Great Tonic Wine

Tang Wulin watched Huo Yuhao calmly use the ordinary carving knife and various auxiliary tools provided on the stage, inscribing the Energy-Gathering Core Formation and Storage Core Formation onto the Heavenly Spirit Silver with smooth, flowing movements.

The feeling Huo Yuhao gave Tang Wulin while making soul tools seemed to share the same essence as Tang Wulin forging metal himself. The emotions the metal conveyed to him were all exceedingly joyful.

However, Tang Wulin's forging purified metal and elevated the quality of its life. Huo Yuhao, on the other hand, built upon that foundation, using meticulous control over structural details to extend the metal's capabilities and grant it a new soul.

In truth, this was mainly because the work of a soul engineer already encompassed the entire process of design, forging, and production. Naturally, its scope was broader than that of a blacksmith.

It was simply that blacksmiths delved more deeply into the realm of forging metal life. One could only say that each had its own strengths.

In the end, Huo Yuhao used only three quarters of an hour to produce a Level 3 soul power bottle with an even texture and perfect sealing. He was a full quarter of an hour faster than in the original work.

The chief judge, Chen An, held the soul power bottle Huo Yuhao had made and examined it. He could not help but exclaim in amazement:

"Though your soul power bottle is not Level 4, it surpasses a Level 4 one. It is practically the most perfect work in this world. Congratulations on passing this round of assessment. You may proceed to the next round."

Huo Yuhao smiled faintly. "This soul power bottle is yours."

Chen An knew that Huo Yuhao belonged to Alliance Leader Nangong's side, so he had already been extremely respectful toward Huo Yuhao. Now that he had witnessed Huo Yuhao's exceptional skill firsthand, not to mention received such a valuable gift from him—

Chen An's attitude toward Huo Yuhao was no longer merely one of admiration. He had even begun considering how he ought to curry favor with Huo Yuhao.

Thus, Chen An reminded him, "The rare metals provided on the table may all be taken away by the contestants."

Hearing this, Tang Wulin immediately and very consciously stored all the rare metals on the table in his storage bracelet. It had to be said that the central round table where Huo Yuhao stood was undoubtedly the largest of all the competition tables.

Therefore, the rare metals Huo Yuhao received were naturally the most abundant as well.

The next morning.

Just as in the original work, the round-robin draw placed Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy in the first group. Moreover, the first match of the first round in Group One was another encounter between the Tang Sect and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.

After analyzing the situation with his sister, Xiao Hongchen ultimately decided to strategically forfeit this match. They intended to fight Shrek Academy with all their strength afterward, then advance from the group together with the Tang Sect.

Xu Tianran could not help praising Jing Hongchen, "Your grandson is indeed quite shrewd."

Jing Hongchen bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "You flatter him."

Shrek Academy's opponent in the first round of the round-robin stage was not particularly strong, and Dai Huabin's group easily claimed victory.

The next day.

The first round of the round-robin stage concluded smoothly that afternoon. As dusk fell, the second round of the Underground Ming Capital Soul Engineering Elite Tournament was about to begin.

The content of this round was to create an offensive soul tool with Level 4 power within three hours. Only after it passed the judges' inspection could one advance through the round.

Just as in the original work, Huang Zheng and Merke began representing the Xi Shui Alliance in this round. Within half an hour, the two used their respective custom carving knives to complete Level 4 soul tools, becoming the first to pass this round.

After Huo Yuhao used the tools provided on the stage to make a Level 4 Soul Power Cannon, he too passed the round smoothly within an hour.

Walking back to the hotel with Huo Yuhao, Tang Wulin asked softly, "Brother Yuhao, why don't you use the Blade of Life's Watch for carving?"

"What? You want to see it? Then I'll use the Blade of Life's Watch in all my following matches and show you."

Huo Yuhao pinched Tang Wulin's cheek, then took out the Blade of Life's Watch and placed it in Tang Wulin's hand.

Tang Wulin turned the carving knife, which radiated the aura of life throughout its body, and chuckled. "This little thing is really nimble. It's much more fun than my forging hammer."

Huo Yuhao burst out laughing. Unable to resist, he ruffled Tang Wulin's smooth hair. "Wulin is just too adorable."

The next day.

In the first match of the second round of the round-robin stage, the Tang Sect faced Mingyu Sect of the Sun Moon Empire. Even with two Soul Emperors, Mingyu Sect was ultimately no match for Soul Saint-level Tang Wutong.

A De, who possessed the Bloodsucking Bat martial soul, was ultimately overwhelmed by the God-King Bloodline's energy. His body exploded, and he died from the backlash.

Likewise, Cain, Mingyu Sect's captain who possessed the Three-Headed Darkgold Bat martial soul, was reduced to ashes by hundreds of light blades empowered by Tang Wutong's martial soul true body.

Even Tang Wutong herself was stunned. She truly had not expected the light attribute to suppress the dark attribute so thoroughly, causing her to accidentally kill them.

During the second round of the round-robin stage, the Tang Sect greatly weakened Mingyu Sect's overall combat strength. This allowed Shrek Academy, having advanced to the third round, to defeat Mingyu Sect with ease in their match.

Youthful Hotel, underground world.

The third round of the Ming Capital Soul Engineering Elite Tournament officially began.

The contest required contestants to create any soul tool within two hours, after which the opposing sides would duel using their finished soul tools. Contestants could use soul power, but they could not use soul skills in battle.

Tang Wulin watched Huo Yuhao busy himself with crafting. His focused, earnest gaze made Tang Wulin unable to help becoming engrossed, drawn in by Huo Yuhao's deep and clear eyes.

An hour later, Huang Zheng and Merke were the first to complete Level 5 offensive soul tools, leaving their opponents utterly despondent and prompting them to surrender outright.

Not long afterward, Huo Yuhao used the Blade of Life's Watch to create a Level 5 High-Explosive Soul Cannon, earning repeated exclamations of amazement from his opponent, Gao Dalou.

Gao Dalou, who had only made a Level 4 Concussion Bomb, knew he was no match for Huo Yuhao and likewise chose to surrender.

Unlike in the original work, Huo Yuhao did not invite Gao Dalou out for drinks. Instead, he took Tang Wulin to that modest-sized bar.

Huo Yuhao ordered himself a glass of wine, then ordered Tang Wulin a glass of rose wine as well. The two lightly sipped from their glasses, slowly savoring the mellow liquor.

A flush crept onto Tang Wulin's face, and an image suddenly surfaced in his mind.

He suddenly recalled a story Huo Yuhao had once told him—what had happened in the era where Huo Yuhao had not helped him, after Dai Yun'er made him drink Great Tonic Wine.

Tang Wulin narrowed his eyes and called to the bartender, "Please bring me a glass of Great Tonic Wine."

?!

No, Wulin, you don't have to be this ruthless...

Huo Yuhao's face twisted involuntarily. He and the bartender both revealed looks of shock upon hearing this.

After giving Huo Yuhao and Tang Wulin an odd look, the bartender seemed to immediately understand something.

Not long afterward, a brimming glass of Great Tonic Wine was brought to the table. Tang Wulin gulped it down in one go, then forcibly dragged Huo Yuhao into a mad dash back to Ming Yue Hotel.