That's right—this was the latest research achievement of the Sun Moon Empire.
A soul ring possesses form but no substance, yet it has an incredibly powerful energy conduction capability. By using a soul ring to shape a soul tool, one could achieve an operation similar to a soul ring creating a soul tool!
Subsequently, a soul ring would carry a soul tool, and finally, one would absorb this soul ring that carried the soul tool!
Huo Yuhao had, after all, somewhat underestimated the people of the world, as well as the scientific research capabilities of Kong Deming and the others.
Originally, Huo Yuhao wanted to slowly guide Kong Deming and his peers toward researching a three-in-one direction involving soul tools, soul rings, and martial souls.
However, who would have thought that after he "unintentionally" provided a bit of experience regarding "soul ring bearing," Kong Deming's inspiration would explode? Within just a few days, he developed the prototype of this more universally applicable "Ring-Shaping Soul Tool Method."
And now, after a full two months of repeated research and experimentation, the limit of the years the "Ring-Shaping Soul Tool Method" could reach had finally hit ten thousand years!
Huo Yuhao watched quietly as a Soul King below activated that soul tool-ified soul ring in the same manner one would trigger a soul skill.
In the next instant, that black hovering soul tool cannon immediately fired a powerful beam of energy—it was even stronger than a normal Class 5 soul tool cannon!
In terms of sheer power, a soul tool shaped from a soul ring was at least thirty percent more powerful than a soul tool of the same level.
It couldn't be helped; one must realize that when using a normal soul tool, there is a loss of soul power. This is a limitation of the soul tool's own materials and is unavoidable.
However, a soul ring is inherently constructed of energy. The loss of soul power is absurdly low. In a sense, a soul ring is like a "super soul tool material"—it's just very difficult to utilize.
But now, because of the "Artificial Soul Ring Device" developed by Huo Yuhao, they had obtained enough experimental materials to successfully research a method to utilize soul rings.
It was truly amazing.
Yet, facing such an achievement, this group of soul tool engineers did not show expressions of extreme excitement. Instead, everyone was busy recording, imagining more possibilities, and deducing the next experiment.
Huo Yuhao observed silently from the side.
The soul tool engineers of the Sun Moon Empire were truly different from the soul tool engineers of the three nations of Douluo.
While "stepping on one to praise the other" isn't a good habit, if the three nations of Douluo had obtained such a result, their first thought would likely be that it was "good enough" and ready for use, with no need for further research.
Even worse, if Shrek Academy had researched this, their first thought might have been to hide it away as a foundational legacy.
In contrast, the Sun Moon Empire would choose to strive for perfection and continuous improvement.
This was a spirit of exploration—a spirit that the three nations of Douluo completely lacked. Perhaps it was because of this that, without a certain shameless fellow intervening, the Sun Moon Empire's victory was a matter of course.
"Organize the experimental data. Everyone submit your understanding of this part of the 'Ring-Shaping Soul Tool Method' to me by tomorrow. I will compile and publish this portion as soon as possible. Take a rest for the next few days," Kong Deming arranged calmly.
The hundred-year and thousand-year levels of the "Ring-Shaping Soul Tool Method" had already been made public, which had dispelled much of the panic in the Sun Moon Empire regarding the lack of soul rings to absorb.
Once the ten-thousand-year level was announced, that panic would end completely.
"Yes, Elder Kong."
"Understood, Elder Kong."
Several Class 9 soul tool engineers nearby nodded in acknowledgment and left with their experimental records.
Over the past few months, they had learned the superiority of the soul rings attached via the "Ring-Shaping Soul Tool Method."
Although it lacked the diversity of absorbing a normal soul beast's soul ring, it offered more selectivity.
Moreover, this method was particularly suitable for use in the military. For the great war that was bound to break out in the future, the "Ring-Shaping Soul Tool Method" might produce unexpected effects.
As everyone left, Huo Yuhao prepared to follow. After all, when he arrived this morning, Miss Meng had been clamoring to eat his roasted fish; unable to refuse, Huo Yuhao had to hurry back to prepare the ingredients.
However, just as he lifted his foot, Kong Deming called out to him from behind.
"Yuhao."
Huo Yuhao paused and turned to look at Kong Deming in confusion: "What is it, Teacher?"
"Did you have your ninth birthday a few months ago?"
Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
"What is your current soul power level?"
"Level 22, Teacher."
"I see... then there's no rush," Kong Deming murmured softly before speaking again:
"Yuhao, you are very smart and full of ideas. The concept of a soul ring carrying a soul tool is very bold and highly feasible. But do you know why, in the end, the method we developed was using a soul ring to shape a soul tool?"
Huo Yuhao remained silent and shook his head.
Kong Deming smiled and said softly: "It's very simple—because the materials don't allow it."
Huo Yuhao froze, showing a hint of genuine surprise. He really hadn't considered it from that angle.
In his previous life, he hadn't focused his energy on soul tools after becoming a Soul Saint. It wasn't until he became a God and ascended to the God Realm that he began researching soul tools again.
However, at that time, the materials Huo Yuhao encountered were various metals from the God Realm, which were fundamentally different from the metals of the Douluo World.
"Ordinary metals cannot merge into a martial soul. Only metals nurtured with soul power of at least the Titled Douluo level for many years, as well as certain naturally spiritual metals, can be used to create soul tools that merge with one's own martial soul."
"Nurturing metal with soul power... and spirit metal?" Huo Yuhao was puzzled. He could understand the former; it was likely similar to how he used his own divine power to nurture a divine artifact in his previous life, allowing it to upgrade level by level.
But spirit metal?
"Yes. The product obtained after successfully nurturing metal with soul power is actually called 'Acquired Spirit Metal.'"
"Back then, I nurtured a large piece of Class 9 Star-Silver Glow Iron, keeping it by my side day and night, constantly enveloping it with my soul power, letting my power completely merge with it bit by bit."
"This process lasted for an entire year until, at one moment, I suddenly felt that this piece of Star-Silver Glow Iron had seemingly 'come alive.'"
"In that moment... I knew that this piece of Star-Silver Glow Iron had become a piece of Acquired Spirit Metal..."
Kong Deming paused briefly before continuing: "Besides that, there are special metals born naturally—innately spiritual, of an extremely high level, capable of conducting one's own soul power almost without loss, and able to merge more easily with one's martial soul."
"This kind of metal is called Spirit Metal, or 'Innate Spirit Metal.'"
"And this kind of metal is generally an exceptionally rare Class 9 metal, with extremely scarce reserves."
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered as various thoughts flashed through his mind.
Interestingly, after hearing about the so-called Acquired Spirit Metal, Huo Yuhao's first thought was—how to replicate and mass-produce it.
PS:The "Ring-Shaping Soul Tool Method" is just a prototype. Based on this, a very interesting thing will be developed later. Well, you could say it's similar to the "Battle Armor" from Douluo Continent III, but completely different.
PS: "Soul Engine" + "Acquired Spirit Metal" + "Armor" = Mecha/Gundam!
It's got potential, isn't it!