Mu En's thoughts

"Child, would you take a walk with me?"

Seeing that everyone else had left, Mu En called Huo Yuhao back.

"All right."

Zhang Lexuan pushed Mu En, while Gu Yuena and Gu Qiu'er followed behind Huo Yuhao. The five of them strolled slowly along Sea God Lake.

After a while, Mu En spoke:

"Child, what do you think of Shrek Academy?"

"I don't know enough to judge. But from what I've seen these past few days, it has quite a few problems."

Huo Yuhao was very direct, and he wasn't lying. He had indeed been very busy these past two months. Even during class, he listened while reading books borrowed from the library. Splitting his attention between two tasks wasn't difficult for him. He had also taught the others how, but whether they could learn it within this time wasn't something he concerned himself with.

"Quite a few problems hardly covers it. Last night, I looked through the academy's records from the past few years. Only then did I learn just how much filth lurked beneath its glittering exterior.

"I don't have many years left. I'd already made arrangements for after my death, but now it seems I can't die yet.

"I'm afraid. The successor I originally chose-Xuan Zi-isn't reliable at all. Lexuan is a good child, but there isn't enough time.

"Soul Tools are certain to be the way of the future, which is why I've supported the Soul Tool Department. But the Martial Soul Department looks down on Soul Tools entirely, with Xuan Zi and my disciple Yan Shaozhe being the worst offenders.

"Once I die, they'll certainly suppress the Soul Tool Department until it dies out. They won't see the light. With these people in power, what will become of the academy's future?

"I've also learned about your views on Soul Tools. It's truly incredible that you could think of the connection between Soul Tools and Soul Masters' Soul Skills.

"The knowledge you teach even analyzes concepts such as Martial Souls and Soul Masters.

"Can you tell me how Soul Tools will develop in the future?"

After pondering for a moment, Huo Yuhao slowly spoke:

"Making them accessible to common people and incorporating them into everyday life is inevitable. This will change how ordinary people live. You understand what consequences that will have, don't you? Of course, this is the progress of the times. No one can stop it.

"In combat, Soul Tools will greatly amplify Soul Masters' fighting strength. Soul Tool armor will be one trend. Soul Masters will wear Soul Tools, with all sorts of weapons and equipment mounted on them. This will deal a fatal blow to traditional Soul Masters. The gap at the higher levels will be erased.

"Large-scale Soul Tools for warfare will emerge, rewriting traditional modes of war. It may take countless lives just to trade for a single unit, while the enemy will have lost nothing more than some Soul Tools."

Huo Yuhao fell silent for a moment, but continued:

"Soul Rings left behind after Soul Masters die will also be recovered and reused."

Everyone stopped walking. They all understood, especially Gu Yuena. Why would Soul Rings be recovered? Because there would be no Soul Beasts left to kill. But she glanced at Huo Yuhao. Fortunately, he was here!

Mu En understood as well. He had once infiltrated the Sun Moon Imperium and knew very well that they had already developed Soul Tools capable of threatening him.

"How long will that take?"

"It's difficult to judge. Soul Tool development is still at the imitation stage, without much theoretical foundation." As someone who had lived in the Age of Reason, Huo Yuhao really wanted to complain about how Douluo Star was developing technology while still playing at feudalism. How slowly would that make development proceed? It was just like certain feral technology planets in the Imperium.

Actually, that was normal, Huo Yuhao thought it over. To develop theories, people at least needed enough to eat, while those on the Douluo Continent who had enough to eat all went off to pursue power.

A theoretical foundation! A keen light shone in Mu En's eyes. Wasn't the knowledge Huo Yuhao taught precisely a theoretical foundation? From what Huo Yuhao was saying, with theory, Soul Tools would develop extremely rapidly!

He then looked earnestly at Huo Yuhao. "I want to live another twenty years. Can you make that happen? Whatever the price!"

Seeing the old man's stubborn expression, Huo Yuhao couldn't help growing solemn. This old man truly wanted to protect the academy. Someone like that deserved respect.

"Yes."

The weight hanging over Mu En's heart lifted. He really can. And he hasn't even asked what's wrong with my body.

"I'll examine your physical condition first. Don't resist my spiritual power."

With that, Huo Yuhao placed a hand on Mu En's shoulder. He soon understood Mu En's condition.

"The main issue is an injury to your lower back. Your spine was broken and didn't heal properly. It's become necrotic, and some of the nerves in that section have also died. There's an energy core in your abdomen sustaining your body, but it carries a savage aura.

"You should have several more decades to live. We just need to cure you."

"How should we deal with it?"

"Remove the necrotic section of the spine and replace it with a healthy one. Give me a drop of your blood, and I'll clone a healthy spine. The nerves can also be reconstructed. The troublesome part is that energy core."

"That's a Dragon Core I obtained when I was young."

"I can help," Gu Yuena said. "I have a Silver Dragon Martial Soul. I can help suppress its savage aura."

"But your cultivation?" Mu En asked doubtfully.

"I have a method that can temporarily increase my Martial Soul's pressure." Gu Yuena casually made up an excuse. She wouldn't need to reveal much anyway. It was only a dead object, after all, and this old man would also help suppress it.

Thinking of Huo Yuhao's miraculous abilities, Mu En didn't doubt Gu Yuena's words.

"But I have one condition. That Dragon Core is useful to me."

"Agreed."

Mu En had originally intended to give it to Bei Bei, helping his Martial Soul evolve into the Radiant Sacred Dragon. But now, with the knowledge Huo Yuhao was teaching, perhaps the Dragon Core was no longer essential.

"This will take some preparation. About a month."

"A month is something these old bones can still afford to wait."

As though something had occurred to him, Mu En continued, "To reach the inner court's library, you'll need to cross Sea God Lake. But there are no boats, so have Lexuan take you from now on. She's your homeroom teacher, so it'll be convenient."

What is this old man trying to do! Gu Yuena and Gu Qiu'er immediately grew somewhat displeased. Believe it or not, I'll put something else in your body.

"No need." Huo Yuhao didn't think much of it. He simply walked out onto the lake, standing steadily on the water's surface.

"Haha, I underestimated you, then. All right." Mu En betrayed no emotion.

They soon parted ways. Mu En looked at Huo Yuhao and the two girls, then glanced at Zhang Lexuan behind him.

"What do you think of Huo Yuhao?"

"He's very intelligent, has plenty of ideas, and possesses a great deal of knowledge."

Mu En felt rather helpless. Indeed, he had intended to match Zhang Lexuan with Huo Yuhao. Although Lexuan was nearly twelve years older than Huo Yuhao, Soul Masters didn't care about that. If they could become a couple, he could simply make Huo Yuhao the academy's leader.

More importantly, this boy wasn't exactly devoted to just one person. Wasn't there already a pair by his side? Those two also had the potential to reach the Limit!

And there was that little girl named Wang Dong. Mu En didn't believe Huo Yuhao hadn't noticed, but the two of them didn't seem close?

As for Bei Bei, I'll explain a few things to him. It isn't that I don't want to intervene in the Tang Sect's affairs, but there is a decree: the Tang Sect will certainly experience a resurgence in this era.