The Sun Moon Empire Has Its Own Internal Affairs

The Sun Moon Empire has its own internal affairs.

Compared to Xiao Hongchen's assessment, what Jing Hongchen saw in Huo Yuhao was far more than just a first-year soul engineer who had been studying for a month.

Whether it was his proficient mastery and coordination of core arrays or his understanding of the structural forms of soul tool shells, Huo Yuhao had already surpassed the level of a first-rank soul engineer. This was the reason he could complete an entire soul tool at such an astonishing speed while using only ordinary cutting and carving tools.

Will this kid be a second-rank by next month's unified examination?

"Teacher, I have finished."

Huo Yuhao raised his hand to signal the end of the exam. Before him lay a dark green blade about fifteen inches long. The sword had a rustic design, likely something Huo Yuhao had seen in an outdated novel from the library. The core array was located in the hilt, glowing with a faint emerald light under the soul power Huo Yuhao had injected in advance.

The proctor handed the sword to Jing Hongchen for inspection. With a single touch on the hilt, Jing Hongchen clearly understood what Huo Yuhao had inscribed.

Three charging arrays and one auxiliary array; this was a sword capable of manifesting different attributes based on the user's soul power nature. Because there were multiple charging arrays, it could even allow one soul master to charge it, while another soul master could use that attribute within a short period.

These functions had, of course, long been realized within Mingde Hall, but they were mostly implemented in soul tools of the fourth rank and above. Although Huo Yuhao's implementation was incomplete, it was, after all, only a first-rank soul tool, which was already sufficient.

Right now, what was slowly dissipating from within the sword was precisely the soul power of Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eye.

"When do you plan to take the second-rank soul engineer exam?" Jing Hongchen asked with a smile.

Huo Yuhao had already sensed that the person before him was of significant status and immediately replied, "If possible, I would like to attempt it next month."

Jing Hongchen clapped his hands and laughed, placing the sword into the evaluation area as the proctor went to register the score. However, everyone present knew this was merely a formality; Huo Yuhao would undoubtedly receive a perfect score.

"I will come to watch your exam again next month." The master of Mingde Hall flicked his sleeve. "I am Jing Hongchen, currently serving as the dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy. I have heard Xiao mention you, and seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary."

"Greetings, Dean." Huo Yuhao hurriedly bowed. Just by hearing the name, he understood the relationship between Xiao Hongchen and Jing Hongchen, and he also understood why Xiao Hongchen seemed able to walk sideways through the academy, even giving him rare metals and a VIP card.

"Hehe, if I had the time, I would truly like to take on such a disciple. It is a pity that I am busy with affairs during this period, and since Xiao Yu mentioned you to me earlier, I will recommend you to Xuan Ziwen first."

Hearing this from Jing Hongchen, Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up. This was the matter Yu Rufeng had promised him earlier. Teacher Yu was already a thirty-something seventh-rank soul engineer; the teacher he would recommend was likely an even younger and more promising figure.

Moreover, now that even Jing Hongchen was recommending this Teacher Xuan Ziwen, Huo Yuhao felt a surge of anticipation.

"Alright, your name is Huo Yuhao, right... hmm, just wait for Xuan Ziwen to come and claim you. Xiao, come to my office for a moment."

Before leaving the laboratory, Jing Hongchen called out to his grandson as if it were an afterthought. Xiao Hongchen nodded slightly and followed him out.

Only after reaching the corridor outside the laboratory did Jing Hongchen slow his pace, waiting for Xiao Hongchen to catch up.

"Grandfather, what are you considering again?" There was a hint of confusion in Xiao Hongchen's tone.

"Grandfather feels the time is about right." The smile on Jing Hongchen's face did not fade, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened. "This Huo Yuhao, along with those two young girls, Chi Qiu and Wang Dong—reserve their spots in Mingde Hall."

"What?"

Xiao Hongchen almost doubted he had heard correctly. This meant pre-assigning Mingde Hall quotas to the three of them, even though they had only been enrolled for a month.

"Grandfather, is this not a bit rash?" He was even more bewildered. "It was you who pointed out at enrollment that they came from the Heaven Dou Empire and had unknown identities... Now that you've only observed them for a month, what could you have seen to dare bring them into Mingde Hall?"

"Furthermore, Chi Qiu and Wang Dong haven't even participated in the soul engineer examinations yet, and that Wang Dong has those special issues regarding soul tools..."

"Do you think I couldn't have thought of what you've thought of?" Jing Hongchen chuckled and patted Xiao Hongchen's head. "Tell me, if I invite two young girls into Mingde Hall, is it possible that I don't intend for them to build soul tools?"

"Then what do you mean?" Xiao Hongchen seemed to understand a little, but still chose to seek a precise answer from Jing Hongchen.

"Based on the observation reports you and Meng submitted to me, setting aside Wang Dong for the moment, Chi Qiu is almost bound to Huo Yuhao. Other than returning to the dormitory, have you ever seen them apart?"

"Another point is that, aside from you and Meng, Mingde Hall lacks top-tier martial souls. But all three of these children possess top-tier martial souls."

"Xiao, Mingde Hall is actually a very fragile place. It needs not only researchers but also protectors. I have heard that those famous auxiliary martial soul sects on the Douluo Continent have several sect-protecting hands who do not possess auxiliary martial souls."

As Jing Hongchen spoke to this point, Xiao Hongchen, being a smart person, naturally understood his grandfather's meaning.

While Huo Yuhao was a super soul tool genius, these three were also soul master geniuses the likes of which the Sun Moon Empire had never seen, aside from the siblings themselves. On the land of the Sun Moon Empire, whichever faction grasped three soul master seedlings who had the potential to reach Titled Douluo status on their own merits held the foundation of their future here.

What needed to be done now was to provide the benefits and bring the three of them closer to Mingde Hall.

With his current resources, Jing Hongchen believed he could protect them until they grew up; and after that, it would be time for Huo Yuhao and the others to protect Mingde Hall.

"However, Grandfather, why the rush to make this decision?" Xiao Hongchen frowned. "Could it be because of what happened a month ago..."

"Yes, yes." Jing Hongchen nodded this time. "His Highness the Crown Prince is acting a bit too hastily, and he has been overly indulgent with those fellows. His eagerness to infiltrate the academy only makes me more afraid to rely on him. I am already suspecting whether there is anyone among us who is currently in contact with him."

"I heard he has been trying to find ways to make you stand on his side."

"Perhaps that is the case." As he spoke, Jing Hongchen patted his grandson again. "Alright, your thinking has been good so far, Xiao, but there are some problems you don't need to worry about. You are sometimes too impulsive, and sometimes you feel too good about yourself, which makes you prone to overlooking issues. I still have to preside over this Mingde Hall for quite a while..."

Xiao Hongchen lowered his head in silence, following quietly by Jing Hongchen's side. The latter gazed at the layers of stairs rising within the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and could not help but let out a long sigh.

He had already heard rumors about Xu Tianran utilizing certain forces; Mingde Hall must absolutely not get involved in these muddy waters. The internal situation of the Sun Moon Empire was as such, and he had to foster a successor to protect Mingde Hall as soon as possible.

Although he was certain he could remain in his position for another dozen years or so, he would eventually die. It was impossible to hand Mingde Hall over to Xuan Ziwen; Jing Hongchen understood this man—he was not someone who could shoulder such a heavy burden.

If he were to take power, Xu Tianran could pull him into his camp with just a few words; or, to think more severely, it was not impossible that he might take Mingde Hall and defect to Shrek for the sake of his research.

It was just that Mingde Hall should not have a break in its lineage. The collision between the Sun Moon Continent and the Douluo Continent had been going on for thousands of years, and since the establishment of Mingde Hall, soul engineer talents had emerged in succession; it was rare to have no one to succeed.

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

Thinking of this, Jing Hongchen closed his eyes in grief, and when he opened them again, his resolve was set.

He would do everything in his power to win over the three of them—Huo Yuhao, Chi Qiu, and Wang Dong; and Xiao Hongchen must also take on the heavy responsibility of being the successor to Mingde Hall.

"Xiao, go and notify Teacher Yu for me. Tell him to come to my office tomorrow to collect the individual training plans for Huo Yuhao, Chi Qiu, and Wang Dong."