16: Chapter 16: Level One Soul Master, Achieved!

Mu Qingci could not yet be considered a true First-Class Soul Engineer.

The last time he successfully crafted a First-Class spirit tool, it was because that particular spirit tool was very simple—just an entry-level model—and coupled with the enhancement of his Blade of Living Beings, a ranked engraving knife, he was able to succeed.

To truly become a First-Class Soul Engineer, crafting just one illumination spirit tool was not enough.

"Mengmeng, Grandpa will play with you in a little while; I need to give this kid some pointers first."

After sending his granddaughter away, Jing Hongchen brought Mu Qingci to that familiar laboratory.

"Kid, is there anything you don't understand lately?"

Mu Qingci nodded and then poured out all of his lingering doubts.

"Hmm, not bad. To have self-studied up to this point, your talent is truly impressive."

Although Jing Hongchen's verbal praise seemed measured, a storm was already raging in his heart.

"This kid hasn't even fully become a First-Class Soul Engineer yet, and he's already studying Level 2 knowledge. It's only been a few days—what a monster!"

Jing Hongchen muttered to himself, but on the surface, he still provided his own insights and guidance.

With such a Level 9 Soul Engineer providing guidance, Mu Qingci quickly understood the parts he had been confused about.

Afterward, a bashful smile appeared on Mu Qingci's face: "Um, Hall Master Jing, could I trouble you to conduct the First-Class Soul Engineer assessment for me?"

Jing Hongchen frowned upon hearing this: "Kid, you should know the saying that haste makes waste. I know you have high talent, but trying to run before you have learned to walk is not the right approach!"

"Hall Master Jing, rest assured, I, Mu Qingci, do not do things I am not confident about."

Mu Qingci's expression was calm, as if he were stating something very ordinary.

Seeing that the other party's gaze was very firm, Jing Hongchen no longer insisted on stopping him.

"Since you are so confident, I will add some difficulty to your assessment. You don't have any objections, do you?"

"Bring it on." The corners of Mu Qingci's mouth curled into a confident arc.

"Good, I admire people with your kind of courage!"

Jing Hongchen walked to an experimental table and waved his hand, causing a pile of metal and three blueprints to appear there.

"The original assessment for a First-Class Soul Engineer requires independently crafting one First-Class spirit tool within an hour. Now, I require you to complete three within an hour. Do you have any objections?"

Mu Qingci pondered for a moment, then nodded firmly: "Rest assured, Senior, I will definitely give it my all!"

Jing Hongchen smiled indifferently. He had never intended for Mu Qingci to pass, which is why he had set such a difficult assessment.

You have to understand, even a newly promoted Level 2 Soul Engineer might not be able to complete the crafting of three First-Class spirit tools within an hour.

Mu Qingci walked to the experimental table and first picked up the three blueprints to examine them.

At this moment, Jing Hongchen pressed the button on the spirit tool timer in his hand: "The timer starts now."

Mu Qingci roughly browsed through the blueprints for the three spirit tools: a First-Class Spirit Ray, a First-Class Spirit Illumination Flare, and a First-Class Spirit Detector.

These three First-Class spirit tools were all quite conventional, but they were significantly more difficult than the illumination lamp he had crafted last time.

Time waits for no one. Mu Qingci quickly organized his thoughts and began crafting the First-Class Spirit Illumination Flare. This item shared some principles with the spirit illumination lamp he had crafted last time, so he decided to craft this one first.

The Blade of Living Beings appeared in his hand. Under Mu Qingci's deliberate suppression, the life aura it emitted had become very faint, making it unlikely to attract the attention of others.

After organizing his thoughts in his mind, Mu Qingci began to work on carving the core magic circle.

As he worked with his Mental Energy highly concentrated, fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Mu Qingci's forehead, but his efficiency was also quite impressive.

In just twenty minutes, he completed the carving of the core magic circle, and then spent another ten minutes preparing the other parts.

Next came the final assembly. With a series of fluid and smooth operations, Mu Qingci finished the First-Class Spirit Illumination Flare.

From viewing the blueprints to preparing and finishing the crafting, it had taken less than a third of an hour.

Under his calm exterior, Jing Hongchen was struggling to suppress his inner madness.

He had originally just wanted to give Mu Qingci a hard time; who would have thought this kid would actually succeed?

While Mu Qingci went to craft the second item, Jing Hongchen picked up the Spirit Illumination Flare and examined it carefully.

The more he examined it, the more shocked he became. The precision of this Spirit Illumination Flare had reached the peak level of a First-Class spirit tool. Even some Level 2 Soul Engineers wouldn't dare claim they could guarantee a 100% success rate in crafting a First-Class spirit tool of this caliber.

And in the time it took him to be shocked, Mu Qingci had already completed the carving of the core magic circle for the second First-Class spirit tool, and up to this point, less than half an hour had passed.

Jing Hongchen had already roughly guessed the final result; he now only felt that he had struck gold.

Sure enough, with five minutes left in the hour, Mu Qingci put away his engraving knife.

"Senior, I have fulfilled the mission; I have crafted all three First-Class spirit tools."

Mu Qingci wiped the sweat from his forehead and pointed to the other two spirit tools on the experimental table.

Jing Hongchen picked them up one by one to inspect them, and as he expected, they all reached the peak level of the first class.

"You kid, I really don't know what to say anymore."

Jing Hongchen's expression looked rigid and serious, but in reality, he was overjoyed inside.

"Such a genius, I must take him as a disciple. No, I should introduce him to Master Kong; in the future, he might even become a Level 10 Soul Engineer. By then, my Hongchen family will rise! Hahaha!"

Although he was laughing wildly in his heart, Jing Hongchen remained very calm on the surface.

"Well done." He managed to say a word of praise, then a silver light flashed in his hand as he handed something to Mu Qingci.

"This is the First-Class Soul Engineer badge; it belongs to you now."

Mu Qingci hurriedly took it and began to observe it carefully.

It was a standard octagonal star-shaped badge with a water-blue background and a star made of diamonds on it, symbolizing the status of a First-Class Soul Engineer.

"Thank you, Hall Master Jing!"

A weight was lifted from Mu Qingci's heart. With this First-Class Soul Engineer badge, he could accept some tasks for crafting spirit tools; he finally had a source of income.

After all, he was now in the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, and there were no mountain bandits for him to rob; he had to find another way to make money.

"Then, Hall Master Jing, these three spirit tools…"

Jing Hongchen saw through this kid's thoughts at a glance: "Take them, take them. After all, you made them. As for the materials, consider them my treat!"

The other party had such high talent that Jing Hongchen was eager to recruit him; how could he begrudge a mere three First-Class spirit tools?

"Thank you, Hall Master Jing!"