Hand Holds Sun, Moon, Plucks Stars, No One in the World Like Me

Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu.

This city was the most developed in soul tool technology on the entire continent.

On the street, Jing Hongchen, with a kind and amiable smile, was enthusiastically introducing the surrounding scenery to the three youths opposite him.

Hearing Jing Hongchen's introduction, Huo Yuhao's eyes sparkled with curiosity. For him, who had only grown up in the Duke White Tiger's mansion since childhood, everything in Mingdu seemed so novel and shocking.

Beside him, the siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were looking at their grandfather with strange expressions.

How come their usually dignified, shrewd, and even somewhat unapproachable Hall Master grandfather was acting like a tour guide today?

"Hall Master Jing Hongchen, you've shown us so much, but you must have something you want to say, right?"

Huo Hao, who hadn't spoken much, smiled faintly. His tone was gentle, yet it carried a power that could penetrate the heart.

Jing Hongchen chuckled and stopped beating around the bush.

"It's always a pleasure to talk to smart people. To be frank, I brought you here to invite you three young friends to join our Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy."

"Join the academy?"

Huo Yuhao, who had been crossing his arms, shook his head.

"Hall Master Jing Hongchen, we don't want to be constrained. Earlier, Xuan Zi from Shrek Academy invited us to join Shrek Academy, and we didn't agree either. What we want is to pursue strength through our own efforts."

"Ah, that's where you're mistaken."

Jing Hongchen shook his head, his expression becoming serious.

"There's nothing wrong with pursuing strength, but strength also requires proper guidance and systematic development. I know you are exceptionally talented and possess extraordinary strength, but without systematic learning, much of your potential cannot be fully realized."

"Moreover..."

Jing Hongchen pointed at the towering buildings.

"Times have changed. On the current Douluo Continent, the dual development of soul tools and martial souls is the mainstream. Relying solely on martial souls, one can certainly become a strong person, but ultimately, there will be a bottleneck."

"Take the battle I just had with that Evil Qi Xuan Zi, for example."

Mentioning Xuan Zi, a trace of lingering fear flashed in Jing Hongchen's eyes, but it was more of a rational analysis.

"That Xuan Zi is a Super Douluo, and his martial soul is also a top-tier martial soul. In terms of soul power cultivation and martial soul quality, I am indeed inferior to him."

"Although I lost that battle and sustained some injuries, as you saw, I managed to withstand his attacks with the Level Nine Soul Tool in my hand."

"Without these soul tools, I'm afraid I would have died at his hands long ago."

Jing Hongchen sighed and said earnestly:

"This is the power of technology. It can bridge the gap in talent, allowing soul masters to have a fighting chance against stronger opponents, and even... turn defeat into victory."

As he spoke, Jing Hongchen looked at the three of them with burning eyes.

"As long as you are willing to join the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, I promise that all the resources within the academy, all the soul guide blueprints, all the rare metals, and even the most core research data from Mingde Hall will be open to you!"

"You don't need to attend classes like ordinary students, take exams, or even abide by those tedious formalities. Your only task is to become stronger, much stronger!"

"As for the reward..."

Jing Hongchen paused and raised a finger.

"You only need to represent the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy in the next All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament and bring that championship trophy back for me!"

At these words, everyone fell silent.

Even Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, who hadn't paid much attention before, widened their eyes and looked at their grandfather in disbelief.

All resources open? Core data shared?

This treatment, let alone for outsiders, even for them, his own grandchildren, it wasn't this exaggerated!

And they were directly given a spot in the competition?

They knew that the talented students in the academy were fighting tooth and nail for a spot in this competition!

"Grandfather, this..."

Xiao Hongchen was about to speak when Jing Hongchen shot him a stern look that made him back down.

Huo Hao looked at Jing Hongchen's sincere eyes and pondered for a moment before slowly shaking his head.

"Hall Master Jing Hongchen, your conditions are indeed very tempting, but... we do not accept rewards without merit."

"We three brothers have just arrived and have not accomplished anything yet. We cannot accept such great kindness. This does not align with our principles."

Hearing this, Jing Hongchen not only didn't get angry but instead showed a more appreciative smile.

This child, his disposition is indeed steady.

"Rewards without merit? Who says you have no merit?"

Jing Hongchen retracted his smile, his expression becoming unprecedentedly serious.

"Outside the city earlier, if it weren't for the three of you intervening in time and stopping that madman Xuan Zi... with that madman's destructive power, once he broke into Mingdu, do you know how much casualties would have been caused?"

"Mingdu is the core of the Sun Moon Empire, with a population of millions. If it were damaged, it would be a catastrophe, setting back the national strength by decades!"

"You saved Mingdu, saved countless innocent citizens. For this merit, let alone these resources, even bestowing titles and positions upon you would not be excessive!"

Jing Hongchen looked directly into Huo Hao's eyes and said word by word.

"What I said is serious, and this reward is what you deserve."

"If you refuse again..."

Jing Hongchen's tone suddenly changed, and a sly, cunning smile appeared on his face.

"Then I'll have no choice but to arrest the three of you on charges of 'illegal entry' and 'disrupting public order' and throw you in jail for ten or eight years. After all, you haven't gone through the entry procedures yet, have you?"

Huo Yuhao and his two brothers: "..."

Although he said this, the three of them understood in their hearts that Jing Hongchen was giving them a way out, and at the same time, he was showing his determination.

He used both soft and hard tactics, showing both sincerity and means.

It had to be said, this fat old man was quite something.

"Since the Hall Master has said so much, if we refuse again, it would be ungrateful."

Huo Hao smiled slightly and nodded. The three of them were weak, and the three Million Year Soul Beasts in their Sea of Consciousness were all in hibernation. If they were really locked up in jail, their lives would essentially be over.

"Okay, we agree."

"Hahahaha! Good! That's the spirit!"

Jing Hongchen's eyes immediately lit up.

Just by the fact that the three of them could cooperate to kick Evil Qi Xuan Zi back into that Small River, Jing Hongchen knew that no matter what, he had to keep them.

Soon, under Jing Hongchen's personal arrangement, Huo Yuhao and his two brothers moved into the best dormitory building in the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.

It was an independent villa, with a quiet environment, complete facilities, and even a dedicated Soul Tool cultivation room.

Late at night.

Huo Hao and Yu were cultivating in their respective rooms, while the original Huo Yuhao lay on the soft bed, staring at the ceiling in a daze.

All of this felt too unreal.

Just as Huo Yuhao was drowsily about to fall asleep.

Suddenly, an old, deep voice echoed abruptly in the depths of his mind.

"Holding the sun and moon, plucking the stars, there is no one like me in this world."

Huo Yuhao's eyes snapped open, and he sprang up from the bed, looking around vigilantly.

"Who?!"

The room was empty, with no one else besides himself.

"An illusion...?"

Huo Yuhao muttered to himself, no, it absolutely couldn't be an illusion.

"Brother Tianmeng? Is that you?"

He tentatively asked in the Sea of Consciousness, although he knew it was impossible, Huo Yuhao still held a sliver of hope.

However, the giant worm sleeping soundly in the Sea of Consciousness didn't respond at all.

It's not Brother Tianmeng...

Then who could it be?