Soul Engineer Huo Yuhao, Crimson Armor Test List

At this time every afternoon, Huo Yuhao would head to the underground base of Mingde Hall. Today, however, was an especially important day.

In truth, these two hours each day were the most grueling for him, because the teacher responsible for instructing him was named Xuan Ziwen, and his teaching methods were extremely strict.

Yet what astonished this teacher was that Huo Yuhao was like an elastic ball. No matter how much pressure was placed on him, he would always bounce back. Not only could he complete every task assigned to him exceptionally well, but he did so with meticulous seriousness, never cutting corners in the slightest.

Even when he was too exhausted to return to his dormitory, he never complained. So who was the one taking him back to his dormitory?

That was right, Meng Hongchen.

Meng Hongchen was quite curious about this little brother whom Grandfather had personally brought into Mingde Hall. She still remembered that Huo Yuhao had been standing beside Lu Xueling at the time. After several encounters, she had also developed a favorable impression of him.

At the very least, he was far better than her brother Xiao Hongchen, who spent all day pulling a long face, as though heaven came first, Grandfather second, and he himself third.

At that moment, Xuan Ziwen and Meng Hongchen stood on either side of Huo Yuhao beside a huge metal table, silently watching him. The former had his hands clasped behind his back and watched with intense focus, while Meng Hongchen clenched her fists, silently cheering on this little brother who was a year younger than her.

Huo Yuhao sat before the metal table. In his left and right hands, he held a walnut-sized hexagonal metal block and a long, slender knife respectively. The knife carefully carved into the metal block. His movements were slow, but his hand was steady.

The metal block was blue-gold in color and emitted a somewhat strange aura. Under Huo Yuhao's knife, complex patterns were gradually engraved onto its surface.

Those Spiritual Eyes gave off a pale golden radiance. He stared for a long time without even blinking. Seconds passed, yet his body remained as motionless as a sculpture. Only a few fingers controlled the tiny Engraving Knife, slowly engraving with the infusion of Soul Power. Even its rhythm did not change in the slightest.

Finally, when Huo Yuhao slowly carved the last stroke and picked out some tiny metal shavings, his movements stopped.

The golden light in his eyes slowly faded, and a trace of fatigue appeared on his face. He turned his head slightly to look at Xuan Ziwen and Meng Hongchen, a brilliant smile blooming across his little face.

"Teacher Xuan, I succeeded. From now on, I count as a first-class Soul Engineer, right?"

Huo Yuhao carefully placed the metal block on his left palm and held it up. Gentle Soul Power slowly flowed into it. At once, the metal block emitted a distinct blue glow, transforming into a beam of light that rose half a foot high.

Xuan Ziwen sighed softly, his gaze full of approval. "Yes, little fellow. I can now officially announce that you are a certified first-class Soul Engineer. You truly possess talent beyond the reach of ordinary people, as well as diligence that no one can match."

The tiny metal block Huo Yuhao had just engraved was the core formation of a first-class Soul Tool.

It had taken him ten days to complete the basic forging training. After another half month spent learning processes such as shaping, casting molds, tempering, and polishing, he had finally begun studying how to engrave core formations. This was also the most crucial step in crafting Soul Tools.

Huo Yuhao was far steadier than others his age, and he possessed an innate advantage: his Spiritual Eye martial soul. This body martial soul seemed practically born for Soul Tools!

Core formation engraving often failed because of minute errors, but such situations almost never occurred in this child's eyes.

Spiritual Detection allowed him to clearly visualize the core metal in three dimensions within his mind. The depth and amount of every stroke he engraved were almost never wrong. Coupled with Huo Yuhao's seriousness, from studying theory to memorizing formations, then beginning engraving practice, he had taken only one month to complete this first first-class Soul Tool formation.

With a flick of his wrist, Xuan Ziwen produced a sky-blue eight-pointed star badge. A star-shaped diamond was embedded in the badge.

"Huo Yuhao passed the first-class Soul Engineer assessment after one month. In accordance with the academy's rules, he is hereby awarded this first-class Soul Engineer badge. Becoming a Soul Engineer from an ordinary Soul Master in just one month—such talent has set a record at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!"

"Awesome!"

Even Meng Hongchen cheered for him. "Little Yuhao, you're amazing!"

Becoming a first-class Soul Engineer after only one month of study could no longer be described merely as genius. One had to remember that Huo Yuhao was only eleven years old. Even across the entire Sun Moon Empire, becoming a Soul Engineer in one month was exceedingly rare.

"Your rate of growth surprises me."

A familiar voice came from the doorway. The three of them turned around at once. Xuan Ziwen pulled Meng Hongchen along as they bowed slightly toward the newcomer. "Deputy Hall Master, you've come."

Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, looked delighted. "Mr. Lu, I succeeded! I'm a Soul Engineer now!"

Lu Xueling smiled lightly and took a small porcelain bottle from his robes. "It is yours now, but that also means you can begin taking missions."

Huo Yuhao accepted the porcelain bottle blankly. He did not open it right away, instead pondering Lu Xueling's words.

He could take missions now. That meant it was time for him to start working for him...

Huo Yuhao nodded heavily. "All right!"

"Mm. I suggest you take this pill after returning to your dormitory. And this..."

As Lu Xueling spoke, he used his other hand to pat Huo Yuhao on the back while the boy was not paying attention. A faint, inconspicuous flash of purple light flickered and swiftly merged into Huo Yuhao's body!

Within Huo Yuhao's Sea of Consciousness, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was startled by the object Lu Xueling had suddenly thrown inside.

"Wow, what is this?!"

A purplish-red triangular object floated quietly in the air, but Sky Dream Ice Silkworm did not dare approach it. He could sense the terrifying energy contained within it.

The instant the purple crystal entered him, Huo Yuhao also felt a faint stabbing pain. He looked at Lu Xueling in confusion.

Lu Xueling explained calmly, "Tomorrow, come out with me. Use the power of this thing to kill someone."

"Me?!" Little Yuhao, only eleven years old, found it somewhat hard to breathe.

Although, from the moment he had left Duke's Mansion, he had already resolved that one day he would return, completely sever the Duke's bloodline, take his revenge, and comfort his mother's spirit in heaven!

But... that was for the future. To make him kill someone now...

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm could hear their conversation as well and sighed. "Ah, Little Yuhao, if you accept another's favor, you must do things for them. Besides, that is simply how the world works on Douluo Continent. One day, your hands will have to be stained with blood too!"

Huo Yuhao adjusted his breathing. The hand gripping the porcelain bottle tightened more and more. After a long while, he raised his head again to look at Lu Xueling and softly said, "Mm."

Lu Xueling wore an expression that said, "You can be taught."

"Deputy Hall Master, the Hall Master asked me to inform you that the Crimson test can begin. This is the list of personnel participating in the test."

Behind them, a slightly chubby researcher hurried over and handed Lu Xueling a list.

"Mm, Little Yuhao, in my capacity as Deputy Hall Master of Mingde Hall, I'm giving you half a day off. Don't forget tomorrow's..."

Lu Xueling accepted the list and gave Huo Yuhao one final instruction, but before he could finish, his eyes froze as he looked through it. On the final line of the test participant list were the words:

Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy freshman, Youlan. Eleven years old, Level 31 assault-type Soul Elder. Martial soul: Golden Dragon.