Douluo Continent: Huo Yuhao, the Peerless Swordsman, obtains Lin Dong's inheritance.

Chapter 198 Multiple Banquets

Chapter 198 Multiple Banquets

After Wang Changming and his son left, Huo Yuhao followed Xuan Ziwen back to the laboratory.

In this extremely short period of time, Wang Yiheng had already been forced into a sworn brotherhood with Huo Yuhao.

The heavy metal door of the laboratory closed behind me, isolating me from the noise of the outside world.

Huo Yuhao walked to the lab table. The sensation of Wang Yiheng's large, fan-like hand patting his shoulder still seemed to linger, and the resounding "Brother" still echoed in his ears.

"Lin Gongfeng," Orange said, dressed in light purple, "Commander Wang has always acted this way—decisive and unconventional."

Huo Yuhao looked up and gave Ju Zi a wary look.

Ju Zi is someone close to Xu Tianran. Since she said that, then Wang Yiheng's approach to her is probably with Xu Tianran's tacit approval.

A hint of helplessness and embarrassment appeared on Huo Yuhao's face: "Crown Princess, I—"

Orange shook her head: "I haven't officially become the Crown Princess yet. I'm also Teacher Xuan's student, so you can just call me Orange here."

"Senior Orange," Huo Yuhao didn't waste time on these trivial matters, "to be honest, I was also caught off guard."

"Commander Wang is so generous and I can hardly refuse his hospitality. However, I am new here and my foundation and strength are extremely shallow. If I were to become sworn brothers with Commander Wang, it would probably cause controversy and tarnish Commander Wang's reputation."

He was only half telling the truth.

It's true that they were caught off guard, but the claim that they were implicated was just a humble way of putting it; it was more of a way of testing Xu Tianran's attitude through the oranges.

Orange covered her mouth and chuckled softly: "Commander Lin is overthinking it. Commander Wang is known in the army for his ability to recognize and appoint capable people, and for his unconventional approach."

"Since he has recognized you as a brother, he truly values ​​your talent and future."

"As for criticism, in Mingdu, if you are afraid of what people say, you will find it difficult to move an inch."

Xuan Ziwen continued, "Lin Gongfeng, in the face of absolute strength and groundbreaking theories, those illusory actions are nothing. Commander Wang is a soldier; what he values ​​is the power you can bring to the Empire, the tangible force on the battlefield."

"He's made up his mind about you, so that's it. As for what others are saying, there's no need to pay attention to it."

"In comparison, I care more about the soul-guided ecological cycle and the core of the three-dimensional array that you mentioned. These are the epoch-making cornerstones! Commander Wang's sworn brotherhood with you is, in a sense, the Imperial military's recognition of the enormous potential of this theory."

Xuan Ziwen's attitude is very clear: he only values ​​technology and the future.

His childhood dream was to become the world's top Soul Master, to make Soul Tools something that ordinary people could use normally, and to become something that would completely change the Douluo Continent.

"Alright, Elder Lin," Xuan Ziwen led Huo Yuhao to an experimental table. "This is one of my latest research results. I call it a remote monitoring soul tool. I am the only one in Mingde Hall who can make it."

"Although it is an eighth-level soul tool, it is rated as the ninth level among the eighth level."

Xuan Ziwen was extremely talkative in front of Huo Yuhao.

Before long, under Huo Yuhao's subtle probing, he revealed many things about himself.

This person doesn't care about money, or even anything else; he only cares about the wonders of the soul tool.

If he could be provided with sufficient research directions and funding, he might even be able to break away from the Sun Moon Empire.

Such a person is an extremely pure idealist, a fanatic who can burn everything for his ideals.

But such people are also the most dangerous.

Because of his purity, once he sets his mind on a certain direction, he will persevere and even sacrifice his life for it.

Xuan Ziwen is like a burning flame, capable of both illuminating the path ahead and destroying everything.

"My parents were from the Heavenly Soul Empire, and then they migrated to the Sun Moon Empire for business—"

Looking at Xuan Ziwen, who held him in almost fanatical adoration, Huo Yuhao wondered if he could bring him back to the Heavenly Soul Empire.

Orange stood to the side, her gaze constantly shifting between the two.

She already knew Xuan Ziwen's attitude, and so did Xu Tianran.

But they didn't care.

Because there is no place in the world more suitable for researching soul guides than Mingde Hall.

Therefore, no matter how obsessed Xuan Ziwen is with his research, he will never betray the Sun Moon Empire.

Xuan Ziwen led Huo Yuhao to each of his inventions.

Huo Yuhao's expression gradually turned to shock.

This is just one of Xuan Ziwen's inventions. How many such groundbreaking inventions must there be in the entire Mingde Hall and Gongfeng Hall combined?

The soul ring storage device that made Xuan Ziwen a researcher at Mingde Hall, in particular, stirred up a storm in Huo Yuhao's heart.

Before setting off for the Sun and Moon Empire, he had also told Di Tian and other ferocious beasts that he wanted to research such a soul tool.

To his surprise, such a finished product already existed within the Sun and Moon Empire.

Huo Yuhao carefully studied the blueprints of these soul tools and memorized all their details.

In the following days, apart from pretending to take pills for cultivation, Huo Yuhao spent almost all his time in Xuan Ziwen's laboratory.

Xuan Ziwen's teaching of Huo Yuhao was different from ordinary teaching.

He imparted all his knowledge to Huo Yuhao by combining the most cutting-edge soul guidance theories of the Sun Moon Empire with basic knowledge.

The two of them spent their days and nights in the lab discussing the possibilities of various soul-guided devices.

Orange remained silent, simply bringing food and drinks each time, then quietly standing aside to take notes.

She noticed a greedy thirst for knowledge flickering in Huo Yuhao's eyes, as if he wanted to devour all the knowledge in the entire Mingde Hall.

Meng Hongchen also visited this place a few times during that period.

She would always use the Hongchen family's philosophy of making soul tools as an excuse to talk to Huo Yuhao when he was resting.

A strange light shone in Meng Hongchen's eyes, and even Ju Zi could see that she was extremely curious about Huo Yuhao.

Orange suppressed the strange emotions in her heart and continued to quietly record everything.

It wasn't until the fifth day that Xu Tianran's princely brothers finally escorted Xu He to Huo Yuhao's side.

These magnificent carriages, like sharks smelling blood, stopped around the perimeter of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

The moment the car door opened, several princes dressed in python robes, exuding an air of elegance, filed in, their faces plastered with smiles like meticulously sculpted masks.

They finally reached a conclusion: the most powerful Prince Pingyang, along with a group of princes and Xu He, would come to visit the youngest honoree.

However, among these princes, it seems that one is missing compared to when they competed against Xu Tianran before.

At this moment, Xu He, who had become the focus of everyone's attention at the Soul Master Competition, was surrounded by a group of princes like a puppet, with a forced smile on his face.

"Master Lin, I've long admired your name!"

Prince Pingyang, Xu Tianjing, strode forward, his voice so loud it seemed the entire academy would hear him.

"Today, I, accompanied by the Crown Prince, have come to pay a visit, and I hope that Venerable Lin will not hesitate to offer his guidance!"

Xu Tianjing completely bypassed Xu He and grabbed Huo Yuhao's hand: "I have long heard that a great talent has come to Mingdu. I burned incense and bathed for five days before daring to visit Elder Lin. Elder Lin, please don't blame me."

Huo Yuhao's hand was held tightly by the Prince of Pingyang, the force carrying an air of undeniable authority.

Huo Yuhao subtly withdrew his hand, his gaze passing over Xu Tianjing to the smiling princes, finally settling on Xu He, who was surrounded in the center but whose expression was extremely stiff.

"Your Highness is too kind."

"I, Lin Yi, am only fortunate to have received this honorary title thanks to the kindness of my seniors. I am truly unworthy of Your Highness's great favor."

Then Huo Yuhao turned slightly to face Xu He, who was being shielded by the princes, and solemnly clasped his hands and bowed: "Student Lin Yi greets His Highness Crown Prince He."

"As expected of a young talent, Lord Lin is impeccably courteous! His Highness the Crown Prince and I have heard of Lord Lin's extraordinary talent and specially dispatched him here!"

As Xu Tianjing spoke, he subtly took half a step, still standing between Huo Yuhao and Xu He.

"Lord Lin, you are the future hope of our Sun Moon Empire! Look at this Mingde Hall, look at this Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy!"

In the future, we'll all have to rely on geniuses like Lin Gongfeng to support our family!

The other princes echoed their sentiments, showering Huo Yuhao with compliments that surrounded him like a tidal wave.

Their eyes were like searchlights, scanning every inch of Huo Yuhao, trying to assess his value, judge his inclinations, and even more so, to probe the attitude of Kong Deming and the entire Hall of Worship behind him.

These princes were fighting like dogs a few days ago, but now they're all getting along well.

They had all heard that Wang Yiheng, the leader of the Evil Lord Soul Master Corps, had become sworn brothers with Lin Yi.

By winning over Lin Yi now, they can not only gain the support of the Hall of Worship, but also bring the military to their side in one fell swoop.

The four Beast King-level Soul Master Corps of the Sun Moon Empire: Imperial Dragon, Terror Claw, Fire Phoenix, and Evil Lord.

In addition, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Corps, whose five leaders are known as the Five Guardians of the Sun Moon Empire.

Previously, these princes had been trying to win over Xu Tianyuan, the leader of the Imperial Dragon Soul Instructor Corps.

But Xu Tianyuan was exceptionally elusive; no matter how much they tried to win him over, he refused to give his opinion easily.

Now that Wang Yiheng has taken the initiative to become sworn brothers with Lin Yi, for these princes, as long as they can win over Lin Yi, it is equivalent to indirectly grasping the sharp blade of the Evil Lord Soul Master Corps.

The Evil Lord Soul Master Corps is composed of Soul Masters who excel in speed, making them the most mobile.

This is the perfect person to carry out assassinations.

Xu He, who had been marginalized, seemed somewhat out of place at this moment.

Orange stood quietly a little behind Huo Yuhao, without saying a word.

Huo Yuhao always wore a humble yet distant smile, expressing appropriate gratitude to each prince without uttering any biased remarks.

He steered the conversation toward the soul-guiding technology itself, or his praise for Mingde Hall, or his gratitude for the teachings of Gongfeng Hall, skillfully avoiding any hint of political probing.

"Your Highnesses' kindness is too much for me to bear."

Huo Yuhao bowed and said, "At present, I only wish to devote myself to the study of the Soul Guidance Path, so as not to fail the training given to me by Elder Kong and Mingde Hall. As for other matters—I am young and inexperienced, and dare not make any rash comments."

Xu Tianjing's face quickly broke into a smile again: "Palace Master Lin is too modest."

"I will be hosting a banquet at my residence the day after tomorrow to welcome and entertain Lord Lin. I humbly request that you grace me with your presence."

The date he chose was exceptionally clever; it was exactly the day Xu Tianran prepared a banquet at the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace.

No sooner had Xu Tianjing finished speaking than another prince, dressed in a crimson python robe, immediately laughed loudly, "Prince Pingyang, you are mistaken. The day after tomorrow is my mother's birthday, and a banquet has already been arranged. Lin Gongfeng is an auspicious figure in our family and should be seated as a distinguished guest! We humbly request that Lin Gongfeng grace us with his presence at Prince Qing's residence!"

"Prince Qing's statement is somewhat unreasonable!"

Another prince stepped forward: "I have prepared many rare metals in my palace, awaiting Your Excellency Lin's arrival to appreciate them!"

The scene instantly became somewhat noisy.

The princes took turns offering more enticing incentives and more plausible reasons.

It was as if Huo Yuhao at this moment had become a precious commodity waiting to be sold on their chopping block.