A large group of people had gathered in a research lab at Mingde Hall, all staring at the center circle without blinking.
Two people were preparing for a contest there.
After getting to know each other over time, Xu Mo had expressed a desire to see Huo Yuhao's soul tool technology, leading to this contest.
As a researcher who had joined Mingde Hall after graduating from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, he was already a Grade Seven Manufacturer.
What they were competing on was a Grade Six Manufacturer's project: manufacturing the core component of a One-Word Battle Armor.
Although ordinary components of a One-Word Battle Armor could be made by Grade Three or Grade Four Manufacturers, the core component required a Grade Six Manufacturer or higher.
Xu Mo and Huo Yuhao each stood at their own workbenches. Before them were the rare metals and tools needed to make the One-Word Battle Armor core component.
Xu Mo glanced at Huo Yuhao and nodded slightly. He took a dark green engraving knife from his storage ring. The knife tip shimmered with a strange light as he began tracing complex patterns on the surface of the rare metal. With each stroke, a strand of spirit power was infused, and the metal's surface immediately glowed faintly.
Xu Mo's technique was indeed exquisite. His wrist moved like flying, the engraving knife carving graceful arcs across the metal's surface. The rough form of the soul tool array gradually emerged.
"Isn't Senior Xu Mo going too far? Using the Biling Engraving Knife? That knife can automatically correct spirit power fluctuations, reducing array engraving errors by ten percent. Isn't that bullying?" a young researcher muttered.
"You've been focused on research lately and haven't heard the rumors. He doesn't want to lose too badly."
Another researcher looked toward Huo Yuhao, his cheek twitching. "Take a look at Researcher Huo Yuhao's movements."
The young researcher turned his head and immediately widened his eyes.
Huo Yuhao was not holding the engraving knife with his hand. He was using his spiritual power to control them.
Three engraving knives fell simultaneously on the suspended Spirit Alloy, Spirit Gold, beginning to engrave arrays from different angles.
As a Mingde Hall researcher, what techniques hadn't he seen?
He had never seen this one.
"He can control three engraving knives simultaneously?" the young researcher murmured, still feeling like he was dreaming even with the evidence before his eyes. "With such technique and level of spiritual power control, I'd believe he was a Grade Ten Manufacturer."
The person beside him said in a somewhat complex tone, "Not only that. He's also using an internal engraving method. He's probably trying to create a dual nested array."
The entire manufacturing room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
The internal engraving method was different from the traditional method of engraving soul tools, which required damaging the material's surface. The internal engraving method required the soul engineer to build a complete soul tool array system directly inside the material, with minimal damage to the material. This technique's demands on spiritual power and spirit power control were practically extreme. Everyone who could do it was a master.
And to do it while controlling three engraving knives... a prodigy.
Huo Yuhao's engraving knives traced microscopic, almost invisible paths inside the metal. Each path was so precise it was breathtaking. These paths did not stay on a two-dimensional plane. Instead, they intersected in three-dimensional space to form a three-dimensional network. It was like using gold thread to weave a breathing, living organ inside a sealed glass ball.
A dreamy flowing light began to shine from inside the metal ball. Those intersecting energy channels formed an extremely sophisticated double spiral structure at the ball's center. While the outer array rotated steadily, the inner array performed a completely opposite movement.
It was clearly a dual nested array. The outer array was responsible for energy conversion. The inner array controlled spirit power compression. There were also some functions that the researchers could not immediately identify.
Xu Mo had stopped his actions at some point. He sighed inwardly.
There was no need to continue.
The two sides' techniques were completely not on the same level. The contest had lost its meaning. He would just consider it an opportunity to broaden his horizons.
With this thought, Xu Mo instinctively began studying Huo Yuhao's operation.
This method of spirit power compression in the inner array was somewhat like a soul core. What was its purpose?
As time passed, the patterns on the Spirit Gold's surface gradually went from simple to complex, from shallow to deep. The various textures intertwined and gradually created a subtle resonance.
When the last pattern was completed, Huo Yuhao withdrew his spirit power. The light in his eyes gradually faded. He gently beckoned, and the finished core component floated into his hand, a dreamy luster flowing across its surface.
Everyone looked closely.
It was a silver-white crown, shimmering with a dreamy, moonlike luster under the soul tool light. The crown's surface was densely covered with fine dragon scale patterns, overlapping like flowing waves. In the center of the crown, a purple crystal slowly rotated, making it look extremely magnificent.
Even to them, members of Mingde Hall, this was the most magnificent One-Word Battle Armor core component they had ever seen. It could already compare to a Two-Word Battle Armor component.
"The core component of a Battle Armor is usually on the chest or helmet. The former is suitable for most spirit masters. The latter is suitable for those skilled in spiritual power, and the inscribed array is also related to enhancing spiritual power. Could this core component be..."
Some people suddenly understood and looked toward a corner.
In the corner, Gu Yuena, who had also been watching the contest, was momentarily stunned before slowly walking toward Huo Yuhao. Her silver hair swayed gently with her steps, shimmering with a starlike luster under the soul tool light. When she stopped before Huo Yuhao, the flowing light of the crown was reflected in her amethyst-like eyes.
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly. He lifted the silver crown and placed it on Gu Yuena's head.
The moment the crown touched Gu Yuena's hair, the dragon scale patterns suddenly came alive. Layers of fine silver scales flipped up. The purple crystal's rotation speed suddenly increased, carving pale purple light trails in the air.
The instant the crown was fully seated, a dazzling silver light suddenly burst from Gu Yuena's body. Her other ten Battle Armor components appeared simultaneously. Silver-purple energy patterns connected all the components into a complete circuit.
The head component was instantly refined by her, becoming the final piece of the Battle Armor.
The metal used to make the Battle Armor was the Spirit Alloy, Spirit Gold, which Gu Yuena had personally forged at Huo Yuhao's suggestion. It was perfectly compatible with her. Moreover, Gu Yuena's spiritual power had gradually recovered to the Spirit Abyss realm, making the fusion naturally effortless.
Thus, the Battle Armor that Huo Yuhao had personally designed and manufactured for her was now complete.
In an instant, a vast pressure erupted from her body. A silver-purple energy storm swept the surroundings, even making the air tremble.
Silver-purple flowing light coursed over the armor. Gu Yuena stood quietly within. The chest armor outlined her graceful curves. The dragon patterns on the shoulder armor seemed about to take flight. The scale patterns on the arm armor flickered with her breath. The leg armor had sharp, blade-like lines. And the crown was the most striking of all. The purple crystal hung at her forehead. As the silver scales flowed, it made her look like a Dragon Queen, her majesty innate.
A four-ring One-Word Battle Armor Master.
Many researchers' brows twitched.
To become a One-Word Battle Armor Master at four rings, at this age, there had probably never been such a case in Federation history.
However, more than shock, they felt a sense of "fullness."
They saw the relationship between Gu Yuena and Huo Yuhao.
The person she liked had personally completed the core component of her Battle Armor, crowned her, and made her a true One-Word Battle Armor Master. What girl wouldn't be moved by such a scene?
"No wonder Researcher Huo Yuhao, who usually focuses on research, agreed to the contest. It was to make a Battle Armor component for Miss Gu Yuena." Xu Mo smiled helplessly.
Behind him, the Mingde Hall researchers looked at each other. Someone murmured, "This isn't a contest at all. It's clearly a big, public display of affection."
They had been force-fed dog food.
Gu Yuena looked at Huo Yuhao with gentle eyes, also feeling a flutter at his "cunning."
He didn't say anything in advance. If he kept this up, she really would...
"Is this style to your liking?"
Huo Yuhao transmitted, smiling. "Or would you like to add a pair of dragon horns?"
"It's perfect."
Gu Yuena shook her head slightly and said softly, "I'll name my One-Word Battle Armor 'Hao.'"
Huo Yuhao paused. He met those amethyst eyes. The air in the manufacturing room seemed to freeze at that moment. Even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.
"Ahem." Xu Mo chose that moment to step forward. He bowed solemnly to Huo Yuhao. "Researcher Huo, I was presumptuous today. Your technique is admirable. I will give you the promised data now."
He took a blue-glowing soul tool chip from his chest.
Since he had proposed the contest, there had to be some prize.
"Thank you for your trouble, Researcher Xu." Huo Yuhao snapped back to the present and nodded, taking the chip.
Seeing this, Xu Mo waved to his colleagues around him. "Everyone, please disperse. Don't delay Researcher Huo's research."
The researchers reluctantly dispersed, occasionally looking back.
"The design of that crown is truly beautiful. It makes me want to try one too."
"How did he control three engraving knives at once? How did he do that?"
"I must ask him when he has time."
After everyone had dispersed, Huo Yuhao was about to put the chip into his soul tool light screen when he suddenly felt a soft, warm touch on his cheek. Gu Yuena leaned in, brushed her lips against his cheek, and quickly withdrew. As her silver hair fell, her reddened ear tips were faintly visible.
Feeling the warmth on his face, Huo Yuhao looked at Gu Yuena, but she had already casually taken his arm and was staring at the soul tool light screen.
The data Xu Mo had given was about Mingde Hall's research on rare metals. It was also something Huo Yuhao needed.
"Yuhao, wait a little longer for me. Once my Spirit Forging level improves further, I can help you make your Two-Word Battle Armor. Then, how many metals do you plan to use for the alloy?"
Huo Yuhao also looked at the soul tool light screen. "Two for One-Word. Start with three or four for Two-Word. Adapt slowly. We are pioneers on this path. We need to explore it ourselves."
"Yes."
Gu Yuena nodded gently at this.
Among blacksmiths, an alloy made from nine metals was called the Divine Alloy. Legend had it that Battle Armor made from that alloy, after Heaven Forging, could raise a Limit Douluo's strength by another level, reaching the level of a deity.
But from ancient times to the present, no blacksmith had ever completed the Divine Alloy.
However, Yuhao had found a technology to fuse sources, simplifying metal fusion forging. If she could complete the forging of those alloys and perfectly bring out their properties, perhaps one day she really could complete the Heaven Forging of the Divine Alloy.
They had been in the research lab for two hours when Gu Yuena's soul tool light screen received a message. She took it out and looked.
"Yuhao, Xiaoyan sent me a message. She wants us to go to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy when we have time. Yuanen Yehui wants to see us. Maybe to apologize."
"We'll go after I meet with an old acquaintance."
Huo Yuhao put away the chip at this and looked toward the door, his eyes flickering.
Gu Yuena seemed to sense something outside. The next moment, her figure dissipated into specks of silver light in the air, considerately leaving the time alone to Huo Yuhao and his old acquaintance.
At the same time, she also set up a spatial barrier here to prevent outsiders from disturbing or seeing the scene.
The room returned to silence.
Huo Yuhao looked toward where she had disappeared, the corner of his mouth unconsciously lifting in a gentle arc.
But before the smile could reach his eyes, the lab's metal door suddenly opened. What came into Huo Yuhao's view was a fist wreathed in flame, distorting space before it.
To this, Huo Yuhao did not move. Not even the corner of his clothing stirred. The flame stopped a meter away from him. The raging fire element instantly became as docile as a lamb, dissipating into specks of floating light in the air.
"It's been a long time." Huo Yuhao watched the gradually appearing figure at the door. "Your unconventional way of greeting, Lord Tianhuo, is somewhat surprising. Is it a habit you picked up from testing others at the War Temple?"
"Not at all. It's just that after all these years without any news of you, I thought you had either become a god or met with an accident. When I suddenly heard that someone had displayed the Seven-Colored Lotus Flame, I had doubts. I was worried something had gone wrong. Hence the test. Please forgive any offense."
Standing at the door was a humanoid figure composed of flame. It was the leader of this branch of the Fire Li Clan on Douluo. Tianhuo.
He stepped into the room and bowed solemnly in apology.
The Fire Li Clan's lack of a living environment was a serious problem. Some of his clan members, while searching for a magma environment, had not been able to hold on and had turned to ash.
If not for Huo Yuhao suddenly appearing before them and showing them the way, they would have had to take many more detours before reaching Mingdu and finding the War Temple.
To their clan, Huo Yuhao had saved their lives.
Although he had given Huo Yuhao compensation, that was another equal transaction. This life-saving debt had not been repaid.
"It's fine. I would have tested too, in your place." Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled. "After all, we have only met once. We are not familiar with each other. Your doubts are reasonable."
Hearing this, Tianhuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"What is your purpose in contacting me through my clansman this time? Speak directly. If it can be done, I will certainly not refuse."
In his words, he was already willing to unconditionally do one thing for Huo Yuhao.
He needed to repay the debt of gratitude from back then.
Huo Yuhao's smile faded. He selectively told him about the evil spirit masters and the God-Slaying Grade soul tool shells.
Upon hearing this, despite having many questions in his heart, Tianhuo still nodded. "Agreed. If the God-Slaying Grade soul tool shells are indeed stored at the War Temple, then guarding them is also something I need to do. After all, it is part of the contract between the War Temple's predecessors and us."
At this point, Tianhuo looked at Huo Yuhao. "Is there anything else you need us to do? What you just mentioned is within our duty. In fact, we should thank you for the information."
Huo Yuhao gently shook his head. He slowly opened his palm. "Back then, I merely pointed the way. Lord Tianhuo need not dwell on it. Besides... this prepaid compensation is already the best gift."
A lotus mark appeared in Huo Yuhao's palm. A white-hot flame rose from within it, a seven-colored light flowing inside.
The moment this flame appeared, the fire element in the air began to riot, converging toward his palm like a pilgrimage.
It was clearly the Fire Li Clan's lifebound true flame. The Seven-Colored Lotus Flame.
***
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