*Bang!* *Bang!* *Bang!*
Shot after shot was fired, obliterating the six foot tall metal dummy into pieces.
They were dummy objects to test the power of combat-type soul tools, each one was designed for different tiers to handle different classes of soul tools.
Since this was a testing chamber for top-level students, its highest tier was of 7—to handle class 6-7 soul tools.
Huo Yuhao whistled, cocking and reloading his Godly Shotgun. "Well? What do you think, teacher Xuan? Teacher Xuan?"
He tilted, not hearing a reply, he turned towards Xuan Ziwen.
Xuan Ziwen was dumbfounded, his jaw dropping.
The firepower of the Godly Shotgun that was showcased had the destructive power of a Class 8 combat-type soul tool!
'It doesn't make any sense, the materials and formation arrays used to create the core are for class 7 while the inner and outer metallic components are made from average metal ores!
How? How was he able to create a soul tool with a firepower higher than its classification?! No, what's more impressive is that he used it without injecting any soul power. Was it the Charge? Yes, yes! And...'
Xuan Ziwen's thoughts were in chaos. But as an experienced high class soul engineer, a very talented one at that, he quickly composed himself and started analyzing the Godly Shotgun all over.
Huo Yuhao grinned and let the man be, he knew the feeling. Heck, while building the Godly Shotgun 7.0 and testing it, he was also analyzing the soul tools placed all throughout the entire building.
He would've analyzed the entire academy and its soul tools, but then he would've been detected.
But alas, you cannot conquer an empire through brute force alone.
Xuan Ziwen adjusted his glasses and said, "Marvelous... is all that I can say. While your technique and soul array formation application has some flaws, they can be easily fixed after learning some of ours."
He sighed. "To be honest, I have little to teach you besides the fundamentals and other theoretical knowledge."
"Mmm. You're right, teacher Xuan..." Huo Yuhao said and put the Godly Shotgun 7.0 on the table beside him. "So, what do you think I should do?"
Xuan Ziwen furrowed his brows and replied. "May I suggest taking the Illustrious Virtue Hall's advancement exam? Just by your skills, you w
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Teacher Xuan... let me cut to the chase here. I will tell you the truth, and by good faith, you too will follow along as well."
Xuan Ziwen was silent but gave a nod.
He didn't understand why, but staring at Huo Yuhao right now made his palms sweat.
It was as if, one wrong move and he would be dead.
'Why am I thinking that? By his age and soul engineer classification, he should roughly be a Soul Emperor at the very least. I have a couple of strong defensive soul tools on me that can help block a few strikes of a Titled Douluo.' Xuan Ziwen shook his head, thinking that he stayed up late for too long that he started hallucinating like this.
"Teacher Xuan, soul tools are an interesting technology. I'm mostly a soul master, but I chose to learn soul engineering for the potential I see in soul tools. A soul tool is, well, a tool for humanity's advancement towards the future. Don't you agree?"
Xuan Ziwen nodded. "Of course. Soul tools aren't just for war, they can be used for everyday use and even elevate the standard of life across the continent. Agricultural boosters, medical scanners, transport systems—if we break the monopoly of soul tools being military-only, we break the cycle of war itself."
Clap Clap Clap
"What wonderful words! So teacher Xuan doesn't support the cause of war, huh?" Huo Yuhao said, clapping his hands.
"No, I don't. I prefer researching soul tools and advancing them to new heights."
Huo Yuhao's lips curled.
"A pure researcher and engineer, unbothered by the blood that oils the gears of the machine. You're rare to find during these tense times..."
Xuan Ziwen frowned. "Where are you going with this?"
"Teacher Xuan, would you like to join my sect? The Akatsuki Sect. It's a... relatively new one, so you likely don't know about it yet."
Although the Akatsuki Sect has been making major waves throughout the Three Douluo Empires, not a lot of information about them had spread in the Sun Moon Empire. Not because someone purposely suppressed the news.
But because not a lot of people cared.
Some mysterious group of people going around annihilating evil soul masters and saving civilians? Oh cool. But irrelevant.
The people of Sun Moon only care about two things: soul tools and the Star Luo Empire. The latter is mostly because they're their greatest adversary.
"The Akatsuki Sect? Hmm. This is the first I've heard about your sect..."
As expected Xuan Ziwen didn't know.
He shook his head and said. "I appreciate the offer, but I would like to decline. Even if it were renowned, I still wouldn't join.
I am a citizen of the Sun Moon Empire and a highly valued member of both the imperial academy and the Illustrious Virtue Hall!"
Xuan Ziwen's gaze, though exhausted, showed pride and arrogance.
As a high class soul engineer, especially one of the students of Kong Deming; the greatest soul engineer in the nation, he was especially catered.
He could ask almost anything, and the imperial family could grant his wishes.
What could a new sect that he never heard of, offer him?
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Please, Teacher Xuan. Us humans are very greedy species. This is the first time we met, but I know. I already know who you are—you are a very frustrated person right now.
You've stagnated. You've hit a ceiling—and worse, you know it but you're in denial."
The words landed like hammer blows, not loud, but heavy. Xuan Ziwen's expression twitched slightly, just for a second.
"You've chased a breakthrough in your projects for decades, but you can never just get that sudden.... "enlightenment" in your mind. That new spark! So, you tried to shake things up a bit to get that spark and, let me guess, you decided to become an Instructor." Huo Yuhao's voice was low and calm, almost like a whisper.
To Xuan Ziwen, he sounded like a snake whispering to his ears.
He was right. Xuan Ziwen had been stuck on a project he'd been working on for years.
He'd been immersed in soul tools for more than twenty years. He immersed his whole life into the research of soul tools. His talent and hard work greatly showed the result.
Yet, the Milk Bottle had become his bane for years.
He had initially thought of buying Huo Yuhao's soul tool in order to study how it managed to store so much energy with little effort and without the user injecting soul power, but quickly dismissed it.
Considering its value, even a Class 9 soul tool wouldn't be enough to trade for the Godly Shotgun!
"You..." Xuan Ziwen opened his mouth.
Huo Yuhao smiled, coldly.
"What the Akatsuki, no, what I can offer you.... is a breakthrough."
"...."
Xuan Ziwen bit down on his lips, looked down.
"One year... Give me one year to sort things out in my end. Then? Then... I'll give you my answer."
"Hmm." Huo Yuhao hummed and walked up to Xuan Ziwen.
"I refuse."
"Huh." Before Xuan Ziwen, Huo Yuhao pressed his index finger against his forehead.
"I'm a very patient person, so I'll give you a second chance. And this....well, consider it as a small gift." For a brief moment, Huo Yuhao's eyes turned golden-red.
.
.
.
.
.
"So, this should be the library." Huo Yuhao said with a hum.
After giving a little gift to Xuan Ziwen, some incomplete knowledge about Fūinjutsu, he then left the building and headed towards the library.
Besides learning new soul tools, recruiting new people, taking over the empire, etc. He had another goal in this new land.
Finding a divine inheritance site.
Huo Yuhao entered the library and was slightly in awe of 'modern' the library looked compared to Shrek Academy's own or any other place in the original Douluo Continent.
Huo Yuhao headed towards the reception desk, where a streamlined console glowed softly with soul circuits. There was no receptionist in sight—just a floating crystal orb above the desk that pulsed as he approached.
"Welcome to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy Grand Archive. Please state your access level and inquiry."
Huo Yuhao didn't respond immediately. He observed how the interface responded to motion detection rather than voice commands alone.
'This is some advanced tech. At least this school treats their library seriously.' Huo Yuhao rubbed his chin, nodding.
There was no comparison to the libraries in Shrek Academy.
"Access authorization, 0-0-7. Sixth-grade exchange student from Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao." He said smoothly, recalling his student handbook that contained his access level more.
"Exchange student status confirmed. Access level: Class 7. You may browse public research, standard schematics, and unclassified engineering history files pertaining towards class 7 soul tools and below," the crystal orb responded, its voice neutral but oddly formal, like an emotionless librarian spirit.
"Warning: Access beyond this level will trigger monitoring protocols and call of security. Proceed accordingly."
Huo Yuhao gave a polite nod.
He stepped into the glowing data hallway, crystal panels floating in organized threads of categorized knowledge. Holographic documents pulsed softly as his gaze wandered through white binds. Schematics, ancient journals and thesis, etc.—almost everything a young researcher could want.
'Ancient history... Ancient history... Bingo!'
Huo Yuhao stopped and looked at a shelf of books, specifically one that had the title—
"Sun Moon Continent's Ancient History"
So focused at the book before him, he didn't notice a pair of curious eyes staring right at his back.