Xian Lin'er's Soul Tool Department had not been producing ideal results.
Never mind that Shrek had previously paid no attention whatsoever to developing soul tools-even now, almost all the students who came here were pursuing the cultivation of their own martial souls, rather than soul tools.
Had Mu En not thought so highly of soul tools and constantly supported her efforts to develop them, the Soul Tool Department would probably have had to say goodbye to Shrek at any moment.
Even so, that damned Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi, who favored martial soul development, kept fighting her over funding and students.
It infuriated her!
So this time, she had pleaded with Mu En for ages, specifically to make changes to freshman admissions.
Previously, freshmen had to pass the Martial Soul Department's Freshman Assessment before they were eligible to apply to join the Soul Tool Department.
But this time was different. She had specifically added an experimental class. It would still have a Martial Soul Department assessment, but there would also be a Soul Tool Department test. If someone had talent, the Soul Tool Department would grant special approval for them to pass directly into further study.
Honestly, they had previously demanded both exceptional martial soul talent and exceptional soul tool talent. What on earth had they been thinking?
Since this was the first experimental class, she had decided to show its importance by personally serving as its homeroom teacher, despite being the dean of the Soul Tool Department.
But hardly any freshmen seemed interested in this experimental class. Xian Lin'er idly flipped through the class roster and found only a handful of names.
Hmm?
Xian Lin'er's gaze settled on Huo Yuhao's photograph. This child seemed to be a genius whose first soul ring was a thousand-year one...
With talent like that, he was still willing to join this class. Sure enough, she could still stumble upon a treasure.
The next day, in the Freshman Teaching Building, Huo Yuhao looked at the few people scattered throughout the classroom and silently sank into thought.
Was this head count right?
On the way to Shrek, Bei Bei had told Huo Yuhao a great deal about soul tools. Besides, things like the Lighter had indeed been very useful when his soul power had been insufficient before, so he wanted to see how soul tools were made.
Moreover, relying on the academy's teachers to cultivate his martial soul would not do him much good. Their explanations were not even as thorough as those in the little classroom in his Sea of Consciousness.
All in all, after listening to that senior at the admissions office when school began, he had signed up for the experimental class.
But could they really run this class with so few people?
Just as Huo Yuhao was puzzling over this, a beautiful, tall woman, around 1.7 meters in height, walked in. She had short mint-green hair and wore a dark teal fitted outfit, looking capable and dashing.
"Hello, everyone. First, congratulations on passing the first round of testing and entering Shrek. And congratulations on choosing the academy's newly established experimental class."
"I am your homeroom teacher, as well as the dean of the entire Soul Tool Department, Xian Lin'er!"
At her words, the students, Huo Yuhao included, were startled. The dean was serving as their homeroom teacher?
Shrek's deans were all Titled Douluo-level powerhouses, and the dean of the Soul Tool Department was also a Level 8 Soul Engineer.
You're serving as our homeroom teacher? Has Shrek run out of teachers?
"I'm sure many of you are wondering why I'm serving as your homeroom teacher."
Xian Lin'er rested one hand on the lectern, her gaze turning serious. "The reason is simple. This experimental class is our Soul Tool Department's hope for moving forward, so I will personally teach this year's class!"
"From now on, martial soul cultivation classes and theory classes will proceed as usual. I will personally teach all your soul tool theory, tool forging, and circuit research classes."
"I'll take you on tours and guide you in making soul tools. As long as you demonstrate enough talent, I'll clear away every obstacle concerning your entrance assessment!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a little more discussion filled the previously quiet classroom.
"All right, Huo Yuhao, tell us your understanding of the current offense and defense system."
Huo Yuhao sat by the window in the back row. He was a little surprised when Xian Lin'er called him by name, but he still stood up, thought for a moment, and answered:
"Teacher, I believe the emergence of soul tools has blurred the traditional offense and defense system."
"So even a food system soul master, equipped with a sufficiently powerful offensive soul tool, can unleash damage no weaker than a battle soul master's."
"Likewise, battle soul masters can rely on defensive soul tools to temporarily replace auxiliary soul engineers. Thus, with soul tools, soul masters have more flexibility in battle than they did ten thousand years ago."
"However."
Huo Yuhao shifted his argument and continued, "Although soul tools can widen the gap between two people to a certain extent, they cannot change the fundamentals. More powerful soul tools require equally powerful soul masters to operate them. At higher levels, soul tools actually cannot create much of a gap."
"Mm, very good."
Xian Lin'er nodded in satisfaction. It seemed he was genuinely interested in soul tools, rather than having signed up for no reason.
Moreover, the issue he had raised was precisely what the Martial Soul Department's soul masters believed: current high-level soul tools truly struggled to pose a threat to other Super Douluo.
"Student Huo Yuhao is more or less correct, so I won't elaborate further. As for what soul tools are actually like, I'll take you to the research institute now to have a look. Also, Huo Yuhao, come with me afterward."
Inside the office, Xian Lin'er clasped her hands and looked at the well-behaved Huo Yuhao before her. With a kindly smile, she said, "Huo Yuhao, your file shows that you have two thousand-year soul rings. With your talent, you would certainly become a core disciple in the Martial Soul Department in the future. Can you tell me why?"
Why else? Wasn't it simply a matter of interest?
Huo Yuhao's mind raced, and he said, "Teacher, actually, I feel my martial soul is quite suited to this."
"Your martial soul?"
"Yes, my martial soul is the spirit system 'Spirit Eyes.' Um, would you like to try it?"
"A body martial soul? A spirit system one?!"
Hearing Huo Yuhao say this, Xian Lin'er's interest immediately stirred. Good heavens, a born sacred vessel for the Soul Tool Department!
"Go on, go on."
"All right."
Huo Yuhao agreed. His thousand-year soul ring lit up, and his eyes instantly turned golden as he activated Spiritual Detection Sharing on Xian Lin'er.
In an instant, everything within a hundred-meter radius of the office turned into clear, three-dimensional images presented in Xian Lin'er's mind.
It was not just the view-even the internal contours of metal structures were clearly detectable to her.
This sensation was truly exhilarating...
Xian Lin'er abruptly came back to herself and looked at Huo Yuhao, who was using his soul skill. She stood straight up, gently placed both hands on his shoulders, and suddenly leaned close.
Bending her tall frame slightly, Xian Lin'er let her warm breath brush lightly across Huo Yuhao's forehead. The blazing intensity in her eyes almost spilled over as she fixed her gaze firmly on him.
My class's Huo Yuhao has the makings of a Level 9!
"Become my disciple, Huo Yuhao! As long as you become my disciple, most of the Soul Tool Department's resources will be poured into you!"
"With your talent, the Martial Soul Department might favor you and give you a few things the other core disciples don't get, but that would be all. I won't stop there! As long as you're willing to study under me, I'll do anything you ask!"
Before you continue