Qian Duoduo sat down beside Cai Mei'er without waiting for an invitation. Du Weilun, who was originally sitting there, moved aside immediately to give him space. Behind Qian Duoduo stood a tall, steady-looking middle-aged man. Upon seeing him, Du Weilun's expression shifted slightly, and he nodded to him politely.
"Hehehe, after all, I'm still the vice dean of the outer court. Isn't it normal for me to come watch the new student assessments?" Qian Duoduo chuckled, his fleshy face scrunching into an amiable smile.
"Go on with your nonsense," Cai Mei'er snorted. "You, a vice dean from the Soul Tool Department, coming to watch the Martial Soul Department's assessments? Who are you here for? Spill it."
"Haha, Mei'er, you're still as sharp as ever. You know I wouldn't come here for nothing," Qian Duoduo laughed awkwardly. "Fanyu, explain to Dean Cai."
"Yes." The middle-aged man behind him stepped forward respectfully. This was Fan Yu, head instructor of the Soul Tool Department and an eighth-rank Soul Engineer. He nodded to Cai Mei'er and said, "Dean Cai, we're here for Huo Yuhao."
"Huo Yuhao?!" Cai Mei'er and Du Weilun both froze in surprise, and a flash of realization crossed Zhu Ziyang's eyes.
It was obvious now – Huo Yuhao must have shown extraordinary talent in soul tools if the vice dean and head instructor came in person to poach him.
"Does Huo Yuhao have talent in soul tools?" Cai Mei'er asked doubtfully.
"He does!" Fan Yu's eyes lit up with excitement and a hint of fanaticism. "Dean Cai, you know his martial soul is his eyes, right? His martial soul is practically made for crafting soul tools. The most important skill in soul tool crafting is inscribing soul arrays, and that requires exceptional eyesight. For others, it takes immense concentration to carve arrays precisely, but for Huo Yuhao, it's effortless!"
"You're saying he has talent just because of his martial soul? Isn't that a bit presumptuous and arbitrary?" Cai Mei'er clearly didn't believe it, nor was she willing to let Huo Yuhao go. After all, he was a Body Martial Soul user, and she had hoped to use his growth to develop cultivation techniques for body martial souls in the Martial Soul Department.
"It's not just presumptions!" Fan Yu quickly explained. "Dean Cai, I personally tested him. In just half a day, he learned and successfully inscribed a first-level soul array! His talent surpasses even mine and Vice Dean Qian's."
"Hm?" Cai Mei'er was stunned. She didn't understand the full implications of learning to inscribe a soul array in half a day, but seeing Qian Duoduo not refute his subordinate's assessment surprised her.
"Mei'er, it's true," Qian Duoduo affirmed upon seeing her skeptical look. Though internally, he felt awkward. He hadn't seen Huo Yuhao himself and didn't know if Fan Yu's words were true, but he trusted him.
Whether Fan Yu was exaggerating didn't matter to Cai Mei'er – what mattered was that she didn't want to give up Huo Yuhao.
"Let me think about it." She decided to stall, her face showing hesitation. "I'll give you an answer later."
Of course, Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu understood what she was doing. Technically, first-year students weren't officially part of the Martial Soul Department yet, but transferring departments required the Martial Soul Dean's signature. As long as Cai Mei'er delayed, once Huo Yuhao advanced to the third year, he would automatically belong to the Martial Soul Department.
Qian Duoduo grew anxious immediately. "Mei'er, what is there to consider? Your department is overflowing with talent, but we in the Soul Tool Department are desperate. Huo Yuhao is just a Tang Sect special recruit with only a ten-year first soul ring. His cultivation talent is terrible. Let us have him – we really need people!"
He began to plead pitifully. "Mei'er, have mercy on your senior brother. You know how hard things are for us. Ziyang, help me persuade her, will you?"
Zhu Ziyang, watching the scene play out, was caught off guard when he was suddenly called on. He gave Qian Duoduo a helpless look, indicating he wouldn't intervene.
"Terrible cultivation talent?" Cai Mei'er couldn't help laughing in anger. "Do you think I'm blind? Huo Yuhao has increased six levels in three months. You call that terrible talent? He's a Body Martial Soul user! Do you know what that means to us?"
"What?" Qian Duoduo froze, stunned by her words. Six levels in three months – two levels a month on average – such talent couldn't possibly be bad! Had Fan Yu tricked him? He shot an accusing glare at Fan Yu.
"Dean Cai, his rapid increase is because I gave him an Ascension Pill," Fan Yu said urgently, ignoring Qian Duoduo's glare. He hadn't expected his gift would backfire like this. If he'd known, he would have waited until Huo Yuhao officially transferred before giving it to him!
"Ascension Pill?!" Cai Mei'er was stunned.
She had thought his rapid advancement showed exceptional cultivation talent, but if it was due to the pill… Had she misunderstood? Was his innate soul power really only level one? Did he only reach level eleven at age eleven because his talent was poor rather than due to hardships?
"Ah, so it was the Ascension Pill!" Qian Duoduo exclaimed in surprise, relief flashing in his eyes as he turned back to Cai Mei'er. "See, Mei'er? You can't say no now."
She still looked unconvinced. "No. Even with an Ascension Pill, that would only raise him two or three levels at most. He should be around level fourteen, not seventeen."
"One Ascension Pill isn't enough, but what if he also took two Xuan Shui Pills?" Fan Yu smiled confidently.
"Two Xuan Shui Pills?!" Cai Mei'er, Qian Duoduo, and Du Weilun all gasped in shock.
Zhu Ziyang's mouth twitched slightly. He immediately guessed the hidden truth behind this and felt a surge of sympathy for Xu Sanshi.
"Fan Yu, you really do care about this Huo Yuhao," Qian Duoduo finally realized just how important Huo Yuhao was to Fan Yu. An Ascension Pill was already valuable, but two additional Xuan Shui Pills? Even as an eighth-rank Soul Engineer, Fan Yu wasn't so rich as to squander resources like this.
"He's worth it." Fan Yu didn't bother correcting their assumptions. This was exactly what he wanted – to show the Martial Soul Department how much he'd invested so they would be hesitant to refuse.
"Haha, Mei'er, surely you'll agree now?" Qian Duoduo said smugly.
Cai Mei'er fell silent, her expression calm as she slowly uttered, "One hundred stationary soul cannon shells."
"What?" Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu both blinked in confusion.
"I said," she repeated calmly, "if you want me to approve his transfer, bring me one hundred stationary soul cannon shells."
"Mei'er, are you kidding? One hundred shells? Do you know how much those cost? Five thousand gold coins each!" Qian Duoduo's face darkened.
"Don't think I don't know your tricks," Cai Mei'er said coldly, her lips curling into a faint smile. "Your department mastered their production long ago. Five thousand gold coins is the sales price. Your manufacturing cost is at most one hundred gold coins each."
"No way, no way!" Qian Duoduo shook his head frantically. "Even at cost price, a hundred is too much. If I agree, Lin'er will skin me alive!"
"No?" Cai Mei'er smiled demonically. "Then forget it. I won't sign any transfer documents. We can settle this in Sea God's Pavilion if you want, but remember – it's your department desperate for talent, not ours."
"You…" Qian Duoduo was speechless. Looking back at Fan Yu's hopeful face, then at Cai Mei'er's triumphant expression, he clenched his teeth. "Fifty at most."
"Deal." Cai Mei'er's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "When Huo Yuhao chooses his department in third year, I will not interfere."
"You'd better keep your word," Qian Duoduo said gloomily.
"Dean, don't worry," Fan Yu whispered to him. "Huo Yuhao is worth far more than fifty stationary soul cannon shells. Dean Xian won't blame you."
"I hope so…" Qian Duoduo sighed.
Zhu Ziyang watched this talent trade between the Martial Soul and Soul Tool departments unfold. He knew that after today, Huo Yuhao's name would be etched into the minds of the academy's top echelons – and as his talent continued to shine, that impression would only deepen.