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Chapter 20 – Perfectly Under Control
The Heavenly Soul Imperial Hotel.
Before the towering, resplendent building, Tang Ya's expression grew increasingly tense.
"To be able to set up a meeting in this place, at this time... the one we're meeting must hold quite a high position within the royal family, right?"
Because of the upcoming Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament, all participating academies' teams were housed here. The hotel had already cleared out unrelated guests several days in advance. For someone to reserve a room at this time just to meet them—it spoke volumes of the importance attached to this meeting.
"Doesn't that only show they value our invention all the more?"
Huo Yuhao's lips curved slightly. "Come on, I'm right here. Just remember what I told you—be bold."
After Tang Ya took the lead, he followed half a step behind, entering the grand hotel with casual composure.
The moment they stepped inside, a young maid dressed in a slightly revealing uniform approached them with a courteous smile.
"Welcome. May I ask what brings you here?"
"We have an appointment. Room 207."
Perhaps because of Huo Yuhao's earlier encouragement, Tang Ya's demeanor changed as soon as they entered. Her tone turned calm and indifferent as she gave a polite nod.
"You must be Miss Tang Ya, correct? Please, follow me."
The maid's words confirmed she had been notified in advance. After offering a respectful bow, she guided the two toward Room 207.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Come in."
A calm voice drifted from within. The maid opened the door and stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter.
Once inside, Huo Yuhao immediately took in the scene. It was a luxurious suite. Three people were waiting in the sitting room.
On the single sofa sat a broad-shouldered middle-aged man with his arms crossed, eyes closed as if meditating. His powerful aura was completely restrained, yet its depth was unmistakable. Huo Yuhao's gaze flickered sharply—he had already guessed the man's identity and couldn't help his surprise.
Among all three empires of the Douluo Continent—even Shrek Academy included—there were no known Rank 9 Spirit Tool Engineers. This man's cultivation had already reached the level of a Titled Douluo, which meant he was likely the Heavenly Soul Empire's only Rank 8.5 Spirit Tool Engineer.
And how could Huo Yuhao tell? Because this man was built exactly like Fan Yu and QianDuoduo.
Honestly, Yuhao found it bizarre. Was being ridiculously muscular a shared trait among non–Sun and Moon Empire Spirit Tool Engineers? Their physiques far surpassed most combat-type Spirit Masters! What—did they all train by lifting their own Spirit Tools every morning?
The other two occupants were women. One appeared to be a graceful lady in her early thirties. Beside her sat a cold-looking girl with a ponytail, seemingly a bit younger than Tang Ya.
Huo Yuhao recognized her at a glance—Mu Xue, someone he had crossed paths with several times in his previous life. As for Princess Wei Na, she was likely with the Body Sect right now.
The beautiful older woman smiled warmly. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wei Li'na. Please, both of you, have a seat."
Her manner and bearing made it clear she was the host of this meeting. Judging by her surname Wei, she was most likely a royal—perhaps even the emperor's own sister. She gestured gracefully to the empty sofa opposite her. Only after both Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao sat did she begin.
"Miss Tang Ya, we've already tested the sample you provided us. The results were quite impressive."
Her tone carried neither condescension nor impatience. Despite Tang Ya's youth, she treated her as an equal—a clear sign of how seriously the royal family regarded this collaboration.
"One of the reasons I've invited you here," Wei Li'na continued, voice gentle and poised, "is because I've long admired the Tang Sect. Unfortunately, royal duties have left me little time for personal exchanges until now."
Listening to the princess's pleasantries, Tang Ya's fingers tightened slightly, and Huo Yuhao felt an inward sigh rising. This was precisely why he hated dealing with royalty. When you were weak, even if your entire sect was destroyed, they wouldn't lift a finger. But the moment you had something valuable, they suddenly remembered how to smile.
After a few rounds of polite small talk, Wei Li'na finally got to the point. Her beautiful eyes met Tang Ya's as she asked softly,
"From what I understand, your Tang Sect's main business has always been hidden weapons. May I ask, then, where these Spirit Tools came from?"
"Surprising that Your Highness is so curious about their origin. Tell me, if these Spirit Tools were imported from the Sun Moon Empire, would that make you reconsider the cooperation?"
Tang Ya's reply was steady, her words carrying a hint of teasing.
Wei Li'na's lips curved into a graceful smile. "Not at all. The craftsmanship of your Spirit Tools is extraordinary. Our desire to cooperate remains strong. I'm merely curious, and would like the opportunity to meet the engineer personally. But if it's inconvenient to say, that's quite all right."
Tang Ya nodded lightly. "There's nothing much to hide. During the Tang Sect's decline, we conducted some research on Spirit Tools ourselves, hoping to innovate our sect's methods. These particular Spirit Tools were acquired through certain channels back then. Now that the Sect has fallen on hard times, we've had no choice but to sell them off. As for the engineer's identity… we truly don't know."
Who are you trying to fool?
Wei Li'na nearly lost control of her expression. The tools were so new it was laughable—did they really expect anyone to believe they'd been lying around for years?
And only now, after the Sect's destruction, have they decided to sell them?
Just days earlier, the tools had caused quite a stir—enough that the Empire's most powerful Spirit Tool Engineer, the man sitting beside her, personally examined one. His verdict had been shocking: although the tools were low-grade, the crafting methods used were so advanced that even he couldn't decipher them.
Unfortunately, the Spirit Tool had a self-destruct mechanism and was completely destroyed upon dismantling. The remnants were still lying in the Royal Academy's research lab.
Unable to glean any clues, the royal family had arranged for the top Spirit Tool Engineer himself to attend today's meeting—just in case the mysterious Spirit Engineer appeared alongside Tang Ya.
Thinking this, Wei Li'na's gaze drifted toward Huo Yuhao—only for her to chuckle inwardly a moment later.
What am I thinking? Could that little boy possibly be the Spirit Engineer? Hah, ridiculous.
Still, since Tang Ya had given that explanation, Wei Li'na decided not to press further. Judging by their reactions, it was clear neither of them was the Spirit Engineer of the tools—and that was all she needed to know.
After all, at this point, who else besides a certain academy—one that had long been friendly with the Tang Sect—would bother helping them?
That thought alone dissolved any lingering intention to exert control over Tang Ya. If these two truly had the support of such a power, offending them would only backfire.
From the subtle change in Wei Li'na's expression, Huo Yuhao knew his plan had worked perfectly.
As he'd told Tang Ya before they entered the hotel, they only needed to tell a lie so transparent it had to be false. Their opponents would naturally fill in the blanks with their own imaginations, assuming a powerful backer stood behind them.
Would they still choose to cooperate?
Of course. If they didn't, and another empire got the deal first, what then?
After all, the princess had no idea that the exact same conversation was likely taking place at that very moment within the conference rooms of both the Star Luo Empire and the Dou Ling Empire. None of them would want to be left behind. They would all end up purchasing a batch and secretly disassembling them for study.
Whether they'd manage to learn anything from the Spirit Tools' self-destruct mechanism, however… that would depend entirely on luck.
A short silence passed before Wei Li'na finally spoke again—just as Huo Yuhao had expected.
"In that case," she said with a serene smile, "let's move on to discuss the specific terms of our cooperation."
(End of Chapter)