Douluo 2: Way of Fake God With Soul Tools

"Teacher, you messed up my hair!"

Su Luoheng ducked out of the way, trying to escape Ran Yuming's hand. While fixing his hair, he muttered in complaint, "Can't you get rid of this bad habit? I'm not a little kid anymore, and messing with my head will affect my height!"

Ran Yuming chuckled, stroking his long beard.

"Alright, alright, I'll stop. So, tell me, what level do you think your teacher is?"

"At least level eight!" Su Luoheng answered confidently.

Upon hearing this, Ran Yuming shook his head, a flicker of complexity in his deep eyes. "You guessed wrong. In fact, I'm just a level-seven soul engineer."

"Then why are you so much stronger than the others?" Su Luoheng sat cross-legged, propping his chin with both hands, his eyes filled with curiosity.

Ran Yuming sighed lightly and began recounting his past.

In truth, Su Luoheng wasn't entirely wrong. When it came to soul tool research, there were few, if any, even at level eight or nine, who could rival him. Yet, as far as official rank went, he was indeed a level-seven soul engineer.

Eighty years ago, at just eighteen, Ran Yuming had already reached level six and was hailed as the greatest genius in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy since Kong Deming. He had even become Kong Deming's disciple. Back then, he was in the limelight, celebrated wherever he went.

And he lived up to those expectations. Within two years, he advanced to a level-seven soul engineer, with a bright future ahead. Many saw him as one of the future leaders of the Sun Moon Empire's soul engineer community. No one could have predicted that this brilliant talent would one day be stuck at level seven, unable to advance further.

But some things are simply destiny.

Three years after becoming a level-seven soul engineer, tragedy struck. During a soul tool fixed-installation cannon test, a careless assistant accidentally triggered an early detonation, engulfing the entire lab in flames. Nine soul engineers were killed, and only three survived. Ran Yuming was among the lucky ones, thanks to a level-nine soul tool's protection, but he was still gravely injured.

Physical wounds were one thing, but his spiritual power took the hardest hit. In the beginning, he was optimistic, still searching for ways to recover. But reality dealt him a heavy blow—no matter what he tried, his spiritual power stopped progressing from that day on.

He disappeared for a long time after that, not reemerging until five years later as a teacher at the academy.

Though his path as a soul engineer had come to an abrupt halt, Ran Yuming didn't give in to despair. Instead, he poured his energy into soul tool theory research. Over the years, he compiled vast amounts of knowledge and made significant contributions to the field.

Within the soul engineer community, he gained a respectable reputation. In fact, many level-nine soul engineers, in terms of pure theoretical understanding, couldn't compare to him.

What he lacked was spiritual power.

Most believed that if his spiritual power ever recovered, he would quickly ascend to level nine. Still, many couldn't help but feel a sense of pity. No matter how deep his theoretical knowledge went, it could only take him so far.

As time passed, he trained many students at Mingde Hall and earned the title of Honorary Teacher at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. To most, this became his defining role, while his past as a once-promising genius faded into distant memory, only occasionally surfacing as a nostalgic remark.

"And that's why I'm only a level-seven soul engineer."

Ran Yuming sighed deeply, a weight settling over him as he revisited his past.

"Teacher..." Su Luoheng opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.

A wave of regret washed over him. Maybe he shouldn't have brought up this topic, reopening a wound that had been sealed for decades.

"It's fine."

Ran Yuming smiled gently, placing a hand on Su Luoheng's shoulder. "After all these years, I've come to terms with it. Honestly, teaching at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and watching students like you grow is quite rewarding."

Despite his words, a faint sadness still flickered in his eyes.

Dreams shattered by unforeseen events are not so easily forgotten.

Who wouldn't want to stand at the pinnacle of the soul engineering world and see the view from the top? Sadly, that was something Ran Yuming could no longer achieve.

Soul engineers heavily depend on their spiritual power, and even with the current advancements in the Sun Moon Empire, there was no way to heal such damage.

Ran Yuming had reached his limit.

A moment of silence followed.

Ran Yuming turned to Su Luoheng, his gaze deep and reflective.

"Luoheng, do you know why I went through so much trouble to take you as my disciple? I even came out of retirement and transferred to teaching second-year classes for the first time because of you."

After a moment of thought, Su Luoheng guessed, "Is it because of… my soul skill?"

"Yes."

Ran Yuming nodded slightly. "Your analysis soul skill is very unique. The hardest part of becoming a soul engineer is mastering spiritual power and inscribing the soul tool's runes to form arrays, yet for you, these things are as simple as breathing. In fact, your soul skill seems almost tailor-made for a soul engineer. Originally, I had planned to retire, but then you appeared."

"Perhaps the dreams I could never realize can be fulfilled through you. That's why I was willing to go to great lengths to make you my student."

Su Luoheng nodded in understanding; it wasn't far from what he had suspected.

After a brief pause, Ran Yuming smiled wryly and asked, "Do you think… I'm too selfish?"

"I don't think so." Su Luoheng shook his head at the question.

"Oh? Why not?"

Su Luoheng explained, "Teacher, everyone has their own goals and desires. Just like when I displayed my talent, it was to receive special training from the academy, wasn't it? You could say that my decision to become your disciple was also motivated by my own interests. Everyone has their own motives, but that doesn't affect our relationship as teacher and student."

Ran Yuming was taken aback by the answer, and then suddenly his eyes lit up with understanding.

"Haha! It seems I've really grown old," Ran Yuming laughed heartily, giving Su Luoheng a firm pat on the shoulder. "At my age, I still didn't see things as clearly as you do, kid!"

Su Luoheng smiled modestly. "You flatter me, teacher."

Ran Yuming looked at Su Luoheng with growing admiration, feeling more and more satisfied with his student. Not only was his disciple extremely talented, but also perceptive and mature beyond his years. Su Luoheng's words had truly helped clear away any lingering doubts.

With a fiery gaze, Ran Yuming declared, "Luoheng, I will make sure you become the greatest soul engineer in the Sun Moon Empire!"

"I won't let you down," Su Luoheng replied, his eyes full of determination.

...