After ten full minutes of torment and corrosion by the power of Destruction, Wang Shaojie was completely drained. His soul power was nearly depleted, and he had only a sliver of consciousness left.
Huo Yuhao had even been considerate enough to jolt him back awake with spiritual power every time he was about to pass out from the pain.
"You… you just wait. I'll make sure you pay. You have no idea who you've messed with…"
Wang Shaojie muttered viciously with the last ounce of his strength.
Just as Wang Shaojie claimed, Ke Ke and Zimu—who had no idea how much power backed Huo Yuhao—were also certain that he was doomed.
Huo Yuhao only let out a cold snort. He bent down, picked up Wang Shaojie's severed arm, and tossed it at him.
"'Can't afford to offend you,' is that it? You think I don't know who's backing you? Take your severed arm and go find that Third Prince of yours to stitch it back on. And tell him it was me—Huo Yuhao—who cut it off."
Ke Ke and Zimu were completely stunned. That was the Third Prince he was talking about! Did he really think he had someone like Xu Tiannan backing him?
Juzi, on the other hand, almost laughed aloud. Let Wang Shaojie go to the Third Prince for revenge? The one who wouldn't be able to keep a straight face then would be Xu Tiannan. He'd been looking for a reason to deal with the Third Prince, and now one had walked right into his hands. This was exactly what he'd been hoping for.
If the Third Prince were taken out of the picture, the old emperor would likely pass the throne to his only remaining heir, the Crown Prince. The emperor wasn't nearly as benevolent as he appeared. Watching his descendants tear each other apart was a game to him. In his eyes, that was the only way to find a true ruler.
At this moment, Juzi began to wonder if Huo Yuhao was just as cunning and ruthless as Xu Tiannan. Maybe his torment of Wang Shaojie wasn't just about an insult—maybe it was calculated from the start.
"The rest of you, let's go. We've wasted enough time thanks to Wang Shaojie's idiocy."
Without so much as a glance back, Huo Yuhao turned and left. The remaining three students didn't dare linger, each one rushing to follow behind as if trying to avoid provoking a wrathful god.
The four of them exited the academy in silence.
"You just need to observe. Think about what types of soul tools could be useful to civilians and write your suggestions in your reports. Xuan Ziwen will award credit based on the value of your recommendations. No slacking. Understand?"
The three nodded immediately. No one would dare slack off in front of him now.
"Let's split into two groups. Who wants to go with me?"
Ke Ke and Zimu both recoiled slightly. Partner up with this devil? No thank you.
But to everyone's surprise, Juzi raised her hand eagerly.
"I'll go with you, Teacher Huo!"
Huo Yuhao glanced at her bright, smiling face with some surprise, then simply nodded.
Zimu, on the other hand, looked visibly distressed. He quickly sent a voice transmission to Juzi.
"Juzi! Why are you going with that terrifying guy? Didn't you see what he did to Wang Shaojie? What's so good about him? I'm worried you'll end up hurt too."
His concerned expression didn't go unnoticed by Huo Yuhao. With his spiritual sensitivity, he had clearly heard Zimu's message. He said nothing, just watched quietly, thinking to himself,
'Heh. You wouldn't believe the real reason Juzi wants to team up with me.'
Juzi, who had close ties with Xu Tiannan, was simply trying to build a connection with Huo Yuhao. Poor Zimu, naive as ever, probably thought Juzi had feelings for him.
Juzi turned her gaze to Zimu, eyes cold as ice, and transmitted her reply:
"Who asked for your opinion? What are you to me? I'll go with whoever I want."
Zimu froze like he'd just been doused in cold water. He clenched his fists but said nothing, looking every bit the defeated man.
"Since no one has objections, we'll split up for the survey. Juzi and I will handle the western district of Mingdu. Ke Ke and Zimu, take the eastern district. Meet back here at six this evening. It's nine now—you've got nine hours. Good luck."
As they walked through the upper district of western Mingdu, Huo Yuhao and Juzi didn't find many opportunities for civilian soul tool integration.
"We'll head to the lower districts in a bit. Soul tools are already highly integrated here, and most residents have a relatively high level of soul power. They're the elite class."
Hearing this, Juzi glanced sideways at Huo Yuhao in surprise.
"Teacher Huo, your background must be... pretty terrifying, huh?"
Huo Yuhao just smiled. Juzi was such a natural actor. She clearly already knew who he was and what his background entailed, yet she still pretended to ask innocently.
'Fine, I'll play along.'
"Oh? What makes you say that?"
Juzi put a finger to her chin and tilted her head like a curious child.
"You knew full well Wang Shaojie was backed by the Third Prince, yet you still dared to treat him like that. You must be someone important."
'Acting innocent again. If I didn't know better, you'd have fooled me too.' Huo Yuhao mocked her silently in his heart.
"Is that so? You're right. My background isn't simple. Does that bother you?"
Juzi's expression turned serious. Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes. He could tell she was about to say something from the heart.
But her question still caught him off guard.
"Then... as someone from the upper echelon of the Sun Moon Empire, why do you speak and act like someone who isn't? Why do you care so much about the ordinary people in the lower districts?"
She bit her lip slightly as she spoke. Though her hatred for the Star Luo Empire ran deep—since they were responsible for her father's death—she was also well aware that if her father hadn't been a powerless commoner, he might have survived.
That was the reality of war between feudal nations. There was no justice in it. The civilians of both sides were victims. The real beneficiaries were always the ruling class and those who profited from war.
"Why, huh... First, I suppose it's out of some measure of pity. I don't want to see people suffer like that."
Juzi nodded. That answer fit what she expected from someone with the air of a ruler.
But what Huo Yuhao said next completely shook her worldview.
"Second... because what I pursue isn't status, luxury, or riches. What I pursue is the advancement of civilization."
"A society where the common people live in suffering—that's not civilization. That's barbarism wearing a mask."
"The overall improvement of living standards. The progress of technology. The development of thought. The expansion of society. All these factors come together to define the advancement of civilization."
"That's what I want. So me trying to popularize soul tools across the Sun Moon Empire isn't strange at all."
"I also hope that one day, the Sun Moon Empire can unify the continent without inflicting unnecessary harm on the civilians of the Three Kingdoms. That way, advanced technology can spread across the entire land, forming a tightly unified, truly civilized society—erasing borders, and moving forward together."
"This world is vast. And beyond it, even vaster. A civilization that does not advance will remain forever trapped in a forgotten corner of this infinite universe."
(End of Chapter)
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