The red light faded, and a slightly plump, stern-looking old man descended from the sky.
The pressure of a Rank 94 Titled Douluo descended like a solid mountain, instantly enveloping the entire Ice Valley.
Jing Hongchen's eyes were full of murderous intent. The Soul Tool Cannons mounted on his back glowed faintly red, ready to blast everything before him to smithereens.
"Don't be nervous."
Gu Yuejin didn't take up any defensive stance. He didn't even release his martial soul. He simply pointed behind himself, holding one finger to his lips.
"You must be Meng's grandfather, right? Shh—keep it down. She's absorbing a Soul Ring."
Jing Hongchen's gaze passed over Gu Yuejin, and he immediately spotted Meng Hongchen sitting cross-legged, her Aura steady.
Seeing that his granddaughter was safe and sound—and even absorbing a Soul Ring—the murderous intent that had filled the air vanished in an instant.
"Phew..."
Jing Hongchen let out a long breath, put away the Soul Tools on his back, and turned his gaze to Gu Yuejin, sizing him up with a hint of curiosity.
This young man hadn't so much as changed expression under a Titled Douluo's pressure. That kind of composure was extraordinary.
Though Gu Yuejin hadn't revealed his Soul Rings, his bearing alone was impressive. And he'd kept Meng'er safe in the Extreme North, a place known as a forbidden zone for humanity, at his age. His strength was certainly no ordinary matter.
"I am Jing Hongchen, Hall Master of Mingde Hall in the Sun Moon Empire."
Jing Hongchen cupped his hands, his gaze sharp. "May I ask your name?"
"Gu Yuejin."
Gu Yuejin reported his name with an impassive expression.
"Gu Yue..."
Jing Hongchen quickly searched his memory for the surname but came up empty.
A reclusive family?
Or an assumed name?
But as he looked at the young man before him, still calm and composed under a Titled Douluo's pressure, his suspicions gradually settled on the only possible answer.
At that age, with such composure, who else in the original Three Kingdoms of the Douluo Continent could he be from, if not Shrek Academy, whose deep foundations were enough to make anyone wary?
If he was a monster secretly trained by Shrek's Inner Court, then this favor would be a bit of a hot potato.
Thinking this, Jing Hongchen narrowed his eyes and asked tentatively:
"Brother Gu Yue, you have quite an impressive bearing—a true dragon among men. May I ask which senior from Shrek Academy you studied under?"
"Shrek?"
Gu Yuejin scoffed, as if he'd heard some joke, his eyes showing undisguised disdain.
"Hall Master Jing, you can eat whatever you like, but you shouldn't say whatever you like."
"A place full of corruption and double standards, where all they do is chant slogans—how could they possibly be qualified to teach me?"
"I'm just a wanderer, unaffiliated with any sect or school. I brought my Apprentice to the Extreme North to hunt for a Soul Ring. I happened to pass by and save your granddaughter. It was pure coincidence."
Hearing this undisguised mockery, Jing Hongchen didn't get angry. Instead, his eyes lit up, and his opinion of Gu Yuejin improved by eight hundred degrees in an instant.
He wasn't from Shrek?
And he even had a problem with Shrek?
Then he was a very good person indeed!
"Hahaha, it seems this old man misjudged you. I was out of line, Brother Gu Yue!"
Jing Hongchen laughed awkwardly, and the wariness on his face eased a little.
As long as he wasn't from Shrek, everything would be easy to discuss.
He took a metal token, pitch-black and etched with intricate patterns, from his robes and held it out.
"You saved Meng'er, which makes you a benefactor of the Hongchen Family."
"This token is a personal keepsake of mine."
"With this token, you can come to Mingde Hall and find me anytime. I promise to craft one Rank Nine Soul Tool tailored to your needs, or three Rank Eight Soul Tools, free of charge."
"Mingde Hall will cover the cost of the materials."
That was quite a generous offer.
Gu Yuejin didn't stand on ceremony. He took the token and casually tossed it into his storage space.
"Since Hall Master Hongchen is so generous, I won't refuse."
Just then—
"Mm..."
A soft groan broke the silence.
The Soul Power fluctuations around Meng Hongchen gradually subsided. She slowly opened her eyes, and her wine-red gaze seemed even brighter than before.
"Grandfather!"
Seeing Jing Hongchen, Meng Hongchen's eyes lit up. She rushed over and threw herself into his arms like a fledgling returning to its nest.
"Oh, my dear granddaughter. You're all right, you're all right..."
Jing Hongchen patted his granddaughter's back with a doting smile, his face crinkling like a chrysanthemum. At last, he could set his mind completely at ease.
However, the very next second—
Meng Hongchen wriggled out of his arms, tugged at his sleeve, and excitedly pointed at Gu Yuejin.
"Grandfather, this is Brother Gu Yue! He's incredible!"
"That Magic Ice Flood Dragon ambushed me just now, and Brother Gu Yue appeared in a flash. He caught me—cough, I mean, he saved me—and then killed that dragon with one move!"
"Not only is he handsome, he's strong, and he's such a good person. He even guarded me while I cultivated..."
Meng Hongchen's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes remained glued to Gu Yuejin. Her lovestruck expression was almost too much to look at.
Seeing his granddaughter's shining eyes and look of adoration, Jing Hongchen's smile gradually froze.
Why did the way she said that sound... a little off?
She hadn't even been this excited to see her own grandfather. Why was she acting like she'd been injected with stimulants just because this young man came up?
Why did his sweet little granddaughter suddenly seem so... drafty?
"Ahem."
Jing Hongchen cleared his throat, forcefully interrupting his granddaughter's "sales pitch." With a stern expression, he pulled Meng Hongchen behind him.
Then he turned to Huo Yuhao, who had just finished absorbing his Soul Ring and was getting to his feet with a bewildered look. He awkwardly changed the subject:
"This must be your esteemed disciple, right? Hmm, he seems to have potential as well."
Huo Yuhao scratched his head. "Huh? Thank you for the praise, Senior."
The group chatted for a while, and the atmosphere was fairly cordial.
Seeing that he'd laid enough groundwork, Gu Yuejin casually asked:
"Hall Master Jing, what are the requirements for teaching at your Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?"
"Teaching?"
Jing Hongchen paused, then answered instinctively, "Most of our teachers are selected from outstanding graduates, or are researchers from Mingde Hall who also teach."
"After all, in the Sun Moon Empire, it's not uncommon for students to reach the fifth or sixth ring—or even higher—by the age of eighteen with the help of medicinal supplements."
"As long as their Soul Tool skills are good enough, it's perfectly normal for them to stay on and teach."
At that, Jing Hongchen suddenly realized what Gu Yuejin was getting at and looked at him in surprise.
"Wait... Brother Gu Yue, do you mean...?"
He looked Gu Yuejin up and down.
Though the young man had a remarkable air about him, his Soul Power was unmistakably that of a traditional Soul Master from the Douluo Continent. He had nothing whatsoever to do with Soul Engineers.
"I'd like to take my Disciple to teach at your academy."
Gu Yuejin pointed at Huo Yuhao beside him, then at himself, getting straight to the point.
"You mean... you want to teach at our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy?"
Jing Hongchen was genuinely taken aback.
After all, Soul Masters from the original Three Kingdoms of the Douluo Continent, especially the powerful ones, tended to sneer at Soul Tools, regarding them as frivolous tricks and a source of shame.
"Why?"
Jing Hongchen couldn't help asking, his brow furrowing. "With your strength and talent, you could be an honored guest anywhere in the original Three Kingdoms. Why travel all this way to our Sun Moon Empire?"
"Is there some reason you can't tell us?"
Meng Hongchen nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, watching Gu Yuejin with an expectant look.
Gu Yuejin was silent for a moment.
He raised his head. His golden eyes held an inscrutable depth, as though they contained a sea of stars.
Then, under the grandfather and granddaughter's watchful gazes, he gave them a plain, simple reason that left no room for argument:
"Because I like Soul Tools."
"..."
The cold wind swept past, carrying snowflakes with it.
Jing Hongchen opened his mouth and stared at Gu Yuejin's handsome face, which radiated sincerity. For a moment, he was at a loss for words.
That reason...
Was way too damn perfunctory!
Before you continue