Douluo Continent: Starting with the Tiger Emperor Template

"You're currently a student in the Department of Controlled Soul Guidance," Jing Hongchen suddenly spoke up. "You don't yet have a suitable soul tool, do you?"

Lu Ren looked up at him: "Does the Hall Master want me to try out the Soul Tool Domain?"

"Your mental strength is very strong," Jing Hongchen said frankly. "Currently, the future research direction of the Sun Moon Empire is to combine mental-type Soul Masters with Soul Tools. Once these two are perfectly combined, they will be invincible."

"But..." Lu Ren interrupted him, his tone calm yet sharp, "the current soul tools are too weak."

Jing Hongchen's expression changed slightly, and she was about to retort when she heard Lu Ren say:

"Aside from level nine fixed-position soul-guided cannon shells, the power of other soul-guided devices is just so-so. Moreover, fixed-position soul-guided cannon shells are expensive and require special launching devices, making them far less convenient to use than soul skills. However, their power is indeed stronger than that of soul skills, which is beyond doubt."

He stood up, facing Jing Hongchen with a calm gaze.

"I presume the Hall Master has already witnessed my use of Hundredfold Blood Piercing up close."

"My move is at supersonic speed and has long-range combat capabilities. Combined with the deadly poison in my blood, it can bypass defenses and kill the target directly."

"So, I'd like to ask, what other remote soul-guided device is better than my Blood Piercing Technique?"

"As for melee soul tools... does the Hall Master want to test whether those melee soul tools can be destroyed by my monstrous strength before they can injure the enemy, even when I use my full power?"

Jing Hongchen opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

He couldn't refute it.

Because that's the truth.

Lu Ren's blood penetration speed is extremely fast, not to mention that its penetrating power is enough to tear apart a level seven soul guide shield, and the deadly poison in his blood is something even a Soul Saint cannot withstand.

Such an attack method, when placed in the field of long-range soul tools, would be at least at level eight, or even level nine. It's just a pity that because of Lu Ren's cultivation level, its power is not as high as level nine.

But he can't compare now; things might change when he grows up.

Moreover, Lu Ren is only a four-ring Soul Master, and he can probably use the self-created Soul Skill Blood Piercing at will, without any cost or cooldown, and can use it infinitely.

Jing Hongchen remained silent for a long time.

This guy is truly a monster disguised as a Soul Master...

"You're right," Jing Hongchen finally spoke, his voice tinged with helplessness. "I originally intended to give you another means of protection, but now it seems you don't need it."

"No, I need it," Lu Ren suddenly said.

Jing Hongchen was taken aback.

"I still want soul tools," Lu Ren continued, "but I don't need offensive ones. If the leader really wants to give me some, how about a few defensive ones? For example, an invincible shield. I think defensive soul tools are really powerful; they can give anyone countless ways to save their lives."

"If that level seven soul master hadn't had the invincible shield and the level seven soul guide shield, he would have been killed instantly by my Blood Piercing Shot."

"Therefore... I think it's very necessary to carry a few defensive soul tools with you."

The invincible shield is quite useful. If you encounter a dangerous situation that you can't withstand, just throw out a few to keep him alive.

Jing Hongchen was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

"Alright, you know how to pick things. Okay, I'll give you some more invincible shields and defensive soul tools another day."

"I'm getting more and more excited for the Continental Soul Master Tournament in a few months. How did you manage to crush Shrek Academy for us? Don't worry, I'll take care of the 100,000-year soul bone for you. I keep my word."

He patted Lu Ren on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Watching Jing Hongchen leave, Lu Ren opened his mouth, but swallowed back the words he wanted to say.

Dude, why did you just leave like that?

I'm still hoping you can give me that level nine defensive soul tool you're wearing.

On second thought, Lu Ren decided to forget it; he didn't expect to get the soul tool with just a few words.

Meng Hongchen watched her grandfather's figure disappear at the entrance of the trial field, then turned to look at Lu Ren, her eyes shining.

"When you rejected Grandpa just now, I thought you were going to belittle all soul tools as worthless."

"Soul tools are not weak." Lu Ren sat down again, looking at the sky above his head. "They're just not suitable for me. Besides, the soul tools of this era are far from being able to compete with top soul masters."

"Ten thousand years from now, soul tools will probably have advanced to the point where they can even kill gods," Lu Ren said with a smile.

Ji Juechen silently stood up, picked up his sword, and walked to the other end of the training ground.

He is going to work hard to cultivate and become stronger.

With Lu Ren as my goal, I must work even harder than before.

Jing Ziyan rubbed her sore neck, muttered "you monsters," and then followed Ji Juechen.

As for Meng Hongchen, he did not leave.

Instead, she sat next to Lu Ren, hugging her knees with both hands, resting her face in the crook of her arm, her gaze fixed on Lu Ren's profile.

The metal dome of the trial grounds cut the sky into regular geometric shapes, and the last rays of the setting sun peeked through the gaps, dancing on the tips of her silver hair.

"Do you think you'll leave the Sun Moon Empire in the future?"

Meng Hongchen's voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Lu Ren remained silent for a moment before speaking:

"As a student, you will eventually graduate."

Meng Hongchen's fingers curled slightly as she hugged her knees, creating shallow folds in the hem of her skirt.

She didn't look at him; her gaze fell on the ground in front of her shoes, where a thin crack extended from the gap in the stone slab, like a dried-up river.

"Graduation."

She repeated the two words, her voice so low it was as if she were talking to herself.

"Where will you go after you graduate?"

When she asked that question, her breathing became lighter, but her chest pounded heavily and fast.

Meng Hongchen was terrified of hearing the answer that would make her heart race. She knew about Lu Ren's entanglement with Shrek Academy, but she was even more afraid that he would leave Mingdu completely after graduation, and they would be separated forever, never to see each other again.

Lu Ren turned his head and looked at the girl's soft profile, her long eyelashes drooping down like butterfly wings folded on petals still wet with morning dew.

She had her head down, but she couldn't hide the apprehension in her eyes, like a small animal standing on the edge of a cliff, tentatively looking towards the other side.

"I haven't decided yet." Lu Ren withdrew his gaze, his tone calm. "But staying here isn't bad either. The sect leader treats me exceptionally well."

Meng Hongchen suddenly raised her head.

In that instant, the light in her eyes, like sparks scattered by the wind, regrouped and became so bright it was almost blinding.

She opened her mouth, her voice carrying a barely suppressed urgency:

"Then... will you stay? Stay in the Sun Moon Empire forever?"

"That's not necessarily true."

Lu Ren's tone was flat, as if he were stating something that had nothing to do with him.

"The mainland is so vast, I should go and see it. How can I improve my strength if I don't go out and explore? Staying cooped up in the academy all the time isn't for me."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted into the distance. The young man's ambition and sharpness were hidden beneath his calm eyes, like an undercurrent in deep water—calm on the surface, yet surging beneath.