Douluo Continent: I, an evil soul master, work nine-to-five in the Tang Sect.

Chapter 142 The Source of Destruction

"Several million gold soul coins... Our academy is really rich and powerful. Just the facilities for developing soul tools and testing their power have cost so many gold soul coins..."

Luo Chen also sighed sincerely at this moment. For him, let alone millions of gold soul coins, even if he turned his storage soul tool upside down, he probably wouldn't be able to scrape together 10,000 gold soul coins.

Millions of gold soul coins—that's enough to train a top-tier army of no less than a hundred people for an empire!

However, upon hearing Luo Chen's words, Fan Yu shook his head, correcting Luo Chen's thinking:

"Several million gold soul coins is a lot, but for researching soul tools, it's just a drop in the ocean. You have to know that even an ordinary level 5 soul tool costs at least hundreds of thousands of gold soul coins on the market, and a level 6 soul tool can fetch a sky-high price of nearly ten million at auction!"

"If a few million gold soul coins could truly enable our academy to research and develop a soul tool of this level, create the blueprints, and equip it with the necessary tools, then it would absolutely be worthwhile!"

"But the truth is, in terms of developing soul tools, these millions of gold soul coins are just a needle in a haystack, at most only able to create a tiny ripple."

"Researching and developing level 5, 6, or even higher-level soul tools is no easy task. Just the power of the soul-guided cannons we develop for each test requires more than a million gold soul coins."

"Soul tools are like enormous money-devouring beasts. To develop such powerful soul tools, the investment required is exceptionally large, necessitating extensive experimentation and testing..."

As he spoke, Fan Yu looked at the figure standing not far away in the soul tool testing area. The figure was much more robust than Qian Duoduo, but his skin looked very dark.

Following Fan Yu's gaze, Luo Chen immediately noticed the enormous soul-guided cannon that the tall young man was carrying on his shoulder. Its size was extremely exaggerated, almost half the size of him.

This giant soul cannon is different from the soul cannons that Luo Chen remembers. The most fundamental difference is its size and weight. This soul cannon is a staggering three meters tall, far exceeding the size of ordinary trigger-type soul cannons!

Moreover, from the metallic luster it emitted, Luo Chen could feel a very heavy weight, estimating that it was at least five times heavier than a typical soul-guided cannon!

As the tall young man placed several soul-guided cannon shells from the metal table beside him into the soul-guided cannon, the fluctuations of his soul power rose rapidly, and a powerful surge of soul power was injected into the giant soul-guided cannon on his shoulder.

Even from a distance of tens of meters, Luo Chen could still feel the powerful energy fluctuations that instantly filled the giant soul-guided cannon!

After the energy fluctuation reached its peak, the burly figure carrying the giant soul cannon stopped injecting soul power into it. Instead, he squatted down while carrying the soul cannon, adjusted his breathing, and then... pressed the trigger!

"boom!"

After a loud bang, an unimaginably compressed soul-guided cannonball was launched from the pitch-black muzzle of the giant soul-guided cannon and crashed straight into the humanoid metal target it was aimed at!

Under Luo Chen's astonishing vision, which was activated by his Purple Demon Eye, the cannonball, upon contact with the humanoid metal target, caused several soul-guiding cores engraved with magic arrays inside to simultaneously unleash unimaginable terrifying energy.

Then... within this test site, an even more terrifying roar than before rang out, and a terrifying heat wave instantly swept across the entire test site!

Seeing this, Fan Yu and Huo Yuhao, who were already prepared, silently circulated their soul power to resist the erosion of the heat wave. However, Huo Yuhao, who was only at the first level of cultivation, found it more difficult to resist.

Even the aftershock of this soul-guided cannonball is something that ordinary people cannot withstand. If it were an ordinary person, they would definitely be severely injured!

After all, even with armor, an ordinary person's physical condition is not enough to withstand the strong shockwave from the explosion, and their meridians and internal organs will inevitably be damaged.

However, none of those present were ordinary people. Faced with such a shockwave, Luo Chen didn't even need to activate his own soul power. Relying on his physical qualities, which were comparable to those of a seven-ring Soul Saint, he managed to withstand it all.

The so-called high temperature had no effect on Luo Chen whatsoever!

However, Luo Chen's expression was still somewhat solemn. Although these aftershocks could not affect him, the terrifying explosion that had increased in power several times in an instant could indeed cause him harm!

This was the first time Luo Chen had directly experienced the terrifying power of such a fixed-position soul-guided cannonball. Even though Luo Chen had prepared himself mentally, he was still shocked by the power of this fixed-position soul-guided cannonball.

The energy fluctuations generated by that attack were no less than those of a six-ring Soul Emperor like Ma Xiaotao after she released her Martial Soul. Although it couldn't compare to her Evil Fire, it was still enough to affect a Soul Emperor-level expert!

Although Luo Chen knew that with a Soul Emperor-level expert on guard, such a fixed-position soul-guided cannonball might not be able to hit the opponent smoothly, judging from its power alone, even a Soul Emperor-level expert might not be able to block this attack even if they defended with all their might!

"Such immense power! In less than a second, the energy generated by this soul-guided cannonball has increased several times. Is this due to the core magic arrays inscribed inside?"

With Luo Chen's Mustard Seed level, which is comparable to the Purple Demon Eye that can see through all illusions, he naturally saw very clearly all the changes that occurred from the ignition to the explosion of this soul-guided cannonball. For a moment, he couldn't help but ask Fan Yu in front of him.

Since Fan Yu was the teacher personally assigned by Qian Duoduo and Dean Xian Lin'er to teach him about the Soul Guidance System, Luo Chen naturally wanted to make good use of this. Now that he had some doubts, he didn't hesitate to ask them.

However, Fan Yu in front of him was clearly the type to answer every question. Faced with Luo Chen's question, a look of surprise first appeared in his eyes, and then he explained to him seriously:

"You were able to detect the core array inside the soul-guided cannon shell. It seems you have a good talent for observation. But you guessed right. For a fixed-position soul-guided cannon shell, the most important thing is its internal soul-guided core array."

"Ordinary fixed-mount soul-guided shells are simply shells with added soul power to increase their firing speed. However, the soul-guided shell that He Caitou just detonated was specially made by us, with no less than three soul-guided core arrays engraved inside."

"After He Caitou injected his soul power into it, he then used a specially made fixed-mount soul guide cannon to compress the soul power into the soul guide core array inside the soul guide cannonball. This can achieve a result where one plus one is greater than two."

"Activating the three soul-guiding core arrays simultaneously is equivalent to increasing the energy generated inside this soul-guiding cannonball three times in a short period of time, thereby achieving a significant increase in power!"

"I see. So the key to making a soul tool lies in its soul core?"

After listening to Fan Yu's explanation, Luo Chen nodded as if he understood, and asked her for confirmation.

Fan Yu nodded in affirmation and said:

"That's right. For soul tools, the most important thing is neither the materials nor the making of the outer and inner shells, but the soul tool core array engraved inside. This is the essential element for communication between the soul master and the soul tool!"

"Without this soul-guiding core array, this soul tool cannot be called a soul tool, because only after soul power is injected into this soul-guiding core array can the soul tool unleash unimaginable terrifying power through the inscribed soul-guiding core array!"

As he spoke, Fan Yu also gave Luo Chen a deep look. He was somewhat surprised that Luo Chen could guess the general situation of the soul tool without any prompting.

After all, without actually disassembling the soul tool, it's impossible for an average person to imagine how such a soul tool works after soul power is injected.

In a short time, Fan Yu also gained a certain understanding of Luo Chen's talent.

However, at that very moment, the dark-skinned figure who had just finished testing the power of a soul-guided cannonball and recording it in a booklet also noticed the arrival of Luo Chen and the others.

Upon seeing the burly figure turn his gaze over, Huo Yuhao, standing beside him, smiled and waved, greeting him warmly. Clearly, the relationship between the two was not ordinary.

"Radish!"

Just as Huo Yuhao was greeting him, Fan Yu also waved to the dark-skinned, muscular figure in front of him, signaling him to come over.

Only after the figure unloaded the giant soul-guided cannon from its shoulder and jogged over to the group did Luo Chen get a clear look at its appearance.

The burly man named He Caitou in front of him turned out to be a bald young man with an unusually comical appearance. His shiny bald head almost blinded Luo Chen. However, what caught his attention even more was the hexagonal badge with three golden stars hanging on the man's chest.

Luo Chen was naturally familiar with this badge. Xian Lin'er had just explained it to him. It was a badge that represented the level of a Soul Master. According to the algorithm that one star represents one level, this bald young man in front of him was actually a Level 3 Soul Master!

However, this was within Luo Chen's expectations. After all, how could someone whose level was low be able to use their soul power to drive a giant soul cannon and launch a fixed soul cannonball that was enough to threaten a five-ring soul king?

A Level 3 Soul Master, when converted to the level of a Soul Master, is equivalent to the three-ring Soul Venerable realm. However, to become a Level 3 Soul Master, one must possess a three-ring Soul Venerable level of Soul Power cultivation as support.

"Oh, teacher, you wanted to see me?"

After greeting Huo Yuhao, He Caitou asked Fan Yu in front of him, but his gaze kept falling on Luo Chen beside him, with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Seeing this, Fan Yu smiled and said:

"Caitou, let me introduce you. This is a new student in our Soul Guidance Department. His name is Luo Chen. With the dean's approval, he will be studying Soul Guidance Devices under my tutelage. He will be your junior brother. I hope you two can get along well."

"The new...junior brother?"

Although He Caitou had already guessed, after hearing Fan Yu's explanation, he couldn't help but show a slight ripple on his face, looking at Luo Chen with a surprised gaze.

He knew his teacher's personality best, after all, he had studied under Fan Yu for several years. His teaching methods were notoriously strict, and his standards were notoriously high!

Within the academy, countless students wished to become Fan Yu's disciples and learn about soul tools, but none of them caught Fan Yu's eye. Over the years, only Huo Yuhao became his disciple.

The white-haired youth before them was valued by the dean of the Soul Guidance Department and even had his own teacher give him special instruction—this was a privilege few could enjoy.

Just as He Caitou was surprised, Luo Chen extended his right hand to him first, smiling as he spoke:

"Hello, Senior Brother, my name is Luo Chen. I hope to get along well with you in the future."

Upon seeing the shiny bald head before him, Luo Chen remembered the man's identity: the Crown Prince who had been living abroad, the heir to the empire, and a ruthless figure known as the Source of Destruction!

Luo Chen gladly extended his goodwill to such a rare genius with top-notch talent and strength.

Although he may not be able to match the peerless geniuses like Huo Yuhao and Tai An, who possess peak martial souls that are almost impossible to find, he is truly a rare talent when it comes to soul tools!

The other party is only about fourteen or fifteen years old, but he is already a genius Soul Master at the level of a three-ring Soul Master. Even in terms of Soul Guidance Devices, he is already able to control a giant Soul Guidance Cannon that is difficult for ordinary people to use. His talent is undeniably strong!

It's rare to encounter such a talented genius who excels in both Soul Master and Soul Instructor skills. Luo Chen, who always enjoys investing, naturally wouldn't let him go.

"Haha, welcome to the Soul Guidance Department, Junior Brother Luo Chen. If you have any questions about soul tools in the future, just come to me. But... don't I feel like I've seen you somewhere before? You look so familiar."

(End of this chapter)