A few days passed.
Huo Yuhao had fully mastered the temperature difference inlaying method. As he was attempting to optimize the core formation array in the laboratory, Feng Yu notified him that the teachers needed his support.
The two arrived at the core area of the Academy. Feng Yu pointed to an unassuming building ahead.
"Junior Brother, this is Mingde Hall."
Upon actually entering, Huo Yuhao realized that the scale of Mingde Hall was far greater than the five hundred square meters occupied by the surface structure.
The main structure of Mingde Hall was entirely underground.
Feng Yu led Huo Yuhao through three checkpoints in sequence.
Inside the building, Huo Yuhao saw twenty elevators arranged in an arc.
They descended in the elevator, a process that took a full two minutes.
Huo Yuhao did a quick calculation and realized the underground space was definitely more than two hundred meters deep.
The metal door of the elevator slid open. After passing through a short corridor, the view before them suddenly opened up.
The extremely wide hall seemed endless at a glance.
Beneath the twenty-meter-high arched dome, countless experimental tables were neatly arranged, stretching into the distance.
This single row horizontally contained as many as fifty tables.
Before he could examine things closely, Jing Hongchen walked over.
He had not slept for over ten days. His originally bright eyes were now filled with exhaustion. He beckoned to Huo Yuhao:
"Yuhao, come with me. Feng Yu, you can return first."
"Yes!"
Huo Yuhao quickly followed Jing Hongchen's footsteps. Feng Yu bowed slightly and then left immediately.
Walking quickly straight ahead, Jing Hongchen stated directly:
"Yuhao, your master needs your Mental Detection to assist me in solving some difficulties."
Huo Yuhao said in a deep voice, "Master, I will do my best."
"However, my Mental Power might only be at the Soul King level. The penetration effect on rare metals that inherently possess high energy might be very limited."
"Soul King level?" Jing Hongchen was surprised but greatly relieved.
"The core formation node causing trouble this time is on the shallower reinforcement phase. Mental Detection supported by Soul King level Mental Power is sufficient to assist me in handling this issue."
"To protect your information security and avoid exposing it to outsiders too early, I have already asked the other research personnel to leave. Do you have any objections?"
Huo Yuhao replied, "I listen to Master."
Not long after, teacher and student arrived before a pitch-black metal main door.
Jing Hongchen took out a silver card, swiped it, and then injected Soul Power to pass verification. The metal main door slowly opened.
The interior was very spacious; it was clearly a laboratory.
This laboratory was huge, with a circular space diameter exceeding one hundred meters and a height of thirty meters.
As Huo Yuhao followed Jing Hongchen inside, he was immediately drawn to the enormous object before him.
It was a gigantic humanoid metal body, fifteen meters high, its massive frame entirely cast from metal.
It looked somewhat crude, and its overall structure seemed incomplete.
The chest area was open, containing something resembling a seat.
Huo Yuhao swept it with Mental Detection and actually discovered thousands of core formation arrays.
As Jing Hongchen's disciple, he could immediately recognize some of them as integrated core formation arrays.
Even more terrifying was that this giant metal person seemed to contain an extremely terrifying energy.
Huo Yuhao murmured, "Master, what kind of Soul Guidance Device is this?!"
Since Jing Hongchen had decided to bring Huo Yuhao here to offer assistance, these things could naturally be revealed.
Although his tone was flat, it carried a hint of pride as he introduced:
"This is the only project Master is currently presiding over."
"It is also one of only two technological pathways in the current world that might break through to the tenth-rank Soul Guidance Device: the prototype of a giant humanoid Soul Guidance Device."
"This experimental subject, which has already cost over a billion Gold Soul Coins, can be called the pinnacle of contemporary Soul Guidance Devices."
"It is estimated that once preliminary completion is achieved, it will directly possess the strength of a nine-and-a-half rank."
Huo Yuhao was shocked. "What level is nine-and-a-half rank?"
Jing Hongchen said, "When that time comes, if I control it, I will probably truly rank among the continent's top experts."
"Yuhao, you only need to activate the Mental Detection sharing and then go to the resting area over there to attend to your own matters."
"Leave the rest to your master."
With the assistance of Mental Detection, Jing Hongchen resolved the problems with ease.
...
Another week passed, at Tranquility Hall.
Huo Yuhao, Meng Hongchen, and Xiao Hongchen went to Jing Hongchen's office to study again.
Jing Hongchen's mental state had recovered considerably as the project's difficulties were overcome.
Hearing that Huo Yuhao was interested in the live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle, he suggested:
"In the Academy Library's document management system, the graduation design numbered 1786313 should be of help to you."
"Grandpa, you are truly amazing! You know the document numbers of the Academy's literature by heart!" Meng Hongchen exclaimed in amazement.
Jing Hongchen said plainly, "That was my graduation design back then."
Huh? Huo Yuhao grumbled internally:
Senior Brother Feng, no wonder the teacher doesn't favor you. You don't even know what the teacher's topic was when he graduated from the Academy.
And you were still joking around in the laboratory... really...
Jing Hongchen pondered for two seconds, then said:
"When I was a student back then, I was arrogant and felt I could conquer the difficult problem of the live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle."
"I was not satisfied with that graduation design."
"Although that graduation design had many loopholes, the experimental data was relatively complete."
"Look at you, Yuhao. See if you can fulfill your master's regret."
Huo Yuhao nodded. "Master, rest assured, I will do my best."
Seeing that Huo Yuhao had finally finished communicating with Jing Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, who had been impatient for a long time, pulled Huo Yuhao aside and whispered:
"Junior Brother, Ma Rulong agreed to a one-vs-two fight! It will be next Monday! The venue is also set: Soul Dueling Platform No. 231!"
...
Shrek Academy.
"Tang Yin must be expelled!"
Du Weilun slapped the administrative order onto Zhou Yi's desk and snorted coldly.
"He only requested a one-month leave but failed to report back for two months."
"He is clearly dissatisfied that the Academy did not grant him the status of a core disciple!"
Zhou Yi's expression turned ugly. Tang Yin was not only the most talented student in her class but also someone she greatly favored.
However, she was finding it hard to suppress this matter any longer.
Outside the door, Tang Ya was crying with tears streaming down her face, clutching Beibei's hand and pleading:
"Beibei, I know someone in your family is a high-ranking member of the Academy. Please help Tang Yin!"
"He went out alone to hunt souls for two months and hasn't returned. Now we don't even know how he is!"
Beibei sighed, realizing Tang Ya truly valued her Junior Brother.
After all, Tang Yin also possessed the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, shared the surname Tang, and showed very high talent in the secret arts of the Tang Sect.
It was understandable.
He patted Tang Ya's back and comforted her:
"Don't worry. If Tang Yin really returns, everything will be fine."
Just then, the sound of measured footsteps came from the other direction.
Tang Ya looked up in astonishment and saw Tang Yin walking leisurely, carrying an air of nobility that seemed washed clean of impurities
Shrek Academy, Zhou Yi's office.
"Slaying tens of thousands of Man-faced Demon Spiders in two months just to obtain an External Soul Bone, following in the footsteps of Ancestor Tang San?"
Zhou Yi exclaimed in amazement, her eyes overflowing with appreciation. She couldn't help but applaud:
"What Martial Soul! Tang Yin, you have truly embodied the ultimate teaching principle: 'There are no useless Spirit Masters, only useless Martial Souls.'"
"With the power of a mere Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, you actually accomplished such a magnificent feat."
"Can you tell your teacher how you did it?"
Tang Yin glanced at Beibei and Tang Ya in the office, along with Du Weilun and another teacher, and smiled faintly:
"It was a Tang Sect ultimate skill; I used a Tang Sect ultimate skill!"
"It was actually a Tang Sect ultimate skill!" Du Weilun's shock had not subsided. It wasn't just the matter of Tang Yin obtaining the Eight Spider Lances.
It was that the mere three-ringed Tang Yin could achieve this using a long-declined Tang Sect ultimate skill.
That raised the question: how exactly did the Tang Sect decline?
When Tang Ya heard that Tang Yin not only obtained an External Soul Bone similar to their ancestor's but did so using a Tang Sect ultimate skill, she was so happy she almost fainted.
Her Junior Brother was simply too outstanding, possessing immense talent in the Domain of Tang Sect ultimate skills.
He seemed born for the Tang Sect!
Most importantly, he had the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul!
Beibei felt the atmosphere was a bit off. Obtaining an External Soul Bone was good, but the matter of killing so many Soul Beasts hadn't been settled, yet they were already praising him.
He subconsciously exchanged a glance with the other teacher.
This teacher wore silver-rimmed glasses and casual attire, with a serious expression. Seeing that Beibei wasn't excitedly praising Tang Yin, he thought to himself:
Shrek still has a few normal people.
But most of them are divine beings.
It's supposed to be the holy land of Spirit Masters, yet isn't what Tang Yin did the methods and mindset of an Evil Soul Master?!
Poisoning tens of thousands of Soul Beasts to extract bones—if you talk about misery, the Man-faced Demon Spider suffered the most. Even if you pointed Soul Guidance Devices at the heads of emperors in the great Empires, you'd only get nine generations executed.
The annihilation of an entire species was something most orthodox Evil Soul Masters hadn't even attempted.
Could it be that the true successor of our Sacred Cult is in Shrek?!
Zhou Yi pondered for a moment, then looked at the teacher wearing silver-rimmed glasses and spoke:
"Teacher Wang Shengjia, you only recently joined the Academy, so you aren't fully aware of many things."
"I hope that when we report upwards, we can maintain a unified narrative."
Wang Shengjia pushed up his silver-rimmed glasses and nodded sternly: "Naturally."
He would just go along with the flow. In any case, he understood that a sinister fellow like Tang Yin would only be highly valued in Shrek!
"Director Du, Tang Yin wiped out the Man-faced Demon Spider population on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. He possesses the heart of a strong individual."
Zhou Yi looked at Du Weilun. Seeing his hesitant expression, she immediately frowned:
"Director Du, Tang Yin is the Junior Brother of the Tang Sect, and the Eldest Martial Brother is one of the Twin Stars of the Outer Academy."
Du Weilun's face twitched slightly. Those who were well-informed within the Academy knew that Beibei had support from very high-level personnel.
But a mere intermediate teacher directly used a powerful connection without consulting him? Didn't she notice Beibei's awkward expression?
Du Weilun was not someone to be trifled with either; he acted according to procedure:
"Please, Student Tang Yin, demonstrate this External Soul Bone for us first. I will report this matter truthfully to Dean Yan."
...
Shrek Academy, Dean's office.
"Xiaotao, if you still can't suppress your Evil Fire, you won't participate in this competition."
Yan Shaozhe, with white hair, white robes, and a demeanor of an immortal, looked at the stubborn Ma Xiaotao and shook his head:
"The last time your Evil Fire erupted, you almost killed two Outer Academy students."
"Luckily, they didn't have much insight, and the teacher managed to placate them with two Soul Ascension Pills."
"If you burn someone from the Three Douluo Empires to death during the competition, who knows how much money it will cost the teacher?"
Ma Xiaotao, dressed entirely in red, sat on the sofa, expressing her protest through a blank expression and silence.
She was an extremely proud person, and her master and mistress had shown her great kindness. She had also cultivated diligently for many years for the competition, vowing to personally continue the millennia-old glory of Shrek Academy.
If there was even a sliver of a chance to compete, she would try her best.
Thump, thump!
A knock sounded on the door. Before Yan Shaozhe could speak, Du Weilun pushed the door open and walked in:
"Dean, something big has happened!"
Yan Shaozhe picked up a cup of tea and brought it close to his lips: "So flustered, what sort of conduct is this?"
"Dean, do you still remember Tang Yin from the Outer Academy who was overdue by a month in returning to school?" Du Weilun tried to be concise: "He has obtained an External Soul Bone similar to Ancestor Tang San's!"
The tea paused midway and was placed back on the table. Yan Shaozhe leaned toward Du Weilun, staring into his eyes, and asked:
"Similar?"
Du Weilun replied: "He obtained it by killing tens of thousands of Man-faced Demon Spiders."
Yan Shaozhe automatically filtered out the unimportant information and emphasized: "Man-faced Demon Spiders?!"
Du Weilun confirmed: "After professional testing, it is indeed so."
"This is truly like getting a pillow right when I needed to sleep!" Yan Shaozhe clapped his hands in admiration, then smiled at Ma Xiaotao:
"Xiaotao, your Evil Fire might finally have a cure now."
Du Weilun voiced Ma Xiaotao's doubt:
"Dean, doesn't Xiaotao's Evil Fire require suppression from extremely high-quality water or ice-attributed Soul Power?"
"Tang Yin's Martial Soul is only Blue Silver Grass. Although his talent is good, his attributes are still very weak."
Yan Shaozhe stroked his beard and smiled:
"Weilun, although you are already an eight-ring Spirit Douluo, your vision still hasn't broadened enough."
"The world generally believes that Ancestor Tang San's Eight Spider Lances are famous for their powerful attack capabilities."
"But in reality, its most crucial ability is devouring life force—ahem, it's absorbing and converting various energies."
"Dean, you mean..." Du Weilun was startled.
Yan Shaozhe nodded: "Correct. We can have Tang Yin use the Eight Spider Lances to absorb Xiaotao's Evil Fire."
Ma Xiaotao, sitting on the sofa, her eyes gradually lit up.
Yan Shaozhe made the final decision:
"Not only will I grant Tang Yin the status of a core disciple this time, but as compensation, I will also directly take him as my personal disciple and clear his name!"
...
One day later, the news that Yan Shaozhe had taken Tang Yin as his final personal disciple spread throughout Shrek Academy.
Since the details were not disclosed, many students in the teaching buildings were discussing animatedly:
"On what grounds can Tang Yin become the Dean's final personal disciple?"
"He actually forces his way up. Good thing I'm about to graduate."
"Is Tang Yin a Tang Sect disciple? Are the Tang Sect ultimate skills really that bizarre?"
"Tang Yin's luck is too good, isn't it? After tens of thousands of years, why is he the one who hit the jackpot?"
Wang Shengjia, wearing silver-rimmed glasses, frowned and sharply reprimanded:
"The class bell has rung, quiet down!"
A mole!
There must be a mole from the Sacred Cult among the Shrek higher-ups!
The Scorpion Tiger Douluo, an esteemed guest of the Sacred Cult, was labeled an Evil Soul Master just for consuming some animal blood to aid his cultivation when he was young.
This young Tang Yin almost annihilated an entire species.
If this achievement were in the Sacred Cult, he would at least be revered as a Saint Son candidate.
If the Shrek higher-ups didn't have a mole from the Sacred Cult, how could they turn a blind eye to the typical Evil Soul Master behavior of Tang Yin?
...
Shrek Academy, beside the Sea God Lake.
Xuanzi, whose clothes were quite torn, sat on the shore, soaking his bare feet in the Sea God Lake while holding a large purplish-red gourd and drinking wine.
Xuanzi looked at Tang Yin's personal information, shook his head, and sighed:
"Ma Xiaotao, freed from the trouble of the Evil Fire, is practically the Ultimate Flame."
"Tang Yin, the Dean's personal disciple who possesses the Eight Spider Lances and Tang Sect ultimate skills, also has boundless potential."
"My Shrek truly has many talents!"
"Wonderful! Wonderful!"
Monday, Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Soul Dueling Platform No. 231.
Thanks to Xiao Hongchen's successful promotion, quite a few people were gathered below, watching the two-on-one battle Xiao Hongchen had arranged with Ma Rulong.
Looking at the not-so-large crowd in the audience seats, Xiao Hongchen, standing on the hundred-meter diameter circular platform, paid no attention whatsoever.
The promotion was handled by dedicated personnel.
Feng Tingting gave him a 'mission accomplished' gesture, signaling that the recording Soul Guidance Device was ready.
Ma Rulong, across from him, teased, "Xiao Hongchen, every time you try to corner me, you call so many people to watch."
"And you even have Junior Sister Tingting record it. If you lose, you lose nothing, but if you win, you earn big, right?"
"Or perhaps you want to receive some more of my guidance before you become a Fifth-Rank Soul Tool Master?"
Xiao Hongchen shrugged:
"Just watch if I take care of you this time."
"Hmm?" Ma Rulong looked suspiciously at Huo Yuhao and Xiao Hongchen.
He never fought unprepared battles. Upon learning of Xiao Hongchen's two-on-one challenge, his alarm bells immediately went off.
You, a Fourth-Rank Soul Engineer, get constantly crushed by me. How dare you challenge me now just by adding a Second-Rank Soul Engineer?
Something is fishy!
That day, he immediately found the recording footage of Huo Yuhao's Second-rank Soul Tool Master examination performance.
After analyzing it frame by frame, he reached a conclusion:
This kid is inhuman; his combat awareness far surpasses ordinary people, and his foundation in Soul Guidance Devices is extremely solid.
In his hands, long-range Soul Guidance Devices exhibit a level of threat far exceeding their inherent rank.
But no matter how heaven-defying Huo Yuhao was, he was still only a Second-rank Soul Tool Master.
Based on the methods Huo Yuhao displayed during the rank examination, a casual Fourth-Rank Defense Shield from Ma Rulong would render him helpless.
A Second-Rank plus a Fourth-Rank could match a Sixth-Rank Soul Tool Master?
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Hongchen wouldn't cause any significant waves.
Although Ma Rulong was confident, he still maintained a degree of vigilance.
He didn't want to capsize in a ditch and become another stepping stone for Xiao Hongchen.
"Yuhao, go for it! Brother, you go for it too!" Meng Hongchen waved from below the stage.
Xiao Hongchen first tidied up his hairstyle.
Then, he smiled and surveyed the entire Soul Dueling Platform, waving back at the many screaming female students.
The referee teacher lost patience and roared:
"Xiao Hongchen! If you don't want to fight, I can immediately declare you the loser!"
Xiao Hongchen smiled:
"Teacher, you don't actually need to shout my name so loudly."
"Ma Rulong, Soul Guidance Devices aren't played like that!"
Click click click!
Feng Tingting's recording Soul Guidance Device was frantically taking pictures.
"Start!"
Ma Rulong stepped forward, his two yellow, two purple, and two black Spirit Rings all manifesting.
With an arm as wide as Huo Yuhao's waist, he tossed it, and a blue metal sphere suddenly appeared, emitting a sizzling lightning sound as it ascended high into the sky.
It was a rare type among Sixth-Rank high-altitude Soul Guidance Devices: the Wrath of the Thunder God.
It could fire a 'Thunder Punishment'—an attack with the intensity of a full-power strike from a Spirit Emperor—every ten seconds, possessing multiple effects like explosion, automatic tracking, and paralysis.
It could track and lock onto targets based on minute voltage differences, unlike ordinary optical or Soul Power fluctuation locking techniques.
This was a Soul Guidance Device he specifically prepared for Huo Yuhao; ordinary optical invisibility would definitely be broken!
As long as it hit Huo Yuhao, it was guaranteed to cause a casualty.
However, after becoming Jing Hongchen's disciple, Huo Yuhao's perspective had long surpassed his own Soul Tool Master rank.
Wrath of the Thunder God? He actually knew a bit about it.
Huo Yuhao took a step back and shared his Mental Detection with Xiao Hongchen.
He simultaneously activated not only optical invisibility and breath concealment but even simulated a voltage difference identical to the surrounding environment!
Sizzle!
The first Thunder Punishment instantly struck the position where Huo Yuhao had just been.
Boom!
The metal surface of the Soul Dueling Platform was directly blasted away. The metal storm hit the Soul Dueling Platform's shield, creating shallow ripples.
A three-meter-deep pit was revealed where Huo Yuhao had been standing.
It was during this brief moment that Xiao Hongchen released his Martial Soul.
With a flash of golden light, a third leg unexpectedly emerged from his rear, near his buttocks. This leg was entirely golden, and simultaneously, a dazzling layer of gold covered his entire body.
Xiao Hongchen winked at Huo Yuhao, signaling: Let me pretend to be Tang, and let's trick Ma Rulong!
He ignored whether Huo Yuhao saw the hint and roared:
"Ma Rulong, take this attack from me!"
The three-legged Xiao Hongchen slightly crouched, his two yellow and two purple Spirit Rings shining.
Golden protrusions bulged from beneath his clothes as his back arched slightly, emitting a soft golden halo.
He simultaneously activated his first and third Spirit Rings.
Then, with a wave of his hands, he scattered at least a hundred metal spheres.
These metal spheres instantly suspended themselves in mid-air, completely enveloping him.
A bizarre scene unfolded in the next instant: using those metal spheres as cores, hundreds of thick metal cannon barrels actually grew out of nowhere.
In the span of a few breaths, his entire body transformed into an existence bristling with metal cannon barrels.
Xiao Hongchen laughed heartily, "Hundred-Shot Soul Tool Ray Volley!"
A large swath of dazzling white light spewed out from the metal cannon barrels, directly plowing over several hundred square meters around Ma Rulong.
When the smoke and dust cleared, only a small patch of ground in the bombarded area remained untouched.
Ma Rulong stood there proudly with his hands behind his back, slowly retracting his Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield.
He had long anticipated that Xiao Hongchen would resort to saturation bombing.
It might crush rookies, but it was utterly meaningless against him, Ma Rulong!
He was already certain of victory!
Based on his numerous previous encounters with Xiao Hongchen, such an explosive burst would cost Xiao Hongchen at least fifty percent of his Soul Power.
Ma Rulong's eyes flickered, constantly watching his surroundings for any sudden Soul Tool Rays.
He chuckled:
"Xiao Hongchen, you still haven't improved!"
"My newly upgraded Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield can withstand ten standard Sixth-Rank Soul Tool Rays.
"Even if cracks cover the shield, it recovers instantly. Without an absolute burst, it cannot be broken."
"Your rays are inaccurate, and your Soul Power is too low. What do you have to fight me with?"
"You lost again, Meng Hongchen."
"Is that so?" Xiao Hongchen grinned ferociously, and the metal covering his body lit up again, the glow even more intense than before!
Ma Rulong's smile faded. He simply activated two layers of the Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield and locked his next Thunder Punishment onto Xiao Hongchen.
Suddenly, an intense sense of crisis rose in Ma Rulong's heart.
His gaze instantly focused, staring intently at the hundreds of Soul Tool Rays, at least Third-Rank, shot out by Xiao Hongchen.
These Soul Tool Rays had different firing speeds, characteristics, and starting positions, yet they converged eerily at a single point in the air, forming a single crimson Cluster Soul Tool Ray.
It was this crimson Cluster Soul Tool Ray that emitted terrifying fluctuations; its overall power surpassed several levels.
It probably approached the output intensity of a Seventh-Rank Soul Guidance Device!
Ma Rulong was greatly alarmed. He didn't even precisely control the lock for the next Thunder Punishment aimed at Xiao Hongchen.
This damned Xiao Hongchen had actually pretended to be Tang earlier, lowering his vigilance!
The sudden event far exceeded his expectations.
He could only try his best to maintain his two layers of Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield and execute a side-lunge, hoping to dodge the center point of the Cluster Soul Tool Ray.
However, even this side-lunge was within the prediction range of Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection.
Direct hit!
The first layer of the Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield shattered silently, like an eggshell hit by a bullet.
The second layer of the Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield held firm for a breath before being smashed apart as well.
Although the power of the crimson Cluster Soul Tool Ray had been mostly blocked, its momentum was undiminished.
Ma Rulong gritted his teeth, his Spirit Rings flashing continuously as Soul Power surged rapidly throughout his body.
He actually activated a third layer of the Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield despite the terrifying consumption of simultaneously controlling three Sixth-Rank Soul Guidance Devices.
The crimson Cluster Soul Tool Ray struck it, and the energy shield trembled violently, with fine cracks spreading across its surface.
It was blocked!
Ma Rulong felt a surge of relief, but in the next instant, an explosion reached his ears.
Bang!
Faster than the sound arrived, a Martial Soul-Nourishing Cast Iron Bullet fired from a Third-Rank live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle hit.
This bullet struck precisely in the instant before the crimson Cluster Soul Tool Ray dissipated, and just before the energy of the Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield gathered to instantly restore itself.
It hit the weakest point of the cracks!
This strike instantly tore open the third layer of the Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield and aimed straight for Ma Rulong's chest!
"We're going to win!"
Xiao Hongchen, who was blackened by the Thunder Punishment, opened his mouth slightly, feeling victory was imminent.
But in the next moment, a thin layer of golden light emanated from Ma Rulong's body, firmly and unimpededly deflecting the Martial Soul-Nourishing Cast Iron Bullet.
It was the Invincible Barrier!
"I didn't expect to be forced to use the Invincible Barrier by a Fourth-Rank Soul Tool Master and a Second-rank Soul Tool Master."
Ma Rulong's expression was complex; there was no joy of victory.
He was already a Sixth-Rank Soul Tool Master, arguably the strongest Sixth-Rank Soul Tool Master in the academy, and the captain of the main team that would represent the academy against Shrek Academy next semester.
Even against a team composed of ten Fourth-Rank Soul Tool Masters and ten Second-rank Soul Tool Masters,
he should have won without any suspense.
Yet now, he had won the match by exhausting his opponents' Soul Power, plunging himself into deep self-doubt.
When did Xiao Hongchen acquire such god-like Soul Guidance Device control ability?
Even if he did, was his Mental Power sufficient to support such complex battlefield calculations?
And the final metal bullet—was that shot secretly by Huo Yuhao?
Ma Rulong had too many questions. Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. Wasn't this the same feeling he got watching Huo Yuhao's ten previous duels?
Precise, sudden, leaving one completely unprepared.
Ma Rulong looked deeply at Huo Yuhao, who had closed his simulation and materialized, holding a long, smoking Soul Guidance Device.
It was indeed a Third-Rank live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle. As expected of a Third-Rank live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle.
That final shot definitely touched the threshold of Fifth-Rank Soul Guidance Device output intensity!
Otherwise, that shot couldn't have torn through the Sixth-Rank Wall of Fortitude Shield, even if it was already covered in cracks at the time.
"Tingting, make a note."
"Sixth-year student Ma Rulong, defeating a Fourth-year student and a Second-year student through reversal, won the match but lost face!"
Seeing that he had lost to Ma Rulong again, Xiao Hongchen quickly started handling the publicity matters after a brief thought.
"Also... Xiao Hongchen, joining forces with Second-year student Huo Yuhao, forced out the Invincible Barrier of the academy's main team captain."
Ma Rulong's expression twitched upon hearing this.
Xiao Hongchen lightly smiled, brushing the dust off his body:
"Even as a Fourth-Rank Soul Tool Master, I possess the ability to defeat a Sixth-Rank Soul Tool Master! Captain, you should yield to me! Tingting, promote this!"
Ma Rulong protested, his eyes bulging, and he burst out cursing:
"Xiao Hongchen, stop your nonsense!"
"Don't think I didn't see that Huo Yuhao gave you some kind of assistance, allowing you to exert control nearly equal to his own."
"But that isn't your ability, and you couldn't have defeated me alone!"
Then, his expression changed. Looking at Huo Yuhao, he forced out a somewhat gentle smile:
"Yuhao, I know you definitely intervened in some way."
"As long as you agree, I can recommend you for the reserve team of this All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament. How about it?"
If Huo Yuhao agreed to join the team, he dared to even aim for the championship!
People who hadn't seen it would find it hard to imagine how a burly man with a rough appearance and rugged demeanor could pull off a cackling, slightly ingratiating expression.
Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Library Document Management Building
Huo Yuhao took out his identification token for verification, entered the study room, sat on a chair, and keyed in the number 1786313 on a metal display screen.
A moment later, a staff member pushed a cart, delivering a box that was one meter in both width and height, and two meters long, into the study room.
Huo Yuhao opened the box and took out stacks of research data and literature.
He also took out five soul tool sniper rifles, each with a barrel over a meter long. Their surfaces were covered in black scorch marks, and their core magic arrays were all melted and destroyed.
No wonder Senior Brother Feng had evaluated this graduation project as a failure without knowing it was designed by a teacher.
If even the teacher couldn't solve it in his youth, the difficulty must indeed be immense.
He flipped to the conclusion section of the graduation design and saw the rating of these soul tool sniper rifles: Rank Five.
There was also Jing Hongchen's concluding remark:
"The output capability of the Rank Five live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle, a branch of the Rank Five piercing cannon, is the strongest among Soul Guidance Devices of the same rank."
"It can rival the output capability of top-tier Rank Six Soul Guidance Devices."
Huo Yuhao was not surprised.
Two days ago, when fighting Ma Rulong, the Rank Three live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle he created already possessed the output standard of a top-tier Rank Four long-range Soul Guidance Device.
Yes, that Rank Three live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle was manufactured by his own hands.
If, at Twenty-rank Soul Power, he couldn't completely manufacture a Second-rank Soul Guidance Device.
Now, at Twenty-fifth-rank Soul Power, he could manufacture Rank Three Soul Guidance Devices himself.
The reason lay in the second Spirit Ring of the Spiritual Eye, the Spirit Ability Divine Soul Integration provided by the Dreamlike Ice Butterfly.
"This Spirit Ability allows me to integrate my Mental Power into my Soul Power to a certain extent, improving my Soul Power manipulation ability,"
He had explained it to Meng Hongchen like that a few days ago, but in reality, after the Mental Power integrated with the Soul Power, what improved was more than just the Soul Power's manipulation ability.
It also increased the total amount!
This was the foundation that allowed him, with his Twenty-fifth-rank cultivation, to manufacture a Rank Three live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle.
If he wished, he could obtain the Rank Three Soul Engineer certificate in the next Soul Engineer ranking examination.
Huo Yuhao continued reading the report:
"Compared to piercing cannons of the same rank, its penetration ability is more outstanding."
"According to the experimental data, five rounds were enough to shatter a Rank Five Invincible Barrier while it was active."
Was Rank Five penetration already this strong?
A Rank Five Invincible Barrier, even the lowest grade, was still an Invincible Barrier.
Huo Yuhao recalled the execution standard for a Rank Five Invincible Barrier:
To block any attack from a Spirit Master below the level of an Eight-ring Spirit Douluo for three seconds.
This meant that one shot fired from this Rank Five live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle had an output capability almost comparable to a Soul Saint's strike.
Why only one shot?
Because even the Rank Five live ammunition soul tool sniper rifles manufactured by Jing Hongchen in his youth would have their core magic arrays melt after just one shot.
Looking further at the report, he found that the manufacturing cost for a single Rank Five live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle reached over a million Gold Soul Coins.
Huo Yuhao understood. No wonder live ammunition soul tool sniper rifles didn't develop further; with this cost-effectiveness ratio, how could they compare to pre-loaded soul tool cannonballs?
Then, could such a Soul Guidance Device, with great power and high speed, be used in competitions?
Yes, but it was not recommended.
Firstly, it was difficult to have enough time in the arena to safely charge it. Secondly, if you couldn't guarantee hitting a vital spot, it would have zero effect.
That is, extreme penetration, without extreme precision, would result in poor effect if it only hit limbs or non-fatal parts of the torso.
The margin for error was extremely low.
But these two points were not problems for Huo Yuhao.
A charging time of a few seconds, or even ten seconds, could be simulated.
Perhaps some spirit abilities could counter Mental Detection, but if he used the abilities of the spectator sequence, combined with the forced vision snatching of Mental Sharing, a hundred percent hit rate could become a reality.
Ma Rulong's invitation to join the team from the previous two days was still fresh in his mind, but Huo Yuhao was not content to just be an enhancer on the sidelines.
If possible, he also wanted a moment of glory.
If he truly entered the reserve team to compete, he would inevitably face that group from Shrek head-on.
Xu Sanshi, Tang Yin, and perhaps Dai Huabin.
Tang Yin was regarded by Tang Ya as the person to revitalize the Tang Sect, and by Zhou Yi as a favored disciple.
Xu Sanshi, Tang Yin, if you meet me on the competition stage, would you also be surprised that the little Huo who grilled fish back then has become your opponent?
Dai Huabin, if we really meet, I must take good care of you.
Huo Yuhao opened the experimental report and quickly entered a flow state.
He needed to quickly grasp Jing Hongchen's research process from many years ago regarding the mechanism of core magic array melting in soul tool sniper rifles and the path to solving it.
If he could overcome the problem of the core magic array melting, perhaps he could steadily exert combat strength far exceeding that of Soul Engineers of the same rank.
...
Weekend, Tranquility Hall, Jing Hongchen's office.
"I know about Ma Rulong inviting you to join the reserve team,"
Jing Hongchen took a cup of warm water and handed it to Huo Yuhao, saying gently:
"What do you think?"
In the office, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen both looked at Huo Yuhao, as did Elder Ma and Feng Yu, who were reporting on their work nearby.
Huo Yuhao respectfully took the water cup and stated his thoughts:
"Teacher, I want to join the reserve team and compete in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament."
"Firstly, I hope to showcase my potential to the outside world and present an answer to everyone who has helped me along the way."
"Secondly..." Huo Yuhao scratched his head a bit awkwardly.
"You are aware of my background, Teacher. I want to directly clash with those arrogant students from Shrek."
Jing Hongchen felt relieved, shook his head, and chuckled:
"The spirit of youth, the spirit of youth."
"If the young lack sharpness, passion, and fearlessness, it is hard for them to advance."
"Originally, I thought you should focus on Soul Guidance Device research with peace of mind, without rushing to learn how to fight."
"But judging by your performance in the Second-rank Soul Engineer examination, I fear your top-tier combat talent might be buried."
"Since you have decided, your teacher naturally supports you."
Saying that, Jing Hongchen looked at Elder Ma in front of everyone present:
"Old Ma, revise the delivery report for Hongchen's Blessing."
"Yes, report it as natural attrition. Delay the overall delivery time by at least half a year."
Those present were either Jing Hongchen's disciples or his grandchildren. Elder Ma was also his staunch confidant.
In private, they didn't need to be so careful.
Elder Ma glanced at Jing Hongchen and thought to himself:
Hall Master, last time you not only rejected Xiao Hongchen but also said, 'Be serious. Imperial matters cannot afford any mistakes.'
To report it as lost right after it was built, truly...
Huo Yuhao had also conducted simple research on his teacher's creations.
At least he knew that Hongchen's Blessing was a Rank Nine defensive Soul Guidance Device.
Huo Yuhao immediately waved his hand and refused:
"Teacher, Hongchen's Blessing is a Rank Nine Soul Guidance Device. How could I possibly use it?"
The Star Light Sapphire storage ring on Jing Hongchen's finger flickered, and a metal piece that looked extremely thin appeared in his palm.
This piece of metal was circular, thin as paper, and emitted a soft golden halo.
The carved patterns were dense and regular, yet full of creativity and imagination.
No Soul Power fluctuations leaked from it, but just by existing there, it possessed a special texture as solid as a mountain.
Jing Hongchen smiled slightly, pulled Huo Yuhao's hand, and placed Hongchen's Blessing into it without room for refusal:
"Hongchen's Blessing is a trigger-type defensive Soul Guidance Device. Once the Spirit Master encounters a massive attack judged based on the user's cultivation, it will sense it in advance and defend."
"When placed on the chest, it will automatically adhere to the Spirit Master's body, absorbing the Spirit Master's Soul Power and becoming one with them."
"It can be turned off and on with a mere thought."
"There are several aspects of Hongchen's Blessing that I am quite satisfied with, Teacher. Firstly, it does not restrict the user's cultivation."
"Even if you only have Twenty-fifth-rank Soul Power now, you can still use it."
"It is suitable for Spirit Masters of any level. If it were in the hands of a Titled Douluo, it could possess the defensive power of a Super Douluo."
"Most importantly, it also has a special activation method, which is why I am giving it to you."
"By actively activating the core magic array, releasing pre-charged Soul Power, it can generate an Invincible Barrier lasting fifteen seconds."
"Its defensive power reaches three times the charging party's own cultivation."
"If you go to compete, have Feng Yu act as a teacher accompanying the team. Although his Soul Guidance Device talent isn't great, he still has Seventy-ninth-rank Soul Power."
"The Invincible Barrier released by the Hongchen's Blessing he charges for you would require a Titled Douluo to exert some effort to shatter."
"As for the other functions, they are not complicated; you can figure them out yourself."
Feng Yu heard these words and showed a wry smile, directly blasting Huo Yuhao with a wave of Chaos Qi.
Once upon a time, before he became the teacher's disciple, he was also a famous genius Soul Engineer in the academy.
Now, with Huo Yuhao around, he was being labeled as having 'poor Soul Guidance Device talent.'
Teacher, I am a peak Seventh-rank Soul Engineer at thirty years old!
There are still many possibilities.
As Feng Yu thought, he blasted Huo Yuhao with another large wave of Chaos Qi.
"Grandpa, what about me? What about me?" Xiao Hongchen looked at Jing Hongchen with a bewildered expression.
You didn't explain it to me like that last time!
How could you change so much just because Junior Brother arrived for a little over a month?
Jing Hongchen snorted:
"Giving Hongchen's Blessing to Yuhao was something I considered carefully."
"Think about it. The Shrek Academy acts so despicably."
"If Huo Yuhao's Mental Detection were exposed on the stage, he would definitely be severely targeted. Opponents wouldn't hesitate to focus fire on him."
"And!" Jing Hongchen emphasized in a deep voice:
"The Shrek Academy hasn't just won every championship for ten thousand years. Few people notice that they have also held the top spot on the kill list for ten thousand years!"
"The students who fight for Shrek are often severely brainwashed by Shrek's ideology of glory."
"For their ten-thousand-year glory, burning their lives, cheating in competitions, or even intentionally killing opponents, is not without precedent."
"This time when you compete, what I want to tell you is..."
"Strive for the best ranking you can, but always remember, your mission is to gain experience, not to risk your lives on the Soul Dueling Platform."
After speaking, Jing Hongchen looked at Xiao Hongchen:
"Xiaoxiao, the priority level for you to be focused-fired is far lower than your Junior Brother's."
"Moreover, the Rank Seven defensive Soul Guidance Device 'Hongchens Shield' I created back then is completely sufficient to protect you."
Xiao Hongchen scratched his head: "Fine, even if it's just the monkey version."
Jing Hongchen's eye twitched slightly, suppressing the urge to slap Xiao Hongchen, and listened to him continue.
"The fifth Spirit Ability you planned for me previously was a life-saving Spirit Ability."
"But after experiencing Junior Brother's Mental Detection, I think it can completely be swapped for a more powerful offensive Spirit Ability."
"A man needs to maximize his output! I want the entire continent to witness my strength!"
Slap!
A crisp slapping sound echoed above Xiao Hongchen's head. It was startling but harmless.
Only then did Xiao Hongchen obediently say:
"With Junior Brother's Mental Detection controlling the whole field, most so-called fatal threats will be predicted."
"Plus, with Hongchens Shield protecting me, if things really go south, I can still surrender. That life-saving Spirit Ability probably won't be needed."
Jing Hongchen then coldly withdrew his hand, nodded, and said: "Fine. I will properly study your fifth Spirit Ability next. If there is nothing else, everyone, go back to what you were doing."
"Yuhao, Little Meng, if you need to practice inscribing core magic arrays, you can do so on the experimental tables over there."
"Keep a bit of distance so you don't disturb each other."
Watching Elder Ma go to sort out the attrition report, Feng Yu return to the laboratory to study, and the three others entering a learning state, Jing Hongchen smiled.
What he didn't say was that decades ago, in his youth, he had also participated in the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament representing the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
In that final match, he narrowly lost to the current Shrek Academy Dean, Yan Shaozhe.
Thinking about that match still annoyed him. He had guarded against everything, considered everything.
He just hadn't accounted for the outrageous love triangle that erupted within the Shrek team at the end.
In the final, Dean Yan Shaozhe shouted something about 'Love and Glory' and rushed forward...
Although losing the championship made him very upset at the time.
But over the years, he had long understood.
Life is long, and the margin for error is much greater than people imagine. Temporary gains and losses mean nothing, let alone a single competition.
That's why he didn't mention this old story.
Lest the psychological burden of needing to win the championship affect their decision-making in the arena.
On the other side, Meng Hongchen, holding an engraving knife, glanced at Jing Hongchen, who was smiling to himself, not knowing what he was thinking.
She secretly took out a silent camera Soul Guidance Device and quietly snapped a photo of Huo Yuhao holding an engraving knife, seriously inscribing a core magic array.
Her flawless pretty face blushed slightly.
This was something Sister Tingting had asked her to do! This was entirely to support Sister Tingting's 'soul tool master genius' work.
She told herself internally.
Recalling the conversation between Jing Hongchen and his disciples just now, she keenly noticed that when Huo Yuhao mentioned certain students from Shrek.
The evaluation he gave was 'arrogant.'
And the resolute, even affirming, look in his eyes when Grandpa gave him Hongchen's Blessing.
And the inexplicable sense of affinity emanating from Junior Brother.
Junior Brother's past seemed far from simple as written in the data?
What secrets did he hide behind him?
Meng Hongchen pushed up the Soul Guidance Device glasses that assisted in inscribing the core magic array on her delicate nose, feeling like a detective.
Slowly uncovering the unknown side of Junior Brother.
There was a strange thrill to it.
The next two months were extremely fulfilling every single day.
These two months bridged the gap between the final exams and the holiday, and Huo Yuhao didn't even take his final exams.
Because the Academy operates on a semester credit system, he had already successfully accumulated all the required credits for this semester through the Library's examination system, so he didn't need to participate in the final exams.
Many students chose to stay at the Academy to study and prepare for the next semester's Soul Engineer level examinations.
Huo Yuhao, however, stayed behind to conduct research.
The research concerning the live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle centered on the cooling core matrix, which was the most crucial part.
As soon as the research began, Huo Yuhao immediately sensed the immense difficulty involved.
Translating theory into practice, especially when researching and innovating a fundamental core matrix topic that had already formed a complete system over thousands of years,
always presented difficult problems not mentioned in textbooks.
But he possessed advantages that others could hardly match: guidance from the continent's top Soul Engineers, Mental Detection, Ultimate Ice, and a self-examination research approach.
After only two months, he had already solved many difficult problems and was about to achieve results.
Feng Yu's laboratory.
Hoo!
Huo Yuhao carved the final stroke, and the Second-rank core matrix was successfully inscribed.
He carefully picked it up and injected his Soul Power into it.
A soft blue halo bloomed on the silver-white metal sphere, and a chill spread from the sphere outwards.
The water vapor in the air around it was the first to be affected, condensing into white ice particles. Because they were so fine, they floated around the core matrix like a layer of white mist.
Huo Yuhao blew gently, and the white mist drifted away.
But the water vapor in the next breath he exhaled was immediately condensed by the core matrix, replenishing the mist.
This created the peculiar sight of the white mist around the core matrix being endless and inexhaustible by blowing.
"Yuhao, you actually did it!"
Feng Yu, standing beside him, swallowed hard, feeling that his world had started to become unreal since Huo Yuhao appeared.
Twin Martial Souls, Ultimate Martial Soul, the near-divine skill of Mental Detection, and now this heaven-defying creative ability...
When was any decent Second-rank Soul Tool Master not struggling to learn the foundational knowledge and preparing to take the test for Third-rank Soul Tool Master?
Instead, he came here to innovate core matrices?
"Senior Brother Feng, I also borrowed the advantage of Ultimate Ice."
Huo Yuhao glanced at the empty laboratory, as his teammates had already gone to lunch, and said,
"Its initial rank is only Second-rank."
"And at this stage, only I can use it; it cannot adapt to Soul Power from other attributes that are not Ultimate Ice."
"I see the intensity of your cooling core matrix can at least match a Third-rank cooling matrix. When I was at your stage, I was still... alas!"
Feng Yu shook his head, and together with Huo Yuhao, they took the core matrix to the testing area.
The testing area contained a large experimental Soul Guidance Device covering over ten square meters, and Huo Yuhao placed the charged core matrix inside.
A report came out shortly after. Feng Yu and Huo Yuhao skipped the complex test data and looked directly at the conclusion:
Category: Special Cooling Core Matrix
Technical Rank: Second-rank
Effect Index: Fourth-rank Cooling Core Matrix
In the Sea of Consciousness, the Ice Empress, who had already adjusted and recovered, sighed:
"Even though I was once the King of Ice, without relying on cultivation far surpassing Yuhao's, achieving this effect would have been impossible."
"Tianmeng, I truly underestimated human creativity. No wonder they can occupy the majority of the continent."
Feng Yu had to admit that he had underestimated this core matrix: "Give it a name."
Huo Yuhao replied: "Let's call it the Second-rank Ultimate Cooling Matrix."
Feng Yu patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder:
"The next stage of embedding other core matrices can wait. Go have a good meal today and relax a bit."
"Other students, even if they stay at the Academy during the break, often go out to wander around."
"You, however, ever since you started researching the live ammunition soul tool sniper rifle, you've practically lived in the laboratory and haven't eaten a proper meal in two months."
Huo Yuhao sighed: "Time is tight, and the mission is heavy, Senior Brother Feng."
"Hmm? You don't have to listen to me."
Feng Yu raised an eyebrow and gestured with his chin behind Huo Yuhao: "Surely you have to give face to Senior Sister Meng, right?"
Huo Yuhao waved his hand, indicating that wasn't what he meant.
Then he turned around and saw Meng Hongchen peeking her head around the laboratory door, her pink lips slightly curved, and her blue eyes sly:
"Junior Brother, I've been ordered by Grandpa to take you out for a meal!"
Huo Yuhao walked over and smiled:
"Oh? I thought Senior Sister Meng came to find me to help you make figurines again."
"Shh!" Meng Hongchen raised a slender finger and glanced at Feng Yu, who was watching the two with a smile, "Didn't we agree to keep it a secret for Senior Sister?"
Her elegant and cold demeanor as a genius Soul Engineer in public contrasted slightly with her liking for such cute things in private.
"Alright.", Huo Yuhao raised the experimental data he had just collected in his hand: "When is the gathering? Will I have time to write an experimental report in the Library?"
"It's in the evening, you'll have time! I'll go with you; I happen to have something too.", Meng Hongchen's blue eyes flickered slightly, confirming it.
"Junior Brother, did your cooling core matrix have a breakthrough? Can I see the experimental data?"
Huo Yuhao naturally wouldn't refuse, and the two walked from the laboratory to the self-study area in the Library.
In the self-study area where Huo Yuhao's exclusive seat was located, Wang Shaojie was still diligently studying theoretical knowledge.
Two months ago, after Wang Shaojie witnessed Huo Yuhao demonstrating the correctness of the 'Licking Dog Bible' through practical action, he launched a fierce second round of 'licking' towards Hu Mei.
However, facing Hu Mei, whose rank was far higher than his, he was defeated again.
The reason Hu Mei gave this time was that he wasn't even a Fourth-Rank Soul Engineer.
Therefore, he specifically stayed at the Academy during the break to strive for excellence, hoping to amaze Hu Mei when the new semester started.
Of course, he also had the idea of closely observing how Huo Yuhao 'licked' Meng Hongchen.
When Huo Yuhao returned to the study area with Meng Hongchen, he perked up his ears, observed the two out of the corner of his eye, and collected all interaction information.
Unfortunately, after Huo Yuhao sat down and started writing, Meng Hongchen leaned over to say a couple of words to him and then left the self-study area.
The experimental data wasn't complicated; Meng Hongchen had finished reading it on the way. Before leaving the self-study area, she secretly glanced at Huo Yuhao.
She hadn't come to find Huo Yuhao just because of Jing Hongchen's instructions; she also had a crucial piece of evidence that could lead to uncovering Huo Yuhao's mysterious veil!
She stepped in her simple yet elegant small sandals and headed briskly towards the borrowing building.
When someone occasionally looked at her, she would switch to an icy demeanor.
She arrived at the data Soul Guidance Device storage center in the borrowing building and secretly used a Level Seven Soul Guidance Device produced by Mingde Hall to hack into the borrowing record system to view Huo Yuhao's borrowing history.
Meng Hongchen's blue eyes grew brighter the more she read; she seemed to have grasped the key point!
This material basically all pointed to Huo Yuhao's research field: the cooling core matrix!
Combined with the special affinity she felt from Huo Yuhao.
I already know the truth of the matter.
There is only one truth!
Huo Yuhao has Twin Martial Souls, and the second Martial Soul is also an ice-attribute Martial Soul!
With this, Meng Hongchen understood many things.
Why Jing Hongchen valued Huo Yuhao so highly from the start.
Why she could feel a special affinity from Huo Yuhao—because they were both ice-attribute Spirit Masters!
Hmph hmph!
All the puzzles were solved.
Meng Hongchen felt the joy of solving a case and peeling back Huo Yuhao's mysterious side.
But she didn't plan to reveal it. Prying into others' affairs by scrutinizing details to satisfy curiosity was just a personal little quirk.
But if she felt it could be wantonly publicized and affect someone's normal life, that would be inappropriate.
She returned to the self-study area and took out a book next to Huo Yuhao's seat, just as she was about to read.
Unexpectedly, Huo Yuhao, who was writing his experimental report, asked without even lifting his head:
"Senior Sister Meng, you are actually this kind of person!"
"You went to the borrowing building to look at my borrowing records. What did you find out?"
Scared!
Meng Hongchen reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her eyes wide. Her first thought was:
Caught! This is so embarrassing!
She stammered: "I saw that you have an ice-attribute second Martial Soul."
"Wait, how did you know—uh, how did you know your borrowing records were viewed?"
Huo Yuhao understood, first organizing the experimental data he had finished writing, and then taking out an identification card to show Meng Hongchen:
"Senior Sister Meng, all our information is protected 24/7 by dedicated personnel."
"Any anomaly will be immediately notified to us."
"Did the person who sold you the Level Seven Soul Guidance Device not tell you this?"
"Then... what, what are you going to do?" Meng Hongchen really didn't know this.
Who didn't know she was Jing Hongchen's granddaughter? Who would dare to have ill intentions when checking her information?
She simply admitted her mistake and punishment, looking seriously at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly:
"Senior Sister Meng, you also wouldn't want people to know about your preference for cute figurines and prying into others' privacy, right?"
"Agree to one condition from me, and we'll let this matter go."
"Ah? What condition?"
Meng Hongchen's apricot eyes widened, her cheeks showing a faint, sunrise-like blush, revealing a hint of shyness. Her jade fingers lightly fiddled with the edge of her skirt, and her rounded toes gripped her sandals tightly.
"Help me with my research project during this holiday."
Just this kind of thing?
If that's the case, why didn't he just say so? Could she refuse?
Meng Hongchen listened blankly as Huo Yuhao spoke fluently:
"It's mainly about the fusion problem between the high-pressure composite core matrix and the ultimate cooling matrix."
"By the time I figure out the design ideas for a Fourth-rank or even Fifth-rank ultimate cooling matrix, my current cultivation won't be enough."
"Hm? Senior Sister Meng, are you listening to me?"
Meng Hongchen snapped back to attention: "Oh, yes, yes. Please continue."
On the other side, Wang Shaojie, who was secretly observing, was also completely confused:
Huh?
Is God Huo giving a live lecture on how to 'lick' girls?
No, why does his approach feel so different from what he taught me? Did God Huo hold back?
And why is his effect so obvious?
Miss Meng's expression is clearly not the one she usually shows outsiders!
Wang Shaojie was very certain of this because, as a collateral member of the royal family, he had greeted Meng Hongchen before.
The response Meng Hongchen gave him back then, although very proper, carried an implicit attitude of keeping people at arm's length, which couldn't be faked.
It was completely different from her interaction with Huo Yuhao!
Unknowingly, the students in the self-study area who were looking at Huo Yuhao and Meng Hongchen all contributed a wisp of Chaos Qi.
Wang Shaojie felt he couldn't focus on reading this book anymore.
Since it was the holiday today, he might as well go outside the Academy to clear his head.
...
Shrek Academy, Soul Guidance Department, Qian Duoduo's Office.
Fan Yu handed over a list of candidates for the 'Limit Soldier Project.' There was only one name on the list.
He Caitou.
"Let's go with He Caitou then.", Qian Duoduo said.
Fan Yu expressed regret: "It's a pity that Dean Yan of the Spirit Master Department absolutely refuses to release him; otherwise, Tang Yin would have been a good choice."
Qian Duoduo chuckled:
"I don't know why, but he, a person from the Tang Sect who plays with Hidden Weapon, keeps saying that Soul Guidance Devices are external objects that only affect the improvement of one's own strength."
"Yan Shaozhe constantly claims to admire Ancestor Tang San and wants to vigorously cultivate the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul."
"Heh, if Tang Yin hadn't acquired that External Soul Bone that strongly resembled the Eight Spider Lances, he might have been expelled the day he returned to the Academy."
"In my opinion, He Caitou is very suitable for the Limit Soldier Project."
"This kid looks like he's carrying a deep, blood-feud-like burden. Even without entering the Limit Soldier Project, he's already pushing himself to the extreme."
"If he is selected for the Limit Soldier Project, he will probably work even harder. Wouldn't that increase the success rate of the project?"
...
Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Tranquility Hall.
After finishing his experimental report, Huo Yuhao still had some time before the evening gathering, so he went to the Tranquility Hall to see Jing Hongchen.
"Extreme self-oppression is not the way a person should grow; at least, it shouldn't be the main melody."
Jing Hongchen spoke to Huo Yuhao while signing documents:
"Yuhao, Teacher knows you have your own persistence and desires, but you have worked hard enough over these few months since enrolling."
"Today, Teacher will take the initiative to grant you a day off."
"Go and experience the beauty of life, loosen that tightly strung chord a bit, and embrace the vitality that young people should possess."
"For example, having a meal with friends..."
Jing Hongchen smiled as he watched Huo Yuhao and Meng Hongchen leave side-by-side.
Speaking of which, Little Meng will be sixteen next year, which is the official age of adulthood in the Sun-Moon Empire.
Since Yuhao started interacting with Feng Yu,
feelings of finding a kindred Martial Soul, teacher-student affection, friendship, and the high probability of future love all exist within the Academy and Mingde Hall.
He was extremely satisfied with such a disciple of outstanding talent.
...
The liveliest food street in Mingdu was just outside the Academy.
It offered all sorts of delicacies, novelties, and resources for Soul Engineers.
Inside a modest restaurant.
Huo Yuhao, Meng Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and Feng Tingting sat around a table laden with various dishes.
Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions, Steamed Lobster with Minced Garlic and Vermicelli, Black Pepper Beef Ribs, Matsutake Mushroom and Old Chicken Stew...
Feng Tingting first picked up a piece of sea cucumber for Xiao Hongchen before introducing:
"This restaurant has the best reputation for food on this street."
"Their grilled fish is exceptional..."
Have Sister Tingting and Senior Brother Xiao developed to this point?
Huo Yuhao thought for a moment: "The grilled fish I make actually tastes quite good too. I've never received a bad review."
Xiao Hongchen exclaimed dramatically: "Then after we finish eating and digest a bit, Junior Brother, you must show off!"
"Of course, I can.", Huo Yuhao smiled.
These three were his closest companions since he arrived here; there was no reason to refuse.
Checking the time, Brother Bujue should be back from hunting Soul Beasts at sea.
Xiao Hongchen said while eating: "Yuhao, after this meal, Little Meng and I will be leaving tomorrow to acquire our Fifth Spirit Ring."
"The stock of Soul Beasts in Mingdu doesn't have what we need,", Meng Hongchen added, "We plan to go to the Evil Demon Forest. It's not far; we should be back in about ten days."
Xiao Hongchen emphasized: "When we return, we will be Fifth-rank Soul Engineers. I will make Ma Rulong unable to defend his spot on the Fifth-rank ranking!"
Huo Yuhao's eyes moved slightly. Since Senior Sister Meng was sorted, Senior Brother Xiao could also be pursued:
"Senior Brother Xiao, when you get back, can you help me with some research? And Sister Tingting, will you have time then?"
The ability of the audience was used to its fullest; he was meticulous in his actions, including Feng Tingting to take care of her feelings.
Feng Tingting quickly waved her hands: "Yuhao, I just got my Fourth-Rank Soul Engineer certificate. My level is still quite far behind theirs."
"I heard about your research project from Brother Yu. I don't have the ability, so I'm sorry."
Huo Yuhao said sincerely: "What are you saying, Sister Tingting."
"You've helped me so much already. If I shamelessly ask for your help again, I would truly be an inappropriate person."
"Haha!" Meng Hongchen was amused by Huo Yuhao's use of the phrase 'inappropriate person.' You know you're inappropriate now?
Seeing Xiao Hongchen nod in agreement, Huo Yuhao raised his left hand and chuckled: "Senior Brother Xiao, look at my second Spirit Ability. Understand?"
Isn't that the Spirit Ability Yuhao uses for invisibility?
Xiao Hongchen looked over curiously. He saw the magnificent, seven-colored light on Huo Yuhao's left hand flowing as if it were under his command.
His eyes grew wider and brighter, and he blurted out: "Holy crap, you're only showing this good stuff now?! It's time for me to show off again! Tingting, I'll have new promotional material soon!"
Feng Tingting and Meng Hongchen exchanged a look, both completely bewildered.