Chapter 124: A Gesture of Apology
As Huo Yuhao followed He Caitou and the other students on a leisurely tour through the soul tool experimentation zone, his sharp gaze swept across each area. The furnishings, the workbenches, and the faintly glowing soul tool fabrication apparatuses here did not differ in any fundamental, heaven-and-earth way from what he had seen in the Soul Tool Division of the Church of the Water God's Research Department.
The overall atmosphere was likewise one of intense focus and rigor. If there was any distinction, it perhaps lay in how Shrek Academy's facilities appeared more orderly and systematic. Certain larger soul power stabilization devices and precision measurement soul tools revealed a deeper, more substantial foundation.
However, in terms of the sheer number of soul engineers, this experimentation zone was on par with the Church of the Water God's Soul Tool Division, displaying no overwhelming numerical advantage.
That said, Huo Yuhao was keenly aware that similar headcounts did not signify equivalent levels of expertise. As the continent's foremost academy, even though Shrek's Soul Tool Department had started relatively late and endured a phase of outright rejection, once the decision to invest had been made, the resources it could mobilize, the talent it could attract, and the depth of accumulated research were not things any ordinary power could rival.
The Church of the Water God had only developed over a single year. Despite its multitude of believers and its expanding organizational structure, its core research talents—especially those possessing top-tier aptitude for soul tools—were indeed as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Shrek's sedimentation in this field was clearly more robust.
Regrettably, the visitation clearance for this tour was limited. They were only permitted access to areas related to Class 1 and Class 2 soul tools. The core zones used for researching and manufacturing higher-grade soul tools remained tightly sealed, heavily guarded, and impossible to glimpse into. As a result, Huo Yuhao could not accurately gauge the exact level of technical prowess Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department had currently attained.
But from this orderly, fundamental experimentation zone, and from the practiced, focused operations of its staff, he could still sense a formidable, solid foundation and latent strength that belonged to a veteran, top-tier academy. All in all, Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department possessed no weak foundation; its future momentum was worth watching.
During the tour, some of the more curious students, under He Caitou's guidance, attempted to operate a few basic close-combat and long-range soul tools. After the novelty wore off, quite a few of them, in their private exchanges, betrayed a hint of waning interest. They found themselves unconsciously comparing these tools to the "pistol" Furina had demonstrated the previous day—a weapon that required no soul power to fire and boasted both excellent power and accuracy.
That peculiar weapon had left a deep impression in their minds. By comparison, these traditional, standard-issue soul tools—which required continuous soul power consumption and were more complex to operate—felt somewhat "clunky" and "inelegant." Of course, they also understood that they had not yet mastered the skills needed to wield that novel weapon.
Huo Yuhao himself did not gain much new knowledge or inspiration from this basic tour. During his year with the Church of the Water God, he had long since systematically studied the foundational theories of soul tools, the principles of core magical arrays, and the elementary fabrication techniques. What he saw now was, for him, nothing more than review and verification.
The only thing that could truly help him advance would likely be the advanced instruction personally imparted by an eighth-rank soul engineer like Fan Yu. As for the other soul engineers in the experimentation zone—their level might not be low, but Huo Yuhao was confident that, bolstered by the legacy he had received in the Church of the Water God and certain forward-thinking concepts Furina had provided, it was an open question who would end up instructing whom when it came to the fundamentals.
Meanwhile, Furina and Fan Yu had amicably concluded their transaction. As the atmosphere eased slightly, Furina turned her wrist, and a small, exquisite jade bottle appeared in her palm.
She turned toward Zhou Yi, who had been standing silently to the side, her expression complicated, and spoke in a measured tone: "Teacher Zhou Yi, in yesterday's classroom, my words may have been excessively sharp. Although there were reasons for it, as a student, I did overstep my bounds. This 'Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill' is a small token of apology from your student. I hope you will not take the matter to heart."
She extended the jade bottle and explained, "The effect of this pill is to help cultivators at the Soul Emperor level to steadily increase their strength. Its medicinal properties are gentle and it is unlikely to produce resistance. Teacher Zhou Yi, as you are currently at Soul Emperor cultivation, you might find it worth a try."
Hearing this, Zhou Yi was first stunned. Then, a surge of mixed emotions—embarrassment, anger, and disbelief—welled up within her.
Giving her a pill? As compensation? This was clearly like giving a sweet date after a slap! She almost wanted to immediately rebuke and refute, to accuse Furina of flagrant hypocrisy.
Yet the painful experience of the previous day instantly resurfaced in her mind—this white-haired girl was by no means someone who acted without purpose. If she dared to behave this way, she must have something to rely upon. If she rashly erupted again, she would likely repeat yesterday's disastrous performance, losing even more face in front of her husband and students.
More importantly, her husband Fan Yu was right at her side, watching her with a complicated gaze. Furina was now, in the capacity of a student, "apologizing" and gifting a precious pill. If she behaved in a petty manner and refused to accept, it would instead make her appear small-minded, lacking the magnanimity of a teacher.
All these concerns intertwined, leaving Zhou Yi stifled with frustration, yet utterly unable to vent.
Her expression shifted several times. Finally, she forced out an exceedingly stiff smile, reached out to accept the jade bottle, and said in a dry, rasping voice: "Since it is a gesture from you... I shall accept it. In yesterday's matter, there were also aspects where my own thinking was lacking... Let us put this matter to rest here. I will make adjustments to the future curriculum." The final sentences were spoken with considerable difficulty.
Seeing this, a bright and sincere smile blossomed on Furina's face, as if she were genuinely delighted by her teacher's "forgiveness." "Many thanks for Teacher Zhou Yi's magnanimity."
Yet, in Zhou Yi's eyes, this smile was tantamount to a silent declaration of victory and a veiled mockery, making her feel even more aggrieved. She could only forcibly endure, her fingertips quietly tightening around the jade bottle.
Furina's gift of the pill was, naturally, by no means simply intended to placate Zhou Yi. Her gaze was fixed on much further horizons. As a Soul Emperor, Zhou Yi's potential and value on Furina's chessboard were limited.
This pill was, in truth, a subtle "gift" and a display of posture directed at Fan Yu, and by extension, at the Shrek Academy behind him. The goal was to draw in this de facto head of the Soul Tool Department, and further, to attempt to implicitly bind the entire Shrek Academy—or at least its neutral factions—to her own war chariot.
In the future, should she seek to consolidate the continent's powers and contend with the three great empires and even more far-reaching forces, having Shrek adopt an amicable stance—or at the very least, not obstructing her—would be absolutely crucial.
If her sole goal had been to recruit Fan Yu as an individual, such a roundabout approach would not have been necessary. Furina was keenly aware that, within the territories of the former three empires and Shrek, the value of an eighth-rank soul engineer paled in comparison to what it would be in the Sun Moon Empire. If one truly wanted to unearth top-tier soul engineering talent, the Sun Moon Empire was the primary target.
The rapid development of Shrek's Soul Tool Department in the later stages had depended, to a very large extent, on the technology, talents, and blueprints that Huo Yuhao "brought back" from the Sun Moon Empire. Without that kind of "external assistance," relying purely on their own accumulation to catch up to the Sun Moon Empire's level would have been as difficult as scaling the heavens.
Fan Yu took the pill bottle from his wife's hand and carefully sensed the pure, potent medicinal power faintly emanating from within. He, too, was inwardly stunned.
A pill that could provide clear benefits to a Soul Emperor was, by any measure, a precious treasure anywhere. This Furina had been so generous—first using the secret Tang Sect blueprints as a catalyst to strike a deal, and then gifting a pill as a gesture of goodwill... Her methods and the profound depth of the power behind her were clearly evident.
"This young lady is not merely someone who brandishes her sharpness without restraint. She also understands proper measure, knows when to advance and when to retreat. The Church of the Water God... is indeed unfathomably deep," Fan Yu mused silently.
"Zhou Yi's suffering at her hands was not unjust. Even if it had been me, without a clear understanding of her foundations, I likely would have struggled to gain any advantage. By gifting this pill to Zhou Yi, she is, in truth, extending goodwill to me, and to Shrek. This intent, this breadth of spirit... is by no means something an ordinary young woman could possess. This girl is profoundly astute, her designs vast in scope—she absolutely cannot be treated lightly."
With these thoughts in mind, Fan Yu took the initiative to speak, his tone now carrying even greater gravity and a hint of deliberate cordiality: "Student Furina, today's exchange has been most enlightening. Should the opportunity arise, on behalf of Shrek Academy's Soul Tool Department, I sincerely hope that in the future we may engage in deeper exchanges and cooperation with your esteemed church in the field of soul tool academic research."
"That your esteemed church has managed to achieve such remarkable development across various domains in so short a time must mean you possess unique insights. Perhaps you may bring entirely new inspiration to those of us who have been working behind closed doors."
Furina, upon hearing this, allowed the corner of her lips to curl upward into a smile that was light and clear, yet profound in implication: "Teacher Fan Yu is too kind. Academic exchange—sharing what one has and learning what one lacks—is always a positive thing. Provided it does not involve improper demands concerning core secrets, our Church of the Water God welcomes any sincere exploration of cooperation." Her words were light, yet they quietly drew a clear boundary.
Fan Yu let out a hearty laugh, naturally catching the underlying meaning. He readily agreed: "But of course! Cooperation is founded on good faith. How could our Shrek ever commit injustice against an ally?" His words were spoken with frank openness, yet they too carried an implicit position.
Furina chuckled inwardly. 'Ally,' is it? Not acting against allies—so in other words, acting against non-allies... like the Sun Moon Empire, comes with no psychological burden whatsoever? As expected, one's stance determines one's attitude.
She revealed nothing on her face and returned his smile in kind: "Hahaha, Teacher Fan Yu speaks the truth. I look forward to our future cooperation."
Just as they were speaking, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and the other students who had finished the tour with He Caitou returned one after another.
Seeing that the timing was opportune, Furina nodded to Fan Yu and Zhou Yi: "It seems today's tour lesson is about wrapped up. Teacher Fan Yu, Teacher Zhou Yi—for the remaining time, I'll trouble the two of you to guide the other students in digesting what they've seen today. Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao—you three, follow me. There are matters I need to discuss with you."
Huo Yuhao nodded without the slightest hesitation: "Alright, Furina."
He had long since grown accustomed to following Furina's arrangements.
Xiao Xiao, though somewhat uncertain of the reason, saw how readily Huo Yuhao agreed and, bearing a favorable impression of Furina herself, also happily consented: "Mm, sure!"
Wang Dong, on the other hand, furrowed his brows slightly. He did not like soul tools. Being in this environment, filled with metal and the energy fluctuations of soul tools, gave him a sense of instinctive discomfort and rejection, as if he were "allergic" to the things.
Hearing Furina call him away was, in fact, a relief. Though he didn't understand why she specifically called for him, he still quickly stepped forward to follow. "Coming."
Furina offered Fan Yu and Zhou Yi another polite smile, then turned and led Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao away from the soul tool experimentation zone, with its cold metallic luster, leaving behind the pensive Fan Yu, the emotionally unsettled Zhou Yi, and the other students still in the midst of animated discussion.
Her steps were light and steady, as if all the negotiation and gifting just now had been nothing more than a minor, casually handled interlude. The real game had only just entered its middle phase.