The professional skill pack contained four major categories, each with at least hundreds of books.
Even with Huo Yuhao's mental power,he was momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer volume of knowledge.
Zhuge Lan was prepared.
Mental power surged forth, taking control of the body and continuing to follow Zhou Yi.
A few minutes later.
Huo Yuhao had roughly sorted through the information, recovered his composure, and retook control of his body.
His first reaction wasn't to complain, but—
"My heavens!"
"Brother Lan, the things you've given... can they really be achieved?"
"Without using soul power or martial souls, ordinary humans can bomb an island? Soar through the sky by wearing a battlesuit? Pilot giant robots as big as small mountains to fight in space?"
"But Brother Lan, why are the things you gave all basics?"
"Why are there no specific design blueprints?"
Why else?
Of course, because your balance was insufficient!
Just these theories alone had spent the over 10,000 Fortune Points Huo Yuhao had just earned.
And the blueprints were even more expensive.
The design blueprint for the most ordinary pistol cost 3,000 Fortune Points!
The Mk-1 battlesuit from Iron Man skyrocketed to 150,000 Fortune Points!
As for wanting to pilot a Gundam or something similar, the cheapest ones started at millions.
With that many points, wouldn't getting a million-year soul bone be better?
Zhuge Lan had no intention of spending that money.
It was the same as with the Uchiha bloodline; create a foundation for self-development, and if there's a real need, create targeted solutions later.
But Zhuge Lan needed to maintain his mystique; he couldn't possibly say these blunt truths.
"Those are, after all, systems from different worlds and aren't completely compatible with the Douluo World. Providing specific designs might hinder your own creativity."
"So, I'm only giving you theoretical knowledge to broaden your horizons and concepts. This way, you can tailor-make what suits you best."
"Work hard. This era belongs to soul tools. If you can lead the development of soul tools, you definitely won't lack Fortune Points."
Huo Yuhao nodded seriously, filled with motivation!
But the Skydream Iceworm saw right through Zhuge Lan.
"You're just too stingy to spend the Fortune Points! What are you saving so much for?"
"Of course, it's for preparedness," Zhuge Lan said, glancing sideways at it. "Even if Emperor of Sun Moon Empire attacked right now, I could protect Little Yuhao. Can you? You can barely protect yourself!"
The Skydream Iceworm instantly exploded!
"Why do you always have to hit a guy where it hurts?! Can you not bring that up anymore?!"
"Wasn't it you who asked for it by running your mouth and asking for a slap?" Zhuge Lan looked towards the Ice Empress. "This kind of person who looks for trouble definitely can't be..."
The Skydream Iceworm wrapped around him, blocking Zhuge Lan's mouth.
He whispered pleadingly, "I was too loud just now! Brother Lan! Don't say those things to Bing Bing, she already doesn't like me much!"
Zhuge Lan gestured with his eyes downward, and the Skydream Iceworm quickly released him.
"Think you can handle me? Not a chance!"
...
The Soul Tool Division was quite deserted.
They walked through long, horizontal corridors. Every thirty meters, there was a tightly shut metal door with labels like Test Zone One, Test Zone Two, and so on.
Occasionally, they could hear muffled explosions, but no commotion ensued.
It was clearly a common occurrence.
Zhou Yi, familiar with the path, headed straight north until she reached the end and stopped at [Test Zone Twelve].
She took out a hexagonal silver token and fitted it into a slot in front of the metal door.
Pssht—
With the sound of releasing pressure, the token was ejected, and the metal door retracted like a blooming flower.
It seemed magical.
But Huo Yuhao's mental power detected the sliding tracks and mechanical arms. Knowledge of dynamics, structural mechanics, and other related subjects surfaced in his mind, and he instantly conceived several upgrade plans.
"What are you standing there for? Come in," Zhou Yi called back.
"Coming."
He stopped his mental divergence.
Huo Yuhao stepped into [Test Zone Twelve], entering a vast space roughly divided by thick metal plates. Many people held ranged soul tools and were shooting at targets.
Looking at the bulky structures, Huo Yuhao instinctively began optimizing them, cross-referencing with the [Soul Tool Encyclopedia] to match the corresponding soul tool formation arrays, rare metal consumption, etc.
After just a few glances.
He had mentally "disassembled" these ranged soul tools. All he lacked were the core soul tool formation arrays and design blueprints to start hands-on work.
Zhou Yi also called over a white-haired middle-aged man named Fan Yu. He was over 1.8 meters tall, with broad shoulders, simple clothing, and muscles bulging high like granite.
He looked like someone who could handle heavy labor.
And at this moment, this sturdy man was staring at Huo Yuhao with shining eyes.
"Little Yuhao! You're finally here!"
"I've long heard from Zhou Yi about the wonders of your spiritual soul skills. Let me experience them quickly!"
Huo Yuhao looked at Zhou Yi. Who is this?
"My name is Fan Yu," the white-haired middle-aged man introduced himself. "An eighth-rank soul master from the Soul Tool Division. Little Yuhao, you'll be under my instruction from now on."
Huo Yuhao responded with a smile and simultaneously activated Spiritual Detection Sharing.
The moment the link connected with Fan Yu, his gaze sharpened!
Such formidable spiritual power!
But the current Huo Yuhao was already far different from his past self. He quickly calmed down, his mental power radiating over a thousand meters, encompassing most of [Test Zone Twelve].
The extreme, hair-fine clarity made Fan Yu's soul power surge with excitement!
"Exactly! This level of precision!"
"Little Yuhao, you are simply a born soul master!"
"The aiming difficulties of fixed-mounted soul tools can also be solved!"
"He Caitou! Where are you? Get over here!"
As soon as the words fell.
"Here, here!"
Following the voice.
Huo Yuhao felt his vision go dark—physically dark.
A slightly smaller, dark-skinned, sturdy young man came running over. His shiny bald head could reflect light, and he had a cigar dangling from his mouth.
All he needed were some full-sleeve tattoos, and he'd be the spitting image of a gang boss.
"Teacher, you called me?" He Caitou was polite and respectful.
It felt somewhat incongruous.
"This is Huo Yuhao. This is He Caitou."
"Little Yuhao, use your Spiritual Detection Sharing to assist Caitou. Let's test fire a fixed-mounted soul tool cannon."
"Alrighty," He Caitou said to Huo Yuhao with a simple, honest smile. "Little brother, follow me."
He clearly didn't recognize him.
Well, that made sense.
The Soul Tool Division and the Martial Soul Division usually didn't interact. Soul tool masters were pretty much all tech nerds.
"Hello, little brother. Everyone calls me Caitou, you can call me that too," He Caitou said proactively.
"Okay, Brother He. Just call me Yuhao."
He Caitou paused, looked closely at Huo Yuhao.
Seeing the clear, guileless eyes, he then grinned widely.
[Altered the fate of Huo Yuhao and He Caitou, +500 Fortune Points!]
Huo Yuhao was baffled.
What was that about?
"It's the skin color," Zhuge Lan explained.
"This He Caitou has a special background and is quite sensitive. People with dark skin are mostly from the Sun Moon Empire, and he's probably faced a lot of exclusion in private. You calling him 'Brother' right away naturally touched him."
Huh?
Huo Yuhao couldn't comprehend "skin color discrimination"; he just found it absurd.
But it was precisely this "clear-headed simplicity" that allowed the sensitive He Caitou to accept him immediately.
One could only call it fate.
The two arrived at the edge of the testing ground, beginning their first, fateful encounter.