Storage-type soul tools and Milk Bottles were typically considered the most complicated soul tools among others of the same tier. This storage-type soul tool was made from steel, and that meant it wouldnât be so durable, but its complexity and the difficulty of crafting something like this was the same as it would have been if another material had been used. It wasnât worth much, but the craftmanship was undeniable. If there had been better metal available, this storage-type soul tool would be considered an exquisite item compared to other Class 3 soul tools.
Two Class 3 soul tools were crafted within such a short period of time. What did that mean? This meant that these two brothers, who had only joined the competition when it was nearing its end, were at least Class 4 soul engineers. It was likely that they were even better; could Class 4 soul engineers craft soul tools with such smoothness and agility? The old man knew the answer to this question very well.
âThe two of you have passed the qualifying round, and we will begin the first official round tomorrow. We will directly enter elimination rounds, and every elimination round will cut the total headcount by a third, until a champion is crowned. Here, these are your proofs for passing the qualifying round. The two of you can use them to claim your prizes for this round!â
The old man passed over two badges made from pure gold as he spoke. There were numbers on each badge; Huo Yuhaoâs number was seventy-one, while He Caitouâs number was seventy-two.
He Caitou pushed Huo Yuhaoâs wheelchair and they departed under the old manâs watchful and respectful gaze.
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âEh? How can it be over so quickly? Have they withdrawn from the contest because they know they canât pass?â Some people were annoying and irritating, especially if they were born with a snickering and sneering face. The middle-aged man that was throwing shade at Huo Yuhao before this took the opportunity and popped out of nowhereâ¦
Huo Yuhao smiled and opened his right hand. âI just want to know where I can redeem my prize.â
The middle-aged man noticed the golden badge in Huo Yuhaoâs hand just as he was mocking him sarcastically. He seemed like a duck that was grasped by the neck, and his voice stuck in his throat.
âThat⦠thatâs impossible! How long did you guys take? You... you guys cheated!â
Huo Yuhao answered solemnly, âYou have to be responsible for your words.â
The old man in yellow came over hurriedly at this moment. âIâm terribly sorry, my two honored guests. This is a misunderstanding. Hurry and apologize to them, Great King.â
âGreat King? Thatâs a great name!â Huo Yuhao spoke with a faint grin on his face.
The middle-aged manâs expression didnât look so good, and it appeared to change color again and again. He grunted coldly and turned around to leave.
âDonât go! Thereâs something else I want to discuss with you!â Huo Yuhao suddenly spoke to him.
Great King was momentarily stunned. He turned around and forcefully suppressed the complicated emotions riling up his mind as he asked, âWhat else needs to be said?â
Huo Yuhao continued, âI imagine Iâm going to lose the wager that Iâve just made. Do you remember what I said to you before this?â
Great Kingâs face instantly changed. He hadnât thought too much of it when Huo Yuhao had threatened him before with a smile on his face, as he didnât believe that this fellow in the wheelchair could pass this round of the competition. However, the yellow-clothed old man had confirmed that the two brothers had both passed this round within such a short period of time. He was very clear about what this meant; even though he was arrogant, sneering, and sarcastic by nature, he wasnât a fool. He was sharply aware that Huo Yuhao wasnât a person that he could afford to offend, and he himself was only a Soul Elder after all.
âThe contest isnât over. How⦠how do you know that you canât win the wager?â Great Kingâs voice was a little shaky and fearful.
Huo Yuhao smiled and said, âI know I canât win just by looking at your face. Are you telling me that you havenât done something to my wager? I remember I saw you walk out before this.â
Great King took a few steps back subconsciously.
Huo Yuhao lowered his head instead as he muttered under his breath, âMy best virtue is that I always honor my word.â
Huo Yuhao suddenly looked up as he spoke, and he pushed out his right hand towards Great King.
âDonât do it, sir!â The old man called out hastily, but he was too late in the end.
Boom!
A flower that resembled some of the red and white decorations around the Green Hotel bloomed, and Great Kingâs head instantly split open like an exploding watermelon.
Huo Yuhao was behaving as if he hadnât done anything at all. He wore a pitiful and regrettable expression on his face as he said, âI hope you can be the king of Great Kings in your next life.â
The sudden incident immediately triggered intense and vigorous gasps of astonishment. This was one of the Duskwater Allianceâs strongholds, and it was unimaginable that anybody would have the courage to murder someone in a place like this. Furthermore, this murder was executed in such a brutal and barbaric fashion.
The other guests descended into hysteria, and numerous men dressed in black quickly surrounded Huo Yuhao. The yellow-clothed invigilator and the manager that led them from the hotel door were also part of this group. It didnât take long before they surrounded Huo Yuhao and He Caitou, forming a very tight circle around them.
Huo Yuhao grunted coldly and said plainly, âDo all of you wish to die?â Huo Yuhao began to chant incomprehensibly as he spoke. He Caitou took a step horizontally, and a series of metal clanging sounds could be heard as he transformed into a frightening metal fortress. Several hundred soul cannons were coldly pointing all around him, and the aura he released was so terrifying that it immediately caused the thugs that were about to close in on them to retreat in fear.
âStop! Whatâs happening?â A deafening shout broke the silence. A human figure descended from the sky immediately afterwards, three yellow and two purple soul rings sparkling as this person landed in the middle of everyone.
The wings from the soul tool on his back folded up. He drew a cold breath when he witnessed the soul cannon fort that He Caitou had transformed into. He was a Class 5 soul engineer, and he was all too clear as to what he was looking at. He realized that even typical Class 6 soul cannon forts werenât as formidable as this one in front of him.
âCalm down, everyone. Iâm Chen An, the Golden Great Hallâs supervisor. Can someone tell me what just happened?â
The old man that had watched Huo Yuhao and He Caitou came forward hurriedly and whispered something into Chen Anâs ear.
Chen Anâs face turned black as he turned towards Huo Yuhao, and then his expression changed once more. He saw that Huo Yuhaoâs eyes were ghastly grey in color, as if there wasnât an ounce of life and vitality at all, and he felt as if his spirit was being sucked away when their gazes met. His body trembled vigorously as he took a few steps backwards in horror.
However, when he looked at Huo Yuhao again, he realized that his eyes had become clear once more, as if everything that he had seen in the previous instant was but a hallucination. A voice suddenly appeared in his head.
âIf you want this place to be riddled with bodies, so be it. Otherwise, you know what to do.â
This voice disappeared as soon as it appeared. In the next moment, a scene surfaced in his head: Chen An saw the exploding heads of the men in black around him, and he seemed to descend into a mountain of corpses and an ocean of blood. The headless corpses slowly got to their feet, and swiftly transformed into zombies as they crazily assaulted everyone around them. It didnât take long before there wasnât a single other living soul besides the terrifying youth in the wheelchair and the muscular man standing beside him.
The intense fear caused Chen Anâs body to quiver uncontrollably, but the image that surfaced in his mind receded in an instant. His eyes widened, but all he could see were his subordinatesâ doubtful gazes, and the youth in the wheelchair that was still staring at him with a pair of bright and clear eyes.
âYou areâ¦â Chen An blurted.
Huo Yuhao answered plainly, âGreat King went after my wager with underhanded methods, and his words were provocative and condescending. Did he bring his own death upon himself?â
Chen An chomped down on the tip of his tongue and instantly cleared his mind. He had outstanding composure, mental quality, and stability to be able to direct the Golden Great Hall, and his expression changed once again. This time, he was a lot more respectful than before.
âYouâre right, my dear guests. Great King violated the Duskwater Allianceâs rules, and he attacked you foolishly. He has committed a crime, and he cannot be forgiven. Someone take his body away and feed his corpse to the dogs. Donât stand around, everyone! Go back and do what youâre supposed to be doing!â
Chen An withdrew the soul rings on his body as he spoke, but he didnât dare to look Huo Yuhao in the eyes anymore.
The Duskwater Alliance was an underground organization, and these underground organizations were sometimes much more efficient and versatile with their operations compared to other, more legitimate corporations. Chen An was the Golden Great Hallâs supervisor, and he was also a relatively powerful Soul King. He wielded extraordinary authority and influence in this place, and he was also the qualifying roundâs chief judge. His subordinates began to move right after he finished his sentence, some people moving to keep things in order, while some other people went ahead to clean up the mess.
It didnât take long before Great Kingâs body and the mess around it vanished without a trace.
Chen An lowered his voice and asked Huo Yuhao, âCan we speak somewhere in private?â
âAlright,â Huo Yuhaoâs answer was simple and straightforward. âI have two other servants. Can you ask someone to call them over?â
âIâll arrange for that immediately.â Chen An whispered something to one of his subordinates, and that person hurriedly turned around and left.
âFollow me, my valued guests.â Chen An turned around to lead the way as he spoke. Huo Yuhao nodded his head gently, and He Caitou pushed the wheelchair as they followed behind Chen An.
Huo Yuhaoâs eyes closed into squints, and his Spiritual Detection swiftly expanded around him and covered almost the entire place in an instant. There were several relatively formidable auras within the Golden Great Hall, but they were not enough to threaten his life. This was only the qualifying round after all, and high-level soul masters and soul engineers couldnât be found just anywhere. They werenât inside Shrek Academy, after all.
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Chen An led them to a small door at the side and exited the Golden Great Hall. They moved through a magnificent walkway, but they didnât have to travel for long before Chen An opened another door on the side and invited the two of them in.
The room was several hundred square meters in surface area, and the walls were covered in solid wood. The roomâs golden style and layout was not at odds with this underground world.
âPlease sit,â Chen An spoke as he stood beside a luxurious sofa.
Huo Yuhao answered, âThereâs no need for that. You can just say whatever you want to.â
Chen Anâs eyes shifted as he lowered his voice and said, âIf I may ask, are you guys fromâ¦?â He paused without finishing his sentence.