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Researching firearms was a result of Quan Yi's careful deliberation.
Although he hadn't disclosed the true purpose to anyone, the establishment of the institute was entirely for the development and manufacturing of firearms.
The Quan family was a relatively young soul master clan, having only risen in the past century.
Before the emergence of the Black Iron Gauntlet, the Quan family had been nothing more than a commoner household in Quanjia Village.
However, everything changed with the appearance of Quan Yi's grandfather, Quan Li.
After graduating from a prestigious Advanced Soul Master Academy, Quan Li made an unexpected decision—he refused the title of nobility and returned to Quanjia Village. Instead of seeking power for himself, he chose to uplift the entire village.
During an era of turmoil across the continent, Quan Li relied on nothing but his iron fists to forge a name for himself. His strength and reputation laid the foundation for the Quan family's growth.
Another ancestral Martial Soul of the Quan family—the White Gloves—shared some similarities with the Black Iron Gauntlet. Both possessed extraordinary talent in dexterity and multitasking.
However, unlike the Black Iron Gauntlet, the White Gloves had no offensive capability and couldn't channel soul power effectively in battle.
Yet, this seemingly useless Martial Soul had a unique advantage—it excelled in craftsmanship.
Whether it was weaving, tailoring, or any form of intricate handwork, items crafted by White Gloves users were always of exceptional quality.
With their abilities protected by raw physical strength, the Quan family found its own path to prosperity.
Through two generations of careful development under Quan Li and Quan Yue, the family had grown rapidly.
However, this growth was primarily reflected in their wealth rather than military strength.
Despite being a soul master clan, the Quan family had only five soul masters among their ranks:
Quan Yi himself, his parents, his grandparents
Although their numbers were small, each possessed remarkable talent and strength, ranking among the best on the continent.
Yet, when looking at the family as a whole, the Quan clan was still in its infancy—far from being able to rival the most powerful forces in the world.
As the heir to the family, Quan Yi bore the responsibility of leading them into the future.
Without the backing of an overwhelming force, he needed to integrate all available resources to strengthen his clan.
Establishing the research institute was just the first step.
In a world dominated by soul masters, blacksmithing alone held limited value. However, Quan Yi was confident that he could unlock its true potential.
For now, they could only produce crude, "empty-shell" firearms—but this was merely the beginning.
This first experiment had proven something crucial to Quan Yi: firearms had potential in this world.
The institute was still in its infancy, but he had high hopes for its future.
Today marked the first step toward a new era.
At this moment, Quan Yi was filled with anticipation.
He picked up his newly forged weapon, inspecting it closely.
The deep, dark metallic sheen and its cold surface gave him a sense of familiarity and security.
This time, he had spared no expense.
To ensure the highest quality, he had invested in rare and precious metals, combining them with top-tier craftsmanship.
The result?
A terrifying weapon, unlike anything this world had seen before.
The overall durability far surpassed his previous crude iron barrels. While it had yet to undergo live testing, theoretically, it could withstand hundreds of shots without breaking.
The First Test
Quan Yi's hands tightened around his firearm as excitement surged within him.
"Is there a sword-testing stone around here?" he asked eagerly.
"Yes, right outside the forging room," Yuan Xing replied, leading him into the backyard.
There, several half-person-high stone piers stood in a row, their surfaces covered in deep scars left by countless weapon tests.
Seeing the battered stone, Quan Yi smirked.
"You were curious about the purpose of this weapon before, weren't you?" he said, glancing at Yuan Xing.
"Now, I'll show you exactly what it can do."
With that, Quan Yi stepped forward and stopped precisely ten meters away from the stone pier.
Yuan Xing and Yuan Fei widened their eyes in curiosity, eager to see how Quan Yi would use the oddly shaped "iron rod" in his hands.
"Sun Gauntlets."
Quan Yi took out an iron ball, carefully engraved the Seal of Rhinoceros on its surface, then loaded it into the empty magazine. In one smooth motion, he chambered the round, aimed the weapon, and steadied his posture.
"Step back. Watch out for the fragments," he warned.
Father and son, startled by Quan Yi's serious demeanor, swallowed nervously before obediently retreating a few steps.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion echoed like thunder.
Instinctively, the two blacksmiths flinched, squeezing their eyes shut.
The blast came and went in an instant.
When they finally gathered the courage to open their eyes, the sight before them sent chills down their spines.
The stone pier in front of Quan Yi was completely shattered—jagged fragments scattered in all directions, some embedding themselves into nearby piers and even the ground.
Although they couldn't fully understand the mechanics behind it, they knew one thing for certain—Quan Yi's Martial Soul had played a role in this destructive power.
There was no way an ordinary "iron rod" could unleash such terrifying force on its own.
Quan Yi lowered his weapon, satisfied.
The firearm had performed perfectly.
The gunstock fit his shoulder seamlessly, absorbing and distributing the recoil efficiently. More importantly, the most crucial part—the barrel—remained completely intact even under the explosive force.
With this level of craftsmanship, all that remained was refining the fragmentation effect, and his dream would no longer be a mere fantasy.
"Blacksmith Yuan, I am more than satisfied with this weapon. Uncle Ying will arrange a reward for both of you," Quan Yi declared enthusiastically.
Talented craftsmen like them were invaluable, and their contributions deserved proper recognition.
"Thank you, Young Master!" Yuan Xing and his son responded in unison, overjoyed.
Joining the Quan family had already brought them substantial wealth—first from selling their shop, then through their generous monthly salary.
Now, within just a week, they were already receiving additional rewards.
More than that, they had been given access to high-quality forging materials they could never afford on their own.
At this moment, their loyalty to Quan Yi soared to its peak.
"For the next few months, I won't be able to oversee the forging personally. I'll leave the continued development of this weapon to you both."
"Understood, Young Master!"
A week later, Quan Yi reached his final destination—Blaze Forest.
Just outside the forest lay a small village, where most of the residents made a living hunting soul beasts. Many of them were migrants from other regions, drawn to this dangerous yet rewarding trade.
That night, the group settled into their accommodations in the village.
Before long, a familiar voice called out in excitement.
"Xiao Yi! I missed you so much!"
Upon hearing the news of his arrival, Su Ling'er rushed out of her room, eyes brimming with emotion.
The moment Quan Yi stepped off the carriage, she threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly.
Tears welled up in her eyes—tears of joy, longing, and relief.
After so long apart, she could finally embrace him again.
Behind her, Quan Yue stood quietly, his own eyes tinged with emotion. Though he wasn't as expressive as Su Ling'er, his silent gaze spoke volumes.
"Mother, Father… It's been so long. I missed you too."
Su Ling'er, still holding Quan Yi, suddenly realized how much he had changed.
His body felt stronger, his height had increased, and the aura surrounding him had grown far more imposing. Even the fluctuations of his soul power were leagues beyond what they had been a year ago.
Though proud of his growth, Su Ling'er couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow.
What kind of hardships had he endured to reach this point?
But now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
"It's getting late, and you all must be exhausted from traveling. Let's rest for tonight—we'll talk more tomorrow," Quan Yue suggested.
He knew there were far more important matters to deal with the next day.
The next morning, Quan Yi, Quan Yue, and Su Ling'er ventured deep into Blaze Forest, traveling light.
Quan Yue had scouted the area in advance, so their target was already clear—there was no need for unnecessary caution.
After about an hour of trekking through the dense forest, Quan Yi spotted it.
A colossal creature, its massive fan-like ears twitching as it stomped through the underbrush.
Its thick, pillar-like legs shook the ground with every step. Its trunk swung gently, and gleaming white tusks curved upward like deadly blades.
Its dark-red skin seemed to radiate heat, a testament to its fire-attributed nature.
The Dark Flame Elephant.
A powerful fire-attribute soul beast, known for its brute strength and durability.
From his position in the shadows, Quan Yi carefully analyzed its size and energy fluctuations.
"At least 900 years old," he estimated.
Perfect.
The moment his eyes locked onto the Dark Flame Elephant, he knew.
This would be his second soul ring.