Meng Hongchen

Luan Yu did not stop the white-haired boy's actions. Leaving aside the fact that Jing Hongchen had knocked out this Gold Devouring Beast, it had never been their target to begin with.

The white-haired boy sat cross-legged and released a Three-legged Golden Toad martial soul, a Yellow Soul Ring encircling its body, then began absorbing the Gold Devouring Beast's soul ring.

Unlike the white-haired boy, who could not wait to absorb the soul ring and ignored Luan Yu's group, the red-haired girl, having lowered her guard, glanced over Liu Xing and the others. Then her eyes lit up as she stared at Liu Xing, murmuring, "So... so cute, little brother."

Liu Xing's mouth twitched. His body instinctively took a step back, placing Firefly in front of him. He clicked his tongue inwardly. What was going on? Had he run into a lovestruck girl? She did not look that old either!

Seeing his grandson and granddaughter's behavior, Jing Hongchen helplessly shook his head. One was arrogantly dismissive of everyone, while the other was already showing signs of being boy-crazy at such a young age. What would become of them in the future?

Luan Yu frowned and stopped being polite. She said gravely, "Jing Hongchen, I don't care about that Gold Devouring Beast, but we spotted that Blazing Fire Crow first."

Of course, Luan Yu knew she was in the wrong. Although her Detection Spirit Tool had indeed discovered the two soul beasts first, Jing Hongchen had been the one to subdue them.

But for Xu Tianzhen's soul ring, she could only test the waters first.

Unless absolutely necessary, she did not want to give up this Blazing Fire Crow. It was simply too suitable for Xu Tianzhen. As the team leader, she still had that much sense of responsibility.

Of course, that was also because the other party was Jing Hongchen. They knew each other, so even if there was a dispute, it would not come to blows. At most, they would exchange a few words or pay some price.

Jing Hongchen shook his head with a laugh. "You're still the same as before, always so impatient. It's just a Hundred-Year Soul Beast. Though it has a Divine Beast Bloodline, I have no use for it. Deal with it as you please."

Jing Hongchen did not care about a mere Hundred-Year Soul Beast. He knew Luan Yu well, and her elder sister was even a spirit tool master of the same rank as him. There was no need to damage their relationship over one Hundred-Year Soul Beast. Giving it to her would also earn him a favor.

Only then did Luan Yu nod. "Fine, thanks. I owe you one."

Although they had discovered the Blazing Fire Crow first, Jing Hongchen had been the first to act. His willingness to give it to them was a gesture of respect toward her. Otherwise, even if it was only a Hundred-Year Soul Beast, its Divine Beast Bloodline was not something one would casually give away.

Under the suppression of Luan Yu's soul power, Xu Tianzhen walked up and gave the Blazing Fire Crow a swift end. As a yellow ring of light rose from the Blazing Fire Crow's corpse, Xu Tianzhen sat cross-legged. A golden orb emerged above her head, radiating a scorching aura as she released soul power to draw in the Blazing Fire Crow's soul ring.

Seeing the golden orb above Xu Tianzhen's head, Jing Hongchen's pupils contracted. He looked at Luan Yu in surprise and asked, "A Sun Spirit Soul? Is she an Imperial Direct Descendant?"

Luan Yu spread her hands. "Princess Xu Tianzhen."

Jing Hongchen nodded in understanding. As the Mingde Hall Master, he was naturally familiar with the Imperial Direct Descendants. When Xu Tianzhen had awakened Innate Full Soul Power and inherited the Sun Spirit Soul, the empire's upper echelon had received the news immediately.

Then he looked toward Liu Xing and the others. Seeing that they were clearly very young and appeared to have only recently awakened their martial souls, he asked in surprise, "They all have Innate Full Soul Power?"

The corners of Luan Yu's lips rose, and she nodded proudly. "That's right. These two are my children, Liu Xing and Firefly. Come, greet Grandpa Hongchen. As for this one, she belongs to Shangguan Wei'er's family. Guyi, you can call him Grandpa too."

"Grandpa Hongchen!"

Liu Xing, Firefly, and Ye Guyi immediately stepped forward and bowed. This was one of the Sun Moon Empire's three great spirit tool masters, one of those standing at the pinnacle of the empire's spirit tool masters!

"Good, good, good! The younger generation of our Sun Moon Empire is becoming more and more outstanding. You are all pillars of the empire's future."

Jing Hongchen did not care about the form of address. He looked over the three little ones, then glanced at his own granddaughter, his grandson who was absorbing a soul ring, and Xu Tianzhen, his face full of smiles.

He had thought his grandson and granddaughter were already the strongest geniuses of the Sun Moon Empire's younger generation. If not for the sake of building a solid foundation, his eight-year-old grandson and granddaughter would probably have obtained their Second Soul Rings long ago and begun striving toward Soul Elder.

He had not expected to encounter four children with Innate Full Soul Power today, all close in age to his grandchildren. He could already see the day when these six children had grown up, crushed Shrek Academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, and cast off the humiliating title of Eternal Second Place from the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Tool Master Academy.

As for whether these little ones would join the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Tool Master Academy, he had no worries whatsoever. What a joke—the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Tool Master Academy was the second-ranked academy on the continent, the top spirit tool master academy, the strongest academy in the Sun Moon Empire, and the cradle of Mingde Hall. How could anyone from the Sun Moon Empire not want to join the Sun Moon Royal Spirit Tool Master Academy?

"Hello, little brother. Big Sister is Meng Hongchen. What's your name?"

At some point, the red-haired girl had sidled up beside Liu Xing, her eyes shining.

Sigh, another overly familiar one! Liu Xing was utterly helpless. How many overly familiar people had he met already? It seemed that aside from Ye Guyi, most peers he knew were all overly familiar!

"Hello, Sister Meng. My name is Liu Xing."

One did not strike a smiling face. She had a very good attitude, did not touch him carelessly, and knew her boundaries, so he could not exactly respond coldly. Besides, though she looked young, one could already see a glimpse of the beauty that would one day topple kingdoms.

People were visual creatures who instinctively drew close to beautiful things. Liu Xing was no exception, and he would not keep her at arm's length.

As Firefly watched Meng Hongchen converse with Liu Xing, she felt an uncomfortable sensation in her heart. She had never felt this way when Nan Qiuqiu, Ye Guyi, or Xu Tianzhen interacted with Liu Xing.

The strange feeling left her standing blankly in place. She had the constant sense that something belonging to her was about to be taken away. Looking at Meng Hongchen's pretty appearance, a jolt ran through her heart, and she suddenly became a hundred times more wary of Meng Hongchen.

A formidable enemy! An unprecedented formidable enemy! She could not let her guard down, Firefly! Go get her!

"Hello, Sister Meng. My name is Firefly."

The moment she decided, she acted. Brave Firefly feared no difficulties—just charge ahead.

Seeing Firefly block her way, Meng Hongchen pursed her lips, but still forced out a smile. "Hello, Firefly. Are you and Liu Xing siblings?"

"No."

Firefly shook her head without hesitation. She had a feeling that if she admitted she and Liu Xing were siblings, everything would be over.

Meng Hongchen asked in surprise, "You're not siblings? Then your looks and names..."