Douluo: In an extraordinary world, with unparallel understanding!

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Xu Yang carefully considered Su Yu's proposal. 

From the beginning to the end, Xu Yang mentally reviewed each and every statement Su Yu had made, reflecting on them seriously. 

Every demand and deal Su Yu had proposed up until now seemed to revolve around one central theme: 

*Seclusion.*

In fact, if one connects the dots, they would realize that even the final method of awakening seemed to partly be an attempt to determine whether Xuanming Sect would truly make the decision to go into seclusion. 

It was deeply unsettling. 

Su Yu first presented his conditions: If Xuanming Sect opposed Sun-Moon Hall completely, they would lose both their reputation and heritage. 

Sooner or later, the Sun and Moon Empire would invade and unify the land, a truth Xuanming Sect should understand clearly. 

Then, Su Yu presented Sun-Moon Hall's needs, stating that Xuanming Sect didn't need to betray anyone, nor did they have to backstab anyone. They simply needed to use the accidental injury of the Young Sect Leader as an excuse to go into seclusion. 

This would allow them to avoid the coming era of war. 

Finally, Su Yu made a demand for Xuanming Sect's awakening method. 

Even when demanding the awakening method, Su Yu's terms were incredibly tempting. 

*Ninth-level Soul Engineering.*

Unlike the Titled Douluo, soul tools can be inherited. Once one becomes a ninth-level soul engineer, even if there is no Titled Douluo in a particular generation, they can still wield a ninth-level soul tool and possess the kind of deterrence usually only seen at the Title level. 

This is the greatest difference between soul engineers and soul masters. 

For large sects or hereditary powers, the soul masters, representing personal martial strength, and the soul engineers, who can create soul tools capable of being passed down through generations, are incomparable in terms of their significance. 

Moreover, Su Yu's final transaction was a test for Xuanming Sect. 

Should they truly enter seclusion? 

If so, this deal would not be a loss for Xuanming Sect. At the same time, it would serve as the catalyst for Xuanming Sect to actually retreat into seclusion in order to avoid losing out. 

"You want the awakening method for what purpose?" Xu Yang asked. 

Su Yu, however, did not answer, refusing to reveal the intended use of the awakening method. 

"Is it for your own use, or perhaps for this person, Huo Yuhao?" 

Xu Yang wasn't easily fooled. He quickly grasped the main points of the situation, asking with a tone that was more affirming than inquisitive. 

It seemed like a question, but Xu Yang was confident that his assumption was correct. 

"Then, does Sect Leader Xu agree to this deal?" 

"Su Yu, your strength is not weak. Perhaps you could even fight me one-on-one. I'm both surprised and impressed. But you must know, this is the headquarters of Xuanming Sect. Everything you've done so far could be seen as a threat to my sect. Do you really think Xuanming Sect can't deal with you?" 

Even with a ninth-level soul cannon, so what?

Xuanming Sect possesses a Titled Douluo, the ninety-fourth-level Xuanwu Douluo!

Not to mention, the sect's defense system is of paramount importance. 

Xuanming Sect is not a rigid, old-fashioned sect; they do not completely reject soul tools. In fact, they have started to accept them, and within the sect, there are even a few seventh-level soul engineers. 

The sect has also deployed a large number of soul tools, particularly soul ray-type soul tools. 

During the Soul Master Competition, they can use large amounts of soul power to activate soul tool shields that protect the arena. The soul shields created are powerful enough to withstand attacks from Soul Saint-level experts! The soul tool theory used for this is only at the fifth level, requiring minimal soul power from the soul masters involved! 

Xuanming Sect naturally also possesses similar large-scale soul tool formations that can be activated by the number of soul masters. After incorporating soul tool theory improvements, these defensive formations are absolutely formidable. 

They could easily surround and kill Su Yu, a Soul Saint, without any trouble. Even if he were to unleash Titled Douluo-level strength, he would never be able to escape! 

This is Xu Yang's confidence. 

"Heh, Sect Leader Xu, you may not understand the unique traits of soul engineers." 

I am a soul master, famous for making a name for myself in the Soul Master Competition. 

But I am also an excellent soul engineer! 

I have broken every soul engineer record in the Sun and Moon Empire! 

"Yuhao, how many seventh-level fixed soul cannons did we deploy earlier?" Su Yu turned to ask Huo Yuhao, who was standing beside him. 

Huo Yuhao honestly answered, "Twelve." 

Xu Yang's right hand trembled. 

Twelve fixed soul cannons. 

His face twitched as he looked at Su Yu, his gaze now filled with fear. 

"What about the eighth-level ones?" 

"We only brought three, and they're set up outside." 

Eighth-level fixed soul cannons have the power to cause devastation comparable to a full-force attack from a Super Douluo. 

Although accuracy might be a concern, three of these cannons fired would undoubtedly level Xuanming Sect! 

Perhaps a few disciples might manage to survive, maybe Xu Yang and the Grand Elder would escape relatively unharmed, but Xuanming Sect would surely be destroyed. 

Xu Yang's breath became ragged, and he felt an ominous sense of being locked onto. 

As a defensive soul master, his ability to sense danger was highly refined, especially when it came to a premonition as strong as a lock-on targeting sensation. 

The eighth-level fixed soul cannons might not be an empty threat. 

Su Yu took out a large cannon. 

*Boom!* 

The enormous soul cannon hit the ground, creating a deep pit in the earth. 

"This is an eighth-level fixed soul cannon. I've installed three of them outside Xuanming Sect, and they are ready to fire at any moment." 

Su Yu even activated one of the fixed soul cannons next to him. 

Xu Yang felt a cold chill rise from his feet, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. 

He would die! 

At such a close range, even with Titled Douluo-level defenses, he would still die! 

His eyes, filled with fear, looked at Su Yu, mixed with doubt! 

Wasn't it said that only three cannons were brought, and they were set up outside? 

"I'll introduce myself once again. I am Su Yu from Sun-Moon Hall, a seventy-fourth-level Soul Saint and an eighth-level soul engineer." 

Su Yu flashed a grin and spoke. 

*An eighth-level soul engineer!* 

"This fixed soul cannon was made by me. Although it's not my area of expertise, I still managed to create it. It's not as accurate as regular fixed soul cannons, but it's more powerful, the explosion speed is faster, and the inaccuracy when close should be compensated for." 

Xu Yang's face twitched. 

Su Yu is also an eighth-level soul engineer!

Higher than Soul Master levels.

Huo Yuhao also wore a look of admiration. 

Learning to master soul tools truly requires a great deal of hard work. Although the level of a soul engineer is mostly constrained by spiritual power, the talent for soul engineers places more emphasis on spiritual aptitude, it still depends on personal insight and various hard requirements. 

Spiritual power is a rigid requirement, allowing a soul engineer the qualification to inscribe complex core formations. But the real difficulty lies in the technique. 

Generally speaking, forced practice can make up for any shortcomings as long as the spiritual power is sufficient. However, the rare metals consumed in the process will cost astronomical sums, and only one type of soul tool can be made. 

Huo Yuhao, when he was at the Soul King level, crafted a complete set of basic battle armor at the fifth-level soul tool rank. Later, he also studied sixth-level soul tool theory. 

After absorbing the Mysterious Butterfly soul ring and reaching his fourth soul ring, his soul power broke through. Under the enhancement of the basic battle armor, he tried multiple times to craft sixth-level soul tools. 

He could barely be considered a sixth-level soul engineer. 

But Su Yu had already reached the eighth level. 

The two were only a year apart. 

A rise of two levels in just one year—Huo Yuhao thought to himself that he could never accomplish such a feat. 

Once known as the Sun and Moon Empire's most talented soul engineer, Xiao Hongchen, after being stimulated by Su Yu, secluded himself for over a year and only then managed to craft a seventh-level soul tool by accident. Even now, he didn't dare claim to be a seventh-level soul engineer. 

After all, he didn't even have a stable success rate of twenty percent when crafting seventh-level soul tools. 

"Sect Leader Xu, what did you just say?" 

Xu Yang took a deep breath and said, "I just mentioned that this concerns a major decision for the future of Xuanming Sect. I cannot make this decision alone; I need to consult the Grand Elder." 

"Agree to his deal." 

As soon as Xu Yang finished speaking, a voice transmission from the Grand Elder echoed in his mind. 

At that moment, he noticed that the fixed soul cannon next to Su Yu had released its lock on him and shifted its aim to another target. 

"Sect Leader Xu, the decision can be made now, can't it?" 

Huo Yuhao had been standing aside for a long time, but he wasn't idle. 

While his spiritual power might have been detected, his first soul skill was much harder to spot. 

Although he still couldn't use his soul skills without the aid of his soul rings, he could cover up any trace by simulating the effects of his soul skills. 

He had already pinpointed the location of the Grand Elder, and now, the fixed soul cannon beside Su Yu was locked onto the target. 

Though the fixed soul cannon made by Su Yu had lower accuracy, Huo Yuhao's shared spiritual perception could compensate for that. 

"This is Xuanming Sect's awakening secret method." 

Xu Yang's face was filled with conflict, but he finally retrieved an ancient book from his storage soul tool ring. 

Su Yu smiled and, using his spiritual power, took the secret method while also passing the ninth-level soul engineering technique to Xu Yang. 

"Give this to your soul engineers. Even if they're only at the seventh level, I believe they can verify the authenticity of this technique. As for how you get your hands on eighth-level soul engineering techniques, that's no longer my concern."

Su Yu turned and left with Huo Yuhao. 

"By the way, if Xuanming Sect goes into seclusion for a year, and you want to visit Xu Sanshi, you can go to Sun-Moon Hall." 

"Brother Yu, are we really giving them the ninth-level soul engineering technology?" Huo Yuhao asked, furrowing his brows. 

Su Yu rolled his eyes. 

"Do you really think they're going to get it for free? Our Sun-Moon Hall's technology has long been updated. This is almost two versions behind; what's there to worry about giving it to them?" 

"Brother Yu, I'm just worried that Xuanming Sect might really be determined to resist." 

Though Xuanming Sect had been frightened by Su Yu's fixed soul cannon today, that didn't mean they had fully accepted this deal. 

What if things went sour? If the soul engineering technology were leaked, and they ignored their sect's interests and Xu Sanshi's safety, becoming enemies with the Sun and Moon Empire, it would only bring more trouble. 

"Yuhao, in this world, there are no absolute allies, only interests. When Tang Sect's foundation was taken, Shrek didn't step in to do anything. 

Even for us, I'm helping the Sun and Moon Empire, not because I have any allegiance to them, but because I belong to Sun-Moon Hall. 

The only ones I'm close to are my teacher, Senior Brother Xuan, the hall master, and Xiao and Meng. Everyone else, I don't have much of a relationship with." 

Yuhao thought about it for a moment. 

"Oh, and Orange." 

Su Yu added. 

Huo Yuhao, who had been seriously considering Su Yu's words, immediately blushed upon hearing "Orange." 

He felt embarrassed, as though his little secret had been exposed. 

Though he had a martial soul fusion technique with Wang Dong, he hadn't tried any fusion methods beyond the Golden Road, nor was he brainwashed with thoughts of growing up to marry Dong'er or Qiu'er. 

Huo Yuhao digested Su Yu's ideas but still found many things unclear. 

"So, if that's the case, Brother Yu, you've done so much for the unification of the Sun and Moon Empire..." 

"Yuhao, the unification of the Sun and Moon Empire is inevitable. I'm just going with the flow. What I've done isn't much—just helping things along." 

"The unification of the continent is a step forward for the soul master world, and it's also essential for the rapid development of soul engineering technology. 

It's something I need." 

"What I'm doing isn't for the Sun and Moon Empire, but for myself. And Yuhao, you should be able to feel that I oppose the imperial system." 

Su Yu's words had a profound impact on Huo Yuhao. 

Especially when he heard Su Yu's final sentence: He opposed the imperial system! 

"Brother Yu, you actually..." Huo Yuhao didn't know how to respond to Su Yu's ideology. 

"Yuhao, don't you think the world is full of injustice? Then work to pursue fairness. The talent and strength of soul masters make true fairness impossible to achieve, but equality in terms of personality can indeed be universal. However, without unified transition, and with different systems between different empires, the maintenance of personal equality certainly cannot be achieved."

Su Yu had said a lot today. 

He realized that he seemed to have found the direction for cultivating Huo Yuhao. 

*Order!*

Was there no god of Order in the divine realm? Then create one himself. 

At the very least, it was a godhood with great potential. 

As for Destiny? 

It might have some connection with Huo Yuhao. 

But right now, Huo Yuhao clearly didn't have the foundation for that, and the path of Destiny wasn't easy to cultivate. 

Moreover, it wasn't impossible to have two divine positions. 

The Sea God's influence in the divine realm was deeply rooted. After ascending to godhood, he had stayed on the Douluo Continent for ten full years. During that time, the Shrek Seven Devils had all become gods. 

Though six second-level gods seemed unimpressive, each of them could still unleash the power of a first-level god, which was quite absurd. 

After ascending to the divine realm, the Sea God had actively fostered new gods in the planes under his jurisdiction. 

Along with his alliances with gods like Ice and others, he had become a deeply entrenched force in the divine realm. 

Su Yu couldn't do much alone. 

Unless he directly ascended to a supreme godlike Dragon God, cultivating his own people would be inevitable. 

His teachers Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and Huo Yuhao—these were Su Yu's initial plan for his inner circle. 

It was definitely not enough; more people would be added in the future. 

Under Su Yu's guidance, Huo Yuhao's thoughts matured rapidly, undergoing a transformation. 

Though he didn't yet have a complete understanding of Order, at least he had formed a set of logic. 

It had been five days since the two left Xuanming Sect. 

During this time, Su Yu also reviewed the Awakening method that Xu Yang had given him, studying the principles of the ritual. 

Now, the two of them had arrived at the southeastern border of the Douling Empire. 

Here, where the Douling Empire bordered the Star Luo Empire, there stood an endless mountain range of volcanoes stretching for hundreds of miles. 

(End of Chapter)