"Regarding you two, Yu Cheng has talked to me quite a few times over the years. I've also been looking forward to meeting you, and now I've finally got my wish."
Arriving at the manufacturing room, Yi Hongchen let Huo Yuhao and the other person find a place to sit. He leaned against the experimental table, his gaze sizing up Huo Yuhao, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"To have reached such a level in both soul master and soul tool paths at this age, your future is boundless. Looking back at the history of the entire continent, there are probably only a handful who can match this."
"Seeing you reminds me of someone, the first Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, Spirit Ice Douluo."
"..."
Huo Yuhao's eyelids twitched slightly, but he remained calm and said, "You flatter me, President."
Gu Yuena blinked, looking at Huo Yuhao's expression with a smile.
"Does the President know Spirit Ice Douluo well?"
"Naturally, when talking about the history of soul tools, it's impossible to avoid mentioning that person."
Yi Hongchen's face shows a look of reminiscence, "And to be honest, among humans, apart from that person from ten thousand years ago, there are very few who can balance both soul tool master and soul master cultivation. Nowadays, knowledge has been further divided into several sub-professions, and pure soul tool masters are rare. We descendants are not as good as our ancestors."
Yi Hongchen sobbed softly, his gaze distant.
Huo Yuhao's expression remained calm, but a trace of complexity flashed in his eyes that was hard to detect.
It's not a matter of talent, but whether one has a cheat or not.
If someone with extraordinary talent had such a cheat, their achievements would likely surpass his.
Gu Yuena tilted her head to look at Huo Yuhao, her eyes smiled, "Perhaps, it's not that no one can do it, but the times are different? After all, soul tools now involve so much knowledge. Just like how armor masters waste a lot of energy to improve their sub-professions, those who truly balance the soul tool system naturally need more time."
For example, Xiaoyan and the others, although their cultivation has reached Soul Elder level, their sub-professions haven't improved quickly. However, the Spirit Pagoda doesn't forcefully require this.
After all, the Spirit Pagoda is a faction. Once you're part of it, whether you become an armor master sooner or later doesn't make much difference. This is the golden period for cultivation, so it's better to focus on that.
Yi Hongchen smiled, "Perhaps so. But no matter what, Huo Yuhao's talent is extraordinary. Of course, Gu Yuena, your aptitude is also commendable. If I had discovered you earlier, I would have already brought you into the Illustrious Virtue Hall."
The Mecha Association was originally established by a soul tool master from the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
Although it later became what it is now due to the diverse mix of people who joined, with various factions and talents among them, it still has connections with the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
He himself is one of the representatives sent here by the Illustrious Virtue Hall, but he's nearing retirement age. Today, Feng Xuan'ang said he's running out of energy, which isn't wrong…
But since he's so concerned, why not just give him the position in the future?
Feng Xuan'ang: Does this scene feel a bit familiar?
Hearing Yi Hongchen's words, Huo Yuhao pondered for a moment and asked, "President, since you say so, I suppose you know my goal."
Yi Hongchen nodded slightly, "Yu Cheng has already communicated with me in advance. You want to complete your own life-bound soul tool, so entering the Illustrious Virtue Hall must be your goal, right? After all, they have relevant research there."
"In this era, there are still people willing to walk that path. The Silver Moon Douluo's spirit in heaven must be very pleased. But now, since you're already members of the Spirit Pagoda, I can only provide you with convenience as the president of the Mecha Association."
"This is an association organization, and people here don't care much about sectarian biases. But the Illustrious Virtue Hall is somewhat special, and I can't make the decision, especially given your identity, which carries a different significance. To enter the Illustrious Virtue Hall, you must have the approval of the current hall master."
Having Huo Yuhao, who bears the name of the Spirit Pagoda, entering the Illustrious Virtue Hall is of extraordinary significance.
To some extent, it represents a deeper alliance between the Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Spirit Pagoda. It's not something he can decide; it requires his clan brother to personally approve it.
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but think of the information about the current Illustrious Virtue Hall master.
Illustrious Virtue Hall Master • Golden Toad Douluo • Wang Hongchen—
A level ten mecha craftsman, lifetime honorary dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy, a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo, one of the pillars of the Federation!
Indeed, the Hongchen family has cheated in this era.
The current Illustrious Virtue Hall master is from the Hongchen family, having reached the Limit level. His martial soul, like Xiao Hongchen's ten thousand years ago, is the Three-Legged Golden Toad!
The Three-Legged Golden Toad, as a rare beast martial soul, possesses an astonishing talent for metal control. This martial soul can not only freely manipulate various metal substances but also enhance itself by absorbing the energy contained in rare metals. Its affinity for metal is a marvel in the martial soul world.
And it's worth noting that in this era, the quality of rare metals has greatly improved due to advancements in forging technology, coupled with the support of the Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Hongchen family, allowing the Three-Legged Golden Toad martial soul to shine brightly in this era.
It's just that his methods are a bit unconventional. Huo Yuhao even feels that he and the Soul Suppressing Douluo probably have a lot in common.
Because the Golden Toad Douluo's cultivation method is different from most. In a sense, he uses his martial soul's innate ability to consume metal energy to reach the Limit level, he's consumed thousand-fold, spirit-fold, and soul-fold metals. And the most outrageous thing is… after reaching the Titled Douluo level, he's consumed Heaven-forged metal!
What is Heaven-forged metal?
It's metal forged by a divine craftsman using the power of heaven and earth, having enduring the elemental tribulations of the plane, and containing certain laws of the plane, specifically, the laws of the Douluo Continent.
Absorbing the energy within Heaven-forged metal for cultivation is essentially comprehending the laws of the Douluo plane, which is beneficial for Titled Douluo in their cultivation and even breaking through the Limit.
Being in close contact with the plane's laws, how could cultivate after reaching the Titled Douluo level not progress by leaps and bounds?
However, because of this, the Golden Toad Douluo has also become the strongman who has been struck by lightning the most often, and the one whom Zhen Hua dislikes the most.
As Zhen Hua puts it:
The Illustrious Virtue Hall Master, Golden Toad Douluo, is the enemy of the divine craftsman!
You're asking for Heaven-forged metal just to consume its energy? Are you out of your mind? I forged a set of Heaven-forged metal for your four-word battle armor, and you can't even take a break. Who wastes Heaven-forged metal like you?
The above is a little secret Huo Yuhao heard from Gu Yuena, apparently a complaint Zhen Hua blurted out while hoping she would become a divine craftsman.
Moreover, Zhen Hua's decision to move away from Mingdu and set up the Ascension Platform in Heaven Dou City is also somewhat related to the Illustrious Virtue Hall Master.
The Ascension Platform was built by Zhen Hua to increase the success rate of Heaven-forging.
The cost of building it was no less than creating several sets of four-word battle armor. Originally, Zhen Hua wanted to build it in Mingdu, as it's the federal capital, and all major factions have their people there, making it convenient for him when they came seeking his services.
However, after experiencing the devastation caused by the Golden Toad Douluo, he quickly retreated to Heaven Dou City.
One person alone was enough to nearly turn his body into a mess, not to mention the demands for Heaven-forged metal from the strongmen of various major factions.
As a divine craftsman, he really couldn't handle it.
'Talented individuals truly can't be compared.'
Huo Yuhao sobbed inwardly.
But then again, if it wasn't for the Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Spirit Pagoda being willing to provide resources to the Golden Toad and Soul Suppressing Douluo, and the availability of such resources in this era, their extreme cultivation methods would hardly be feasible.
Such is fate.
Old Xiao, don't be angry in the afterlife. Your descendants have caught a good era, and it's something you can't envy.