I'm a Genius, and I'm Done Hiding It

In the sky screen,

At the Shrek Inner Court,

Xian Lin'er, dean of the Soul Tool Department, personally questioned Xiang Bei with Xuan Zi at her side.

"You're saying you made all these Level 8 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells by yourself? You're a Level 8 Soul Engineer?"

Disbelief filled Xian Lin'er's face. He had read Xiang Bei's records countless times. No matter how much of a genius someone was, their attainments as a Soul Engineer could hardly surpass their cultivation as a Soul Master.

"Of course." Xiang Bei nodded. "But I haven't reached the level of a Level 8 Soul Engineer yet. I merely borrowed the power of technology."

"Technology?" Xian Lin'er's brows knitted together as a trace of foreboding rose in her heart.

Just how far had the Sun Moon Empire advanced where no one could see?

Xuan Zi gnawed on a chicken leg while keeping Xiang Bei locked down. This fellow was definitely a dangerous character now. What decent person carried hundreds of Level 8 Fixed Soul Cannon Shells around?

Even in Mingde Hall, these were unquestionably controlled items.

"Could you give us a demonstration? You know, this will determine the resources and specific treatment you receive after entering the Inner Court. As the continent's foremost academy, Shrek has resources far beyond your imagination."

Xian Lin'er spoke frankly.

It was the truth. With a Limit Douluo and a level 98 Super Douluo in its ranks, Shrek possessed an unimaginable wealth of resources.

Xiang Bei smiled calmly. "What if I wanted a branch from the Golden Tree?"

Boom—!!

The moment he said those words,

Xuan Zi unleashed his presence. The pressure unique to a Super Douluo locked firmly onto Xiang Bei, and his voice was deadly serious. "What did you say? Say it again."

"The Taotie Douluo's cultivation is indeed extraordinary." The shield around Xiang Bei's body activated automatically. Cracks spread across it, and it looked ready to shatter at any moment.

"I know what the Golden Tree means to Shrek. Believe me, I can offer something of equivalent value," Xiang Bei said confidently.

He had nearly finished exchanging the old Soul Tools from Mingde Hall. If he wanted better products of technology, he needed something with real weight.

Whoosh!

Battle Armor slowly emerged over his body, and his presence abruptly rose from Soul King to Soul Saint. More of the Soul Tools on his body unlocked.

Xiao Yu emerged from his wrist, her chubby little face scrunched up in a hint of anger.

"This is called Battle Armor. It's still under development, but it can give a Soul King strength comparable to a Soul Saint."

Xian Lin'er's gaze remained fixed on Xiang Bei, while Xuan Zi reined in a little of his presence.

Then he took out a device. "This is called a Lithography Machine. It can engrave Soul Guidance Arrays in extremely tiny spaces, nearly replacing Soul Masters and making it possible to produce smaller, more precise Soul Tools. Mass-producing Soul Cannon Shells wouldn't be possible without it."

Xuan Zi withdrew half his presence, moved by Xiang Bei's sincerity.

This fellow was clearly a disciple of Mingde Hall, so why did he have so many treasures on him?

He was puzzled. With something this good, why wouldn't Mingde Hall keep it under wraps instead of letting a Soul King show it off in public?

Strange, truly strange!

"Well? If even that isn't enough to move Shrek, you two, I have one more thing."

"There's more! *2" Xian Lin'er and Xuan Zi exclaimed in unison. Xuan Zi was so shocked he even stopped eating his chicken leg.

"That's right, but please stand a little farther back." Xiang Bei nodded, then spoke into the air:

"Xiao Yu, take two out and open these seniors' eyes."

"Understood, Master."

Xiao Yu wore an innocent smile that made the two of them lower their guard without thinking.

The next second,

Xiao Yu used two special Soul Guidance mechanical arms to pull... two Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Shells out of a Storage Soul Tool.

!!!

Xian Lin'er sprang backward, nearly frightened into standing pigeon-toed.

Xuan Zi's body shuddered violently. He instinctively activated his Martial Soul Avatar, every cell in his body screaming at him: danger! Extreme danger!

Whoosh!

A streak of golden light condensed into a figure before Xiang Bei. It was none other than Mu En, the Limit Douluo.

Of the two Level 9 Soul Cannon Shells, one gave off an aura of extreme cold, as though a single glance would freeze its observer. The other looked perfectly ordinary, but everyone present could sense the immensely violent energy contained within it,

Once unleashed, its power would rend the heavens and split the earth!

"Young friend, put them away, or this old man will have to subdue you on the spot." Mu En spoke calmly. At this distance, he was confident he could kill Xiang Bei before he detonated them.

"All right!" Xiang Bei readily agreed and immediately put away the Soul Cannon Shells. Adopting a fearless expression, he said, "Now you should all believe I wasn't exaggerating to scare you, right?"

"To tell you the truth, I only recently made these two shells. They make use of a technology called Controlled Nuclear Fusion."

"You... made them?" Xian Lin'er felt as if her worldview had been shattered.

"Impossible!"

"The technology in a Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Shell is extremely advanced. Only a Level 9 Soul Engineer can barely manage to make one. How could a mere Level 6 Soul Engineer like you possibly do it?"

Xuan Zi took a deep swig of wine to calm his agitated heart.

He looked at Xiang Bei with burning eyes. If what he said was true, then this fellow's talent as a Soul Engineer left that boy Huo Yuhao several streets behind!

Making a Level 9 Soul Tool on his own at sixteen—was he even human?

"Such is the power of technology." Xiang Bei left them in suspense.

Mu En made the decision. "Child, you are qualified to study in the Inner Court. As a benefit, I'll allow you to cultivate beneath the Golden Tree throughout this period. I can even... give you a branch from the Golden Tree."

"Elder Mu!" Xuan Zi cried out. His meaning was clear: how could they let someone so dangerous near the Golden Tree?

What was more,

No student in the past had ever been granted permission to cultivate beneath the Golden Tree continuously. At most, they had only been allowed a few days.

"It's settled, then. Once your lodgings are arranged tomorrow, I'll have someone bring you a branch that naturally fell from the Golden Tree."

With that,

Elder Mu's golden figure vanished without stating any conditions.

"Thank you for your generosity, Elder Mu!" Xiang Bei bowed solemnly. He looked at the two beside him and offered terms they couldn't refuse:

"Dean, this Lithography Machine is driven by Soul Power. I'll give it to the academy. There's only one suit of Battle Armor at present, but you're free to study it during this period.

"Also, if the academy wants one, I can offer a Level 9 Fixed Soul Cannon Shell as a gift."

Xian Lin'er was speechless. She even felt she was getting the better end of the deal. Dazed, she opened her mouth. "All... all right!"

After Xiang Bei left,

She grabbed Elder Xuan, her face flushed and her expression full of excitement. "We've struck it rich! We've struck it rich, Elder Xuan! That young man is still inexperienced in the ways of the world."

"Compared with the Golden Tree, if we can fully understand this epoch-making technology, it'll be enough to keep Shrek glorious for another ten thousand years!"

"Really?" Elder Xuan was a genuine Soul Master. At his level of cultivation, anything short of a Level 9 Soul Tool was of little use to him.

"Leaving everything else aside, if this Battle Armor alone can be manufactured in batches, it'll be like adding nearly a thousand Soul Saints to the academy!"

"A thousand Soul Saints!??" Xuan Zi was completely stunned. He didn't even notice the chicken leg fall from his hand to the ground. "Are you serious? Then why did he offer it up of his own accord?"

"I don't know either." Xian Lin'er shook her head. "But even Elder Mu didn't object, which shows the young man isn't bad at heart."

"True."

Xuan Zi nodded, his gaze softening somewhat as he looked toward Xiang Bei. Elder Mu possessed the Light Sacred Dragon Martial Soul and was uncannily accurate at judging people. No dark side could escape his eyes.

"There's no time to lose. Let's have the Soul Tool Academy start researching it."

With that, the two exchanged a look and gave wicked smiles.

"We... must make sure that young man stays at the academy a little longer."