Seeing the sheer quantity of high-grade rare metals, Huo Yuhao's expression grew solemn.
"Princess, what do you mean by this? These rare metals seem far too generous as a congratulatory gift."
Seeing such a wealth of resources, Huo Yuhao immediately understood that the Star Luo Imperial Family must want something from him, or perhaps hoped to trade for something.
"Pavilion Master Huo, you're overthinking it. My elder brother has always loved making friends with talented young people. He deeply regrets that he didn't get to know you sooner, and only wants to make up for it now."
Xu Jiujiu replied unhurriedly. At the same time, she nudged the storage ring Huo Yuhao had placed back on the table toward him, indicating that he could accept it without worry.
Having more or less understood Xu Jiawei's intentions, Huo Yuhao used his spiritual power to ask Mu En, who had arrived in Star Luo City some time ago, a couple of questions.
"Don't worry. It's just a bit of ordinary investment. The Star Luo Emperors of every generation have given the academy some investment, more or less. I just didn't expect Xu Jiawei to think so highly of you."
After receiving Mu En's reply, Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate any longer and accepted the two storage rings.
"Then I thank you and your brother, Princess. If I have any spare Two-Word Battle Armor in the future, I'll be sure to offer it to your brother first."
At his words, Xu Jiujiu nodded. She rose, gave Huo Yuhao a proper courtly bow, and left with the two Titled Douluo.
Xu Jiujiu naturally understood that she couldn't rush things. She had already established a connection with Huo Yuhao, and staying any longer would only make her intentions seem suspicious.
After Xu Jiujiu left, Huo Yuhao used his spiritual power to find Mu En, intending to seek the well-traveled elder's advice.
"Yuhao, you've come at just the right time. I was about to have a talk with you. For the next while, I'll share some of my experience in dealing with people. You're still young, after all, and there are some tangled webs of mutual interest you don't quite see through yet."
Huo Yuhao nodded. He intended to put some effort into learning. After all, in his previous life, he had only been a young man himself, and these kinds of exchanges of interests were still rather complicated for him.
Still, seeing the rare metals put Huo Yuhao in an excellent mood. He had already used up a great deal of them while Spirit Forging.
Shrek Academy wasn't exactly well-stocked with rare metals. It wasn't that the academy lacked money, but that some rare metals were controlled by the Sun Moon Empire.
Because some of the rare metals needed for Three-Word Battle Armor were hard to obtain, Huo Yuhao had been planning to find a time to visit the Sun Moon Empire and scrounge up some resources.
The batch of metals Xu Jiawei had sent now solved Huo Yuhao's urgent problem. Not only could he continue practicing Soul Forging, he also had all the materials needed for Three-Word Battle Armor.
Huo Yuhao looked again at the Ten Thousand Year Luck around him and sighed. The child of luck really did get away with anything.
After a few days of disciplined living, combining study, cultivation, and forging, Huo Yuhao finally received a visit from Wang Yan.
The Soul Master Tournament was finally about to begin. A legend of an era was about to unfold before everyone's eyes.
As the team from Shrek Academy, which had won the championship year after year, they would be the first to compete in the knockout round on the opening day.
With the Star Luo Emperor's arrival, the atmosphere throughout the arena reached its peak.
"The first match of the first knockout round: the Shrek Academy team versus Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy."
As the announcer's voice rang out, the teams from Shrek Academy and Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy entered the arena in turn.
Cheers for Shrek filled the venue. The seven members of each team took their positions opposite one another.
As the referee's raised right arm came down, the match officially began.
Since Dai Yueheng had perished along with the God of Death's divine consciousness, Xi Xi had once again become a starting team member. She now stood behind Huo Yuhao.
Xi Xi shot a glance at the five others besides Huo Yuhao. All six immediately took a few steps back, leaving Huo Yuhao exposed at the front.
The people from Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy were a little puzzled by Shrek Academy's actions, but they didn't hesitate for long. They seized the opportunity to attack.
Yet the moment they released their Martial Souls, a terrifying spiritual pressure blanketed the entire arena, forcibly breaking their assault.
The seven facing Huo Yuhao immediately dropped to one knee, bracing themselves against the ground as they struggled to withstand the terrifying pressure.
Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, began to stroll forward slowly. As he drew closer to Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy, nine Soul Rings gradually appeared behind him.
Black, black, black, red, red, red, red, red, red—nine Soul Rings encircled Huo Yuhao, undulating with every step he took.
The venue suddenly fell utterly silent. Everyone was stunned by Huo Yuhao's nine Soul Rings, then an earth-shaking roar of cheers erupted.
In the stands, Xiao Hongchen, his silver hair gleaming, stared in shock at the bearded old man seated in the place of honor.
"Elder Ma, how is this possible? Can someone really become a Titled Douluo before the age of twenty? Even if they were pushed to that level with pills, they couldn't possibly advance so quickly."
Elder Ma also gazed at Huo Yuhao on the field, his expression grave.
"Although I wholeheartedly agree with you, that display of power just now really did seem like the work of a Titled Douluo. This year's tournament is going to be difficult for us."
Huo Yuhao looked at the few still holding out and decided to end the battle in the way that would best showcase his strength.
Huo Yuhao slowly floated into the air, once again using his divine consciousness to activate his Martial Soul Avatar.
But this time, the Martial Soul Avatar that appeared was a pair of enormous eyes, flecked with shards of ice. This was a new property of the Martial Soul Avatar that Huo Yuhao had discovered.
By using his divine consciousness to temporarily infuse a small portion of the Ice Jade Empress Scorpion's Martial Soul Origin into the Spirit Eye's origin, then channeling Soul Power into it, he could produce a Martial Soul Avatar similar to a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
"Everyone, since this is our first meeting, allow me to introduce myself. I am the next Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion, Ice Emperor Douluo Huo Yuhao."
As Huo Yuhao's voice rang out, everyone stared solemnly at the blue-gold eyes hovering in the air.
Even through the Soul Power barrier, the powerful pressure, bolstered by Huo Yuhao's divine consciousness, still sent chills down everyone's backs.
The seven members of Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy were closest to the Martial Soul Avatar. Despair had already begun to show in their eyes.
Seeing the seven on the verge of being crushed by his spiritual power, Huo Yuhao immediately swept them off the platform with a Spiritual Storm.
They weren't mortal enemies, and Huo Yuhao didn't want to ruin their futures over a single match.
But since this was his first time using a fused Martial Soul Avatar, Huo Yuhao was rather curious about its power. He couldn't help glancing at the referee, eager to try it out.
The referee, a Soul Douluo, had long been struggling to breathe under Huo Yuhao's immense spiritual power. Now, seeing that Huo Yuhao seemed ready to make a move, he hurriedly announced the result of the match, afraid Huo Yuhao might not have had his fill and take a swing at him.
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