Life at the academy returned to a peaceful rhythm.
After their classes in the Martial Soul Department, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong would spend an hour in the Soul Guidance Department, learning the intricacies of crafting and utilizing soul tools.
They were joined by Ning Tian, and the trio studied under the guidance of Fan Yu.
However, their primary focus remained on the cultivation of their martial souls.
For instance, Wang Dong attended these sessions more for relaxation than to master the art of soul tool creation. Reading books and experimenting with soul tools provided a comfortable diversion.
Huo Yuhao and Ning Tian, on the other hand, approached their studies with greater seriousness.
Fan Yu's teaching style was exceptionally rigorous, and his demands on the two were unparalleled, even within the prestigious Shrek Academy.
On the first day of this intense instruction, Wang Dong couldn't help but see a reflection of Zhou Yi in Fan Yu.
She almost believed that Fan Yu was using the lessons as an opportunity to retaliate against Huo Yuhao.
However, once the misunderstanding was cleared, Wang Dong could only conclude that like-minded individuals naturally gravitate towards each other.
Fortunately, despite his strictness, Fan Yu was not one to expel students arbitrarily.
He also turned a blind eye to Wang Dong's laid-back attitude. After all, Wang Dong was only dabbling in soul tool creation, and too much pressure could be counterproductive.
These three were not his direct disciples, and Fan Yu had neither the obligation nor the right to force them. Especially Wang Dong, whose forging skills were impressive but who showed no interest in learning to engrave core arrays.
Ning Tian's talent was remarkable, rivaling even He Caitou's.
As for Huo Yuhao, Fan Yu could only describe him as terrifying. Every advancement Huo Yuhao made left Fan Yu speechless.
In less than a month, Huo Yuhao had mastered the basics of forging, learned the processes of shaping, casting, quenching, and polishing, and had begun to engrave core arrays.
Fan Yu even considered taking Huo Yuhao as his disciple, but after consulting with Qian Duoduo, he ultimately decided against it.
…
The Twelfth Laboratory of the Soul Guidance Test Area
Beside a massive metal table, Fan Yu, Wang Dong, Ning Tian, and He Caitou stood quietly, watching Huo Yuhao work.
Fan Yu stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze intense.
Wang Dong and the others clenched their fists, their hearts racing with every movement of Huo Yuhao's hand.
Huo Yuhao sat at the metal table, his eyes glowing with a golden light as he focused on the intricate patterns before him.
In his right hand, he held a slender blue knife, carefully engraving a hexagonal metal block. His movements were slow but precise, each cut deliberate and steady.
"Dean Qian said that even with my current strength and status, I am not qualified to be Huo Yuhao's master. I can only serve as a guide," Fan Yu thought to himself as he watched Huo Yuhao work.
Even as a guide, he felt privileged to witness the rise of a future class 9 soul engineer.
Huo Yuhao had only begun learning to engrave arrays three months ago. Thanks to his Spirit Eye martial soul, he had once again demonstrated his extraordinary talent in soul tool creation.
There were no shortcuts in engraving core arrays; it required relentless practice. Yet, Huo Yuhao could memorize complex arrays after seeing them just once.
His mental power was formidable, and with the aid of his mental detection ability, he avoided the slightest errors that often led to failure.
In just one month, Huo Yuhao progressed from learning theory to memorizing arrays and began practicing engraving.
He successfully engraved a Level one soul tool array, officially becoming a Class 1 soul engineer within two months of entering the academy.
This was an unprecedented achievement in the history of the three empires—Heavenly Soul Empire, Fighting Spirit Empire, and Star Luo Empire.
Even the top talents of the Sun-Moon Empire would struggle to match his speed.
It was clear that soul masters with spiritual attributes had an innate advantage in creating and using soul tools.
Now, just one month after becoming a Class 1 soul engineer, Huo Yuhao was attempting to engrave a level two core array.
As the last trace of metal debris fell onto the table, the engraving was complete.
Huo Yuhao slowly infused soul power into the metal block. Suddenly, it emitted a clear blue light, the soft halo rising to a height of one foot.
The light was steady and unwavering, and the metal block took on a translucent blue hue.
Huo Yuhao relaxed, a smile spreading across his face.
"The second-level soul power amplification core array was successful!" Wang Dong was the first to cheer.
He Caitou stared at Huo Yuhao in disbelief. "Did it really work?"
Ning Tian was momentarily lost in thought.
Was Huo Yuhao's talent in soul tool creation truly this extraordinary?
While they had both started learning at the same time, Huo Yuhao had already succeeded in engraving a second-level core array, while she was still struggling with the first-level.
Though Teacher Fan Yu had always praised her talent, Ning Tian couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!" Fan Yu finally spoke, his excitement evident. "Yuhao, you are now an official Class 2 soul engineer. Your success is no accident. Not only do you possess unmatched talent, but your dedication and hard work are unparalleled."
The complexity of a second-level core array was at least three times that of a first-level array, requiring precise control of soul power.
Fan Yu knew that Huo Yuhao's success was no fluke. He had truly mastered the stability needed for such intricate work.
Perhaps, Fan Yu thought, Huo Yuhao had been secretly practicing in some corner of the academy, honing his skills without anyone noticing.
Huo Yuhao: That's not true at all. I have talent and luck unmatched in douluo history.
One hour a day was enough for soul tool practice.
After three months of rigorous training, Huo Yuhao's soul power had only increased by one level, reaching rank 36.
The progress of an ultimate martial soul was indeed slow. Moreover, his Ice Body was no ordinary Ultimate Ice.
Even the Gu's he had collected from system had not significantly refined his soul power.
Would the living gold he was about to obtain make a difference? Otherwise, the only option was to rely on external aids.
In five months, he planned to visit the Star Dou Forest to obtain a suitable soul ring. He needed to reach rank 40 by then.
…
Sea God Pavilion
Several esteemed elders of Shrek Academy, along with the four deans, gathered once again at the conference table.
As the highest council of Shrek Academy, the Sea God Pavilion meetings were held in two forms: the annual regular meeting and the temporary meeting.
Each temporary meeting signaled a significant event at the academy. Historically, some of these meetings had even determined the course of the continent.
The last temporary meeting had been convened because Yan Shaozhe recommended Huo Yuhao, proposing to train him as Shrek's future. Now, less than five months later, another impromptu meeting was being held.
Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but glance at Xian Lin'er across the table.
He wondered why she had called for this meeting. A sense of foreboding crept into his heart, perhaps because Huo Yuhao had also been practicing soul tools.
Two months ago, Xian Lin'er had approached him to discuss this matter.
As the dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe had initially planned to refuse.
However, for personal reasons, he had ultimately agreed. After all, he couldn't forcibly interfere with Huo Yuhao's choices.
If Huo Yuhao wanted to take soul tool creation as an elective, so be it. He was still part of the Martial Soul Department and couldn't escape their influence.
"Let's begin the meeting now that everyone is here. Lin'er, you will chair this session," Mu En's voice sounded through the hall.
"Yes, Elder Mu," Xian Lin'er stood and bowed towards the main seat.
"I will speak frankly. This meeting is also about Huo Yuhao. Perhaps due to his spiritual attribute, Yuhao has shown extraordinary talent in soul tool creation."
"In just three months, he has progressed from a novice to a Class 2 soul engineer. This speed of advancement is unprecedented in the history of the three empires, even surpassing the top talents of the Sun-Moon Empire."
"I am here to express the Soul Guidance Department's stance. We will not let go of such a genius. Moreover, we have decided to dedicate our resources to train him, aiming to make him Shrek Academy's first Class 9 soul engineer within ten years."
Qian Duoduo immediately stood to support his wife's decision.
"After discussing with Dean Xian and Fan Yu, we have decided to implement the Extreme Individual Soldier Plan on Huo Yuhao. He Caitou, who was originally planned for this role, will now be trained as an auxiliary soul engineer."
"Our Martial Soul Department is already the best on the continent, but our Soul Guidance Department still has room to grow. What we lack most is talent. In Huo Yuhao, we see the potential for a Class 9 soul engineer."
At this point, Yan Shaozhe also stood, his voice firm. "No, I cannot agree. It was decided at the last meeting that Huo Yuhao would be trained by the Martial Soul Department, and you agreed. For the future of Shrek, I will not yield."
Yan Shaozhe's words were resolute, leaving no room for negotiation. This matter was rooted in the principles of martial soul cultivation. He stood on both emotional and logical high ground, unwavering in his stance.
…
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