area51novel Chapter 213 The Night Before the Ceremony
Chapter 213 The Night Before the Ceremony
Chapter 213 The Night Before the Ceremony
The engineering capabilities of the Sun and Moon Empire are truly astonishing.
In just two months, the main structure of Zaohuatang had already risen from the ground.
The Creation Hall presents a unique furnace-shaped structure, with a double spiral staircase of ice and fire spiraling upwards around the main hall, symbolizing the concept of the ice and fire creation furnace where water and fire are mutually reinforcing, and also representing the ideal of the Sun and Moon Empire where the sun and moon shine together.
The dome of the main hall is made of translucent crystal. When sunlight shines through it, it casts red and blue interwoven light and shadow on the ground, as if a real furnace of ice and fire is in operation.
Even though the underground defenses and various security facilities are not yet completed, the building already exudes a magnificent aura.
"It will take at least another six months to complete completely."
"But to transform the Creation Hall into a sacred place like the Mingde Hall, we need more time to accumulate experience."
"But I believe that with Lin Gongfeng around, that day is not too far away."
Xuan Ziwen stood beside Huo Yuhao, gazing up at the magnificent building with him.
Tomorrow, Zaohuatang will be ready for initial use.
Tomorrow is also the day Xu Tianyuan will ascend the throne as emperor and hold his coronation ceremony.
The entire capital was abuzz with excitement over these two events. The streets were soon adorned with flags of the sun and moon and colorful red and blue ribbons, while shops were filled with ceremonial flowers.
The elite troops of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Corps and the Beast King Soul Master Corps were stationed in Mingdu, with guards every three steps and sentries every five steps, to guard against possible sneak attacks from the Douluo Three Kingdoms.
Huo Yuhao stood on high ground, gazing at the brightly lit streets of Mingdu, his eyes flickering slightly.
"Researcher Xuan," Huo Yuhao said, looking at Xuan Ziwen, "I'm a little nervous right now."
"Could you please do another scenario simulation with me? Let me relax a bit."
Meng Hongchen chuckled and said, "Emperor Lin is actually nervous?"
Her burning gaze towards Huo Yuhao was now completely undisguised.
Huo Yuhao shifted his gaze to the giant statue that was about to be placed: "After tomorrow, the Creation Hall will become the heart of the Empire's soul guidance technology, and I—maybe I will no longer just be Elder Lin."
Meng Hongchen asked intently, "Then should I call you Hall Master Lin?"
Although the Creation Hall was built for Huo Yuhao, he is not yet the hall master here.
The hall master has too many responsibilities. In the eyes of the Sun Moon Empire, Huo Yuhao's main task now is to seize the time to improve his strength. There is no need to take on too many tedious matters.
Therefore, Huo Yuhao's position in the Creation Hall is that of Honorary Hall Master.
Upon hearing that he had become the honorary head of the Creation Hall, Huo Yuhao suddenly realized that none of the honorary positions in the four kingdoms of Douluo truly belonged to the power of the four kingdoms themselves.
Snow Empress, who was born a soul beast, is the honorary dean of Emperor Ao Academy.
Long Xiaoyao of the Holy Spirit Cult is the honorary dean of Shrek Academy.
The Azure Dragon Duke of the Heavenly Soul Empire is the honorary head of the Creation Hall.
Thinking of this, Huo Yuhao couldn't help but chuckle: "It's just an empty title, not worthy of being called a name."
Xuan Ziwen adjusted his glasses: "Lord Lin is too modest."
"But since you've brought it up, let's do one more rehearsal."
Meng Hongchen wisely did not follow.
Sand table simulations have always been a form of academic discussion between Huo Yuhao and Xuan Ziwen. They often use this method to exchange ideas on tactics and the design concepts of soul tools, and the most taboo thing is the intervention of a third party.
But this time, Huo Yuhao's purpose was not just academic exchange.
This time, their sand table simulation was conducted in the same manner as the first one, with Huo Yuhao representing the Heavenly Soul Empire and Xuan Ziwen representing the Sun Moon Empire.
As the sand table simulation progressed, fine beads of cold sweat slowly seeped from Xuan Ziwen's forehead.
He noticed that Huo Yuhao had changed his previous conservative style and his aggressive approach almost made Xuan Ziwen carefully consider the situation.
Those ingenious tactical combinations, along with the brand-new soul-guided design concept, almost tore the Sun Moon Empire's defenses to shreds.
"Lin Gongfeng's condition today is very different."
Xuan Ziwen wiped the sweat from his forehead, his fingers trembling slightly.
Huo Yuhao raised his hand and summoned the Transformation Refining Furnace, instantly turning the sand table into ashes.
"Researcher Xuan," Huo Yuhao looked at Xuan Ziwen, "what if I said this isn't a deduction?"
The air in the room suddenly froze.
Xuan Ziwen's fingers froze in mid-air: "What does Elder Lin mean by that?"
Huo Yuhao stared directly into Xuan Ziwen's eyes, and the originally dark pupils gradually changed into the shape of the Spirit Eye Talisman.
"What I mean is, if the Heavenly Soul Empire truly possesses this tactical capability and such a soul guidance theory, how should the Sun Moon Empire respond?"
Xuan Ziwen's palms were now covered in cold sweat: "Lord Lin, this assumption is very dangerous."
"But it's necessary," Huo Yuhao said. "You're pursuing the pinnacle of soul-guided technology, while I'm contemplating its entirely new future."
"Do you really think that the Sun Moon Empire's current approach can lead soul-guided technology to glory?"
Xuan Ziwen's breathing gradually became rapid.
He stared intently at Huo Yuhao's mutated eyes and the transformed Qi Refining Furnace that had shed its disguise.
"Who—who are you?!"
Huo Yuhao flicked his finger lightly on the Transformation Furnace.
Instantly, flames surged and rose in the furnace, forming a barrier between the two that isolated them from everything.
Sensing the power of water and fire far exceeding anything he had ever experienced, Xuan Ziwen's expression became even more confused.
Huo Yuhao's face also rippled gently like water at this moment.
To Xuan Ziwen's astonishment, a young face that was all too familiar to the Sun Moon Empire gradually emerged clearly from Huo Yuhao's blurred face.
"Huo Yuhao?!"
Xuan Ziwen cried out in surprise, but his voice was completely blocked by the water and fire barrier.
His eyes, which always calmly examined the internal structure of the soul tool through his glasses, were wide open at this moment.
"How is this possible!"
"The Ice and Fire Creation Furnace, the Ice and Fire Twin Dragon Spirits—how could everything Lin Yi possessed possibly be yours!"
"it's me."
Huo Yuhao's voice was steady: "From the day we entered Mingdu, the one standing in front of you has always been me."
"And its name has never been the Ice and Fire Creation Furnace."
"Its name is the Qi Refining Furnace, a creation of god-level significance."
"According to the common understanding of the world, Researcher Xuan can regard it as a magical artifact."
A tremendous sense of absurdity overwhelmed Xuan Ziwen, causing his vision to blur.
"so----"
The look in Xuan Ziwen's eyes behind his glasses quickly shifted from initial shock to cold scrutiny.
"What do you take the Sun Moon Empire for?"
"A pawn to achieve your goal?"
"Do you know how many people's hopes you've destroyed! Do you know about the Hall of Creation, do you know about that statue, do you know what Lin Yi truly means to Elder Kong and Elder Wang!"
"It signifies hope," Huo Yuhao bluntly stated. "It's the hope of the Sun Moon Empire, and also the hope of soul tools."
"You still know it's hope!"
Xuan Ziwen felt as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.
He suddenly pointed at everything outside the water and fire barrier: "You betrayed your faith in soul tools for the sake of the Heavenly Soul Empire, that traditional nation of soul masters?!"
"Without the investment of imperial resources and the support of the entire nation, what will drive the advancement of those soul tools you speak of in the future? Will they rely on the pitiful resources of your Douluo Three Kingdoms?!"
"I know you're trying to persuade me to surrender, but you're being too naive!"
"The future of Soul Guidance Technology is built upon massive resource consumption and national will. The plans you've devised in your sand table simulations are nothing but castles in the air!"
Xuan Ziwen's dedication to research does not mean he is unaware of the cruelty of political infighting.
"I have the resources."
Huo Yuhao calmly replied, "It's even far beyond your imagination."
Xuan Ziwen's eyes remained cold.
He harbored extreme distrust of the resources Huo Yuhao spoke of, which far exceeded his expectations.
What gives a young man from the Heavenly Soul Empire the right to say such a thing?
"Where are your resources? Is it the title bestowed upon you by the Heavenly Soul Empire? Can it support those projects you've been working on in the sand table simulations, which cost billions and often require the entire nation's resources over decades?"
Huo Yuhao gently raised his hand.
The Qi Refining Furnace floating in his palm suddenly trembled.
The distinct ice-blue and crimson flames inside the furnace began to strangely merge and rotate at this moment, eventually transforming into a deep abyss.
Then, a brilliant light shone from this depth.
Second point, third point — countless points!
"The Douluo Continent we live on should actually be called Douluo Star."
"Like the stars in the sky, we are just one of them."
Xuan Ziwen's expression froze instantly.
This is a theory that has never appeared in the Sun and Moon Empire before.
He subconsciously leaned forward and looked into the interior of the Qi Refining Furnace.
At this moment, the furnace seemed to contain an endless starry sky, with countless stars, some bright and some dim, flowing against the deep black background, forming an unimaginably huge picture.
Spiral arms rotate, stars burn, planets swirl, and there are even massive, blurry outlines of galaxies —
This is a star map that Huo Yuhao presented to Xuan Ziwen, based on the scene of the Martial Ancestor traveling through the starry sky.
Xuan Ziwen was bewildered.
His worldview was completely overturned by Huo Yuhao at this moment.
Xuan Ziwen's proud knowledge of soul tools was so insignificant in the face of the vast starry sky presented in this furnace that it couldn't even be called dust.
Huo Yuhao's voice was calm: "Researcher Xuan, you asked me where the resources are."
His fingers gently touched the furnace wall, and the starry sky inside the furnace rippled slightly with Huo Yuhao's movements.
A blue planet magnified in Xuan Ziwen's eyes, with the intersection of continents and oceans clearly visible.
"Could this be the Douluo Star beneath our feet?"
Huo Yuhao nodded: "The resources are right here, two continents that have never been exploited."
"I can even mine the mineral veins deep in the ocean whenever I want."
"The resources I'm referring to aren't the pitiful mineral deposits of the Heavenly Soul Empire, but the entire planet, and even the entire starry sky."
"The future of soul tools should not be limited to the mainland, but should extend to the entire universe."
Electrolux then manifested from Huo Yuhao's Niwan Palace.
"Researcher Xuan, I am Electrox, a demigod from another world."
"You've seen the resources of the Heavenly Soul Empire. Now, it's time to show you how the Heavenly Soul Empire can overcome centuries-old technological barriers and surpass the Sun Moon Empire."
Electrolux opened the undead demiplane and gestured for Xuan Ziwen to proceed.
Xuan Ziwen looked at the undead demiplane, then turned to the slowly rotating planetary projection in the furnace.
The shock, anger, and confusion on his face gradually faded, replaced by an almost manic fervor.
In the undead demiplane, Electrolux showed Xuan Ziwen the wonders of alchemy.
Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, is interspersed throughout, using the divine inheritance as a cover to showcase the various creations of a talisman master in crafting artifacts.
"The resources I'm referring to are never limited to the level of metallic materials."
"It contains the wisdom of two worlds."
"Researcher Xuan, according to our current system, in the future, not only humans will use soul tools, but even soul beasts will be able to use them as well."
"Do not question the accumulation of the two worlds. The war between empires and the conflict between humans and soul beasts are all too insignificant in the face of the boundless starry sky."
"What we need is the courage to break all constraints."
"Do you see these undead creatures with the attribute of light? They can also be considered creations of alchemy."
"Join the Heavenly Soul Empire, and together we will ride upon living metal and journey across the entire universe."
Huo Yuhao approached Xuan Ziwen and extended his right hand to him.
"We have the ultimate in Soul Masters: the Body Sect, the Azure Dragon Guard, and the Twin Angels."
"In terms of soul guidance, we have the Soul Research Institute, the Qi Refining Furnace, alchemy, and mineral veins on two other continents and in the sea."
"As for soul beasts, we have those from the far north, the starry sky, and even deep-sea soul beasts."
"Resources are in the starry sky, in unclaimed lands, inexhaustible mineral veins, and can be drawn from and used without limit."
"Researcher Xuan, your wisdom should not be imprisoned on the chessboard of imperial infighting."
"Your battlefield, your pursuit, are all here."
Xuan Ziwen's chest heaved violently, each breath carrying a heavy burden.
The Soul Guidance System, which the Sun Moon Empire was so proud of, seemed so narrow and primitive at this moment.
Everything Huo Yuhao showed him was like a key that unlocked the cage of his mind.
Xuan Ziwen looked at Huo Yuhao's hand and, without the slightest hesitation, grasped it tightly.
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