If it were only the Ascension plan, it would merely make the upper ranks of Shrek restless. But when paired with the now-mature Soul Awakening Array, it was enough to drive any soul master who understood its effects into a frenzy.
Chen Fu's research into technology had always been systematic. None of the technologies stood alone; they supported and enhanced one another.
Of course, technology is a double-edged sword, and right now this blade was gently cutting toward the soul beasts.
The materials required each year for the Ascension plan were terrifyingly large in amount, causing prices in Shrek City to skyrocket. Prices of related soul tool materials in the three neighboring nations rose as well.
Everyone across both continents shared the same view: Shrek was preparing something major.
Among the many rumors, one spread the most widely: Shrek Academy was going to create a ninth-rank soul tool.
When people combined their guesses about the inventor of the War Soul Device with the academy's publicly sold healing device, Scorching Sun, most forces concluded that Shrek Academy was paving the way for that monstrous soul tool prodigy among their students and teachers.
"To some extent, they really did guess correctly."
Regarding that rumor, Chen Fu neither confirmed nor denied it. From a technical standpoint, the Ascension apparatus could indeed be considered a ninth-rank soul tool… a spectacle.
It contained no divine power, no mystical elements. It was simply a ninth-rank soul tool that could be analyzed and copied—just slightly larger, more precise, and stronger than the usual ones. Nothing more.
Waving away the blue soul-power projection of the battle report, Chen Fu silently sat in his seat, ten fingers intertwined, gazing quietly at the elders across from him.
He hadn't wanted to attend this Sea God Pavilion meeting, but its outcome would affect the Ascension plan, so he came.
"The Sun and Moon Empire has moved four Soul Engineer Regiments to press against the Star Luo border. Early yesterday morning, they clashed with the White Tiger Legion."
"The results were a little unexpected. The White Tiger Legion is at a disadvantage."
Elder Xuan sat firmly on the high seat, reading the report in an emotionless tone.
"Doesn't this battle show how important soul tools are on the battlefield?"
These Douluo-rank elders, who originally scoffed at soul tools as mere external crutches, were now nodding repeatedly, saying soul tools needed to be heavily developed—developed as much as possible.
"Their motive for provoking war is obvious. They have a ninth-rank strategic soul engineer, so they clearly understand how threatening a ninth-rank soul tool is in warfare."
"Originally, we already crushed them in soul master cultivation. If we also possessed ninth-rank soul tools, they'd have no chance at all. It seems they really haven't given up."
Chen Fu watched Elder Xuan and the other elders discuss, saying nothing.
Even though he bore inescapable responsibility for the outbreak of this conflict.
Take a simple example: the Sun and Moon Empire's Mingde Hall happened to be one of the main buyers of his Lin Pavilion War Soul Devices.
As for whether Mingde Hall bought them to decrypt, to sleep on, or to use for skincare against ultraviolet rays, Chen Fu didn't care. The orders never stopped anyway.
But something did catch his attention: in this border conflict, the coordinated offense and defense among the four Sun and Moon Empire regiments.
After extracting key information and using Blue Shade to secretly simulate the battle, he immediately found something suspicious.
Good heavens—there was a 99% chance they possessed some kind of short-range instantaneous communication soul tool with a radius of ten kilometers.
He quietly opened a small soul-power screen, ignoring the elders who paused their discussion to look at him, and used his spiritual power to drive a programmatic simulation.
Based on the information currently revealed by the Sun and Moon Empire, and the intelligence bought by an Ultimate Douluo trading… certain favors, Chen Fu roughly inferred Mingde Hall's development direction.
Hmm… with their skills and technological reserves, it was indeed possible.
Amidst a flood of data, a crude, antenna-equipped, elongated soul tool model gradually took shape in his hands.
"…"
Elder Xuan lowered his head to look again at the second battle report he had just received, then struggled to compare it with the model in Chen Fu's projection.
"Don't tell me you actually gave them the technology? No… that can't be right…"
The second report in his hands was a denunciation from Star Luo received half an hour ago. They accused Shrek of leaking War Soul Device technology to the Sun and Moon Empire, and even attached an image of the communication device the White Tiger Duke had seized on the battlefield.
"It's just a deduction. If I had actually given it to them, what you'd be holding now would be a letter begging Shrek for help from the Star Luo royal family."
"They imitate without copying, learn without resembling. Their craftsmanship and ideology… not bad."
As Chen Fu answered, he didn't forget to jab at the Soul Tool Department of the Academy, which kept trying to copy his work.
On a side note, he'd heard that the 'evil soul master' squad that once attacked his father's city lord mansion had been annihilated—half a year ago, led by the new baron city lord who came from the duke's household.
It was said that the evil soul masters had been wiped out so completely that even the Holy Spirit Cult couldn't find anyone who knew them. After Elder Mu told Long Xiaoyao about Chen Fu's family massacre by "evil soul masters," Long Xiaoyao had personally gone to investigate.
Ah… twelve-year-olds really are easy to bully.
"So what is the result of your discussion? Slowing down the Ascension construction? Compromising with the Sun and Moon Empire?"
Chen Fu decided to end this meaningless debate quickly. They just wanted to show him how much the Academy had "sacrificed for him." He had seen such tricks too many times in his previous life.
Slow down the Ascension project? Even if the Sun and Moon Empire marched straight into Star Luo's capital—absolutely not!
The elders immediately felt anger rise within them. So the Sun and Moon Empire could have ninth-rank soul tools but they couldn't? If not for Shrek being a neutral force, they would have crushed the Sun and Moon royal family long ago.
What do people live for?
Some live just to survive, some to eat, some to find a spouse who's acceptable.
These are the thoughts of ordinary people oppressed for countless generations. But for the Title Douluos in this room, the pursuit of strength had long become their life's purpose.
Without the burning desire to grow stronger, they would never have overcome trial after trial and reached the Title rank.
The Ascension apparatus could greatly enhance their cultivation. If they let such an opportunity slip away, would Shrek still deserve to be called the strongest power?
"So, your decision is?"
Chen Fu rested his chin on his intertwined fingers and looked at the silent group before him.
"Shaozhe, take a team and make a round at the border."
With the elders' exchanged glances, Elder Xuan made the decision. Shrek needed to show the Sun and Moon Empire what the foundation of the number-one force truly meant.
Kids these days… so hard to sway. Elder Xuan watched the young man respond with an "okay" and leave, feeling a quiet sigh in his heart.
He had tried many ways to influence Chen Fu, but nothing worked. What Shrek had, Chen Fu didn't care for; what Chen Fu had, Shrek desperately wanted.
But without damaging their teacher-student relationship, no matter how they tried to "pressure or entice" him, the kid would never give Shrek what it wanted most.
Watching Chen Fu play with the Ark device as if it were a toy, and considering that they had failed to reproduce the first-generation Ark after three years, they finally understood the true value of technology.
Although Chen Fu had indeed helped the Soul Tool Department somewhat, and Fan Yu's side was now slowly getting on track…
Still, with such a "peerless beauty" right beside them, claiming they had no designs was something not a single person in the Sea God Pavilion would believe.
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