Douluo: Dragon King Huo Yuhao Lives Ten Thousand Years Later

Chapter 175 Seven-Colored Lotus
A large group of people had gathered in a research room in Mingde Hall, all staring intently at the core circle.

There are two people preparing for a competition.

After getting to know each other better over this period of time, Xu Mo expressed his desire to see Huo Yuhao's soul guidance technology, which led to this competition.

As a researcher who joined Mingde Hall after graduating from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, he is already a Level 7 Manufacturing Master.

This time, they were competing in a project for Level 6 Craftsmen—manufacturing the core component of a one-word battle armor.

While ordinary parts of the One-Word Battle Armor can be crafted by level three or four crafters, the core parts require a level six crafter or higher to complete.

Xu Mo and Huo Yuhao each stood in front of their own workbench, with rare metals and tools for making the core components of the One-Word Battle Armor laid out in front of them.

Xu Mo glanced at Huo Yuhao, nodded slightly, and took out a jade-green carving knife from his storage ring. The tip of the knife shimmered with a strange light as he began to outline intricate patterns on the surface of the rare metal. With each stroke, a wisp of soul power was infused into the metal, causing it to glow faintly.

Xu Mo's technique was indeed superb. His wrists flew, and the carving knife drew beautiful arcs on the metal surface, gradually revealing the prototype of the soul-guiding array.

"Senior Brother Xu, aren't you going too far? You actually used the Azure Spirit Carving Knife? This carving knife can automatically correct soul power fluctuations, reducing the error of the carved magic array by 10%. Isn't it bullying to use it in a competition?"

A young researcher muttered to himself.

"You've been researching this all this time, haven't heard anything from outside, he doesn't want to lose too badly."

Another researcher looked in Huo Yuhao's direction, his cheek twitching. "Look at what researcher Huo Yuhao is doing."

The young researcher turned his head and his eyes widened in surprise.

Huo Yuhao did not use his hands to hold the carving knives, but instead used his mental power to control them.

Three carving knives simultaneously landed on the suspended spirit alloy—spirit metal—and began carving the magic circle from different angles.

As a researcher at Mingdetang, what techniques hadn't he seen?

He had never seen this technique before!
"He can control three carving knives at the same time?" the young researcher murmured to himself, still feeling like he was in a dream even with the facts right in front of him. "With such skills and mental manipulation, I would believe he is a level ten craftsman."

The person next to him said with a complicated tone, "Not only that, he's also using the inner engraving technique, probably trying to create a double-nested magic array!"

The entire manufacturing room instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The internal engraving method differs from traditional methods of carving soul tools, which require damaging the material's surface. Internal engraving demands that the soul tool master construct a complete soul guidance array system directly within the material, while striving to avoid damaging it. This technique demands an extreme level of mental and soul power control; anyone who can master it is a true master.

To be able to accomplish this while controlling three carving knives... that's incredible.

Huo Yuhao's carving knife traced minute, almost invisible lines inside the metal, each line breathtakingly precise. These lines didn't remain on a two-dimensional plane, but rather intertwined into a three-dimensional network—like weaving a living, breathing organ with gold threads inside a sealed glass sphere.

A dreamlike glow began to emanate from within the metal sphere, and the interwoven energy channels formed an extremely precise double spiral structure at the sphere's center. While the outer magic array rotated steadily, the inner magic array underwent a completely opposite, reverse motion.

It was clearly a double-nested magic array. The outer array was responsible for energy conversion, the inner array controlled soul power compression, and there were other functions that the researchers could not immediately discern.

Xu Mo stopped what he was doing at some point and sighed inwardly.

There's no need to compare anymore.

The two sides are simply not on the same level, so the match has lost its meaning; let's just consider it an opportunity to broaden our horizons.

With this in mind, Xu Mo subconsciously began to study Huo Yuhao's actions.

'What is the purpose of this inner layer's method of compressing soul power, somewhat like a soul core?'

As time goes by, the patterns on the surface of the spirit gold gradually become more complex, and more profound. Various textures intertwine and intertwine, slowly creating a wonderful resonance.

As the final line was drawn, Huo Yuhao withdrew his soul power, the light in his eyes gradually fading. He gently waved his hand, and the completed core component floated into his hand, its surface shimmering with a dreamlike luster.

Everyone stared intently at it.

It was a silver crown, gleaming with a dreamlike moonlight glow under the soul-guiding lamp. The surface of the headband was densely covered with fine dragon scale patterns, layered and flowing like waves. At the very center of the crown, a purple crystal slowly rotated, making it appear incredibly magnificent.

Even these members of the Mingde Hall had never seen such a magnificent core component of a one-word battle armor, which was comparable to a two-word battle armor component.

"The core components of battle armor are usually located on the chest or helmet. The former is suitable for most Soul Masters, while the latter is suitable for Soul Masters who excel in mental power. The engraved magic array is also related to amplifying mental power. Could this core component be...?"

Some people suddenly realized what was happening and looked towards the corner.

In the corner, Gu Yuena, who was also watching the competition, paused for a moment before slowly walking towards Huo Yuhao. Her long silver hair swayed gently with each step, shimmering like stars under the soul-guiding lamp. When she stood before Huo Yuhao, the shimmering light of her crown was reflected in her amethyst eyes.

Huo Yuhao smiled slightly, lifted the silver crown, and placed it on Gu Yuena's head.

The moment the crown touched Gu Yuena's hair, the dragon scale patterns suddenly came to life. The fine silver scales flipped up layer by layer, and the amethyst spun faster, leaving pale purple streaks in the air.

The moment the crown was fully on, Gu Yuena was suddenly enveloped in a dazzling silver light. The other ten pieces of her battle armor simultaneously appeared, their silver-purple energy patterns forming a complete circuit across all the pieces.

The head component was instantly refined by her, becoming the final piece of the battle armor puzzle.

The metal used to make the battle armor was a spirit alloy—spirit metal—forged by Gu Yuena herself at Huo Yuhao's suggestion. It was a perfect match for her, and with Gu Yuena's spiritual power unknowingly restored to the Spirit Abyss Realm, the fusion was naturally effortless.

From this point on, the battle armor that Huo Yuhao personally designed and manufactured for her was completed.

In an instant, a vast and powerful aura erupted from her body, and a silver-purple energy storm swept around, causing even the air to tremble.

Silver-purple light flowed across the armor, and Gu Yuena stood serenely within it. The breastplate outlined graceful curves, the dragon patterns on the shoulder armor seemed to pierce the sky; the scale patterns on the arm armor flickered with her breath, and the lines of the leg armor were sharp as blades. But the most dazzling thing was the crown—an amethyst hung on her forehead, and as the silver scales swirled, it made her look like a dragon queen, naturally majestic.

A one-word battle armor master of the fourth ring!

Many researchers' eyebrows twitched.

To become a First-Class Battle Armor Master at the Fourth Ring, especially at this age, is probably unprecedented in the history of the Federation.

However, more than being shocked, they felt a sense of "fullness".

They had witnessed the relationship between Gu Yuena and Huo Yuhao.

The person you love personally crafts the core components of your battle armor, crowns her, and makes her a true One-Word Battle Armor Master... Which girl wouldn't be moved in such a scenario?

"No wonder Researcher Huo Yuhao, who usually focuses on his research, agreed to the competition. It turns out he was doing it to create battle armor components for Miss Gu Yuena." Xu Mo smiled helplessly.

Behind them, the researchers from Mingdetang exchanged bewildered glances. Someone muttered under their breath, "This isn't a competition, it's clearly a massive display of affection..."

They were force-fed a mouthful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).

Gu Yuena looked at Huo Yuhao with tender eyes, and felt a flutter in her heart at his "cunning".

'You didn't even tell me beforehand. If this continues, I really...' "Are you satisfied with this style?"

Huo Yuhao transmitted his voice and asked with a smile, "Or do you want to add another pair of dragon horns?"

"satisfy."

Gu Yuena shook her head slightly and said softly, "My one-word battle armor is named Hao."

Huo Yuhao paused, meeting those purple eyes. The air in the manufacturing room seemed to freeze for a moment, even breathing could be clearly heard.

"Ahem." Xu Mo stepped forward at the opportune moment and bowed solemnly to Huo Yuhao. "Researcher Huo, I apologize for my intrusion today. I admire your skills. The data you promised me earlier is here now."

He took out a soul guide chip that glowed with blue light from his pocket.

Since he proposed the competition, there should be some kind of prize.

"Thank you for your trouble, Researcher Xu." Huo Yuhao snapped out of his reverie, nodded, and accepted the chip.

Seeing this, Xu Mo waved to his colleagues around him: "Everyone, please disperse. Don't delay Researcher Huo's research."

The researchers reluctantly dispersed, occasionally turning back to look at each other.

"That headdress design is so beautiful, it makes me want to try it on too..."

"How do you control three carving knives at the same time?"

"I must ask you for advice when I have time."

After everyone dispersed, Huo Yuhao was about to place the chip into the soul-guiding light screen when he suddenly felt a soft, warm touch on his cheek. Gu Yuena had moved closer, touched his cheek briefly, and then quickly pulled away. Her silver hair cascaded down, revealing glimpses of her flushed ear tips.

Huo Yuhao felt the heat on his face and looked at Gu Yuena, only to see that she had already casually taken his arm and was staring at the soul guide screen.

The information Xu Mo provided was about Mingdetang's research on rare metals, which was also something Huo Yuhao needed.

"Yuhao, wait for me a little longer. Once my spirit forging skills improve further, I can help you craft a two-word battle armor. What kind of metal alloy do you plan to use then?"

Huo Yuhao also looked at the Soul Guiding Light Screen, "For one character, use two versions; for two characters, use three or four versions first. You can get used to it gradually. We are pioneers on this path and need to explore it ourselves."

"Ah."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuena nodded slightly.

Among blacksmiths, an alloy made of nine metals is called the God's Alloy. Legend has it that battle armor forged with that alloy can enhance the strength of a Limit Douluo to another level, reaching... the level of a god!

However, from ancient times to the present, no blacksmith has ever completed the God's Alloy.

However, Yuhao has found a technique to fuse the source, making metal forging simple. As long as she can complete the forging of those alloys and bring out their properties perfectly, she might one day be able to complete the Heavenly Forging of the Divine Alloy!

The two stayed at the research institute for two hours. Gu Yuena received a message from her soul-guided screen, which she took out and glanced at.

"Yuhao, Xiaoyan sent me a message, asking us to go to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy when we have time. Yuanen Yehui, whom we met before, wants to see us...maybe he wants to apologize?"

"I'll go there after I see my old friend again."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao put away the chip, looked towards the door, and his eyes flickered slightly.

Gu Yuena looked outside as if she sensed something, and the next second, her figure turned into specks of silver light and dissipated into the air—thoughtfully leaving her alone time for Huo Yuhao and his old friends.

At the same time, she also set up a spatial barrier here to prevent outsiders from disturbing or seeing the scene.

The room returned to silence.

Huo Yuhao gazed in the direction she disappeared, a gentle smile unconsciously curving his lips.

However, before the smile could reach his eyes, the metal door of the laboratory suddenly opened, and what came into Huo Yuhao's view was a fist covered in flames, which distorted the space in front of it.

Huo Yuhao made no move in response, not even lifting the hem of his clothes. The flames abruptly ceased a meter away from him, the raging fire element instantly becoming as docile as a lamb, turning into fireflies and dissipating into the air.

"It's been a long time." Huo Yuhao gazed at the figure gradually appearing at the doorway. "Lord Tianhuo's unique way of greeting me has surprised me somewhat. Is it a habit you developed while testing others at the Temple of the God of War?"

"That's not the case. It's just that I haven't heard from you for so many years, and I thought you had become a god or... encountered an accident. Now that I suddenly heard someone displaying a seven-colored lotus, I had doubts in my heart and was worried that something had changed, so I took action to test you. Please forgive me if I offended you."

Standing at the door was a humanoid creature made of flames, none other than Tianhuo, the leader of the Fire Li Clan of Douluo.

He stepped into the room and bowed respectfully in apology.

The lack of a suitable environment for survival for the Huoli people is truly devastating. Some of their people perished while searching for a suitable lava environment.

If Huo Yuhao hadn't suddenly appeared before them and shown them the way, they wouldn't know how far they would have had to go to reach Mingdu and find the Temple of War.

For their clan, Huo Yuhao had saved their lives.

Although he paid Huo Yuhao, it was a fair exchange, and he didn't repay the debt of saving his life.

"It's alright. If it were me, I would have tested them too." Huo Yuhao shook his head and smiled. "After all, we've only met once and we're not familiar with each other. Your concerns are not unreasonable."

Upon hearing this, Tianhuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"What is your purpose in contacting me through your clan? Just tell me directly. If I can do it, I will not refuse."

In his words, he had already decided to do something for Huo Yuhao unconditionally.

The kindness shown to us in the past must eventually be repaid.

Huo Yuhao suppressed his smile and selectively told him about the evil soul master and the god-slaying soul-guided cannonball.

Hearing this, Tianhuo nodded despite having many questions in his mind. "Okay, if the God-Slaying Soul Guidance Cannonball is really placed in the Temple of War God, it is my duty to protect it. After all, it is a contract between the ancestors of the Temple of War God and us."

At this point, Tianhuo looked at Huo Yuhao and asked, "Is there anything else we can help with? What happened just now was our duty, and we should even thank you for the information."

Huo Yuhao gently shook his head, slowly opening his palm upwards: "I was merely pointing out the way back then, Lord Tianhuo need not take it to heart. Besides... this advance payment is already the best gift!"

A lotus flower mark appeared in Huo Yuhao's palm, from which incandescent flames rose, with seven-colored light flowing within.

When the flame appeared, the fire elements in the air began to surge and converge towards his palm as if on a pilgrimage.

It was none other than the Fire Li tribe's natal fire—the Seven-Colored Lotus!
(End of this chapter)