Sun Essence and Moon Marrow?
Lin Xiao looked at Ye Yulin thoughtfully. On the other side, Nangong Wan continued with an unhappy expression.
"You know as well that these two types of ore need to absorb the power of the sun and moon to form naturally. Sun Essence Stone isn't too rare, but Moon Marrow Ore only accumulates energy during a full moon, and its content is not even one-tenth that of Sun Essence Stone..."
Ye Yulin narrowed his eyes at Nangong Wan's expression. "Isn't it just about raising the price? Go ahead, name your price."
"This isn't a matter of price." Nangong Wan looked troubled. "The reserves are simply too scarce. Even if discovered, they get mined out quickly. Even for us, it's quite difficult."
Ye Yulin stared at Nangong Wan's face, seemingly trying to figure out if his words were true or false.
After a moment of silence, he seemed to think of something. "Alright, I understand your difficulties. As long as you can find Moon Marrow Ore, consider it me owing you a favor."
Nangong Wan's eyes flashed. A favor from a level 9 soul engineer—this was something that couldn't be measured by price either.
"Star Sky Douluo is truly straightforward." Nangong Wan laughed, then suddenly raised his voice toward the door. "Huang Zheng!"
"Elder." A disciple about Lin Xiao's age quickly walked in from the doorway.
"Take Star Sky Douluo to see the batch of materials we recently acquired."
"Yes, Elder." Huang Zheng responded, then stepped forward and made a "please" gesture.
Ye Yulin glanced at Nangong Wan once more before standing up and following Huang Zheng. Just as Lin Xiao was about to follow, Nangong Wan spoke again to keep him back. "The warehouse is a restricted area; Star Sky Douluo should go alone."
"Then wait here for me." Ye Yulin didn't mind and instructed before walking out.
Once his figure had completely disappeared, Lin Xiao turned around. "Greetings, Second Elder."
"Alright, since you're here as a disciple of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, there's no need for so many formalities." Nangong Wan waved his hand and sat back down behind the table. "Why are you here?"
"I don't know either. This morning, Ye Yulin suddenly asked me to come with him. Now it seems he might be introducing me to a place where I can procure rare metals."
Nangong Wan nodded. "I almost forgot you're a soul engineer too. In the future, if you need anything, you can go through the cult's channels directly."
"Thank you, Elder."
Nangong Wan didn't say more. After a moment of silence, he suddenly fixed his gaze on Lin Xiao again. "By the way, there's one more thing."
Lin Xiao quickly looked at Nangong Wan upon hearing this.
"Has Old Eight sent you any messages recently?"
Lin Xiao's heart stirred. Even for a mission in the three great empires, a full year without any news would naturally draw attention from some in the cult.
After all, the Myriad Soul Douluo had just helped bring back a saintess for the cult. Although the Masked Douluo hadn't made substantial progress, he at least had a foothold in Tiandou City. Only the Nightmare Douluo had no news at all.
Thoughts flashing through his mind, Lin Xiao didn't dare stay silent too long and gently shook his head. "Replying to the Elder, my teacher has never contacted me."
Nangong Wan sized Lin Xiao up once more. "Fine, if there's none, then there's none. The Dou Ling Empire has many sects; his actions probably aren't going smoothly."
As Nangong Wan spoke, he suddenly looked up at the door and stopped speaking.
Lin Xiao also turned to look and indeed saw Huang Zheng returning with Ye Yulin.
Huang Zheng bowed to Nangong Wan, his gaze lingering on Lin Xiao for a moment before turning to leave.
"How was it? Is Star Sky Douluo satisfied?"
"It's still far from what I had in mind." Ye Yulin shook his head. "But it's enough for now. Let me know if there's any news later."
"Certainly." Nangong Wan smiled and cupped his fists. Seeing Ye Yulin about to leave, he stood up again. "If there are other needs, feel free to visit often."
Ye Yulin came quickly and left just as fast. In the blink of an eye, he had already led Lin Xiao out onto the street. While hurrying along, he didn't forget to turn and glance at Lin Xiao.
"Well? Any thoughts?"
Suddenly asked such a vague question, Lin Xiao really didn't know how to answer for a moment.
Thinking of the two materials he needed just now and recalling some memories, he tentatively spoke. "Teacher Ye, are you planning to improve your Sun God Needle?"
"Oh?" Ye Yulin clearly became interested. "Go on."
Hearing Ye Yulin's words, Lin Xiao confirmed his guess. "Teacher Ye's Sun God Needle can charge by absorbing the sun's power, but it can only exert its maximum strength during the day."
"The two materials you just needed should both be related to the charging process. Teacher Ye wants to use Moon Marrow Ore to allow the Sun God Needle to absorb energy at night as well."
"Not a bad guess." Ye Yulin nodded. "But your thoughts aren't pure enough; they're not focused on soul guidance devices."
"Crafting soul guidance devices is also a process of cultivation. High-level soul guidance devices even incorporate the soul engineer's own will. If your thoughts are too scattered, breaking through to higher realms will be very difficult."
Ye Yulin said no more. Lin Xiao followed behind him, pondering what he truly meant.
After the two returned to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Lin Xiao saw the students in the academy, each immersed in researching soul guidance devices.
They were different from him; they didn't have so many considerations or need to constantly read others' intentions. They simply poured all their focus into soul guidance devices.
Lin Xiao paused slightly and suddenly understood what Ye Yulin was really asking.
To become a level 9 soul engineer wasn't just about having the talent to reach Titled Douluo; it was also about dedication to soul guidance devices.
He had indeed guessed Ye Yulin's plan, but what Ye Yulin wanted to hear was actually his ideas on improving his own soul guidance devices.
His self-propelled soul guidance cannon used charging soul guidance devices as its energy source, but the highest level charging soul guidance device currently available was only level 7. To break through to higher levels, he might need to find more energy sources, just like Ye Yulin.
Lin Xiao glanced at Ye Yulin and suddenly understood why there were so many level 8 soul engineers in the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, yet only Xuan Ziwen was favored by so many.
Because Xuan Ziwen had no extraneous thoughts, all his focus was on soul guidance devices. With that kind of personality, breaking through to level 9 soul engineer was almost inevitable.
Whereas someone like his teacher Lin Jiayi, though equally talented, as the academy's director of instruction, had too many thoughts elsewhere and perhaps no longer had the possibility of advancing further.
Soul guidance devices weren't merely mechanical; being a soul engineer was also a path of cultivation.
"Thank you, Teacher Ye."
Ye Yulin looked at Lin Xiao, said nothing, and simply chuckled lightly.
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