The next morning, Xiao Hongchen woke before the sun.
Not because someone called him.
Because his body had already adjusted to cultivation.
Soul power circulated slowly through his meridians while he slept, and when he opened his eyes, the faint sensation of energy moving through his body felt natural—like breathing.
Level 11 was still weak in the grand scheme of Douluo Continent.
But the foundation mattered more than the number.
He sat up and immediately began cultivating.
This time he adjusted the method slightly.
Instead of circulating soul power evenly through all meridians like the standard method suggested, he guided the flow toward his martial soul resonance point first—the place where the Three-Legged Golden Toad rested in his spiritual sea.
Golden light flickered faintly inside his mind.
The toad responded instantly.
And something interesting happened.
The metal objects on his desk began vibrating slightly.
The paperweight.
The metal blade he had refined last night.
Even the spirit steel fragments reacted.
Xiao Hongchen opened one eye.
"So it works."
The martial soul was already pulling faint traces of metal energy from nearby objects during cultivation.
The effect was small.
But if he surrounded himself with better materials…
The improvement could become significant.
He ended the meditation after thirty minutes.
There was no point rushing the process.
Cultivation was a marathon, not a sprint.
Besides, today he had something else to learn.
Soul engineering.
The Hongchen estate workshop district was enormous.
The first time Xiao Hongchen entered the main engineering compound, even he felt impressed.
Huge mechanical cranes lifted glowing metal ingots from furnaces.
Rows of apprentices operated engraving machines that carved spirit circuits into metal plates.
Soul engineers in protective robes monitored energy flows through complex testing chambers.
The air smelled of hot steel and ozone.
Spirit power crackled faintly in the air.
This was not a place for ordinary people.
This was the heart of the Sun Moon Empire's technological advantage.
Meng Hongchen walked beside him, looking slightly bored.
"I don't know why Grandfather wants me here."
"You're a soul master."
"I'm not a soul engineer."
"Yet."
She snorted.
"I'd rather freeze people."
"That's not very productive."
"It's very effective."
He shrugged.
"Fair."
They entered the primary training workshop.
Several instructors waited inside.
Most of them were middle-aged soul engineers wearing reinforced gloves and tool belts filled with engraving instruments.
One of them stepped forward.
"Young Master Xiao."
The man bowed respectfully.
"My name is Instructor Zhao."
Jing Hongchen stood behind them silently.
Instructor Zhao continued.
"Today we begin with the fundamentals of soul tools."
He gestured toward a long worktable.
Several objects rested there.
Metal plates.
Energy cores.
Spirit crystals.
Circuit templates.
Xiao Hongchen walked closer.
His eyes scanned everything quickly.
The knowledge from the books he had read yesterday immediately connected to what he was seeing.
Spirit circuits.
Energy flow patterns.
Amplification nodes.
Conversion arrays.
Instructor Zhao picked up a metal plate.
"This is a basic soul tool base."
He flipped it over.
"This engraving pattern allows spirit power to circulate."
Then he placed a small crystal in the center slot.
"Once powered, the tool activates."
He poured a small amount of soul power into it.
The plate glowed.
A faint energy barrier appeared above it.
Meng blinked.
"Shield?"
"Yes."
"A basic defensive soul tool."
She leaned closer.
"That's actually useful."
Instructor Zhao smiled slightly.
"Indeed."
He turned back to Xiao Hongchen.
"You will learn how to create these."
Xiao Hongchen nodded.
"I understand."
"First step: engraving."
The instructor handed him a small engraving tool.
It resembled a fine metal pen with a sharp diamond tip.
"Follow the template."
He placed a blueprint on the table.
The pattern looked simple at first glance.
But Xiao Hongchen immediately noticed the complexity hidden within it.
Tiny spirit channels.
Energy nodes.
Stability loops.
One mistake could ruin the entire circuit.
Most beginners would struggle.
But Xiao Hongchen's mind was already analyzing the design.
Energy flow direction.
Circuit balance.
Pressure distribution.
His previous life's understanding of electronics and circuitry helped more than expected.
Different world.
Same principles.
Flow must remain stable.
He began engraving.
The diamond tip scratched across the metal surface.
Carefully.
Precisely.
Instructor Zhao watched closely.
At first he looked calm.
Then slightly surprised.
Then genuinely impressed.
Within five minutes the engraving was complete.
Perfect.
No errors.
Instructor Zhao picked up the plate.
He examined it under a magnifying lens.
"…Impressive."
Jing Hongchen spoke from behind them.
"His comprehension speed is excellent."
Instructor Zhao nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Meng leaned over the table.
"You've done this before."
"No."
"Then how did you do it so fast?"
"Pattern recognition."
"That's vague."
"Practice."
"You just started."
"Yes."
She groaned.
"You're annoying."
Next came assembly.
The engraved plate received a spirit crystal energy core.
The crystal connected to the circuit.
Instructor Zhao nodded.
"Now activate it."
Xiao Hongchen poured a small amount of soul power into the tool.
The circuit glowed.
Energy flowed through the engraving lines.
Then—
A translucent shield appeared.
Perfect activation.
The instructor stared at the shield for a moment.
Then he laughed softly.
"Not bad."
Meng folded her arms.
"I could break that."
"Probably."
"It's still useful."
"Exactly."
Jing Hongchen approached the table.
He inspected the shield device.
Then he looked at Xiao Hongchen.
"You understand the fundamentals already."
"Yes."
"Good."
He placed several metal samples on the table.
Spirit iron.
Deep silver.
Star steel.
"Refine them."
Xiao Hongchen activated his martial soul.
The golden toad appeared.
It devoured the metals instantly.
Golden light flashed.
Moments later refined alloys formed in his hand.
Instructor Zhao's eyes widened.
"This refinement quality…"
Jing Hongchen nodded.
"The ability removes impurities."
He turned back to Xiao Hongchen.
"Try integrating the refined alloy into the circuit plate."
Xiao Hongchen immediately understood.
Better materials meant stronger circuits.
He replaced part of the metal plate with the refined alloy.
Then he reassembled the device.
Soul power flowed again.
The shield activated.
This time it looked stronger.
Denser.
Instructor Zhao tapped it with a testing rod.
The barrier barely moved.
"…Remarkable."
Jing Hongchen spoke quietly.
"With enough training, this ability could produce high-grade spirit alloys."
The instructor nodded.
"That would change the manufacturing process entirely."
Meng raised an eyebrow.
"So his frog is basically a portable metal refinery."
Xiao Hongchen sighed.
"That description again."
"It's accurate."
After several hours of training, the workshop session ended.
Most apprentices looked exhausted.
Xiao Hongchen looked energized.
Knowledge excited him.
Especially knowledge that could lead to power.
Jing Hongchen stopped him before he left.
"One more thing."
"Yes, Grandfather."
"You will begin combat training tomorrow."
Meng perked up.
"Finally."
Jing Hongchen continued.
"A soul engineer must understand battle."
He looked at Xiao Hongchen.
"And your martial soul has direct combat potential."
Xiao Hongchen nodded.
"I understand."
The old man paused.
Then he added something unexpected.
"In two years, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy will accept you."
Meng smiled proudly.
"That's the best academy in the empire."
Xiao Hongchen already knew.
More importantly…
It was where many important figures of the future would appear.
Including rivals.
And opportunities.
That night Xiao Hongchen returned to his room again.
He placed several refined alloys on his desk.
Then he activated his martial soul.
Golden light filled the room.
The toad devoured the metals.
Refined them again.
Compressed them further.
The alloy changed shape under his control.
This time he formed something different.
A small mechanical component.
A soul tool circuit connector.
He stared at it.
Then he smiled slowly.
This ability could create components instantly.
Which meant he could build soul tools faster than ordinary engineers.
Combine that with future alloy research…
And the possibilities became terrifying.
He leaned back in his chair.
Outside the window, the industrial towers of the Sun Moon Empire glowed under the moonlight.
A civilization of metal.
Power.
And knowledge.
Exactly the kind of place where someone like him could thrive.
Xiao Hongchen picked up the alloy connector.
His golden toad spirit pulsed faintly inside his spiritual sea.
The forge had awakened.
And soon…
The entire world would feel its heat.