"His code name in the empire is Linghu. He has been undercover in the Sun Moon Empire for ten years."
Huo Yuhao followed behind Jin Peng, quietly listening as he described the undercover agent's circumstances.
"He is a Level 6 Soul Engineer. He teaches fundamentals over there and is also a junior researcher at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy."
"He may not be particularly strong, but his foundational knowledge is absolutely solid. He is far better suited to teaching you than the staff of Di'ao Academy's Soul Tool Department."
Huo Yuhao nodded repeatedly.
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was the Sun Moon Empire's central research base for Soul Tools.
To the Sun Moon Empire, its standing was far more exalted than even the Body Sect's in Heaven Dou. It was the empire's undisputed core.
Anyone who could remain undercover there for ten years without being discovered was no ordinary man.
The Body Sect's reception hall stood halfway up the mountain.
When Huo Yuhao entered the hall, he saw a middle-aged man with unkempt stubble.
He had a square face and thick eyebrows, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, like two pearls beneath a tranquil sea.
"This is Mr. Linghu," Jin Peng introduced him.
Even if their strength was meager, Jin Peng held great respect for people who braved life and death for the empire, casting their own lives aside.
Huo Yuhao and Gu Tong felt the same.
They stepped forward and said respectfully, "Huo Yuhao pays his respects, Mr. Linghu."
Linghu dared not put on airs.
He hurriedly returned the greeting. "You two true disciples are too courteous. I have merely contributed what little I could. I hardly deserve to be called 'sir.'"
"No need to be so modest, Mr. Linghu," Jin Peng said. "The Body Sect knows absolutely nothing about Soul Tools, so we will have to trouble you to devote considerable effort to this. With guidance from a researcher at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy like yourself, I am certain they will achieve twice the results with half the effort."
"As for Lang Ya, he is away on some business at the moment. Sorry for the trouble, but you will also need to give him catch-up lessons when he returns."
Overwhelmed by the honor, Linghu bowed to Jin Peng. "You flatter me, Golden Body Douluo."
Afterward, Linghu began introducing Soul Tools to Huo Yuhao, Jin Peng, and Gu Tong.
Though he disliked Soul Tools from the bottom of his heart, Jin Peng listened attentively.
That was because Linghu was explaining Soul Tools from the perspective of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.
This would provide an extremely valuable reference for Heaven Dou's future defense against the Sun Moon Empire, and even a counteroffensive.
"Both of you true disciples have spiritual-type eye Martial Souls. That is something the Sun Moon Empire has been searching for all along."
Linghu said, "For Soul Engineers, the most important thing is Spiritual Power. Thus, your starting point is already a dream others can scarcely reach."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's heart stirred slightly.
"Mr. Linghu," he said, "the first Soul Skill of the Spirit Eyes Martial Soul is called Spiritual Detection Sharing. Based on what you just said, I think this Soul Skill could play an enormously significant role in the field of Soul Tools."
With that, he applied Spiritual Detection Sharing to Linghu.
Linghu's eyes instantly widened.
"Th-this, this..."
He was incredulous, and even began to stammer. "This is practically a Soul Skill born for Soul Tools!"
"Young Master Huo, do you know what this Soul Skill means?"
Huo Yuhao said thoughtfully, "From what you just told us, the most important and difficult part of making a Soul Tool is precisely engraving its Core Array."
"And Spiritual Detection allows me to clearly perceive every minute change in the Core Array's lines, preventing errors."
"Exactly!"
Linghu's voice trembled with excitement.
Though he was a spy Heaven Dou had planted in the Sun Moon Empire, he also genuinely loved Soul Tools. Otherwise, he could never have joined the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.
"Not only that, your Spiritual Detection Sharing could allow a squad of Soul Engineers to coordinate perfectly, truly achieving the effect of being directed by a single brain!"
Linghu gestured unconsciously with both hands as he explained to Huo Yuhao, Jin Peng, and Gu Tong just how tremendous a role the Spiritual Detection Sharing Soul Skill could play in Soul Engineer combat.
"Heaven blesses Heaven Dou. Heaven truly blesses Heaven Dou."
He vigorously wiped the tears of excitement from the corners of his eyes. "Rest assured, both of you. I will do everything in my power to lay a solid foundation in the Soul Tool system for you!"
Seeing this, Jin Peng nodded in satisfaction. "In that case, I will leave you to it."
"The Body Sect's Soul Tool Laboratory is not finished yet, so study in the Martial Arts Hall today. I will tell those brats not to disturb you."
After Jin Peng left, Linghu took a lamp out of his Storage Soul Tool.
"Please take a look, both of you." He dismantled the lamp. "This is the simplest illumination Soul Tool."
"Its Core Array has only three Soul Power circuits, yet it encompasses the most fundamental principles of Soul Power guidance, conversion, and release in Soul Tools. It is perfect for explaining Soul Tool principles to you two young masters."
Huo Yuhao and Gu Tong immediately leaned closer with curiosity to examine the pile of Soul Tool components.
Linghu picked up a metal plate engraved with an array. "This is the Soul Tool Core that carries the Core Array. Its principle is to channel Soul Power through the Core Array, creating resonance with the metal and ultimately converting it into energy with a specific effect."
Huo Yuhao activated Spiritual Detection Sharing, making it easier for himself and Gu Tong to understand while also helping Linghu explain the details of the Core Array.
Instantly, with Spiritual Detection's assistance, those minute lines appeared clearly in their minds like three-dimensional images.
It was not just them. Even Electrolux in the Sea of Consciousness was using this opportunity to study Soul Tools.
He had considerable interest in these things that resembled Magic Arrays.
"Not bad." Electrolux nodded repeatedly. "This Linghu has very solid fundamentals. He is more than qualified to teach you."
"And Yuhao, I can also take part in your idea of combining Talisman Master Artifact Refining with Soul Tools, achieving a stable trinity of Talisman Masters, Soul Tools, and Magic Arrays."
As Linghu explained profound concepts in simple terms, Huo Yuhao and the others soon gained the most basic understanding of Soul Tools.
Huo Yuhao and Gu Tong wore completely different expressions.
Gu Tong listened with his brows tightly furrowed.
On the one hand, he rejected Soul Tools, but under the weight of Du Busi's authority, he had no choice but to study alongside Huo Yuhao.
Yet after hearing Linghu's explanation, he also recognized the terrifying potential of Soul Tools.
Because of his age, Gu Tong's aversion to Soul Tools stemmed more from the Body Sect leadership's attitude toward them.
Now, hearing Linghu's personal experiences, especially after Linghu explained the history, classification, and applications of Soul Tool development in the Sun Moon Empire, Gu Tong felt an even greater sense of urgency and wanted the Body Sect to invest more in Soul Tool research.
Huo Yuhao's eyes, meanwhile, shone as Talisman Master Artifact Refining and Magic Arrays continually flashed through his mind.
From time to time, he raised questions that left even Linghu marveling.
"Mr. Linghu."
Huo Yuhao pointed at the illumination Soul Guidance Lamp's Core Array, then began writing and sketching on a sheet of white paper beside him.
"If we added a structure like this here, would it improve Soul Power conversion efficiency?"
"Also, suppose we changed its release circuit here. Could we alter its output method and turn ordinary illumination into an attack?"
Here, Huo Yuhao drew upon the operating principles of the Light Magic spell "Light of Exile" to propose this idea.
"Or we could change it like this."
Huo Yuhao also thought of the "Blinding Flash" spell. "For example, we could make a change here to improve the Core Array's Soul Power absorption efficiency. Then we could add another absorption structure here, incorporating the attribute power within the rare metal into the Core Array as well."
"Then, by increasing the frequency of Soul Power release, could we achieve a blinding effect with light?"
"Not only that, we could also do this..."
Linghu and Gu Tong stared blankly at Huo Yuhao as he kept writing and sketching.
"Young Master Gu," Linghu swallowed, "has Young Master Huo truly never had any contact with Soul Tools before?"
Gu Tong blinked.
Why did I seem like an idiot when we both had eye Martial Souls?
He replied, "It is not as though he has had none."
"He rode in a Soul Tool Carriage on the day he returned from Shrek."
Soon, the enormous laboratory table assembled from smaller tables was piled with Huo Yuhao's draft drawings.
Linghu examined them one by one with trembling hands.
Some of the contents of these drawings overlapped with the Sun Moon Empire's research, while others were Soul Tools that had already been developed.
But some were entirely new Soul Tools that even the Sun Moon Empire did not have!
Linghu drew a deep breath. "Young Master Huo, you truly are a born Soul Engineer."
"Your talent for Soul Tools surpasses even that of Xiao Hongchen, the grandson of Jing Hongchen, the head of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy."
He pointed at Huo Yuhao's first drawing. "This is the principle behind a Soul Tool Laser's Core Array! It is hard to believe you have never had contact with Soul Tools before."
"This is a Soul Tool Blinding Bullet, this is the Firmament Light Barrier, this is..."
By the end, Linghu clutched several drawings, beside himself with excitement. "And these are Illusion-type Soul Tools and Healing-type Soul Tools, which have stumped even the Sun Moon Empire!"
"Though you have only provided ideas, young master, this is already enough to overturn the traditional classification system for Soul Tools!"
Watching Huo Yuhao constantly discussing ideas with Linghu, Gu Tong felt that perhaps he really was an idiot.
Didn't I come here to study together with my junior brother?
Why couldn't I understand what they were saying?
Surely even a crown prince's study companion wouldn't be as bad as me?
Gu Tong shook his head.
He picked up the book Linghu had given him, Introduction to Soul Tool Fundamentals, and began immersing himself in it completely.
Brother Aotian is a monster, and my junior brother is a Ferocious Beast. They are the ones responsible for leading the Body Sect forward with songs of triumph.
Gu Tong understood inwardly, But the Body Sect's future also needs ordinary disciples like us to lay its foundations, one solid step at a time.
He took a deep breath and began studying those obscure, difficult principles of Soul Tools.
Start with the very basics: the Soul Power Guidance Circuit...