As a student, when encountering a problem that cannot be solved, the standard solution is usually to contact a tutor or an instructor.
The senior student called over a junior nearby to fetch someone. A moment later, a tall female teacher wearing glasses, appearing to be around thirty years old, walked over.
After getting a brief overview of the situation from the senior, the female teacher turned her gaze toward Huo Yuhao, who was sitting quietly and acting exceptionally well-behaved.
"Hello, little brother. My name is Lin Mei, you can call me Teacher Lin. Do you wish to apply for our academy's martial soul department or the soul tool department?"
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy was also divided into martial soul and soul tool departments, though the status of the martial soul department there was similar to that of the soul tool department at Shrek.
The higher-ups intended to prioritize it, but due to various constraints, it was unable to flourish.
The reason Lin Mei asked this was because applying for the soul tool department required a certain foundation as a soul tool master—something the handsome little brother before her clearly lacked. After all, he was just too young.
"I want to apply for the soul tool department!"
"Then do you know that to apply for the soul tool department, you must be at least a Rank 1 soul tool master?"
This statement was half-true. The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool department had a regulation: the final exam for the first year was the Rank 1 soul tool master assessment. If a student failed, they would be expelled.
Lin Mei brought this condition forward early because she wanted Huo Yuhao to reconsider and back down; after all, he was truly far too young.
"I see... I haven't gone to take the soul tool master grading exam yet..."
"That's right. So, little brother, you should wait a few more years before—"
"...But Sister Lin, I made this myself. They said this counts as a Rank 2 soul tool and that I qualify as a Rank 2 soul tool master, which is why I came here to sign up."
"Wait... you made this?!!!"
As a Rank 6 soul tool master and a permanent tutor at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Tool Academy whose daily routine involved dealing with students, she stared at the exquisitely beautiful soul tool the boy had suddenly pulled out of his backpack!
Without a hint of hesitation, Lin Mei subconsciously took the soul tool from Huo Yuhao's hand to inspect it. The lenses of her glasses shifted slightly, emitting faint fluctuations; clearly, these glasses were also a soul tool.
Lin Mei scrutinized the silver cube meticulously, tentatively touching a small indentation on its surface. In the next instant, a silver-white short blade appeared in her hand.
"This... this..."
Lin Mei's eyes lit up as she tentatively channeled some soul power. In an instant, the soul tool array runes engraved on the blade's body manifested. The soul power flowed silkily along the blade, concentrating at the edge to enhance its sharpness.
Heavens, such clean and decisive engraving! Such an artistic arrangement of the soul tool array! Such perfect integration between metal and metal!
This was simply a work of art!!!
Lin Mei's heart trembled, blinded by the sheer brilliance of this simple Rank 2 soul tool.
While it didn't involve overly profound soul tool knowledge—and with her experience as a Rank 6 soul tool master, she could analyze the general structure in just two glances—there was a catch! At least two of the soul tool arrays were innovative! While keeping the same functionality, the volume had actually been reduced to one-third of the original! What kind of innovation was this?!
And then there were the visible fundamental skills... how could she describe them? This soul tool looked like it had been crafted by a shameless Rank 9 soul tool master intentionally showing off his techniques.
But this child said he made it... and he's only eight, right?
Is this really eight years old?!!
Lin Mei steadied her mind, then looked earnestly at Huo Yuhao: "Little brother, are you sure you made this?"
"Yes! If Sister Lin doesn't believe me, I can make another one right here for you to see."
Huo Yuhao spoke with a smile, his tone devoid of any falsehood.
Huo Yuhao rarely lied.
Lin Mei stared fixedly at Huo Yuhao. After a long while, she made a decision. She leaned down slightly, looking into his eyes, and spoke in a low voice:
"Then I'll take you somewhere, and you can make it for me. If you can really do it, I'll let you enroll. How about that?"
Lin Mei felt like an evil older sister trying to kidnap a beautiful young boy, but she had no choice. If this boy wasn't lying, it meant the youth before her possessed terrifying talent as a soul tool master!
A child like this had to be brought into their academy by any means necessary!
She watched the boy, waiting for his answer. He did not disappoint her; without any hesitation, he nodded.
"Sure, Sister Lin! Let's go!"
Huo Yuhao let out a smile—a sincere smile with maximum charisma.
...
"Dean! Dean!! Dean!!! (Voice cracks) Something big has happened!!!"
With a clatter, the office door was thrown open.
Jing Hongchen frowned slightly, feeling a bit dissatisfied, but upon seeing that the intruder was his former student, he silently suppressed his emotions.
I am a teacher, I must act like a teacher. Not angry... not angry... definitely cannot get angry...
Jing Hongchen repeated this mantra in his heart, then calmly reached out, intending to pick up his black tea.
As he reached, Jing Hongchen spoke calmly:
"Lin Mei, oh Lin Mei. How is it that after all these years since graduation, you're still so flighty? As soul tool masters, we must remain calm at all times. Otherwise, how can we create excellent works?"
Jing Hongchen began his customary lecture, but Lin Mei didn't care about any of that and blurted out:
"Teacher! I found a genius! The kind with terrifyingly massive talent!!!"
"Oh? Tell me about it."
Jing Hongchen's face remained calm.
Geniuses? There were always one or two every year, but most were just "so-so."
Jing Hongchen's evaluation was that they weren't even worth a hair on his grandson or granddaughter. Just a genius, big deal—as if he wasn't one himself.
Jing Hongchen shook his head, feeling that his student's psychological fortitude needed improvement. He then took a calm sip of his tea.
"But Teacher! That child is only eight! He can already craft Rank 3 soul tool array cores at eight years old!"
"Pffft—cough cough cough!"
The tea was sprayed out, getting all over the thousand-year-old mahogany desk.
However, Jing Hongchen couldn't be bothered with that. He lunged to his feet, looking at Lin Mei with utter disbelief:
"How old?!"
"Eight! He can make Rank 3 soul tool array cores!" Lin Mei said with certainty.
Jing Hongchen stared deathly at Lin Mei. After a long while, he calmed down and regained his previous elegant posture.
"Lin Mei, really now, don't play jokes on your teacher!"
"The child is right in my lab! If you don't believe me, Teacher, go see for yourself right now!"
Jing Hongchen was shaken by his student's unwavering conviction. After a moment's hesitation, he made a decision.
"Let's go! Take me to see!"