Divine Ice Crystal is an ice-attribute metal derivative of ten-thousand-year profound ice marrow. Since this was one of only two ten-thousand-year-old profound ice caves, its scale was naturally terrifying.
Lu Cheng also collected until his hands were sore.
He already had more than enough materials for the Ice Extreme Divine Armor—several times over, in fact.
"Now the Ice Extreme War God armor is stuck on its operating system. I'll have to visit the Sun Moon Empire later to find Xuan Ziwen. But the extra Divine Ice Crystal isn't just limited to the Ice Extreme War God Armor…" Lu Cheng could hardly suppress the curl of his lips.
He was now considered a Rank 7 Soul Engineer, and his talent for creating spirit tools was certainly no lower than his talent as a soul master.
In other words, this Divine Ice Crystal could also be used to forge special spirit tools. Furthermore, because of its ice-attribute metallic properties, it could better serve as a support for his Ultimate Ice martial soul.
"For example, defense or melee and long-range spirit tools." Lu Cheng's eyes were bright with excitement.
The Rank 9 defensive spirit tool "gifted" by Master Wei was a decent protective charm, on par with the Mortal World Protection that Jing Hongchen gave to Huo Yuhao in the original work.
However, he couldn't use it openly for the time being.
Because that "Proof of the Emerald" was now thoroughly tied to the Snow Empress incident. Once the proof of the emerald was exposed, it would invite suspicion and investigation from Shrek Academy and might even reach the ears of Master Wei in the Sun Moon Empire.
What he would face then would be pursuit and encirclement from various forces.
At least—unless it was a life-or-death moment—it must not be exposed and could only be used as a milk bottle.
But if he didn't expose it, he would have no other defensive spirit tools besides that.
"After I go back, I'll craft one."
Lu Cheng mused.
"By borrowing the mental force of Tianmeng, this oversized power bank, I can barely manage to carve a Rank 8 spirit tool core formation for now—"
"Lalala!!! Snow Empress, our Far North is going to strike it rich!!" The Ice Empress rushed out from within, full of excitement.
She was holding two huge chunks of ten-thousand-year-profound ice marrow in her arms.
It looked quite comical.
Lu Cheng's expression remained indifferent.
In the entire Far North, there were only two ten-thousand-year-old profound ice caves. One was where Tianmeng once fell, and the other was right here.
In the original work, when the Ice Empress saw these ten-thousand-year profound ice marrows, she had boldly claimed that if she were allowed to absorb them, neither the Beast God Di Tian nor even the Snow Empress would be her concern in the future.
This showed just how terrifying the energy contained within a large-scale ten-thousand-year profound ice cave was.
Now, it was no longer a question of whether the Ice Empress could undergo tribulation but rather of what level she could reach.
Seven hundred thousand years, or eight hundred thousand years.
Even if she shared a portion with Atai, she was still confident she could reach the height of the Snow Empress's peak period.
"Phew—" the Snow Empress exhaled softly, her eyes full of gratification.
Shrek Academy.
Soul Tool Department Experimental Building. Fourth floor.
Inside a fully enclosed laboratory.
Lu Cheng exhaled a long breath. "Brother Tianmeng, help me!"
"Alright!" Tianmeng didn't waste words. Boundless mental force instantly flooded into the youth's spiritual sea, like an oversized power bank providing a steady stream of massive energy.
Vroom—
Lu Cheng didn't waste words either. Ultimate Ice surged in his hand, condensing into a pale blue ice blade.
He then took out a small piece of divine ice crystal the size of a fingernail. With focused eyes, he began to carve with a flourish. Beads of sweat gradually broke out on his forehead. Borrowing power wasn't as easy as imagined; with the skills of a Rank 7 Soul Engineer, forcibly carving a Rank 8 spirit tool core formation—especially for a top-tier spirit tool—was naturally not simple.
After a long time had passed.
Lu Cheng's fingers jerked to a halt, and only then did he stop.
The fine patterns on the Divine Ice Crystal were gradually outlined and lit up with a glow. It was a success!
"According to the spirit tool's rank classification, it should belong to Rank 8."
Lu Cheng exhaled a long breath, a hint of weariness flashing in his eyes. As expected, crafting beyond one's rank required paying a significant price, even with a cheat.
After polishing the shell and assembling it, a pale blue wristguard appeared on the table.
Lu Cheng looked over the finished product with satisfaction.
Within it, he had utilized the properties of the Divine Ice Crystal to inject the attributes of his "Snow Empress" martial soul. It could be said that this defensive spirit tool was perfectly compatible with him; it was a spirit tool forged specifically for him, or rather, for the "Snow Empress."
He put it on his wrist and injected soul power. A freezing aura rushed out, followed by a transparent, crystal-like protective shield condensing around him, as if the figure of the Snow Empress had appeared to firmly protect him.
"It can withstand a single strike from an ordinary Titled Douluo. Although it's ranked as a Rank 8 spirit tool, it's only a hair's breadth away from Jing Hongchen's Mortal World Protection and that guy's Proof of the Emerald. I can upgrade it further later."
"Let's call it... Snow Empress Protection."
Lu Cheng gave a long stretch.
After the Snow Empress's sacrifice, she, like Tianmeng and Xiao Huo, had fallen into a brief slumber. She likely didn't have time to notice these "little touches" of his.
When he walked out of the experimental building, it was pitch black outside.
After returning to the academy, he hadn't gone back to the dormitory but had instead run straight to the experimental building to forge first.
He had lost track of time while staying in the Far North. He had to go back and ask when the Continental Spirit Master Tournament would begin; it would be trouble if he missed it.
Dormitory 108.
"Who is it, in the middle of the night—"
A lazy voice sounded from inside. The door slowly pushed open, and Wang Dong'er rubbed her eyes, her expression gradually filling with shock.
Then her eyes reddened, and she suddenly threw herself into Lu Cheng's arms.
"Lu Cheng, you bastard—do you know how worried I was about you?!!"
Lu Cheng felt the heavy concern in his arms but was a bit dazed.
Inside the dormitory.
Lu Cheng sat on the bed, his eyelid twitching and his expression somewhat unpleasant. "So… Who is spreading rumors that I'm dead?"
He'd better not catch them.
"I don't know, but they said it vividly and in great detail. After all, it's well-known that you offended the Xuanming Sect, not to mention that you had a fight with Zhou Yi not long ago and completely offended the Soul Tool Department head, Fan Yu. Everyone says you made too many enemies and were killed after leaving the academy—" Wang Dong'er wiped her eyes and said with some annoyance.
"So where on earth did you go? This Young Miss was just about to use the Clear Sky Sect's connections to find you."
"Mm—"
Lu Cheng coughed lightly and rubbed Wang Dong'er's soft short hair. The latter also undid her disguise, and her pink-blue long hair gradually lengthened, cascading over her shoulders as her features softened into a more feminine appearance.
"Also, thanks…" Wang Dong'er mumbled.
"For what?" Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow.
"About Xiao Xiao, you're asking despite knowing!" Wang Dong'er gave a light snort and rolled her eyes beautifully.
"The day after tomorrow is the Treasure Appraisal Fair. Do you want to go together?"
"Treasure Appraisal Fair?" Lu Cheng mused for a moment. There was a ten-thousand-year-old whale glue there, but other than that, it didn't hold much attraction for him.
But—it wouldn't hurt to go see the "excitement."
"Sure."
"Also, the Continental Spirit Master Tournament reserve team selection exam is in a month—you can't wander off again," Wang Dong'er carefully warned.
Notes:
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