After that, Jing Hongchen, Xuan Ziwen, and Xiao Hongchen paid Kong Deming another visit and showed him Xiao Hongchen's Spirit-Forged Metal.
Kong Deming was even more excited than they were. Once he learned that all he had to do was provide some blood to obtain Spirit-Forged Metal of his own, he began to value Xiao Hongchen above everything else.
If he could use Spirit-Forged Metal to make a Core Array, his chances of completing a Level-Ten Soul Tool would rise a little more.
Scarcity made things precious. And the entire Douluo Continent had only one person who could provide Spirit-Forged Metal: Xiao Hongchen.
Whoever had Xiao Hongchen would have the world!
When Kong Deming learned that Jing Hongchen hadn't even given Xiao Hongchen the Red Dust Attachment to protect himself, he tore into Jing Hongchen without mercy.
"A genius like him, and you won't even give him a Level 9 Soul Tool to save his life? Are you really his grandfather?"
Jing Hongchen had no way to explain. He couldn't tell Elder Kong that Xiao Hongchen had Elder Yi residing in his Sea of Consciousness, so he didn't need it, could he?
But Xiao Hongchen really did need it at this stage. Elder Yi was already asleep, and opening and entering the Undead Semi-Plane took time, leaving Xiao Hongchen vulnerable to an expert catching him during the windup. With a Level 9 Defensive Soul Tool, he could escape into the Undead Semi-Plane without a care in the world.
In the end, Elder Kong gifted Xiao Hongchen a silver Level 9 Soul Tool bracelet. When its wearer was attacked, it sensed the danger in advance and raised a defense. The wearer could activate or deactivate it with a thought, and for five seconds, attacks from anyone below Super Douluo rank couldn't harm him in the slightest.
After the shield was used once, it needed to recharge. There was no need to charge it deliberately; after about three days of natural cultivation, it would gradually recharge on its own. Of course, it could also be charged manually. All it took was a day and night of uninterrupted meditation, continuously pouring in all of one's Soul Power.
Before reaching Titled Douluo rank, this Soul Tool offered even greater defense than the Red Dust Attachment. With it in hand, Xiao Hongchen could escape almost anyone, short of the very strongest experts.
After agreeing to study Humanoid Soul Tools under Elder Kong for at least two days a week, Xiao Hongchen and the others left the Worship Hall.
A month-long break flew by.
Xiao Hongchen had spent almost the entire holiday cooped up in the laboratory. He was either purifying metal or repeatedly exploring the construction of Humanoid Soul Tool Core Arrays under the guidance of Xuan Ziwen and Kong Deming. He felt as if he'd been wrung dry; even his dreams were full of metal.
At noon one day, he decided to head home early and unwind. It was the last day before classes began, after all.
While he was still some distance from the academy gates, he spotted someone waiting there.
A girl stood by the gate, her posture carefree. She had fluffy, soft, pale-purple hair cut short, its ends curling naturally. Beneath the wispy bangs on her forehead sat a sun-shaped hair ornament that shimmered with golden light in the morning sun.
She wore a gorgeous outfit in purple and black, a neat pair of shorts with short boots. It gave her an air of nobility while still feeling lively and unrestrained.
The moment her amethyst eyes spotted him, they lit up even more. The corners tilted upward like crescent moons, and with a bold smile, she waved at him.
She looked like someone of high status who'd come especially to find him. He couldn't just pretend not to see her!
Xiao Hongchen walked over at an unhurried pace and greeted her.
"We haven't met before, have we? May I ask who you are?"
The girl's eyes curved, her voice carrying an exaggerated note of grievance.
"This isn't our first meeting. I remember you, you know."
She tilted her head.
"We met at a banquet. Have you forgotten? I'm very hurt, Xiao Hongchen."
"I don't really remember."
Xiao Hongchen said it without changing his expression.
Though he had a vague guess about who she was, he truly couldn't recall the details of that banquet.
When he was little, he had occasionally accompanied Jing Hongchen to aristocratic banquets. But for a child, those occasions were little more than formalities, and the unimportant memories had long since faded.
If she started quizzing him on the details, that would be a real headache.
The girl shrugged.
"That's a shame."
She stepped forward, put one hand on her hip, and struck a pose as if formally introducing herself.
"Then let's start over. My name is Xu Tianzhen, and I'm currently a fifth-year student at Ming Capital Soul Engineer Academy. Please take care of me."
"So you're Her Highness the Princess. No wonder you're so beautiful and charming."
Xu Tianzhen froze for a moment, then caught on and glared at him.
"You mean I'm too wild to act like a princess!"
"I didn't." Xiao Hongchen looked innocent. "I was just complimenting you."
"Complimenting me?" Xu Tianzhen turned the words over in her mind, then narrowed her eyes. "Xiao Hongchen, you always talk in such a roundabout way. I don't like it."
"Then what kind of person do you like, Your Highness?" Xiao Hongchen asked.
"Someone direct." Xu Tianzhen answered without hesitation. "Say what you mean. Don't beat around the bush."
"Fine." Xiao Hongchen nodded. "Then I'll be direct too. Why is the princess blocking the academy gate in the middle of the day? Is something wrong?"
"Of course I'm here to challenge you, Xiao Hongchen. Do you know how famous you've become in Ming Capital's Soul Engineer circles? Word of you defeating the Soul Master Tournament team captain has spread everywhere."
"Oh, not bad. I thought that sort of thing was pretty normal."
Xu Tianzhen's mouth twitched.
Was this guy really that arrogant, or was he putting on an act?
"I've always admired the strong, and I want to become stronger, too." She took a deep breath and put on a serious expression. "Xiao Hongchen, fight me! If I lose, I'll transfer to Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy."
Xiao Hongchen raised an eyebrow.
Then I'd better deliberately lose to her. She'd be a younger version of Ji Juechen, pestering me to spar every day. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
"You were just thinking of throwing the fight, weren't you?" Xu Tianzhen suddenly narrowed her eyes. "Absolutely not!"
As she spoke, she crossed her hands in front of her and made a big X.
What a pain.
"Then I'll gladly accept."
With Xiao Hongchen leading the way, the two headed toward the Soul Fighting Arena.
Quite a few curious students followed behind them. Xiao Hongchen had already been well known at the academy, but after defeating Ma Rulong in that assessment, his fame had soared. And with his heartthrob-level looks, naturally, every move he made drew plenty of attention from his "fans."
As the imperial family's most doted-on little princess, Xu Tianzhen was no stranger to the spotlight either.
Though she was only thirteen, she often accompanied the emperor to public events, so many of the academy's aristocratic students recognized her.
So when the two appeared side by side, the crowd around them erupted.
"Isn't that Her Highness the Princess?"
"The princess walking alongside Xiao Xiao? For real? Could it be...?"
"Wait, where are they going?"
"That's the way to the Soul Fighting Arena... Damn, are they going on a date?"
"A date, my ass. They're obviously going to fight!"
The chatter behind them grew louder and louder.
Some people had even started analyzing the pair's relationship on the spot.
But neither Xiao Hongchen nor Xu Tianzhen paid the slightest attention to the noise.
Normally, using the Soul Fighting Arena cost money, but the two walked straight toward its center, and nobody dared stop them. The spectators who followed them, on the other hand, got hit with a hefty viewing fee by the staff at the entrance.
In the vast center of the Soul Fighting Arena, only the two of them stood, facing each other from a distance.
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