The ships arrived at the port. The delegation from the Xingluo Federation disembarked.
A team of delegation members in dark blue uniforms stepped ashore with steady steps. The lead envoy held diplomatic documents with gold stamped emblems. Silver buttons glinted in the morning sun.
The reception officials of the Douluo Federation were already waiting in formation at the port. The lead official was a man in a white formal suit.
He stepped forward, placed his right hand over his chest in salute, and smiled. "Welcome, envoys of the Xingluo Federation, on your long journey."
The delegation leader returned the salute with equal formality, presenting the gold stamped documents with both hands. "By order of the Xingluo Council Speaker, I hereby present these documents."
The Federation official took the documents and smiled. "You must be tired from your journey. Please follow us to the guesthouse to rest. The Tianhai Archon has prepared a luncheon and looks forward to meeting with you."
Afterward, the Federation officials naturally led these people to the Tianhai Governance Center to properly host them.
"There are nobles among them." Someone noticed that a few members of the delegation carried themselves differently and speculated quietly.
While the Tianhai City officials were observing these Xingluo visitors, the visitors were also observing the Federation along the way.
The Xingluo delegation's gazes slowly swept across the streets. The prosperity of Tianhai City secretly amazed them. Towering soul powered buildings gleamed in the sunlight. Soul powered vehicles flowed in an endless stream on the wide streets. Pedestrians were dressed smartly with relaxed expressions.
Such scenes existed in their Xingluo Federation as well, but only in the capital. Yet Tianhai City was merely a coastal city of the Federation.
However, some were unimpressed.
Among the delegation were several teenagers. One of the young girls, though only about fifteen or sixteen years old, was exceptionally beautiful. She stood tall and graceful. What particularly drew attention were her hands. Her palms were white as jade, her fingers long and slender.
But compared to her appearance, her gaze was especially sharp.
She said quietly, only loud enough for her companions to hear, "So this is the Federation? It doesn't look like much. Although their technology is very advanced, their soul masters do not feel strong."
Facing Lin Yuhan's remark, a companion beside her expressed agreement.
"Yes. The strongest person sent to receive us is only a Soul Emperor. It seems they have been focusing on developing soul tool technology all these years. In terms of soul masters, perhaps things are the same as ten thousand years ago, with soul master development not receiving as much attention."
Valuing soul tool technology was a tradition of the Sun Moon Empire. The Douluo Federation had clearly inherited this.
Another person held a different opinion. "You can't say that. At least with Shrek Academy, the Federation's soul master experts are definitely not to be underestimated. I have heard that there are four major powers here with many experts among them."
"That's right, Yuhan. Do not underestimate them. This is not the center of the Federation. It is only a first tier city."
The young people from the Xingluo Federation chatted while sharing the information they knew, but their words still carried pride.
Following the arrangements of the Tianhai City officials, they had seen prosperity along the way but had not witnessed the Federation's strength here.
If such a prosperous city, still a first tier city of the Federation, was not important, then perhaps the Federation was not as powerful as their elders thought.
"Wait. Is that a thousand year spirit soul? The mainstay of those great families?"
A teenager suddenly spotted a group of soul masters playing with their spirit souls on the street. His expression first turned solemn, then he relaxed and smiled. "They must be the soul master prodigies of Tianhai City, right? Their cultivation levels are a bit low, but being able to possess a thousand year spirit soul is not bad."
These teenagers thought no one could hear their conversation. But due to the difference in strength, the reception officials naturally heard everything.
A purple spirit soul was indeed precious, but to call it the mainstay of a great family?
Possessing a hundred thousand year spirit soul was the mark of a truly great family. Ten thousand year spirit souls were the mainstay of great families.
Could a soul master family without a ten thousand year spirit soul or a hundred thousand year spirit soul even be called a great family?
What was the Xingluo Federation thinking? Oh, right. They did not have the Spirit Transmission Tower over there. It was already strange for them to have spirit souls at all. If the number of spirit souls they had even surpassed that of the Douluo Federation, it would have to be divine blessing.
Suppressing a low laugh, an official who had grown displeased with these foreign visitors' presumptuous criticisms cleared his throat lightly and said, "Looking at their school uniforms, they are just ordinary students of Tianhai Soul Master Academy. They cannot be called prodigies in the entire Federation. Moreover, because of the existence of the Spirit Transmission Tower, thousand year spirit souls are indeed precious here, but they are not considered the mainstay of great families. Only ten thousand year spirit souls deserve such an honor."
"And hundred thousand year spirit souls are a symbol of those top tier great families."
The teenagers who had been about to say these prodigies were not impressive immediately fell silent.
In their Xingluo Federation, spirit souls were a very precious thing. Soul masters from small families could at most obtain decade or century spirit souls. The number of thousand year spirit souls was very small, only obtainable by prodigies like themselves who could join Monster Academy.
Ten thousand year spirit souls were a symbol of the seeds of power.
As for hundred thousand year spirit souls? Did their Xingluo Federation have any hundred thousand year spirit souls at all?
He had never heard of any family possessing one.
Yet what was this Federation official saying? The great families of the Douluo Federation had hundred thousand year spirit souls?
Were you sure you were not boasting?
The teenager wanted to question this, but an elderly man leading the group sent a telepathic message to the younger generation. "Do not forget. The birthplace of spirit souls, the Spirit Transmission Tower, is here. In terms of spirit souls, we cannot possibly be a match for the Douluo Federation. Do not bring shame upon yourselves."
Comparing spirit souls with the Douluo Federation? Was that a joke?
Most of their spirit souls came from the Douluo Federation. How could they possibly surpass them in this regard?
Upon hearing this, the teenager could not help muttering, "Why does the Spirit Transmission Tower not establish a branch in our region?"
If they had the Spirit Transmission Tower's help, he felt the Xingluo Federation would not lag so far behind the Douluo Federation.
No one answered. The Federation official inwardly rolled his eyes.
Establish a branch in another country? And supply them with spirit souls? Was that not being a Traitor to the Nation?
The Spirit Transmission Tower was doing perfectly well in the Federation. Why would it do something so Demanding but Thankless?
However, compared to these Federation officials' indifference, the Xingluo Federation visitors stirred at the teenager's words.
Their main purpose in coming to the Douluo Federation was to observe, to understand the Douluo Federation's strength from various aspects such as economy, soul masters, and technology.
But beyond that, perhaps they could strive for more. For instance, getting the Spirit Transmission Tower to establish a branch in the Xingluo Empire?
This thought flashed through the minds of several high ranking members of the delegation.
The lead envoy's expression did not change. He simply turned his head slightly and said quietly to his deputy beside him, "Make a note of it. Regarding the Spirit Transmission Tower, we can probe their attitude later."
The deputy nodded gently, his gaze thoughtfully sweeping across the soul master students on the street.
The antagonism between the Xingluo Continent and the Douluo Continent was well known to all. If not for the vast ocean lying between them, the conflicts between the two would likely be even more intense.
But that did not mean they could not win over forces on this side.
The ancestors of the Xingluo Federation's immigrants had also come from the Douluo Continent. They had been driven to desperation by the Sun Moon Empire and had no choice but to immigrate to the Xingluo Continent.
In the view of some Douluo Federation residents, they had ultimately been one family in the past. Perhaps a peaceful consensus could be reached without fighting to the death. Some forces within the Douluo Federation, fearing that Douluo might attack them, had even provided some support to Xingluo.
This also indicated that some forces within the Douluo Federation could be won over.
If the Spirit Transmission Tower was willing to establish a branch on the Xingluo Continent, the Xingluo Federation Council Speaker would certainly show sincerity.
Shaken by the revelation about spirit souls, the younger generation of Xingluo temporarily fell silent and stopped making comparisons.
Afterward, the group met with the Federation Archon, were hosted at a luncheon, and spent a few days in Tianhai City.
During these days, they witnessed the prosperity of the Douluo Federation.
Thousand year spirit souls, which could sell for high prices in Xingluo, were not rare here. Soul master families with decent financial conditions could afford them.
But what most astonished Lin Yuhan and the others was the fact that even soul masters of commoner origin could obtain spirit souls.
What was more, if they did not have the money to purchase a spirit soul, they could buy On Credit, signing a contract with the Spirit Transmission Tower and repaying the sum through future actions.
This was simply unbelievable to these Xingluo visitors.
Soul masters of commoner origin were at the very bottom of the soul master hierarchy in their Xingluo. The spirit beast and spirit soul resources on the continent were controlled by powerful soul master families. Moreover, since martial soul awakening also required the help of soul masters, commoners had to follow their arrangements to advance.
As for hunting souls alone in the ocean? Without a powerful soul master leading you, would you dare?
The probability of surviving a solo hunt in the Star Dou Great Forest was very low, let alone the ocean.
Yet such commoner soul masters received completely opposite treatment in the Douluo Federation. If the commoner soul masters of their country saw this, they would probably be very envious.
At the Tianhai City branch of the Spirit Transmission Tower, Lin Yuhan and the others watched the bustling contract room, could not help taking a deep breath, and asked Gu Qinghan, the Federation soul master serving as their guide, "Can we obtain spirit souls here?"
"If you have reached a Bottleneck and gain a spirit soul's recognition, then of course you can."
Gu Qinghan answered. "Of course, if you have not yet reached a bottleneck, it would be best not to disturb the Spirit Transmission Masters at work. The Spirit Transmission Tower is one of the four major powers of our Federation, with many experts within. There are even seven Limit Douluo. The branch tower masters are all experts above Super Douluo. Here, it is best to follow the Spirit Transmission Tower's rules."
"Seven Limit Douluo? Branch tower masters are all Super Douluo?"
Lin Yuhan and the others gulped.
Their Xingluo Federation had only one Limit Douluo.
And the Spirit Transmission Tower, so powerful, was only one of the four major powers. The number of top tier experts in the Federation was actually this terrifying?
Gu Qinghan glanced at the incredulous expressions of these young boys and girls. The corner of her mouth could not help but curl into a smile.
These days of serving as a guide for the Xingluo people, she had long felt displeased.
She did not know where these Xingluo people got their Confidence. As the defeated side from ten thousand years ago, they were very proud, believing they were not inferior to the Federation.
They did not think that after ten thousand years of development, they could surpass the Federation, did they?
Wishful Thinking.
A Xingluo teenager was silent for a moment. Watching the soul masters coming and going, he noticed that one of them was wearing the same uniform as the Tianhai Soul Master Academy student he had seen a few days ago. He changed the subject.
"I have heard in recent days that Tianhai Soul Master Academy is the strongest academy in the Tianhai Alliance. Could you give us the opportunity to have an exchange match with some of its students?"
The observations of the past few days had made him somewhat irritable. Whether in soul tool technology, or in the number of spirit souls and experts, their country seemed to have no advantage at all.
If that was the case, then let them compare the talent of the next generation. He did not believe the Douluo Federation was stronger than them in every aspect.
If it truly surpassed them in every way, should their Xingluo not have been destroyed long ago?
"The strongest?" Gu Qinghan thought for a moment, then refused. "Within the Tianhai Alliance, Tianhai Soul Master Academy is naturally one of the best. But in the entire Federation, it can only be considered average. All of you are prodigies from Xingluo. If you truly want an exchange match, it would be better to go to the top tier academies."
The teenager scratched his head in disappointment and said helplessly, "Then may I ask, what are the top tier academies of the Federation?"
Lin Yuhan said, "Shrek Academy and Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."
Several Xingluo people frowned upon hearing these two names.
Shrek Academy? Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?
They were very familiar with these.
The former was a place highly respected by the Xingluo Federation, with deep foundations and a long history. The Xingluo Federation had a Monster Academy that had directly copied some of Shrek Academy's theories.
And an elderly man accompanying these younger members, Lin Yuhan's forging teacher, Chang Gongyan, also knew something else.
In a corner of their Xingluo Continent, there was also a branch of Shrek Academy. Although that branch was called the Tang Sect, those who knew the inside story understood that it belonged to Shrek Academy and was also a channel for communication between Xingluo and Shrek Academy.
As for Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, the Xingluo people were naturally very familiar with it as well. But unlike Shrek Academy, they felt only disgust toward Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. After all, it was the place that trained talent for the Sun Moon Empire, one of the culprits that had forced their ancestors to leave their homeland.
"However, some prodigies do not join the two major academies."
While Lin Yuhan and the others were frowning in thought, Gu Qinghan continued, "Take our Douluo Federation's strongest prodigy right now, Huo Yuhao, for example."
The Xingluo teenager raised an eyebrow. "Is he very impressive? The Lin Yuhan beside me is a Once in a Century forging prodigy in Xingluo. Her strength as a soul master is also not bad. I wonder how this prodigy named Huo Yuhao compares to her?"
"There is simply no comparison!"
Gu Qinghan glanced at Lin Yuhan, and her voice suddenly became impassioned, startling the group.
"Huo Yuhao is fourteen years old. He has already advanced to Soul Emperor. He is also a Two-Word Battle Armor Master, a Grade Seven Mecha Manufacturer, a Grade Seven Mecha Designer, the owner of a Black Grade Mecha. He is the Spirit Transmission Tower's recognized next generation Spirit Transmission Douluo, a future Limit Douluo and Four-Word Battle Armor Master."
Her face carried reverence and a sense of shared pride. "Moreover, he is a soul master who came from our Tianhai Alliance!"
Lin Yuhan and the others stared at her in shock. After a long while, the teenager shouted, "That's impossible!"
There could not be such a Monster in the world.
***
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