The next day.
In a brand-new classroom.
"Starting today, our lessons will be conducted here—not just theory, but combat training as well."
"So, our first theoretical lesson will be..."
"The Concept and Evolution of Mecha."
Wu Zhangkong stood before the group, speaking calmly.
"Mecha..."
Hearing this term, Tang Wulin and the others couldn't help but recall the scene from a few days ago when two black mechas had appeared—those were the works of powerful Mecha Designers.
As his brother had once said...
Mechas are a man's romance!
"But Teacher Wu, isn't this a course that usually starts in the advanced division?"
Though Xie Xie was excited, he couldn't help but ask.
"You're right."
"Your mecha lessons will only cover theoretical knowledge. There won't be many classes, and I assume none of you would refuse the chance to become a Mecha Designer, right?"
Wu Zhangkong nodded, then smiled.
"Right."
Everyone nodded in agreement, especially the boys led by Tang Wulin. Of course, Gu Yue was also very interested.
After all, it was the advancement of technology that had elevated Soul Masters to their current heights. Any high-tech innovation naturally piqued her curiosity.
And mechas were one of the greatest technological advancements in enhancing human capabilities—how could she not be intrigued?
"The development of modern mechas can be traced back ten thousand years. By then, soul guidance technology had already accumulated over a millennium of experience, and mechas were born from the fusion of this technology with the human body..."
Wu Zhangkong spoke methodically, his expression composed.
"Soul guidance mechas channel Soul Power through storage devices, allowing the user to exert strength far beyond their natural limits. The earliest soul guidance mechas were designed to be as large as possible..."
"The larger the mecha, the more Soul Power storage devices and weaponry it could carry—or so the Soul Masters of that era believed, thinking this would maximize combat effectiveness."
"But in reality, the opposite was true. Larger mechas didn't enhance performance; instead, they became easier targets for enemies to lock onto."
"This contradicted the original purpose of mechas. Thus, their development shifted from large-scale back to the more common sizes we see today..."
"..."
Wu Zhangkong continued his explanation until, after a while, he picked up a piece of chalk and wrote two words heavily on the blackboard.
"While being a Mecha Designer is commendable, your true developmental path should actually be—Battle Armor."
"This is a derivative of mechas—soul guidance armor tailored to fit a Soul Master's body. Or, to put it more simply, it's mecha technology scaled down to the size of armor."
"Its lower limit surpasses that of white mechas, while its upper limit exceeds even red mechas. Becoming a Battle Armor Master is the true way to harness the combined strengths of Martial Souls and technology..."
Wu Zhangkong spoke bluntly. He wasn't saying that Mecha Designers were inferior—after all, the parents of Tang Luochuan and Tang Wulin were already close to the level of Titled Douluo, far stronger than him.
But it was undeniable that the stronger one became, the less advantageous mechas were. The gap between mechas and Battle Armor Masters only widened with increasing strength.
"Battle Armor Master..."
Upon hearing such a concept, Tang Wulin and the others wore thoughtful expressions. Battle Armor Masters—this was undoubtedly a profession they had never encountered before.
Stronger than Mecha Designers, mechas that resembled armor...
It sounded even cooler than mechas!
"..."
Gu Yue, in particular, wore a look of deep contemplation. She had some knowledge of Battle Armors. It was said that current human powerhouses significantly enhanced their cultivation through Battle Armors.
For instance, a Super Douluo, with the support of a Three-Word Battle Armor, could even unleash the strength of a Limit Douluo. What did that mean?
Historically, in the two eras spanning twenty thousand years where humans achieved godhood, there had never been more than five Limit Douluos at any given time.
Now, any random Super Douluo could match a Limit Douluo in combat. Not to mention, Na'er had also heard that Shrek Academy had quite a few Four-Word Battle Armor Masters.
Talk about pressure.
"Battle Armors."
"They are the most remarkable technology on the Douluo Continent."
Tang Luochuan couldn't help but sigh as well. A Soul Sage equipped with a Two-Word Battle Armor could rival an ordinary Titled Douluo—didn't that speak volumes about their significance?
This era was already teeming with powerhouses, and with the addition of Battle Armors, their combat prowess skyrocketed exponentially.
"That's all for mechas and Battle Armors. I believe everyone has a good grasp now. Next, we must discuss the essential requirement for becoming a Mecha Designer or Battle Armor Master..."
"A second profession."
"..."
"Alright, that's it for today's lesson. This afternoon, everyone will accompany me to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda."
After the lesson ended, Wu Zhangkong looked at the students who had benefited greatly from the morning session and smiled.
"From now on, we'll visit the Spirit Transfer Pagoda once a week for practical combat training."
If theoretical lessons merely informed the children about future developments, then the practical experience provided by the academy...
Was the real treasure.
"Go to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda?"
"Teacher, what are we going there for?"
Tang Wulin wore a puzzled expression. The Spirit Transfer Pagoda—wasn't that the place to purchase Soul Spirits? What business did they have there?
"..."
"Teacher Wu, are we going to enhance our Soul Spirits?"
Gu Yue, deep in thought, spoke up.
"Correct."
"Provided you can defeat those Soul Beasts."
Wu Zhangkong nodded solemnly.
"Enhance?"
Tang Wulin looked at Wu Zhangkong in confusion, while the others around him had already widened their eyes in shock.
"Teacher Wu."
"Are we going to the Spirit Ascension Platform?"
Wei Xiaofeng couldn't hold back his question, his face filled with astonishment.
"Huh... huh?"
"What's the Spirit Ascension Platform?"
Hearing this unfamiliar term, Tang Wulin's curiosity grew even stronger. Why did it feel like he knew nothing about this?
"It's a place in the Spirit Transfer Pagoda where Soul Spirits can have their years enhanced." Take our hundred-year Soul Spirit as an example—when the Soul Ring's duration increases from 100 to 1000, it can be upgraded to a thousand-year Soul Spirit."
"And instead of originally providing two hundred-year Soul Rings, it will yield three purple Soul Rings."
"Of course, you'll need to defeat some artificial Soul Beasts inside. You'll see what it's like when we get there."
Tang Luochuan smiled faintly as he explained.
"Three..."
"It provides three thousand-year Soul Rings?"
Hearing this, Tang Wulin's eyes immediately lit up. Now he understood—not only could it provide an additional Soul Ring, but it could also enhance his strength.
This Spirit Ascension Platform was truly a good thing!
As for defeating artificial Soul Beasts… he had never fought a Soul Beast before! He wondered if he could have a proper talk with them using Reason.
"That's right, the Spirit Ascension Platform."
"This afternoon, I will take you all to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda in Eastsea City. As for what you encounter inside…"
"That will be entirely up to you."
"Go back and prepare yourselves."
Wu Zhangkong looked at the stunned youngsters before him, a faint smile on his face.
"Yes, Teacher Wu!"
The group nodded repeatedly.
"Spirit Ascension Platform…"
"I never expected the academy to invest so heavily."
Wei Xiaofeng couldn't help but murmur to himself.
He had hesitated before about whether to stay in Class Zero. After all, his family would undoubtedly send him to a better advanced academy in the future. Though it was still far off, he had to consider it.
But he truly hadn't imagined…
The academy would be this generous.
Entry tickets to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda's Spirit Ascension Platform were limited in number, and even the lowest-tier ticket could fetch at least 500,000 to 800,000 Federal currency on the black market.
And now, they were going once a week…
This was an incredible resource.
"Luo Chuan."
"You know so much about the Spirit Transfer Pagoda?"
On their way back, Gu Yue glanced at Tang Luochuan, her face filled with curiosity.
"Hmm?"
"Is this really considered knowing a lot?"
Tang Luochuan chuckled and shook his head.
"The Spirit Transfer Pagoda is, after all, the most widespread organization. I do know a bit more about it."
"Gu Yue knows quite a bit too, doesn't she?"
He spoke slowly.
"I…"
"If you know, of course I would too."
Gu Yue paused slightly, then smiled.
When she had been learning about the continent earlier, she had already become a disciple of Leng Yaoju, the deputy tower master of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, to facilitate her future development there.
If she didn't know, that would actually be strange.
So it seemed…
Luo Chuan had a favorable impression of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda as well.
"My family comes from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda. In fact, I'm also a member of it."
"Luo Chuan, what do you think of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda?"
Gu Yue opted for honesty, looking at Tang Luochuan with a smile.
She felt…
Luo Chuan joining the Spirit Transfer Pagoda wouldn't be a bad idea.
PS: Regarding factions, I haven't really decided yet, because none of them seem quite right… What do you all think?
Also, yesterday I saw a comment asking if the protagonist would join the Tang Sect. Ah… what?
Even if Wu Lin used the hammer of Reason to smash down the Tang Sect's gates, he would never join them