Yu Xiaogang: Shrek must have me, the number one theory master, holding down the fort!

The Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City.

"Yuntao, Ma Xiunuo, you two had better not be joking with me!"

The master of the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City was named Yu Chuan, a powerhouse at the Soul King level.

In the Soul Master World as a whole, cultivation at the Soul King level was considered above average.

But the problem was that Su Yuntao, a young man who had only joined the Nuoding branch a few years ago, had brought him earth-shattering news today.

"The Clear Sky Douluo who killed Lord Qian Xunji, the previous Pope of Spirit Hall, is actually in Holy Soul Village near Nuoding City?"

"And his name is Tang San, exactly like in the Sky Screen?!"

Cold sweat was already pouring down Yu Chuan's forehead, and it looked as though some might even run down his crotch.

Never mind him-even if every Soul Master in Nuoding City were tied together, they wouldn't be enough to withstand a single blow from the Clear Sky Douluo's hammer!

Even if he knew that capturing Tang Hao could earn him a promotion and a noble title, or even direct entry into Spirit Hall's headquarters in Spirit City...

The problem was, how was the Nuoding branch challenging a Titled Douluo any different from a brash young rookie challenging professional players like Caihua and Brother Feng?

"He shouldn't have found out that you discovered the Clear Sky Douluo's identity, right?"

Hearing the branch master's question, Su Yuntao shook his head and said,

"The village chief of Holy Soul Village said Tang Hao drinks heavily all year round, and Tang San bought him some hangover soup and brought it back. He probably hasn't sobered up yet."

Yu Chuan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good!"

"Spirit City, like Nuoding City, lies on the border between the two great empires. They're less than a thousand li apart!"

"Yuntao, you'll ride with me to Spirit City on our fastest horses!"

"Even if we run the horses to death, we must see His Holiness the Pope within a day!"

Meanwhile, Lin Bai and Jing Hongchen were thoroughly engrossed in their conversation.

Lin Bai's rare metal refining had given Jing Hongchen a new line of thought and solved several problems that had long troubled him as easily as a blade splitting bamboo.

Jing Hongchen, the master of Illustrious Virtue Hall, now recognized the value of Lin Bai and the others. When he learned about Huo Yutong's Spirit Eyes Martial Soul in particular, the light in his eyes almost took solid form.

The most important thing for a Soul Engineer was eyesight, or rather, spiritual power.

Huo Yutong's spiritual-type Martial Soul was practically tailor-made for becoming a Soul Engineer.

But when he learned about Qian Renxue's Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, Jing Hongchen's eyes lit up at first, before his tone grew grave.

"When you enroll, I'll record her Martial Soul as an ordinary Angel Martial Soul. It won't attract... those people's attention."

"But you must be careful. The Sun Moon Empire isn't like the Douluo Three Kingdoms."

"Still, no matter what, my Illustrious Virtue Hall can protect you!"

Finally, the two discussed the little Soul Tool invention Lin Bai had mentioned earlier.

"Lin Bai, since you have such profound insights into Soul Tools, I think what you've invented might truly have a surprise in store for me."

Hearing Jing Hongchen's words, however, Lin Bai smiled and shook his head.

"Hall Master Hongchen, no offense, but although this little thing of mine looks unremarkable, it's actually a matter of great importance."

"To see it, the true person in charge of Illustrious Virtue Hall will have to stand before me."

Jing Hongchen didn't take offense at Lin Bai's somewhat arrogant words. Instead, his gaze grew deeper.

"You know about my teacher?"

Lin Bai nodded.

"The Silver Moon Douluo, Kong Deming, the man who founded Illustrious Virtue Hall. I once heard accounts about him."

"Hall Master Hongchen, once we reach Illustrious Virtue Hall, I'll show you and Elder Kong the true significance of this thing."

"Without the slightest exaggeration, it can absolutely change the landscape of the entire Soul Engineer world in the future!"

Lin Bai's words only made Jing Hongchen's curiosity itch even more.

This brat is even more infuriating than those authors who keep cutting chapters off at cliffhangers!

Beside them, Meng Hongchen was also having a delightful conversation with Qian Renxue and Huo Yutong.

"Yutong, Xiao Xue, you and Lin Bai haven't studied Soul Tools yet, have you?"

Huo Yutong nodded.

"That's right. We've only used Soul Tools before. We don't know much about how they're made or anything like that."

The next moment, Meng Hongchen took a thick notebook out of her storage bracelet and stuffed it into Huo Yutong's hands.

"Since you're enrolling in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy too, take these notes."

"Combined with what your teachers teach you, these notes will surely help your Soul Engineer skills advance by leaps and bounds."

Hearing Meng Hongchen's generous offer, Lin Bai and Jing Hongchen couldn't help glancing over.

There on the notebook's title page was a row of large, flamboyant characters.

Xiao Hongchen's class notes.

Lin Bai and Jing Hongchen exchanged a glance, their facial muscles twitching wildly.

Such a thick notebook must have taken that poor sucker Xiao Hongchen years of hard work, right?

Yet his own sister had been generous at someone else's expense and given it away.

If he tried to make another copy, he'd probably lose all his hair!

Jing Hongchen shook his head helplessly and took out his Flying Soul Tool.

"Ahem, children, stand steady."

"Come with me to Mingdu!"

At the entrance to Shrek Academy in Suotuo City.

Shrek Academy, which stood in a remote little village and had once been extremely quiet, was now so crowded that its doorstep might as well have been a marketplace.

Commoners from around Suotuo City and powerhouses from Soul Master clans alike wanted to send their children to Shrek Academy.

Who didn't know that this academy would become a holy land for Soul Masters and the number one academy on the continent?

And once they arrived, they learned that Shrek Academy actually had a full three teachers at the Soul Saint level.

Soul Saint powerhouses!

No matter which empire or duchy they went to, they could be granted a title of Earl or higher. They were unquestionably important figures.

And now, these Soul Saint powerhouses could actually teach their children!

As a result, even more new students came to enroll at Shrek Academy!

Li Yusong and Zhao Wuji were already run off their feet.

But looking at the gleaming gold enrollment fees handed over by the applicants, they were suffering and enjoying themselves at the same time.

Just then, however,

A middle-aged man approached the entrance of Shrek Academy. He had a round face, a full beard, a crew cut, and short white socks, and looked rather sleazy.

"Is Flender here?"

Hearing him, Zhao Wuji waved a hand impatiently.

"Where did this wild man come from? What gives you the right to call our dean by name?"

"I'm telling you, our Shrek Academy is a future holy land for Soul Masters. You must show us respect, understand?"

A trace of displeasure appeared on the sleazy middle-aged man's face, and he said loudly,

"Do you know who I am?"

"I'm Yu Xiaogang, the number one theory master in the Soul Master World, and an old friend of your Dean Flender!"

"I've come to your academy to apply for a teaching position!"

"Without a master like me, Yu Xiaogang, holding down the fort, can a Soul Master holy land even call itself a holy land?!"