Due to the reduction in teams, the assessment area was divided into four zones.
Assessment zones one through four.
Among the surviving teams, Huo Yuhao still recognized a few. Dai Huabin was a given, and there was also Ning Tian's team, as well as the Huang Chutian team they had encountered earlier.
This time, Ning Tian hadn't met Huo Yuhao's team in the competition to enter the top sixteen, so they smoothly advanced to the quarter-finals.
In the afternoon's quarter-final matches, Huo Yuhao's team performed with ease, successfully advancing to the semi-finals.
The four teams remaining were Huo Yuhao's team, Huang Chutian's team, Ning Tian's team, and Dai Huabin's team.
At night, Ma Xiaotao came as promised and called Huo Yuhao out.
Wang Dong watched Huo Yuhao leave, her hands gripping the railing, her lips pressed together.
Night.
Inside the Sea God Pavilion.
Mu En closed his eyes as three juniors argued before him, including Huo Yuhao's teacher, Yan Shaozhe.
Across from Yan Shaozhe sat an exceptionally tall and burly man, easily two meters and thirty centimeters in height. Despite his imposing figure, the man wore a surprisingly gentle expression.
This was Qian Duoduo, the Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, a Rank 94 Title Douluo, whose Martial Soul was the Oolong Shield.
"Old Yan," Qian Duoduo said in a deep voice, "You know the Soul Tool Department desperately needs a soul master with mental attributes. We can't let this opportunity pass, especially with one appearing in the recent freshman competition."
Such exchanges had happened several times already.
Yan Shaozhe shook his head. "Don't forget, Yuhao is already my student. As his teacher, how could I let him go and learn soul tools?"
"What he needs to do is quickly build a foundation in martial soul cultivation, not bury himself in soul tools. That would only waste his cultivation time."
Qian Duoduo frowned. "But the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool development is so rapid these days. If we don't develop soul tools, what will we do in the future? Besides, soul masters with mental attributes are naturally suited to working with soul tools, and you should know that."
"Over the years, the intelligence we've obtained from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy shows that their new generation of students are beginning to have talented students simultaneously study soul tools. Even our opponents have changed, yet we're still clinging to past glories. Don't you think this is an extremely wrong choice?"
Yan Shaozhe's expression turned indifferent. "You don't need to say anything more. I've made up my mind. Yuhao absolutely cannot waste time learning to make soul tools in the early stages. Even if he wants to learn, it will be after he becomes a strong person in the future."
"If you're really not convinced, then convene a meeting of the Sea God Pavilion and let the elders make the decision."
Suddenly, Xian Liner, who was beside Qian Duoduo, stood up abruptly. She said with a stern face, "Decision? Which time have the elders not sided with your Martial Soul Department? In my opinion, we should just cancel the Soul Tool Department and keep the Martial Soul Department. We shouldn't waste resources researching soul tools."
Yan Shaozhe's expression flickered. He wanted to retort loudly, but facing Xian Liner, he couldn't bring himself to shout. He could only frown and say, "We were talking about Yuhao, why are you bringing this up?"
"Bringing this up?" Xian Liner rapped the table heavily, her voice firm. "Whether or not Huo Yuhao can enter the Soul Tool Department to study is important, but not absolutely so. I need him, but I can also do without him. The Soul Tool Department isn't going to collapse just because it loses one student."
"What I want to argue with you about isn't just a Huo Yuhao, but an attitude. We must make a choice: either abandon soul tools, or emphasize soul tools. My thinking is simple. Only when both the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department are strong can we ensure our academy has a future."
"The Martial Soul Department is already number one in the world, but what about the Soul Tool Department? Compared to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, we are nothing. The future belongs to an era where soul tools and soul masters advance side-by-side, not a single soul master era. If we don't change now, I'm afraid it will be difficult to change in a few years, and we'll be eliminated by the times."
"With the current situation on the continent, can you guarantee that war won't break out in the future? If it's a war between the original Douluo Continent's three countries, we can intervene to prevent bloodshed. But if the Sun Moon Empire launches a war? Four thousand years ago, we used sixty Title Douluo to suppress them. Today, with old and new grudges combined, can we escape?"
"Don't tell me that we have many Title Douluo experts, and that we can send them out to seek revenge. What's the use? Besides causing excessive slaughter like the Evil Soul Masters, what else is it good for? If the academy is gone, it's really gone. We can't be sinners."
Yan Shaozhe was stunned. He hadn't expected the discussion about Huo Yuhao and soul tools to end up being a matter of the academy's survival.
This question was too heavy, and Yan Shaozhe himself didn't know how to answer.
Actually, Xian Liner's meaning was simple: giving up on soul tools was the same as giving up on the academy's future.
"Old Mu, you make the decision. No need to hold a Sea God Pavilion meeting, lest we disturb the elders," Xian Liner said, her gaze shifting to Mu En, who was behind the curtain and sleeping with his eyes closed.
Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo also looked over.
In the entire academy, it was ultimately Old Mu who could decide everything with a single word.
The Sea God Pavilion immediately fell silent.
"You lot, you really don't want this old man to rest properly," Mu En opened his eyes, still leaning back in his recliner. "Whether Yuhao wants to study soul tools depends on his own decision. What we need to do is guide him from the side."
"After this new student assessment, Liner and Duoduo can approach Yuhao, but only if Yuhao agrees can you let him join the Soul Tool Department."
"Teacher," Yan Shaozhe's expression changed.
Mu En raised his hand to interrupt Yan Shaozhe, "If possible, let this child cultivate both. Let him try both the Soul Tool Department and the Martial Soul Department."
"Dual cultivation?" Yan Shaozhe, Xian Liner, and Qian Duoduo were all taken aback.
They began to ponder.
"Don't think too much about it. The premise of all this is that Huo Yuhao is willing. If he's not, then all your thinking will be useless." Mu En smiled gently. "As for the Soul Tool Department's development…"
Mentioning this.
The three deans' expressions turned serious.
Mu En smiled and said, "I remember the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has always wanted to exchange students with us, right?"
Mentioning this, the three of them were stunned.
Yan Shaozhe respectfully replied, "Responding to Teacher, that's indeed true. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy proposed the invitation several years ago."
Mu En nodded slightly. "After this year's All-Continent Elite Soul Master Academy Tournament, agree to their invitation."
"This..." Yan Shaozhe hadn't expected his teacher to agree to this, but he still acquiesced. "I understand."
Qian Duoduo and Xian Liner's eyes lit up. The exchange student program would certainly benefit the Soul Tool Department's students greatly.
"Starting this year, when the third-year students choose their departments, Shaozhe, you are not to obstruct them. Let them choose whatever they wish."
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head, helpless. "I understand, as you wish."
Xian Liner and Qian Duoduo's eyes brightened. Mu En was clearly supporting them.
The Soul Tool Department actually never lacked money. What they lacked was talent. Now that Mu En had spoken, having more talent in the future would also be very beneficial to the Soul Tool Department's development.
"We can't just develop in isolation. Keeping up with the times is the right approach. Liner, you and Duoduo can appropriately go to the Sun Moon Empire to recruit suitable talents. The competitive pressure for Soul Engineers there is not small, and some Soul Engineers are even severely suppressed because they chose the wrong faction."
"We need to recruit, whether it's for civilian or military soul tools."
Xian Liner, Qian Duoduo, and even Yan Shaozhe were stunned. They hadn't expected Mu En to send them to the Sun Moon Empire to recruit talent.
"I've been to the Sun Moon Empire many times over the years. Their development has far surpassed ours. Some of their weapons can even threaten me," Mu En said, a hint of worry in his eyes.
"Threaten you?" The three were shocked.
The strongest soul master on the Douluo Continent was the Ultimate Douluo, and Mu En was one of them, a true top-tier expert on the continent.
Now, this top-tier expert was saying that soul tools threatened him. It was simply unbelievable.
"There's nothing to be shocked about," Mu En said with a faint smile, "Alright, go and rest."
Mu En was dismissing them.
"Yes."
Seeing this, the three of them looked at each other, then left the Sea God Pavilion.
The first floor of the Sea God Pavilion became completely quiet.
Mu En lay back in his chair, his eyes deep, muttering to himself, "I hope the secrets you hold don't disappoint this old man."
...
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