Huo Yuhao from The Peerless Tang Sect is incredibly talented.

Furthermore, Huo Yuhao was absolutely certain that Qian Duoduo would leave from here today.

As for why, Huo Yuhao is quite accomplished in divination, and with the 100,000-year-old golden tortoise shell and his status as the chosen one of Douluo Continent, he can basically predict everything that happens on Douluo Continent.

Apart from places where gods intervene, such as the Valley of Love and the Dragon Valley Small World.

A short while later, a voice rang in Huo Yuhao's ears.

"Which class are you in, new student?"

A hand patted his shoulder, the force was light but solid.

Hooked.

Huo Yuhao was overjoyed.

"Freshman, haven't checked the class assignments yet." Huo Yuhao closed the book, shrank his neck, and reverted to his harmless, slovenly appearance. "Just passing by, taking a look."

Qian Duoduo didn't let him leave. He noticed that the corners of the pages of the "Fundamentals of Soul Guidance Devices" book in the freshman's hand were frayed from being turned too many times, and the book was filled with densely packed small print.

Qian Duoduo's gaze shifted from the edge of the book back to the boy's face; he had seen many new students in the preparatory class.

Most of them desperately try to get into the Martial Soul system, and even if they enter the Soul Guidance system, they are all dejected.

No freshman would ever stand outside the Soul Guidance Department's classroom on the first day of school without even looking at the class assignments, eavesdropping on their teaching.

absolutely not!

After all, the original Three Kingdoms of Douluo Continent had a serious culture of discrimination against soul tools, and this was especially true at Shrek Academy.

For details, refer to Mu Yun, a member of the Soul Guidance Department who was kicked out of the Shrek Seven Devils in the original work. He didn't even have a name in the original work.

"You're interested in soul tools?" Qian Duoduo asked, her tone unlike that of a teacher, more like that of a miser eagerly guarding his treasure. "Rare indeed. Most freshmen think soul tools are some kind of heresy, but you've been sitting here listening for ages. Tell me, what do you think a soul tool is?"

Huo Yuhao thought for a moment and tucked the book under his arm. He was now Huo Buxiao, a poor boy from a small mountain village in the far north of the Tianhun Empire. He shouldn't know too much, but he wasn't completely ignorant either.

"I was born into poverty and am very weak. I can only survive by relying on a soul tool."

Qian Duoduo glanced at Huo Yuhao's shabby clothes; indeed, he came from a poor background.

"I think soul tools are more than just tools." He hesitated slightly as if unsure if his words would be laughed at. "The teacher just said that the core of a soul tool is a rare metal. So I was thinking—aren't rare metals somewhat similar to soul beasts?"

Qian Duoduo raised her eyebrows slightly.

"Rare metals are formed from naturally occurring mineral veins, while soul beasts are creatures created with soul power. Soul masters can improve their soul rings and soul bones by hunting soul beasts. Since rare metals are of equal or near-equal value, could their derivatives be used to assist soul masters in their cultivation, just like the soul rings produced by soul beasts?"

Qian Duoduo raised an eyebrow, showing interest in the idea, and nodded slightly, signaling Huo Yuhao to continue.

"The teacher in the classroom just said that the Sun Moon Empire currently monopolizes the core technology of high-level soul tools, but their monopoly is based on rare metals. If rare metals have another use, then their monopoly barrier will have a crack."

Qian Duoduo finally couldn't help but laugh. It wasn't the encouraging laugh of an elder to a younger person, but the kind of unexpected and delighted laugh that comes from someone who has studied soul tools for most of their life and suddenly hears someone knocking on the door they've been trying to push open for years from a completely different direction.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Huo Buxiao".

"Alright, Huo Buxiao. Let me ask you another question—since you have such a deep understanding of rare metals, how do you think we should catch up with the gap between Douluo Three Kingdoms and the Sun Moon Empire in terms of soul tools?"

Huo Yuhao did not answer immediately. He closed the book, his fingers unconsciously stroking the spine.

His current identity is that of a freshman in the preparatory class, not the young sect master of the Body Sect, the city lord of Heaven Dou City, the master of the Void Realm, or the creator of miracles.

He couldn't appear too knowledgeable. He paused for a moment, then honestly said, "I don't know how to pursue it. I know too little about soul tools. I only touched the classroom door for the first time today. I usually just read books, and I've only ever touched the first or second level of soul tools at most. I have no right to speak without investigation."

A very subtle hint of disappointment flashed in Qian Duoduo's eyes. Indeed, what insights could a poor student possibly have?

Qian Duoduo has been under a lot of pressure lately. The resources have suddenly increased by 35% of the annual resources for the Martial Soul Department, which is equivalent to five times the annual resources for the Soul Guidance Department in previous years.

Seeing the expectant gaze of the Sea God Pavilion Master and feeling the pressure from the elders of the Martial Soul Department, Qian Duoduo was eager to produce some results.

But before the disappointment could settle, Huo Yuhao spoke again.

"But if we're just talking about strategies, I think instead of thinking about how to catch up, we should think about what we have. What does the Sun Moon Empire lack? Do we have it? If so, then we should play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses—not chase their strengths, but surpass ours."

"The number of Soul Masters in the Douluo Three Kingdoms far exceeds that of the Sun Moon Empire. We have more top-tier Martial Souls, stronger individual combat power, and a deeper foundation in Soul Master cultivation. The Sun Moon Empire uses Soul Tools to arm ordinary people, compensating for the quality gap with quantity. But what if we reverse that—use Soul Tools on our already superior Soul Masters, making the strong even stronger?"

"you mean?"

"The Sun Moon Empire's research direction for soul tools is destructive power. We can't catch up with them on this path. They have accumulated technology and multiple rare metal mines. For every step we take, they've already taken two steps ahead."

"But if we can't catch up in terms of firepower, can we catch up in terms of efficiency? Can we make Soul Masters cultivate faster, recover faster, open their meridians faster, and condense their Soul Power faster? Soul tools aren't just weapons; they can be anything. If we have to talk about catching up, then let's overtake on a curve. Since we can't catch up with the car of technological accumulation, let's change the track."

Qian Duoduo's expression turned serious, as if he had glimpsed an opportunity for Shrek Academy's soul tools to overtake them.

Only one thought kept running through his mind: he had to accept him.

Qian Duoduo took out a gear badge from his pocket. The edge of the gear was engraved with a circle of extremely fine inscriptions, which was the identity certificate of a direct disciple of the Soul Guidance Department.

"Huo Buxiao, I am Qian Duoduo. Dean of the Soul Guidance Department, a ninth-level Soul Guidance Master. From now on, you are my personal disciple. You don't need to worry about the freshman assessment; I'll put in a good word for you, and I guarantee you'll pass."

"Wait a moment!"

"No waiting! You just said that you have no right to speak without investigation, right? Then you don't need to worry about the new student assessment three months from now. Just do your investigation thoroughly. I'll provide you with the necessary resources. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have."

Qian Duoduo took out a silver-gray space soul tool ring from his sleeve and stuffed it into Huo Yuhao's hand. It was a spare storage soul tool that he had prepared on his body long ago. Usually, only the highest-rated researchers under him were qualified to receive it. It was considered the year-end bonus of the soul tool department teachers.

"Here you'll find a complete set of basic experimental equipment for the Soul Guidance System, plus the most comprehensive collection of rare metal samples available on the market. Take it back and take a look. If you don't understand anything, come to the lab to find me anytime. You don't need to wait for the freshman assessment. By the way, as long as you produce good results, I'll cover the reward for the top student in the freshman assessment."

"You don't need to worry about the assessment for me. Weakness is not an obstacle to survival; arrogance is. In the far north, strength is not determined by soul power level."

Huo Yuhao said with great confidence.

Qian Duoduo chuckled. Indeed, judging from his attire, this kid must come from a poor background. To come to Shrek Academy from such a desolate place, he must have some extraordinary abilities.

Putting everything else aside, the fact that this kid could get a recommendation letter from the city lord shows that his true strength is far more than it appears.

Just then, someone called for a meeting for Dean Qian. Qian Duoduo took a few steps, then turned back and made a gesture—he tapped his temple with his finger and then pointed it at him. The meaning was clear: Use your brain, I have plenty of resources.

Huo Yuhao smiled and responded in kind.

The first step of the plan went smoothly.