dmims Chapter 52, List 3: Golden Scale Saint's Lament
Chapter 52, List 3: Golden Scale Saint's Lament
The Imperial Palace.
The morning sun shone brightly in the study, where Emperor Xu Guoyi was reviewing memorials, with Xu Tianran accompanying him.
"Tianran, have you heard about the Heavenly Narrative Soul Ring? You're also a Soul Master, what do you think?" Xu Guoyi seemed to have lost interest in the mountain of memorials in front of him and suddenly looked up to ask.
Xu Tianran was stunned for a moment and said, "Father, this... surpassing the optimal ratio of spirit rings is indeed unprecedented in the Empire. I have heard that Elder Ye has a similar secret technique, but I'm afraid it is impossible for the first spirit ring to reach the thousand-year level. The Silver Dragon Martial Soul is indeed beyond imagination."
"Yes, that's exactly the case. We need to win people's hearts as soon as possible. Let's personally go and invite them to the banquet."
"Father, this..." Xu Tianran was about to dissuade him when hurried footsteps interrupted him.
Xue Chen, who was always silent, rushed over and said hurriedly:
"Your Majesty, Elder Kong, along with all the honorees of the Hall of Worship, as well as the leaders and deputy leaders of the major Guardian Soul Master Corps, have gone to the Hall of Bright Virtue."
"What!" Xu Tianran was shocked.
"What is it?" Xu Guoyi asked in a calm tone, even with a hint of curiosity.
"It seems to be... Xiao Hongchen and Kong Tianxu sparring in their Soul Master techniques."
"Hahaha," Xu Guoyi laughed loudly, "Good, what a fine contest between two heroes! Tianran, these memorials are yours now. Come on, I'll go join in the fun."
"Guards, prepare the carriage for Mingde Hall!"
……
"Thump, thump, thump..." Noisy footsteps could be heard, and shadowy figures moved behind a dark wall.
"Grandpa's here?" Kong Tianxu thought to himself, multitasking as he carved the core magic array in his hands. His carving speed wasn't very fast, but it was steady; the golden carving knife in his hand almost flowed across the titanium surface.
At this moment, what he was inscribing was merely a level four core magic array, which he could have completed with his eyes closed.
But this time he wasn't going to hold back; he wanted to take this opportunity to present his idea to the public.
Grandpa also wanted him to make an appearance in front of all the ninth-level soul masters, in preparation for taking over some of the power of the Moonflower Palace, so he decided to do it all at once.
This is the Unbreakable Douluo, that's the Starry Sky Douluo, Mad Bull, Demon Blade... Hey, even Fire Phoenix Douluo and Luan Feng have arrived?
Out of the corner of his eye, he could clearly see a dozen or so figures talking on the wall. Led by Kong Deming, the group sat down in a circle, creating a lively atmosphere.
Kong Tianxu checked the time; it was about time to officially begin.
With this thought in mind, the tip of the knife moved even faster on the silver-white metal ball, cutting without stopping, the "rustling" sound of the carving knife contacting the metal continuous.
With a flick of the wrist, the blade of the carving knife vibrated three times in succession, and the intricate and complex core magic array patterns grew out of the metal surface as if naturally formed.
"One slash, three tremors?" Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng's eyes lit up. With his knowledge as the leader of the Evil Monarch Soul Master Corps, he naturally recognized Kong Tianxu's slashing technique at a glance.
This kind of trembling carving technique is not something you can see just anywhere. It requires years of hard work to learn and demands a high level of precision in the carving and control of the force. Usually, only some older, high-level Soul Masters can master it. I didn't expect this kid to know it too.
"Since he can even make a single strike tremble three times, why use iron essence to make so many soul tool outer shells and conductive inner shells, and even inscribe a level four core magic array? Xiao Hongchen has already started making a second level five core magic array. This is quite a difference."
An elderly, white-haired, level-nine Soul Master spoke up. He didn't mean to elevate Xiao Hongchen; as one of Kong Deming's staunch supporters, he was more concerned about Kong Tianxu's production.
Indeed, looking around, Kong Tianxu's wide workbench was piled with all sorts of exquisite parts, some large and some small. Most of them were made of the most common iron, with only the occasional rare metal like spring copper.
Although the purpose of those oddly shaped metal parts is unclear, it doesn't change the fact that they are made of ordinary materials!
On the other hand, Xiao Hongchen's dark gold carving knife, while not moving as seamlessly as Kong Tianxu's, even pausing after each stroke as if needing time to think and judge, reveals upon closer observation that each pause is exactly the same, and only for a fleeting moment.
Each cut was precisely connected to the previous one, and with a highly rhythmic pace, his carving speed was not much slower than Kong Tianxu's smooth and flowing movements.
This is an inscription rhythm that only high-level Soul Masters can master. Every high-level Soul Master has their own rhythm when creating Soul Tools. Never underestimate that momentary pause. Xiao Hongchen doesn't have Kong Tianxu's uniquely gifted Martial Soul to make the most accurate analysis and judgment.
When he was making soul tools, all his judgments relied on his experience, his perception of metal, and his overall control. That momentary pause was actually his time to think, and once he entered his own rhythm, his mental power, soul power, and attention would all move with the rhythm.
"Master Kong, is there something wrong with the carving knife your grandson is holding? Something just doesn't seem right."
Just as several level-nine soul masters nodded slightly in approval of Xiao Hongchen's performance, a seventy-year-old woman dressed in crimson armor suddenly spoke up.
She is Luanfeng, the leader of the Fire Phoenix Soul Master Corps, level 94, one of the oldest level 9 Soul Masters in the Sun Moon Empire, and a contemporary of Kong Deming.
As she spoke, she seemed to suddenly remember something and exclaimed in surprise:
"Which one did you give him?"
Kong Deming nodded slightly, smiling without saying a word. Most of the dozen or so level nine soul masters looked puzzled, while only the oldest ones suddenly realized, their eyes filled with the same disbelief as Luan Feng's.
Despite the soundproof shield and walls, the conversation of these strategic-level imperial beings was still clearly audible. Kong Tianxu chuckled inwardly, but the trajectory of his carving knife remained smooth and stable without any fluctuation.
It was as if he wasn't sculpting a piece of metal, but rather painting a picture.
Old Ma was still unaware of the presence of the group of level-nine soul masters, as he had focused more of his attention on Kong Tianxu. He had long since noticed the unusual nature of the carving knife in Kong Tianxu's hand—
The blade of this golden carving knife is not sharp; in fact, it could be described as quite dull.
But this golden carving knife, which appeared to be unsharpened and for which Kong Tianxu had not imbued it with soul power, advanced effortlessly on the extremely hard titanium. Even more strangely, after carving for so long, not a single fragment fell from the titanium.
Which engraving knife should this be used for listing the list? Old Ma searched his memory carefully.
"Ranked thirteenth, Jin Lin Sheng Tan."
Luanfeng sighed, her voice tinged with regret.