Beyond Him

Chapter 39: Beyond Him

Xiao Hongchen rarely fell silent.

Especially after hearing Huo Yuhao explain that Jing Hongchen had only taken him on as a student after he independently inscribed a third-tier Soul Guide Core. Without another word, Xiao Hongchen dragged Huo Yuhao straight to the laboratory.

The result was that Huo Yuhao crafted a third-tier Soul Guide Core by hand right in front of him, and Xiao Hongchen fell silent.

Sure enough, as soon as the morning class ended, Xiao Hongchen turned and left the classroom without saying a word. Judging by the direction he went, he was probably heading to the laboratory.

"Sister Meng, Brother Xiao should be okay, right?"

"Relax. Xiao's just been dealt a blow. Don't worry, he'll recover soon enough. It's nothing serious."

Meng Hongchen was not worried in the slightest.

Her brother had always been like this. Ever since he was young, he had to strive to be first in everything. Whenever he encountered someone around his age who surpassed him in some regard, he would fall silent.

Then, he would quietly begin working harder, growing at a terrifying pace until he defeated the person who had surpassed him. Only then would he return to his usual arrogant self.

Of course, there were far too few people who could surpass her brother. Especially after his talent had gradually begun to show, there had been no one among his peers who could outdo him.

Perhaps Grandfather had arranged for her and her brother to look after little Huo Yuhao for this reason?

Did he want to use little Huo Yuhao's talent to temper her brother's arrogance?

As these thoughts flashed through her mind, Meng Hongchen figured out her grandfather's likely intentions.

She was very smart. She simply did not enjoy showing herself off like her brother did. After all, if she shone as brightly as her brother, Grandfather would probably have quite the headache, wouldn't he?

She blinked, looked at Huo Yuhao beside her, and naturally took his hand.

"Let's go, Yuhao. Your Sister Meng will take you around the academy today!"

Compared to schemes, cultivation, competition, and all that, Meng Hongchen still felt that the handsome boy beside her was more important!

As for her brother...

Well, if nothing unexpected happened, Grandfather probably already had a plan, right? Why should she interfere? Wouldn't it be nice to take the handsome boy around the academy instead?

Late at night, inside Xiao Hongchen's private laboratory.

As the dean's grandson and an exceptionally gifted individual, Xiao Hongchen naturally enjoyed certain privileges.

For example, the equipment in this laboratory was already better than that of some seventh-tier Soul Engineers' laboratories.

What was more, Xiao Hongchen's supply of rare metals was unlimited. He could have as much as he wanted!

At this moment, a faint silver-white glow radiated from Xiao Hongchen's body. At the same time, two yellow and one purple Soul Rings floated beside him, giving off subtle Soul Power fluctuations.

He held the carving knife steadily in his hand, inscribing Soul Guide Array Patterns onto a piece of Star Silver stroke by stroke.

But suddenly, the Soul Power flowing into the carving knife fluctuated slightly. His hand trembled, and the carving knife instantly veered from its intended path, ruining the entire Soul Guide Core.

Expressionless, Xiao Hongchen tossed the Star Silver in his hand aside and reached for another piece.

Beside him, the discarded failures had already piled into a small mountain, numbering at least close to a hundred.

"Xiao, you've reached your limit."

Jing Hongchen slowly stepped out of the shadows, his calm gaze settling on his grandson.

"I haven't!"

"But you lost, didn't you?"

Jing Hongchen spoke calmly.

Xiao Hongchen fell silent.

He knew his grandson's strengths and weaknesses well.

His strengths were obvious. Whether as a Soul Master or a Soul Engineer, his grandson possessed extraordinary talent.

His weakness was just as obvious: he was too arrogant!

He had shown some restraint in the past, but as he grew older, he became increasingly unable to restrain himself and increasingly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth.

As Xiao Hongchen's grandfather, Jing Hongchen naturally would not allow his grandson to go astray. Unfortunately, he had never had a suitable opportunity.

But now, that opportunity had come.

Huo Yuhao's existence could motivate Xiao well.

An eight-year-old child had been able to inscribe a third-tier Soul Guide Core with his own Soul Power Level of sixteen.

In comparison, Xiao Hongchen had already turned eleven, had just broken through level thirty to reach Soul Power Level thirty-one, and possessed a Martial Soul with the innate ability of Metal Control—yet he still could not inscribe a fourth-tier Soul Guide Core.

Yes, a fourth-tier one.

Xiao Hongchen was attempting to inscribe a fourth-tier Soul Guide Core.

Having been immersed in Soul Guide knowledge since childhood, Xiao Hongchen had naturally become a third-tier Soul Engineer the moment he broke through to Soul Elder.

Yet compared to Huo Yuhao's achievement, his status as a third-tier Soul Engineer suddenly seemed somewhat laughable.

So naturally, he began trying to inscribe a fourth-tier Soul Guide Core!

He can inscribe above his level, so why can't I?!

Although, theoretically, his Soul Power was more than enough to inscribe a fourth-tier Soul Guide Core, the reality was that even his best attempt had only reached one-fifth completion. After that, he would lose control of his Soul Power, the carving knife would go out of control, and all his efforts would be wasted.

Nearly a hundred attempts had ended this way.

Xiao Hongchen was unwilling to accept it.

He had personally watched Huo Yuhao's technique, without the slightest waste, each cut and each stroke using every bit of Soul Power to perfection. With smooth, flowing movements, a third-tier Soul Guide Core had appeared before him.

Unlike battles between Soul Masters, where looking flashy and powerful was useless and only a real fight could reveal the true gap.

Among Soul Engineers, one often needed only a glance at the other party's work to determine victory or defeat.

And he had lost utterly.

"Huo Yuhao is a genius. In terms of Soul Engineering, you are inferior to him."

"Impossible!"

"But Xiao, you know that you lost, don't you?"

Jing Hongchen's gaze remained calm. Looking at Xiao Hongchen, whose bloodshot eyes were fixed on him as though trying to prove something, he softly said:

"If you lose, then act like someone who has lost. Or are you unable to accept defeat?"

"I..." Xiao Hongchen was left speechless and lowered his head.

His grandfather's words were merciless, directly exposing his pretense.

"Heh. So you lost. What's so hard about admitting it? Could it be that a single failure is enough for you to deny yourself? How are you any different from a coward?"

Xiao Hongchen remained silent. The suppressed emotions in his heart turned into unwillingness at that moment. After a long while, he raised his head and looked at his grandfather. His voice was hoarse, yet faintly stubborn.

"...What should I do?"

A faint smile finally appeared on Jing Hongchen's calm face.

"It's very simple." Jing Hongchen took out a round Soul Guide Core. Xiao Hongchen recognized it at once—it was the third-tier Soul Guide Core Huo Yuhao had inscribed in front of him during the day.

Jing Hongchen placed the Soul Guide Core in his hand onto Xiao Hongchen's workbench, then calmly said:

"...Learn from him, become him, then surpass him!"

Jing Hongchen patted Xiao Hongchen on the shoulder and continued:

"Though that child is young, his control over Soul Power and his understanding of Soul Tools are no less than yours.

"Learn from him. It is your fastest and best path!"

Xiao Hongchen was slightly stunned, but a glimmer of light bloomed in his previously unfocused eyes!