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*****
This wasn't a lapse in politeness on Shangguan Tianyang's part.
Inquiring about Su Wen's specific vision for his Consolidating Equipment Set was a necessary part of the process. In any other context, asking about a master's equipment set would carry the suspicion of prying into their privacy and tactical capabilities. However, Su Wen and Shangguan Tianyang currently existed in a strictly professional relationship—seller and client. Shangguan Tianyang was merely assessing the needs of the customer.
Since these details would inevitably come to light during their subsequent discussions, Su Wen saw no reason to keep them secret. Truth be told, he really did have a unique set of ideas for his equipment.
First and foremost, he intended to use the framework of the Consolidating Equipment system to realize the "Soul Bone Armor" he had long envisioned back on the Douluo Continent. Building upon the theory of Soul Bone Armor, he planned to integrate not only the local Consolidating Equipment logic but also the concepts of "Battle Armor" from the future era he knew of.
By synthesizing these two systems, Su Wen hoped to elevate his Soul Bone Armor to the God-tier. If possible, he also planned to forge his own weapons simultaneously.
Of course, these were his ultimate designs, and he had no intention of revealing them in full to Shangguan Tianyang. He simply introduced the components required to satisfy a fraction of his vision.
"My set should primarily focus on elemental control. It doesn't need to amplify my control affinity itself, but it must drastically enhance the explosive power I can channel when mobilizing elemental forces."
Su Wen's request was highly specific and notoriously difficult to achieve, yet it wasn't without precedent in design theory. Though Shangguan Tianyang wasn't a Consolidating Equipment Master himself, he was well-versed in the lore and theory. He quickly gained a clear intuitive understanding of Su Wen's requirements.
However, he hadn't expected Su Wen to focus so heavily on elemental control while explicitly stating he didn't need a boost to his affinity. Is he that confident in his natural control?
Naturally, Su Wen required more than just that, but his full plan was inconvenient to disclose. He chose to present a partial requirement first, intending to refine the rest through discussions with a God-tier Consolidating Equipment Master.
Mastering the skills of a Consolidating Equipment Master was an inevitable step for him. Engaging with a God-tier master was simply the beginning of Su Wen's direct contact with those skills.
After a few more questions regarding the set's specifications, the Shangguan brothers took their leave. Su Wen remained in his villa, beginning to rigorously map out the blueprint of his set.
It was only after Shangguan Tianyang's questioning that Su Wen realized his understanding of Consolidating Equipment was still too shallow—or rather, his planning was far too generalized. When asked about specific functional details, Su Wen could only offer vague, noncommittal answers.
In most cases, Consolidating Equipment Masters were used to receiving such vague answers from clients; their job was to translate those hazy desires into a concrete design. But Su Wen intended to become a master himself. If he couldn't even plan the details of his own set, he might as well give up now.
Moreover, this set was merely for his cultivation on the Boundless Mainland. Once he returned to the Douluo Continent, this equipment would likely be phased out in favor of the Soul Bone Armor he would design and forge himself.
"Unlike Soul Guidance technology, the creation of Consolidating Equipment draws energy from natural treasures to manifest a physical framework," he mused.
Because natural treasures were used to outline the framework and provide basic functions, it allowed for the equipment to grow. The strength of Consolidating Equipment was not static; as a Jewel Master's cultivation increased, the power of the equipment would scale, much like the stored skills of an Elemental Jewel. If one found a master with sufficient skill, it was even possible to upgrade existing gear—such as adding a socket for an Elemental Jewel or even reshaping the equipment entirely.
It was this specific characteristic that Su Wen coveted. After all, the equipment one made at the start of their journey wouldn't necessarily suffice for the end.
This was similar to absorbing Soul Bones—a bone absorbed early on might have an insufficient age. If he could apply the principles of a Consolidating Equipment Master to reshape Soul Bones, he could eliminate that disadvantage entirely.
"The collision of these two systems really does bring infinite possibilities!"
It wasn't just Soul Bones; it applied to Soul Rings as well. Su Wen felt that the method for increasing Soul Ring age could perhaps evolve from his "Ring Substitution Method"—which only he could successfully practice—into something more universal.
However, the current Su Wen had no need for that, so he didn't pursue the development. Su Wen's efforts were always focused on his own path.
He developed techniques for himself; even those he didn't use were created to harvest the power of faith. Developing a method to upgrade Soul Rings for others would consume a massive amount of energy and offer him no personal benefit. He wouldn't waste his time. He had far more pressing tasks at hand.
Specifically, he wanted to learn the skills of a Consolidating Equipment Master as quickly as possible.
The Consolidating Equipment Pavilion.
The following day, Su Wen arrived at the Pavilion. Shangguan Tianyang had already scheduled an appointment for him with a God-tier Consolidating Equipment Master.
God-tier masters were usually in deep seclusion, researching new sets, so they were rarely available on short notice. Securing an appointment with one—let alone all of them—usually required an immense wait, unless one coincided with events like the Heavenly Jewel Tournament, when they intentionally cleared their schedules to assist qualified participants.
The master Shangguan Tianyang had secured for Su Wen was a purple-robed elder named Ye Ruichen.
"Master Ye, I appreciate you taking the time," Su Wen said, cupping his hands.
Ye Ruichen waved it off. "Sir Su Wen is a Heavenly Emperor who has paid the appropriate price for my time. There is no need for such formality."
He looked at Su Wen with an expression of genuine interest. "Rather than discussing your equipment set, I am actually more curious about one thing: since you clearly possess the Space attribute, why did you never choose to study the path of a Consolidating Equipment Master?"
To Ye Ruichen, Su Wen was clearly a layman. His earlier answers to Shangguan Tianyang's questions were not the words of someone who understood the craft.
"A series of coincidences and twists of fate kept me from entering the profession. Now, however, I wish to study it in depth," Su Wen said after a moment of thought.
Twists of fate indeed—I've never lived in this world before, so I never had the chance.
Ye Ruichen didn't doubt him, though he was surprised that a Heavenly Emperor had somehow missed the opportunity to learn the craft. Perhaps he was too busy with his cultivation? he thought, finding a justification for Su Wen. Su Wen looked remarkably young for a Heavenly Emperor; his schedule must have been packed with nothing but training.
(End of Chapter)