Douluo: Wuhun Qimen Formation, control everything!

Chapter 162 Electrolux's Guidance

Huo Yuhao's mind was buzzing.

"Use it to optimize itself?"

This was beyond his understanding of soul tools. In his eyes, the purpose of soul tools was to enhance the combat power of soul masters. As for some functional soul tools, they were ultimately for the service of soul masters.

The soul guidance technology of the Sun Moon Empire is more focused on pursuing ultimate destructive power or the ingenuity of a single function, while the "soul guidance computer" in front of him seems more like a "person".

Zhou Xuan smiled slightly: "Theoretically, yes. Of course, at this stage, we still can't do without people, and we need to continuously input new data and set new goals."

However, the future is uncertain.

As his understanding of the soul deepened, he increasingly felt that truly realizing the "machine soul" was not impossible.

After all, there's something called Soul Forging in Douluo Continent 3, right? If all the components of a Soul Guidance Computer were made of Soul Forged Metal, it might actually be possible to create a soul.

However, he probably can't do this by himself.

He patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "Let's go. That's about all you've seen about the Soul Guidance system. I believe you can catch up quickly with your talent. Next, I'll take you somewhere else."

Huo Yuhao nodded blankly and followed Zhou Xuan. Jiang Nannan couldn't help but smile. When Zhou Xuan first told her about these things, her reaction was even stronger than Huo Yuhao's now.

Leaving the underground core filled with a mixture of scorching heat and icy cold, and returning to the surface, Huo Yuhao took a few deep breaths.

It seems that the academy's soul guidance technology has indeed taken the lead in the world, except perhaps in some combat soul guidance devices where it is not as advanced as the Sun and Moon Academy.

He originally thought that the soul guidance technology he learned in the Sun Moon Empire could help the academy in some way, but after seeing the "soul guidance computer" that Zhou Xuan mentioned, could it really be of any help?

He thought it was unlikely.

"Brother Zhou Xuan, where are we going now?" Huo Yuhao couldn't help but ask.

"The Soul Spirit Research Association," Zhou Xuan replied succinctly.

"Soul Spirit Research Association?" Huo Yuhao repeated the name. Wang Dong had mentioned it before. The method of obtaining soul rings without hunting soul beasts was called Soul Spirit.

The four of them walked straight toward the giant silver-gray metal tower that rose from the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest outside the academy.

The closer Huo Yuhao got, the more he could feel the immense value of this giant tower. He couldn't even understand the soul guidance array on the surface with his current cultivation level.

Keep in mind that he is already a genuine Level 4 Soul Master, and with his spiritual power, he is practically a Level 5 Soul Master as well.

However, I can't understand any of the soul-guiding arrays engraved on the tower.

Around the tower, people came and went. There were not only students from Shrek Academy, but also some powerful beings who were clearly transformed soul beasts. They talked and walked with human soul masters in a natural manner, without the slightest sense of distance or hostility.

This scene would have been unimaginable to Huo Yuhao two and a half years ago: soul beasts and soul masters living in peace.
Who would believe that?
"Here... soul beasts and humans..." Huo Yuhao was somewhat speechless.

“It’s very harmonious, isn’t it?” Zhou Xuan laughed. “The Soul Spirit Technique brings not only a change in how Soul Masters acquire Soul Rings, but also an opportunity to change the relationship between the two races.”

At this moment, Tianmeng and Bingdi in Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea were also so shocked that they were speechless.

"Humans... didn't attack those soul beasts! And those soul beasts didn't attack humans either?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm's voice was filled with unprecedented surprise.

Even if it slept for almost a million years, how could such a scene possibly occur between humans and soul beasts, except in a life-or-death struggle?

"This atmosphere is indeed strange; there seems to be no real hostility between them." The voice of the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion remained cold, but it also carried an undisguised surprise.

She recalled the cruelty of the far north, and this peace seemed more incredible to her than fierce battles.

"Zhou Xuan... was he referring to the 'Soul Spirit Technique'?" Tianmeng Ice Silkworm tried hard to recall Wang Dong's words. "To obtain a Soul Ring without hunting Soul Beasts? And to allow the Soul Beast's soul to continue in another form?"
"I've lived for a million years, could it be in this form? But that doesn't make sense, my method requires a soul beast that's at least a hundred thousand years old."

Ice Emperor also fell silent. If what Zhou Xuan said was true, that the souls of soul beasts could exist in another way, then Snow Emperor, would you have another way to survive the next heavenly tribulation?

In another corner of the sea of ​​spirit, Electrolux, which had been silent all along, also showed a slight ripple.

“Another continuation of the soul… Interesting.” His voice echoed in Huo Yuhao’s heart. “I never thought that in just two years, he would actually take a step down this path.”

Huo Yuhao suppressed the turmoil in his heart and tried his best to digest the information from the three big shots in his spiritual sea.

Zhou Xuan seemed to sense his state, smiled slightly, and said nothing more, but led him deeper into the tower.

Rather than wanting Huo Yuhao to see the Soul Spirit, it was more about wanting Elder Yi to see it.

After all, as students, we hope to gain the recognition of our teachers when we achieve something.

They traversed area after area, some resembling laboratories where researchers analyzed data on complex soul-guided screens. Compared to when it was first built, these areas were much more sophisticated and even included several new zones.
Some areas resembled incubation rooms, where one could see strange plants and energy entities being nurtured in special containers—Zhou Xuan and his team's initial attempts at creating artificial souls.

Along the way, Huo Yuhao witnessed more scenes of humans and soul beasts living in harmony.

A kind-faced middle-aged Soul Master was patiently explaining something to a seemingly bewildered hundred-year-old Soul Beast. However, the hundred-year-old Soul Beast's intelligence was only at the level of being able to barely understand human speech.

On the other side, a petite girl was happily hugging a rabbit spirit that emitted a soft glow. The spirit nuzzled her cheek affectionately, and the two were enjoying each other's company.

"Brother Zhou Xuan," Huo Yuhao finally couldn't help but speak, his voice tinged with difficulty, "Were... were these soul beasts all there voluntarily?"

Zhou Xuan stopped in front of a huge floor-to-ceiling window, outside which lay the lush edge of the Star Dou Great Forest.

“Of course.” Zhou Xuan’s answer was calm yet powerful. “The core of the Soul Law is respect and voluntariness.”

Any form of coercion or deception is strictly prohibited.

In fact, for many soul beasts whose lives are nearing their end or whose cultivation is stagnant, transforming into a soul spirit is another way for them to continue their lives and witness a wider world. He turned to look at Huo Yuhao: "Moreover, not all soul beasts are suitable to become soul spirits. Some soul beasts are inherently ferocious, and forcibly forming a contract with them can negatively impact the soul master."

Wang Dong added from the side, "Yuhao, you don't know, there are so many students who want to obtain Soul Spirits now, but the Research Association is very strict in its assessment of Soul Masters' character, and the selection process for Soul Beasts is also two-way. It's not something you can just get as you wish."

As she spoke, she summoned a pink butterfly: "Look, this is my soul spirit. In front of me is a ten-thousand-year-old soul beast, which can provide me with at least two soul rings, both of which are ten-thousand-year-old."

As soon as he finished speaking, a pink butterfly quietly landed on Wang Dong's shoulder, its large wings fluttering.

Jiang Nannan also said gently, "At first, many soul beasts were skeptical, but with the success of the first batch of soul spirits and the information they sent back, more and more soul beasts began to accept it."
After all, the battles between soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest are extremely fierce, and becoming a human soul spirit at least allows one to enjoy several years of peace.

Huo Yuhao nodded silently. If he had possessed the Soul Spirit Technique back then, he wouldn't have had to face a life-or-death crisis.

However, without experiencing a life-or-death crisis, he might not be who he is today.

Huo Yuhao silently processed everything Zhou Xuan had said.

Looking at his thoughtful expression, Zhou Xuan said calmly, "Yuhao, what you have seen is only the application of the Soul Technique. Its core concerns the essence of the soul and the continuation of life. The mysteries within are far more complex than you can imagine."

He paused, then changed the subject: "Nannan, Wang Dong, you two go back and rest first. I'll take Yuhao to see him again."

Although the two were curious, they knew that Zhou Xuan was sensible and would act accordingly, so they nodded obediently and left first.

After the two had gone some distance, Zhou Xuan led Huo Yuhao to a very secluded quiet room inside the Soul Spirit Research Association tower.

The quiet room was small and simply furnished, but Huo Yuhao could sense that an extremely powerful soul-guiding array was set up there, and his spiritual power could not even detect the movement outside the door.

"Yuhao, you can ask Professor Electrolux to come out now," Zhou Xuan said softly.

Before Huo Yuhao could make a move, a slightly ethereal yet ancient figure, imbued with an aura of endless vicissitudes and wisdom, slowly materialized in the quiet room. It was Electrolux.

As soon as Electrolux appeared, his gaze fell on Zhou Xuan: "The 'soul spirit' you created is truly beyond my expectations."

"Teacher, you flatter me." Zhou Xuan bowed slightly. "This disciple is still exploring. I asked you to show yourself today so that I could ask you for some guidance. Although my soul seems to have matured a lot, my knowledge is still very shallow."

Zhou Xuan remained very humble in front of this person.

Electrolux nodded: "Your Soul Spirit Technique is not simply about enslaving souls, but rather an attempt to build a symbiotic relationship, and even, to some extent, prolong the 'life' of soul beasts."

Although this is quite different from my necromancy in its approach, the fundamental principles are the same.

Zhou Xuan listened attentively, and then said, "I believe that the soul is not simply an energy body; it carries consciousness, memory, and emotions."

The original intention of the Soul Spirit Technique was to allow the souls of soul beasts to exist in another form without stripping them of these qualities.
They grow together with the Soul Masters, which can also help alleviate the long-standing conflict between humans and Soul Beasts.

Furthermore, the disciple discovered in his research that in this symbiotic state, the spiritual link between the Soul Master and the Soul Spirit is far stronger and more efficient than simply bestowing a Soul Ring.

"Oh?" Electrox asked with a hint of curiosity. "Tell me about it?"

"Souls and Soul Masters share vision, perception, and even some of their thoughts to a certain extent."

This means that Soul Masters will have a deeper understanding and application of Soul Skills, and their teamwork in battle will be more seamless.

More importantly,” Zhou Xuan’s eyes lit up, “this disciple discovered that powerful soul spirits can even nourish a soul master’s spiritual power and stabilize the soul master’s soul origin.”

Electrolux nodded and pondered, "Nourishing the soul with the soul... that's an interesting idea."

However, how can you guarantee that the souls of those soul beasts won't turn against the soul master during the transformation process?

"This is precisely one of the key areas of my current research," Zhou Xuan stated frankly. "During the transformation process, a special spiritual guidance array will be used for assistance. There exists a contract between the soul spirit and the soul master based on the origin of the soul. This contract is mutually equal."
If one party attempts to harm the other, the power of the contract will counteract it. Of course, this is not absolute, so assessing the character of the Soul Master is equally important.

As Zhou Xuan spoke, he used his spiritual power to construct a contract array out of thin air.

Huo Yuhao's eyes widened in shock at the sight.

Tangible and substantial spiritual power!

This is the state he has been dreaming of.

Electrox looked at the contract formation and nodded.

"Using the essence of the soul as a guide to construct a two-way, equal contract—that's a good idea," Elex said slowly. "Back when I was researching necromancy, I also tried a similar contract."
However, these are mostly master-servant relationships, which, while more binding, also limit the growth of the undead. Your concept of equality is more peaceful and has greater potential.

Zhou Xuan respectfully said, "I also drew upon some records about equal contracts in the notes you gave me, and combined them with the characteristics of the soul, to figure out this prototype."

"However, complete equality is not yet possible. If the difference in strength between the two sides is too great, the contract will be broken, and there will be no equality. Therefore, no 100,000-year-old soul beasts have transformed into soul spirits yet. But as soul spirits continue to develop, the transformation of 100,000-year-old soul beasts into soul spirits is inevitable."

Electrolux nodded slightly: "The complexity of the soul far exceeds imagination. Even I dare not say I fully understand it."

Your magic array is quite ingenious at the level of spiritual power, but you may not have a thorough understanding of the souls of spirit beasts, at least that's how it seems to me.

He extended an illusory finger and gently touched a node of the contract array.

“The flow of soul energy here is somewhat obscure. If what you’re describing is true, this could become a weak point.”

Zhou Xuan focused his gaze on the spot Electrolux was pointing to—the very place he had repeatedly pondered but always felt was missing. Upon seeing this, he suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

"Thank you for your guidance, teacher!" Zhou Xuan's face lit up with joy, and he quickly adjusted the mental energy structure of the magic array.

(End of this chapter)