A research room in the Illustrious Virtue Hall was filled with a large crowd, all watching the core circle with unblinking eyes.
There were two people preparing for a competition.
After getting acquainted during this period, Xu Mo expressed his desire to testify to Huo Yuhao's soul tool skills, hence this competition.
As a researcher who joined the Illustrious Virtue Hall after graduating from the Royal Soul Tool Academy of Sun and Moon, he was already a level 7 craftsman.
And this time, they were competing in a project for level 6 craftsmen, creating the core component of a one-word battle armor.
Although the ordinary parts of the one-word battle armor can be made by level 3 or 4 craftsmen, the core components must be completed by level 6 craftsmen or above.
Xu Mo and Huo Yuhao each stood at their workbenches, with rare metals and tools for making the core components of the one-word battle armor placed in front of them.
Xu Mo switched at Huo Yuhao, nodded slightly, and took out a jade-green carving knife from his storage ring.
The tip of the knife shimmered with a strange light, and he began to outline complex patterns on the surface of the rare metal. With each stroke, a soul power was injected, and the metal surface immediately lit up with a faint glow.
Xu Mo's technique was indeed exquisite. His wrist flipped, and the carving knife drew beautiful arcs on the metal surface, gradually revealing the prototype of the soul tool array.
"Senior Xu, isn't this a bit too much? Using the Jade Spirit Carving Knife? This knife can automatically correct soul power fluctuations, reducing the error of the engraved array by 10%. Isn't this bullying in a competition?" a young researcher.
"You've been too focused on your research recently and haven't heard the rumors. He doesn't want to lose too badly," another researcher said, his face twitching as he looked in Huo Yuhao's direction. "Look at Researcher Huo Yuhao's movements."
The young researcher turned to look and immediately broadened his eyes.
Huo Yuhao wasn't holding the carving knife with his hand but was controlling it with his mental power.
Three carving knives simultaneously landed on the floating spiritual metal, Spirit Gold, and began engraving the array from different angles.
As a researcher of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, he had seen many techniques, but this one was new to him.
"He can control three carving knives at the same time?" The young researcher challenged, even though the facts were right in front of him, it still felt like a dream.
"With this level of skill and mental control, I would believe it if someone said he was a level 10 craftsman."
The person next to him spoke with a complex tone, "Not only that, he's also using the internal engraving method. He's probably trying to create a double-layered array!"
The entire workshop fell silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
The internal engraving method, unlike the traditional soul tool engraving that requires damaging the surface of the material, the internal engraving method requires the soul tool master to construct a complete soul tool array system inside the material without damaging it.
This technique demands an insane level of mental and soul power control, and those who can do it are all masters.
And to do this while controlling three carving knives? A monster.
Huo Yuhao's carving knife drew fine lines inside the metal that were almost invisible to the naked eye, each line precise to the point of suffocation.
These lines weren't confined to a two-dimensional plane but were interwoven in three-dimensional space, like weaving a living, breathing organ with golden threads inside a sealed glass ball.
The inside of the metal ball began to emit a dreamy light, and the interwoven energy channels formed an extremely precise double helix structure at the center of the sphere.
While the outer array rotated steadily, the inner array was performing a completely opposite reverse rotation.
It was a double-layered array. The outer array was responsible for energy conversion, the inner array controlled soul power compression, and there were other functions that the researchers couldn't immediately identify.
Xu Mo, who had stopped at some point, sobbed silently.
There was no need to compete.
Their skills were not on the same level, and the competition had lost its meaning. It was better to just learn from this experience.
With this thought, Xu Mo unconsciously began to study Huo Yuhao's technique.
'This method of compressing soul power in the inner layer, it's similar to a soul core. What is its purpose?'
As time passed, the patterns on the Spirit Gold's surface gradually changed from simple to complex, from shallow to deep. Various textures intertwined and coiled, slowly creating a strange resonance.
When the last line was drawn, Huo Yuhao withdrew his soul power, and the light in his eyes gradually faded. He gently waved his hand, and the completed core component floated into his palm, its surface flowing with a dreamy glow.
Everyone focused their gaze.
It was a silver headband, shimmering with a dreamy moonlight glowing under the soul tool light. The surface of the headband was densely covered with fine dragon scale patterns, layered like waves. In the center of the headband, a purple crystal slowly rotated, making it look extremely luxurious.
Even as members of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, they had never seen such a luxurious one-word battle armor core component. It could already be compared to two-word battle armor parts.
"The core components of battle armor are usually on the chest or helmet. The former is suitable for most soul masters, the latter for soul masters skilled in mental power, and the engraved arrays are related to enhancing mental power. Could this core component be?" Some people suddenly realized and looked towards the corner.
In the corner, Gu Yuena, who was also watching the competition, was slightly stunned before slowly walking towards Huo Yuhao.
Her silver hair swayed gently with each step, shimmering like starlight under the soul tool light.
When she stood in front of Huo Yuhao, her amethyst-like eyes reflected the light of the headband.
Huo Yuhao smiled and gently lifted the silver headband, placing it on Gu Yuena's head.
As the headband touched Gu Yuena's hair, the dragon scale patterns suddenly came to life. The fine silver scales flipped up layer by layer, and the purple crystal's rotation speed increased sharply, drawing light trails in the air.
When the headband was fully in place, a dazzling silver light burst from Gu Yuena's body.
The other ten battle armor components on her body appear simultaneously, and the silver-purple energy lines connect all the components into a complete circuit.
The head component was instantly refined by her, becoming the final piece of the battle armor puzzle.
The metal used to make the battle armor was the spiritual metal, Spirit Gold, forged by Gu Yuena herself under Huo Yuhao's guidance.
It was perfectly compatible with her, and with Gu Yuena's mental power, which had unknowingly recovered to the Spirit Abyss level, the fusion was naturally effortless.
Thus, the battle armor designed and made by Huo Yuhao for her was completed.
In an instant, a vast aura erupted from her body, and a silver-purple energy storm swept through the surroundings, even the air trembled.
Silver-purple light flowed on the armor, and Gu Yuena stood quietly within it. The chest armor outlined her graceful curves, the shoulder armor's dragon patterns almost breaking through the air; the arm armor's scale patterns brightened and dimmed with her breath, the leg armor's lines sharp as blades.
And the headband was the most dazzling, the purple crystal hung in the front of her forehead, the silver scales flowing, making her look like a dragon queen, majestic and dignified.
A four-ring one-word battle armor master!
The researchers' eyes twitched.
To become a one-word battle armor master at the four-ring level at such a young age, this was probably unprecedented in the Federation's history.
However, more than shock, they felt a sense of "satiety."
They had seen the relationship between Gu Yuena and Huo Yuhao.
What girl wouldn't be moved when the person she liked personally completed the core component of her battle armor, placed the crown on her head, and made her a true one-word battle armor master?
"No wonder Researcher Huo Yuhao, who is usually focused on research, agreed to this competition. It was to make the battle armor component for Miss Gu Yuena," Xu Mo smiled wryly.
Behind him, the researchers of the Illustrious Virtue Hall looked at each other. Someone whispered, "This isn't a competition, it's a large-scale public display of affection.."
They were being fed a mouthful of dog food.
Gu Yuena looked at Huo Yuhao with gentle eyes, feeling a surge of emotion at his "cunning."
'Without any prior notice, if this continues, I really...'
"How do you like this design?" Huo Yuhao transmitted his voice, smiling. "Or do you want to add a pair of dragon horns?"
"I like it," Gu Yuena shook her head slightly, her voice soft. "My one-word battle armor will be named 'Hao.'"
Huo Yuhao paused, meeting her amethyst eyes. The air in the workshop seemed to freeze at that moment, even the sound of breathing was clear.
"Ahem," Xu Mo stepped forward at the right time, bowing solemnly to Huo Yuhao. "Researcher Huo, today I was presumptuous. Your skills have earned my admiration. The promised materials will be given to you now."
He took out a soul tool chip emitting a blue light from his chest.
Since he had proposed the competition, there had to be some stakes.
"Thank you, Researcher Xu," Huo Yuhao came back to his senses and nodded, taking the chip.
Xu Mo waved to his colleagues around him, "Everyone, let's disperse. Don't delay Researcher Huo's research."
The researchers reluctantly left, occasionally looking back.
"That headband design is so beautiful, it makes me want to try it too..."
"How did he control three carving knives at the same time?"
"I must ask for advice when I have time."
After everyone left, Huo Yuhao was about to put the chip into the soul tool screen when he felt a warm touch on his cheek. Gu Yuena leaned in, touched his cheek, and quickly withdrew. Her silver hair fell, revealing her slightly red ears.
Huo Yuhao felt the warmth on his cheek and looked at Gu Yuena, but she had already calmly linked arms with him, staring at the soul tool screen.
The materials Xu Mo provided were about the Illustrious Virtue Hall's research on rare metals, which Huo Yuhao needed.
"Yuhao, wait a little longer. Once my spirit forging level improvements, I can make the two-word battle armor for you. What kind of alloy do you plan to use for the two-word battle armor?" Huo Yuhao also looked at the soul tool screen.
"One-word uses two types, two-word will use three or four types. You can take your time to adapt. We are pioneers in this path and need to explore it ourselves."
"Okay," Gu Yuena nodded slightly.
Among blacksmiths, alloys made from nine types of metal are called divine alloys. It is said that battle armor made from such alloys through heavenly forging can enhance the power of a limit Douluo by one level, reaching the level of a deity!
However, since ancient times, no blacksmith has ever completed a divine alloy.
But Huo Yuhao had found a technique to fuse the source, making metal fusion forging easier.
As long as she could complete the forging of those alloys and perfectly bring out their properties, perhaps one day she could complete the heavenly forging of a divine alloy!
The two stayed in the research institute for two hours. Gu Yuena's soul tool screen received a message, and she took it out to look.
"Yuhao, Xiaoyan sent me a message, asking us to visit the Royal Soul Tool Academy of Sun and Moon when we have time. The Yuan En Yihui we met before wants to see us... maybe to apologize?"
"We'll go after meeting some old friends," Huo Yuhao put away the chip and looked at the door, his eyes flickering.
Gu Yuena seemed to sense something and looked outside. In the next moment, her figure turned into a silver light and disappeared into the air, leaving the private time to Huo Yuhao and his old friends.
At the same time, she set up a space barrier here to prevent outsiders from disturbing or seeing the scene.
The room returned to silence.
Huo Yuhao looked at the direction where she disappeared, a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.
But before the smile could reach his eyes, the metal door of the laboratory suddenly opened, and a fist covered in flames appeared in Huo Yuhao's sight, distorting the space in front of it.
Huo Yuhao didn't move, not even a corner of his clothes fluttered. The flames stopped a meter away from him, the violent fire elements instantly became as docile as sheep, turning into fireflies and dissipating in the air.
"Long time no see," Huo Huo Yuhao looked at the figure gradually appearing at the door. "This unique greeting method of the Huo Tian Lord is quite surprising. Is this a habit developed from testing people in the War God's Temple?"
"Not really. It's just that after so many years without any news of you, I thought you had become a god or... met with an accident. Now, suddenly I heard someone displaying the Seven-Colored Lotus. I had doubts and was worried that something had changed, so I took action to test. I apologize for any breach," the figure at the door was a humanoid being made of flames, the leader of the Fire Host Clan of the Douluo Continent, Huo Tian.
He stepped into the room and bowed solemnly.
The Fire Host Clan had no living environment, which was really harmful. Some of his clansmen, while searching for a volcanic environment, couldn't hold on and turned to ashes.
If it wasn't for Huo Yuhao suddenly appearing in front of them and pointing out a clear path, they wouldn't know how far they would have to go to reach the Mingdu City and find the War God's Temple.
For their clan, Huo Yuhao was a lifesaver.
Although he had given Huo Yuhao a reward, that was a separate equal transaction, and the life-saving favor had not been repaid.
"It's okay. If it were me, I would also test," Huo Yuhao smiled. "After all, we've only met once and are not familiar with each other. Your doubts are not unreasonable."
Hearing this, Huo Tian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"The reason you contact me through my clansmen, please speak directly. If it's something I can do, I won't refuse."
In his words, he was ready to help Huo Yuhao unconditionally.
The favor from back then had to be repaid.
Huo Yuhao put away his smile and selectively told Huo Tian about the evil soul masters and the god-killing soul tool cannon.
Huo Tian, although he had many questions, nodded. "If the god-killing soul tool cannon is really placed in the War God's Temple, guarding it is something I need to do. After all, it's a contract between the War God's Temple's ancestors and us."
At this point, Huo Tian looked at Huo Yuhao. "Is there anything else you need our help with? What happened just now was our duty, and we should even thank you for the information."
Huo Yuhao gently shook his head, slowly opened his palm. "Back then, I just pointed out the way. Lord Huo Tian, you don't need to take it to heart. Besides... This advance payment is already the best gift!"
A lotus mark appears in Huo Yuhao's palm, and a white flame rose from it, with seven colors flowing inside.
When this flame appeared, the fire elements in the air became restless, gathering towards his palm like pilgrims.
It was the Fire Host Clan's life flame, the Seven-Colored Lotus!