Looking at Princess Xu Jiujiu's face, which was shocked almost to the point of losing her composure, Huo Yuhao gave a slight smile.
"Princess Jiujiu has a good eye," he pointed at the cylindrical objects on the ground. "These are indeed three Grade-6 Fixed-Mount Soul-Guided Shells."
Huo Yuhao certainly wouldn't tell her that these were just works he had made for practice in his spare time. For him now, crafting Grade-6 spirit tools was as easy as pie. When it came to making spirit tools, his Spirit Eyes Martial Soul was practically like a cheat, allowing him to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Huo Yuhao then added another sentence, his tone remaining calm: "By the way, I made all of these."
As soon as he finished speaking, Princess Xu Jiujiu's eyes widened even further! On that exquisite face, the expression could no longer be described as mere "shock." She stared with wide eyes and an open mouth, her entire being seemingly frozen in place.
"You made them?!"
A moment later, her voice rose another pitch.
Fixed-Mount Soul-Guided Shells were contraband that the Sun Moon Empire strictly forbade from being sold to the original three Douluo empires; they were the source of the empire's pride and confidence. Therefore, the technology for Fixed-Mount Soul-Guided Shells was also the top secret within the original three Douluo empires.
It couldn't be said that no one possessed this technology, but there were only a handful of people who did. Moreover, the Fixed-Mount Soul-Guided Shells produced by these people were outdated versions, and their power was far inferior to those of the Sun Moon Empire.
And now, this youth who looked to be only eleven or twelve years old, Huo Yuhao, actually said he had made these Fixed-Mount Soul-Guided Shells!
What did this imply?
This implied that not only had he mastered this technology, but he was also a genuine Grade-6 Soul Engineer! Either identity alone was enough for Princess Xu Jiujiu, a princess of the Star Luo Empire, to grant him the highest level of importance.
After all, she wasn't like those traditional Spirit Masters of Shrek Academy who looked down on spirit tools. She knew better than anyone how terrifying the improvement in military strength provided by spirit tools could be!
After a moment, Princess Xu Jiujiu finally calmed her emotions. She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, trying to make her pounding heart return to normal.
When those beautiful eyes looked at Huo Yuhao again, her expression was completely different.
If Huo Yuhao had previously been just a youth with startling talent in her eyes, worth investing in and befriending ahead of time...
Then the current Huo Yuhao was already qualified for the Star Luo Empire to recruit by any means necessary.
Princess Xu Jiujiu's expression became much more solemn. She looked directly into Huo Yuhao's eyes and asked, "How do you want to cooperate?"
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao knew that she was already tempted.
"The spirit tools I can supply are not limited to these." His voice was calm, yet it carried a powerful sense of confidence. "There are many more spirit tools that have never appeared in this World before."
Huo Yuhao possessed knowledge of spirit tools from Ten Thousand Years in the future. In terms of spirit tool technology, he could absolutely crush the current Sun Moon Empire.
Those advanced concepts, exquisite designs, and inconceivable ideas—any single one he brought out would be enough to leave the Soul Engineers of this era dumbfounded.
Princess Xu Jiujiu didn't immediately believe Huo Yuhao's words either. She wasn't the type to be easily moved by a few words; she wouldn't jump to conclusions about things she hadn't seen with her own eyes.
However, that didn't matter. Relying on the technology of Fixed-Mount Soul-Guided Shells alone was enough to establish the foundation of their cooperation.
Everything else could be verified slowly.
Princess Xu Jiujiu thought for a moment and asked a very practical question.
"Cooperation regarding spirit tools is possible," her gaze fell upon Huo Yuhao, "but you are only one person. I'm afraid you won't be able to provide many spirit tools, will you?"
Huo Yuhao smiled, his smile carrying a hint of composure.
"That is indeed true! However, what Princess Jiujiu values shouldn't just be the spirit tools I can provide, right?" He paused, looking directly at Princess Xu Jiujiu. "But also my technology."
Princess Xu Jiujiu was also direct, admitting it straightforwardly: "Correct!"
But she then asked with some surprise, "You are willing to share your technology?"
Huo Yuhao gave a mysterious smile, one that held a bit of profound meaning. "That will depend on Princess Jiujiu's sincerity. If I am satisfied, teaching some spirit tool technology to the Star Luo Empire wouldn't be a problem."
These words were spoken casually, yet they made Princess Xu Jiujiu's heart tremble slightly. She took a deep breath and asked again, "Then what do you want in return?"
Huo Yuhao did not state his requirements directly. "There's no rush; after all, we've only just begun our cooperation."
After saying this, Huo Yuhao stood up directly.
"I am very glad to have met Princess Jiujiu today. I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation in the future. For today, I shall take my leave."
Princess Xu Jiujiu hurriedly stood up to see him off. When they reached the door, she stopped, a proper smile on her face.
"I look forward to meeting Young Master Huo again."
Huo Yuhao nodded and turned to leave. The sound of his footsteps gradually faded, eventually disappearing at the end of the corridor.
Princess Xu Jiujiu stood at the door, watching the disappearing figure as the smile on her face slowly receded. She frowned and couldn't help but snort.
"He's certainly not simple!"
Recalling their previous conversation, she suddenly realized that the initiative had unknowingly been seized by Huo Yuhao.
On the way back to the Star Emperor Hotel from the auction house, Huo Yuhao was also thinking about this meeting. Being able to establish a connection with the Star Luo imperial family was indeed an unexpected pleasant surprise.
Whether it was for his plan to leave Shrek Academy later or for the grievances with the White Tiger Dukes Mansion he had to settle soon, this was good assistance.
As he walked, he calculated the next steps in his mind.
After returning to the hotel, Huo Yuhao originally wanted to immediately check his precious carving knife. He was very curious about what the Life Guardian Blade actually looked like.
But his plan was interrupted once again. Because in the suite on the top floor belonging to Shrek Academy, there was an extra person. And this person was none other than Xuan Zi, who had returned from Shrek Academy!
Huo Yuhao's gaze fell upon him, pausing slightly. Compared to the previous Xuan Zi, who, although slovenly, was permeated with a casual and easygoing air, the current him... had changed a lot.
Not only was he much cleaner, with tidy clothes and meticulously combed hair, but even his temperament seemed to have become more steady. In those earthy-yellow eyes, there was no longer the muddiness of the past, replaced instead by an indescribable solemnity.
But Huo Yuhao only gave him a faint glance and didn't say much. He still remembered the previous events in his heart.
At this moment, Wang Yan spoke. "Yuhao, Xuan Lao brought back a message from the academy. This time, the academy will not send any more people to participate in the competition. Therefore, the Shrek Team will only consist of the eight of you."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but let out a scoff. In that smile, there was a bit of mockery and a bit of self-deprecation.
"So they've decided that I can lead the academy's team to the championship?"
These words were spoken with great confidence, as if the hope of the academy rested on him alone.
But neither Xuan Zi nor Wang Yan refuted him. Because the fact was indeed so.
Although Huo Yuhao was only a Spirit King, he had this ability.
Xuan Zi then looked at Huo Yuhao and spoke slowly. On that much cleaner face, there was a touch of solemnity.
"Elder Mu said," his voice was low and raspy, "it all depends on your will. If you are unwilling to take action..."
"Then if Shrek Academy loses, then so be it."
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
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