Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen

"Who the hell are you? Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking someone else's name?"

Wang Dong could not stand Xiao Hongchen's pretentious entrance and snapped at him.

Xiao Hongchen frowned slightly, but still stepped forward a few paces and asked with a hint of confusion, "You haven't heard of me?"

Wang Dong burst out laughing and patted Zi Yao on the shoulder. "This guy is so full of himself. Why do I have to know him? Is he a Gold Soul Coin that everyone has to recognize...?"

Even Meng Hongchen beside them could not help covering her mouth and laughing softly. Then, mindful of her brother's pride, she pressed her lips together to hold back her laughter, her adorable cheeks puffing up.

Xiao Hongchen's expression turned extremely ugly as he displayed the Soul Engineer badge on his chest.

"Look carefully. This is proof that I'm a Rank 5 Soul Tool Master. I am Xiao Hongchen, the youngest Rank 5 Soul Tool Master in the history of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Master Academy. You should have heard that name!"

Wang Dong suddenly understood.

Though she had never met Xiao Hongchen himself, before she and Zi Yao arrived, he had unquestionably been the top genius Soul Engineer, so she had heard a little about him.

Meng Hongchen, meanwhile, was the Sun Moon Empire's number one cultivation genius among Soul Masters.

Lin Jiayi had just suggested that she and Zi Yao fight the siblings.

But now, both of those thrones had been shaken by Zi Yao and Wang Dong. Many people were curious whether the Hongchen Siblings could still be called the Sun Moon Empire's number one genius brother-sister pair.

Even if one lost, one could not lose face.

Since she had already offended him anyway, Wang Dong decided to be a little devious. Picking at her ear, she said indifferently,

"Never heard of you. And some genius Soul Engineer at that—wasn't your Level 3 Soul Master record broken long ago? Breaking your Rank 5 Soul Tool Master record is only a matter of time."

"Meng, don't stop me! That's too disrespectful! I'm going to teach this brat a lesson!"

Xiao Hongchen was so furious that he wanted to charge forward and fight. In an instant, he pulled out a ring of cannon barrels from his Space Soul Tool.

Having been showered with admiration since childhood, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

Meng Hongchen, as his sister, clung tightly to him. Her petite body leaned backward as she exerted every ounce of strength she had. "Brother, do you have a death wish? This is Grandpa's teaching building! If you start fighting here, won't Grandpa treat you to belt-fried meat?"

Xiao Hongchen suddenly calmed down. Straightening up, he said with a solemn expression,

"You're right. This place will be part of our family property in the future. We can't fight here."

Meng Hongchen could only rub her forehead and sigh at her brother's usual tendency to lose his train of thought.

What did he mean, our family property?

This was the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Master Academy, under the control of the Sun Moon Royal Family. I think he wanted to eat a Purple Pill.

Xiao Hongchen pointed at Wang Dong. "You're Zi Yao, the one who broke my record?"

"Your eyesight doesn't seem very good either. Do I look like someone interested in Soul Tools?"

Wang Dong nudged Zi Yao with her elbow. "This is the top genius of the Soul Tool Department you were looking for—the genius who started learning Soul Tools from scratch and became a Level 3 Soul Master in one semester."

Xiao Hongchen turned to Zi Yao and asked suspiciously, "You really had never come into contact with Soul Tools before enrolling?"

"Mm."

Zi Yao admitted it openly.

Although he had Elder Yi's assistance, that was merely because he did not want to waste time on certain tedious steps.

Elder Yi could not help with the forging of Soul Tools, and Zi Yao had personally mastered the Core Array of Level 3 Soul Tools in some of his spare time.

Even after hearing Zi Yao admit it himself,

Xiao Hongchen was still unconvinced. He first raised a thumb, then slowly turned it downward.

"To be honest, I don't accept you. Ever since you arrived, many people have started questioning my title as the number one genius. I'll prove to the world that you're inferior to me! I alone am the pride and hope of the Sun Moon Empire!"

After a pause, he added,

"At most, I'll include my sister too!"

Meng Hongchen covered her face behind him.

Could you not mention me at such an embarrassing time?!

Zi Yao laughed.

What was with that edgy speech? Had he accidentally wandered into a Japanese anime?

"Sure. If you want to compete with me, it's simple. Go talk to your grandfather. Whenever he agrees to my conditions, that's when I'll compete with you."

After saying that,

he could not be bothered with this kid acting like a grown-up and left directly.

"Meng, did that guy just say that as long as Grandpa agrees to his conditions, he'll be willing to compete with me?" Xiao Hongchen turned to look at her.

"Yes, I'm sure. So what are you planning to do?"

Meng Hongchen tilted her head as she asked. Her clear, icy eyes seemed to see her brother being pinned to a stool and beaten again.

Xiao Hongchen was full of high spirits. Flicking his sleeve, he turned around and said, "Come on, let's find Grandpa!"

Mingde Hall.

The spacious room contained models with a mechanical aesthetic. On the desk lay Gear Steel design blueprints, along with a Crystal White carving knife.

Jing Hóngchén was holding that carving knife, carefully etching the final Core Array onto a piece of Rare Metal. Joy filled his heart.

This was another Rank 8 Soul Tool of tremendous importance. If he improved it further in the future, it might even advance to Rank 9 and become his Destiny Soul Tool.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The violent knocking at the door made Jing Hóngchén's hand tremble while he was fully focused. The carving knife slipped slightly, and the precious Rare Metal was ruined.

His long brows nearly stood on end as he looked toward the door with anger on his face.

The greatest taboo for a Soul Engineer during creation was being disturbed, especially while forming the most important Core Array.

Who dared barge into his work area?

"Grandpa, are you in there?!"

Xiao Hongchen's urgent voice came from outside.

Jing Hóngchén let out a long breath to calm himself and tossed the precious piece of metal into the trash.

The children had grown up. He could not hit them anymore.

If this had been when they were little and so mischievous, they would have needed a proper lesson on a wooden stool.

Outside the door,

Meng Hongchen nervously tugged on Xiao Hongchen's sleeve and reminded him, "Xiao, are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you won't get beaten?"

Xiao Hongchen's knocking motion stiffened for a moment, but he forced himself to remain calm. "It should... be fine, right? Besides, Grandpa's hits don't hurt at all!"

Meng Hongchen pursed her lips and did not expose his lie.

Xiao Hongchen had been especially mischievous as a child, causing all the teachers at the Sun Moon Royal Academy endless headaches.

Their grandfather, who doted on his grandchildren, had originally been rather indulgent.

But Meng Hongchen remembered one time when Xiao Hongchen caused Grandpa to ruin a priceless Rank 8 Soul Tool. Grandpa realized the child could not be left undisciplined and decided to give him a complete childhood. Xiao Hongchen's cries echoed throughout the courtyard.

Jing Hóngchén opened the door, revealing a gentle and kindly smile. Adjusting his glasses, he said, "Xiao and Meng, what brings you to Grandpa?"

Xiao Hongchen looked like he was telling an old man to hurry up and get to work.

"Zi Yao said he's willing to compete with me, but only if you agree to his demands first. Grandpa, hurry up and agree to them so I can compete with him!"