Chapter 303.1. Liquor, Medium, Icebreaker
Gao Dalou sighed, “Yes, count me unlucky. When I was young, my father was the one who taught me soul engineering skills. In my entire lineage, there has always only been one son in every generation. We are like a sect, but we don’t have the depth of a sect. My father always believed that he could teach me with everything that he had, thus he didn’t send me to a basic soul engineering academy. However, he passed away for some unknown reason when I was fourteen, and I had just become a Class 3 soul engineer. When we found him, even his internal organs had disappeared. He had died tragically. My father was also very protective of his wealth. He was very worried no matter where he kept his valuables, and usually kept them with him in his storage-type soul tool. Once he died, my family went bankrupt. My mother passed away early. We originally had a few servants, but they left since I couldn’t pay them. Very soon, I became an orphan that lived by myself.”
Gao Dalou sounded very calm. However, the expression on his face revealed that his heart was already dead.
“After that, I had to give up on my cultivation in order to make a living for myself. I found some chores in the city. Originally, I was a soul engineer, and finding a job wasn’t very difficult. However, I would be cursed every time I suggested that my employer offer me some rare metals for my cultivation. As I was helpless, I could only do some chores that were beyond what I could handle. I earned some money to sustain myself. At the same time, I cultivated using my father’s manual. After more than a decade, I managed to reach the level of a Class 5 soul engineer. However, I’m broke now. At my level, I can’t experiment without sufficient rare metals, and I can’t produce better soul tools either. Ah…”
Huo Yuhao was confused after he heard Gao Dalou’s recounting of events. It was his first time hearing a Class 5 soul engineer being restricted by poverty. Even though he had other ideas in mind, he couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Gao, didn’t your soul tools become finished products? With your abilities, you should be able to sell your finished soul tools for decent prices even if the materials are slightly inferior. They should then be enough to fund your cultivation. Since when did soul engineers lack money?”
Gao Dalou looked a little embarrassed, “This… honestly speaking, I’m not afraid that you’ll mock me. My entire family has a bad habit. We are stingy. I inherited my father’s stinginess. I can’t bear to sell the soul tools that I’ve created! They are the products of my hard work.” He coughed twice as he finished.
Huo Yuhao’s lips moved a little. He was a little empathetic after hearing Gao Dalou’s tragic life story. However, he realized that there wasn’t any tragic story that had no reason in this world after hearing about Gao Dalou’s stinginess! Gao Dalou’s poverty was caused by himself! What a stingy soul engineer!
After pausing for a moment, Huo Yuhao asked, “What do you plan to do from now on?”
Gao Dalou sighed and said, “What else do you want me to do? I’m a Class 5 soul engineer now. I’m different from before. Maybe I’ll find a sect and see if I can get some rare metals to practice with. Brother, I believe you’re at least a Class 5 soul engineer judging from your abilities to create soul tools. Your technique is also quite conventional and orthodox. You should be from a sect. Why not introduce me to your sect? I’ve no other requests; I just need sufficient materials. If I get to keep all my soul tools, I’m willing to even sell my life to the sect.”
Huo Yuhao looked at him deeply and said to Wang Dong’er, “Xiao Dong, tell the waiter that we don’t need the liquor anymore. Let’s go.”