Xuan Ziwen: I Was Here First!

Suddenly, Xuan Ziwen's expression changed drastically. He felt as though the world before his eyes had become exceptionally clear. He could even see the exact extent to which every strand of Huo Yuhao's hair swayed.

Moreover, even while his eyes were fixed on Huo Yuhao, every scene within a thirty-one-meter radius centered on himself appeared clearly in his mind.

"Is this your soul skill? Impossible! How could a ten-year soul ring produce a soul skill like this? Could it be a mutated soul skill?"

Xuan Ziwen's breathing grew hurried. The possibility of a mutated soul skill did exist; otherwise, there was no way to explain how the other party's ten-year soul ring could grant such a heaven-defying skill.

As a Soul Engineer, he understood the value of such a soul skill. Huo Yuhao, who possessed it, was practically a born Soul Engineer.

Generally speaking, soul tools were broadly divided into three structures—the outer shell, the inner shell, and the core.

The outer shell was generally made of hard, heat-resistant metal to ensure a soul tool's long-term use, while the inner shell was made of conductive metal to amplify soul power as much as possible. Of course, neither was as important as the core.

The most important part of a soul tool was, in fact, its core.

The so-called core referred to the Core Array. Inscribing a Core Array into a soul tool was no easy task. In most cases, the level of Core Array one could inscribe determined what rank of Soul Engineer one was.

Once Huo Yuhao used his soul skill while inscribing a Core Array, he could achieve twice the result with half the effort. Compared with other Soul Engineers, Huo Yuhao undoubtedly held a considerable advantage.

Furthermore, if Huo Yuhao could use his soul skill to assist him, the process of inscribing Core Arrays would become easier for him as well.

Huo Yuhao deliberately asked, "Teacher Xuan, is my soul skill really that impressive?"

The soul ring Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had given him was a Million-Year Soul Ring. Thus, this soul ring possessed four First Soul Skills: Mental Detection, Mental Sharing, Mental Interference, and Soul Impact.

He had just used Mental Detection and Mental Sharing, which was why Xuan Ziwen had been so shocked.

Although Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's combat strength was rather pathetic, it was still a Million-Year Soul Beast. That was why the Wisdom Soul Ring it bestowed came with soul skills of such broad applicability.

"More than impressive!" Xuan Ziwen excitedly placed both hands on Huo Yuhao's shoulders and said with emotion, "You are a born Soul Engineer! Of all the soul skills I have seen so far, yours is one of the most compatible with Soul Engineers! What is this soul skill called?"

"Mental Detection Sharing!" Huo Yuhao immediately replied.

Naturally, he could not tell the other man that it was actually two soul skills, so he mashed their names together. After all, according to common knowledge, his "ten-year soul ring" would generally only have one soul skill. Only a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring would possess two soul skills.

"Mental Detection Sharing. It truly is a very powerful soul skill.

"However, the one regrettable part is that your detection range is too small.

"If your detection range were larger, and if you also possessed command talent, you would become a born commander among Soul Masters." Xuan Ziwen spoke with some regret.

He truly wished Huo Yuhao's detection range could be greater.

"Teacher Xuan, when I first obtained this soul skill, its detection range was only thirty meters. But after meditating for some time, its range has already reached thirty-one meters! My detection range can expand as my cultivation rises." Huo Yuhao dropped a bombshell.

"Your detection range can still improve?" Xuan Ziwen found it hard to believe. Then, he took a deep breath and said, "Huo Yuhao, are you willing to study soul tool creation with me?

"I absolutely will not bury your talent for making soul tools! And if you can become a Second Level Soul Engineer within a year, I will formally accept you as my student!"

Looking at Xuan Ziwen, Huo Yuhao knew the man had taken the bait. However, he did not agree right away. After all, according to his current persona, he did not know Xuan Ziwen's identity or background.

"Study soul tool creation with you, Teacher Xuan?" Huo Yuhao showed some hesitation.

At that moment, a man's voice came from outside the classroom. "Teacher Xuan, if I remember correctly, even Ju Zi, who is rather gifted at making soul tools, never made you take the initiative to accept her as a student. What is so special about this Huo Yuhao?"

A short, plump figure pushed open the door and walked into the classroom.

Teacher Tang and Xuan Ziwen were both drawn by the voice. They immediately turned to look at the man who had spoken. When they realized it was Jing Hongchen, the Hall Master of Mingde Hall and the academy dean, they both called out, "Hall Master!"

Jing Hongchen nodded slightly and looked at Huo Yuhao. "I am Jing Hongchen, dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. I listened outside for a while just now. Show me your soul skill too—I want to see what kind of soul skill has earned such high praise from Teacher Xuan!"

"Alright, Dean Jing! Please do not resist." Huo Yuhao nodded, then used Mental Detection and Mental Sharing again.

Jing Hongchen was initially rather dismissive. However, after being affected by Huo Yuhao's soul skill, his expression changed slightly, and he could not help but praise him. "No wonder—no wonder Teacher Xuan praised your soul skill!

"This truly is a soul skill exceptionally suited to Soul Engineers! Your soul skill is indeed far too powerful. In all my years, this is the first time I have seen such an interesting mental soul skill. With this soul skill, you are a born team leader! Even in the history of the Sun Moon Empire, no one's First Soul Skill has ever been as powerful as yours!"

"You flatter me, Dean," Huo Yuhao said.

A smile appeared on Jing Hongchen's face. He shook his head and said, "Huo Yuhao, you are being too modest. Your soul skill is indeed formidable, so you truly are excellent material for becoming a Soul Engineer.

"Furthermore, your Spirit Eye is both a Body Martial Soul and a mental-attribute martial soul. If that old bastard Du Busi learns of this, he will probably send someone to take you away.

"After all, Spirit Eyes are both the eyes and the brain. Their position within the body is simply too important! But since you have come to Sun Moon, I naturally will not let that old bastard Du Busi snatch you away!

"I heard you say just now that your detection range can expand with your strength. That is truly rare. So, are you willing to study how to make soul tools with me?

"If you can become a Rank 3 Soul Engineer within a year and a half, I will formally accept you as my student!"

He had known long ago that the boy's Innate Soul Power was only Rank One. After examining him just now, he confirmed that Huo Yuhao's Innate Soul Power was only Rank One mainly because his body was depleted and his meridians were blocked.

Of course, these flaws could all be improved later through pills and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

Thus, in Jing Hongchen's view, Huo Yuhao could fully take the pill-fed route. It would not be a loss even if he piled resources into raising him to Soul Douluo, since a Soul Engineer's combat strength was mainly concentrated in their soul tools.

A Soul Engineer being somewhat weaker as a Soul Master was, in truth, acceptable. With the other party's Spirit Eye Martial Soul and this mutated soul skill, he might even become a Rank 8 Soul Engineer in the future!

On the other side, Xuan Ziwen froze for a moment before immediately protesting, "Hall Master, how can you do this?! There has to be an order to these things—I was obviously here first! Just because you're the Hall Master, you can steal students? You should at least be reasonable!"

"Teacher Xuan, that is not quite right," Jing Hongchen said with a smile. "You are a teacher, and I am the Hall Master. We are both discovering talent for the Sun Moon Empire.

"So there is no need to distinguish who came first in a matter like this, is there?"

Xuan Ziwen's face darkened. "Hall Master, you have gone too far. I will report this matter to my teacher in full."

Xuan Ziwen had finally found a promising talent who surpassed even Ju Zi in certain respects, so naturally, he was unwilling to let him go so easily.

His love for soul tools was genuine. Naturally, he hoped that a talented prospect could assist him in producing even finer soul tools—or make outstanding soul tools himself.

Jing Hongchen paused, then smiled awkwardly. Xuan Ziwen's teacher was Kong Deming, an immensely powerful Rank 9 Soul Engineer who had once served as Hall Master of Mingde Hall. Even he had to respectfully address Kong Deming as Old Kong!

Because Kong Deming possessed one-quarter Royal Bloodline, he was deeply trusted by the imperial family.

Moreover, everyone said that the man had a chance of becoming the Sun Moon Empire's first Rank 10 Soul Engineer.

So he said, "Teacher Xuan, there is no need to disturb Old Kong over such a matter, is there? How about this—let Huo Yuhao choose for himself. Whoever he wants to choose, he can choose. Alright?"

Xuan Ziwen nodded, then looked toward Huo Yuhao, preparing to persuade him. "Huo Yuhao, as you can see, this is the dean of our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, as well as the Hall Master of Mingde Hall.

"Although the Hall Master holds a lofty position and is a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, he is very busy. It is simply impossible for him to have time to teach you. He will probably hand you off to someone else when the time comes.

"On the other hand, I am a Rank 8 Soul Engineer with the energy to teach students. Although I cannot compare to a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, my teacher is also a Rank 9 Soul Engineer. If you display enough talent in the future, I would not mind recommending you to my teacher."

After hearing that, Huo Yuhao had already made his decision. "Teacher Xuan Ziwen, I choose you. I want to learn how to make soul tools from you."

He made this decision partly because Xuan Ziwen truly had the energy to teach him, whereas Jing Hongchen was busy with affairs and would surely prioritize teaching his grandson and granddaughter.

The other reason was that, in the original novel, Xuan Ziwen's teacher, Kong Deming, would later become the world's first Rank 10 Soul Engineer. If he could establish a connection with Kong Deming, perhaps he could make the Ice Extreme War God Armor even stronger later on.

Besides, even if he became Jing Hongchen's student, he would not get to use the Snow Empress Embryo that would be bought back in the future.

The Snow Empress Embryo would definitely be reserved first for Xiao Hongchen to awaken a second martial soul.

Even if Huo Yuhao displayed extraordinary talent in the future, the right to use the Snow Empress Embryo would not fall to him.

After all, the Sun Moon Empire had experience awakening a second martial soul, but none awakening a third martial soul. Naturally, they would not use the precious Snow Empress Embryo on Huo Yuhao. If it failed, would they not potentially lose both the embryo and Yuhao?

Judging by the timeline, Huo Yuhao would obtain the Ultimate Ice Martial Soul before long. At that point, his status within the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy would rise accordingly, and he would become an unparalleled genius in everyone's eyes.

Jing Hongchen had not been kicked in the head by a donkey. How could he possibly let a Twin Martial Souls genius with limitless potential take the enormous risk of fusing with the Snow Empress Embryo? Even if others could not identify the Snow Empress Embryo, they could at least recognize it as a 100,000 Year Soul Beast Embryo!

Twin Martial Souls were already rare on the Douluo Continent, while Triple Martial Souls were unheard of. So rather than trying to make Huo Yuhao awaken Triple Martial Souls, it would be better to let Xiao Hongchen awaken Twin Martial Souls.

So when the time comes, I can only wait for the Body Sect to make a big move. I can only rely on Du Busi to pull off something major, or I will not get the Snow Empress Embryo! Of course, as long as I do not go to the Clear Sky Sect early on, the Snow Empress will not become a soul spirit, and Elder Yi will not die.

Of course, although he planned to wait for the Body Sect to make a major move, he did not intend to let Mingde Hall suffer heavy casualties as it had in the original novel. After all, he had already settled in Sun Moon, so naturally, he had to consider Sun Moon's interests.

"Fine, Teacher Xuan. Since Huo Yuhao has made his choice, I will not disturb you further." Jing Hongchen waved his hand and left somewhat helplessly.

Beside him, Xuan Ziwen looked at Huo Yuhao and reached toward the Storage Soul Tool at his waist. With a swipe, he took out two wooden boxes. "One contains a Mystic Water Pill, while the other contains a Soul Ascension Pill. Consider them my gift to you.

"The Mystic Water Pill has mild medicinal properties. It can help purge impurities from your body and increase your soul power. The Soul Ascension Pill's medicinal properties are also relatively mild, and it can likewise help you increase your soul power."

"Thank you, Teacher Xuan." Huo Yuhao looked at the man gratefully.

The two pills were actually extremely expensive.

However, as everyone knew, one of a Soul Engineer's greatest traits was wealth. After all, soul tools sold extremely well on the Douluo Continent, so high-level Soul Engineers were highly sought after.

As a Rank 8 Soul Engineer and Mingde Hall Chief Researcher, Xuan Ziwen was naturally quite affluent. For example, even at an auction house, if a soul tool bore the name of being made by Mingde Hall, the auction house would dare to set its starting price higher.

This could be considered the Douluo version of brand recognition.

So although the two pills were worth a fortune, they were not truly expensive to Xuan Ziwen.

"Mm. After class tomorrow, come find me in the experimental zone. I will teach you how to make soul tools. If you can pass the Second Level Soul Engineer assessment within a year, you will be my student."

"Mm, thank you for your guidance, Teacher Xuan. I will work hard."

Huo Yuhao was brimming with confidence.

After all, Huo Gua in the original novel truly was an exceptionally gifted Soul Engineer.

Although the Soul Engineer assessments at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy were more difficult than those at Shrek Academy, with his talent, becoming a Second Level Soul Engineer within a year would be effortless.