Transaction

"Hall Master Jing, the show is over. Are you going to keep watching?"

Jin Tianming's voice was not loud, yet it reached the ears of every student present. They all looked in the direction he was speaking, and they really did see Jing Hongchen, the master of Mingde Hall!

If the Outer Court students of Shrek Academy dreamed of entering the Inner Court, then the greatest wish of the Sun Moon Royal Academy students was to enter Mingde Hall. Mingde Hall possessed the most abundant and 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 a 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 in disbelief, "You actually hit me?"

"See? Now that I really hit you, you're unhappy about it." Faced with his good friend's questioning, the companion put on an innocent expression.

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

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

"Secret."

"..." Jing Hongchen fell silent at that answer. He had thought Jin Tianming would give him an explanation, but instead, he only gave him 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 even bullying here. If this is all there is to studying here, I might as well go to Shrek Academy. At the very least, people there have an excuse when they beat someone up."

Hearing that, Jing Hongchen immediately came back to his senses. He had more or less figured out the personality of the genius before him. He was even prouder than Jing Hongchen's 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 properly explain what happened today. Understand?"

"Understood."

"Then why aren't you scramming?"

When Jing Hongchen saw that the five had answered that they understood yet still had not gotten up, his anger flared. Aside from bullying people and being stupid, these royal brats had no merits at all.

Royal family: ???

Hearing the hall master tell them to scram, the five glanced at Jin Tianming and began rolling away.

Jing Hongchen: ???

Jin Tianming: 6

Jing Hongchen covered his head, truly unwilling to look at those five any longer. He had only meant for them to leave, but they had taken it literally.

"Student Jin, may I speak with you somewhere else?"

"Sure."

Jin Tianming had no reason to refuse Jing Hongchen's invitation. Besides, the fish he wanted to catch was the man standing before him.

Jing Hongchen's office

Jing Hongchen brewed a cup of black tea for himself and Jin Tianming each. Jin Tianming sat opposite Jing Hongchen, surveying the office. He had to admit that a hall master's office was different—luxurious, truly luxurious.

Once he had strength and money in the future, and his body was in better condition, he would enjoy the pleasures of wealth too.

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 inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed this boy was still easy to talk to.

"Then which of the three countries are you from?"

"A reclusive faction."

"Just as I thought! I hadn't guessed wrong." Hearing that answer, the stone in Jing Hongchen's heart finally fell. 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 them over to the Sun Moon Empire's side, then the Sun Moon Empire's combat power would certainly multiply!

After all, how powerful could this reclusive faction be? The fact that they could cultivate a genius as astonishing as Jin Tianming was enough to show it. One could imagine that their foundations and strength were absolutely not to be underestimated.

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

Perhaps the day the Sun Moon Empire dominated the continent would not be far off!

Jin Tianming took in the flash of excitement in Jing Hongchen's eyes. He did not say anything extra, allowing Jing Hongchen to fill in the blanks himself.

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

In other words, had he come alone? Had the organization behind him not sent protectors or the like?

Jin Tianming naturally understood the meaning behind Jing Hongchen's words. Smiling, he replied, "Hall Master, why don't you try making a move against me here?"

Silence.

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

This fellow really doesn't put me, a Rank 9 Soul Engineer, in his eyes at all.

Jing Hongchen broke the silence first and kindly advised, "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 trace of embarrassment or unease on his face after being reprimanded. His gaze remained as calm as water, as though everything Jing Hongchen had said had nothing to do with him.

However, just as Jing Hongchen thought he had taken the advice to heart, Jin Tianming lightly raised the corner of his lips and abruptly changed his tone. "But I believe I do possess the qualifications to be arrogant!"

His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it carried an unquestionable firmness and confidence. It was like a thunderclap exploding through the air, leaving Jing Hongchen at a loss for words.

Arrogant!

Far too arrogant!

Any genius who had yet to mature was usually very low-key. Though Jing Hongchen's own grandson was arrogant, he only dared act that way at home. His grandson knew that only someone who had grown up could truly be called a genius.

Yet the youth sitting before him wore an arrogant expression, showing no consideration for the consequences whatsoever. Had the faction behind him not told him to keep a lower 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 before asking uncertainly, "Are you planning to make a deal with me?"

Ever since they had met, the youth sitting opposite him had constantly addressed him as "Hall Master Jing." He had not called him "Headmaster" 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 true purpose was to make a deal with me on behalf of the reclusive faction he represents.