Douluo Dalu 2: Reincarnated as the Auspicious Beast

"Finally done!!"

Inside the space formed by his sea of consciousness, Wang Rui tossed the feather quill in his hand aside, picked up the parchment, and gave it a shake. Looking at the incantations he had written on it, he let out a long breath.

…Don't ask why it's parchment and a feather quill. The answer is stereotypes.

On that parchment was the new type of contract Wang Rui had spent an entire year developing—a fusion of the magical contracts from the Divine Seal world and his own creation, the Destiny Contract.

Though still in draft form, this new contract combined all the advantages of both while eliminating their flaws and limitations. It was, in many ways, the key to a new future for humans and soul beasts alike—yet neither of the two present seemed inclined to celebrate.

Electrolux, in particular, took the parchment filled with dense writing and looked at it with a trace of disdain.

"Just look at this mess. Forget the casting requirements; the incantation alone takes up an entire page! The chanting time is even longer than a ninth-level forbidden spell! Contract magic is supposed to require just a single rune and one incantation—how do you expect this to be widely used?"

"We can refine it later." Wang Rui shrugged nonchalantly.

Stretching his arms and letting out a yawn, he sighed in exhaustion. Improving a contract wasn't easy. After working tirelessly for a whole year, he felt like his brain cells had been burned out by the intricate magical runes. At the moment, he had zero interest in revising the draft.

"At least we have a functioning framework now. We'll test and refine it bit by bit, simplifying it as we gain more experience. Complexity will naturally decrease over time."

Electrolux rolled his eyes in exasperation and placed the parchment on the table, picking up a pen to start marking corrections.

At that moment, Wang Rui had a vivid flashback—his past-life thesis advisor, looking just as unimpressed while revising his graduation paper. A chill ran down his spine, and he stealthily slipped away.

Now, he was sitting in the hallway outside the Soul Tool Department's laboratory. Inside, Huo Yuqing was undergoing her final exam for the semester, which also served as her assessment for becoming a Rank 2 Soul Engineer.

As a family member rather than a student of the department, Wang Rui wasn't allowed inside to watch the exam. All he could do was sit outside and wait.

Tomorrow marked the official start of the holiday, and there weren't many people left in the Soul Tool area. Even through the thick walls, Wang Rui could faintly hear the sounds from within the lab. Bored, he began guessing which stage of the assessment Huo Yuqing had reached.

Inside the laboratory, Huo Yuqing sat at a massive metal table, meticulously carving a rune onto a hexagonal blue-gold metal plate no larger than a walnut.

Standing behind her, like silent specters, were Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er—the two highest authorities in the Soul Tool Department—both observing her every move with intense focus.

Her left hand held the small metal plate, while her right wielded an ultra-thin carving knife, etching intricate patterns onto the surface.

Her movements were swift yet precise, with no hesitation. The blade emitted the faintest scraping sounds as it left deep and shallow grooves across the metal, weaving a network of delicate, web-like patterns.

A soft golden glow flickered in her eyes—steadfast and unwavering.

Minute by minute, time passed, yet she remained utterly motionless, like a living sculpture. Even her breathing was imperceptibly light. Only the fingers guiding the carving knife moved with meticulous precision.

Finally, the last line was drawn, and Huo Yuqing let out a long breath.

The most complex core formation of a Rank 2 Soul Tool was complete.

Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er exchanged glances. Neither spoke, but the admiration in their eyes was unmistakable.

Huo Yuqing wasted no time. Without pausing, she grabbed the scattered components on the table and began assembling them into a device.

Despite the apparent mess, there was an underlying order to the parts. Every time she reached out, she grabbed exactly what she needed, moving through the assembly process with fluid ease—like a well-rehearsed symphony.

Piece by piece, a flying-type soul tool took shape.

As she secured the final component, she lifted her head and looked at Xian Lin'er.

"Three hours and twenty-three seconds," Xian Lin'er said as she snapped her pocket watch shut, her face breaking into a bright smile. "Congratulations, you have officially passed the Rank 2 Soul Engineer assessment."

Once she obtained her second soul ring, Huo Yuqing would officially become a Rank 2 Soul Engineer—not just a novice who could barely craft basic Rank 2 tools, but a true talent.

The flying-type soul tool she had just created was a composite of several simpler Rank 2 devices, making it far more complex than a standard model—possibly even more challenging than some Rank 3 soul tools.

Qian Duoduo took the device and began testing its performance.

As soul power was infused, the wings of the tool unfolded. Unlike standard models, these wings had an extra joint, making them resemble dragon wings when fully extended. They were painted in a striking blue hue, glowing with a shimmering radiance.

A faint hum echoed as four thrusters beneath the wings ignited, emitting a brilliant blue flame that provided stable lift.

Qian Duoduo's eye twitched.

Typically, low-level soul tools did not adapt to a soul master's unique energy signature, producing a default white glow. Yet, right before his eyes, this kid had added a tiny rune modification to turn the usual white flame into blue.

This brat… with those thick brows and upright demeanor, who knew she'd pull off such a flashy stunt—during an exam, no less!

The worst part? Even after adding such an unnecessary feature, her design was still more compact than the standard military-issue models used by the Three Kingdoms of Douluo—less than two-thirds their size.

…Some people's talents were just unfair.

Although this device still couldn't match the cutting-edge flying soul tools sold in New City, which even one-ring soul masters could use, it was far superior to the common models used in the Three Kingdoms.

"Once you obtain your second soul ring, you might be able to attempt crafting Rank 3 soul tools," Qian Duoduo said seriously. "Over the holiday, don't slack off in your studies… Next semester is the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament. I hope you'll join the reserve team to represent the Soul Tool Department."

With the department's top candidate being removed from the main team, Qian Duoduo had been fretting over their chances. But now, Huo Yuqing had reignited his hope.

After several more words of encouragement, they finally handed her the official Rank 2 Soul Engineer badge and let her leave.

Huo Yuqing stepped into the hallway and immediately spotted Wang Rui, slumped in a chair against the wall.

Arms crossed, head tilted back, he seemed to be asleep. His fiery red lashes rested against his cheeks, concealing his golden eyes, lending him an unexpectedly docile appearance.

She sat beside him and was about to wake him when, on impulse, she reached out and gently brushed his cheek.

The next moment, a flicker of golden light flashed beneath his lashes.

Startled, she yanked her hand back—only to have it caught firmly.

"You were pretending to sleep?!" she accused, both guilty and flustered, her face blooming with a faint blush.

"How else was I supposed to catch you in the act?" After an entire semester of being relentlessly pursued by Huo Yuqing's straightforward advances, Wang Rui finally felt like he had turned the tables.

"Oh, so now that I've been caught, I might as well make the most of it!" Huo Yuqing grinned mischievously. She knelt on the chair and reached out with both hands to pinch his cheeks.

Neither used their soul power, playfully bickering like a pair of ordinary fools.

By the end of it, Wang Rui sported two red marks on his face, while Huo Yuqing's hair was a complete mess.

After tidying themselves up, they strolled back to the dorms, fingers casually hooked together.

Meanwhile, still inside the lab, two Title Douluo: …

"So, what did you make for the exam?" Wang Rui asked.

"A flying soul tool," Huo Yuqing replied, handing him the device.

"This is impressive. It's lighter and more agile than the standard models." Wang Rui immediately noticed its unique advantages. "But why a flying soul tool? I thought you'd go for a ranged weapon to boost your combat power."

"Because… this way, I can fly with you," Huo Yuqing said earnestly.

For a brief moment, he had the sudden urge to kiss her.

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Author's Note:

Wang Rui (pulls out a noose, hangs it from a crystal chandelier in his sea of consciousness): "I repent. I have sinned… I kept judging those old soul beasts for liking younger mates, but never reflected on myself…"

Electrolux (flips open How to Modify a Lion-Model Corpse).

Wang Rui (lowers the noose).

(Wait, what?!)

(End of Chapter)