Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, Tang Ya's delicate body trembled violently, and the color rapidly drained from her face.
"Alright, alright, I was just teasing you." Seeing her like this, Huo Yuhao immediately loosened his palm and released the Blue Silver Grass vines.
Tang Ya's emotions still hadn't calmed. She lowered her head and stared at the ground, not knowing what she was thinking.
Huo Yuhao glanced at her and said, "Come out and sit for a bit. Let's talk."
Saying that, he walked out.
Tang Ya stayed silent for a moment, but ultimately chose to follow.
The two came to a bench by the Shrek River. Listening to the sound of flowing water, Tang Ya clenched her fists, stood up, and spoke, "Yuhao, please don't tell Beibei."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this." Huo Yuhao smiled. "Sit. How did you get this ability?"
Hearing that, Tang Ya let out a breath of relief and explained, "I was born with a special talent tied to my Martial Soul, called Devour. This ability lets me devour life energy to increase my cultivation, but all targets whose life I devour will wither away. When I was a child, my parents thought this talent was too evil, so they sealed it."
"After coming to Shrek Academy things were fine at first, but now I realize I can no longer keep up with others. Beibei has already reached Soul Ancestor, but I'm still stuck at level 34."
"I became desperate. At this rate, my future cultivation might stop at Soul King with no further progress. So I decided to awaken this talent. Only by relying on it can I avenge my parents and reclaim the Tang Sect's legacy."
"No wonder you dropped out," Huo Yuhao said as he looked at the river.
"Mm." Tang Ya sounded helpless, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh. "After awakening this talent, I am no longer normal. After my Martial Soul absorbs too much life energy and mutates, maybe the next time you see me, you'll come to kill me."
"Why kill you?" Huo Yuhao picked up a few stones from the ground and threw them into the river one by one.
"Because I will become an Evil Soul Master." Tang Ya bit her lip and lowered her voice.
"Devouring life energy makes you an Evil Soul Master?" Huo Yuhao turned to her. "If that's the case, then I am one too."
Tang Ya froze.
Huo Yuhao's brows split open, revealing a strange divine mark, a halo shimmering inside. "My Spirit Eye can help me absorb all kinds of special energy, including life energy. So, by your logic, I'm also an Evil Soul Master."
Tang Ya stared at the Spirit Eye, shaken. For some reason, her devouring talent trembled in fear, as though it could be annihilated at any moment.
"How interesting. An unexpected bonus."
Suddenly, Electrolux's voice sounded.
Huo Yuhao kept a calm face and hurriedly asked in his heart, "Teacher, what's wrong?"
Electrolux chuckled, "Your Spirit Eye connects to the Sun God Pillar. Guess what the sun represents? This girl thinks her talent is evil because when she devours life, she also absorbs the target's negative emotions, affecting her sanity."
"But under the sacred blazing sun, all demons and ghosts are illusions. You burn them away entirely. Put simply, you can use your Spirit Eye to purify her talent, letting her absorb life energy without losing her mind. You can even forcefully improve her Martial Soul quality through the Sun God Pillar."
Huo Yuhao was stunned. The Spirit Eye could do that?
"But you can't do it yet," Electrolux splashed cold water on him. "Your first star-ring of the Sun God Pillar is not fully activated yet, although you got a preview back then."
Hearing that, Huo Yuhao suddenly recalled the change in his body when absorbing the Ice Empress. His ice attribute had carried a layer of blazing heat. Was that the first star-ring's effect?
No, according to Teacher, the first star-ring's abilities weren't just that — he simply couldn't use them yet.
While Huo Yuhao and Electrolux spoke, Tang Ya quickly looked away, not daring to stare at his Spirit Eye.
This conversation instantly sparked an idea in Huo Yuhao. He originally planned to use the Life Gold to activate his first star-ring. If activating it could also purify Tang Ya's talent, that would kill two birds with one stone.
Of course, his help wouldn't be free. There's no such thing as a free lunch in the world.
"Sister Tang Ya." Finally, Huo Yuhao formed a plan in his mind.
"Go ahead."
Her emotions had mostly calmed.
Huo Yuhao said, "If you trust me, after the new competition ends, I will help you purify your Devour talent. After that, no matter how you absorb life energy, you won't lose your mind. But in return, you must pay a price."
Hearing that, Tang Ya's breathing sped up. "What price?"
"Before I help you, the price is just a word. It depends on whether you are willing." Huo Yuhao looked serious.
Tang Ya took a deep breath and cautiously said, "I already have Beibei, you—"
Huo Yuhao: "???"
Do I look like Chairman Cao* to you?
(*A notorious playboy meme)
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Tang Ya coughed lightly too, realizing she misspoke, and quickly said, "If you can really help me, I'm willing to pay the price."
Looking at Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya vaguely guessed how he intended to help her.
"Good." Huo Yuhao nodded. "During this period, continue absorbing plant life energy, but do NOT overdo it. Otherwise, you'll fall into madness before I help you."
"My suggestion is to absorb Blue Silver Grass. Even if its life energy is drained, it recovers quickly, and Blue Silver Grass is everywhere."
"Stay in Shrek City. Don't go anywhere, and don't return to Heaven Dou City. The Tang Sect revenge — you will have time. Rushing in is not revenge, it's stupidity."
"Don't worry, I understand." Tang Ya nodded.
Huo Yuhao really wanted to say: You understand nothing.
In the original story, Tang Ya did rush in, took revenge, but turned into an Evil Soul Master and joined the Holy Spirit Cult.
Holy Spirit Cult...
Huo Yuhao's eyes flickered. Maybe Tang Ya was a suitable candidate indeed.
"Right, Sister Tang Ya, do you still plan to revive the Tang Sect?" Huo Yuhao changed the topic.
Tang Ya sighed helplessly. "I've already given up. Reviving it is just a fantasy. After I take revenge, let it disappear into history."
Huo Yuhao's expression changed slightly, and he nodded knowingly.
"It's getting late, I should head back."
Tang Ya stood up, her expression shifting, but finally she asked, "Yuhao, the price you mentioned… is it Tang Sect secret techniques?"
Huo Yuhao didn't expect her to be so direct. He nodded. "That was the idea, but not too much."
"I understand." Tang Ya nodded silently. "Let's go. You're returning to the academy, I'm going back to the house I rented from Sister Lan Mei. Same way."
The two walked back together.
After returning, Huo Yuhao went to sleep in his dorm.
Sitting in his chair, he carefully planned his last twenty days of vacation.
Daytime: study Soul Tools. Although the Soul Tool Department was also on vacation, some students stayed behind to continue learning.
Plus, Elder Qian Duoduo gave him a token allowing him access anytime. It would be a waste not to use it.
Night: go to his teacher for cultivation.
Yan Shaozhe had already begun teaching him fusion ring skills.
Next morning.
Huo Yuhao woke early, washed, ate, and headed straight to the Soul Tool Department.
Compared to the nearly empty Martial Soul Department, dozens of students stayed here to practice.
Wearing casual clothes, Huo Yuhao entered. Several students curiously looked at him.
Since he didn't know where to go, he asked them.
When they saw the black badge in his hand, they were shocked. It belonged only to sixth-year Soul Tool students and granted access to many restricted areas.
But he looked so young. How did he get that?
Stole it?
Some became wary, and one even ran to call a teacher.
Huo Yuhao's reputation was great in the Martial Soul Department, but here he wasn't very known.
Seeing their misunderstanding, he shook his head helplessly and stayed put.
Soon, a figure walked over — around 1.8 meters tall, simple clothes, muscular arms, steady expression.
"Teacher Fan Yu."
The students quickly saluted.
Fan Yu nodded, walked to Huo Yuhao, saw the badge, and realized who he was. "You're Huo Yuhao, right?"
"You know me?" Huo Yuhao was surprised. He was sure this was their first meeting.
Fan Yu smiled, "I've seen you before, and Dean Qian told me to teach you when you arrive. Come."
He dismissed the students and explained the badge was real.
The students watched with curiosity as Huo Yuhao followed Fan Yu deeper inside.
After passing a heavy mechanical door, the view opened — several rectangular testing fields, students firing soul rays.
"I heard you know some Soul Tool basics?" Fan Yu asked as they walked.
"I just know basic classifications and usage. Not much." Huo Yuhao replied.
Fan Yu smiled, "You are a spiritual-type Soul Master, so learning Soul Tools is easier at the start."
They walked into a more advanced workshop. Walls made from extremely sturdy materials, a large assembly station, and a tall student working there — He Caitou.
Hearing footsteps, He Caitou turned, smiled, then froze when he recognized Huo Yuhao. "Junior Huo?"
"Hello, senior He."
Fan Yu said, "Continue working. I'm here to teach him basic Soul Tool knowledge."
He Caitou nodded respectfully, then continued working.
Fan Yu led Huo Yuhao to a table and opened a black box, pouring soul power in. It expanded into a soul ray launcher.
"Three parts: outer shell, inner shell, core array."
He tapped the silver-gray shell.
"Outer shell protects internal components and must endure long-term damage. High hardness and heat resistance."
"Inner shell supports the core array and conducts soul power efficiently. Must use conductive metals."
"The core array is like a food-type Soul Master's incantation. Soul power flows through the array lines and forms a soul skill."
"The hardest part is carving arrays. Most don't create original ones until they are Rank 7 Soul Engineers. Before that, everyone studies predecessors' designs."
He lectured for an hour. Huo Yuhao memorized everything easily and transferred info to Electrolux mentally.
"Caitou, throw two Spirit Cigars over."
He Caitou immediately summoned with soul power. With a ring activation, he shouted his famous chant, "Your daddy has a thick cigar!"
Two thick brown cylinder cigars appeared in his hand. He tossed them over.
Fan Yu offered one to Huo Yuhao. "Good for concentrating spirit."
Huo Yuhao accepted. They smoked.
The smoke turned partly into soul energy, flooding the brain. Huo Yuhao felt a 15% mental concentration boost.
This reaction was from Tian Meng Iceworm.
"So good... so good…" Tian Meng groaned.
"You make another sound like that, and I'll kill you." Ice Empress roared.
Tian Meng shuddered and shut up.
Fan Yu chuckled, "You're the first to smoke without reacting. Most students hate cigars — too many think dirty thoughts."
Huo Yuhao exhaled calmly. "If they think bad things over a cigar, they can't focus on Soul Tools either."
Fan Yu gave him a deep look.
He Caitou watched emotionally — finally someone didn't mock his martial soul or chant.
"Teacher Fan Yu, can I buy some cigars? They're great for my spiritual cultivation." Huo Yuhao asked.
"No need to buy, I'll give you." He Caitou walked over, touched, "Junior Huo, whenever you want cigars, just come find me. I'll give you as many as you need."
Huo Yuhao blinked. Fan Yu snickered.
Huo Yuhao smiled, "Then I'll come find you whenever I'm here to learn."
"No problem!" He Caitou patted his chest.
After cigars, Fan Yu handed Huo Yuhao forging tools: bellows, furnace, hammer, anvil, etc.
Forging:
Purification — hammering to remove impurities
Shaping — mold or hammer shaping for shells
Quenching — crucial for hardness/toughness
Polishing — final step
A Soul Engineer must know these.
Huo Yuhao spent the morning forging. With the Ice Jade Scorpion protecting his arm and powerful mental strength, he learned fast and didn't tire physically.
Fan Yu didn't let him carve core arrays yet.
The strange part — Fan Yu seemed prepared for Huo Yuhao's arrival long ago.
For the next ten days, Huo Yuhao studied at the Soul Tool Department by day and Inner Court by afternoon.
His forging grew steadily.
Ten days before school reopening, a group returned to Shrek City — led by Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan.
"You all rest first. I must go report to Dean Yan."
Everyone greeted her and left happily — the mission exhausted them.
Her smile faded. Clearly she had important matters to report and hurried toward Yan Shaozhe's office.
...
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