"So that's how it is." Dark Lightning Douluo nodded. "It seems His Highness values you greatly, even arranging for you to act independently."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao suddenly shifted his body closer to Dark Lightning Douluo and slightly lowered his voice. "To be honest, back when I was at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, I had a few encounters with the current Regent Princess. It's probably because of that that she found me such a good position."
"A few encounters?" Dark Lightning Douluo showed a trace of doubt, but his expression clearly relaxed quite a bit. "I'm afraid it's not that simple."
Lin Xiao, however, shook his head and was unwilling to say more.
Just as his words fell, the door suddenly opened once again.
He and Dark Lightning Douluo both turned their heads at the same time and hurriedly stood up.
"Greetings, Vice Cult Master."
"Mm." Feng Ling nodded. Her gaze swept across Lin Xiao, then landed on the platform below. "How is the competition going?"
Dark Lightning Douluo seemed to have completely forgotten the conversation he had just been having with Lin Xiao. He stepped forward with a smile. "Vice Cult Master, the final competitors will be decided tonight."
"Mm." Feng Ling still only let out a light nasal sound. "You two are both soul engineers. Who do you think will win in the end?"
As she spoke, Feng Ling walked to the side and sat down. Lin Xiao and Dark Lightning Douluo also sat on either side.
"Vice Cult Master." Dark Lightning Douluo thought for a moment before speaking first. "I think that young man named Tang Wu is not simple. Look—"
Dark Lightning Douluo reached out and pointed. A soul guidance screen actually appeared out of thin air in the room, displaying the four metal tables where the competition was currently taking place.
"This Tang Wu is making a very complex composite-type soul guidance device. I've never seen this method of production before."
As Dark Lightning Douluo spoke, his finger gently slid across, and the soul guidance screen zoomed in to show each component.
"The largest core array here should be for energy gathering. The sixteen smaller core arrays are all for reflecting ray-type attacks. As for the six outermost arrays, they seem to provide adsorption capability."
"Energy gathering, reflection, adsorption?" A trace of confusion flashed through Feng Ling's eyes. "What kind of soul guidance device is he trying to make?"
"Perhaps it's a shield used to reflect the opponent's attacks," Lin Xiao suddenly spoke while looking at the soul guidance screen.
"Oh?" Feng Ling turned her head. "Old Eight, you can tell?"
"I'm just guessing, but I see some traces of Mingde Hall in it. Even if it's not the same in the end, the function shouldn't be far off."
Dark Lightning Douluo nodded repeatedly. "As expected of someone who has been in Mingde Hall. No matter what, his ability won't be lacking."
"Although it's only a simple Class 5 soul guidance device, its complexity probably surpasses some Class 6 soul guidance devices."
"Third Brother has developed a fondness for talent, hasn't he?" Lin Xiao smiled and looked up at Dark Lightning Douluo. "A few days ago, Third Brother was already full of praise for this Tang Wu's way of doing things. Today, when talking about the soul guidance device he's making, even his two disciples were forgotten."
"Ahem." Dark Lightning Douluo gave a light cough. "This kid really suits my taste."
Hearing this, Lin Xiao glanced at Feng Ling again. "Vice Cult Master, since this person has the chance to represent our Xishui Alliance in the competition, no matter the final result, why not have Third Brother try to make contact with him? Who knows, he might end up serving our Holy Spirit Cult."
Upon hearing this, Dark Lightning Douluo looked up at Lin Xiao and secretly gave him a thumbs-up.
Feng Ling acted as if she hadn't seen it, still maintaining that indifferent expression. "Since that's the case, after the competition ends, go and make contact with him to test the waters."
"Yes!" Dark Lightning Douluo nodded with a face full of smiles.
While Lin Xiao and the others were talking, the competitors below were almost finished with their first soul guidance device. Feng Ling only took a few glances before quickly leaving, as if she had just casually dropped by to take a look.
Lin Xiao watched her departing figure until she completely left the room before withdrawing his gaze with a thoughtful look.
Dark Lightning Douluo's mind was still on "Tang Wu," carefully observing his process of making the soul guidance device.
"By the way, Third Brother, today I was summoned to the palace. About the matter in the west…"
"Don't worry." Dark Lightning Douluo waved his hand. "The Cult Master is taking care of the soul engineer competition, so there are few people in the west to begin with. The teams eliminated today, I didn't even see their shadows; they were blocked by people from other directions."
"No problems on the other side, right?"
"None. The academies and sects that lose in the first round of elimination—do you think there would be any experts among them? How could there be any accidents when we make a move?"
As Dark Lightning Douluo spoke, he beckoned to Lin Xiao again. "Come here and help me take a look. It seems you were right, but he doesn't intend to assemble the shield."
Lin Xiao glanced at the soul guidance screen and indeed saw that Huo Yuhao was only setting those components aside and beginning to make new soul guidance cores.
"This match lasts all the way until dawn. He's probably taking advantage of having enough energy right now to make the important soul guidance cores first, then doing the simpler assembly later."
"That makes sense." Dark Lightning Douluo nodded. "These past few days, I've been paying attention to Tang Wu. Every time he comes, he never forgets to place bets, and he's especially careful when counting the rare metals at the end."
"Although we couldn't find out at Mingyue Hotel which team's contestant it was, judging by his appearance, he probably isn't very well-off. Do you think I could keep him here using gold soul coins and rare metals?"
Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly upon hearing this. "Hard to say. However… why not try showing him the strength of our Xishui Alliance? Some rare metals might not keep him, but a power that can stably supply rare metals, I'm sure he would be somewhat tempted."
Dark Lightning Douluo withdrew his gaze and looked Lin Xiao up and down. "Not bad. That's actually a good idea. No wonder the Regent Princess took a special liking to you at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy."
"After this match ends, I'll go give it a try."
"Then I'll wish Third Brother success in advance." As Lin Xiao spoke, he likewise looked toward Huo Yuhao, who was busy making soul guidance devices on the platform below.
Whether he would be attracted by rare metals, Lin Xiao wasn't sure, but he was certain Huo Yuhao would be attracted by the Holy Spirit Cult standing behind the Xishui Alliance.
The original Huo Yuhao had once considered infiltrating the Holy Spirit Cult, but later, the Ming Capital explosion happened, everyone hurriedly left, and contact with the underground soul engineer competition was lost.
Now, such an opportunity was placed right in front of him. It was just a matter of whether he dared to take the risk.
On the stage, Huo Yuhao, who was in the midst of making a soul guidance device, suddenly felt a stir in his mind for some reason. As if sensing something, he raised his head and scanned around, but he didn't notice anything unusual.
Helpless, he could only temporarily suppress the thoughts in his heart and once again focus on the soul guidance core in his hands.
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