Qian Duoduo sat down in a chair next to Cai Meier, and Du Weilun, who was originally sitting there, very consciously gave up his seat for him.
Behind Qian Duoduo followed a tall, steady middle-aged man.
When Du Weilun saw him, his expression changed slightly, then he politely nodded to him.
"Hehehe, I'm still an Outer Courtyard Vice Dean, isn't it normal for me to come and watch the new student assessment!"
Qian Duoduo chuckled, the flesh on his face piling up, making him look rather endearing.
"Go, go, go, you, a Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, coming to watch my Martial Soul Department's new student assessment?"
Cai Meier clearly didn't believe Qian Duoduo's nonsense and immediately said, "Quick, tell me, which new student have you taken a fancy to?"
"Haha, Meier, you're still so sharp, you know that Old Qian wouldn't come to the temple without a reason, haha!"
Qian Duoduo heard Cai Meier's question, laughed awkwardly, and said with a sheepish smile, "Fan Yu, you explain it to Dean Cai."
"Yes!"
The middle-aged man behind Qian Duoduo stepped forward; he was Fan Yu, the head of the Soul Tool Department and an Eighth-rank Soul Engineer.
He respectfully nodded to Cai Meier and said, "Dean Cai, we are here for Huo Yuhao."
"Huo Yuhao?!"
Cai Meier and Du Weilun were both stunned, and a flash of surprise and understanding crossed Zhu Ziyang's eyes.
It was clear that Huo Yuhao possessed astonishing talent in spirit tools, which was why the Vice Dean and head of the Soul Tool Department personally came to the Martial Soul Department to request him!
Cai Meier felt puzzled and asked, "Huo Yuhao possesses Soul Tool talent?"
"That's right!"
Fan Yu nodded, his eyes revealing excitement and a hint of fanaticism, and said, "Dean Cai, you should know that Huo Yuhao's Spirit is his eyes, right?
His Spirit is simply born for making spirit tools!
The most important aspect of spirit tool creation is engraving spirit power array patterns, and engraving array patterns requires extremely powerful eyesight.
Others need to focus with all their might on the array patterns, but for Huo Yuhao, it's the simplest thing!"
"Just because of his Spirit, you can determine he has spirit tool talent?
That's a bit speculative and arbitrary!"
Cai Meier clearly didn't believe him and was unwilling to give Huo Yuhao to the Soul Tool Department.
After all, Huo Yuhao possessed a Body Spirit, and she still hoped to gain experience in cultivating Body Spirits for the Martial Soul Department through his growth.
"Of course, it's not speculation!"
Fan Yu immediately explained, "Dean Cai, I personally tested him.
Huo Yuhao only took half a day to learn and successfully engrave a First-rank spirit tool array!
Such talent is even greater than mine and Dean Qian's!"
"Hmm?"
Cai Meier was stunned.
She didn't understand the significance of learning and engraving a spirit tool array in half a day, but she was surprised that Qian Duoduo, as the Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department and an Eighth-rank Soul Engineer, didn't refute his subordinate's statement.
"Meier, what Fan Yu said is true."
Qian Duoduo saw Cai Meier's suspicious gaze and immediately said, but inwardly, he felt strange.
He hadn't seen Huo Yuhao and didn't know if what Fan Yu said was true, but he believed Fan Yu's words.
Was what Fan Yu said true?
For Cai Meier, it wasn't important; what was important was that she didn't want to give Huo Yuhao to the Soul Tool Department!
"Let me think about it!"
Cai Meier decided to use a delaying tactic, showing hesitation, and said, "Once I've thought it over, I'll give you a reply."
Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu immediately understood that Cai Meier intended to use a delaying tactic.
Although first-year students technically didn't belong to the Martial Soul Department, the final assignment required the signature of the Martial Soul Department Dean.
As long as Cai Meier kept delaying and didn't agree, once Huo Yuhao advanced to the third year, he would completely belong to the Martial Soul Department!
So, Qian Duoduo immediately became anxious and said, "Meier, what is there to consider?
Your Martial Soul Department is full of talented individuals, and Huo Yuhao is just a special enrollee of the Tang Sect, and he's also a Spirit Master whose first spirit ring is only ten years old, with extremely poor cultivation talent.
Just give him to our Soul Tool Department; our Soul Tool Department is truly short on people!"
Qian Duoduo began to act pitiful, "Meier, just take pity on your Senior Brother here.
Do you know how difficult it is for our Soul Tool Department?
Ziyang, you also help me persuade Meier!"
Zhu Ziyang, who was watching the show from the side, was suddenly called out and was a bit confused, then he looked at Qian Duoduo helplessly, indicating that he was unable to help.
"Poor cultivation talent?"
Cai Meier was amused by Qian Duoduo's words and said, "Do you think I'm blind?
This Huo Yuhao improved six ranks of spirit power in three months, and you say he has poor cultivation talent?
He also has a Body Spirit!
Do you know the significance of a Body Spirit to our Martial Soul Department?"
"What?"
Qian Duoduo was stunned when he heard this.
He hadn't known that Huo Yuhao was so formidable, improving six ranks in three months, an average of two ranks per month.
How could such talent be poor!
Had he been tricked by Fan Yu?
Qian Duoduo immediately looked at Fan Yu with an unfriendly gaze.
"Dean Cai, the reason Yu Hao's spirit power increased so quickly is because I gave him a Soul Ascension Pill!"
Fan Yu didn't pay attention to Qian Duoduo's gaze and eagerly explained to Cai Meier.
He hadn't expected his actions back then to dig a pit for himself.
He should have waited until Huo Yuhao entered the Soul Tool Department before giving him that Soul Ascension Pill!
"What? A Soul Ascension Pill?!"
Cai Meier was stunned, a little bewildered.
She had thought that Huo Yuhao's six-rank increase in three months was due to his inherent cultivation talent, but she hadn't expected it to be because of a Soul Ascension Pill.
Had she made a mistake?
Was Huo Yuhao's innate spirit power really only rank one?
Was his reaching rank eleven at eleven years old really due to poor cultivation talent, and not because he was mistreated and lacked the will to cultivate?
"So it was a Soul Ascension Pill!"
Qian Duoduo was also a bit surprised; his eyes first showed a hint of complaint, then he immediately said happily, "Meier, now you have nothing to say, right!"
She was still a bit unwilling to believe and immediately said, "No, even with a Soul Ascension Pill, it would only increase by two to three ranks, so his current spirit power should be rank fourteen, not rank seventeen!"
"One Soul Ascension Pill is certainly not enough, but what if you add two mystic water pills?"
Fan Yu smiled slightly, feeling confident of victory, and said.
"Two mystic water pills!"
Cai Meier was shocked, Qian Duoduo was shocked, and Du Weilun was also shocked.
Zhu Ziyang, on the other hand, slightly opened his mouth, guessing the hidden truth, and felt full of sympathy for Xu Sanshi.
"Fan Yu, it seems you truly care about this Huo Yuhao!"
Only then did Qian Duoduo truly realize the extent of Fan Yu's regard for Huo Yuhao.
One Soul Ascension Pill was already quite valuable, and there were even two mystic water pills.
Even if Fan Yu, as an Eighth-rank Soul Engineer, wasn't short on money, he wouldn't be so extravagant.
"It's all worth it!"
Fan Yu knew they had misunderstood, but he didn't explain, because this was exactly the outcome he wanted.
Only by letting the people of the Martial Soul Department see his investment in Huo Yuhao would they lack confidence when trying to forcefully keep him!
"Haha, Meier, you should agree to release him now, right!"
Qian Duoduo said triumphantly to Cai Meier.
Cai Meier was silent, her expression calm, and she slowly uttered a few words: "One hundred fixed-load spirit tool cannon shells!"
"What?"
Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu both didn't hear Cai Meier clearly.
"I said, if you want me to release him, you can, but bring one hundred fixed-load spirit tool cannon shells!"
Cai Meier said calmly.
She knew that forcefully keeping him and delaying tactics were no longer useful, but she wasn't someone to suffer a loss.
Since the Soul Tool Department wanted to get him smoothly, they would have to pay some price.
"Meier, you're not joking, are you!"
Qian Duoduo's face darkened and he said, "One hundred fixed-load spirit tool cannon shells, you really dare to ask for that much.
Those are fixed-load spirit tool cannon shells, five thousand gold coins each!"
"Go on, don't think I don't know, your Soul Tool Department has long mastered the manufacturing process of fixed-load spirit tool cannon shells.
Five thousand gold coins is the selling price; your cost price is at most one hundred gold coins!"
Cai Meier's expression remained unchanged, but the corners of her mouth slightly lifted as she spoke.
"No, no!"
Qian Duoduo shook his head repeatedly and said, "Even at cost price, one hundred is too many.
If I agree, Lin'er will skin me alive!
No, absolutely not!"
"No?"
Cai Meier revealed a devilish smile and said, "Alright then, you can forget about me signing the transfer application.
At worst, we'll go to the Sea God Pavilion to argue.
Anyway, it's your Soul Tool Department that lacks talent, not our Martial Soul Department that lacks talent!"
"You…"
Qian Duoduo was speechless and in a dilemma.
Looking at Fan Yu's expectant expression behind him, and then at Cai Meier's triumphant smile, he finally gritted his teeth and said with a pained expression, "Fifty at most!"
"Good, deal!"
A pleasant smile appeared on Cai Meier's face as she said, "When Huo Yuhao chooses his department in his third year, I will definitely not interfere."
"I hope you keep your word!"
Qian Duoduo said with a deep sense of grievance.
"Dean, don't worry!"
Fan Yu quietly comforted Qian Duoduo, saying, "Yu Hao's value far exceeds fifty fixed-load spirit tool cannon shells.
Dean Xian will definitely not blame you!"
"I hope so!"
Qian Duoduo said, somewhat dejected.
Zhu Ziyang observed this talent exchange between the Martial Soul Department and the Soul Tool Department.
He knew that after this incident, Huo Yuhao would leave an impression on the academy's high-ranking officials, and this impression would become increasingly profound as his talent was revealed!