Douluo: In an extraordinary world, with unparallel understanding!

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"Teacher Yang."

Su Yu entered Yang Chengyu's office and immediately noticed the workbench set up for crafting soul guidance devices.

On it were rare metals neatly arranged, and the surface was clean, with a carving knife placed nearby.

There was no doubt that Yang Chengyu was also a Soul Master.

"Su Yu, three-ringed Soul Master, second ring of a thousand years," Yang Chengyu remarked as he saw Su Yu enter.

Su Yu wasn't sure what this teacher intended to do, so he remained silent.

"I heard you want to join the Soul Guidance Department, but you had no foundational knowledge of soul guidance before entering the academy?"

"That's correct," Su Yu replied.

"You've been studying the foundational knowledge at the academy for a month. How confident are you about attempting to craft a soul guidance device?" Yang Chengyu gestured towards the workbench.

Su Yu's eyes flickered as he pondered Yang's intentions.

"The teacher who guided you through the enrollment process might suggest focusing on theoretical studies.

First, pass the entrance exam for the Soul Guidance Department, they say.

But I'm telling you, it's best to pursue the certified Soul Master route.

Only by doing so will you have the opportunity to become a core disciple.

While you're in the Martial Soul Department, you'll certainly enjoy the benefits of being a core disciple; however, once you switch to the Soul Guidance Department, your soul power level will have no bearing whatsoever.

The Soul Guidance Department only values your skills in crafting soul guidance devices!"

Yang Chengyu spoke calmly and deliberately.

"Teacher Yang, what exactly are the benefits of being a core disciple?"

"If you want to advance further in the field of crafting soul guidance devices, then joining the Mingde Hall is essential. The Sun-Moon Hall represents the pinnacle of soul guidance device crafting in the entire Sun Moon Empire.

As a core disciple, you will typically be able to directly enter the Sun-Moon Hall after graduation and receive generous benefits.

Additionally, during your time at the academy, you will also receive preferential access to its resources.

Improving your level as a Soul Master relies heavily on extensive practice, as well as on theoretical knowledge and schematics for crafting soul guidance devices.

Such practice requires the use of rare metals.

This is the most crucial aspect that separates successful Soul Masters from the rest.

You can buy rare metals yourself, but it's quite costly. Given your situation, even if you manage to acquire a sufficient quantity of rare metals, it will likely consume a lot of your time.

As a core disciple, you will enjoy a quota of 100 kilograms of rare metals each semester and can directly withdraw the required materials whenever necessary."

Upon hearing this, Su Yu had to take it seriously.

Rare metals were indeed a significant expense.

Especially if he had to procure them on his own, as it would waste a lot of effort searching for them. Some types of rare metals aren't sold everywhere.

Although, according to Yang Chengyu's later elaboration, excessively precious rare metals are calculated in multiples of weight.

The so-called 100 kilograms is merely a standard unit. For some rare metals, one kilogram is equivalent to three or even five kilograms in this standard unit.

Of course, even so, this treatment was quite generous.

After all, during the student phase, most of the metals used are the most common types, and 100 kilograms is roughly the size of fifteen footballs in volume.

That's 100 kilograms per semester, which amounts to 200 kilograms a year!

"But that's not the most important part," Yang Chengyu's tone became more serious.

"The real advantage of being a core disciple lies in the access to crafting techniques, theories, and schematics for soul guidance devices.

You've spent a month in the library, so you should have noticed that while the library contains extensive resources on soul guidance, it only includes content for Soul Masters below level three.

Any techniques, theories, or schematics for level four Soul Masters and above are simply unavailable.

However, as a core disciple, you will receive the academy's support and gain the ability to learn the techniques and theories for crafting soul guidance devices that the academy possesses.

Even some rare schematics for crafting soul guidance devices will be available for exchange for you.

With the status of a core disciple, your initial benefits when entering the Mingde Hall will far exceed those of an ordinary Soul Master."

Su Yu listened carefully to Yang Chengyu's explanation and already had a decision in mind.

This core disciple status must be secured.

Su Yu was well aware of his situation.

With no power and no influence, he was left with only his innate talent.

Becoming a core disciple was essential.

Moreover, he needed to find a few supporters.

During the previous month, he had been so engrossed in studying soul guidance devices that he hadn't managed to pursue this aspect.

However, having solid foundations was crucial, so he didn't regret it. After all, without a clear indication of his soul guidance talent, even if he sought out powerful allies, they might not respond favorably.

But now, an excellent opportunity lay before him.

Looking at Yang Chengyu's calm demeanor, Su Yu spoke up, "Teacher Yang, I'd like to give it a try."

Yang Chengyu let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

Su Yu's talent as a Soul Master was remarkable, though his talent for crafting soul guidance devices was still unknown.

At such a juncture, it was necessary to probe his abilities.

If Su Yu proved to be exceptional in this field, the one who discovered that first would hold the initiative.

Especially if Su Yu's talent in crafting soul guidance devices matched his aptitude for cultivating martial souls, he shouldn't be bogged down by trivial matters of fame and competition.

"Getting into the Mingde Hall must start with the Crown Prince."

This was Su Yu's first attempt at personally crafting a soul guidance device.

He closed his eyes and recalled the fundamental principles of crafting soul guidance devices.

After reviewing the basics, he familiarized himself with the tools on the workbench.

This process took him a full half-hour.

Yang Chengyu didn't rush him.

"Let's create a soul guidance hand grenade," he suggested.

Only second-level soul guidance devices could be used in combat, and while a first-level soul guidance hand grenade was labeled as a grenade, it was essentially a device for detonating soul power.

A first-level soul guidance device is the initial combination and engraving of a core formation.

Being able to accurately engrave the formation and completely forge the core qualifies as a first-level soul guidance device standard.

However, this so-called initial stage is only relative to the nine levels of soul guidance devices.

Even the simplest first-level soul guidance devices involve intricate relationships between formations, handling of formation nodes during engraving, and the ability to adapt to the surface structure of rare metals while ensuring precision in engraving. This has baffled countless individuals.

The most challenging step for Su Yu in this creation process was engraving the first-level core formation.

He took out a piece of refined silver, turned on the workbench, and began to refine the silver.

Refined silver is one of the most common rare metals, with balanced performance across various aspects, making it one of the best materials for practicing the crafting of soul guidance devices.

Su Yu heated the refined silver until it softened, then began hammering it with a forging hammer. Initially, he was clearly unpracticed, but as he continued to strike, he gradually found his rhythm.

[You are forging metal, gaining insight into the forging techniques; your forging skills have reached the proficient level.]

From just this forging step, Yang Chengyu began to assess Su Yu's talent.

He was quite perceptive and had a good sense of understanding.

As Su Yu continued, Yang Chengyu's conclusion about his talent only grew stronger.

[You are sculpting the outer shell of the soul guidance hand grenade, gaining insight into sculpting techniques; your sculpting skills have reached the proficient level.]

The more Yang Chengyu observed, the more astonished he became, as Su Yu's talent became vividly apparent to him.

Meanwhile, Su Yu continued to work methodically on crafting the soul guidance hand grenade.

He began with the shell's creation, using this process to become familiar with tools like the carving knife.

Now, he had reached the most critical step:

Crafting the core formation!

(End of Chapter)