Displaying His Talent, a Future Great Soul Engineer

Huo Yuhao decided to lay his cards on the table.

By the campfire at night, the caravan guards sat in a circle, talking about the day's battle.

"Lin Mu, your modification skills are incredible!" A guard gave him a thumbs-up.

"Yeah, that energy-concentrating cannon's power directly doubled!"

Huo Yuhao set down the tool in his hand and looked at Captain Lei Ming. "Captain, I have something to say."

"What is it?" Lei Ming looked up.

"My talent with soul tools may be a little greater than everyone imagines." Huo Yuhao's tone was calm. "If you trust me, I can upgrade the equipment of the entire caravan."

Lei Ming froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "You mean..."

"I can modify everyone's soul tools. Conservatively speaking, their performance will improve by twenty to thirty percent."

The surrounding guards sucked in sharp breaths.

Lei Ming sprang to his feet. "Little brother, are you sure?"

"Absolutely." Huo Yuhao nodded. "But I need a better work environment, as well as material support."

"No problem!" Lei Ming slapped his thigh. "Starting tomorrow, you'll be the chief soul engineer of our caravan! Your pay will be tripled!"

Mo Sen's eyelids twitched as he listened nearby. This kid had really been hiding his abilities well.

Over the next few days, Huo Yuhao began a frenzy of modifications.

His first target was Old Zhang's protective shield.

"Master Lin, do you think this thing can still be salvaged?" Old Zhang carefully handed it over.

Huo Yuhao took the soul tool, and the [Thought Palace] instantly began operating.

[Analysis complete: Energy utilization rate only 60%; rune circuits severely redundant.]

[Optimization plan: Simplify circuits, add an energy storage module; estimated 35% increase in efficiency.]

"Come pick it up in three hours."

"Really?" Old Zhang was half-convinced.

Three hours later, Old Zhang received the modified protective shield and activated it for testing.

Boom!

The shield's glow was more than twice as bright as before, and it was even more stable.

"My heavens!" Old Zhang was so excited that he nearly jumped up. "Is this still my piece of junk?"

Once the news spread, all the guards lined up to have their equipment modified.

"Master Lin, can my offensive soul tool be modified?"

"My detector keeps malfunctioning..."

"Master, I'm willing to pay double!"

Huo Yuhao refused no one, modifying them one by one. Every completed modification drew a round of astonished cries.

Just as he was modifying the tenth soul tool, something unexpected happened.

"Master Lin, please take a look at this." Mo Sen took out a soul tool.

Huo Yuhao accepted it. His expression remained calm, but turmoil rose within him.

The [Thought Palace] instantly locked onto an anomaly.

[Discovered: The bottom of the soul tool bears a military-exclusive insignia of the Sun Moon Empire.]

[Inference: This person's identity is highly suspicious.]

"Where did this soul tool come from?" Huo Yuhao casually asked.

"A gift from a friend." Mo Sen smiled naturally. "Is there a problem?"

"Nothing. The craftsmanship is simply exquisite." Huo Yuhao continued dismantling it. "At this level, it isn't something an ordinary person could make."

Mo Sen's gaze tightened slightly. "Is that so? That friend said he bought it from the Sun Moon Empire."

Huo Yuhao sneered inwardly. So he had finally exposed himself.

[Thought Palace, deep analysis]

[Intelligence integration: Mo Sen possesses a military soul tool, displays abnormal behavior, and has secretly met with others multiple times.]

[Conclusion: 99.7% probability that he is a Sun Moon Empire spy.]

[Strategy: Do not expose him for now; use him to obtain more intelligence.]

After completing the modification, Huo Yuhao returned the soul tool to Mo Sen.

"Vice Captain Mo, this soul tool is quite powerful after the modification, but..."

"But what?"

"The Sun Moon Empire's soul tool technology really is impressive. I'd very much like to go there and study."

Mo Sen's eyes lit up. "You're interested in the Sun Moon Empire, little brother?"

"Of course!" Huo Yuhao put on a longing expression. "I heard soul masters there held high status and received excellent treatment."

"Then do you know anything about the Sun Moon Empire's culture?"

Huo Yuhao's heart stirred. The opportunity had come.

"I know a little. For example, their 'Mingde Festival' commemorates Patriarch Mingde, the father of soul tools."

"And the 'Star Moon Calendar,' which calculates time according to the cycles of the stars and moon."

"When people of the Sun Moon Empire meet, they say, 'May the light be with you.' It's a traditional greeting."

Mo Sen grew increasingly astonished. These were all internal aspects of Sun Moon Empire culture—ordinary outsiders would never know them!

"You really do know quite a bit, little brother." Mo Sen probed, "From the way you speak, it sounds like you've been to the Sun Moon Empire?"

"I haven't. I just enjoy reading." Huo Yuhao shook his head. "I've studied the histories and cultures of every country."

Mo Sen nodded thoughtfully, but the look in his eyes as he regarded Huo Yuhao had clearly changed.

This kid was either a genius, or there was something suspicious about him.

That evening, Mo Sen took the initiative to find Huo Yuhao.

"Little brother, care to come out for a chat?"

The two walked to the edge of the camp. Mo Sen got straight to the point. "Are you truly that interested in the Sun Moon Empire?"

"Of course." Huo Yuhao nodded. "It's the holy land of soul masters."

"If you had the chance, would you be willing to develop your career in the Sun Moon Empire?"

Huo Yuhao rejoiced inwardly. The fish had taken the bait.

"Of course I would! But I'm unfamiliar with the place. I'm afraid it would be difficult for me to establish myself."

"That won't be a problem." Mo Sen gave a mysterious smile. "I have some connections over there. I can introduce you to them."

"Really?" Huo Yuhao feigned delight.

"Of course. But..." Mo Sen abruptly changed direction. "First, I need to understand your true level."

"How would you like to assess it?"

"Tomorrow, I'll bring out some special soul tools. If you can successfully modify them, I'll believe in your ability."

Huo Yuhao understood. This guy was going to test him with military soul tools.

"No problem. I'll await your test."

Early the next morning, the other guards once again formed a long line.

"Master Lin, is it my turn today?"

"Master, when will you be free?"

Huo Yuhao was busy when Captain Lei Ming approached.

"Lin Mu, I have some good news for you." Lei Ming smiled broadly. "I've decided to write you a letter of recommendation!"

"A letter of recommendation?"

"That's right! I'll recommend you to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy!" Lei Ming patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "With your talent, you'll definitely get in!"

The surrounding guards all looked over enviously.

"My heavens, the Royal Academy!"

"That's the continent's top soul master academy!"

"Master Lin is going places!"

Huo Yuhao was ecstatic inside, but his expression remained calm. "Captain, wouldn't this be too much trouble for you?"

"What trouble?" Lei Ming waved a broad hand. "For a genius like you, not attending the Royal Academy would be an absolute waste!"

"I may only be a merchant caravan captain, but I have some connections in the Sun Moon Empire. This recommendation letter will definitely carry enough weight!"

Mo Sen listened from the side, his expression becoming even more complicated.

Lei Ming's recommendation letter was far superior to the route he had planned.

It seemed he needed to reassess this kid's value.

"Then thank you, Captain!" Huo Yuhao said sincerely.

"It's only right!" Lei Ming laughed heartily. "Once you become a great soul master, don't forget to look after your old brother here!"

Just then, the sound of galloping hooves came from outside the camp.

"Someone's coming!" a guard shouted.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked outside.

In the distance, dust billowed into the air. A group seemed to be rapidly approaching.

Lei Ming frowned. "At a time like this, who else would be taking this road?"

Huo Yuhao's heart tightened, and the [Thought Palace] instantly began operating.