When Lin Xiao returned to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, it was almost noon. He found the academy unusually quiet. Apart from the guards routinely stationed at the entrance, far fewer students could be seen in the other areas.
After looking around, he finally heard some distant voices coming from the direction of the soul tool experimental zone. It seemed quite a few people had gathered there.
"This match, Shrek Academy wins. Is there anyone else who wants to come up and try next?"
Before he even got close, Lin Xiao already heard Lin Jiayi's voice. Something seemed to occur to him, and he quickened his pace. Sure enough, in the arena in the soul tool experimental zone, he saw two figures constantly crossing and moving.
One of them was somewhat unfamiliar to Lin Xiao, but judging from the school uniform, he was clearly a student of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. The other person was naturally Huo Yuhao, who had been here as an exchange student for more than two years.
It had been some time since they last met, and Huo Yuhao had changed considerably. His figure was no longer that of a small child; his movements were extremely agile and precise as he flashed and darted about.
Now and then, the light of his soul propulsion device would flare up, constantly changing his position on the arena, making it impossible for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy student to even aim properly.
However, Huo Yuhao did not use any soul master techniques to force his opponent off the stage. Instead, he took out an extremely compact soul tool. There was no visible surge of soul power; he simply pulled the trigger lightly, and several soul tool rays shot out from the front.
In an instant, the expressions of many of the surrounding teachers and students watching changed slightly. As soul engineers of a higher rank than Huo Yuhao, they were momentarily unable to discern the operating principle of his triggering device.
Taking advantage of a brief moment, Huo Yuhao glanced at the reactions of the crowd around him, his gaze lingering for a moment on Xuan Ziwen standing nearby. He secretly nodded to himself.
Of course, his triggering device was not merely a soul tool, it also incorporated unique mechanical techniques from the Tang Sect. He wondered just how many people would take notice of these things.
"This match, Huo Yuhao of Shrek Academy wins. Both competitors, please step down from the stage and rest."
As Lin Jiayi's voice fell, Huo Yuhao also put away his soul tool, walked down from the arena, and stood beside Xuan Ziwen.
"Is this also a technique from your sect?" Xuan Ziwen slightly turned his head to look at the young man beside him.
"Yes." Huo Yuhao nodded.
"I'll say the same thing as before: if you're willing to sell this technology, you can name the price first."
Xuan Ziwen's status within the Mingde Hall was no secret; even people from Shrek Academy knew about it. The weight of his words could not be overstated.
"Teacher Xuan, my answer is still the same as before. This is exclusive technology of our Tang Sect. Unless someone joins our Tang Sect, it will not be passed on to outsiders."
Hearing this, Xuan Ziwen paused for a moment. He turned his head and looked carefully at Huo Yuhao, then let out a soft sigh and shook his head.
"It seems that in all the years you've spent at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, you still haven't learned the most important thing."
Huo Yuhao was puzzled and felt an inexplicable sense of unease. "Please enlighten me, Teacher Xuan."
"Very well. Until the day you leave the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, you are still my student. So I will teach you this final lesson."
Xuan Ziwen's expression became serious. "For your Shrek Academy, and even for the three great empires, the status of soul masters far surpasses that of soul engineers.
Likewise, research into martial souls goes much deeper and farther than research into soul tools. And precisely because of this, you still have not realized the greatest difference between soul tools and martial souls.
Because the martial souls and innate talents of different soul masters vary, the way they cultivate cannot be replicated. Every soul master has their own unique path of cultivation.
Under such a cultivation system, it is natural for a teacher to hide certain secret techniques from disciples and not pass them on to others. This prevents others from learning them for free and also protects against others discovering one's weaknesses."
Xuan Ziwen paused slightly here, a serious look flashing through his eyes as he gazed at Huo Yuhao beside him. "But the development of soul tools is different.
The creation and usage of soul tools are not restricted by martial souls. This means that as long as a soul engineer possesses soul power, they have the opportunity to learn and create all kinds of soul tools.
Therefore, for soul engineers, your way of jealously guarding knowledge and keeping things secret is not suitable. On the contrary, constant exchange and mutual improvement among soul engineers is what allows soul tool technology to continuously advance.
Though your mechanical techniques are exquisite, they were ultimately developed by predecessors. Do not underestimate human wisdom. Perhaps a single person cannot achieve much, but through continuous inheritance and improvement, the techniques you hold will eventually become obsolete.
In the world of soul masters, perhaps only one in ten thousand people will produce a genius like you. But among soul engineers, given the massive accumulation of resources and knowledge, almost anyone has the potential to become a genius in soul tools.
Even I myself stand on the research achievements of those who came before me to reach my current level." Xuan Ziwen sighed softly once again. "The final lesson I want to teach you is about your mindset.
I know that through this exchange program, you want to understand the gap between us. But as long as your way of thinking does not change, you will never be able to catch up to the speed of progress of the Sun Moon Empire."
Lin Xiao seemed to suddenly appear in the crowd. His approach had not attracted anyone's attention, and Xuan Ziwen's entire speech had fallen into his ears without missing a single word.
It had to be said that Xuan Ziwen's vision far surpassed that of almost all soul masters, and even most soul engineers.
To put it bluntly, the fact that soul tool technology can be passed down from generation to generation and continuously improved places it in an entirely different era from the methods of soul masters.
The development of soul engineers cannot be approached using the methods of soul masters. Even within the Sun Moon Empire, only a small number of soul engineers truly understand this point clearly.
Although he wasn't entirely sure what experiences had led Xuan Ziwen to such an understanding, Lin Xiao was certain that the current Xuan Ziwen could no longer be swayed by something as simple as mechanical techniques.
"You come back to the academy without even saying hello?" A voice carrying a smile sounded beside Lin Xiao's ear. Turning around, he saw Jing Hongchen standing just outside the crowd.
Lin Xiao gave a slight smile, took a gentle step back, and his figure was already outside the crowd.
"Hall Master, I didn't expect you to be so concerned about these students' battles."
Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow, a gleam flashing through his eyes that were almost hidden beneath his piled-up smile.
"This isn't some ordinary match; this was arranged by me personally."
Lin Xiao paused for a moment, then quickly understood Jing Hongchen's intention.
However—
Lin Xiao turned his head to look at the new student who had just stepped onto the arena.
It probably wouldn't be easy to see anything significant from them.
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