Huo Yuhao Enters Mingde Hall, Progress on the Armor Research

Mingde Hall was located at the heart of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than an inconspicuous building. Yet once he truly entered, Huo Yuhao discovered that Mingde Hall was far larger than he had imagined.

After entering the ordinary building, which occupied less than five hundred square meters, Xuan Ziwen led Huo Yuhao through three successive checkpoints. Some were guarded by Soul Masters, while others were protected directly by Soul Tools.

Under Jing Hongchen's guidance, the two entered the building. What Huo Yuhao saw was twenty Elevators arranged in an arc. Every Elevator had a heavy metallic feel and could hold more than ten people.

Entering one of the Elevators, Jing Hongchen scanned his identity card on a Soul Tool, then raised his hand and gripped the metal pillar in the center of the Elevator, channeling Soul Power into it. The Elevator immediately began descending slowly.

The process took nearly two full minutes. Huo Yuhao silently calculated the depth of their descent and was shocked to discover that they had gone at least a hundred meters underground.

During the descent, the Elevator was completely sealed off, offering no view of the outside. Only a small white lamp provided a faint bit of light.

"Surprised already?" Jing Hongchen lowered his head and chuckled as he looked at the young boy beside him.

Huo Yuhao hurriedly withdrew the probing ability of his Spiritual Eye and gave the elder a slight bow. "Senior, I truly... have never seen anything like this in the Star Luo Empire."

Jing Hongchen lifted his head somewhat proudly. "Mingde Hall is the core of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, as well as the shared life's work of its successive Hall Masters. Mr. Lu was willing to let you study here as one of the conditions for developing Valkyrie Armor. You really are lucky, kid. I just don't know what Mr. Lu saw in you."

This time, Huo Yuhao did not reply. Jing Hongchen said nothing further and did not continue explaining. When studying Soul Tools in Mingde Hall, one should listen more, observe more, and think more—not ask more.

The metal doors of the Elevator slid open. Jing Hongchen nodded at Huo Yuhao, then walked out first.

This place was practically a world of metal. It was still an arc-shaped hall, but as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but metal. After leaving the Elevator and passing through a short corridor, the sight before him suddenly opened up.

"Ah—" Huo Yuhao sucked in a cold breath. The scene before him was simply too shocking.

It was an immensely vast hall, so vast that its boundaries could not be seen at a glance. Countless experiment tables were arranged in orderly rows, stretching into the distance. Even a single horizontal row contained more than fifty tables. Every experiment table measured five meters by three meters, and there were even more extending farther away. Behind most of the tables, people were busily at work.

The arc-shaped dome of the enormous hall was a full twenty meters high and likewise covered in metal. The dense metallic smell and the humming of metal assailed Huo Yuhao's senses.

Jing Hongchen pointed to the ninth experiment table in the first row from the left. "Welcome to Mingde Hall, Huo Yuhao. That will be your place from now on. As for resources for researching Soul Tools, each person may collect ten jin of Rare Metal from the warehouse every month. But since you were personally recommended to me by Mr. Lu, I'll give you five jin extra. I wish you smooth sailing on the path of a Soul Engineer."

"Thank you, Red Dust Hall Master!"

Huo Yuhao no longer regretted following Lu Xueling at all.

If he had not left Duke's Mansion back then, he might still have been one of the lowliest servants in the estate, looked down upon by everyone. No matter what, he was only an eleven-year-old boy, and he had grown up in that sort of environment.

Huo Yuhao asked himself honestly: he was someone who held grudges, but he treasured kindness even more. After Jing Hongchen finished speaking, waves of warmth surged through his heart, and the grievances he had suppressed for years instantly turned into a hot current flooding his chest.

Jing Hongchen waved a hand and turned to leave. "This old man still needs to check on the progress of the Valkyrie Armor development on Mr. Lu's side."

The Elevator doors opened again. As Huo Yuhao watched, Jing Hongchen hurried away. It was clear just how anxious he was.

Inside a luxurious chamber, Lu Xueling held a design blueprint and continuously sketched and marked it. Sirin rested her chin on one hand, enjoying Bella's massage behind her while admiring the serious look on her servant's face.

However, Lu Xueling's movements stopped for an instant, because two system notifications sounded in his mind in succession.

The Herrscher of Erosion has successfully eroded the first and second targets, drawing negative emotions such as fear and despair toward Honkai. A total of approximately 500 HW of Honkai Energy has been obtained for the host.

The Child of the Plane, Huo Yuhao, has reached 30% loyalty. A total of 200 HW of Honkai Energy has been obtained.

Good news had arrived from both Shi Bao and Huo Yuhao, making the corners of Lu Xueling's lips rise slightly.

With one leg crossed over the other, Sirin asked, "Human, what are you smiling about?"

"Erosion has already begun taking action, and she sent good news as well." Lu Xueling put away the papers, turned back, and smiled at the Queen. "Sirin, you don't want Shi Bao to surpass you, do you?"

Sirin crossed her arms, seemingly unconvinced. "Hmph. It won't hurt to let her be pleased with herself for a while."

Lu Xueling did not continue teasing his Queen and returned to his work. However, he had now reached a point of decision.

"Domain Armor: White Lian is still incomplete. The energy drawn from Erosion and Huo Yuhao is just enough to finish it... upgrading it into a complete B-rank. But..."

Lu Xueling raised the tip of his right index finger, releasing a miniature holographic projection. It was another set of Valkyrie Armor.

The crimson armor conformed tightly to the entire body, while black leather wrapped around the skin. The combat boots were black as well. The armor possessed a powerful metallic texture without sacrificing the impression of human agility. At one side of the armor floated a pitch-black Katana, with wisps of pale blue electricity occasionally flickering across it.

Valkyrie Armor: Pulse Armor Crimson

Should he continue upgrading Domain Armor: White Lian to a complete B-rank, or should he create this set of Pulse Armor Crimson as well?

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded from outside. Lu Xueling put away the holographic projection and coughed twice. "Come in."

Jing Hongchen stepped inside at an unhurried pace and cupped his hands toward the three of them in turn. "Mr. Lu, I came to check on the progress of the Valkyrie Armor research."

Sirin snorted and stretched her limbs. "Only two days have passed, and you're already this anxious, old man?"

Jing Hongchen laughed helplessly. "The fleeting appearance of the White Training Armor left this old man not nearly satisfied enough. Although Mr. Lu has given us the design blueprints, we still have to rely on all of you when it comes to the technology."

Lu Xueling shook his head slightly and walked toward Jing Hongchen. "Red Dust Hall Master, haste makes waste... Besides, regarding Sacred Marks, if they cannot be made widespread, what use would it be for me to give you armor?"

As he spoke, he paced behind Jing Hongchen with his hands clasped behind his back. Strands of Honkai Energy emanated from him, causing cold sweat to bead across Jing Hongchen's forehead.

"Heh..." Lu Xueling soon restrained himself, then patted Jing Hongchen on the shoulder and smiled faintly. "How about this, Red Dust Hall Master? I'll let you see a semi-finished version of the new armor first."

Buzz...

The holographic projection of Pulse Armor Crimson appeared once more, except Lu Xueling enlarged it to its proper size.