Xuan Ziwen scratched his head as he sat on the sofa. He had also drank quite a lot, as he was hosted by Shrek’s Seven Monsters earlier.

  Huo Yuhao poured a cup of water for him. Xuan Ziwen received the cup and said, “Thank you.”


  Huo Yuhao smiled slightly and said, “I should be the one thanking you. You gave up your privileges at the Illustrious Virtue Hall to come to the Tang Sect. I’m very grateful to you.”


  Xuan Ziwen waved his hand and replied, “You don’t need to be grateful. I’m only pursuing what I like. Other things are less important. Before I left the Illustrious Virtue Hall, I submitted my Sealed Milk Bottle research. At least I managed to fulfil my responsibility to the Illustrious Virtue Hall.”


  Huo Yuhao was stunned. Teacher Xuan managed to complete his research for the Sealed Milk Bottle! Undoubtedly, the Illustrious Virtue Hall would benefit greatly from this.

  However, he didn’t say anything much. He could sense that Xuan Ziwen was still very attached to the Illustrious Virtue Hall. It was logical that he would repay them.

  Xuan Ziwen looked at Huo Yuhao calmly and smiled. “You indeed didn’t disappoint me. I decided to come to the Tang Sect not because I was drawn by what you showed me. There are other reasons.”


  As he spoke until here, he revealed a slightly disappointed look on his face, “There have been great changes in the Sun Moon Empire in the last two years. Jing Hongchen is about to go to war.”


  Huo Yuhao furrowed his brow and said, “He must be on Xu Tianran’s side.”


  Xuan Ziwen was stunned, and he asked, “You know?”


  Huo Yuhao laughed. In fact, he was one of the causes. How would he not know?

  Xuan Ziwen said, “As the Hallmaster of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, Jing Hongchen’s status in the Sun Moon Empire is extremely high. He’s like an advisor. His involvement in the imminent war means that the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy will be dragged in, too. Even though the Crown Prince was at an advantage, the throne was the sole target of some people. They would either succeed or die trying. Why would they give up so easily? The Illustrious Virtue Hall will no longer give me a quiet research environment.”


  “More importantly, the Crown Prince has always been very active. Once he succeeds to the throne, a huge war will start in the near future. I’m only a soul engineer researcher. I don’t want to be involved with and stuck in a war. I don’t want to be ambushed by the Body Sect again, either. My research requires stability. I’m not willing to rely on anyone either, even if it’s on Jing Hongchen. I hate politics.

  “The Tang Sect’s atmosphere is very good and relaxed. Shrek City also holds a special position on the continent. I think I’m liking it here already.” As he spoke to this point, Xuan Ziwen revealed a smile on his face.

  Huo Yuhao smiled too. “We’re more glad that you’re here. Maybe we’ll be involved in a war in the future. However, no one will force you to do anything. It’s fine if you do what you like in the Tang Sect. We’ll do our best to handle external matters.”


  Xuan Ziwen nodded and replied, “That’s great.”


  He stopped for a moment at this point and looked at Huo Yuhao. After a brief moment of silence, he said, “Yuhao, have you thought of a future?”


  Huo Yuhao was stunned for a moment, and didn’t understand what Xuan Ziwen meant.

  Xuan Ziwen looked at him seriously and asked, “Don’t you think that you are too complex? No one is omnipotent.”


  Huo Yuhao finally understood what he meant, and nodded. “Yes, I understand. However, I don’t wish to give up on being both a soul master and soul engineer. I just proposed to Shrek Academy today that soul masters should be taught how to use soul tools.” He explained his proposition to Xuan Ziwen.

  Xuan Ziwen nodded and said, “That’s right, but it’s different from your situation. You aren’t just using soul tools; you are learning and developing them. You have even reached a deep level. I know it’s very difficult for you to give up everything now. However, everyone’s energy is limited. No one can be a master of all trades. You’ll need to make a choice.

  “You are talented in the aspect of soul tools. You have become a Class 6 soul engineer, even though you are still so young. You are even on the verge of reaching Class 7. I am almost certain that you will become at least a Class 9 soul engineer if you continue to work hard. You won’t take more than twenty years, either. You might even become the youngest Class 9 soul engineer ever! However, I am also almost certain that every step from Class 7 onwards will become extremely difficult. I’ve been a Class 8 soul engineer for eight years, and I’m only just approaching Class 9. My cultivation is still sorely lacking.”


  “If you want to become a Class 9 soul engineer, you’ll be restricted by time in terms of your soul master capabilities. With your talent, it won’t be long before you become a Titled Douluo. However, it’ll be very difficult to develop further if you invest your time in soul tools. Although a Titled Douluo Class 9 soul engineer is very strong, and you might even choose to become a Class 10 soul engineer, do you want that?”


  Xuan Ziwen stood up and stepped forward slowly. “Your previous performance was too outstanding, and concealed some problems. However, these problems still exist. I saw everything that you’ve done in the Illustrious Virtue Hall. Kid, you are too tired.”


  His words seemed to touch Huo Yuhao’s soul. His body shuddered slightly.

  Xuan Ziwen walked up to him and patted his shoulder. He said, “I invested all my energy in soul tools. As an eight-ringed Soul Douluo, I don’t even remember what my soul skills are. However, I had plenty of time to think. What about you? Do you have plenty of time? You don’t. You don’t even have time to think. In your case, you might not even reach your peak in both aspects. The worst case scenario is that you’ll collapse.

  “You’re already a Soul King. It’s time for you to choose. From the fighting style that you always use, I can tell that you see yourself more as a soul master deep in your heart, and not a soul engineer. Am I right?”


  Huo Yuhao nodded slightly.

  Xuan Ziwen said, “It’s nothing much. I also think that you are more suitable to be a soul master. Compared to your talent as a soul engineer, your twin martial souls are undoubtedly more outstanding in the world of soul masters. Tapping into your greatest advantages is the correct path you should choose.”


  Huo Yuhao laughed bitterly. “However, I can’t forgo certain things.”


  Xuan Ziwen walked in front of him and patted his shoulder, “I won’t make you forget them. Your research into soul tools will not be wasted, either, because you’ll understand them better. The person on the spot is baffled, while the onlooker sees clearly. How did you propose to Shrek Academy? Why have you become lost when it comes to you?”


  Huo Yuhao was in a daze, and asked, “Are you suggesting that I should stop researching soul tools, and only use them?”


  Xuan Ziwen shook his head and said, “You’re only half right. I’m not asking you to stop researching, but to stop developing soul tools. With your foundational knowledge of soul tools, it’s fine if you come up new concepts when inspiration arrives. However, don’t expend too much of your energy in this area. Since you have become a Soul King, you’ll need to expend more energy and effort in the future cultivation of your martial souls. If you want to be one of the best on the continent, you have to be focused. At least eighty percent of your time needs to be spent on that most important aspect.”


  Xuan Ziwen’s gaze started to turn passionate as he spoke until this point. “Do you know why I’m trying to persuade you?”


  Huo Yuhao was slightly moved, but he didn’t mutter a word.

  Xuan Ziwen said, “That’s because I’ll be the person to design your soul tools in the future, when you reach the peak of the continent. The stronger and more complex the soul tools are, the stronger a soul master has to be in order to use them. There’s one thing about you that moves me the most… your knowledge. You are correct, the strongest individuals on the continent in the future will be the best soul masters equipped with the strongest soul tools. After seeing your human-shaped soul tool, my conception has changed slightly. Purely creating patterns and concepts of certain soul tools can no longer satiate my desire in the area of soul tools anymore. What I really want is to create the strongest soul tool in the world and create the ultimate combination of soul masters and soul engineers; the Ultimate Soldier.”


  Huo Yuhao couldn’t help but open his eyes wide as he heard the words ‘Ultimate Soldier’. This was too coincidental!

  Xuan Ziwen looked at him with a burning gaze and said, “This is also another reason why I was so willing to come here. Traditional soul masters don’t accept soul tools and don’t understand them. Soul masters at the peak of the continent will not be my test subjects. However, you are different. You possess the outstanding talent of a soul master, and you are enrolled in the best soul master academy. Your passion for soul tools is also very great, and you have a deep foundation there, too. Are you willing to be my test subject?”


  Hui Yuhao laughed and bowed to Xuan Ziwen respectfully. “Teacher, it would be my honor!”


  Xuan Ziwen rubbed his hands and said, “Alright then, take out all your new inventions over these past few years! I’m very eager!”


  Huo Yuhao was puzzled. “Didn’t you say you wanted to research on your own, in case you were affected by my research?”