Douluo Continent: The Peerless Hunting Heavenly Lord, Huo Yuhao!

On the podium, Mu Jin surveyed the group of exceptionally talented freshmen with satisfaction: "Alright, first lesson, everyone get to know each other. Starting from the left, introduce your name, martial spirit, level, and affiliation."

"Kong Zimu, Martial Soul Book, Level 19 Support-type Soul Master".

"Chen Yuan, Martial Soul: Azure Edge Sword, Level 25 Power Attack Type Great Soul Master."

……

"Ning Tian, ​​Martial Soul Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Level 31 Support-type Soul Master." The blonde girl's voice was gentle, her demeanor elegant, and her gaze, as it swept over Huo Yuhao, carried the scrutiny characteristic of a scion of a noble family.

……

"Gu Yue, Elementalist of Martial Souls, Level 35 Control-type Soul Master." A cool voice rang out, carrying a natural sense of detachment.

Class of 35! The undisputed pinnacle among freshmen!

A suppressed gasp rippled through the classroom.

"Huo Yuhao, Martial Soul: Heavenly Eye, Emperor Bow: Fate, Level 13 Control/Support Soul Master." Huo Yuhao calmly stood up.

As soon as he finished speaking, the classroom, which had been filled with some discussion, fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

Level 13?!

This is a "bottom-tier" existence that hasn't even reached Shrek Academy's minimum admission standard (level 15)! Countless gazes swept over with astonishment, doubt, and even undisguised contempt.

However, the words "twin martial souls" were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattering all the contempt.

After a brief silence, an even louder buzz of discussion erupted.

Low soul power is a major disadvantage, but having twin martial souls means endless possibilities!

Its future potential is immeasurable!

Ning Tian's eyes lit up instantly. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda needs a powerful partner. A potential stock with twin martial souls, no matter how low its starting point, is worth investing in and paying attention to.

Gu Yue's purple eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Huo Yuhao's profile: 'Level 13? Twin Martial Souls? The feeling of being spied on just now... it was him.'

As soon as the bell rang, Huo Yuhao didn't hesitate for a moment. He rushed out of the Martial Soul Department teaching building with a clear goal in mind and headed straight for the Soul Guidance Department, located at the other end of the academy.

Within Shrek Academy, the divide between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Guidance Department is so deep that the two departments are far apart and clearly distinct.

When he ran breathlessly to the Soul Guidance Department area, the scene before him shocked him like never before.

Instead of the simple stone and wood buildings, a colossal structure cast from high-strength alloy has been erected!

The silver-gray metal exterior walls gleamed with a cold, hard luster under the sunlight. The massive soul conduits meandered across the building's surface like blood vessels, and the faint hum of internal energy flow and the clanging of machinery could be heard, exuding a rugged, futuristic, and powerful aura.

Although Shrek Academy's Soul Guidance Department is outdated, it is still a technology from a fantasy world.

It's like comparing the Qing Dynasty, which was closed off from the world, to foreign countries that have developed rapidly.

Shrek Academy is like the Qing Dynasty, which was closed off from the world, while the Sun Moon Empire is like a foreign country that has developed rapidly.

It's simply that the technology development path went astray.

"Yuhao! Over here!" A kind and cheerful voice came from over.

The tall figure of Qian Duoduo, the vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department, appeared at the door, his face beaming with undisguised joy. He quickly stepped forward and handed Huo Yuhao a warm, smooth jade bottle.

"Here, the Profound Water Pill." Qian Duoduo patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder, her tone filled with the concern of an elder. "It's a great thing for cleansing the marrow and strengthening the body, improving one's innate aptitude. It'll be especially useful for you. Don't waste your talent!"

Before Huo Yuhao could thank him, he continued, "Theoretical knowledge is fundamental. Take this book, 'Basic Principles and Core Magic Array Explained,' and read it first. However, what you learn from books is never enough..."

A fervent light flashed in Qian Duoduo's eyes. "Come on, I'll show you what the real power of a soul tool is! Practical experience is a hundred times better than empty talk!"

Qian Duoduo led Huo Yuhao through the metal gate, through several corridors with a metallic feel, and into an extremely spacious and heavily guarded area—the Soul Tool Testing Ground.

The air was filled with a faint smell of ozone and the scorching heat of metal.

In the center of the arena, a young man with an exceptionally burly build and dark, shiny skin, as if cast from refined iron, was intently operating a complex metal platform.

Beside him stood a middle-aged man with meticulously combed white hair, a serious face, and eyes as sharp as a hawk.

"Dean Qian." Fan Yu nodded in greeting, his gaze sweeping over Huo Yuhao like a searchlight, the assessment clearly in his eyes, but that was all, and he said nothing more.

He was already used to the "generous" gestures of Qian Duoduo, the vice dean, in accepting disciples. He was just curious about what was so special about this seemingly weak young man that made Qian Duoduo so concerned.

“Yes, Fan Yu, Cai Tou.” Qian Duoduo pointed at Huo Yuhao and said in a loud voice, “Huo Yuhao, my student. Yuhao, this is Professor Fan Yu, the head of the Soul Guidance Department, and this is his prized student, Cai Tou.”

Chapter 8 The Industrial Revolution

"Teacher Fan Yu, Senior He Cai Tou." Huo Yuhao bowed respectfully, his tone gentle yet composed, a hint of curiosity about soul tools hidden in his eyes.

Fan Yu smiled gently and nodded in response, "Huo Yuhao, there's no need for such formalities." He had no grudge against this young man; on the contrary, he had heard a lot about his mental talent.

"Hello, Junior Brother Yuhao!" He Caitou scratched the back of his head, his honest voice booming.

Qian Duoduo rubbed his hands together and laughed heartily, "I summoned you here today for two reasons: first, to let you witness the power of offensive soul tools; and second, to formally introduce you to soul tool design and inscription."

"Why demonstrate?" Huo Yuhao raised his eyes, his gaze falling on the soul tool on the display stand. "I want to try it myself."

This was his first time touching a long-range attack-type soul tool. His scientific research instincts from his previous life as a science student made him particularly sensitive to the "special technology" of the Douluo Continent.

After a moment's thought, Fan Yu said to He Caitou, "Caitou, fetch that Swift Ray."

A deep blue, streamlined soul tool shaped like a fountain pen was handed to Huo Yuhao. It was about eighteen centimeters long, with a cool, lustrous blue pattern on its surface that flowed like water, and the handle was perfectly curved to fit the palm of his hand.

"The Level 1 Soul Guiding Ray, Swift Light Ray, is designed specifically for Level 1 Soul Masters. It emits a five-centimeter diameter beam of soul power with extremely strong penetrating power," Fan Yu briefly explained.

Qian Duoduo casually pressed the wall switch, and the metal target platform rose up. Just as it was about to be fixed, Huo Yuhao spoke up: "Teacher, can the target be moved?"

"Oh?" Qian Duoduo raised an eyebrow, intending to refuse, but then remembered that Huo Yuhao's first soul skill was mental detection, so she immediately changed her mind: "Okay."

This is a good opportunity to see how well Yuhao uses his soul skills.

The target platform started up instantly, whistling as it moved left and right.

Huo Yuhao pressed the activation button with his fingertips, his brows furrowing slightly as he focused his mind, his mental energy locking onto the target like invisible threads.

A milky-white beam of soul power suddenly shot out, hitting the moving bullseye precisely!

"Hit the target!" No sooner had Qian Duoduo finished speaking than Huo Yuhao mentally calculated: "One percent less soul power..."

Slightly surprised, the consumption of a level one soul tool was lower than expected.

"Don't be surprised. It's the Nine Revolutions Yuan Technique that has refined your soul power, making its efficiency far superior to that of ordinary people." The lazy voice of the Celestial Hound rang out from within the Sea of ​​Spirit.

Huo Yuhao snapped out of his reverie, looked at Qian Duoduo, and asked earnestly, "Teacher, I have a question: Why do soul tools have to rely on human labor for production and control? Why not use machines to replace human labor for production?"

These words struck like a thunderbolt. The smile on Qian Duoduo's face froze instantly, and he murmured repeatedly, "Machines replacing human labor?"

Qian Duoduo's eyes went from blank to shocked, then to sudden realization, and he slapped his thigh: "That's right! How come I didn't think of that!"

He had been immersed in the world of Soul Guidance for decades, and no one had ever proposed such a mind-blowing idea.

"We can mass-produce low-end soul tools, but how should we develop high-end soul tools?" Qian Duoduo asked urgently.

Huo Yuhao spoke calmly yet clearly: "One must eat one bite at a time. With the Sun Moon Empire eyeing us covetously and the border conflicts between the Heavenly Soul and Star Luo countries constantly escalating, what the front lines lack most is low-cost, easy-to-operate low-level soul tools; while high-end fixed-equipment soul tools are powerful, they are extremely expensive, resulting in a net loss of 800 damage to the enemy and 1000 damage to oneself."

He paused, then added, "First, we should focus on the low-end market, use our mass production advantage to seize market share and accumulate resources, and then tackle high-end technologies when resources are plentiful. This is the prudent approach."

Qian Duoduo's eyes shone with an astonishing light. He rubbed his hands together and paced back and forth a couple of times: "Great! What a brilliant idea of ​​'deeply cultivating the low-end'! Yuhao, your idea is simply a groundbreaking innovation! If the Soul Guidance Department succeeds in this, we'll never have to be beholden to the Martial Soul Department again!"

Everyone knows that the Martial Soul System is suffocating the Soul Guidance System, and resources are so scarce that even basic consumables have to be used sparingly. This proposal is simply opening the door to wealth for the Soul Guidance System.

Huo Yuhao touched his nose, inwardly complaining: So this Douluo Continent hasn't even unlocked "mass production" yet? No wonder the Soul Guidance Department is so frustrated. Any basic management theory from his previous life has become a "groundbreaking innovation" here.

What he didn't say was that the prototypes of tanks, airplanes, AI, and even battle armor and mechs from his previous life were all swirling in his mind.

If these things were said, they would probably shock Qian Duoduo so much that he would jump up.

Although Fan Yu didn't say much, her fingertips trembled slightly, and her eyes were full of excitement and hope.

He was certainly aware of the predicament of the Soul Guidance Department, and Huo Yuhao's suggestion might truly bring about a turning point for the department.

"Here you go!" Qian Duoduo took two thick books from the display case and stuffed them into Huo Yuhao's hands. The words on the covers, "Detailed Explanation of Elementary Inscriptions" and "Detailed Explanation of Elementary Soul Guidance," were written in a vigorous and powerful style. "You need to thoroughly understand these two books first. Fan Yu, I'm entrusting Yuhao to you! I'm going to write a proposal. We must push this mass production plan forward!"

"Yes, Vice Dean." Fan Yu nodded solemnly; he naturally knew what Qian Duoduo was going to do.

Making money for the Soul Guidance Department is not shameful at all!

Before Huo Yuhao could react, Qian Duoduo had already transformed into a gust of wind and rushed out of the laboratory, leaving only her hearty laughter echoing in the air.

He looked down at the book in his hand, then glanced at the soul tool on the platform, a faint smile playing on his lips.

No one could have imagined that the idea that the boy casually proposed that day would open a new chapter for Shrek Academy's Soul Guidance System. In the history books of Douluo Continent, this revolution is known as the "Soul Guidance Industrial Revolution"!

The gears of human civilization began to turn faster from that moment on.

……

Poseidon Island, Poseidon Pavilion

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, and on either side of the long table made of purple nanmu wood, the elders had different expressions.

The elders of the Martial Soul Department, led by Yan Shaozhe and Xuanzi, wore puzzled expressions, while Xian Lin'er, the dean of the Soul Guidance Department, tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, her eyes filled with bewilderment.

Qian Duoduo actually took the initiative to convene the Sea God Pavilion Council. Has the sun risen in the west?

In the wicker chair at the head of the table, Mu En leaned back, his aged face expressionless, only his eyes deep and unfathomable, and slowly spoke: "Duo Duo, what is the matter that is so urgent?"

Qian Duoduo took half a step forward, placed his palm on the long table, and said in a loud voice: "Elder Mu, esteemed elders! I have come here today for a proposal that can help Shrek Academy's Soul Guidance Department rise to prominence and even benefit the entire Douluo Continent!"

He laid out Huo Yuhao's "cost leadership strategy" in detail, from mass production of low-end soul guides and seizing the border market to accumulating resources to tackle high-end technologies. His explanation was clear and his words were forceful.

The council chamber was initially deathly silent, the elders' faces filled with bewilderment.