The Frenzied Collision of Minds

The winds and snow of the Far North were as biting as ever. The expedition team set out on their journey home.

Huo Yuhao walked in the middle of the group, his steps slightly unsteady and his face pale, looking as though he had severely overdrawn his spiritual power.

Yet within his sea of consciousness, a completely different scene of uproarious chaos was unfolding.

"Awesome! This is amazing!"

Within the [Thought Palace], chibi silkworm-baby Tianmeng sprawled in midair, humming comfortably.

"Kid, how does this million-year gift package from yours truly feel? Don't you feel invincible already? Don't you want to rush right up to that so-called god and hit him with a triple combo of verbal abuse?"

Huo Yuhao's consciousness sat cross-legged in the center of the palace. Feeling the vast power within him still surging and roaring, yet gradually being tamed, his heart was far from calm.

But outwardly, he remained as still as water.

"Power is only a tool. It's too early to talk about being invincible."

"Tch, boring." Sky Dream Iceworm rolled over. "You're still so young, but you've got the mindset of an old man. You've gained such a huge benefit—can't you get excited for once?"

"Excitement won't solve any problems," Huo Yuhao said. "First, I need to let you understand what kind of chessboard we're currently on."

With a thought, a massive three-dimensional sand-table map instantly appeared in the center of the [Thought Palace].

The map of Douluo Continent was clearly displayed upon it.

"This is Douluo Continent. It is currently divided into three great empires: the Heaven Soul Empire, the Star Luo Empire, and the Battle Spirit Empire, where we are."

"These three empires mainly rely on the individual strength of soul masters. But on the other side..."

Huo Yuhao swept a finger across the map, and an isolated landmass on the other side of the continent lit up with a dazzling red glow.

"The Sun Moon Empire. They have taken another path—soul tools."

"Soul tools?" Sky Dream Iceworm floated over and curiously poked the red landmass. "Is that the science and technology thing you mentioned before?"

"You could put it that way. They use soul power as energy and create all kinds of weapons through metal and formations. From soul tool guns to soul tool cannons capable of destroying an entire city. Their development speed far surpasses that of the three great empires." Huo Yuhao's tone was grave.

The power he now possessed was overwhelming on the spiritual level. But against organized, systematic soul tool technology, individual courage would be diminished without limit.

"Oh? Interesting." Sky Dream Iceworm was intrigued. "I think I vaguely remember this stuff. During the years I slept, I occasionally woke up to catch my breath and sensed some similar things."

"In ancient times, some races played around with this too. But they didn't call them soul tools—they called them things like 'magic constructs' or 'origin-energy artifacts.' Their approach differed from that of modern humans. They preferred integrating it with living organisms, going on about how weak flesh was and how machines could bring ascension..."

Sky Dream Iceworm's words immediately made Huo Yuhao grasp the key point.

"You mean that modern soul tool technology is actually on the 'wrong path'?"

"I wouldn't call it wrong. It's just... primitive?" Sky Dream Iceworm scratched its smooth head. "Like a child playing with building blocks—they only know how to stack them upward and don't know how to use mortise-and-tenon structures. There are quite a few scattered pieces of information in my memory bank about the technologies of those ancient civilizations. You can dig through them yourself later."

Huo Yuhao's heartbeat abruptly quickened.

His original advantage had been his modern scientific way of thinking, which surpassed this era.

And now, he had Sky Dream Iceworm as well—a "million-year mobile hard drive" storing ancient black technology!

How could he possibly lose now?!

An incredibly bold plan rapidly took shape in his mind.

"Tianmeng, the core of the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool technology lies in a place called Mingde Hall. It gathers the continent's finest soul engineers and most advanced technology."

"What are you planning?" Sky Dream Iceworm's gossiping soul flared to life.

"I'm going in." Huo Yuhao's answer was resolute.

"What?!" Sky Dream Iceworm was so startled it nearly fell from the air. "You're going into their headquarters? Are you trying to throw your life away? You may be strong now, but two fists can't beat four hands. If they blast you with a whole barrage of soul tool cannons, you'll still be finished!"

"That's why I can't force my way in."

Huo Yuhao's consciousness rose to its feet and walked over to the red landmass representing the Sun Moon Empire.

"I'm going to make them... invite me in, under the identity of a 'soul tool genius.'"

"Huh?" Sky Dream Iceworm was completely dumbfounded. "You? A soul tool genius? You haven't even made a Class 1 soul tool, have you?"

"I haven't made one, but my 'theories' are enough to drive all of Mingde Hall mad."

Huo Yuhao's consciousness sank into the database of the [Thought Palace].

<Ancient Soul Tool Principles and Lost Illustrations> began a frenzied collision and fusion with the knowledge of Earth physics, electromagnetism, and materials science in his mind!

[Beginning construction of "advanced theoretical models"...]

[Model One: Based on the "Star Vein Resonance Formation" and electromagnetic theory, deducing the feasibility of "wireless soul power transmission"...]

[Model Two: Based on "particle-wave duality" and microscopic spiritual power interference, conceptualizing the prototype of a "phase weapon"...]

[Model Three: ...]

One unimaginable yet theoretically flawless concept after another sprang forth like bamboo shoots after rain.

"Gasp..." Looking at those theoretical models, which it could not understand at all but could somehow tell were absurdly impressive, Sky Dream Iceworm sucked in a cold breath.

"Kid, that brain of yours... is a monster!"

"We don't need to produce a finished product. We only need, at the right moment, to 'casually' reveal a tiny bit of the concepts." Huo Yuhao calmly laid out the plan. "For example, a speculative paper on 'new media for soul power conduction.'"

"As long as the bait is fragrant enough, the fish will bite. Mingde Hall is the big fish I'm going to catch!"

"Brother Huo, are you all right?"

A concerned voice interrupted Huo Yuhao's thoughts.

He opened his eyes "wearily." It was Lin Mu.

This member of the Light of Truth wore an expression filled with reverence.

She had personally witnessed how Huo Yuhao had stood at the temple entrance and, with just a single word, sent Tu Feng and the others fleeing while coughing blood.

That pressure, which seemed to come from the very depths of the soul, was something no ordinary soul master could possess!

She became even more certain that Huo Yuhao was hiding an earth-shattering secret.

"I'm fine, Brother Lin. I just used up a bit too much energy." Huo Yuhao shook his head, his voice hoarse.

Lin Mu handed him a waterskin and lowered her voice. "Brother Huo, what do you plan to do after we return? Whatever you intend to do, I, Lin Mu, am willing to follow you!"

She was no fool.

Following a young man so unfathomable and brimming with limitless potential offered far better prospects than steadily working her way up within the Light of Truth!

Huo Yuhao glanced at her and calmly accepted the waterskin.

"You're overstating it, Brother Lin. We're companions."

He took a sip of water and said casually, "I'm quite interested in the Sun Moon Empire's soul tools. Perhaps my next destination will be their most central institution."

Boom!

It was as though a thunderclap had exploded in Lin Mu's mind!

The heart of the Sun Moon Empire? Wasn't that Mingde Hall?!

Madness! This was utter madness!

Yet as she watched Huo Yuhao's profile, so calm that not a ripple stirred upon it, the shock in her heart slowly transformed into an inexplicable fervor.

Perhaps... he really could do it?

"If you need it, I can help you gather all publicly available intelligence on the Sun Moon Empire and Mingde Hall." Lin Mu took a deep breath and made her decision.

"Thank you."

Huo Yuhao said no more.

His consciousness had already sunk once more into the [Thought Palace].

This time, he mobilized every scrap of intelligence he could gather about Mingde Hall, including its founding history, renowned soul engineers, known soul tool models...

[Beginning construction of the "Mingde Hall" virtual sandbox...]

[Simulating environment...]

[Modeling key figures' personalities...]

[Analyzing technical barriers...]

Within Huo Yuhao's spiritual world, a vast and intricate virtual structure rose from the ground.

Before setting foot on that land, he intended to thoroughly study every one of his opponents.

Within the [Thought Palace], Huo Yuhao gently pressed the confirmation button for the "Hidden Dragon Plan."