Four Months Later, A Friendly Match Between the Starters and Reserves

For the next few months, Gu Yuejin's life in Mingdu settled into an extremely regular, even "tedious" routine.

Every morning, he would appear punctually in the magnificent library of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, absorbing Soul Tool theory like a sponge.

In the afternoons, he would disappear into Xuan Ziwen's private laboratory, filled with discarded parts and blueprints, and stay until late at night.

"Wrong! Completely wrong!"

In the laboratory, Xuan Ziwen, sporting dark circles under his eyes and hair as messy as a bird's nest, pointed at a blueprint and shouted emotionally:

"Gu Yue! Your 'Non-standard Core Configuration' completely violates the laminar flow principle of Soul Power transmission! Once the energy exceeds the threshold, the core will explode due to uneven internal pressure!"

"Teacher Xuan, don't jump to conclusions."

Gu Yuejin sat on a swivel chair nearby, idly playing with a carving knife, his expression calm.

"The laminar flow principle is based on the transmission of a single attribute of Soul Power. But what if... we construct a miniature 'Soul Power Turbine' inside the core?"

"Using the centrifugal force generated by rotation, unstable high-pressure Soul Power can be thrown towards the reinforced coating on the outer wall, thereby increasing the core's instantaneous burst power."

"This is what we call—fighting violence with violence."

Xuan Ziwen froze.

He pushed up his glasses, his mind racing as he began to simulate Gu Yuejin's crazy idea in his head.

After a long moment, he slammed his fist on the table, his eyes practically overflowing with fervor.

"Madman! You're a complete madman!"

"But... theoretically, it's actually feasible?!"

"Although the lifespan of such a core would be greatly shortened, in terms of instantaneous output power, it could increase by at least thirty percent!"

Xuan Ziwen looked at the young man before him, who was more than ten years younger than himself. Beyond shock, he felt a tremor of finding a kindred spirit.

Gu Yuejin's thinking was too unconventional.

He was like a traveler from the future, always proposing ideas that completely broke existing frameworks yet inexplicably adhered to logic.

"However..."

Xuan Ziwen glanced at the brand-new badge on Gu Yuejin's chest, his mouth twitching.

"I say, Gu Yue, you have all these theories, so why is it so difficult for you to pass an exam?"

"Four months, and you've only just passed the Level 5 Soul Engineer exam?"

"Look at your disciple, Huo Yuhao. If his Soul Power were sufficient, he would have already reached Level 5!"

Gu Yuejin merely shrugged, appearing indifferent.

"Rank is just a superficial title; I value the essence more."

"Besides, that kid has the Spirit Eyes cheating; I'm indeed inferior to him in micro-manipulation."

This was the truth.

In the practical operation of Soul Tool crafting, Huo Yuhao, with the micron-level precision of Spiritual Detection, was like a human high-precision CNC machine, making rapid progress.

Gu Yuejin, on the other hand, devoted more of his energy to deducing the underlying logic of 'God-Slaying Class' weapons, naturally not caring about such routine exams.

Besides studying, the Reserve Team's training never stopped.

First Soul Tool Proving Ground.

"Bang!"

With a final explosion, Ma Rulong collapsed on the ground, smoking, while not far from him were Xiao Hongchen, frozen into a sculpture, and Xu Tianzhen, bound and gagged.

"Hoo... hoo..."

Huo Yuhao wiped the sweat from his forehead and deactivated the spiritual link.

"Today's combat drill... is over, right?"

Meng Hongchen sat on the ground ungracefully, rubbing her sore arms and moaning, "I can't take it anymore, I need to eat a good meal to recover! I heard a new barbecue restaurant opened on the west side of the city..."

"I'm going too! I'm going to eat Gu Yue's teacher out of house and home!" Xu Tianzhen gritted her teeth in agreement.

Just as everyone was discussing where to treat themselves and complain about the "devil instructor."

"Tap, tap, tap."

Familiar footsteps echoed from the entrance.

The proving ground fell silent instantly, and everyone reflexively stood at attention.

Gu Yuejin walked in with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

"It seems everyone is in good spirits and still has the energy to discuss food."

His gaze swept over everyone, a smile curling at the corner of his lips that made everyone's heart skip a beat.

"Since that's the case, I have some good news to announce."

"To test the results of your special training over these past few months, I specifically applied to the academy for a... friendly spar."

Upon hearing the words "friendly spar," Ma Rulong's face twitched, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

In Gu Yuejin's dictionary, "friendship" usually equated to "one-sided beating."

"Teacher, who are our opponents?" Huo Yuhao asked tentatively. "It's not going to be you yourself again, is it?"

"Of course not. I don't know how to hold back, what if I injure someone?"

Gu Yuejin stepped aside, revealing the corridor behind him.

"Come out, everyone."

As he spoke, several figures filed in.

Leading them was a tall, slender youth with a delicate, effeminate face, idly playing with a fan-shaped Soul Tool in his hand.

Behind him followed several students, all wearing uniforms of senior years. Each exuded a steady aura, their eyes holding a mix of scrutiny and arrogance.

Seeing these individuals, Ma Rulong's pupils constricted.

"Lin Xi? Chen Fei? Mika?"

"Why is it them?!"

These people were the main reserve members of the Sun Moon Team in the original story!

If Gu Yuejin hadn't intervened and poached Ma Rulong, Xiao Hongchen, and the others for the Reserve Team, these individuals would have been the absolute main force for this year's competition!

At this moment, they looked at the group of underclassmen, several years younger than themselves, with complex expressions.

There was curiosity, disdain, and a palpable fighting spirit.

After all, no one wanted to admit that they would be supplanted by a group of "reserves."

"These are your opponents."

Gu Yuejin pointed at Lin Xi and the others, his tone calm yet cruel:

"The current reserve main force for the academy's competition this year."

"In other words, the unlucky ones whose spotlight you've stolen and whose positions you've taken."

As soon as these words were spoken, Lin Xi and the others' faces instantly darkened.

That really hits home, Director!

Though it was the truth, couldn't he have put it more delicately?

"Ah?!"

The Reserve Team members let out a collective wail.

"Fighting against senior students? And the full main roster?"

"How are we supposed to fight this?! Their average Soul Power is at least five levels higher than ours!"

Xu Tianzhen's face turned green. "I'm not fighting! Senior Lin Xi's Invincible Shield is famously tough, we can't even scratch it!"

"Silence."

Gu Yuejin's sharp command instantly quieted the hall.

He met their fearful gazes, his tone still calm but imbued with unquestionable authority:

"Feeling the pressure?"

"But only by facing stronger opponents can you see the gap and unleash your potential."

"If you can't even defeat your own academy's seniors, how do you expect to step on Shrek Academy's head?"

After speaking, he turned to Lin Xi and the others, nodding slightly and offering an encouraging smile.

"Senior brothers and sisters."

"For the next few days, don't hold back for my sake."

"Please, by all means... offer your candid guidance."

"Help these brats who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth 'familiarize' themselves with what competition-level intensity truly is."

Lin Xi closed his fan, a glint of ruthlessness and satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

"Since Director Gu Yue has said so, then we... will naturally give our all."

Watching the seniors, who were rubbing their fists and looking eager to "teach them a lesson."

Huo Yuhao and Xiao Hongchen exchanged glances, seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.

This barbecue was likely not happening.