After leaving Star Luo City, Xia Ming did not head directly to the Sun Moon Empire.
His figure silently crossed a thousand miles and returned to Shrek City.
Without alerting anyone, he headed straight for the laboratory deep within the Soul Tool testing area, where the lights burned year-round.
Inside the laboratory, the sounds of metal scraping and energy humming intertwined.
He Caitou—or rather, Xu He—was bent over the workbench, fully focused on carving an exceptionally complex Level Five Soul Tool core.
His movements were steady and precise. His enormous hands manipulated the delicate carving knife with an effortless harmony.
Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, yet he seemed entirely unaware of them.
Because of the many changes caused by Xia Ming's arrival, He Caitou's name had not appeared on this tournament's reserve team roster.
That fixed slot from the Soul Guidance Department had instead gone to Huo Yuhao.
There had not been no dissent within the Soul Guidance Department over this.
But Jing Hongchen had overruled all objections and personally kept He Caitou by his side as a talent to be cultivated with special focus.
On the surface, this young man, widely acknowledged as the second strongest of the Soul Guidance Department's younger generation, seemed to have calmly accepted the result.
He spent every day immersed in the laboratory, keeping company with Soul Tools and presenting the image of someone free from distractions and devoted to scholarship.
Jing Hongchen greatly appreciated this, believing that he was patient and well-suited to research.
"Hum—"
The final Soul Power inscription closed perfectly. The core formation activated at once, steadily emitting a gentle halo of energy.
A fine Level Five Soul Tool core had been successfully completed.
He Caitou let out a long breath, and his tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
Just then,