"Meng! This is murder! Murder! I'm your brother! Your biological brother!"
Currently receiving treatment from a healing Soul Master, Xiao Hongchen loudly denounced Meng Hongchen's fratricidal behavior.
"Relax, Xiao, I controlled my strength. Those are just superficial wounds; they'll heal quickly... Ah, Yuhao, gentler, it seems a bit stuck!"
Huo Yuhao, who was dismantling the soul-powered armor, paused slightly, his movements instinctively becoming more cautious.
As it was a prototype, Huo Yuhao naturally hadn't used any precious materials, opting instead for basic Class 5 metals.
Faced with Xiao Hongchen's saturated attacks—which hadn't been held back much—this set of soul-powered armor had inevitably suffered some deformation.
Fortunately, destruction is always much simpler than creation.
—It's a pity the research into Spirit-Forging metals hasn't succeeded yet. Otherwise, I could try making a full set of Spirit-Forging armor and have it fuse with the body. Then, even if damaged, it could be nourished with one's own soul power, just like using soul power to nourish a soul bone...
His thoughts began to wander, but Huo Yuhao still recorded this flash of inspiration.
"Sister Meng, do you feel there's anything else that can be improved?"
Huo Yuhao carefully lifted Meng Hongchen's foot and rested it against himself to begin dismantling the leg piece.
"Me?"
Meng Hongchen thought for a moment and spoke: "Hmm... although I don't feel the weight of the armor once it's running, even with the flight soul tool and the leg thrusters, I still feel a bit clumsy.
"Also, maybe there's just too much stuff mounted on my back. Even if I can't feel the weight, it still affects my balance.
"For me specifically, this set of armor is a bit too bulky; it doesn't suit me very well.
"I think the weight could be reduced, some unimportant external soul tools removed, and the balance, speed, and direct elemental amplification enhanced."
Meng Hongchen spoke her mind honestly.
Huo Yuhao nodded and recorded her thoughts, then looked toward Xiao Hongchen, who had just finished his treatment: "Brother Xiao, what do you think?"
"Me?"
Xiao Hongchen blanked for a second, hesitated, and then said:
"It's true, like Meng said, this armor brought her combat power to the level of a top-tier Soul King, but it added too many openings. Otherwise, my soul tool cannons wouldn't have hit her.
"Well, my suggestion is different from Meng's. I think we should just go huge! Change it from Meng's current semi-covered style to a fully-enclosed one!
"With the set Meng is wearing, despite getting decent defense from the materials and soul arrays, I think we could just add several layers of alloy plating! That would directly boost defensive power!
"At the same time, to solve the weight issue, we can increase the volume of the armor. For example, instead of this human-sized form, increase it to 3 meters, 5 meters, or even taller!
"When that time comes, you only need to leave a space inside for the Soul Master to pilot it. Every other part can be fitted with more soul tool cannons and 'soul power storage devices' for endurance!
"Sacrifice speed in exchange for the absolute defense of heavy plating, the absolute attack power of soul cannons, and the absolute battery life of storage devices! It would be perfect!"
That was Xiao Hongchen for you. Huo Yuhao only needed to pose a question, and Xiao Hongchen would use his imagination to get himself excited.
"Do you really take me for a wish-granting machine..."
Huo Yuhao couldn't help but complain. Ever since he had displayed his slightly overpowered talent for soul tool creation, Xiao Hongchen treated him like a genie, constantly pitching his ideas.
However, it had to be said that Xiao Hongchen's ideas weren't just idle fantasies; they were actually feasible!
"Hey, we're brothers, aren't we? So, Yuhao, do you think it's possible to realize?"
Xiao Hongchen threw an arm around Huo Yuhao's neck and whispered in his ear:
"As long as you say it's possible, I'll handle Grandfather tonight! You and my sister can play however you want! Just remember to use safety precautions. After all, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Cross-Border Championship is in a little over a year. My sister can't exactly be in postpartum recovery when that time comes, right?"
Huo Yuhao: ...
Wait, what?
"Xiao! I can hear you! Do you believe I'll tell Grandfather exactly what you just said!"
That damn brother, actually choosing to sell her out to Yuhao just to achieve his own goals?! This... damn, why am I a little tempted?
Xiao Hongchen completely ignored his sister's protest.
Just think about it: a five-meter-tall, steel-clad humanoid giant mechanical soul tool armor, with 16 giant soul cannons mounted on its back! And holding a three-meter-long soul tool greatsword!
Heavens! That would be so cool!
The name wasn't great, though... hmm, let's just call the mechanical soul tool armor a "Mecha"!
In short, he, Xiao Hongchen, was going to pilot a mecha!
As for his sister? Please, can a sister be more important than piloting a mecha?!
"So, what do you say? Is this 'Mecha' a viable project?"
Xiao Hongchen's eyes were burning with a fervor so intense that Huo Yuhao even felt a hint of religious devotion from him.
Clearly, when it came to soul tools and mechas, Xiao Hongchen's love was pure... he was even willing to give up his own sister.
After a moment of silence, Huo Yuhao spoke:
"What you said... the Mecha, is theoretically feasible, but I can't make it at this stage."
"Ah? Why? What's missing? Not enough cultivation? Should we call Grandfather to research it together?"
Xiao Hongchen was a bit anxious.
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "Don't be in a rush. It's actually because current material strength doesn't allow for it. To complete your idea, Brother Xiao, soul tool technology is secondary; the main issue is that current materials aren't strong enough to build a 'Mecha.'
"According to my calculations, the materials needed to build a mecha would have to be at least Class 8 or even Class 9 metals. And if you want to build a 3-meter or 5-meter mecha, the waste during R&D and the cost of trial and error would likely be an astronomical figure..."
Huo Yuhao put it tactfully, but upon hearing this, the light in Xiao Hongchen's eyes instantly vanished.
As Jing Hongchen's grandson, he knew the prices of Class 9 metals. Because of that, he knew the hope was slim.
My mecha dream!!!
I want to pilot a mecha!!!
"Brother Xiao, don't be so pessimistic. After you become a Titled Douluo, you can work toward this goal. Besides, soul tool technology doesn't just stand still..."
Huo Yuhao comforted him. Just as he said, soul tool technology wouldn't stagnate. After Spirit-Forging was perfected, there would be the announcement of Thousand-Forging...
At that time, with the strength of Thousand-Forging metals, it might not be impossible to truly develop a mecha.
As for why wait until Spirit-Forging was done?
Naturally, it was to release one generation, keep one generation in reserve, and develop the next.
Technological monopoly never goes out of style.