How could a human from this world know of the Seven-Colored Lotus Flame?
The fire wolf's heart was filled with doubt and surprise.
The leader of their branch of the Fire Li Clan, Lord Tianhuo, was a royal clan member. He was also the heir to the chieftain, possessing the Seven-Colored Lotus Flame. If not for being caught in a spatial fissure, he would likely have become the next chieftain of the Fire Li Clan.
But as far as it knew, Lord Tianhuo had basically never displayed this flame outside. Even the high-ranking members of the War Temple were unaware of it. The only one who might have known should have passed away long ago. How did this young man know?
Were there other members of the Fire Li Clan in this world? Or had some royal clan member met an untimely end at unknown hands, became a spirit beast on the Douluo Continent, and been forced to take human form?
The fire wolf gazed at Huo Yuhao, its thoughts a myriad.
"I am Huo Yuhao from the Spirit Transmission Tower. I've heard that you come from another plane and are somewhat different from the spirit beasts here, which could be helpful for Spirit Soul research. Would you be willing to assist me?"
Hearing Huo Yuhao's words, the fire wolf snapped back to the present. It looked deeply at Huo Yuhao and nodded slightly.
Having been in this world for so many years, they had established a certain relationship with humans. However, due to differences in lifespan and living environment, their relationship with humans was not deep.
After all, they were all "homebodies of fire." The kind that stayed in the magma and never came out.
Even the War God of the War Temple did not communicate with them much. Regarding the current somewhat unusual situation, its first thought was to have a good talk with Huo Yuhao, rather than do anything unnecessary.
Seeing that the two quickly reached an agreement, the Mingde Hall researcher was both surprised and relieved.
If the Fire Li Clan was unwilling, they couldn't force them. After all, this clan currently belonged to the War Temple. Their chieftain was also a powerful individual near the Limit Douluo level. They couldn't simply coerce them.
The corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth lifted slightly. That was until they were transferred to the laboratory assigned to them by Mingde Hall.
The laboratory had clearly been meticulously prepared by Mingde Hall. On the left was an elemental stabilization chamber specifically designed for the Fire Li Clan. On the right were various cutting-edge soul tool analytical instruments.
"Good conditions. It seems Mingde Hall values this exchange and study highly."
Gu Yuena glanced at the environment, her attention focused on Huo Yuhao and the fire wolf.
The two had been communicating through spiritual power for a long time. Although she didn't know what exactly had been said, she could guess some of the content.
Soon, Huo Yuhao ended the conversation.
"Then, I'll leave it to you."
"I will convey your words to Lord Tianhuo."
Seeing the fire wolf agree, Huo Yuhao began the research.
Establishing contact with the Fire Li Clan was one thing; research was another. Not only had the Fire Li Clan's essence not changed upon arriving on the Douluo Continent, but even their aura had nothing to do with spirit beasts. They were a true extraterrestrial race, not transformed into spirit beasts. And they were themselves elementals, similar to Snow Empress. This was a research sample unparalleled on the continent.
In the original work, the War Temple had used them to guard the War Temple's Seventeenth Layer of Hell. Such a waste.
Huo Yuhao, with his Spirit Eyes martial soul and profound research expertise, acted as the lead researcher. Gu Yuena, using her unique understanding of elemental forces, assisted from the side. Lan Fozi, initially somewhat constrained, also got into the rhythm after a while, taking responsibility for recording data and maintaining the stability of the experimental environment.
The three each played to their strengths, cooperating tacitly. They quickly unfolded systematic research into the essence of the life Fire Li Clan.
However, because the Fire Li Clan had to live in magma and could not stay at Mingde Hall for long periods, after several hours of cooperative research, the fire wolf was sent back by Mingde Hall to the War Temple headquarters' Eighteenth Layer of Hell.
Oh, and by the way, the War Temple headquarters was located in Mingdu. Its entrance was at the summit of the highest peak of Mingdu's Western Mountains. The entire War Temple was situated inside this peak.
The Dark Department headquarters' location was unknown, but without a doubt, it was also in Mingdu.
That is to say, the Dark Department, the War Temple, Mingde Hall, and the Spirit Transmission Tower headquarters were all in Mingdu.
Looking at it this way, which power did not have its headquarters here?
It was rather obvious.
And on top of these powers, if one also counted the Federation's Central Legion stationed in Mingdu and other family powers, the number of permanent powerful individuals was too many. Just in terms of Limit Douluos, the parties now had at least six. No wonder Zhen Hua wanted to stay away from Mingdu.
Watching the Fire Li Clan member being led away, Huo Yuhao looked at Lan Fozi, who had just been assisting him diligently. "Your technical level is better than I imagined. Continue working hard."
Lan Fozi's technical level was adequate. She had probably been studying soul tool technology for a very long time, not just since entering the Douluo Continent.
Lan Fozi was startled, then quickly nodded. "Yes, my lord!"
She still could not fathom his true intentions in arrangements her to enter Mingde Hall. But one thing she knew very well. Only by continuing to gain the favor of these two deities could she preserve her life in this "crisis-ridden" situation.
As for their purpose... the deity must have his reasons for doing this. She would just obediently carry out his orders and not overthink things and scare herself.
Keep it up! Survival is victory!
Huo Yuhao glanced at her inexplicitly, then turned to Gu Yuena. He was about to say something when a knock on the door interrupted them.
"Hall Master Hongchen is now in the lounge and wishes to receive you."
"Nanaly, do you have anything more to say?"
"You old miser, what's the harm in lending me that soul tool for a few more days? It's not like you ever go out anyway."
"You wouldn't know how to use it either. And that's hardly an attitude for asking a favor."
Before they even entered the lounge, Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena heard a familiar voice. Their eyes shifted slightly.
Was Miss Dark Bell also here?
Huo Yuhao pushed open the door. There stood Nanaly, hands on her hips, glaring angrily at the elderly man opposite her. The elderly man wore a habitual expression, tightly gripping an exquisite soul tool in his hand.
The moment Nanaly saw them enter, her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over.
"It's Yuhao and Gu Yuena! Come help me judge. He's holding a Grade Ten soul tool and not using it. What's wrong with me borrowing it? You saw me in action before, didn't you? That thing is clearly better in my hands... Oh, that's the soul tool that helped me disguise myself as Yuanen Yehui."
Before Huo Yuhao could speak, Wang Hongchen said flatly, "As I recall, you came today to deliver thank-you gifts to these young people. If I'm not mistaken, a large part of the credit for capturing that evil spirit master goes to these young friends from the Spirit Transmission Tower. You didn't just get lucky, did you?"
At this point, he nodded to Huo Yuhao and the others. "Please, young friends, have a seat."
"Er..." Upon hearing this, Nanaly was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her face instantly flushed red. She stammered, "W-Who got lucky! I clearly contributed the most..."
Her gaze turned to Huo Yuhao, and suddenly she couldn't continue.
Yes, she had contributed the most to the battle. But in the end, she had been fooled by the evil spirit master. If not for the help of the Spirit Transmission Tower, she probably wouldn't have even caught the person and would have had to go home with a gray and white face.
She, Nanaly, had ridden on their coattails this time. Wuwu, she still couldn't hold her head high in front of her elders.
Seeing Miss "Dark Bell" instantly deflated, Huo Yuhao had a strange sense of déjà vu.
This situation was a bit like Na'er when she was being suppressed by Miss Gu Ruiqiu.
What was the relationship between the Mingde Hall Master and this one?
The question was answered the next moment.
"You stubborn old man, always undermining your own disciple! Is that how you act as a teacher?"
Nanaly was dejected for a moment, then angrily stamped her foot. Remembering that there were three "juniors" present, she became even more embarrassed and annoyed, and simply stormed out of the meeting room.
But fortunately, she didn't forget her purpose. Before leaving the room, she added, "Yuhao, Na'er, come out when you're done. I have something for you."
With that, she slammed the door and left.
Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena looked at each other.
Wang Hongchen sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
Nanaly had once studied under him. Although she had ultimately chosen the path of a spirit master, their teacher-disciple relationship had never changed. When she had gone off to carry out a secret mission without a word, he had been worried. So he had secretly lent her a Grade Ten soul tool he had made, just in case.
In the eyes of old-timers like them, Nanaly was always like a child who never grew up. She had a popping personality and did things unconventionally, not at all the poise expected of a top-tier powerhouse. Yet even so, no one could deny that she was destined to be a pillar of the Federation's future.
A Four-Word Battle Armor Master in her thirties, a Level 98 Super Douluo. Such accomplishments were few and far between in the history of the Federation.
As for freaks like Atlas Douluo, who had breakout the Limit at thirty-one? That kind of person could be counted on one hand in the entire history of the Douluo Continent. They were not a reference at all.
In the past, he had even thought to let Nanaly succeed him. But she had chosen a different path, and he had only helplessly give up.
Now that he thought about it, the person who had temporarily given her the position of Dark Department Master was probably thinking along similar lines.
This girl, without some training, could not take over from them, the old generation. She needed to grow.
After a moment of emotion, Wang Hongchen looked at Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena and smiled.
"Forgive my indiscretion. I've already heard from Yi about you young friends. To become Grade Six and Grade Five professionals at this age is truly rare, even in historical records."
At this point, Wang Hongchen did not forget Lan Fozi beside him. Even though he had never met her, he thought for a moment and gave her a very high evaluation as well.
"..."
Lan Fozi knew he was being polite. She was somewhat speechless, but couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief.
Good. Sure enough, a Limit Douluo could not see through her. It was just that Lords Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena were beyond the norm.
Encountering deities on the road... it was too overpowered.
"I trust you have already seen the laboratory I arranged for you. The resources and equipment there are the same as those for a Grade One researcher at Mingde Hall. In addition..."
Wang Hongchen lightly brushed his sleeve. A gentle spirit power spread outward. "You may view the soul tool research materials and finished products in the room behind me at any time."
As he finished speaking, the sound of metal mechanisms operating came from afar. Several soul tool lights staggered lit up, illuminating a deep passage.
Inside transparent display cases lining both sides of the passage were various soul tools. Beneath each exhibit suspended a nameplate glowing with a faint blue light. Even more striking, at the end of the passage, dozens of rows of obsidian bookshelves reaching the ceiling were faintly visible. The soul tool crystals embedded in the spines of the books were emitting faint elemental waves.
Huo Yuhao's spiritual power keenly detected that those seemingly ordinary bookshelves had been treated with spatial folding technology. Each drawer could potentially connect to an independent storage space.
Skydream Iceworm clicked his tongue in amazement in the Sea of Spirit. "Good heavens, the collection here at Mingde Hall is thicker than the ice layers of the Extreme North! It's not even comparable to the Mecha Designer Association."
Outside the room, hearing the sound of operating mechanisms, Nanaly was also somewhat surprised. "Teacher is willing to open Mingde Hall's Collection to Huo Yuhao and the others?"
You see, Wang Hongchen had never let her touch it before.
The key that could open the secret chamber had been passed down only to successive Hall Masters since Mingde Hall's founding.
In the secret chamber were not stored those earth-shattering soul tools and related materials.
However, every soul tool and every book in there carried the rise and fall of Mingde Hall since its establishment. From the original crude spirit power devices to the sophisticated Grade Nine soul tool cores, they lay quietly on display, like a silent epic, recording how this power rose from obscurity to stand at the pinnacle.
The finished soul tools inside might no longer have practical combat value. But what they represented was Mingde Hall's roots. Many soul engineers had found inspiration there and advanced further.
Wang Hongchen's gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao for a moment, a deep meaning in his eyes.
"This place was established by Silver Moon Douluo before his death. He left behind many of his notes. Later soul engineers continuously added to them. He once said that if another person in Mingde Hall were to walk the path of the traditional soul engineer, this place could be opened to them as a foundation."
"Young friend Huo, you have chosen a difficult path. But your talent is truly stunning. You have even created a new method of using spiritual power. There is a high probability you will succeed."
"And your goal is to research a Lifebound Soul Tool. So, I believe opening this place to you is the best choice. Perhaps... you will find more inspiration here."
Huo Yuhao was not a member of Mingde Hall. Yet Wang Hongchen's heart was extremely certain. This young man before him might be the person most suited to this place in ten thousand years.
To miss the opportunity would be a pity.
This was also one of the reasons why, after Yi Hongchen's recommendation, he had proactively invited Huo Yuhao to Mingde Hall.
Huo Yuhao looked toward the secret chamber. In a trance, he seemed to see the figure of that Silver Moon Douluo from ten thousand years ago, bent over his desk in research. The ink on those notes glowing with a luster still seemed fresh.
This was a gift across time and space.
When Huo Yuhao raised his head, stars seemed to flow in his eyes, as if a peculiar artistic conception were gradually simmering. But it vanished in an instant.
The corner of Huo Yuhao's mouth lifted in a knowing smile. He stood and bowed deeply. "This junior thanks you, Senior, for your generosity."
This bow was not only to the Wang Hongchen before him.
Gu Yuena stood quietly by. The beings in the Sea of Spirit also watched in silence.
They too understood.
At this moment, Huo Yuhao was also conveying his deep respect to that departed senior from ten thousand years ago.
***
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