In the underground chamber directly beneath the castle, Xu Zihuang sat at a massive metal table. The surface of the table was strewn with an assortment of intricate and fragmented metal parts.
The most eye-catching among them were five hexagonal metal blocks, each engraved with complex core arrays. These were the most crucial components in all soul tools. Different types of core arrays required correspondingly specific rare metals.
The five hexagonal metal blocks in front of him, each of a distinct color, were engraved with five different Class 3 core arrays.
Additionally, there was a blade with a sharp black-and-white pattern. Its back was as dark as ink, while the edge gleamed as bright as snow. The blade bore chaotic, jagged markings that gave it a unique appearance. Under the soft light of the soul lamps, the blade radiated a cold brilliance, exuding an aura of sharpness with a faint trace of ferocity.
The blade's primary material came from the tooth of a 20,000-year-old Evil Spirit Orca. Xu Zihuang had expended significant effort to polish it into its current form.
Although he had successfully created his first class 3 soul tool more than a year ago, the incomplete soul tool before him was his most painstaking creation yet.
Incorporating five class 3 core arrays into a single class 3 soul tool posed a challenge even greater than crafting an ordinary class 4 soul tool.
Xu Zihuang's eyes gleamed with concentration as he focused entirely on his work, immersing himself completely.
A series of crisp metallic clicks echoed in the room as his slender, pale fingers moved gracefully and precisely. The scattered metal fragments on the table were swiftly and methodically assembled under his hands.
A few soldiers of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion, who had been engraving core arrays in the chamber, noticed this scene. Unable to resist their curiosity, they lowered their steps and gathered silently behind Xu Zihuang.
The structure of a soul tool typically consists of the outer shell, the inner shell, and the core. The core refers to the Core Array, and the distinction between melee and long-range soul tools lies mostly in their design, not the core itself.
However, the outer and inner shells of melee soul tools are far more intricate than those of long-range ones.
The outer shell of a long-range soul tool is usually crafted from the hardest, heat-resistant metals to ensure durability during extended use. The inner shell, on the other hand, amplifies and conducts soul power, requiring rare conductive materials such as Crystal Silver. By amplifying soul power through the inner shell, soul engineers can minimize their energy consumption while using the soul tools.
In contrast, melee soul tools demand stricter requirements for their outer shell. For example, in the short blade Xu Zihuang was crafting, the blade itself served both as the outer shell and the primary source of the soul tool's destructive power.
This distinction is why melee soul tools often possess greater raw power than long-range ones of the same class.
Of course, this does not imply that melee soul tools are inherently superior. Each has its own strengths. Melee soul tools are better suited for battle-hardened traditional soul masters, whereas long-range soul tools cater more to soul engineers.
Xu Zihuang's expression grew increasingly solemn. Finally, when he embedded the last piece of deep purple rare metal, engraved with a Core Array, into the junction between the blade and hilt, his furrowed brows relaxed.
This rare metal, known as Thunder Crystal Gemstone, was incredibly valuable—just a small piece cost over 10,000 gold soul coins. With the Core Array engraved on it, the short blade could harness the power of lightning when infused with soul power.
"Clink—"
Xu Zihuang gripped the hilt, and the blade fit perfectly into his hand, giving him a strong sense of success.
Sure enough, as he infused it with soul power, violent purple lightning immediately surged along the blade. The previously ink-black spine of the blade transformed into a crystalline deep purple.
"As expected of the Young Lord," the onlookers couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Each of them was a class 5 or higher soul engineer and could easily discern the difficulty of crafting the melee soul tool in Xu Zihuang's hands.
Truth be told, even if they tried, none of them were confident they could succeed with such precision.
Xu Zihuang picked up the silver scabbard crafted from Demon Soul Great White Shark skin and sheathed the blade before storing it in his storage soul ring.
"Thankfully, all the effort was worth it," he said, exhaling in relief. Nodding slightly to the crowd, he left the chamber with a faint smile.
Since the blade's primary material came from the tooth of an Evil Spirit Orca, he had fittingly named the short blade Whale Fang.
…
In Moon Hub City, on the top floor of the city lord's mansion, within a spacious room…
Yao Yang, dressed in a luxurious silver-white soul master robe, sat at a desk near a large floor-to-ceiling window. His brows were furrowed as he scrutinized the scroll before him.
"Another merchant ship from the mainland has gone missing. If Eyu Luo is indeed responsible for this, what benefits does he gain from it?" Yao Yang muttered to himself.
The Southern Moon Islands were far from the Sun Moon Continent. Their wealth and prosperity largely depended on the merchant ships traveling between the continent and the islands due to back-and-forth trade.
However, over the past three years, the frequency of merchant ships meeting with accidents has risen sharply.
Although there was no concrete evidence, Yao Yang had managed to find some small clues that pointed in a particular direction.
But from a purely economic perspective, it made no sense for Eyu Luo to orchestrate these incidents. There was no benefit to be gained, and it could significantly harm his own interests.
Unless the benefits Eyu Luo reaped were something so valuable that they outweigh these losses.
Yao Yang's eyes narrowed as this thought crossed his mind.
But he quickly dismissed the idea. It was entirely illogical. If Eyu Luo wanted to return to his roots as a pirate, he might as well stick to legitimate trade routes.
Having control over two islands in the Southern Moon Islands, as long as he engaged in honest trade with merchant ships from the mainland, there would be no risk, but the rewards would also be far greater than what piracy could offer.
Knock, knock, knock.
A soft knocking at the door interrupted his thoughts. Zhu Yao, wearing a light silver gauze dress, entered with a tray holding a steaming pot of fragrant red tea and approached Yao Yang's side.
Pouring a cup for Yao Yang, she softly suggested, "Take a break for now."
"Hmm." Yao Yang's expression softened slightly. Feeling the gentle warmth of her touch on the back of his hand, he looked up to meet her gaze, which carried a mix of expectation and faint resentment.
Touched by her efforts, he ultimately strengthened his resolve and refrained from responding to her unspoken plea.
"Is it because of Zihuang? My intuition tells me so. That 'cousin''s identity must also be false," Zhu Yao said softly, not waiting for a reply. She continued, "You don't have to answer. I know there are things you can't tell me."
Yao Yang withdrew his gaze, his expression turning complicated. He sighed deeply. "Yao'er, there are some things I really can't say. But to me, Zihuang is like my own younger brother. Please give me some time to think about it."
At his final words, Zhu Yao turned away from Yao Yang, hiding a sly smile as her lips curled upward, a hint of cunning glinting deep within her eyes.
To her, Yao Yang's last words had been an unmistakable, heartfelt admission of his feelings that had given her the reassurance she sought.
Her strategy to retreat in order to advance had worked perfectly.