At this moment—
Inside the top-tier laboratory of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, specially prepared by Jing Hongchen for Liu Yuan—
A new challenge had already begun.
Liu Yuan's goal was clear:
To become a Fifth-Rank Soul Engineer!
---
On the workbench lay the blueprint of a fifth-rank spirit tool firearm.
Liu Yuan merely glanced at it once—
—and instantly memorized every core parameter.
Without hesitation, he picked up the forging hammer.
"Ding! Dang! Dang!!"
Crisp, rhythmic hammering echoed through the empty laboratory.
Under his precise strikes, a high-grade rare metal ingot rapidly transformed.
Sparks burst outward.
Reflected in his focused eyes, sharp and unwavering.
The gun body.
The barrel.
The energy core casing.
Each component took shape at a speed visible to the naked eye.
---
Not long after—
The forging was complete.
Without pause, he transitioned into assembly.
His fingers moved like flowing water—steady, controlled, flawless.
Every tiny component slid perfectly into place.
No gaps.
No errors.
Absolute precision.
---
Meanwhile—
Inside the reinforced glass observation room.
Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Jing Hongchen watched intently.
Their breathing slowed unconsciously.
"Brother… do you think Brother Liu Yuan can succeed?"
Meng Hongchen whispered, nervously clasping her hands.
Her eyes shimmered with both hope and anxiety.
Xiao Hongchen didn't answer immediately.
His arms were crossed tightly, brows deeply furrowed.
His emotions churned.
Admiration?
Jealousy?
Frustration?
Even he couldn't tell.
He had always been the number one genius of the academy's younger generation.
But now…
That title felt almost like a joke.
How long has it even been?
Just a few months…
And he's already caught up to what took me years…
This wasn't talent anymore.
This was something else entirely.
A monster.
---
Jing Hongchen cast him a cold glance.
"So now you understand—there is always someone stronger."
His tone was calm, yet carried undeniable authority.
"Put away that ridiculous pride of yours."
"Watch carefully."
"To have someone like him before you… is your fortune."
Xiao Hongchen could only smile bitterly.
Fortune?
Perhaps…
---
While they spoke—
Liu Yuan had already completed the assembly.
A spear-shaped spirit tool lay on the workbench, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen.
But this was only the exterior.
The true test—
Was just beginning.
---
Core Formation Engraving.
The heart of every spirit tool.
The step that determined success… or total failure.
---
Liu Yuan picked up an engraving knife as fine as a strand of hair.
Spirit power flowed into it.
The blade tip glowed faintly.
He steadied his breathing.
His eyes sharpened.
Then—
He began.
---
Lines formed beneath his blade.
Complex, interwoven patterns of spirit power conduction and amplification.
Every stroke—
Precise.
Fluid.
Like flowing water.
No hesitation.
No excess.
---
Time passed.
Minute by minute.
The tension in the observation room climbed to its peak.
Everyone understood—
Even the smallest mistake…
Would ruin everything.
Or worse—
Trigger an explosion.
---
Xiao Hongchen's fists tightened.
Meng Hongchen's palms were damp with sweat.
Even Jing Hongchen's usually calm gaze turned solemn.
---
Hours later—
The final line connected.
Perfectly.
Forming a complete circuit.
---
Liu Yuan stopped.
He slowly straightened.
A breath escaped his lips.
His forehead was lined with fine sweat.
---
Silence fell.
The three observers' hearts jumped.
Success…?
Or failure?
---
They couldn't wait any longer.
They rushed out of the observation room.
"How is it?"
Jing Hongchen asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
---
Liu Yuan said nothing.
He simply handed over the finished spirit tool.
---
Jing Hongchen took it.
Heavy.
Cold.
Perfect.
He examined it carefully.
The surface was smooth as a mirror.
The structure elegant.
The Core Formation—
Flawless.
Energy pathways were stable and unobstructed.
A masterpiece… in theory.
But—
Only testing would prove the truth.
---
He strode to the testing area.
Raised the weapon.
Aimed at the reinforced alloy target wall.
Spirit power—
Injected.
---
"Buzz—!"
The weapon activated instantly.
Light surged through the engraved patterns—
Converging at the muzzle.
A terrifying energy fluctuation spread outward.
---
Jing Hongchen's eyes lit up.
This feeling—
Was unmistakable.
---
He pulled the trigger.
---
"Swoosh—!"
No explosion.
No roar.
Only a sharp, piercing whistle.
A beam of white light tore through the air—
Like a blade cutting space itself.
---
"Puff!"
Direct hit.
---
The alloy wall—
Capable of withstanding a Spirit Emperor's full-force strike—
Was pierced effortlessly.
Like paper.
---
A clean hole remained.
Edges smooth as glass.
Heat distortion lingered.
Crimson scorch marks spread outward.
Blue smoke curled upward.
---
Perfect output.
Stable energy.
Zero backlash.
---
A flawless—
Fifth-rank spirit tool.
---
Jing Hongchen slowly lowered the weapon.
He turned toward Liu Yuan.
Shock filled his eyes.
And then—
Unrestrained joy.
---
Shrek Academy…
Xuan Zi…
Your so-called invincible myth…
Will end in this tournament.
By his hands.
---
Beside him—
Xiao Hongchen stood frozen.
His gaze shifted between the smoking wall—
—and Liu Yuan's calm face.
A crushing sense of powerlessness rose within him.
Mixed with awe.
And disbelief.
His lips trembled.
"He actually… succeeded…"
-------------Author---------------
Read 40 advanced chapter
👉 patreon.com/Master_fic
U can read 10 chapters ahead just for 5$