Xiao Hongchen's brow furrowed slightly, and the curiosity in his heterochromatic blue and green eyes was instantly replaced by wariness.
"Someone from Shrek Academy coming to study at our Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy?"
His voice carried a hint of scrutiny, and his tone grew colder.
"Do you know the relationship between our Sun Moon Empire and Shrek Academy?"
Shrek Academy, as the spiritual symbol of the Douluo Continent's Original Three Nations, had stood at the forefront of opposing the Sun Moon Empire's expansion for many years.
It was precisely because of Shrek Academy's interference that the Sun Moon Empire had never been able to fulfill its wish of ruling the entire continent.
To say the relationship between the two sides was like fire and water would not be an exaggeration.
And now, a youth claiming to be from Shrek Academy stood boldly at the gates of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, saying he had come to "seek advice" on Spirit Tool technology. This didn't sound like a sincere request to study; it sounded more like a provocation.
Xiao Hongchen's gaze swept over Huo Yuhao, a trace of annoyance gradually appearing in his eyes.
This guy looked even younger than himself. If Shrek Academy had sent him to provoke them, weren't they looking down on the Sun Moon Empire a bit too much?
"You say you're seeking advice?"
Xiao Hongchen sneered.
"Do you think Shrek Academy's Spirit Tool technology is stronger than our Sun Moon Empire's? So you specifically ran over here to show us?"
His tone was laced with sarcasm.
Huo Yuhao noticed the change in Xiao Hongchen's expression and understood immediately.
This Genius of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy clearly mistook him for a student of that "Shrek Academy on the ground."
He quickly waved his hands and began to explain.
"You've misunderstood."
Xiao Hongchen raised an eyebrow.
"Misunderstood?"
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and spoke seriously.
"I am not from that Shrek Academy in Shrek City."
He paused and added word by word.
"I come from the Shrek Academy in the Sky."
Xiao Hongchen was slightly stunned.
The Shrek Academy in the Sky?
He had certainly heard of it; his sister had mentioned it before. However, as time passed and he became busy with his Cultivation, he had forgotten.
A rumor suddenly flashed through Xiao Hongchen's mind.
His eyes lit up, and the coldness on his face dissipated significantly, replaced by an irrepressible excitement.
"Wait, does your academy have a teacher who beat up Yan Shaozhe from that other Shrek Academy?"
Huo Yuhao was stunned.
"Yan Shaozhe?"
He thought back carefully, but in his memory, he didn't seem to have heard that name.
"I'm not sure about that."
Huo Yuhao shook his head and answered truthfully.
"Since joining the academy, I've basically stayed inside to Cultivate. I don't know much about outside affairs."
Hearing this, the excitement on Xiao Hongchen's face slowly faded.
He scrutinized Huo Yuhao again, wariness reappearing in his heterochromatic eyes.
"You say you're from that Shrek Academy in the Sky."
He paused, his tone questioning.
"But talk is cheap. How do I know if what you're saying is true or false?"
Huo Yuhao was silent for a moment, then raised his wrist as his Storage Soul Tool flashed.
A silver-white soul guidance car appeared out of thin air before them, hovering silently half a foot above the ground.
"I am a 4th Class Soul Engineer."
Huo Yuhao said calmly.
"I assembled this soul guidance car myself. On the current Douluo Continent, there shouldn't be anything else like it."
"Is this enough to prove my identity?"
Xiao Hongchen's gaze was instantly drawn to the soul guidance car.
He ignored Huo Yuhao's statement about being a "4th Class Soul Engineer," his full attention falling on the silver-white vehicle with its sleek, simple design and surface engraved with dense Spirit Power circuits.
"What... is this?"
Xiao Hongchen stepped forward and circled the soul guidance car, his eyes full of surprise.
He had studied at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy for many years and seen countless Flying Spirit Tools, but he had never seen a Spirit Tool like this. He just heard Huo Yuhao call it a soul guidance car—a car, a carriage—could it also be a transport tool?
"Can I examine it?"
Xiao Hongchen looked up at Huo Yuhao, his tone unusually polite.
As a Soul Engineer Genius of the Sun Moon Empire, Xiao Hongchen possessed an intense curiosity toward any unfamiliar Spirit Tool.
This curiosity even made him temporarily forget his suspicions about Huo Yuhao's identity.
Huo Yuhao nodded.
"Be my guest."
Xiao Hongchen immediately crouched down and carefully observed every detail of the soul guidance car.
He reached out to gently touch the Spirit Power circuits on the body, feeling the energy flowing within. He then opened a maintenance hatch on the side to inspect the internal Core Formations and energy circuits.
The more he looked, the more shocked he became.
The design philosophy of this soul guidance car was unlike any Flying Spirit Tool he had ever seen.
He could understand a little bit, but... he actually couldn't make sense of most of it.
Xiao Hongchen stood up and took a deep breath to suppress the shock in his heart.
"I have never seen this vehicle before."
He looked at Huo Yuhao, the wariness in his eyes having vanished.
"I believe you. You definitely weren't taught by that Shrek Academy."
He turned around and walked toward the academy gates.
"Follow me."
After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and whipped his head back, his heterochromatic eyes staring straight at Huo Yuhao.
"Did you just say... you're a 4th Class Soul Engineer?"
Xiao Hongchen's voice carried a hint of disbelief.
His attention had been entirely on the soul guidance car earlier, and he hadn't really registered what Huo Yuhao said. Now that he thought back, he realized what he had heard.
A 4th Class Soul Engineer?
This youth before him, who looked even younger than himself, was actually a 4th Class Soul Engineer?!
"Are you sure?"
Xiao Hongchen's expression became somewhat strange.
"Are you kidding me?"
Huo Yuhao looked at him and nodded calmly.
"I am indeed a 4th Class Soul Engineer."
The corner of Xiao Hongchen's mouth twitched.
He opened his mouth to say something, but found his throat felt blocked, as if he couldn't squeeze out a single word.
A 4th Class Soul Engineer? At such a young age, was it even possible?
He was fourteen this year and was called a once-in-a-century Genius at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, yet even he was only a 4th Class Soul Engineer now.
And this youth before him, who looked two or three years younger than himself, was also a 4th Class Soul Engineer?
Xiao Hongchen took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and gave Huo Yuhao a deep look.
If that soul guidance car was indeed assembled by Huo Yuhao, then... perhaps it was possible.
As for whether bringing Huo Yuhao into the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy posed any risks, there naturally weren't any. After all, this was his home turf.
"You claim to be a 4th Class Soul Engineer, but I don't believe it. So... let's have a contest. You must be longing for our Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's Spirit Tool technology, right? If you win, I'll ask my grandfather to give you a chance to visit. Conversely, if you lose, then... you must hand that car over to me."
Xiao Hongchen's gaze landed on Huo Yuhao, pride resurfacing in his heterochromatic eyes. He was a Genius, and naturally, he did not fear any challenge.
Besides, if he could get his hands on that soul guidance car, it would surely be a good thing for the Sun Moon Empire.
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A/N:
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.