Reincarnated With The Designer Martial Soul

After parting ways with the group, Lin Feng made his way to the workshop he had visited the day before. The familiar scent of leather, metal, and ink greeted him as he stepped inside. The shopkeeper looked up from his workbench, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise at seeing Lin Feng again so soon.

"Back already? What do you need this time?" the shopkeeper asked, setting down a half-finished dagger.

Lin Feng approached the counter, his expression thoughtful. "I was wondering if you have any leather armors or weapons made from Qi Refining-stage beasts, like the ones used by the hunting squad."

The shopkeeper shook his head, chuckling softly. "Those aren't something we can make here in the village. Such equipment is crafted by experienced weaponsmiths in the cities—true artisans who specialize in working with rare materials. Here, all we can manage are rough imitations. We coat ordinary armors and weapons with demon beast scales, fur, fangs, or bones to give them some added durability or sharpness, but it's nothing compared to the real thing."

Lin Feng frowned slightly, intrigued but unsatisfied. "What's the difference between your imitations and the genuine articles?"

The shopkeeper leaned back against his chair, clearly enjoying the opportunity to share his knowledge. "Ah, now that's where things get interesting. In the cities, weaponsmiths are graded into lower, mid, and higher tiers based on their skill. These smiths don't just slap beast parts onto gear—they engrave runes onto the surface of armors and weapons."

"Runes?" Lin Feng echoed, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," the shopkeeper confirmed, nodding sagely. "Runes are magical symbols derived from ancient texts. They're capable of harnessing the power of heaven and earth when inscribed correctly. By carving these symbols in specific combinations using special inks—made from the blood of powerful demonic beasts and spiritual herbs—and applying them to rare materials, they can create a wide variety of effects."

He paused for dramatic effect, watching as Lin Feng's eyes widened with fascination. "For example, runes can strengthen attacks, improve defenses, manipulate elements, or even grant other magical abilities. It's a complex art, one that requires immense skill and resources."

To illustrate his point, the shopkeeper rummaged beneath his desk and pulled out an old, weathered parchment. Unrolling it carefully, he revealed a strange symbol etched onto its surface—a swirling pattern resembling flames, with intricate lines branching outward like roots. At its center was a small circle filled with jagged markings, giving the impression of contained chaos.

"This," the shopkeeper explained, tapping the symbol gently, "is called a Fireball Talisman. When activated, it releases a burst of fire powerful enough to incinerate almost any mid-stage Qi Refining beast. Only late-stage cultivators might survive such an attack. Quite impressive, isn't it?"

Lin Feng studied the talisman intently, marveling at the complexity of the design. "How much does something like this cost?"

"Expensive," the shopkeeper replied with a wry grin. "I bought this particular talisman two years ago for twenty lower-grade spiritual stones. I've kept it ever since as a precaution—it's my insurance policy whenever I venture outside the village."

"So, are armors and weapons engraved in the same way?" Lin Feng pressed, feeling a new world of possibilities opening before him.

"Exactly," the shopkeeper affirmed. "Either the runes are engraved directly onto the item, or these days, smiths craft gems infused with spiritual energy. These gems are then inscribed with runes and fitted onto weapons or armor, allowing for modular enhancements. It's quite ingenious, really."

Lin Feng nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "If it's so useful, why can't we learn these techniques ourselves?"

The shopkeeper sighed, his tone turning wry. "Because these techniques aren't freely available. Only sects and powerful factions possess the knowledge. Even if someone managed to obtain a technique, they'd lack the resources to practice it. You see, crafting rune-inscribed items requires not only skill but also rare materials and spiritual stones—things we barely scrape together to groom young cultivators like yourselves."

"I see…" Lin Feng murmured thoughtfully. Turning serious, he opened the sacks he carried and revealed the corpses of the demon wolves along with their harvested parts. "Then what should I do with these? Should I sell them?"

The shopkeeper examined the contents briefly before nodding. "You're still at the beginning of your cultivation journey. It's better to exchange these materials for spiritual stones and focus on improving your strength. Once you're stronger, you can think about acquiring better gear or learning advanced techniques."

"Alright, if you say so," Lin Feng agreed, though his mind was already racing with ideas. He grinned mischievously as he began rummaging through the display cases once more. "But I'll need replacements for the items I lost during today's battle. Armor, swords, daggers—the usual!"

The shopkeeper groaned, torn between laughter and exasperation. "Boy, you're going to bankrupt me! Do you have any idea how many times I've restocked for you already?"

"It's not my fault," Lin Feng said shamelessly, shrugging. "You can ask the Hunting Elder—he saw how tough my fight was."

The shopkeeper sighed deeply, glancing at the wolf corpses on the counter. There was no denying the kid had been through hell and back. "Fine, fine. Forget it."

Reaching under the counter, he handed Lin Feng twelve lower-grade spiritual stones. "Five for the Qi Refining-stage wolf, five for the weaker beasts, and two extra as a token of friendship. Don't waste them. I have high hopes for you."

Lin Feng accepted the stones gratefully, bowing slightly. "Thanks, old man. I owe you one!"

With that, he grabbed a sack filled with replacement gear and waved goodbye, leaving the shopkeeper shaking his head in bemusement.

Leaving the workshop, Lin Feng wandered toward a nearby tavern. The aroma of roasted meat and spiced wine wafted through the air, drawing him inside. He ordered a hearty meal and enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation, savoring the simple pleasures of food and drink after a long day of battles and discoveries.

As night fell, Lin Feng visited the nearby medicine stall once again, purchasing the same healing pellets and stamina-recovery pills he had bought the day before. Though the cost was negligible compared to the spiritual stones he'd earned earlier, he couldn't help but marvel at how useful these simple remedies were after importing them into his panel. With his supplies replenished, he made his way back to his hut, his mind buzzing with thoughts of runes, talismans, and the untapped potential of his Designer Panel.

Though physically exhausted from the day's battles, Lin Feng knew there was still one more task to complete before resting. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he opened his Designer Panel and prepared to summon the wolf he had imported earlier that evening.

Whoosh!

A brilliant blue aura erupted above him, slowly coalescing into the shape of a majestic wolf. Its fur shimmered like liquid sapphire under the moonlight, while its glowing eyes radiated an ethereal power. The air around it seemed to hum faintly, as though charged with latent energy.

"Stage 7…" Lin Feng muttered, frowning slightly. He could sense that the wolf's aura was marginally stronger than his Whirlpool Tornado Martial Soul , yet it fell short of Grade 6 Martial Souls. Having experienced Mei Ling's Plant Manipulation Martial Soul firsthand, he understood the subtle gradations of power between different levels.

"What if I mix both?" The thought struck him suddenly, sparking excitement in his chest. Without hesitation, he accessed the editing function of his Designer Panel and began modifying the wolf's design.

Lin Feng envisioned combining the raw destructive force of his Whirlpool Tornado Martial Soul with the elegance and strength of the newly created wolf. Using the panel's intuitive interface, he split the wolf's form into two distinct halves—each infused with a different element.

The left side of the wolf retained its original sky-blue hue, symbolizing water. Waves of crystalline energy rippled across its fur, giving it a sleek, aquatic appearance. Tiny droplets of moisture condensed along its body, shimmering like dew under sunlight.

On the right side, Lin Feng introduced swirling currents of wind. This half glowed a pale silver, with razor-sharp gusts spiraling around its frame. The winds intertwined seamlessly with the water, creating a harmonious blend of opposing forces. Where the two elements met down the centerline of the wolf's body, they merged into a translucent mist that trailed behind it like a spectral tail.

Satisfied with the balance between aesthetics and functionality, Lin Feng adjusted the wolf's size, making it slightly larger than a regular wolf as there was limit to his capability and the material needed.

Saving the changes, Lin Feng summoned the upgraded Martial Soul.

Whoosh!

The modified wolf materialized before him, exuding an overwhelming aura far beyond its previous iteration. Its dual-colored form moved with fluid grace, each step leaving faint imprints of wind and water in its wake. The air crackled with energy as the wolf let out a low growl, its voice carrying an almost musical resonance.

"Haha! This is it. Grade 6." Lin Feng laughed triumphantly, unable to contain his excitement. He could feel the tremendous surge of power coursing through the Martial Soul—a perfect fusion of his existing abilities and newfound creativity.