Chapter 55: The Content of the Assessment

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The senior sister froze.

Could it really be done?

Seeing Xu Yuan's small, delicate appearance and handsome face, she instinctively teased him.

This question hadn't been deeply considered before.

Without deep thought, it was obviously impossible.

But upon deeper reflection, the senior sister began to frown.

Using mech design principles to bypass Heavenly Forging in creating four-character battle armor…

Her initial reaction was to simplify the core formation arrays so that the effects of four-character battle armor could be engraved onto soul-forged metals.

This, however, was clearly impossible.

The current development system for battle armor had already been streamlined to its limits. Battle armor itself was derived from mechs, simplified to enhance the individual combat abilities of soul masters. While many unnecessary functions of mechs were discarded, one aspect could not be compromised: the amplification of combat capabilities.

The pursuit of battle armor was for power, not just prestige.

If formations engraved on soul-forged metals could replicate the effects of modern four-character battle armor, then what about more complex formations engraved on Heavenly Forged metals?

Would there be a new version of four-character battle armor?

Therefore, an unbreakable equivalence existed: soul-forged metals produced three-character battle armor, while only Heavenly Forged metals could produce four-character battle armor.

People assumed that the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Tutor achieved his four-character battle armor by completing Heavenly Forging through unconventional means.

This was the instinctive reaction without deep thought.

But with deeper consideration, what if this little boy meant using mech design techniques to advance the metal itself?

"Not only blacksmiths interact with spirituality—other secondary professions do as well. Why can't practitioners of other secondary professions achieve Heavenly Forging? Even if it's not instantaneous, couldn't gradual induction work?" Xu Yuan voiced his thoughts.

The senior who had posed the original question smiled—not mockingly, but with a hint of resignation.

"Little… junior? Do you know what long-term induction entails?" Without waiting for Xu Yuan to respond, he answered himself. "It means constantly adjusting your induction methods based on changes in the battle armor, over several years—or even decades. And ideally, you'd need to become a Limit Douluo. Moreover, the final four-character battle armor nurtured this way would provide far weaker enhancements than those crafted normally with Heavenly Forged metals."

Because you've grown stronger, you can nurture it to this level.

And realistically, it's almost impossible to nurture it to match your own level.

Xu Yuan understood. What the senior said made sense.

Take the Limit Douluos on the continent today. A standard four-character battle armor might grant an ordinary Title Douluo the strength of a Limit Douluo. However, Limit Douluos themselves are ranked, and such a four-character battle armor user's power would barely reach the lowest tier of Limit Douluos—quasi-divine beings.

Compared to non-four-character battle armor users who are divine or quasi-divine, the gap in strength is enormous.

For divine or quasi-divine beings, they need four-character battle armor that enhances their already formidable abilities.

If someone spent decades nurturing a set of four-character battle armor only suitable for quasi-divine beings, the enhancements for divine or quasi-divine beings would be negligible. What would be the point?

And all of this was still based on the assumption that nurturing could succeed.

It must be said, exchanging ideas with seniors and fellow students was quite enlightening.

However, these discussions during the pre-conference warm-up were mostly about battle armor concepts, satisfying Xu Yuan's planning and imagination regarding battle armor but offering little practical help for advancing his secondary profession skills.

"Junior Xu, if you want to improve your secondary profession skills, you'll need to wait until the conference officially begins. These discussions may have some value, but they're mostly riding the hype and aren't closely related to improving your secondary profession," Yu Yang said helplessly.

With a sigh, Xu Yuan left the Mecha Association.

As someone who had transcended worlds, Xu Yuan was never short of ideas or creativity. But he couldn't underestimate others either. This was a real world where soul masters might lack innovative thinking, but even if each soul master only had one unique idea, when dozens or hundreds of people gathered to discuss, the resulting brainstorming could be immense.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Xu Yuan spent these three days immersed in brainstorming.

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Inner Court

Xu Yuan and his two companions gathered. Shen Yi looked at their mental states and sighed inwardly.

She had deliberately warned them that the assessment would be difficult to pressure Xu Yuan.

Yet, Xu Yuan acted as if nothing was wrong, spending his days hanging around the Mecha Association, while Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan trained like mad, nearly exhausting themselves.

Of course, since today was the assessment, Xu Lizhi and Ye Xinglan had rested well the previous night.

"Your assessment today is simple: fight against yourselves from six months ago," Shen Yi announced.

The method of assessment was straightforward, but the assessment itself was anything but.

Fighting against your past self?

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

This was no challenge at all.

Himself from six months ago?

A joke!

"Don't get cocky. Since it's an assessment, it won't be that simple. After all, you've only been cultivating for a year, and in the past six months, your strength has grown significantly. Defeating your past self shouldn't be too hard," Shen Yi reminded them, observing their expressions.

Watching Xu Lizhi's fluctuating tension and relaxation, Shen Yi felt amused.

Ye Xinglan remained calm as usual, her expression indifferent, while Xu Lizhi's emotions were written all over his face.

"This assessment will take place in the Soul Battle Arena," Shen Yi explained. "Do you remember the Soul Battle Arena? Your opponents will be completely simulated, with data collected from real soul masters. However, the combat projections are generated by the system."

AI opponents.

As everyone knew, AI could range from weak and frustrating to absurdly powerful and unbeatable.

Xu Yuan quickly grasped this point.

Sure enough, Shen Yi confirmed it.

"Though they'll be simulations of you from six months ago, their combat techniques will be very strong."

Xu Lizhi's round face was scrunched up like a dumpling, though he hadn't yet realized the full extent of the difficulty.

"Teacher, what aspects are included in combat techniques?" Xu Yuan asked.

Shen Yi's eyes curved mischievously as she smiled.

"Everything except the basic physical and soul power attributes falls under techniques."

At this, Ye Xinglan's expression finally changed noticeably. She felt immense pressure.

Techniques… did sword intent count?

What about purely self-created soul skills or ultimate techniques?

Xu Yuan thought even further.

He could already imagine fighting against a projection of himself, clad in his old outfit, wielding Controlling Crane with ghostly footwork, and glowing purple eyes…

It was going to be a sight for sore eyes.

Wait—

Hold on!

Xu Yuan suddenly froze.

How advanced was the simulation in the Soul Battle Arena?

Would it simulate even the meridian structure of soul masters' bodies?

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