Chapter 302.1 - The Lofty Blood (1/2)

Huo Yuhao couldn’t help but nod in his heart when he saw Gao Dalou using the best materials to create his soul tool. The method he used was very different from most conventional soul engineers, especially in terms of some details in his technique. It was evident that he had his own style. If he were able to study soul tools to such a standard just by his own perceptions, he was undoubtedly a talent!

After finishing a piece of the outer shell, Gao Dalou suddenly raised his head. He looked at Huo Yuhao, who appeared to be deep in thought, and asked, “Brother, stop looking at me. You can’t tell what I’m making. For a country bumpkin like me, even my formation arrays are created in a slightly different manner than most ordinary soul engineers.”

Huo Yuhao was stunned, and quickly reacted. His continuous observation made Gao Dalou think that he was monitoring him before creating a soul tool that was targeted at his.

He smiled, and didn’t explain anything. He stopped monitoring Gao Dalou, and finally started creating his own soul tool.

Huo Yuhao continued to use the standard carving knife on the carving table. He vised the Flaming Sun Iron on the carving table and started his carving.

Compared to Gao Dalou, Huo Yuhao was quick and exact. The carving knife seemed to be alive in his hand, and moved continuously between his fingers. Each and every one of his movements was very accurate. If any teachers from soul engineering academies would have seen him, they would reckon that his work was worthy of a textbook example. Iron chippings flew in the air, and a complex formation array slowly took form.

Huo Yuhao carved bit by bit, unlike Gao Dalou’s ‘One Blade, Three Tremors’. However, he was much quicker. In the blink of an eye, he had already made a few cuts. Furthermore, the link between each cut was so precise that it seemed like he had carved everything in one shot.

In terms of technique, Gao Dalou’s ‘One Blade, Three Tremors’ was much more difficult than Huo Yuhao’s method. However, Huo Yuhao’s method was stable and accurate. It was simpler for him to avoid any mistakes. Furthermore, it was very difficult to ensure the sharpness of his carving knife, since he was using an ordinary one. It was also difficult for him to make sure that it left carving marks on the Flaming Sun Iron, which was very tough. It might be inferior to a temporary but forceful form of carving, but with the help of his Spiritual Detection, Huo Yuhao managed to match up to Gao Dalou’s technique, and he was even faster.

Gao Dalou finally finished creating his outer shell. When he looked up at Huo Yuhao again, he was dazed. What did he see? He saw streaks of shadows left behind by Huo Yuhao’s fingertips as they danced. He couldn’t see what Yuhao was doing. He only saw fine iron shavings flying out and spreading proportionally to the sides.

He… he managed to create his formation array so quickly! Isn’t he scared of making mistakes? This was the first thought that appeared in Gao Dalou’s mind.

He subconsciously looked at Huo Yuhao’s eyes. As he was born outside the cities, he was more sensitive towards soul tools than most soul engineers in orthodox academies. To a soul engineer, the look in one’s eyes was very important. It was possible to tell many things from someone else’s eyes.

The look in Huo Yuhao’s eyes was something else! It was clear, but there was a strange obscurity amid the deep focus. When Gao Dalou focused his attention on Huo Yuhao’s eyes, he felt that he had entered a trance. It was as if his entire soul was about to be drawn away by the depth in Huo Yuhao’s eyes. He was so shocked that he had to lower his head before he could regain his composure.

When he recovered from the shock, his face was filled with bitterness. He had only gone a few rounds, but he had now met an extremely strong opponent. It wasn’t going to be easy for him to win!...

Even with the soundproofing barriers, the spectators who were here to watch the tournament still maintained their silence. They turned their attention to the competitors that they had wagered on.

Gambling was also a form of knowledge on its own. It was important to do pre-tournament analysis. They were well aware of the special characteristics, as well as the class, of every soul engineer.

For a wheelchair-bound soul engineer like Huo Yuhao, it was impossible for him not to garner any attention. There were some who monitored him, and there were also some who tried to bet on him. However, Gao Dalou was more eye-catching than Huo Yuhao. This wasn’t because he was strong, but because of the carving knife that he had.

Gao Dalou’s carving knife was a family heirloom, evident by the name on the knife. It was a top-notch knife!

Even though his family had fallen apart, Gao Dalou was secretly protected by some advanced-level soul engineers related to his family. This helped to ensure the secrecy of his carving knife. However, those who secretly helped him didn’t want him to become a strong soul engineer, so they only helped him in that aspect.

Due to the presence of his knife, Gao Dalou’s odds were 10:23, while Huo Yuhao’s odds were 5:6. From the odds, it was possible to tell how the gamblers rated the differences in their abilities.

Of course, there were people who bet heavily on Huo Yuhao before the tournament started, which had some influence on the odds. Otherwise, Huo Yuhao’s odds would be even lower. It was just that no one knew that the so-called ‘people’ were actually Huo Yuhao himself.