"Th-this..."
Fan Yu stared at the little object in his hand in disbelief.
It was a small, blue, hexagonal badge with an official name-the Level 1 Soul Engineer Badge!
By producing it, Huo Yuhao had shown that he was already a certified Soul Engineer. He understood the principles behind soul tools; he was no novice who needed Fan Yu to explain the basics.
Fan Yu took several deep breaths, then looked at Huo Yuhao. "Is this really yours?"
"Yes." Huo Yuhao nodded. "If you recognize Soul Engineer badges issued by the Star Luo Empire, then it's genuine."
Calming himself, Fan Yu took out a blueprint and showed it to Huo Yuhao. "What is this formation used for?"
Huo Yuhao glanced at it and answered without hesitation. "The most basic soul-gathering formation."
"And this one?"
"A linked formation combining charging and output."
"What metal is this?"
"Oh, that's coarse cold iron. It's cheap because it's produced in large quantities and contains lots of impurities. I used to love working with it."
Fan Yu asked several simple questions about soul tools in succession, and Huo Yuhao answered them all with ease. This convinced him that Huo Yuhao was a genuine Level 1 Soul Engineer.
Who was Fan Yu? A veteran teacher in Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department, an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo, and a Level 8 Soul Engineer!
Even he, who had weathered every storm, taught many geniuses, and was himself a genius among geniuses, could not help drawing a sharp breath. His scalp tingled.
An eleven-year-old Level 1 Soul Engineer? Wasn't that probably the youngest Soul Engineer on the entire continent?
Fan Yu was unsure whether the Sun Moon Empire had anyone younger, but Huo Yuhao was certainly the youngest he had ever heard of.
He asked another question. "How long did it take you to become a Level 1 Soul Engineer?"
"Let me think. About five months."
Five months?!
Fan Yu, Zhou Yi, and He Caitou all froze.
In a sense, going from a complete beginner to a Level 1 Soul Engineer was the hardest step. Not only did one have to study theoretical knowledge about formations and metals, but engraving, forging, and everything else had to be learned from scratch.
He Caitou was already a soul tool genius whom Fan Yu valued enormously, yet becoming a Level 1 Soul Engineer had taken him a year and four months.
Huo Yuhao had taken only a third of that time!
Fan Yu felt his heart hammering wildly.
Such terrifying talent for soul tools, such a powerful mental-attribute martial soul...
He could not let Huo Yuhao slip away! He would do everything in his power to nurture this child and witness with his own eyes how high he could soar.
"Who taught you before?" he hurriedly asked.
Huo Yuhao replied, "A Soul Engineer from the Star Luo Empire. An old man, quite elderly, but very focused and patient. His Soul Engineer level wasn't very high, either-only Level 4."
After a moment's thought, he added, "Actually, that was two years ago. I've barely touched soul tools in the past two years. You know how much money studying them burns through. Where would an orphan like me get enough money to buy rare metals?"
Two years ago? Then he had been less than ten?
Fan Yu felt as though he was going mad!
Huo Yuhao had brought him far too many surprises. There was no way he could simply hand him over to the Martial Soul Department!
"Huo Yuhao, money is no problem!"
Fan Yu gripped Huo Yuhao's shoulders in excitement. "The Soul Tool Department can provide you with all the resources you need. Here, you'll have enough rare metals, and I'll do everything in my power to nurture you."
"Join the Soul Tool Department!"
"I can promise you right now that you'll be a core disciple of our Soul Tool Department!"
His gaze was resolute, his voice ringing with conviction.
Fan Yu believed Huo Yuhao would surely not reject him or the terms he had offered.
Zhou Yi was stunned as well.
Fan Yu was her husband, and it had been a long time since she had seen that look in his eyes. Fervor, resolve, persistence... just like when he had first pursued her.
Faced with Fan Yu's sincere invitation, Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Teacher Fan Yu, I appreciate your kindness. I'm very sorry, but I have to refuse."
"I still choose the Martial Soul Department."
Fan Yu froze.
He could not believe it. With Huo Yuhao's talent for soul tools, why was he so determined to join the Martial Soul Department?
He Caitou's eyes widened too, and he urged, "Little Brother Huo, don't turn it down so quickly! Being a core disciple isn't just a title. It comes with plenty of privileges and special treatment."
"Thank you, but I don't need them."
Huo Yuhao gently shook his head and began:
"Teacher Fan Yu, there's no need to persuade me any further. It's not that I don't understand soul tools. I have every confidence in their future. Soul tools will definitely change this continent!"
Seeing Yuhao's resolute expression, Fan Yu and Zhou Yi could not help listening closely.
"I firmly believe that, in the future, the requirements for using soul tools will keep falling, until even commoners and ordinary people without soul power can operate them to contend with Titled Douluos."
"I firmly believe that, in the future, soul tools will reach into every aspect of people's lives and bring them boundless convenience."
"I firmly believe that, in the future, soul tools will change warfare, end war once and for all, and usher in lasting peace."
"I firmly believe that, one day, people will launch soul tools onto the moon!"
"But..."
Huo Yuhao changed tack. "For now, I will still choose the Martial Soul Department."
After a long silence, Fan Yu asked, "Can you tell me why?"
"I'm afraid I can't disclose that, Teacher Fan Yu." Huo Yuhao turned to Zhou Yi. "Sorry, Teacher Zhou. You brought me here today because you wanted me to join the Soul Tool Department, didn't you? I've disappointed you."
"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."
With that, Huo Yuhao dipped his head slightly in apology and prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
Fan Yu called him back, but did not pester him. He merely said, "How about this, Huo Yuhao? Don't rush into a decision yet. Wait three months. It won't be too late to decide after the new student assessment ends."
"All right. Goodbye, teachers. Goodbye, Brother Caitou." Huo Yuhao nodded, bade them farewell, and left the Soul Tool Department's testing area.
Once Huo Yuhao's figure had vanished from sight, Fan Yu exhaled and instructed He Caitou, "Caitou, I'll be stepping out for a while this afternoon. Don't you lot slack off."
He Caitou assured him, "Don't worry, Teacher."
"Good."
Fan Yu took Zhou Yi's hand and drew her into his arms.
Zhou Yi was taken aback. How long had it been since Fan Yu had held her like this?
"Fan Yu, why are you suddenly..."
"Zhou Yi, hold on tight."
"...Huh?"
The next instant, Fan Yu flew out of the testing area with Zhou Yi in his arms.
Less than two seconds later, he flew back with her and warned He Caitou, "Not a word about what happened today to anyone!"
He Caitou said, "All ri-"
Before he could finish, Fan Yu and Zhou Yi had vanished again.
Fan Yu flew out of the testing area, his speeding figure skimming low over Sea God Lake and raising two enormous waves across its waters.
Zhou Yi held on to his arms and asked softly, "Where are we going?"
"To see the dean!"
Fan Yu knew he had already gone mad.
The Soul Tool Department was about to go mad too.
Huo Yuhao walked back toward the dormitory, holding a skewer of grilled fish in his right hand and eating with relish.
Given his talent back then, had the Star Luo Empire found out, it would certainly have dragged him into the Star Luo Royal Academy. But Huo Yuhao had kept a low profile. The only people who knew were Princess Xu Jiujiu and the Soul Engineer who had taught him.
Tian Meng's puzzled voice suddenly rang out. "Yuhao, why did you turn them down? Don't you really like soul tools?"
In Huo Yuhao's memories, he had caught glimpses of Huo Yuhao's fondness for soul tools. Although it did not quite amount to fanaticism, he was certainly very interested in them.
Biting into his grilled fish, Huo Yuhao replied, "Of course I like soul tools. Unfortunately, I checked the academy's rules, and a student can only choose one department."
"Besides, once you reach the Soul Saint level, Soul Engineers generally can't beat Soul Masters of the same level who focus on their martial souls."
Tian Meng only half understood. "Is that the reason?"
"Of course there's another reason beyond that."
Huo Yuhao spoke calmly.
"Can studying soul tools lead to godhood? As far as I know, becoming a god requires your own soul power to break through Level 100, doesn't it?"
Hearing that answer, Tian Meng froze.
"I promised you I would take you with me to godhood."
Tian Meng said no more. He simply felt a new, special emotion stirring in his heart.