Putting aside his thoughts, Huo Yuhao looked at Yi Hongchen before him.
Yi Hongchen and Wang Hongchen — one a Grade Ten Designer, the other a Grade Ten Manufacturer — were clearly deliberately cultivated. Moreover, the former was the President of the Mecha Designer Association, the latter the Mingde Hall Master. This demonstrated that the Hongchen Clan's strength and status in the Federation were not to be underestimated.
Huo Yuhao was not surprised.
After all, ten thousand years ago, after Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen grew up, both became Super Douluos. The latter had even taken over Jing Hongchen's responsibilities, serving as the Mingde Hall Master of that era, a pillar of the Federation.
The development of their descendants to the present state could have been foreseen even back then.
Come to think of it, in the original version of this era, were there Grade Ten Manufacturers and Designers? The only Grade Ten and above soul tools I recall are the three God-Slaying Grade shells and a few Grade Ten shells from Tang Sect.
As he thought This, Huo Yuhao's thoughts stopped.
He suddenly thought of something hard to process. One of those Grade Ten shells seemed to have been sold by Tang Sect to Xingluo and used to bomb the Federation's fleet. Fortunately, Tang Sect had not developed this time.
Just then, Yi Hongchen spoke. "However, I can introduce you. Given your talents, you might just arouse that one's interest."
"Thank you for your trouble, President." Huo Yuhao smiled.
Although Elder Kong had entrusted him with all his research on Lifebound Soul Tools, Mingde Hall's ten thousand years of accumulated knowledge were also quite appealing. He did not want too much. Just research materials and information that could truly strengthen his foundation, such as the spirit power amplifier, would already be enough.
"It's nothing. Mingdu's circle is only so big. My relationship with your Spirit Transmission Tower is quite good. The director of your headquarters' soul tool research department and I are close. We have dealings. Consider it a kind of affinity."
Yi Hongchen smiled and shook his head. He stood up and looked at the workbench. "Speaking of which, I brought you to the manufacturing room to see your skills. Do you plan to demonstrate?"
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly and did not decline. He first looked at Gu Yuena.
Seeing this, Gu Yuena nodded. She walked directly to the workbench and began to draw a soul tool blueprint on the spot. After finishing, she first handed it to Huo Yuhao beside her to review. After he improved it, it was then shown to Yi Hongchen.
A Grade Six blueprint. No, originally there were some defects. It was Yuhao's improvement that brought it to Grade Six. But she is not far from Grade Six herself. Yi Hongchen looked at Gu Yuena with some surprise, inwardly sighing.
If not for the person beside her being so dazzling, this girl would probably be a figure who could dominate an era.
Just as he was thinking this, Gu Yuena designed three more blueprints in succession, all of which she handed to Huo Yuhao.
Yi Hongchen watched, stunned.
What did this mean?
Yi Hongchen had only mentioned it casually. After all, in his view, although Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena were indeed exceptionally talented, they were young after all. Now, with the former having two secondary professions at Grade Six and the latter being a Grade Five Designer, the surprise surprise they could show him was limited.
However, when Huo Yuhao actually began to work, his expression instantly solidified.
Huo Yuhao walked to the workbench and slowly closed his eyes. The air in the entire manufacturing room suddenly stilled.
His breathing became long and even. Each breath seemed to resonate with heaven and earth. A soft, lustrous halo of spirit power gradually appeared around him. The light was neither dazzling nor ostentatious, yet it gave a feeling of unfathomable vastness.
Then he raised his hand and waved. Three engraving knives and three pieces of rare metal flew out of his storage ring. knives traced three completely different paths through the air, beginning to engrave soul tool arrays on the metal.
Hum.
The three engraving knives moved as if alive, each engraving a completely different core array on a different metal. The force and angle of each cut were so precise it was astonishing, as if three top soul engineers were working simultaneously.
"How is this possible..."
Yi Hongchen's beard trembled. As a well-informed Grade Ten Designer, he knew better than anyone what the scene before meant him. It completely subverted the basic laws of the soul tool world!
In the world of soul engineers, the state Huo Yuhao was currently in was called "unity of body and mind." It was not achieved through deliberate pursuit. Only when a person's essence, energy, and spirit were at their peak, and they had a deep foundation, with their cultivation and spiritual power having reached corresponding levels, was it possible to enter this state.
To manufacture a Grade Nine soul tool, one must enter the state of unity of body and mind.
But that was not what shocked him. Li Yucheng had already told him about Huo Yuhao's ability to achieve unity of body and mind. What shocked him was that in this state, Huo Yuhao could actually manufacture three different Grade Six soul tools simultaneously!
Manufacturing a single soul tool matching the level of one's secondary profession with full focus was already difficult, not to mention manufacturing three simultaneously while in the state of unity of body and mind.
How were unity of body and mind and using three minds simultaneously connected?
Just as Yi Hongchen was shocked and distracted, the manufacturing room's alloy door emitted a soft beep, snapping him back. He frowned.
At this time, no one should disturb them, except that hot-tempered girl.
Had she come from the Spirit Transmission Tower for that research material?
Outside the door, a girl of about fifteen glanced at the staff members looking her way with strange expressions. Her brow furrowed slightly.
She wore a black uniform, outlining her slender, sexy figure. Her dark hair, pinned up with a wooden hairpin, contrasted with her wheat-colored skin. Beneath her black-rimmed glasses, her bright eyes glowed.
"Instead of going to headquarters to report, he came to the Mecha Designer Association first? It seems the next Tower Master isn't very concerned about the talented people at headquarters. He's leaving us waiting."
Having vaguely heard the name "Huo Yuhao," the girl curled her lip.
Oh well, she didn't really care. No matter how strong his mecha design and manufacturing abilities were, at best he could be her assistant. He couldn't help with her and her parents' research.
After all, the research directions were different.
"Come in."
A sound transmission came from the manufacturing room. Not very surprised, the girl directly opened the door and walked in.
Gu Yuena noticed the commotion at the door. Her gaze temporarily moved away from Huo Yuhao, who was earnestly making the soul tool, and fell on the girl who had entered. Her delicate brow furrowed slightly.
"Ling Zichen?"
"It's Na'er. A few years gone, you've grown even more beautiful."
Ling Zichen greeted her casually. She was just about to ask President Yi Hongchen for the research material, as her father had instructed, when her attention was caught by Huo Yuhao's actions.
Simultaneously manufacturing three soul tools in a state of unity of body and mind?
She adjusted her glasses, showing an interested gaze. She no longer rushed to speak with Yi Hongchen but quietly observed.
Huo Yuhao's movements were fluid and smooth, without the slightest pause or stiffness. The three Grade Six soul tools rapidly took shape in his hands, each one completed to perfection.
Three sharp sounds almost simultaneously rang out. As the final arrays were completed, the three soul tools simultaneously burst into brilliant light. Energy fluctuated interwove in the air, forming a beautiful spirit power light screen. The three Grade Six soul tools were completed almost simultaneously. From start to finish, the entire process took no more than five minutes.
On the side, Yi Hongchen shifted his gaze from Ling Zichen to Huo Yuhao, nearly pulling out his beard.
It seemed he had met someone even more terrifying than Spirit-Ice Douluo. If not for the times being different, the person before him would probably turn the entire soul tool world upside down.
Just as Yi Hongchen was shocked, Huo Yuhao had already walked over with the three soul tools. "Please, President, appraise them."
Yi Hongchen snapped back to reality and smiled bitterly at him.
He suddenly regretted what he had said earlier. He would need to communicate thoroughly with his elder cousin.
"No need to look. From now on, you may borrow and study the soul tool blueprints and some advanced soul tools of the Mecha Designer Association. I will also teach you various secondary profession knowledge. No, both you and Gu Yuena, the same."
"What excellent terms. I don't think I've ever received such treatment from you." Ling Zichen stepped forward, smiling.
Yi Hongchen said, annoyed, "If you were willing to join the Mecha Designer Association and let me teach you, I would give you the same treatment."
In terms of talent, in his view, this girl was on par with Huo Yuhao. The research talent of this generation of the Spirit Transmission Tower was truly enviable.
"Forget it. Your area of expertise in design doesn't really align with mine. I don't want to spend all day drawing lines on blueprints."
Ling Zichen curled her lip, casually twisting a strand of her hair around her slender finger. "I much prefer the process of turning theory into practical results."
At this point, her gaze fell on Huo Yuhao. Her tone was flat.
"So you're the next Tower Master. It seems the old fossils' eyesight isn't bad. I'm Ling Zichen, from the Spirit Transmission Tower's Soul Tool Research Department."
A stir rose in the Sea of Spirit.
Skydream's eyes widened. "Good heavens, are all young people these days so arrogant? Is she talking about Snow Empress?"
Ice Empress shot him a fierce glance. "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."
Snow Empress herself didn't really mind.
Upon hearing her self-introduction, Huo Yuhao quickly extracted information about her from his mind.
Looking at the history of the Douluo Plane, there were few who could compare to this one.
Ling Zichen. An ordinary person, not a spirit master. Yet she was the chief scientist of Tang Sect in the original story, with a status in Tang Sect second only to the two Limit Douluos, Duoqing and Wuqing!
The Monomer Source Core Circulation Array she invented was the core energy source for humanity's starships and interstellar warships. It was this breakthrough invention that opened the door to interstellar expansion for humanity. In a sense, she was the first person to propel humanity into the interstellar era and lead the development of interstellar travel.
Not only that, she was also the first person in Douluo to achieve Mechanical Ascension. Using a Monomer Source Core made from divine-grade metal, she became a special existence that was neither human nor god, yet ageless and immortal. She was one of the few individuals who lived from this era all the way to ten thousand years later.
And her two greatest achievements were also glorious. The first was using herself as a launch platform for a God-Slaying Grade soul tool shell, enhancing the power of "Eternal Heavenly Kingdom" and injuring the Abyss Saint Lord, who was then at the Second-Class God level.
The second was ten thousand years later, working with Yi Zichen to charge the main cannon of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King interstellar warship, converting her ten thousand years of accumulated accumulation into a cannon shot that injured the Crimson Mother, who had become a God King-level powerhouse.
Oh, and by the way, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King warship was made from Emperor Tian's corpse.
Thinking this, Huo Yuhao calmly nodded to Ling Zichen. "Looking forward to working with you."
Emperor Tian, I did my best. Seize the opportunity. This time, you probably won't be made into an interstellar warship.
"If you go to headquarters, you'll probably also join the Soul Tool Research Department, right?"
Ling Zichen nodded, asking with interest, "Any interest in being my assistant? Your research ability is good, and with your identity as the heir to the Spirit Transmission Tower, you could definitely save a lot of trouble with experimental approvals."
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow, glanced at her, and said flatly, "In your current state, you're not qualified."
His extremely calm words made Gu Yuena and the Spirit Souls in the Sea of Spirit pause, but the corner of Snow Empress's mouth lifted in a smile.
This was the first time since returning that Yuhao had faced someone with this attitude.
Clearly, Yuhao did not intend to use a gentle approach to maneuver. Instead, he planned to reestablish his status at the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters with absolute strength and authority.
Gu Yuena snapped back to reality, staring at Huo Yuhao, an unusual light shimmering in her amethyst eyes.
This was the first time she had seen him like this.
"..."
Ling Zichen frowned deeply.
This guy. He hadn't even formally taken office yet, and he was already treating her like a subordinate?
Huo Yuhao ignored Ling Zichen. He looked at Yi Hongchen. "President Hongchen, I would like to see the headquarters' blueprint storage room."
"Of course." Yi Hongchen handed him a pass pass. He watched Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena turn and leave, then turned his head to look at Ling Zichen beside him.
Finally, someone of her own generation to put her in her place.
"How does it feel?"
Hearing the amusement in Yi Hongchen's voice, Ling Zichen snapped back to reality. Her tone was cold.
"No particular feeling. President, I came today to..."
He wanted to conquer them with absolute strength and ability?
Then I'll wait and see if you can do it.
While Huo Yuhao was at the Mecha Designer Association, Emperor Tian's figure paced through the void, his black robe rippling as he landed on the outer perimeter of Mingde Hall's metal platform. He stood with his hands behind his back, his dark gold vertical pupils flowing with authority.
After a moment, space rippled like water. A white-haired elder stepped through the air. His pure white long hair was casually tied back, a few silver strands falling over his wrinkled forehead.
He wore a gray robe, the edges embroidered with dark gold soul tool patterns, seemingly plain but hiding mysteries. Most striking were his eyes. The left pupil displayed a mechanical, dark blue. The right was a cloudy amber.
The old man's withered fingers played with a bronze compass. The needle spun on its own without any wind, emitting a faint click, click sound. When he landed, the metal platform made no sound at all. His entire person seemed to blend into space.
"I was unaware of your distinguished visit, Tower Master Emperor Tian. Please forgive my lack of welcome."
The old man's expression was calm. "May I ask why the Tower Master has honored us with his presence today?"
"You are too kind, Hall Master."
Emperor Tian nodded slightly. "I have some matters to inquire about."
"Please speak freely."
"The public opinion from two years ago. It was primarily released by Mingde Hall, wasn't it?"
Wang Hongchen paused. "Two years have passed. I didn't expect Tower Master Emperor Tian to still mind that matter. There's nothing I can't discuss. Yes, it was Mingde Hall. Our grudges with Shrek are long-standing, as knows. It may not sound good to kick someone when they're down, but there's nothing surprising about it, is there?"
"Moreover, they have been too flamboyant in recent years. They deserved a warning."
Hearing this, Emperor Tian looked at Wang Hongchen, whose expression remained calm, and thought of the last message Huo Yuhao had transmitted to him last night. He narrowed his eyes.
If it was just a warning, when Bear Lord and the others reached an agreement with Shrek two years ago and approached the Federation, the Federation agreed too quickly.
Thinking this, Emperor Tian did not continue discussing the matter. He changed the subject. "As I recall, the extraterrestrial race in the War Temple's Seventeenth Layer of Hell has been cooperating with Mingde Hall on research?"
Wang Hongchen's expression condensed. Thinking of Emperor Tian's first question, he considered for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Yes. Their race has special abilities that are very helpful for certain soul tool research. We reached some agreements with them at the cost of helping them continue their race numbers. Does the Spirit Transmission Tower also need their auxiliary assistance for research?"
"These extraterrestrial races are not human, yet when they die, no spirit rings are produced. That would be very helpful for the Spirit Transmission Tower's various research."
Emperor Tian asked, "And, in a few thousand years, my thunder tribulation will no longer be controllable. I naturally hope the research on the Savage Beast thunder tribulation can progress more quickly."
Hearing this, Wang Hongchen did not refuse. "The corresponding research will be conducted in a while. I will communicate with them then."
Although two years ago they had just gone with the flow, they had ultimately used the Spirit Transmission Tower as the blade. And with Emperor Tian using his own thunder tribulation as justification, it was truly hard to refuse.
At worst, it was just a favor.
The two exchanged words for a while, then Emperor Tian left.
And then, Wang Hongchen's soul tool communicator rang.
"Oh? Spirit Transmission Huo Yuhao?"
Hearing the words from the other end of the communicator, a flicker of something passed through Wang Hongchen's eyes. The more he listened, the more interested his expression became, a hint of admiration in his heart.
Unity of body and mind, yet capable of multitasking with divided attention?
A special special method of using spiritual power?
If it was a technique he created himself, it could only be described as remarkable.
***
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