I can receive unlimited protection; my parents handed me over to the state.

Title: Guardian

[Quality: Legendary (Upgradeable)]

[Base Attributes: Fortitude +12, Magic Resistance +18, Spirit Resistance +150%]

[Special Protection:]

[1. Soul Shock (Passive): Each attack inflicts a mental shock on the target's soul with a physical damage equivalent to the physical damage dealt, ignoring any physical or energy defense.]

[2. Spatial Shackles (Active): Activates the spatial rules inherent in Warhammer, creating a spatial cage with sides of 100 meters in a designated area, imprisoning the target for 30 seconds. During this time, the target cannot perform any form of spatial traversal or displacement. Cooldown: 10 minutes.]

[3. Aura of Protection (Passive): When wielding this weapon, a mental protective field with a radius of ten meters will automatically form around the user, granting immunity to 80% of mental attacks and negative effects, and providing friendly units within the field with 30% mental resistance.]

[Comment: This is a warhammer born for judgment. Its purpose is to drag those ethereal demons and monsters out of their fantasy world, and then smash them to pieces with a single blow.]

Looking at the almost insane attributes of [Soul Guardian], Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

Attack, control, and defense—a unified whole.

This is practically a divine weapon tailor-made to counter monsters like the "Void Nightmare".

He reached out and grasped the handle of the [Soul Suppressor] hammer, crafted from ten-thousand-year-old soul-nourishing wood.

It feels exceptionally smooth and warm to the touch.

A cool and pure energy flowed slowly into his body along the hammer handle, nourishing his spirit, which was somewhat weary from forging.

"This is good stuff..." Lu Yuan couldn't help but exclaim.

This hammer handle alone is a rare and precious treasure for nourishing the soul. Wearing it for a long time can slowly increase one's spiritual power.

Just then, Su Lie, Tang Long, and Yan Ji rushed down from the control room.

As soon as they entered, their eyes were immediately drawn to the giant hammer in Lu Yuan's hand.

【Soul Suppressor】Stands quietly on the ground, its dark purple octagonal hammerhead seemingly capable of devouring all the surrounding light, emanating a chilling, cold, and deathly aura.

It was clearly there, yet it seemed not to exist in this space, giving people an extremely contradictory and eerie feeling.

"This is... [Soul Guardian]?"

Tang Long stared at the giant hammer, his eyes filled with shock and longing.

As a veteran who had spent his entire life wielding heavy weapons, he could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within this warhammer, a power capable of shattering everything.

"Instructor Tang, here you go."

Lu Yuan smiled and casually tossed the enormous warhammer, which looked to weigh at least several hundred kilograms, toward Tang Long.

"Be careful!"

Su Lie and Yan Ji's expressions changed, and they instinctively wanted to make a move.

However, Tang Long seemed to have known all along. Without dodging or avoiding, he stretched out his huge, calloused hand and steadily caught the flying warhammer.

The moment he made contact, Tang Long's body jolted violently.

He felt as if he was not holding a hammer.

Instead, it is a mountain, a sea, a cold and desolate world.

A powerful and pure spiritual force flowed into his body through the hammer handle, creating a wondrous resonance with his will.

He even felt that his bottleneck, which had plagued him for five years and prevented him from breaking through to the S+ level, was showing signs of loosening at this moment!

"Great hammer! Great hammer indeed!"

Tang Long stroked the cold hammerhead of the [Soul Suppressor] as if he were caressing his most beloved lover, his eyes gleaming with astonishing light.

"Just holding it, I feel my spiritual energy has become much more solid!"

"How do we test the power of this thing?" Su Lie stepped forward and asked impatiently.

"Weapons against souls won't work with regular targets." Lu Yuan thought for a moment and then said to Zhao Qingxuan beside him, "Steward Zhao, could you get a ghost-type or vengeful spirit star beast? A low-level one will do."

"No problem, Mr. Lu." Zhao Qingxuan nodded and immediately issued the instructions through the communicator.

In less than five minutes, two researchers wearing special protective suits escorted a constantly twisting and struggling mass of black energy into the forging room in a transparent container made of "holy light crystal".

Within the black mist, one could vaguely make out a pained and ferocious human face.

【Bound Wraith (Common Star Beast)】【Level: 10】

This is a low-level star beast formed from the resentment of those who died unjustly. It has no physical form and is immune to all physical attacks. Only holy light or mental attacks can harm it.

"Let's give it a try."

Lu Yuan pointed to the container.

"good!"

Tang Long shouted and, carrying the [Soul Suppressor], walked to the container.

He took a deep breath and slowly channeled his will into the warhammer.

Then, without using any fancy moves, he simply imitated Lu Yuan and pointed the huge hammer at the bound earth spirit in the container from afar.

No sound.

There was no light.

There wasn't even the slightest energy fluctuation.

However, everyone present clearly "saw" an invisible ripple, unseen by the naked eye, spreading out from the head of the [Soul-Suppressing] hammer.

The ripple swept across the air and past the container made of holy light crystal.

Finally, it landed on that mass of black resentment.

"ah--!"

A piercing scream, so shrill it was inhuman, suddenly echoed in everyone's minds!

The level 10 Bound Earth Wraith's face contorted in agony the instant it was struck by that invisible ripple.

Its body, composed of resentment, melted and disintegrated rapidly, like an ice cube thrown into concentrated sulfuric acid.

In less than a second, it completely turned into a wisp of smoke and dissipated into the air.

Soul fly away!

The entire forging room fell into a deathly silence once again.

Su Lie, Yan Ji, Tang Long, Zhao Qingxuan...

Everyone stared in disbelief at the now empty container, their faces filled with indescribable shock.

Instant kill?

"This...this is...it's over?" Tang Long looked at the warhammer in his hand, his voice trembling slightly.

He didn't even use any force just now!

He just pointed!

"Restraint, absolute restraint!" Su Lie stared at the [Soul Suppressor], his excitement beyond words. "This thing was practically made to deal with the 'Void Nightmare'! With it, the crisis in the Northern Territory can be resolved!"

He abruptly turned his head to look at Lu Yuan, his gaze burning with intense passion.

Two items!

Su Lie looked at the Soul Suppressor that was quietly floating in mid-air, and then at Lu Yuan, who was being supported by Tang Long. Although his face was pale, his eyes were exceptionally bright. The excitement in his heart was like a turbulent sea, and he could not calm down for a long time.

Two items!

Within just three days, this eighteen-year-old boy actually forged two legendary artifacts that were enough to turn the tide of a national war!

The power of the Phoenix Cry is so great that it can incinerate the entire world, making it a deadly weapon tailor-made for top-tier attackers like Yan Ji.

The power of 【Soul Suppression】 can judge souls and is the absolute nemesis of bizarre existences like "Void Nightmare".

This is no longer just a simple genius, this is simply a god walking among humans!

"Good! Good! Good!" Su Lie said "good" three times in a row. He walked up to Lu Yuan, and his usually majestic tiger eyes were now a little moist. He stretched out his calloused hand, but instead of touching the two divine artifacts, he patted Lu Yuan's shoulder heavily, yet with a hint of caution.

"Kid, in my entire life, I, Su Lie, have admired very few people. You're one of them!"

This heartfelt praise pleased Lu Yuan more than any reward or honor.

"Grandpa Su, you flatter me." Lu Yuan smiled, still feeling a little weak, but his spirits were unusually high. "I just did what I was supposed to do."

"What I should do?" Tang Long grinned widely, looking like a 300-pound child. He was holding the [Soul Suppressor] in his hands, stroking it lovingly as if it were his own son. "Kid, this isn't just 'what I should do,' you're giving life to our China, to our military!"

He slammed the [Soul Suppressor] hammer down on the ground. The heavy hammerhead collided with the black gold and starlight-carved floor, producing a dull, deafening sound that shook the entire forge.

"With this treasure, I want to go to the Northern Territory right now and smash that son of a bitch's head to pieces!" Tang Long's voice was full of bloodthirsty desire. His king of soldiers' aura and the deathly and domineering aura of [Soul Suppressor] were perfectly integrated.

"What's the rush!" Su Lie glared at him, but couldn't hide the smile on his face. He turned to look at Lu Yuan, his expression turning serious again. "Kid, you have these two things, one called [Phoenix Cry] and the other [Soul Suppressor], right?"

"Yes." Lu Yuan nodded.

"【Phoenix Cry】 belongs to Yan Ji, 【Soul Suppression】 belongs to Tang Long, you have no objections, right?" Su Lie asked.

These were originally tailor-made for them by Lu Yuan, so naturally he had no objections. "No objections, they should belong to the owners who are most suitable for them."

"Alright!" Su Lie made a decisive decision. He looked at Tang Long and Yan Ji and gave the order, "Tang Long, Yan Ji! You two, take the new guy and come with me to the teleportation hub! The situation in the Northern Territory is urgent!"

"Yes!" Tang Long and Yan Ji responded in unison, their voices strong and resolute, filled with the determination to rush to the battlefield.

Yan Ji walked up to Lu Yuan, looking at the boy who was nearly ten years younger than her, her golden eyes filled with complex emotions. She wanted to say "thank you," but felt that those two words were too light, too insignificant, unable to bear the weight represented by the [Phoenix Cry] sword.

Finally, she looked at Lu Yuan intently and said solemnly, "Wait for me to come back."

These three words are more powerful than any expression of gratitude.

Tang Long also came over carrying the Soul Suppressor. Unlike Yan Ji, he was not reserved. He directly stretched out his large, fan-like hand and slapped Lu Yuan hard on the back, making Lu Yuan stagger.

"Kid, you better take good care of yourself! When I get back from the North, I'll give you a good workout! I'm going to cram all my skills into you!"

After saying that, he laughed loudly and followed Su Lie, striding towards the exit.

Before leaving, Su Lie stopped again. He turned around and took one last look at Lu Yuan, his eyes filled with relief, anticipation, and a hint of barely perceptible worry.

"Lu Yuan, what you have accomplished this time is of paramount importance. The country will not let you down. From today onwards, you can rest and train peacefully in the Celestial Realm. You are now a top national treasure of China, and your safety is the highest priority."

Su Lie paused, as if remembering something, and added, "Oh, right, there's something else I need to remind you of."

"You've made a huge commotion this time. Although we managed to suppress the news, those kids in the 'God-Making Project' have all heard some of it. They're all top geniuses selected from all over the country, and they're all very proud and arrogant. In a while, they'll be returning to the Celestial World one after another for the second phase of intensive training."

"You'll be meeting them then. Those brats might not be easy to get along with," Su Lie said, a sly smile spreading across his face.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan remained unmoved. Geniuses are bound to be a little arrogant; it's normal for them. Wasn't he quite arrogant himself back in school?

"Grandpa Su, don't worry, I won't cause any trouble," Lu Yuan said.

"I'm not afraid you'll cause trouble." Su Lie's smile widened. He pointed at Lu Yuan and said in a half-joking, half-serious tone, "I'm afraid they'll be foolish enough to mess with you."

"But don't worry," Su Lie's tone shifted, his protective and domineering nature returning. "If they dare to act like some kind of genius in front of you, or bully you, you don't need to do anything, just tell me!"

"I'll personally go to their houses and have a good 'chat' with their fathers—generals, association presidents, and councilors—and ask them if they're itching to get back to the battlefield after decades away and want me to loosen their muscles!"

These words, spoken with unparalleled authority, warmed Lu Yuan's heart.

He knew that Su Lie's words were not only meant for him, but also, through him, for the forces behind the "geniuses" he was about to meet.

This is to back him up, to declare to everyone that Lu Yuan is someone Su Lie is protecting!

"Alright, I'm leaving!" Su Lie waved his hand, then strode away without lingering.

Only Lu Yuan and Zhao Qingxuan remained in the forging room.

As Lu Yuan watched Su Lie and the others disappear, feeling the contradictory sensation within his body—both weak and full—brought about by the extreme forging, he felt a surge of heroic spirit.

The snowstorms of the North are about to come to an end thanks to these two divine weapons.

"Mr. Lu," Zhao Qingxuan stepped forward with a smile, handing over a cup of warm liquid that exuded a rich life force, "This is a recovery potion made with the morning dew of the World Tree, which is beneficial for the recovery of your mental strength."

"Thank you." Lu Yuan took it and drank it all in one gulp.

"You can take a good rest for the next while and familiarize yourself with the environment of the Zenith World," Zhao Qingxuan said. "I will send the information about the other members of the 'God-Making Project' to your terminal later. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."

Lu Yuan nodded.

He was also very curious about what kind of extraordinary talents were on par with him in this plan.

What would it be like to have an SSS-level talent?