Huo Yuhao chortled, “They’re both fanatics. All of you are in for some trouble in the future. However, they’re also very direct people. They’ll be happy as long as you spar with them. I never expected Juechen’s sword intent to reach such a standard. He’s indeed very focused! Eldest senior, let’s find Teacher Xuan quickly. He’ll be pivotal in the future development of soul tools in the Tang Sect!”
When they found Xuan Ziwen, he was beside the soul tool forge at the back of the Tang Sect. In addition, he didn’t look like a Class 8 soul engineer.
He was dressed very simply, and there were even oil stains on his clothes. As he squatted outside the forge and watched the workers forging the soul tools, his gaze never even moved slightly.
“Teacher Xuan!” Huo Yuhao called out.
Xuan Ziwen continued to squat as he turned around to look. He waved his hand before turning his attention back to the soul tools.
Huo Yuhao quickly walked towards him before squatting down as he reached him, “Teacher Xuan, don’t peek! They’re our secrets.”
Xuan Ziwen snapped, “Stop spouting nonsense. What procedures are needed to join the sect? Tell me quick. Did you know that waiting for you here the past few days was equivalent to wasting my life?”
Bei Bei was in a daze. This guy is even more direct than the previous two. Evidently, his passion was for soul tools. For people like Xuan Ziwen and Ji Juechen, who could be so devoted to a single thing, they were either lunatics or geniuses among geniuses!
Huo Yuhao naturally knew that Xuan Ziwen wanted to join the Tang Sect since he had volunteered to come on his own. He shot a look at Bei Bei immediately.
Bei Bei still didn’t understand, and quickly walked up to him before squatting down beside Xuan Ziwen. He said, “Hello Teacher Xuan, I am currently the eldest senior of the Tang Sect. Welcome to the Tang Sect. Let’s do it this way; you’ll be our deputy sect master from now on. You’ll be in charge of soul tools.”
Xuan Ziwen wasn’t bothered about such things. Otherwise, why would he leave the Illustrious Virtue Hall?
“Oh, alright. Yuhao, give it to me.” As he spoke, he gestured to Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao naturally knew what he wanted, “Do you want the earliest set of information regarding the Tang Sect’s secret weapons or do you want them with my research?”
Xuan Ziwen replied, “The earliest set please. If I see your research, my train of thought might be disrupted. Oh, leave that metallic man with me, too. Can I enter now?” Although he was a soul tool fanatic, he was more in touch with the world compared to Ji Juechen. Otherwise, he would have rushed into the forge already.
Huo Yuhao said, “Guys, bring one complete Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon for Teacher Xuan to study. Eldest senior, give one set of the hidden weapon manuals to Teacher Xuan.”
“Alright.” Bei Bei retrieved a set of hidden weapon manuals for Xuan Ziwen. “Teacher Xuan, let us arrange your living quarters.”
Xuan Ziwen’s gaze was fixated on the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon that came out from the forge. His eyes brightened. “No rush, no rush. Go and get busy. You don’t have to bother with me. Yuhao, don’t leave today. I’ll find you tonight for a talk.”
“Alright.” Huo Yuhao tugged Bei Bei and gestured to the rest of them before leaving. He understood Xuan Ziwen. He lost his sense of time once he entered his research state.
When they returned to the meeting hall, Jiang Nannan and Xu Sanshi had also returned. Their expressions were very weird. After Ji Juechen received the Judgment Sword, he took it and went into retreat. Jing Ziyan also went to rest.
Bei Bei said, “Youngest junior, it’s not really a good idea to leave Teacher Xuan there on his own, right?”
Huo Yuhao shook and said, “Don’t worry, eldest senior. He came to the Tang Sect for proper reasons. Just let him do what he wants.”
Xiao Xiao was a little worried. “Yuhao, surely he’s not here to steal confidential information before leaving, right?”
Huo Yuhao shook his head and answered, “He’s not that kind of person. He’s only interested in soul tools. At least before he fully completes his research into soul tools, he won’t do anything. The Tang Sect is different from the Illustrious Virtue Hall. The Illustrious Virtue Hall is already the best place to create soul tools on the continent. Everything there is advanced. However, we’ve only just gained traction here, although we have developed things in a new direction. To Elder Xuan, this is the place that will bring him a greater sense of achievement. That’s why he chose to come over. There are many possibilities to combine the Tang Sect’s hidden weapons and soul tools; it’s practically impossible to calculate all of them. Under such a circumstance, he won’t leave anytime soon. I can also vouch for his character.”
Bei Bei nodded and said, “If you doubt someone, don’t use him. If you use him, don’t doubt him. Teacher Xuan is already the deputy sect master of the Tang Sect. Everyone, please make sure not to spout such words in the future. Yuhao, what do you think we should do to coordinate with him?”
Yuhao thought for a moment and said, “Give him the rare materials that I brought back. Eldest senior, does our sect have money?”
Bei Bei smiled and replied, “We have some money. The academy is very supportive of us, and paid us beforehand when they ordered the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Cannon. They also offered a good price.”
Huo Yuhao said without any hesitation, “Then let’s think of a way to exchange our money for rare metals. In this way, I’ll ask teacher Xuan whether he has any special needs before I make a list of them. After that, we can think of ways to obtain what he needs.”
“Alright.”
Wang Dong’er laughed. “Why do I feel that your friends made a bad choice in befriending you? You’re obviously squeezing whatever value you can from them.”
Huo Yuhao wore a maligned look on his face, “What? I’m just catering to their interests.”
He Caitou stood up and said, “I’ll go to Teacher Xuan’s side to take a look. I only listened to how Yuhao complimented his capabilities, but didn’t have a chance to consult him. Now that we’re on the same side, I won’t stand on ceremony anymore.” After he finished speaking, he eagerly turned around and left.
Although Fan Yu and Xuan Ziwen were both Class 8 soul engineers, there were still big gaps in terms of their experience and thinking. He Caitou was quite pleased to see Xuan Ziwen here. Furthermore, he was also a Class 7 soul engineer himself, and was very familiar with the Tang Sect. With him around, Xuan Ziwen’s research would also be expedited.
Huo Yuhao said, “Eldest senior, let’s stay in the Tang Sect tonight and return tomorrow. Oh wait, I can’t. I still have to make a return trip. I also have a present for the Tang Sect.”
Wang Dong’er stood up and said, “I’ll go with you.”
Bei Bei smiled even wider as he observed his juniors. As he looked at the sky outside, he muttered to himself, “Xiao Ya, if you’re still around, you’d be very delighted to see the improvements the Tang Sect has made.”
“Hey! Are you feeling emotional again? Don’t be like a girl,” Xu Sanshi taunted him.
“What’s wrong with girls?” Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao were both displeased as they stared at Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi coughed. “Girls are great! Girls are gentle, passionate, and sentimental. However, guys are different.”
Jiang Nannan stood up and said, “I’ll go find a gentle and passionate guy!”
“Don’t! My wife, I was wrong.” Xu Sanshi was deservedly the owner of the Shield of the Xuanwu Turtle. He greatly encapsulated the true meaning of a turtle, adaptable!
“Who’s your wife? Watch your mouth.” After Jiang Nannan had established her relationship with Xu Sanshi, she stated that their status would develop according to the situation. Xu Sanshi had to be tested frequently. He was tormented and happy at the same time. In fact, he was even a bit of a masochist.
Bei Bei also stood up and added, “Sanshi, let’s go and workout. I’ve not whacked you in ages. I’m itching to do so.”
Xu Sanshi stopped cajoling Jiang Nannan and started to laugh coldly. “It’s still too early to tell who will lose. Nannan, let’s whack him together.”
Bei Bei wouldn’t allow himself to be disadvantaged like that and immediately said, “Two versus two, who’s scared of who? Xiao Xiao, pair up with me.”
“Yes.” Xiao Xiao was very obedient, and immediately agreed.
------
Two hours later, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’er saw how pathetic two of them were when they brought the Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear cubs back.
Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao were fine, but Xu Sanshi and Bei Bei looked pitiful. A bruise had even swelled up on Bei Bei’s forehead, and he was attending to it.
Xu Sanshi was in an even worse state, as half of his face was swollen.
Xu Sanshi was furious as he claimed, “Bei Bei, are you still human? We agreed not to hit one another’s faces, but you still did so. It was definitely deliberate.”
Bei Bei snapped, “Deliberate? Didn’t you do the same? Look at my head. Look how bad you hit it. The bruise is so big. You are completely inhumane. How can I show myself to others anymore?”
“Stop quarreling, stop quarreling! Seniors, we are back.” Huo Yuhao saw the two of them the moment he entered. He almost burst out in laughter, and rushed over to mediate.
“Oh, Yuhao. You’ve brought the two cubs back?” Xu Sanshi saw the two cubs immediately. His eyes brightened as he said, “Dog meat hotpot, right? Our diet will change tonight! Yuhao’s cooking is unrivalled! I’ll not pick on you anymore. Yuhao, let me give you a hand. Tell me how you want to kill them, cut their bellies or throats?”
As he spoke, Xu Sanshi had already wandered over. He was even salivating.
Huo Yuhao said helplessly, “Third senior, they can’t be eaten! They are treasures given to the Tang Sect.”
Perhaps they felt that Xu Sanshi was going to harm them, but the two cubs started to roar furiously at him.
Xu Sanshi was startled as he exclaimed, “These two are really like bears, even though they aren’t mature yet!”
Huo Yuhao replied, “What do you mean they are like bears? They are bears, Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bears! They are the biggest reward from our trip to the Great Star Dou Forest!”
Everyone had already gathered at this point. Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan couldn’t help but touch them as they saw how cute they were.
However, these two cubs were very aggressive even though they were still young. They were ready to bite back at whoever got close to them.
Xu Sanshi was the most domineering. He used each of his hands to grab the thick skin at the cubs’ necks and pick them up.
“They’re pretty strong! I’ve not eaten the meat of Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bears before. I’ll make the both of you into hotpot if you continue to throw tantrums.”
Perhaps they understood his threat. As he picked them up, they immediately toned down, and whimpered non-stop.
“Piak!” Jiang Nannan slapped Xu Sanshi’s back. “You’ve hurt them.” As she spoke, she snatched one of the cubs.
It was weird, but they seemed to understand humans. The cub immediately submitted to Jiang Nannan as it compared her to the ‘bad guy’ Xu Sanshi. It didn’t continue to bite her, and only stared at Xu Sanshi with an unfriendly look in its eyes.
Xiao Xiao also took this opportunity to snatch the other cub.
Bei Bei was in a bit of a daze, and whispered to Huo Yuhao, “What’s going on? Didn’t you go with the others from the academy? Even if there are rewards, shouldn’t they belong to the academy?”
Huo Yuhao replied, “Elder Xuan gave us these two cubs. Although they’re still small, they might become the Tang Sect’s secret weapons if we tame them well.”
Bei Bei glanced at the two of them and laughed bitterly. “Little junior, do you think Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bears are so easy to tame?”
Huo Yuhao replied helplessly, “I don’t know either! At least they have yet to exhibit their destructiveness. I’ll ask the teachers from the Beast Dueling Area when I return to the academy and see how I can control them.”
Bei Bei nodded, “You can only do it this way. Settle them down first. I’ve asked someone to buy dinner from the restaurant outside. Let’s take it as a celebration since we have three new members.”
“Great! I’ll inform them. However, I don’t know how deep Ji Juechen’s closed-door cultivation will be.”
---
Huo Yuhao’s conjecture was right. Ji Juechen was very deep in his closed-door cultivation, and didn’t attend the celebration dinner.
The dinner was sumptuous. In order to host Xuan Ziwen and Jing Ziyan better, Huo Yuhao even grilled some fish personally.
This wasn’t just a celebration dinner. Shrek’s Seven Monsters hadn’t gathered together for quite some time. They enjoyed a full meal, and spontaneously decided to stay at the Tang Sect tonight.
After the dinner, Xuan Ziwen called Huo Yuhao to his room...