Xiao Meng: I despise those who only judge by looks the most!

"Wipe that look off your face. I have a feeling you're thinking about something unpleasant."

Xu Qing was full, though he hadn't really been that hungry to begin with.

It was mostly because the selfless Tian Meng was simply too filling.

Those massive amounts of life energy resided within the soul ring, slowly absorbed by his Self Martial Soul and then fed back into Xu Qing himself.

It was effectively the same as him eating at every waking moment.

When it came to having a big appetite, he was set.

"Hall Master Jing, what do you think about the suggestion I mentioned to you earlier?"

Seeing that his precious disciple had finished eating, Du Busi simply cut to the chase and laid it out plainly.

"The Continental Youth Soul Master Tournament is in a year. My Body Sect intends to participate. I'm leaving this matter to you; I don't care how you do it, I just want the results."

"Sigh, Brother Poison, aren't you making things difficult for me?"

You old geezer, how on earth did you come up with the idea of stuffing Xu Qing into the Sun Moon competition team? It's completely impractical—you could even call it a pipe dream!

A brute! You're nothing but a pure brute!

Jing Hongchen replied unhurriedly:

"Hehehe, brother, have you forgotten one thing? My visit this time, and even every time I come to purchase potions, is a private matter for my Mingde Hall."

"Although the Empire has noticed, those items truly provide a significant boost to the cultivation of the Royal Academy's younger generation."

"So, they've been turning a blind eye to it."

"Especially that Sword Fanatic, who is obsessed with the Protein Powder and the Nine Dragon Power. With such a genius leading the way..."

He gave an embarrassed laugh and continued:

"That is the main reason I've returned so quickly."

The powder had run out! The children at the academy were all falling into a state of protein anxiety!

Without protein, how are we supposed to train our bodies to be strong?

The injections were gone! The children at the academy were all falling into a panic over their slowed cultivation!

Without the injections, how are we supposed to achieve soul power levels that crush our peers with dimensional-strike-level superiority?

Speaking of injections, one had to mention the most representative one: the Nine Dragon Set Meal.

It could make a soul master's blood boil, but that wasn't even the best part; once the body temperature dropped back down—

The soul master's cultivation speed would increase to a certain degree, depending on the state of their meridians.

The margin of improvement would fluctuate between five percent and twenty-five percent.

Huo Yuhao's situation was purely a result of luck, it being his first time using it, and his body being in such a sorry state.

"Regarding the purchasing rights, usage rights, sales rights, and even the naming rights for the Protein Powder formula, I can draft a contract for you right now."

Xu Qing didn't care about the soul master tournament the old man was talking about; instead, he was quite interested in that Sword Fanatic.

Someone who could turn their life around based on their faith in the sword was exactly the kind of opponent Xu Qing craved!

He couldn't let these miscellaneous cultivation resources hinder the growth speed of a future opponent.

"Forget it, no need for me to draft it. Hall Master Jing, I will have Ano send it over to you tomorrow."

"With these things, you can sell them freely within the Sun Moon borders, and cross-border operations might even be possible."

"I don't want a cut of the profits, but for every unit sold, you must print my name, Xu Qing, as the inventor."

"No problem!!"

Jing Hongchen slammed the table and stood up, picked up a cup of his own home-brewed wine, and downed it in one gulp.

"Ha! As expected of the Young Master of the Body Sect, what spirit!"

"You don't need to worry about the potions; Brother Poison and I already discussed that this morning."

He looked at his grandson, then looked at Xu Qing...

Find the gap yourself.

Sigh... forget it, forget it. I won't lecture my child at the dinner table.

Besides, Xiaoxiao is already doing great.

She's just a bit chuunibyou, a common ailment among the youth.

With their hunger satisfied and spirits high, the two old men agreed to head out together to enjoy the scenery.

"Brother Poison, it's almost midnight. Is there anything else you wish to discuss with me?"

Jing Hongchen walked slowly with his hands behind his back and said casually:

"Regarding that suggestion of yours, I'll tell you in the most straightforward and simple terms—"

"It can't be done."

"Even if you can't, you will!"

Du Busi let out a cold snort, his two thick, beast-like arms planted firmly on his waist.

"I don't care about all those twists and turns. All I know is that I want Xu Qing to crush those idiots, one punch at a time."

"Vengeance starts with tearing their ten-thousand-year glory to shreds!"

"Wait!"

Jing Hongchen cowered, terrified that this guy might lash out at him if he got even slightly annoyed.

His frail body couldn't handle a hit like that.

"The rules for this Soul Master Tournament are set in stone; only academies officially registered with the authorities are allowed to sign up."

"You know as well as I do that the tournament isn't being held in Ming Capital. My hands are tied."

"How about this? You establish a shell academy, hmm... right here in Sun Moon territory? I'll find a way to make it work."

"Register it, and I'll handle the qualification audit for you. How's that?"

I am a genius! To think I could come up with a solution like this!

What? It needs to be officially recognized?

Heh heh heh... then let me ask you, what is my status and standing in Sun Moon!?

I am the authority!!

The next morning.

The Hongchen family packed up their spatial soul tools and happily set off on the journey home.

Everyone was in high spirits.

"I'm not..."

Xiao Meng was feeling emo.

Is this withdrawal? Wuwu, it had already been ten hours and twelve minutes since she last tasted Xu Qing's Mystic Ice Marrow.

It's so uncomfortable, it feels like ants are crawling all over me.

"Little sister, do you think your brother looks handsome today?"

Xiao Hongchen brushed back his bangs, revealing a few particularly striking strands of black hair, looking jubilant.

The chuunibyou youth was experiencing the thrill of dyeing his hair.

"Oh... handsome, sure... handsome enough to fall into a ditch, handsome enough that even Grandpa wouldn't recognize you."

Xiao Meng's perfunctory reply went unnoticed by Xiao Hongchen, who laughed even louder now that he had heard the answer he wanted.

"Hahahaha!"

"So noisy, you stinky brother..."

Sigh... if only my brother could be as quiet as Brother Xu, how nice that would be.

Always making such a racket, I really don't understand what those girls in the academy see in him.

The thing I, Meng Hongchen, despise most is those fangirls who only care about looks!

"Hmph hmph hmph~"

Xiao Hongchen pulled a ring-shaped storage soul tool from his pocket and held it out in front of Xiao Meng.

"Here, look. Your big brother knows you can't forget the taste of that guy Xu Qing's martial soul. I don't get it, but I respect it."

I just can't see what's so tasty about ice cubes.

"This was stuffed into my hand by that guy Xu Qing last night. I checked what's inside—it's all Mystic Ice Marrow!!"

"Just think of how much soul power this must have cost to produce!"

"This guy is terrifying!"

Million-Year Soul Ring: Polish my shoes.