"Are you Huo Yuhao?"
Jing Hongchen asked with a smile.
"I've heard so much about you. They say you defeated every elite student in Shrek Academy's outer court all by yourself. Truly, heroes had emerged in their youth."
"You flatter me, Dean Jing."
Huo Yuhao replied neither arrogantly nor humbly.
Jing Hongchen smiled and said no more, though he was already doing some mental arithmetic.
A Soul Tool prodigy with such extraordinary talent—if he could be kept in the Sun Moon Empire and put to use, the empire's Soul Tool Technology would surely reach even greater heights.
"All right, let's set off."
Jing Hongchen turned to the others.
Huo Yuhao looked south, in the direction of Mingdu.
Sunlight fell across his face, and his eyes brimmed with anticipation for the future.
Sun Moon Empire, I'm here.
After traveling by day and lodging at night, the group finally arrived in Mingdu, the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, three days later.
In stark contrast to Shrek Academy's natural setting among mountains and waters, every part of Mingdu exuded the strong aura of Soul Guidance Technology.
The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was located in the heart of Mingdu and occupied a vast area.
Precise Soul Tool laboratories and training grounds were everywhere on campus, and the air was permeated with a faint metallic scent and the ripples of energy.
"This is the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy."
Jing Hongchen turned to the ten students from Shrek Academy.
"First, follow Teacher Lin Jiayi to collect your identity cards, uniforms, and dormitory keys.
Starting tomorrow, you'll attend classes with the students here.
Remember, you must follow the academy's rules. You are not to enter the core area of Mingde Hall without permission."
"Yes, Dean Jing."
Everyone answered in unison.
Lin Jiayi bowed slightly to the group and gestured for them to follow.
"Students, this way, please."
Huo Yuhao followed the others, curiously taking in his surroundings.
His eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked at the Soul Tools, far more advanced than those at Shrek Academy.
This really was a paradise for Soul Engineers.
Meanwhile, Jing Hongchen turned and walked into his office.
He had barely sat down when someone knocked on the door, before he could even take a sip of tea.
"Come in."
Lin Jiayi hurried in, looking grave.
"Hall Master, there's a gentleman outside claiming to be a Level 8 Soul Engineer. He says he wants to apply for a teaching position at our academy."
"What? A Level 8 Soul Engineer?"
Jing Hongchen looked up sharply, his eyes filled with shock.
Level 8 Soul Engineers were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns across the entire Douluo Continent. There were only a handful of them in the Sun Moon Empire, and every one was a core member of Mingde Hall. He knew them all.
How could an unfamiliar Level 8 Soul Engineer suddenly appear out of nowhere?
Jing Hongchen furrowed his brow and lightly tapped his fingers on the desk.
A Level 8 Soul Engineer—this was wonderful news.
If they could keep such a talent at the academy, the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool Technology would surely advance another step.
But a strange Level 8 Soul Engineer had suddenly appeared, with no known background. They couldn't afford to let their guard down.
"Could he be from another empire?"
Jing Hongchen muttered, then shook his head.
"That doesn't make sense. What would he be doing in the Sun Moon Empire?"
He stood and straightened his robe.
"Come on. Take me to see him."
The two hurried to the academy's reception room.
When they opened the door, they saw a man in a black robe sitting on the sofa, leisurely sipping tea.
He looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Handsome and composed, he showed no trace of Soul Power, yet gave off an unfathomable air.
Hearing the door open, the man raised his head and smiled faintly at Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen's pupils contracted slightly.
He had lived a long time and met countless powerful people, but he couldn't read this man at all.
What was more, he was certain he had never seen him before.
He knew every renowned Soul Engineer in the Sun Moon Empire, yet this man was completely unfamiliar to him.
"Are you the Level 8 Soul Engineer applying for a position?"
Jing Hongchen stepped forward and asked in a low voice.
"May I ask your name, sir? Why have I never seen you in the Soul Tool world?"
The man put down his teacup, stood, and said with a smile:
"Hall Master Hongchen, my name is Zhao Ze. I come from a reclusive sect and have spent years in seclusion studying Soul Tool Technology. I rarely venture into the outside world, so it's only natural that you don't know me."
"A reclusive sect?"
A hint of confusion crossed Jing Hongchen's eyes.
"Which reclusive sect, if I may ask?"
"My sect's name isn't something I can share with outsiders."
Zhao Ze smiled faintly.
"What should concern you, Hall Master, is my Soul Tool cultivation, isn't it?"
As he spoke, he turned his hand over. A small, palm-sized Soul Tool, silver all over, appeared in his hand. He tossed it casually to Jing Hongchen.
"I made this little trinket in my spare time. Take a look."
Jing Hongchen hurriedly caught it and examined it closely.
The Soul Tool was exquisitely crafted, its surface covered in densely packed miniature arrays. The lines flowed gracefully, making it look like a work of art. He tried feeding it a trace of Soul Power, and it instantly glowed pale blue. An invisible barrier appeared out of thin air, enveloping him.
Jing Hongchen was startled.
This was a Level 8 Defensive Soul Tool! Yet it was only one-tenth the size of an ordinary Level 8 Defensive Soul Tool!
He hurriedly studied its Core Array. The more he looked, the more astonished he became. The Core Array's design was incredibly ingenious.
It used a compression technique he had never seen before, condensing functions that would normally require dozens of arrays into just three.
Some of the key rune structures were so complex that even he struggled to decipher them.
"This... you really made this?" Jing Hongchen looked up, his voice trembling.
"Of course."
Zhao Ze nodded.
Jing Hongchen was astonished.
To craft such an intricate Level 8 Soul Tool, using core technology far beyond current standards—this man was unquestionably a true Level 8 Soul Engineer. He might even have reached the threshold of Level 9!
Jing Hongchen's face instantly broke into a broad smile, and his manner grew warmly welcoming.
"Mr. Zhao, forgive my earlier oversight! It's an honor for the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy to have a talent like you willing to teach here!"
He hurriedly invited Zhao Ze to sit and personally poured him a cup of tea.
"What position would you like, Mr. Zhao? We can discuss the terms. If the academy can provide it, there will be no objections!"
Zhao Ze lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said with a smile:
"Any position will do. I'm not interested in power. I only want an independent, top-tier Soul Tool laboratory—and I want to teach students myself."
"No problem!"
Jing Hongchen agreed without hesitation.
"The unused top-tier laboratory next to Mingde Hall will be ready for you tomorrow.
As for students, you can teach whichever class you like—even the core disciples' class!"
Before you continue