A Deal

"Hall Master Jing, the performance is over. Do you still want to keep watching?"

Jin Tianming's voice was not loud, yet every student present heard it. They all turned toward the direction he was speaking in and actually saw Mingde Hall's master, Jing Hongchen!

If the greatest dream of Shrek Academy's outer court students was to enter the inner court for study, then the greatest wish of Sun Moon Royal Academy's students was to enter Mingde Hall. Mingde Hall possessed the richest and most comprehensive Soul Tool study materials in the Sun Moon Empire. It was the sacred place every Soul Tool student longed for!

The man leaning against the wall was the current master of Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen—a Rank 94 Titled Douluo and a Rank 9 Soul Engineer.

"Really?" someone asked in disbelief. He said to the companion beside him, "Quick, slap me so I can see whether I'm dreaming or not!"

Smack. A crisp sound rang out.

One hand covered his swollen left cheek while the other pointed at the companion who had slapped him without hesitation. He asked incredulously, "You actually hit me?"

"See? When I really hit you, you don't want it anymore." Facing his good friend's questioning, the companion put on an innocent expression.

Jing Hongchen naturally ignored the students' worshipful and curious gazes. He walked up to Jin Tianming, glanced at the five people still kneeling there, and asked curiously, "How did you discover me?"

He had used a few small Soul Tool tricks just now. Those students had not noticed him, yet the person he was observing had discovered him. That was truly absurd.

"Secret."

"..." Jing Hongchen fell silent upon hearing that answer. He had thought Jin Tianming would give him an explanation, but instead, he got only two words: "Secret."

Jin Tianming did not look at Jing Hongchen's silent expression and continued, "Hall Master Jing, it seems your academy really isn't much. There's actually bullying here. If studying here is all there is to it, I might as well go to Shrek Academy. At least there, people have an excuse when they hit someone."

Hearing this, Jing Hongchen immediately came back to himself. He had begun to understand the personality of the genius before him. He was prouder than even his own grandson, so proud that he did not put anyone in his eyes, including Jing Hongchen himself.

When he had met Jin Tianming's gaze earlier, he had not seen even a trace of respect in the boy's eyes.

Jing Hongchen took a deep breath, glanced at the five kneeling people, and said,

"You five, go find Director Lin and explain today's matter properly. Understood?"

"Understood."

"Then why aren't you getting lost?"

When Jing Hongchen saw that the five had answered that they understood but still had not gotten up, his anger flared. Aside from bullying others and having poor brains, these imperial brats had no redeeming qualities at all.

The imperial family: ???

Hearing the hall master tell them to get lost, the five glanced at Jin Tianming and started rolling away.

Jing Hongchen: ???

Jin Tianming: 6

Jing Hongchen covered his head, truly unable to bear looking at the five any longer. He had only meant for them to leave, but they had directly interpreted it literally.

"Student Jin, may I have a word with you in private?"

"Sure."

Jin Tianming had no reason to refuse Jing Hongchen's invitation. Besides, the fish he wanted to catch was the man right in front of him.

Jing Hongchen's Office

Jing Hongchen brewed a cup of black tea for each of them. Jin Tianming sat across from him, looking over the office. It had to be said that a hall master's office was different—luxurious, truly luxurious.

Once he had strength and money in the future, and his physical condition improved somewhat, he would also enjoy the pleasures money could bring.

After waiting a long time without Jin Tianming speaking, Jing Hongchen could not help asking, "Student Jin, you're not from the Sun Moon Empire, are you?"

"That's right, Hall Master Jing." Jin Tianming did not deny it.

Seeing that Jin Tianming did not deny it, Jing Hongchen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this boy was still easy enough to talk to.

"Then which of the three nations do you come from?"

"A reclusive faction."

"Just as I thought! I guessed right." Upon hearing this answer, the stone in Jing Hongchen's heart finally settled. His calm eyes began to burn with excitement. A reclusive faction was good!

If he could successfully win over the mysterious reclusive faction Jin Tianming belonged to and bring it to the Sun Moon Empire's side, then the Sun Moon Empire's combat strength would surely increase by multiples!

After all, how powerful could this reclusive faction be? The fact that they could nurture a peerless genius like Jin Tianming alone spoke volumes. One could imagine that their foundation and strength were absolutely not to be underestimated.

Once such a powerful force joined the Sun Moon Empire, it would certainly bring earth-shaking changes and unprecedented opportunities for development to the entire empire.

Perhaps the Sun Moon Empire's domination of the continent was no longer far away!

Jin Tianming took in the flicker of heat in Jing Hongchen's eyes but said nothing, allowing him to imagine whatever he pleased.

Jing Hongchen quickly calmed down and asked probing, "Did your family send only you here?"

In other words, you came alone? The organization behind you did not send any protectors or the like?

Jin Tianming naturally understood what Jing Hongchen meant and replied with a smile, "Hall Master, why don't you try making a move against me here?"

Silence.

The atmosphere between the two fell silent. Jing Hongchen narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Jin Tianming, who was looking at him with a smile.

This fellow truly does not put me, a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, in his eyes.

Jing Hongchen was the first to break the silence, kindly advising, "Student Jin, as a genius, you should still keep a lower profile."

"Thank you for the advice, Hall Master Jing, but..." Jin Tianming nodded slightly. There was not the slightest hint of embarrassment or unease on his face after being criticized. His gaze remained as calm as water, as though everything Jing Hongchen had just said had nothing to do with him.

However, just as Jing Hongchen thought he had taken the advice to heart, Jin Tianming's lips curled slightly, and his tone abruptly shifted. "But I believe I truly possess the qualifications to be arrogant!"

His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it carried an unquestionable firmness and confidence, like a thunderclap exploding through the air. Jing Hongchen did not even know what to say.

Arrogant!

Too arrogant!

Any genius who had yet to grow strong was generally very low-key. Although his own grandson was arrogant, he only dared act that way at home. His grandson knew that only after growing strong could one truly be considered a genius.

Yet the youth sitting before him wore an arrogant expression, completely unconcerned with the consequences. Had the force behind him not told him to keep a low profile when he went out?

Wait—at that moment, Jing Hongchen seemed to understand something. He looked at Jin Tianming in silence for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "Are you planning to make a deal with me?"

Ever since they had met, the youth sitting across from him had constantly addressed him as "Hall Master Jing." He had not called him "Dean" even once.

As their conversation continued, Jing Hongchen gradually came to understand. From the very beginning, this fellow had never intended to meet and speak with me as an ordinary student. His real purpose was to represent the reclusive faction behind him and make a deal with me.