then what will you name the two-word battle armor?"
Huo Yuhao hesitated, unable to think of any bloodline-related names for the Ancient Void Dragon. But two words quickly appeared in his mind—"Spirit Ice," the title of Huo Yuhao after breaking through to Titled Douluo in the original story. Anyway, he probably wouldn't use that name when the armor was finished; he just answered Meng Hongchen first to give her an idea.
He looked thoughtful: "For a two-character battle armor, I might consider calling it 'Spirit Ice'."
Meng Hongchen thought for a moment: "Spirit Eyes Martial Soul and the ice attribute of the second martial soul..." She rubbed Huo Yuhao's hair with her silver-white handnails and smiled: "Yuhao, my Vermilion Clear Ice Toad rsMartial Soul also has ice attributes. Why don't I name it 'Ice Rain'..."
"But it can only be a single word for now—how about 'Ice' or 'Rain' for the first name?"
Huo Yuhao looked up at her smiling eyes and pursed his lips: "Then Sister Meng, let's use 'Ice' first."
"And we'll add 'Rain' when the two-character battle armor is created later."
"Alright, I'll listen to you, Yuhao." Meng Hongchen nodded, deciding that the one-character armor would be called "Ice," and the future two-character armor would be "Ice Rain."
Jing Hongchen watched his granddaughter and grandson-in-law's scene, a gentle smile curling at the corners of his mouth. He couldn't help but feel relieved.
He waved his hand and made a quick decision.
"Jiayi, starting tomorrow, the underground research base of Illustrious Virtue Hall will be divided into two areas: one for mecha research and one for battle armor research."
"The mecha research area will continue studying Experimental Subject No. 1. The battle armor research will be divided into four projects: forging, design, production, and maintenance. Each researcher will be tested for their talent and assigned accordingly."
"Understood, Hall Master."
Lin Jiayi agreed readily. Hearing Huo Yuhao's description of the two-word battle armor and witnessing Meng Hongchen's strength improvement with her one-word armor, the excitement on his face was still evident.
Most of the Sun Moon Empire's army's soul engineers could boost cultivation to the fifth or sixth rings with pills. They could fight with soul cannons, but the overall strength of soul engineers was weak.
If soul engineers wore two-word battle armor, their combat capability would double, making them the backbone of the empire.
Jing Hongchen laughed heartily: "Haha, Meng, wearing one-word battle armor and reaching the seventh ring—this hall master doesn't know how to fight those reckless men at Shrek. I could directly abuse them so much they doubted their lives."
The stage for Meng Hongchen's divine display in the Soul Master Competition was set.
Huo Yuhao thought about it and realized it was true. In the original story, Meng Hongchen relied on a sixth-level soul guidance armor to suppress the six-ring soul emperor Dai Yuheng in the individual elimination, seizing the opportunity to use her Ice Venom Dragon's Corkscrew to defeat Dai Yuheng completely.
He never expected that the victory could be reversed by force. Dai Yuheng came prepared with a nesting doll. What he was waiting for was his chance to seize the opportunity and finally win.
Now, with Meng Hongchen wearing the one-word battle armor, not to mention Dai Yuheng, even Ma Xiaotao would be stunned when she stepped onto the stage.
Jing Hongchen looked at Huo Yuhao and smiled kindly: "Yuhao, since you don't have a one-word battle armor now, wear the level 5 full-body armor I made for you."
"The level 6 full-body armor for Meng can be kept until you reach four rings."
"Yes, thank you, Hall Master." Huo Yuhao naturally obeyed and followed Jing Hongchen out of the metal door leading to the dome.
Arriving at the semicircular area in front of the lab, Jing Hongchen took out all the level 5 full-body armor parts from the metal cabinet, handing them to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao examined them quickly; the red and ice-blue patterns on the surface looked fine.
"Let's go back." Jing Hongchen took out the remote control, preparing to take the elevator to the ground.
"Yuhao, hold me tight. I'll carry you up in my battle armor." Meng Hongchen appeared behind Huo Yuhao, her tall figure clad in streamlined silver-white and ice-blue armor.
Her legs, covered in silver-white battle armor, were flawless and impressively long. The silver-white metal arc on her thighs nearly reached Huo Yuhao's waist.
After covering her hands with silver-white hand armor, her fists looked several times larger.
She reached down with her arms, the silver-white armor circling Huo Yuhao's waist, ready to lift him.
Jing Hongchen pressed the remote control to open the dome's passage.
Sometimes when he conducted research in the underground base, if unexpected situations arose outside, Jing Hongchen couldn't take the elevator slowly. Naturally, he set up a route for direct flight.
"Let's go find Di Rachel to avenge my previous shame."
Meng Hongchen smiled happily as she held Huo Yuhao. She activated her one-word battle armor, unfolding the matching flying soul guidance device on her back. With the silver-white and ice-blue halo flowing on her armor, the two took off with a whoosh.
Huo Yuhao wanted to mention that he could fly himself, but seeing Meng Hongchen's eager expression, he held back, not wanting to spoil her fun.
Jing Hongchen laughed, feeling very pleased: "In a few years, when Yuhao grows up, I'll advocate for the two of them to do it."
Lin Jiayi nodded in agreement, smiling: "Well, it's a good thing that Meng and Yuhao are a good match."
After Meng Hongchen flew up with Huo Yuhao in her arms, she saw Di Rachel and Ye Guyi waiting for them with curiosity.
"Yuhao, Senior Meng." Di Rachel and Ye Guyi approached.
The holy white light in Ye Guyi's eyes flickered slightly as she sensed Meng Hongchen and slightly widened her eyes.
What exactly did Senior Meng do with Yuhao in the underground secret room?
Ye Guyi's thoughts involuntarily drifted to this, and she was stunned. She looked at Meng Hongchen's battle armor, surprised: "Senior Meng, is this the armor you and Yuhao made together, which gives you the strength of the seventh ring soul saint?"
Meng Hongchen gently lowered Huo Yuhao, and nodded confidently with a smile: "Yes, seven rings."
She lifted her silver-white hair and smiled confidently: "If Wang Dong from Clear Sky Sect also participates in the Soul Master Competition, I will let her see the huge gap between me and her!"
Di Rachel and Ye Guyi looked at Meng Hongchen, who wore the heroic and charming one-word battle armor and expressed some envy.
"This battle armor is truly amazing."
Di Rachel approached Meng Hongchen, stretched out her small hand, and touched her chest plate. She poked it with her fingers—though she could see the bulging of her breasts underneath, the battle armor protected them, making them hard without any feeling of separation.
Later, Di Rachel exchanged experiences with Meng Hongchen about the design drawings of battle armor at night. She had already learned where Meng Hongchen's design came from.
Di Rachel patted Meng Hongchen's chest armor and smiled sweetly: "Senior Meng, can you lend me this battle armor for two days?"
"No! I almost forgot!" Meng Hongchen's eyes widened slightly. "Di Rachel, come with me. I want to spar with you."
Di Rachel was a little displeased and summoned her golden dragon spear: "Miss Meng if you have the ability, take off your battle armor and fight me openly."
The last time the Silver Dragon King possessed Di Rachel, her golden dragon fist had scared Meng Hongchen a lot. Now she was wearing her battle armor for revenge. Di Rachel wasn't a coward and wouldn't back down from a little humiliation.
She suggested removing her battle armor.
Meng Hongchen refused: "No. Sister Rachel, if you don't dare to fight, just call me 'Sister Meng' and call it even from the previous incident."
"Impossible, I won't call you that! Let's fight—let's go!" Di Rachel's words showed she had no intention of giving in.
Meng Hongchen chuckled and walked ahead; Di Rachel, clutching her golden dragon spear, followed behind angrily.
At this moment, Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi approached.
Seeing this scene, Jing Hongchen looked somewhat confused: "Yuhao, Rachel, and Meng—what's going on... huh?"
Huo Yuhao quickly organized his words: "Sister Meng has never been a match for Rachel before. Now she's wearing the battle armor and preparing to spar with her."
Jing Hongchen was stunned but chose not to intervene. After a moment of thought, he smiled and said:
"Jiayi, since Meng's strength has reached seven rings while wearing the one-word battle armor, didn't we cancel the training match between the reserve and regular teams?"
"It's perfect—call the other students of both teams to watch Meng and Rachel spar."
Lin Jiayi understood immediately and left Illustrious Virtue Hall to notify the other reserve and regular team members.
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Outside Shrek Academy:
After the mixed team battle, Wang Yan organized the reserve, regular, and veteran teams, along with Elder Xuan, who was accompanying them for protection, to take a group photo under the golden tree with a soul guidance camera.
After Xuan Zi gave a brief pre-departure speech, everyone set off for Star Luo City.
Wang Yan approached Xuan Zi seriously.
"Elder Xuan, we're going to Star Luo City to participate in the Soul Master Competition. On the road and during the match, please protect our students whenever necessary."
Xuan Zi took a sip from his wine gourd, confidently replying: "Don't worry, Xiao Wang. Just come to me for protection. With my strength as a level 98 Super Douluo, there's no problem."
He admitted that sometimes, due to negligence, he lost contact with his disciples when leading hunts, but he'd never failed to lead a team in the competition.
"Elder Xuan, you said before that you arranged tasks for the disciples to hone their characters. What are those tasks?" Wang Yan asked.
Xuan Zi bit into a large piece of chicken, then said vaguely: "Hmm... destroying evil soul masters."
Xuan Zi knew very well that leading disciples to eliminate evil soul masters was a great merit.
(End of this chapter)