41: Chapter 41 Breakthrough, Kong Deming's Personal Disciple!

Kong Deming brought Mu Qingci to his exclusive laboratory, preparing to conduct the Level 4 Soul Engineer assessment for him.

“Qingci, since you are so confident, as your teacher, I shall add a bit of fuel to your assessment.”

Kong Deming walked to the laboratory table, picked up three blueprints from the table, and handed them over.

“The original assessment was to complete two Level 4 spirit tools within four hours. As your teacher, I will only give you three hours to complete three Level 4 spirit tools, and I require at least one of them to reach the Level 4 Peak standard.”

Kong Deming stated the assessment requirements nonchalantly. Compared to a normal assessment, the difficulty for Mu Qingci had more than doubled.

If a Level 3 Soul Engineer had a chance to create a Level 3 Peak spirit tool, then a Level 4 Peak spirit tool could almost only be made by a Level 5 Soul Engineer or above.

Kong Deming had set an assessment that seemed impossible to complete.

However, the confidence on Mu Qingci's face never wavered.

“One stick of incense's time to observe the blueprints, then the assessment begins.”

Mu Qingci picked up the three blueprints and began to examine them.

The three spirit tools were: Level 4 Soul Ray, Level 4 melee spirit tool flying light sword, and Level 4 defensive spirit tool Flowing Light Shield.

If one were to ask which of these three spirit tools Mu Qingci was most confident in bringing to Level 4 Peak quality, it would certainly be that flying light sword.

Mu Qingci took a rough glance at the blueprint. This flying light sword shared similar principles with the flowing light sword he had made during his Level 3 Soul Engineer assessment, only the Rank had changed from Level 3 to Level 4.

The flowing light sword he had made last time already possessed a quality close to Level 4. Now that he was making a similar spirit tool again, he was naturally full of confidence.

After observing the blueprints for a few minutes, Mu Qingci decided to make this flying light sword first to save time and lay a foundation for the following two items.

The Blade of Living Beings flew out from between his brows and was caught steadily in his hand.

He took the lead by starting to carve the core formation.

To pursue the ultimate effect and reach the Level 4 Peak, Mu Qingci was exceptionally careful with every step.

But while being careful, he also had to focus on speed. Producing one Level 4 spirit tool every hour on average was a significant challenge even for a veteran Level 4 Soul Engineer.

Fine beads of sweat soon covered Mu Qingci's forehead. He didn't even have time to wipe them, as his entire mind was immersed in the spirit tool in his hands.

Half an hour passed, and Mu Qingci exhaled a long breath. He had finally, miraculously, completed the carving of all the core formations.

Next was the crafting of external components and the final assembly.

Compared to the tedious carving of core formations, these subsequent steps were much simpler.

Under Kong Deming's shocked gaze, the first Level 4 spirit tool, the Level 4 melee spirit tool flying light sword, was successfully completed.

The total time taken was less than an hour.

Mu Qingci didn't have time to celebrate and immediately started the production of the next spirit tool without pause.

Kong Deming picked up that flying light sword. He didn't even need to inspect it; as a Level 9 Peak Soul Engineer, he could tell the Rank and quality of the spirit tool before him at a glance.

It was a genuine Level 4 Peak.

One must know that the difficulty of crafting melee spirit tools exceeded that of general spirit tools. A Level 4 Peak was already comparable to an ordinary Level 5 spirit tool.

A hint of fervor appeared in Kong Deming's eyes as he looked at Mu Qingci.

“I never expected that at my age, I could still take in such an excellent Disciple!”

Judging by Mu Qingci's current growth rate, in terms of Soul Power Rank, it could be said he would become a Titled Douluo before the age of twenty-five.

And on the path of spirit tools, Kong Deming estimated that with a top-tier teacher like himself leading the way, Mu Qingci could become a world-renowned Level 10 Soul Engineer before the age of forty.

Soon, another hour and a half passed, and Mu Qingci successfully completed the production of the other two spirit tools.

At this point, there was still a full half hour left before the assessment ended.

Mu Qingci handed the two spirit tools to Kong Deming. For these two, in his pursuit of speed, they were just ordinary Level 4 and did not reach the Peak standard.

But even so, the Level 4 spirit tools Mu Qingci produced were much better than those made by Soul Engineers who had just been promoted to Level 4.

“Good, good, good! This old man truly did not misjudge you!”

Kong Deming took out a badge he had prepared long ago—four stars, the symbol of a Level 4 Soul Engineer.

“From this day forth, Mu Qingci, you are my Personal Disciple, and also the last Disciple I shall take in this lifetime!”

Mu Qingci hurriedly took the badge and knelt on one knee: “Disciple Mu Qingci greets Teacher!”

From this moment on, Mu Qingci could be considered to have truly become Kong Deming's Disciple, the kind who could fully inherit his Legacy.

Kong Deming helped Mu Qingci up and then took out a necklace to hand to him.

“Since you have become my Personal Disciple, a Level 9 spirit tool is essential. This spirit tool is named Silver Moon Protection; it can be considered an upgraded version of the Silver Moon Guardian I gave you before. With this, you won't need to fear even a sneak attack from a Titled Douluo. It can be used five times.”

“Thank you, Teacher!”

Mu Qingci was overjoyed.

While he currently had a powerful bodyguard like the Snow Empress, there was no guarantee he wouldn't encounter an assassination by a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse one day.

Although the Snow Empress could crush the vast majority of Titled Douluo, he still needed to be able to open the Undead Semi-Plane in time. Before that, he indeed needed a powerful spirit tool for protection.

After leaving the Enshrinement Hall, Mu Qingci went outside the academy.

In the hotel, Ye Guyi was obediently waiting for Mu Qingci.

*Creak*

The door was pushed open. Seeing Ye Guyi just sitting there blankly, he rubbed his forehead somewhat helplessly.

“Didn't I leave you money? If you're bored, go buy some food and drink. You don't have to keep waiting for me like this.”

“But, I was afraid that if I went out, you would arrive and wouldn't be able to find me...”

Faced with this answer, Mu Qingci was actually somewhat speechless.

“You must be hungry. I brought you the best roast chicken from this street.”

Mu Qingci took out an oil-paper package. Even before opening it, a mouth-watering fragrance could be smelled.

Watching Ye Guyi wolf down the food, Mu Qingci felt a bit guilty.

Keeping a girl in a hotel and coming over late at night—why did it feel like he was keeping a mistress?

Shaking his head to clear the stray thoughts, Mu Qingci was just about to say something when a glistening chicken leg was held out in front of him.

“You eat too.”

Ye Guyi's mouth was still stuffed with chicken, making her speech muffled.

Mu Qingci helplessly took a bite of the chicken leg.

“By the way, I'll help you with the enrollment procedures tomorrow. You don't have to attend classes; you can do whatever you want. If you want to learn about spirit tools, just find me, and I can teach you.”

Mu Qingci had also arranged for Ye Guyi's next destination, seeing his good deed through to the end.