"Hmm..."
Huo Yuhao tapped his chin in thought.
Accustomed to being a loner, Huo Yuhao looked at the surrounding students interacting in small groups, chatting and laughing. It was impossible not to feel a twinge of envy; after all, he was only 11 years old—still just a child.
It wasn't that Huo Yuhao had a bad reputation in class; in fact, he was quite popular.
But only with the girls.
Among the boys, he had already been labeled as "Public Enemy No. 1," which gave Huo Yuhao a slight sense of frustration.
I wonder what Sister Xiaotao and Teacher Lexuan's thoughts are on this... they'll probably agree, right?
"Alright, I look forward to working with you, Student Ning Tian, Student Wu Feng."
"The pleasure is ours. Here's to a happy collaboration, Student Yuhao."
After a reluctant handshake with Huo Yuhao, Wu Feng turned her face away, refusing to look at either Ning Tian or Huo Yuhao.
For some reason, Huo Yuhao sensed a rather unpleasant air of resentment from this little "Red Dragon," and...
Forget it, forget it. Don't think about it. I'll just pretend I don't know anything.
To show her sincerity, Ning Tian disclosed all three of her Soul Skills, as well as Wu Feng's.
Of course, it didn't really matter whether she told him or not. The Soul Skills of Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples usually fell into the same few categories; they weren't much of a secret to any Soul Master with a bit of experience.
However, Huo Yuhao was interested to find that Ning Tian's second Soul Skill differed from the stereotypical speed boost of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. It was a skill for dispelling negative statuses called "Dissolve."
As for the specific wonders of this skill, Ning Tian only gave a mysterious smile, saying Huo Yuhao would see it for himself when the competition arrived.
The three of them chatted as they ate their desserts, the conversation becoming increasingly natural.
This was exactly what Ning Tian wanted to see.
In truth, she had noticed Huo Yuhao for a long time—not just because of his looks, but more so due to the intuition provided by her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul.
As a gemstone-type Martial Soul, Ning Rongrong had once demonstrated the ability to detect precious Rare Metals, but that wasn't the limit of their capabilities.
The fact that a group of Auxiliary System Soul Masters like the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could maintain a position among the Upper Three Sects ten thousand years ago and survive to this day was due to real skill: business acumen.
Holders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul have always been highly sensitive to risk perception and management. They were able to decisively sever their partnership with the Tang Sect, thereby avoiding the fallout when the Tang Sect collapsed.
After seeing Huo Yuhao use an unknown move to wipe out the seeded freshman team led by Lan Xuanyu, Ning Tian had a gut feeling:
[No matter the cost, I must get close to Huo Yuhao!]
At least for now, Ning Tian's approach seemed quite successful.
"By the way, Student Ning Tian, do you plan to continue your studies in the Martial Soul Department?"
Ning Tian was somewhat puzzled by Huo Yuhao's sudden question, but she answered truthfully, "Yes, is there a problem with that?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head helplessly. "That's exactly the problem. What can you actually learn in the Martial Soul Department?"
"Soul Skill control? I recall the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has a technique called Distracted Control. For you, that clan-inherited technique is far more important."
"Honing Soul Skills? You're an Auxiliary System; you don't need to hit people, so there's no need to practice that."
"So, what are you staying in the Martial Soul Department for?"
Ning Tian froze. This... actually made a lot of sense.
Right, what could the Martial Soul Department teach her? Soul Beast identification? Teamwork?
The internal records of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were more detailed on those subjects; there was no need to learn them at Shrek.
So why was she staying in the Martial Soul Department?
Huo Yuhao stared at the cup in front of him, spinning it as he spoke casually. "Your Mental Power is quite good, generally higher than most freshman Soul Elders. You've probably practiced Distracted Control to the Three-Aperture Governed Heart level, right? Since that's the case, why not use your time and talent to learn about Soul Tools?"
"Eh? Soul Tools!"
Ning Tian leaned back. This was a path she had never even considered.
If you asked which sects in the original three empires of the Douluo Continent hated Soul Tools the most, the Tang Sect or the Body Sect might fight for the top spot. But if you asked who was the most accepting, it was definitely the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As Zhou Yi once said, the advent of Soul Tools "blurred the lines between offense and defense." That statement was true; an Auxiliary System user holding a Soul Cannon could output damage like a Power Attack System user. This was naturally welcomed by Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Masters.
In fact, using their special channels, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had purchased many high-priced Soul Tools from the Sun Moon Empire for sect defense. Their disciples also carried defensive Soul Tools when traveling—in this regard, they were miles ahead of Shrek Academy.
Ning Tian knew how to use them, but studying them... she had never thought of that.
Wu Feng, who had been silent on the side, finally found her chance. She said with a hint of mockery, "I didn't expect the 'invincible freshman' Student Huo Yuhao to forget the glory of a Soul Master. Shouldn't a Soul Master's combat be pure?"
"The power you cultivate yourself is the most reliable and trustworthy. Soul Tools are, after all, external objects."
Huo Yuhao knew this little "Red Dragon" was waiting for him somewhere.
Glancing at the pensive Ning Tian, Huo Yuhao spoke leisurely.
"No wonder she's the Young Sect Master and you can only be a maidservant..."
"What did you say?!"
Given Wu Feng's temperament—a powder keg that exploded at the slightest spark—and her existing prejudice against Huo Yuhao, she slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
Their commotion immediately drew the attention of other students in the tea house. Ning Tian hurriedly gestured an apology to them and firmly pulled Wu Feng back into her seat.
"I'm sorry, Student Yuhao. Sister Feng got too excited. I apologize on her behalf."
Huo Yuhao shook his head dismissively and took a sip of his milk tea.
"Take that Tang Sect Master Tang Ya just now, for example. Her sweetheart Bei Bei came to see me privately, trying to convince me to join the Tang Sect."
"Bei Bei is indeed better with words than Tang Ya. He systematically explained his vision for reviving the Tang Sect to me: the combination of hidden weapons and Soul Tools, carving out an unprecedented path."
Then, Huo Yuhao let out an uncontrollable chuckle. "And then I asked..."
"'Senior Bei Bei, have you or Senior Tang Ya ever gone to the Soul Tool Department to learn how to use a Soul Tool even once?'"
"...Haha, he went silent."
Huo Yuhao continued, "When I saw that Tang Ya would rather work part-time in this tea house to earn money than go learn about Soul Tools, I knew that their so-called 'revival of the Tang Sect' was, in their eyes, perhaps nothing more than a game of house for children."
Huo Yuhao waved his hand. "I'm rambling... I don't know what you think, Student Ning Tian, but I'm telling you: regardless of whether you have the talent to create Soul Tools, staying in the Martial Soul Department is a waste of time. You don't necessarily have to learn how to manufacture them, but even just learning how to use them will put you miles ahead of these so-called geniuses."
Ning Tian nodded silently. "Thank you. I understand. After the freshman competition ends, I will apply to the academy to study in the Soul Tool Department!"
To Shrek Academy, Ning Tian's feelings weren't necessarily that deep. After graduating, she would return home to inherit the family business; there was no point in staying here to become a teacher. So, while she still had time, she might as well learn what she needed to learn.
Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department certainly couldn't compare to the Sun Moon Empire's, but it was still much stronger than that of the Heavenly Soul Empire, where traditional views were most entrenched.