Chapter 39: Issues with Martial Souls
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At the Mecha Manufacturing Association, Xu Yuan and Ye Xinglan both passed the assessment and became members of Shrek Academy's Mecha Manufacturing Association.
"You're both level-two mecha manufacturers, so you can take on some tasks related to manufacturing mecha parts. You can accept these tasks through the association's channels. The association will only take a five percent cut, and the rest will all belong to you. Additionally, if you complete five tasks per month, the association will reward you with one thousand contribution points."
Joining an association came with significant benefits.
For instance, that one thousand contribution points in rewards—based on what Xu Yuan knew, contribution points were extremely valuable. Even with exchange rates, one hundred federal credits couldn't buy a single contribution point. This meant that one thousand contribution points were worth more than ten thousand federal credits.
And all it took was completing five tasks.
"Since you two are Inner Court students, the association can provide you with exclusive workshops."
"By the way, here are some schedules for the association's courses. If you have time or are interested in a topic being taught by a senior or teacher, you can come to the association to watch and learn in person. However, you'll need to pay contribution points."
The association's benefits were quite comprehensive. After reviewing them, Xu Yuan and Ye Xinglan quickly left the Mecha Manufacturing Association.
Their next stop was the Mecha Repair Association. Compared to the Mecha Manufacturing Association, this place had slightly fewer people. Xu Yuan and Xu Lizhi soon got in line for their assessment.
The benefits here were similar to those of the Mecha Manufacturing Association, and Xu Yuan and Xu Lizhi could enjoy comparable treatment at the Mecha Repair Association.
Xu Yuan didn't receive any warnings about only being allowed to claim one basic living allowance.
As long as they completed their respective association's tasks, there was no limit to how many allowances they could claim.
With this calculation, Xu Yuan could at least claim four allowances.
That amounted to four thousand contribution points, plus additional contribution points earned from completing tasks, totaling around seven to eight thousand contribution points per month.
Wait, there was still another association.
After visiting the Mecha Manufacturing and Mecha Repair Associations, Xu Yuan had the other two accompany him to complete the assessments for the Mecha Design Association and the Blacksmith Association.
Across all four secondary profession associations, Xu Yuan registered as a level-two practitioner in each.
"Let's go; there's one more association," Xu Yuan said, leading the two to the final association.
The Mecha Pilot Association.
The previous four associations they joined were for secondary professions, but the Mecha Pilot Association was specifically for mecha pilots within the academy. It could also custom-build mechas for students.
Unfortunately, students at Shrek Academy were mostly focused on becoming battle armor masters, showing little interest in mecha piloting. As a result, the Mecha Pilot Association was the least popular association in all of Shrek Academy.
However, that didn't mean the Mecha Pilot Association was useless.
At the very least, it still offered benefits. For example, practitioners of the four major professions could collaborate with the Mecha Pilot Association.
After all, creating and upgrading mechas couldn't be done without the four major professions. Although the Mecha Pilot Association often directly signed agreements with the other four associations to hire their members for custom projects, the Mecha Pilot Association itself still had its own practitioners.
It was just that the main body handled the overall work, while outsourcing parts to the secondary profession associations.
Xu Yuan brought Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan to the Mecha Pilot Association, joined as practitioners, and began accepting tasks from there.
"Our levels aren't particularly high. Even when taking on tasks from the Mecha Manufacturing Association or others, the tasks are scattered, and our understanding of the effects and uses of the parts we make is incomplete. However, the tasks from the Mecha Pilot Association are systematic. Manufacturing involves collaboration among many mecha manufacturers, providing more opportunities for communication and learning." Xu Yuan explained to the two.
After joining all the associations, Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan returned to their dormitories to begin cultivating.
Xu Yuan, on the other hand, headed to the academy's archive room.
Cai Yue'er had mentioned earlier that even if Xu Yuan requested a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, the Sea God Pavilion wasn't incapable of granting such a request—but Xu Yuan wasn't foolish.
Even if he made such a request, earning impression points was secondary. The most important question was: when would he actually receive the hundred-thousand-year soul bone?
Did Shrek Academy always have a stockpile of hundred-thousand-year soul bones lying around?
Even if they did, wouldn't they just tell him, "We don't have one right now, but we'll give it to you when we do?"
What academy hands over a hundred-thousand-year soul bone to a student right after enrollment? Even if they had one in stock, they'd likely wait a few years to observe the student's character before handing it over.
Moreover, even if he received one, when would Xu Yuan be able to fuse it?
While it was true that there was no strict level requirement for fusing soul bones—as long as one had sufficient willpower, even low-level soul masters could absorb them—how much willpower was considered "sufficient"?
Hundred-thousand-year soul bones were fundamentally different from ten-thousand-year soul bones. They contained the intense will of the soul beast from its life, making absorption far more challenging.
"If I really want a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, I'll still have my chances."
Xu Yuan gazed at the rows of bookshelves in the archive room, his mind already thirsting for knowledge.
Knowledge was power!
"If I can perfect my Great Devouring Heaven and Earth Technique, won't it surpass the value of a hundred-thousand-year soul bone?" A transmissible secret technique like this—one that could enhance the foundation of his peers—would fetch a high price from Shrek Academy.
Of course, that was only if Xu Yuan was willing to hand it over.
"Xuan Zi's meditation techniques…" Xu Yuan searched the meditation section, combing through countless shelves to find the records of Xuan Zi's meditation methods from ten thousand years ago.
The Taotie martial soul, even when cultivated instinctively, adjusted its soul power circulation during meditation to better align with its user. These circulation pathways undoubtedly contained numerous elements related to devouring!
This was precisely what Xu Yuan needed.
Though Xu Yuan didn't dwell on other aspects, one thing was certain: Xuan Zi's meditation techniques had been refined to perfectly complement his Taotie martial soul, allowing him to reach level ninety-eight.
"Found it!" Xu Yuan's eyes lit up as he located Xuan Zi's meditation technique among the records.
He carefully noted down the soul power circulation routes described in the meditation technique. Then, he began searching for the meditation methods of other famous powerhouses who possessed strong devouring-type martial souls.
After recording the soul power circulation paths from these meditation techniques, it was already late. Finally, Xu Yuan left the archive room.
A refined-looking man watched Xu Yuan's departing figure, lost in thought.
"What is this child doing, looking up so many meditation techniques for devouring-type martial souls?" Yun Ming pondered.
Beside him, the figures of the Sea God Pavilion's elders appeared.
"He might be trying to perfect his Great Devouring Heaven and Earth Technique."
"Mm, that's possible," Zuo Shi agreed.
"Interesting. If he can truly perfect that secret technique, it will indeed become a powerful skill." Yun Ming nodded.
Xu Yuan returned to his dormitory.
In his mind, he reviewed the soul power circulation routes of various meditation techniques used by masters of devouring-type martial souls. He began eliminating individual routes, focusing on overlapping sections.
These overlapping sections were undoubtedly connected to devouring.
And they were highly versatile!
After hours of research, Xu Yuan felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.
He set aside his studies and began meditating.
Within his meditation space.
The Tianyuan Brush floated and sank.
Xu Yuan's consciousness observed his Tianyuan Brush martial soul, once again falling into deep thought.
One martial soul, two forms—it was unique, but not without limitations.
"I can multitask when it comes to learning, but the development of a martial soul cannot tolerate distractions. Otherwise, reaching the pinnacle of a weapon-type martial soul would be nothing more than empty words."
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