"Hello, my name is Ju Zi. I am a friend of Yuhao's."
Ju Zi rose with a smile, seemingly indifferent to the fact that this young girl—who appeared a year or two younger than herself—was currently holding Huo Yuhao in her arms.
"Hello, I am Meng Hongchen!"
Miss Meng stared at Ju Zi as she spoke, her tone laced with a hint of aggression. However, in Ju Zi's eyes, the current Meng Hongchen was like a kitten baring its teeth to protect its food—strangely adorable.
It seems this junior sister likes Yuhao quite a lot as well...
Ju Zi quickly reached a conclusion, but she didn't let much emotion show on her face. Instead, she spoke softly:
"Does Miss Meng have urgent business with Yuhao?"
"Yes, I have to take him away right now. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Of course not." Ju Zi shook her head calmly.
"Good. Then I'll be taking Yuhao first. Goodbye!"
With that, Meng Hongchen released Huo Yuhao, then grabbed him by the hand, preparing to leave.
I have to get Yuhao away from that wicked woman's sight immediately!
Huo Yuhao, who had just escaped the suffocating embrace of the young girl's developing figure and barely regained his breath, hadn't even found his footing before being swiftly pulled away by Meng Hongchen.
"Wait... Sister Meng..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he was dragged from the second floor of the library down to the first.
Only then did Meng Hongchen manage a sigh of relief.
Looking at Huo Yuhao, who still looked a bit confused about what had just happened, Meng Hongchen blinked. She suddenly felt that she had been somewhat out of character.
Is it because of Yuhao?
Meng Hongchen was uncertain. To be honest, during her time with Huo Yuhao, life had been very interesting.
After all, who could refuse a fragrant, soft, good-looking younger brother who was also a superb cook?
She certainly couldn't.
However, just now, when she saw Ju Zi hugging Huo Yuhao with such an intimate air, a sudden sense of urgency had enveloped her, causing her to lose her composure...
What's... wrong with me...
Meng Hongchen felt a bit troubled, but she quickly remembered her purpose for coming. She hurriedly suppressed these strange emotions, held Huo Yuhao's hand, and spoke:
"Let's go, Yuhao. Grandfather said he has something to discuss with us and wants us to go to the Illustrious Virtue Hall."
"Is that so? Then let's go, Sister Meng."
Huo Yuhao allowed a smile to form. It seemed the mental suggestion he had secretly planted in Xu Tianran earlier was proving useful...
...
A moment later, at the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a white-haired youth was performing soul tool production while surrounded by several 8th and 9th-rank soul tool engineers.
It was Xiao Hongchen.
After nearly half a year of guidance and teaching from Huo Yuhao, the genius Xiao Hongchen had reached a level of soul power control nearly approaching the realm of "using ten parts of effort to gain ten parts of result."
Furthermore, by leveraging his martial soul's innate metal control talent and the soul power storage devices secretly purchased from the three empires...
Xiao Hongchen had successfully become a 4th-rank soul tool engineer with only a three-ring cultivation, and was currently preparing for the 5th-rank soul tool engineer assessment.
At this moment, under everyone's gaze, Xiao Hongchen was cautiously assembling a replica of the "artificial soul ring device."
Hum—
As the final component was installed, the portion of soul power Xiao Hongchen had reserved began to spread from the soul tool core throughout the entire device. The machine emitted a low hum.
Everyone watched with bated breath, but after a moment, nothing happened.
"Another failure..."
On the viewing stand, several Titled Douluo belonging to the Sun Moon Empire looked grim. Xu Tianran, sitting in his wheelchair, also looked displeased.
Just as Kong Deming was about to speak, the sharp-eyed Jing Hongchen spotted his granddaughter arriving in a hurry, pulling Huo Yuhao along.
Instantly, Jing Hongchen's eyes lit up.
"Elder Kong, my student has arrived."
Kong Deming frowned and looked in the direction of Jing Hongchen's gaze, discovering the figure of a blue-haired boy.
Is that him?
Kong Deming couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation.
Although Jing Hongchen believed he had protected Huo Yuhao well, Kong Deming had actually received quite a bit of information regarding this youth.
A 4th-rank soul tool engineer before the age of nine—such a terrifyingly absurd talent made it impossible not to take notice.
"Let the child try."
Kong Deming spoke softly. The order was issued, and a moment later, Huo Yuhao stood at the central workbench.
He first glanced at the soul tool blueprints nearby—which had analyzed his "artificial soul ring device" with extreme thoroughness—and then displayed a perfectly timed look of confusion:
"Um... may I see the original prototype?"
An 8th-rank soul tool engineer in charge of the matter hesitated, looking up toward Kong Deming.
"Let him see it."
"Yes."
The 8th-rank soul tool engineer complied and turned to leave. A moment later, he returned, carefully placing the "artificial soul ring device" they had fought so hard to seize from the Spirit Transmission Pagoda onto the lab table.
Huo Yuhao looked at the prototype. Two yellow soul rings appeared around him, revealing that his cultivation had already reached Rank 20.
In the next instant, everyone present felt a faint mental ripple emanate from Huo Yuhao. Simultaneously, they saw a brilliant golden light flowing within the depths of his eyes.
"A mental-type martial soul... and the martial soul is the eyes..."
Kong Deming murmured. Inexplicably, he felt that this youth was about to give him a surprise.
"Excuse me... could I have one of the failed replicas as well?" Huo Yuhao asked softly.
"You can have mine."
Xiao Hongchen, who was watching from below, brought out his failed product and handed it to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao nodded in thanks, then placed it next to the prototype for comparison.
A moment later, Huo Yuhao seemed to discover something. His brow furrowed slightly as he raised his hand. His soul power pulled a small piece of metal toward him, and he began engraving right then and there.
Before long, a miniature soul tool core no larger than a thumb was constructed. Under everyone's gaze, Huo Yuhao dismantled Xiao Hongchen's replica, replaced the core with the one he had just made, and reassembled it.
Next, a light blue trail of soul power appeared on the "artificial soul ring device," followed by the distinct ripples of a soul tool in operation.
"Wait... it worked?!"
Xiao Hongchen was dumbfounded. Huo Yuhao, however, continued to calibrate it. After a thought, he pulled out his own "soul power storage device." While drawing soul power from it, he began pouring it into the "artificial soul ring device."
A few moments later, a soul ring began to materialize bit by bit before everyone's eyes.
"It's a success..."
"Wait... a child with only two rings actually succeeded?!"
"Is this kid really only eight years old?!"
Hearing the waves of exclamation around him, the corners of Jing Hongchen's mouth twitched upward uncontrollably. However, he also looked toward Kong Deming with a hint of concern.
Kong Deming, however, was the first to react. He immediately barked orders to those nearby:
"Find a test subject to absorb this soul ring immediately! Hurry!"
"Yes!" Several 9th-rank soul tool engineers snapped to attention. After exchanging looks, one of them quickly sprinted out of the laboratory.