The Maglev Express glided steadily beneath the clouds. A faint glow of Soul Power flowed across the carriage walls, while a shock-absorbing Magic Formation smoothed away every jolt from the high-altitude currents.
Qian Duoduo sat in the front row, his plump face unusually solemn. He turned toward Huo Yuhao by the window and said, "Our first stop is Maplewood City, a neutral city. The Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tools are unrivaled across the continent. Watch more, learn more, and cause less trouble on this trip. Understood?"
"Understood, sir." Huo Yuhao nodded slightly, tapping a finger against the armrest as he made his own calculations.
In the original story, one of his main missions on this trip to Sun Moon had been to infiltrate Bright Virtue Hall and steal Soul Tool blueprints. With Electrolux's Undead Plane, he had pulled off one feat after another.
But things were completely different now. Few among Shrek's leadership truly trusted him. Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er of the Soul Tool Department, along with Titled Douluo like Lin Huiqun who had no factional ties, were among the only ones who genuinely valued his talent.
As for the elders of the Sea God Pavilion, most still watched him with scrutiny and suspicion.
No one had mentioned a mission to "steal blueprints" to him so far, and he was happy to be spared the bother.
Theft had never suited his principles. Even if someone did bring it up, he would let it go in one ear and out the other.
He had come to study and exchange knowledge, not to be a thief. His own skill with Soul Tools might not be any worse than that of the Sun Moon Empire's finest designers.
Huo Yuhao glanced at He Caitou across from him, a flicker of barely perceptible surprise