The Sun Moon Empire Had Its Reasons

Compared with Xiao Hongchen's assessment, Jing Hongchen saw far more in Huo Yuhao than a Level 1 Soul Engineer after just one month.

Whether it was his mastery and control of the Core Array or his understanding of Soul Tool casing designs, Huo Yuhao had surpassed the Level 1 Soul Engineer standard. That was why he had been able to complete the entire Soul Tool at such astonishing speed using only ordinary cutting and carving tools.

Would this kid be ready for Level 2 at next month's unified assessment?

"Teacher, I'm done."

Huo Yuhao raised his hand to signal that the test was over. A dark green blade about fifteen inches long lay before him. The sword had a simple, antique design, which Huo Yuhao had probably borrowed from some outdated novel in the library. Its Core Array was in the hilt, glowing a faint emerald under the Soul Power he had infused into it beforehand.

The proctor handed the sword to Jing Hongchen for inspection. Jing Hongchen ran a hand over the hilt and immediately understood what Huo Yuhao had engraved.

Three charging arrays and one enhancement array. It was a sword that could gain different attributes depending on the nature of its user's Soul Power. With so many charging arrays, it could even let one Soul Master charge it, then allow another to use that attribute for a short time.

These functions had long been achieved at Mingde Hall, of course, but most were found in Level 4 Soul Tools and above. Huo Yuhao's version was incomplete, but it was more than enough for a Level 1 Soul Tool.

The power slowly leaking from the sword was Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye Soul Power.

"When are you planning to take the Level 2 Soul Engineer exam?" Jing Hongchen asked with a smile.

Huo Yuhao had already realized that the man was someone important, so he answered at once. "If possible, I'd like to give it a try next month."

Jing Hongchen clapped his hands and laughed heartily before placing the sword in the evaluation area. The proctor went to record the result. Everyone present knew this was just a formality; Huo Yuhao would undoubtedly receive full marks.

"I'll come watch your exam again next month." The master of Mingde Hall flicked his sleeve. "I'm Jing Hongchen, the current dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy. I've heard Xiao mention you. Seeing you today, I can tell you're indeed extraordinary."

"Greetings, Dean." Huo Yuhao hurriedly bowed. Just from the name, he had more or less figured out the relationship between Xiao Hongchen and Jing Hongchen. He also understood why Xiao Hongchen seemed able to throw his weight around the academy—and why he had given Huo Yuhao rare metals and a VIP card.

"Heh heh. If I had the time, I'd truly like to take on a disciple like you. Unfortunately, I've been busy lately. Besides, Little Yu mentioned you to me earlier, so I'll recommend you to Xuan Ziwen first."

At Jing Hongchen's words, Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. This was the opportunity Teacher Yu had promised him. Teacher Yu was already a Level 7 Soul Engineer in his thirties; the teacher he was recommending must be an even more promising young talent.

And now even Jing Hongchen was recommending this Teacher Xuan Ziwen. Huo Yuhao couldn't help feeling eager to meet him.

"All right, your name is Huo Yuhao, isn't it? Well, just wait for Xuan Ziwen to come and collect you. Xiao, come by my office."

Just before leaving the laboratory, Jing Hongchen called to his grandson as if it were an afterthought. Xiao Hongchen gave a slight nod and followed him out.

Once they reached the corridor outside the laboratory, Jing Hongchen slowed his pace to let Xiao Hongchen catch up.

"Grandpa, what are you thinking about now?" Xiao Hongchen sounded a little confused.

"Grandpa thinks the time is about right." Jing Hongchen's smile remained, though the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened. "We need to reserve places for Huo Yuhao and those two girls, Chi Qiu and Wang Dong, at Mingde Hall."

"What?"

Xiao Hongchen could hardly believe he'd heard correctly. That meant reserving spots at Mingde Hall for all three of them, even though they had only been enrolled for a month.

"Grandpa, isn't that a little premature?" He was even more bewildered. "You were the one who pointed out that they came from the Heaven Dou Empire when they enrolled, and that their identities were unclear. We've only observed them for a month. What could we possibly know already, to dare bring them into Mingde Hall?"

"And besides, Chi Qiu and Wang Dong haven't taken the Soul Engineer exam, and Wang Dong has that particular issue with Soul Tools..."

"Do you think I haven't considered that?" Jing Hongchen chuckled and patted Xiao Hongchen on the head. "Tell me, is it possible I want to bring the two girls into Mingde Hall for reasons other than having them build Soul Tools?"

"So you mean...?" Xiao Hongchen seemed to understand, but still sought a clear answer from Jing Hongchen.

"According to the observation reports you and Meng submitted, let's set Wang Dong aside for now. Chi Qiu is practically inseparable from Huo Yuhao. Apart from when they return to their dorm, have you ever seen them apart?"

"Another point is that, apart from you and Meng, Mingde Hall doesn't have any top-tier Martial Souls. But all three of these children have top-tier Martial Souls."

"Xiao, Mingde Hall is actually a very vulnerable place. It needs not only researchers, but also protectors. I've heard that the famous auxiliary Martial Soul sects on Douluo Continent keep a few protectors with non-auxiliary Martial Souls."

At this point, Xiao Hongchen was smart enough to understand what his grandfather meant.

Huo Yuhao was a super-genius in Soul Tool engineering, but all three of them were also Soul Master prodigies unlike any the Sun Moon Empire had ever seen apart from him and his sister. Any faction in the Sun Moon Empire that secured three promising Soul Masters who might one day reach the Titled Douluo level through their own efforts would be laying the foundations for its future.

What they needed to do now was offer enough benefits to draw Huo Yuhao and the other two closer to Mingde Hall.

With the resources at his disposal, Jing Hongchen believed he could protect the three of them until they came into their own. After that, it would be Huo Yuhao and the others' turn to protect Mingde Hall.

"But, Grandpa, why are you in such a hurry to decide?" Xiao Hongchen frowned. "Is it because of what happened a month ago...?"

"Yes, yes." Jing Hongchen nodded this time. "The Crown Prince has been moving too hastily, and he's been far too indulgent toward those people. His eagerness to infiltrate the academy only makes me less willing to rely on him. I'm beginning to wonder whether someone among us is still in contact with him."

"I heard he's been trying to get you to take his side."

"Perhaps he has." As he spoke, Jing Hongchen patted his grandson again. "All right, you've thought things through pretty well so far, Xiao, but there are some matters you don't need to worry about. You can be too impulsive sometimes, and too sure of yourself at others, which makes it easy to overlook things. I'll have to keep running Mingde Hall for quite some time..."

Xiao Hongchen lowered his head and said nothing, silently following Jing Hongchen. The latter looked at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's many flights of ascending stairs and couldn't help sighing deeply.

He had heard rumors that Xu Tianran was mobilizing certain forces. Mingde Hall absolutely couldn't get mixed up in that. The Sun Moon Empire had its own reasons for this situation, and he needed to start preparing a successor who could protect Mingde Hall as soon as possible.

He could probably remain in office for another decade or more, but he wouldn't live forever. Handing Mingde Hall over to Xuan Ziwen was out of the question. Jing Hongchen knew the man; he wasn't someone who could shoulder such a burden.

If Xuan Ziwen took the helm, Xu Tianran could probably win him over with just a few words. And if things went even worse, it wouldn't be impossible for him to take Mingde Hall over to Shrek for the sake of his research.

Mingde Hall shouldn't have been left without a successor. The Sun Moon Continent and Douluo Continent had been clashing for thousands of years. Since Mingde Hall's founding, Soul Engineer talents had emerged in great numbers, and there had rarely been a time when no one was ready to take over.

If only Xiao and Meng's parents were still alive...

At the thought, Jing Hongchen closed his eyes in grief. When he opened them again, he had made up his mind.

He would do everything in his power to win over Huo Yuhao and the other two. And Xiao Hongchen would have to take on the responsibility of succeeding him at Mingde Hall.

"Xiao, go let Little Yu—Teacher Yu—know. Have him come to my office tomorrow and pick up the individual training plans for Huo Yuhao, Chi Qiu, and Wang Dong."