Those Who Learn from Me Live; Those Who Imitate Me Die

In the Star Luo Empire, the open space east of the imperial palace remained as bustling as ever.

Hundreds of craftsmen and laborers are busy at the construction site. Just over a month ago, this place was just a ruin where the Old Prince's Mansion had just been leveled.

Now, the foundation, which is several meters deep, has been fully poured. The heavy bluestone base rises from the soil like the skeleton of a giant beast, and the crisscrossing load-bearing columns are beginning to take shape, outlining the prototype of a magnificent building.

The architects were gathered around large blueprints, directing the craftsmen to build walls and erect beams and columns according to the detailed design plans provided by Huo Yuhao.

At the current pace, the first Spirit Pagoda on the continent will surely rise from the ground within a year, standing proudly beside the Star Luo Imperial City.

The three-story stone building in the southeast corner of Star Luo City has now been completely transformed.

Above the main entrance hung a brand-new plaque with black background and gold lettering, bearing three powerful characters: "Spirit Hall".

In the first few days after the sign was hung up, passersby only glanced at it curiously. But as time went on, many well-informed merchants and Soul Master began to develop a strong interest in this inconspicuous little building.

Some people tried to approach and investigate, but they were stopped by the guards before they even reached the door.

The more mysterious it is, the more people will imagine it. Nowadays, in the streets and alleys, restaurants and teahouses of Star Luo City, many people are seriously analyzing what this newly appeared Spirit Hall is all about.

Some say it's a new type of Soul Tool workshop secretly set up by the royal family; others say it's a liaison point set up in Star Luo City by a reclusive sect; still others confidently claim that it contains rare and precious materials that can magically enhance Soul Master's aptitude.

Opinions varied and no one could agree on the matter, yet no one could have predicted the upheavals that this Spirit Hall would unleash across the entire continent.

Meanwhile, on the third floor of the Spirit Hall, a spacious room that had originally served as a storeroom had been completely transformed. The room was bright and clean, the walls had been repainted, and the floor was paved with smooth stone slabs.

Dozens of brand-new desks were neatly arranged, and behind each desk sat a young Soul Engineer. Their eyes were fixed intently on the front, and their pens flew across their notebooks, jotting down every key point, afraid of missing a single word.

On the podium, Huo Yuhao had just put down the chalk in his hand, and there was still some white chalk dust on his fingertips and sleeves.

He braced his hands on the edge of the lectern, leaned forward slightly, and spoke in a clear voice that, though not loud, clearly reached the ears of every student present.

"For Soul Tool of the same level, their power ultimately depends on three core elements: the precision of the manufacturing process, the grade and suitability of the materials, and the design and inscription level of the core Soul Guidance Array..."

Although Huo Yuhao was younger than all the Soul Engineer present, he had completely won over everyone with his Soul Tool Technology in the past month or so.

In the world of Soul Engineer, everything else is secondary. Whether someone is capable or not can be determined simply by creating a Soul Tool. The difference in strength between them will be immediately apparent.

Leaving aside Huo Yuhao's hands, which were almost abnormally steady, and his smooth and flowing crafting techniques, the few new Soul Tool he casually displayed contained many array structures and energy circuits that none of the people present had ever seen in any ancient texts.

Each item was enough to make the eyes of these elite Soul Engineer in the Star Luo Empire light up, as if they had found a priceless treasure.

Therefore, faced with Huo Yuhao's "unreserved" teaching, these Soul Engineer naturally studied diligently and tirelessly.

There was no need for Huo Yuhao to constantly remind them; their enthusiasm was even greater than when they were in the Soul Engineer Academy trying to pass the graduation exam.

"Knock knock knock!"

A knock came from outside the classroom, interrupting Huo Yuhao's explanation of a core array inscription technique.

He put down the chalk in his hand, and with a sweep of his invisible Divine Power, he already knew what had happened.

A slight smile played on his lips as he addressed the dozens of pairs of eyes below the stage, still focused and eager, and casually concluded his remarks.

"I have some things to take care of, so I'll stop here for today."

"You can study the key points of the formations I just explained on your own when you get home. If you have any questions, we can ask them together in the next class."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the door.

The dozens of Soul Engineer below the stage, who were originally immersed in the ocean of knowledge, stood up almost simultaneously, their movements perfectly synchronized, clearly a long-established rule.

They watched Huo Yuhao's tall, slender figure walk to the door, then shouted in unison, "Thank you, Hall Master!"

Huo Yuhao pushed open the door and saw a short-haired woman waiting for him by the window in the corridor.

She was one of the first core members recruited by Huo Yuhao, Xi Xi from Shrek Inner Court.

Now she is also the head manager of the Spirit Hall, and she manages all matters, big and small, inside and out, in an orderly manner.

"Senior, let's go."

Huo Yuhao nodded slightly to her, without even asking why Xi Xi had come to see him.

Xi Xi wasn't surprised at all; she simply followed half a step behind him naturally.

She knew that with Huo Yuhao's unfathomable Divine Power, he had probably already figured out the guest's identity, so she didn't need to waste her breath.

The two of them walked down the wooden stairs to the first floor, passed through a corridor covered with a plain-colored carpet, and arrived at the door of a reception room at the end of the corridor.

Xi Xi quickly took two steps and pushed open the door for him. As soon as Huo Yuhao stepped inside, he saw two familiar figures.

His gaze first fell on the tall young man who was standing up from his chair.

This man was tall and strong, with dark and shiny skin; he stood there like an iron tower.

Despite his rugged and bold appearance, a slightly shy smile graced his honest face.

A genuine smile bloomed on Huo Yuhao's face, his tone tinged with surprise. "Senior He, what brings you here?"

The newcomer was none other than He Caitou, a genius student from the Soul Guidance Department of the Shrek Academy.

He Caitou grinned. "I've officially graduated from the Shrek Academy. Dean Qian sent me here; he said I could learn new things from you."

"The dean also said that if you need manpower from the academy's Soul Guidance Department graduates in the future, you can recommend some to us."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao's clear eyes flickered slightly, and in an instant, he had already clearly sorted out the information hidden behind these words in his mind.

He was no stranger to the two deans of the Shrek Academy.

The dean of the Martial Soul Department Yan Shaozhe, treated Huo Yuhao so well back then that he wanted to hold him in the palm of his hand. He said he cherished talent, but in his heart, he just wanted to keep Huo Yuhao firmly tied to the Shrek Academy ship.

Later, when Huo Yuhao proposed to leave the academy and develop on his own, Yan Shaozhe's enthusiastic mask was shattered. When his attempts to entice him failed, he turned on him with threats, a change of heart so swift it was chilling.

Qian Duoduo, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, is also a well-known shrewd person, full of calculations, and never suffers a loss.

But at least he acted with integrity and clearly stated the prices for his transactions, which left a really good impression on Huo Yuhao.

The fact that He Caitou was able to become one of the Shrek Seven Devils in the original historical timeline as a pure Soul Engineer demonstrates just how amazing his talent and skill in Soul Tool were.

Qian Duoduo was willing to send such a top-notch Soul Guidance Department genius over here, which is quite an investment.

He was almost certain that the commotion the Spirit Hall had caused in Star Luo City during this period had likely sent some information back to the Shrek Academy through certain channels.

Huo Yuhao's judgment was absolutely correct. Not all of the Soul Engineer he recruited came from the Star Luo Empire; some of them were graduates of the Soul Guidance Department of the Shrek Academy.

Back when Huo Yuhao was at the Shrek Academy, Qian Duoduo knew that the boy was quite talented in Soul Tool, but he didn't really have a clear idea of the extent to which he was talented.

After all, Huo Yuhao focused his main energy on martial spirit cultivation during his time at the academy.

But the messages that recently came back to the academy took Qian Duoduo by surprise.

The student did not send back any specific Soul Tool blueprints, but the Soul Tool knowledge that Huo Yuhao possessed, as described in his account, was completely ahead of its time.

Not to mention Shrek Academy, even the Sun Moon Empire, which boasts the most advanced Soul Tool Technology on the continent, would probably be far behind.

Qian Duoduo could no longer sit still. He immediately put aside all his affairs and, in his capacity as the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, urgently convened Sea God Pavilion Meeting.

All I can say is that Shrek is still Shrek; the problems are never just Yan Shaozhe's.

At the emergency Sea God Pavilion Meeting convened by Qian Duoduo, he detailed Huo Yuhao's astonishing talent and strength in the field of Soul Tool.

However, even after he finished speaking, and despite the fact that Huo Yuhao had a Limit Douluo standing behind him, some of the Elder still suggested sending someone to infiltrate the Spirit Hall and steal the Soul Tool blueprints at all costs!

Moreover, this proposal was not rejected on the spot, but instead received nods of support from several Elder present.

In the end, it was Mu En, the Sea God Pavilion Master, who spoke up and directly rejected this absurd proposal.

He then instructed Qian Duoduo to treat Huo Yuhao with sincerity and to cooperate with him in good faith.

That's why He Caitou, and why Qian Duoduo made that promise, "We can recommend future graduates of the Soul Guidance Department."

Although Huo Yuhao was not aware of the specific details of the undercurrents within the Sea God Pavilion, he had never been afraid of others stealing his skills from the very beginning when he decided to publicly recruit Soul Engineer in Star Luo City.

Those who learn from me will live; those who imitate me will die!

Possessing technology that is ten thousand years ahead of its time, this is the source of Huo Yuhao's confidence.

So he patted He Caitou a smile and said in a cheerful tone, "That's great, I'm short-staffed here."

After chatting warmly with He Caitou about his recent situation, Huo Yuhao slowly turned his gaze to another figure in the living room.

Huo Yuhao's gaze fell on the person, but his brows furrowed slightly. "Why are you here?"