The Soul Engineering Department's Olive Branch

He Caitou led the two little ones to the shooting stall and introduced it to them:

"The rules of this activity are simple. Use Soul Tool Rays to shoot targets. There are brackets at ten meters, thirty meters, fifty meters, and one hundred meters. Hitting different parts of the target at different distances earns different rewards. It normally costs one silver soul coin per shot, but since I'm here, you two can play to your hearts' content without paying."

Upon hearing the rules, Tang Wulin looked at Huo Yutong.

"Yutong, are you planning to use your soul skill for support?"

"Mm, I want to give it a try."

Huo Yutong nodded in admission.

She had only obtained her First Soul Skill around ten days ago, and there were still many details she could not fully grasp.

For example, the people her First Soul Skill had assisted so far were all close-combat types. If she used it to assist long-range attacks, could it improve their accuracy?

This was a perfect chance to experiment.

She said to He Caitou:

"Big Brother He, I'd like to choose the thirty-meter bracket."

The ten-meter distance was too close. Even without her soul skill's assistance, her Spirit Eyes Martial Soul alone would give her a high hit rate.

The fifty-meter and one-hundred-meter brackets, on the other hand, were too far, even beyond the range of her Spiritual Detection.

Therefore, the thirty-meter bracket was the most suitable. It would allow her Spiritual Detection to perform at its fullest without making things too easy.

"Sure."

He Caitou readily agreed. After speaking with the stall owner, he led her to the thirty-meter shooting area and handed her a Soul Tool.

"Here. Aim at that target across from you and fire Soul Tool Rays at it."

"Okay."

Huo Yutong nodded. Then a white soul ring rose beneath her feet, giving off a gentle glow.

He Caitou raised an eyebrow at the sight.

He had heard the conversation between Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong just now. Clearly, her soul skill could improve her accuracy.

He had no intention of stopping her.

A soul skill was also part of one's ability. He wanted to see just how accurate this little girl, who had obviously barely touched a Soul Tool before, could become with the support of her soul skill.

Huo Yutong aimed at the bullseye ahead. Her Spiritual Detection spread out, and with a sharp whoosh, a Soul Tool Ray shot forth.

A small hole immediately appeared in the target.

"Seven rings."

He Caitou nodded to himself.

For someone with absolutely no prior experience using Soul Tools, this result was already quite good.

Huo Yutong's soul skill was only a Ten-Year Soul Skill. Achieving this much was already impressive.

However, something that astonished him happened next.

Huo Yutong did not pause. She immediately fired a second, third, fourth... all the way to the Tenth Soul Tool Ray, so quickly that it seemed as if she did not need to aim at all.

And every one of those Soul Tool Rays struck the exact same point.

He Caitou felt his pupils shrink to pinpoints.

"Ten rings..."

That was right. Aside from the first Soul Tool Ray, which she needed to use to get accustomed to the feel, all nine of Huo Yutong's remaining shots hit the bullseye dead center.

Even students of the Soul Engineering Department needed several months of practice to achieve such accuracy. Why did she make it look so effortless?

Huo Yutong put down the Soul Tool and nodded in satisfaction.

It seemed she had been right. Spiritual Detection truly could be used to assist in operating Soul Tools.

She looked at He Caitou and said:

"Thank you, Big Brother He. I don't need any rewards."

He Caitou shook his head.

"I said it was free for you two, so it's free. But Yutong, could you let me experience your soul skill?"

No matter how he considered it, the only conclusion he could reach was that Huo Yutong's soul skill had been helping her aim.

There was definitely something extraordinary about this soul skill. He had to experience it for himself.

"Okay."

Huo Yutong did not refuse. She used Spiritual Detection Sharing on He Caitou.

"!"

He Caitou froze instantly.

A vast amount of information surged into his mind, yet it did not feel chaotic in the slightest. Within the range of Spiritual Detection, the information of every object was deconstructed, and even the flow of time seemed to slow.

He abruptly turned to Huo Yutong, his eyes shining.

"This is your First Soul Skill? Can its range become even larger?"

"Yes. As my Soul Power Level has increased, the diameter of my Spiritual Detection has already grown by one meter from what it was at the beginning."

Upon hearing Huo Yutong's answer, delight flooded He Caitou's face. He quickly stepped closer and said to her excitedly:

"Yutong, your soul skill is practically a match made in heaven for our Soul Engineering Department! Would you be willing to join our department?"

"Huh?"

Huo Yutong blinked in surprise and looked to Tang Wulin beside her for help.

Tang Wulin nodded at her reassuringly.

"Yutong, Big Brother He should be serious. I suggest you agree."

As the Direct Disciple of the Soul Engineering Department's Third-in-Command, He Caitou's standing within the department was no lower than that of some Inner Court students.

Considering how desperately the Soul Engineering Department needed people, anyone he recommended would definitely be valued. Not to mention that Huo Yutong herself was exceptionally compatible with the Soul Engineering Department.

Tang Wulin was sincerely happy that Huo Yutong had caught the Soul Engineering Department's eye.

Huo Yutong had already been inclined to agree. Now that Tang Wulin had said so as well, the final trace of hesitation in her heart was cut away.

She nodded.

"Big Brother He, I'm willing to join the Soul Engineering Department."

"Wonderful!"

He Caitou immediately beamed with joy.

He said to the two of them:

"Wait for me a moment. I'm going to buy some metal. Once I'm done, I'll take you to Teacher and tell him about this!"

With that, he hurried away.

Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong looked at each other, then smiled.

Tang Wulin spoke first.

"Yutong, congratulations on being valued so highly."

He had always thought Huo Yutong was amazing. Now that her abilities had been recognized, it felt as though he himself had received recognition.

A lovely curve formed at Huo Yutong's lips as she smiled.

"Mm, it's all thanks to you."

If Tang Wulin had not brought her out, she would never have met He Caitou. And even if she had met He Caitou, without Tang Wulin's connection, she would never have had the chance to demonstrate her abilities while accompanied by him.

Nearly all the memories of the first half of her life had been painful. Yet ever since she met Tang Wulin in the Star Dou Great Forest, one thing after another had followed: joining the Tang Sect, enrolling at Shrek, beating up Dai Huabin, and being noticed by the Soul Engineering Department.

To her, he was her lucky star.

She truly did not know how she could repay him.

Twenty minutes later, in a secluded corner outside Shrek City.

"The target is about to leave the city."

"There is one more Shrek student beside the target than expected. Should we change the plan?"

"No need. This operation was a dead end from the start. If we can add another charge to that arrogant fellow's crimes, it does not matter if one more person gets dragged in. Just make sure Duke is not affected."

"Yes!"

And so, Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong's Opening Festival was about to welcome its final climax.