Teacher Chu Y, who was usually extremely domineering in front of her students, was now much calmer in front of this middle-aged man named Fan Yu:
"I'm talking about what you said last time, that hypothesis about Soul Masters with spiritual attributes using Soul Tools."
As soon as she finished speaking, Fan Yu's eyes lit up, and his gaze unconsciously shifted to Huo Yuhao beside him.
"Does his Martial Soul have spiritual attributes?"
Chu Y nodded and said, "Exactly. He is Huo Yuhao, this year's new student. Body Martial Soul, Spirit Eyes, spiritual attributes."
Fan Yu carefully observed Huo Yuhao several times, then shook his head and said, "Not good. His body and soul power are too weak. I'm afraid he can't even use the weakest Soul Tool. Moreover, look, his talent is extremely poor, far below my requirements."
Chu Y snorted and said, "Are you looking down on my judgment? You're not wrong, Huo Yuhao's current strength is still weak. But what's important is his Martial Soul; it's far from ordinary. I've tested it before. Huo Yuhao, show him what you can do."
"Understood."
Huo Yuhao had only been an observer until now. As soon as he heard Chu Y speak, he immediately unleashed Spirit Detection Sharing on the middle-aged man.
But, immediately, Huo Yuhao was startled by his own action. When his Spirit Detection Sharing enveloped the middle-aged man, the man subtly frowned. And at that very moment, Huo Yuhao felt as if a terrifying giant beast had suddenly opened its mouth in front of him, ready to swallow him whole. This feeling not only terrified him but also woke the Heavenly Dream Iceworm, which was in a deep slumber. Then, a warm current suddenly appeared, soothing his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness, and only then did the fear gradually recede.
The terrifying aura from Fan Yu only appeared for a moment before vanishing, allowing Huo Yuhao to easily complete his Spirit Detection Sharing.
"Ah!!!"
In just a few short seconds, Fan Yu had witnessed the profound mystery of Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection. His usually calm eyes rippled with surprise.
"There's a spiritual attribute martial skill like this? And this soul skill comes from a Ten-year Soul Beast!"
Fan Yu stared at the white soul ring beside Huo Yuhao. He couldn't explain it at all, but his expression, apart from confusion, also held astonishment and delight.
Huo Yuhao naturally still didn't reveal the existence of the Heavenly Dream Iceworm. Once again, he attributed everything to Wind Fee-Fee.
"A Ten-year Wind Fee-Fee?"
Both Fan Yu and Chu Y were startled after hearing him explain the origin of the soul ring. They were speechless.
Fan Yu nodded and said, "It might be because this kid's Martial Soul is a Body Martial Soul, and it's a mutated case with spiritual attributes. When he absorbed the soul ring, he chose a soul beast with incompatible attributes, which led to a mutation. For a spiritual Martial Soul to absorb a wind-attribute soul ring without backlash is already a miracle. Who would have thought that misfortune would turn into fortune, and a mutated soul skill would appear? This miracle is probably one of a kind and can't be replicated."
"Tai Tou, come here."
Fan Yu turned his head and called out loudly to the nearby crowd. Immediately, a young man among them quickly ran over.
Upon seeing this young man, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but gasp in surprise. This person was clearly around Beibei's age, but his build was extremely massive. He was about two meters tall, his shoulders were even wider than Fan Yu's, and his entire upper body was exposed. He had dark skin and a bald head, but his face had an honest and benevolent expression.
– Master.
The youth respectfully bowed to Fan Yu.
Fan Yu pointed at Huo Yuhao and said, “Let this kid assist you. Go over there and try firing a Fixed-Form Soul Guidance Cannon at the moving target.”
“Yes.”
The robust youth simply nodded obediently, not asking anything further. He turned to Huo Yuhao, smiled, and said, “Little brother, come with me.”
Zhou Yi said, “Huo Yuhao, use that skill to assist him a little.”
“Yes.”
By now, Huo Yuhao vaguely understood why Zhou Yi had brought him here, so he quickly ran after the youth.
“Little brother, hello. I’m He Caitou. Everyone calls me Caitou, so you can just call me that.”
“Hello, Brother He, I’m Huo Yuhao.”
Caitou was slightly startled to hear ‘Brother He’, but immediately turned to Huo Yuhao, gave a thumbs-up, and said, “Just call me that, little brother.”
Later historians would never have imagined that the brotherhood between the Asura’s Eye, Huo Yuhao, and the Source of Destruction, He Caitou, began so simply with these forms of address.
The two walked to the adjacent testing ground. He Caitou lightly patted his waist, a light flashed, and an extremely peculiar object suddenly appeared in his hand.
It was a black metal tube, about one *chi* long and 15cm in diameter, with a slightly wider rear section. Many strange patterns were carved onto its surface.
He Caitou held the object with apparent ease. He pressed his right hand against the back of the metal tube, pushed twice, and a lid immediately opened, revealing an opening about twenty *fen* long and ten *fen* wide. He slapped his side, and a rhomboid metal block appeared in his hand. He carefully placed this rhomboid metal piece into the newly revealed slot and closed the lid. His right hand then lifted the metal tube and placed it on his broad shoulder.
Just moments ago, Caitou had exuded a friendly, honest, and benevolent aura to those around him, but after he took out the metal tube, assembled it, and placed it on his shoulder, his demeanor changed drastically. Because Huo Yuhao’s martial soul possessed spiritual attributes, he was the one who most clearly perceived Caitou’s transformation, sensing an extremely intense feeling of danger.
“Huo Yuhao, we can begin now.”
Huo Yuhao’s eyes flashed with golden light again, and his Spiritual Detection Sharing focused precisely on Caitou. Caitou’s expression immediately showed surprise and excitement as he shouted, “Moving target, activate.”
On the other side, seemingly controlled by someone, a circular target shot out from a distant corner with a whoosh, flying straight towards Huo Yuhao and Caitou.
At this moment, the Soul Power fluctuations around Caitou suddenly erupted intensely. Three soul rings immediately appeared—two yellow and one purple. The metal tube on his shoulder seemed to vibrate slightly, a black halo moved around it, and Caitou’s body shifted slightly, aiming the muzzle of the metal tube directly at the moving circular target.
“Boom!!!”
An enormous explosion rang out, and a dazzling light flashed from the metal tube. Simultaneously, a massive surge of air appeared, causing Huo Yuhao to stumble and almost fall to the ground.
However, the black light did not hit the circular target; it merely grazed past it, striking the gigantic metal board behind with another loud explosion. The earlier surge of air was blasted back. Caitou immediately pulled Huo Yuhao behind him, shielding him with his own body.
The air current swept for a few seconds before slowly disappearing, but the circle, their previous target, flew towards the group of people standing nearby, without flying out of the experimental area.
Tai Tou looked unhappy and said glumly:
"We failed again."
At this moment, Fan Yu and Zhou Yi had walked over to stand beside the two. Zhou Yi's expression was a little grim, while Fan Yu seemed to be deep in thought. He turned to ask Huo Yuhao:
"Huo Yuhao, what's the range of your Spiritual Detection?"
Huo Yuhao said:
"Around thirty meters."
Fan Yu suddenly said:
"I see, no wonder. After all, that spirit ring is only a Ten-year Spirit Ring. For that skill to be able to manifest over such a large range is already not easy. How can we ask for more? It's just a bit of a pity."
At this moment, Huo Yuhao suddenly said:
"Teacher Fan Yu, the detection range of this Spiritual Detection Resonance can still increase with my spirit power level."
Fan Yu was stunned and said:
"Impossible, that's absolutely impossible. How can a spirit skill evolve?"
Huo Yuhao earnestly affirmed again:
"It really can. The range of this skill has already increased by about one meter compared to when I first got it. Furthermore, I can't fully control it yet. Perhaps later, when I use it more proficiently, if I can make it encompass a smaller area, the range will extend further."
After Zhou Yi led Huo Yuhao here and overheard the conversation between the two, he almost understood the underlying reason. He felt this was a heaven-sent opportunity for him, though he wasn't sure what good it would do him later. Nevertheless, he didn't want to let it go.
Fan Yu looked at Zhou Yi, who nodded slightly at him.
Fan Yu said:
"Alright, if your Spiritual Detection Resonance can increase its range to over a hundred meters, come back and find me. I will teach you how to craft Soul Tools."
"Yes, thank you, Teacher."
Huo Yuhao hurriedly bowed respectfully.
Fan Yu waved his hand and said:
"Tai Tou, take him over there and explain to him what a Fixed Soul Tool is."
"Yes."
Tai Tou had a very good impression of Huo Yuhao, so he immediately pulled him away to another spot.
Watching their figures gradually disappear into the distance, Fan Yu turned to ask Zhou Yi:
"What do you think of this child? His skill is indeed very powerful, and it has a huge effect within a team. I didn't actually intend to give him such a high requirement just now, but if he wants to use Fixed Soul Tools, his detection range must definitely reach over a hundred meters. I'm certain that if this skill of his can increase to over a thousand meters, he will become the most terrifying Auxiliary-type Tool Spirit Master on the continent."
Zhou Yi said:
"I've only just met this child for the first time, so I can't say much right now. However, you must have noticed that although his cultivation and physique are weak, his temperament is much more mature than other children his age. If it were anyone else, they definitely wouldn't have said what he just did. I will observe him for you. However, if he doesn't pass the assessment within this year, I will still expel him. Rules are rules; there are no exceptions."
Fan Yu thought for a moment before saying:
“Please help me keep an eye on him. Even if he doesn’t pass your assessment, as long as his Spiritual Resonance Detection meets my requirements, I will still make an exception and bring him into the Soul Tool Department. I’ve dedicated over a decade to researching Fixed-Form Soul Tools, combining extensive ancient knowledge to develop and craft this type of soul tool. Now, the only thing missing is someone who can wield it!”
Chu Yi sighed softly and said:
“Don’t be so fixated. Your Fixed-Form Soul Tools not only lack suitable users, but their manufacturing cost is also considerable, making mass production impossible.”
Fan Yu said proudly:
“Soul Tools, by nature, can only have their immense power fully unleashed by a select few great soul masters. My research and development of these Fixed-Form Soul Tools are not for large-scale production at all. As long as a small number of soul masters can use them, I will consider it a success. That way, Fixed-Form Soul Tools can become the most unique trump card of our Shrek Academy.”
“Brother He, what are Fixed-Form Soul Tools?”
Huo Yuhao asked He Caitou curiously.
He Caitou chuckled and replied:
“There are many types of Soul Tools, and I can’t explain them all clearly right now, but they can mainly be divided into two primary forms: Close-Range Soul Tools and Long-Range Soul Tools. Most of the ordinary Soul Tools we use fall under the Close-Range category. They’re like our regular weapons; once infused with soul power, they gain powerful offensive capabilities. Relatively speaking, within a certain range, the attack power of Close-Range Soul Tools is slightly stronger. As for Long-Range Soul Tools, once infused with soul power, they gain the ability to attack distant targets. The more powerful a soul tool is, the more soul power it requires. In other words, the higher a soul master’s cultivation, the more powerful soul tools they can wield.”
“Now, these Fixed-Form Soul Tools are a special type of soul tool that our teacher developed by synthesizing all previous research from the ancients. They can attack distant targets without requiring a lot of soul power infusion. You saw me use it just now. To put it simply, the soul tool is divided into two parts: the soul tool itself and the detonator. When the soul tool interacts with the detonator, it’s launched outwards.”
“The biggest advantage of Fixed-Form Soul Tools is their very low soul power consumption, so the wielder doesn’t need to have powerful cultivation. However, their drawback is that they are very difficult to aim, especially at moving targets; hitting them is extremely challenging. Furthermore, crafting the projectiles is not easy at all, requiring many precious materials. Usually, our teacher doesn’t let me use them casually.”
“Our teacher once said that, theoretically, Fixed-Form Soul Tools can increase a soul master’s attack power tenfold. However, they require soul masters with a special physique to use them.”
It could be said that He Caitou wasn’t particularly skilled at explaining things, so his explanation wasn’t entirely clear. Nevertheless, it was enough for Huo Yuhao to gain a basic understanding of Soul Tools. He vaguely understood that Teacher Fan Yu must have achieved significant breakthroughs in the field of Soul Tools. Teacher Xiao Ya had once told him to join the Soul Tool Department later. If he could become Teacher Fan Yu’s disciple, that would obviously be excellent.
“Huo Yuhao, let’s go back.”
Just then, Chu Y suddenly called out.
Huo Yuhao turned and bowed to He Caitou.
"Big Brother He, I'm heading back. It was a pleasure meeting you today."
He Caitou laughed heartily and said:
"So you're a freshman this year. Keep it up. If you're still here next year and become my junior brother, that would be great. Usually, the teacher doesn't let me out of here, it's so boring."
As soon as they left the experimental area, Chu Y practically whisked him back towards the dormitory.
"Huo Yuhao, you must have clearly heard what Teacher Fan Yu said just now. Let me just tell you this: in the academy, he is the number one Soul Tool crafting Grandmaster. If you can become his disciple, your future will surely be boundless. However, first you must be able to stay in this academy. Go eat."
Once Chu Y had left, Huo Yuhao immediately ran to the dining hall. By this time, students from other classes had all finished their lessons, and the entrance to the dining hall was absolutely swarming with people.