Douluo Continent: Ink Bamboo as a Cauldron to Break Through Ten Thousand Heavens

"I'm not sure if I should say this or not, but I just want to say it. Go ahead, tell me what kind of crazy ideas you have this time," Yan Shaozhe said irritably. He was just about to take on a disciple, but Chen Cheng had disturbed him time and time again. Now, even guiding promising students was being interfered with by Chen Cheng. If Xiao Xiao were to become more knowledgeable and have a broader perspective later, and then came to him wanting to take him on as a disciple, she would probably have to pay a considerable price…

Chen Cheng ignored his thoughts and continued, "Xiao Xiao's second martial soul, Nine Phoenixes' Auspicious Arrival, is a control-oriented one. Adding extra control effects to the Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron would be redundant. I think we should perhaps consider increasing the Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron's attack power and combat capabilities, or even making it a more offensive option..."

Yan Shaozhe interrupted him bluntly, saying, "You can never have too many control skills. Your idea is misleading people."

Chen Cheng replied with a smile, "Dean Yan, that's true, but that applies to most people. You can never have too many control-type soul skills. Xiao Xiao's situation is clearly different. With twin martial souls, even without a 100,000-year soul ring, she's guaranteed at least 18 soul skills. Add a full set of soul bones, and that's a guaranteed 24 soul skills. Moreover, twin martial souls guarantee a Title Douluo level, so Xiao Xiao's future will definitely be one of striving to become stronger. Her future enemies won't be easily defeated by simply crushing them with soul skills. Duels with opponents of the same or even stronger level might become commonplace. In this situation, if Xiao Xiao's opponent is stronger than you, how will she break the deadlock when she lacks the ability to deliver a decisive blow? Or will Xiao Xiao be unable to stand alone and can only play a supporting role in control? I think the deterrent power of a strong person with the ability to end a battle is vastly different from that of a strong person with only control abilities, isn't it?"

After hearing Chen Cheng's words, Yan Shaozhe fell into deep thought. He hadn't really considered it much, and his mindset had become somewhat fixed after cultivating a single martial soul for so long. Furthermore, as a power-attack type soul master, he usually preferred to have as many control-type soul masters around him as possible, so he could utilize their abilities more effectively. He rarely considered things from the perspective of control-type soul masters. Indeed, wouldn't it be a waste not to cultivate such a genius into an all-around pillar of the academy?

But he couldn't bring himself to admit that an outer court student was thinking further ahead than him; he couldn't bring himself to do it! It seemed that this kid really cared about Xiao Xiao, so the cost of that batch of rare metals wasn't so painful anymore.

Looking at Xiao Xiao, who was listening with a completely bewildered expression, Yan Shaozhe asked, "Xiao Xiao, what do you think... never mind, judging from your expression, you don't seem to understand either, but not attaching the second spirit ring will definitely affect your future path and your subsequent cultivation. Sigh, even geniuses who cultivate twin martial spirits have their troubles!"

Chen Cheng almost burst out laughing. This isn't enough? There's still the one you'll be begging and pleading to join your Martial Soul Department: the Ultimate Ice Twin Martial Soul student. You'd better pull yourself together!

Yan Shaozhe rolled his eyes at Chen Cheng, indicating that he should tone it down, and said, "Go ahead and say it. Judging from your expression, you've had this in mind for a while."

Chen Cheng suppressed his barely suppressed laughter and said seriously, "Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron should be mutated. Unlike ordinary Soul-Suppressing Cauldrons, it can split into three parts, making it more agile, more versatile, and capable of control. However, this also means that it is lighter when separated, resulting in less destructive power. If one only pursues control and other effects, it may eventually lose the weight of a normal 'cauldron' when put back together."

"From my observation, the combined weight of Xiao Xiao's Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron is such that even a two-ring Soul Master with a Soul that enhances the body could easily lift or even knock it away. This contradicts the cauldron's original heavy and stable attributes and performance. Moreover, if Xiao Xiao is currently playing a role in the team, controlling the overall situation and providing control, she will most likely be using both Souls simultaneously. I don't have dual Souls, so I don't know if controlling one Soul weakens the control over the other, but distraction is definitely present. When your Soul, which is currently providing control, is grabbed by the opponent and shoved into your teammate's face, you'll probably only have tears in your eyes, right?"

Yan Shaozhe nodded slightly. Twin martial souls—the ability to possess two martial souls simultaneously—truly defied conventional thinking. Hearing Chen Cheng's words, he felt a sense of clarity and slowly said, "So you're planning to increase the weight of the Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron to enhance its offensive capabilities, then have Xiao Duichun control the Nine Phoenixes' Arrival, and then smash someone down with the cauldron?"

Chen Cheng clapped his hands and shouted that great minds think alike!

"That old guy's got some skills; he understands right away!"

Yan Shaozhe pursed his lips. Although this kid had tricked him out of his things quite a bit before and was a bit unreliable, his unconventional thinking and ingenious ideas brought surprises from time to time.

  

Chen Cheng pressed his advantage, saying, "I think we can go even further. We could equip the next seven, or even all, of the Soul Rings on the Three Lives Soul-Suppressing Cauldron with Soul Rings that can increase gravity control and power amplification attributes. Ideally, they should also have Soul Skills that can directly increase percentage attributes. Then, with eight Soul Rings stacking their attributes up rapidly, even the Clear Sky Hammer, which is known as the number one Martial Soul in the world, wouldn't dare to easily confront it head-on, right?"

"Especially in the low-martial-power world of Douluo, the first Sea God Trident only weighed 108,000 jin, yet it still made the level 99 Limit Douluo Poseidon need the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to 'barely move' it without hitting anyone. What does that mean? I originally thought that all Limit Douluos in Douluo were superhumans, but who knew that in my previous life, bringing over a Type 99A main battle tank would be enough to physically 'crush' a Limit Douluo! Weight is still a huge advantage in this low-martial-power world."

Moreover, Chen Cheng hasn't even factored in his various self-created soul skills and techniques. Xiao Xiao is already a member of the Tang Sect, and the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique is one of the Tang Sect's ultimate skills that can be learned. If she really charges up eighty-one strikes, the final blow might hurt quite a bit!

"Hmm, going down the extreme route? You two go back first, I'll discuss it with the other elders and then make a decision." Yan Shaozhe already felt that he was somewhat unworthy of his position as the dean of the Martial Soul Department. Meeting Xiao Xiao today made him feel that the ocean of Martial Souls had revealed to him a side containing infinite possibilities!

"Oh, right!" Yan Shaozhe suddenly opened the door and called the two who had just come out back in. "Xiao Xiao, you absolutely, positively must not add any more spirit rings to your second martial soul! This is a matter of your life! According to records, unless twin martial souls are born from the same source, if they are cultivated at the same time, they will only explode and die!"

Even after they reached the teaching building, Xiao Xiao's face remained deathly pale. Clearly, the young girl was terrified by the thought that she might be able to attach a spirit ring to her second martial soul.

"Alright, it's just that you haven't had any spirit rings yet. You're a promising genius, Xiao Xiao, now. You need to work even harder in your cultivation from now on, and you can't be lazy anymore..." Chen Cheng patted Xiao Xiao's shoulder, comforting him. Actually, he didn't really care. In the original story, Xiao Xiao only had a hundred-year spirit ring, which only affected his talent and didn't have a big impact on his life. As for the matter of his twin spirits exploding and dying, as long as his physical fitness improved, it wouldn't be a big problem. Look at Huo Yuhao, when he was a Soul King, he had ten spirit rings on both spirits, and they were red-gold! And a million years old! Comparisons are just too much...

Just then, Chen Cheng felt a warm mass in his arms. Looking down, he saw Xiao Xiao had thrown herself onto him. He was wondering whether to push her away when he heard her sobbing grow louder and then her shoulders began to tremble...

"Thank you, thank you, Chen Cheng. If it weren't for you, I...I..." Xiao Xiao was already choked up and couldn't finish her sentence. Chen Cheng sighed and gently patted her back with his other hand to comfort her.

"This little girl probably never experienced the hardships of cultivation growing up. She only knows she's a genius with twin martial souls, so she hasn't suffered any setbacks. Plus, her family probably didn't pay much attention to her or didn't have the ability to do so, otherwise they wouldn't have allowed her to get a hundred-year soul ring for her second martial soul. Suddenly being cared for and looked after like this must have opened her heart and moved her deeply, right? But maybe it's also because Old Yan scared the little girl, making it seem like she's begging for money. Humph, old man, I'll keep extorting him from him, you tightwad!..." Thinking haphazardly, he felt Xiao Xiao hug him even tighter, bursting into tears as if she had survived a disaster.

"Well, it's good for her to let loose a little. She's only 11 years old, after all. My cousin was still stealing my candy when she was that age..." Chen Cheng's eyes softened, and he said involuntarily, "Don't be afraid, I'm here..."

After a long, long time, Chen Cheng waved goodbye to Xiao Xiao, who had recovered and was skipping and hopping into the teaching building. He looked helplessly at his clothes, which were soaked with tears and snot, shook his head, and left. Fortunately, it was during class time, so no one noticed.

Back in the Soul Guidance Department's own designated area, which was worth a level four Soul Guidance Device a year! At first, Chen Cheng felt a pang of regret, but later he discovered that there was a fixed supply of rare metals every month, making it all worthwhile! Was it an inspiration "borrowed" from Mingde Hall?

Chen Cheng began arranging the materials and blueprints. Huo Yuhao was currently a freshman, and normally freshmen wouldn't be allowed to use soul tools until the class placement assessment. But Huo Yuhao was a genius, and a genius's time was even more precious; not a single moment could be wasted!

After sorting out the knowledge framework and key theoretical points, Chen Cheng felt his stomach protesting fiercely. He only felt a little better after stuffing in a few bamboo pills. When he looked at his watch, he realized it was already afternoon.

"Wow, I wish I had this much motivation to study back in high school." Chen Cheng smiled helplessly. Instead of going to find something to eat, he went to collect Dean Yan's reward. When he came back to prepare for the production, he found that there were actually more materials than on his list, enough to make two or three more sets of soul tools.

This miser is actually being generous this time!

Chen Cheng gave this generous act a big thumbs up! He then threw himself back into the creation of the soul tool. He only stopped assembling it when someone knocked on his door. It was a kind-hearted stranger reminding the poor fellow, who hadn't even gone for lunch, that it was mealtime again!

"Alright, after we finish eating, we should find Huo Yuhao. From now on, let's schedule this time to teach Huo Yuhao about soul tools. Judging by his talent, becoming a level two soul tool master in eight months means he'll actually be able to acquire something useful to equip himself during the freshman assessment. It's a pity there seems to be an unwritten rule against using soul tools during the freshman assessment, but storage soul tools don't seem to count? Oh well, those three kids are definitely going to be champions anyway..."

Surprisingly, everyone was already in the cafeteria. Bei Bei and Tang Ya were standing and chatting. Chen Cheng simply brought out the table he had prepared for future gatherings and invited everyone to sit down and enjoy the meal. Xiao Xiao quickly grabbed a seat next to Chen Cheng and then silently ate her rice. Chen Cheng didn't seem to mind, reminding Huo Yuhao to come with him after he finished eating. He then chatted enthusiastically with Bei Bei and San Shi, while the girls whispered amongst themselves on the other side.

However, Chen Cheng noticed that Xu Sanshi didn't intentionally or unintentionally harass Jiang Nannan this time. Staring at her was one thing, but harassing her was crossing the line! Xu Sanshi did well in this aspect tonight. Chen Cheng secretly gave Xu Sanshi a thumbs up, to which he returned a knowing look. Afterwards, the three of them chatted about the results of their meditation last night. Both of them were pleased to feel that they had reached the threshold of level 40, and with some effort, they hoped to break through soon.

"The cafeteria of the world's number one academy doesn't even have tables and chairs, and they don't allow food to be taken out. I really suspect that Yan Shaozhe 'cleaned' it up again." Chen Cheng complained to himself as everyone said goodbye after the meal, but he dared not say it out loud. There were too many people around, and what if he "accidentally" met with something tomorrow?

"Let's go, Xiao Yuhao!" After finishing the meal, Chen Cheng naturally put his arm around Huo Yuhao's shoulder, waved goodbye to Xiao Xiao and the others, and didn't care about Wang Dong's somewhat complicated look.

"You cross-dressing pervert, if you like her, just come and steal her! Hiding like that. Everyone's starting to think you two have something wrong with your sexual orientation!" Chen Cheng thought to himself, but said to Huo Yuhao with a straight face:

"It's time to give everyone a surprise! Show us your talent, the unprecedented genius of the Soul Guidance Department!"