"If someone hadn't vouched for you, I'd never believe your soul skill came from a ten-year Wind Baboon."
After concluding his conversation with Electrolux in his spiritual sea, Chen Junting found himself alone in the workshop area. Fan Yu's voice echoed from another section of the testing zone.
Following the sound, he soon arrived at the largest open space in Testing Zone 12.
Fan Yu had changed into simple linen clothes, his thick, granite-like arms bare. Ning Tian and the others stood around him, watching He Caitou—who now held a fixed-load soul-guided cannon.
"Testing a soul-guided cannon?" Chen Junting appeared beside Ning Tian so quietly she nearly jumped.
"Ah! You scared me half to death!" She playfully swatted his shoulder, then explained, "I saw you deep in thought earlier, so I didn't disturb you." She pointed to Huo Yuhao standing beside Caitou. "I had Yuhao demonstrate his first soul skill for Teacher Fan Yu. Now he's assisting Senior He with hitting a moving target."
"I see."
No sooner had he spoken than a surge of soul power erupted from He Caitou. Two yellow soul rings and one purple appeared as dark energy swirled across the cannon's surface.
Huo Yuhao's white soul ring pulsed gently.
BOOM—!
A deafening blast tore through the air. A brilliant black beam shot from the cannon—grazing the target disc and slamming into the metal plate behind it. The shockwave rippled outward, sending Chen Junting's white hair flying wildly.
Huo Yuhao nearly stumbled from the force.
"The skill works well," Chen Junting observed. Within forty meters, the cannon was dead-on; beyond that, it drifted slightly off course.
"Indeed," Fan Yu nodded, having just learned Huo Yuhao's skill could evolve. He turned to Caitou, who was walking back with Huo Yuhao. "Caitou, Yuhao is your junior brother now. Come by when you're free—I'll teach you soul-guided crafting." The last sentence was directed as much to Huo Yuhao as to Ning Tian.
"Thank you, Teacher Fan Yu," Ning Tian said with a graceful smile, accepting on Huo Yuhao's behalf.
Afterward, the group wandered the testing zone, listening to explanations of various devices—until Fan Yu and Caitou prepared for another round of tests. Only then did Chen Junting's group take their leave.
"Yuhao, what do you think of soul-guided devices?" Chen Junting asked, noticing Huo Yuhao's thoughtful expression.
"Brother Junting, I'm very interested in them."
"Good. Interest is the best teacher." Chen Junting smiled—then noticed Wu Feng frowning in deep contemplation. He turned to Ning Tian. "What's wrong with Feng?"
"She's been shaken by that fixed-load cannon," Ning Tian said, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Chen Junting understood instantly. Wu Feng had seen the cannon's overwhelming power—and spiraled into self-doubt.
"Hey, Sword-jerk," Wu Feng suddenly blurted, voice strained. "Do you have attacks that powerful?"
"Of course."
"But… I feel like once I become a Soul Elder, I won't."
"Feng, you're stuck in a mental trap," Chen Junting said flatly, as if her worry were trivial. "You're not refusing soul-guided devices, so why obsess over it? If combining them makes you stronger, use them. If they become a burden later, drop them. The difference between you and an animal is your ability to use tools. The difference between you and a fool? Making the right choices."
"That… makes sense." Wu Feng nodded slowly—then suddenly glared at him. "Wait—you just called me an animal and a fool, didn't you?!"
"I was… enlightening you."
"Liar!"
After a brief scuffle—Wu Feng, hopelessly outmatched, gave up. She sidled over to Huo Yuhao and patted his shoulder. "Huo Yuhao, once you become a soul engineer, you're making my custom soul-guided weapon! I want a giant cleaver—to chop that sword-jerk into pieces!"
Huo Yuhao could only stay silent.
"By the way," Chen Junting checked the sky—dusk was approaching after their long stay in the Soul Engineering Department—"how should we handle dinner?"
Ning Tian considered it. "Shall we go into Shrek City?"
She'd tried the academy cafeteria once and, though polite, had no intention of returning.
"Why don't we just eat Huo Yuhao's grilled fish?" Wu Feng interjected eagerly. "Even Shrek City's restaurants probably can't beat his cooking!"
Since that day in the Great Star Dou Forest, she'd been obsessed with his grilled fish. At Nine Treasures Pavilion, she'd never found the chance to ask—and her cravings had nearly driven her mad.
At this, both Ning Tian and Chen Junting's eyes lit up.
Having tasted Huo Yuhao's cooking, Chen Junting knew his skill surpassed mere talent. He'd half-joked that "Little Huo's grilled fish" might qualify as a conceptual-type skill.
"Then let's head to Sea God Lake," Chen Junting decided. "Feng, you've already packed the grill and seasonings, right?" Knowing her, if she'd suggested it, she'd prepared everything.
Sure enough, she patted her storage-type soul-guided device—her grin saying it all.
…
At the shores of Sea God Lake—
Smack!
"Ow!"
A red mark bloomed on Wu Feng's hand, forcing her to yank it back.
"It's not ready yet—what's the rush?" Chen Junting chided, watching the sizzling Azure-Patterned Fish on the grill.
Though their names differed by only one character, Azure-Patterned Fish were soul beasts, while ordinary bluefish were just fish. All of Wu Feng's catches were ten-year soul beasts.
Seeing the fish still needed time, Chen Junting turned back to Ning Tian, resuming their earlier conversation—carefully keeping their voices low, away from Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao.
"I did find a fragment in the sect's ancient records," he said quietly. "It strongly suggests Ancestor Ning Rongrong's immortal herbs were deeply connected to Dugu Bo from ten thousand years ago."
Ning Tian's expression turned grave.
Immortal herbs were no trifling matter—even as speculation.
"If that's true," she declared, resolve hardening her voice, "we spare no effort to secure his loyalty. If he holds even a clue to the herbs' whereabouts, we give him whatever he wants—hundred-thousand-year soul rings, soul bones, anything! This concerns our sect's ten-thousand-year legacy!" Her hands trembled with emotion.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—The unattainable dream of every Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda soul master!
"I understand," Chen Junting nodded, saying no more. He knew she needed a moment to steady herself.
He'd wanted to confirm the lead first—but as heir to the sect, Ning Tian deserved to know. Sharing this was a mark of respect.
"Mmm…"
Suddenly, an irresistible aroma filled the air.
They turned to see Wu Feng already devouring two grilled fish—one in each hand. Catching their stares, she immediately offered the one in her right hand to Ning Tian. "Here, Ning Tian—this one's yours."
Just then—
"Wow! That smells amazing!"
A familiar voice rang out behind them.
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