Breakthrough!

After arranging a series of matters, Jing Hongchen hurried away.

Xuan Ziwen followed Ye Luochen to the cafeteria, never leaving his side. Only after repeatedly confirming that Ye Luochen's martial soul had completely stabilized did he leave behind a real-time communication soul device and return to the laboratory.

After all, the Soul Guidance Stamping Machine that had taken an entire afternoon of hard work to produce had been completely devoured by the Dark Iron Blade.

As a research fanatic, Xuan Ziwen was already impatient to begin the research and development of a new machine.

Ye Luochen, meanwhile, returned to his dormitory.

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, his soul power surged, and the Dark Iron Blade manifested.

Looking at the Dark Iron Blade in his palm, its appearance and durability significantly enhanced, Ye Luochen couldn't help but feel puzzled once again.

He truly could not understand what had caused this evolution of his martial soul.

Judging from the situation at the time, it seemed that something had held an extremely strong attraction for the Dark Iron Blade, causing it to actively project a sense of longing toward Ye Luochen.

But that was where the problem lay.

What the Dark Iron Blade had ultimately devoured was the Soul Guidance Stamping Machine that he and Xuan Ziwen had just researched and built.

It was not a high-level device, and the materials used were not particularly precious.

It certainly wasn't some immortal herb or heaven-sent treasure that was highly compatible with the Dark Iron Blade.

Yet, it was precisely this object, unremarkable in terms of quality, that had facilitated this evolution of the Dark Iron Blade.

It was truly baffling.

After pondering for a long time without reaching any conclusion, Ye Luochen finally had to cast the confusion aside.

Forget it. Just as the Hall Master said, regardless of the reason, a martial soul evolution is ultimately a good thing.

With innate soul power at level five, I imagine my cultivation speed should increase significantly.

Thinking of this, Ye Luochen assumed his cultivation posture and began to practice.

Although he was exhausted from the day, his years of persistence would not allow him to sleep so early.

At the very least, he had to cultivate until late at night.

However, he didn't realize it until he started; once he began, Ye Luochen quickly felt the difference.

If his speed of absorbing energy had previously been like a thin, calm, and slow stream, it had now transformed into a rushing river.

Energy flowed through his meridians like river water, moving at a speed far greater than before.

Is this the advantage brought by innate soul power?

Feeling his current cultivation speed, Ye Luochen couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

What a hard life he had lived before.

No wonder he had to work so desperately, putting in countless amounts of sweat, just to barely keep pace with those geniuses.

Since my cultivation speed has increased, I must not slack off. I will make up for all the progress I lost over these many years!

The next day.

As the class bell rang, the teacher walked into the classroom on time.

However, after scanning the room, he did not see the familiar figure.

"Where is student Ye Luochen? Is he late?"

The teacher couldn't help but ask in confusion.

Every day when he came to teach, he would see Ye Luochen already sitting in the front row; he had never been absent once.

Yet, he wasn't there today.

Facing the teacher's question, a student replied:

"Reporting to the teacher, Ye Luochen asked for leave. It seems his soul power broke through, and he needs to go obtain a soul ring."

"Obtaining a soul ring? That is indeed quite important; that is understandable."

The teacher nodded.

But the next moment, he remembered something.

"Wait, obtaining a soul ring? When he first enrolled, wasn't his soul power at level thirty-eight?"

"It's only been half a month, and his soul power level has risen by two levels?"

The teacher couldn't help but speak up.

Such a cultivation speed truly exceeded his understanding.

However, no sooner had his voice fallen than another student's voice rang out from below.

"Not only that, teacher, don't forget that Ye Luochen's soul guidance technology level also rose by two levels in half a month, and that was starting from zero."

"With such a precedent, I actually feel that his soul power growth rate is a bit slow."

"That's slow? Two levels in fifteen days, ten levels in a month, a hundred levels in a year—Ye Luochen would be a god in a year!"

"Brother, I don't know if Ye Luochen can become a god, but you're a true god of math. Was your math taught by your gym teacher?"

"Stop, stop. How could such a terrifying cultivation speed possibly be maintained? Even people like Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, who were born with full soul power, probably couldn't guarantee the best state and speed every time they cultivate."

"True, but where did Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen go? Why didn't they come to class either?"

"Them? They took leave too. Rumor has it they went to hunt for soul rings with Ye Luochen. I'm so envious; the new student managed to get so close to those two so quickly."

"Nothing to be done about it. Birds of a feather flock together. Geniuses always hang out with geniuses; it's nothing to be envious of."

Meanwhile, at the academy gate.

Looking at the Hongchen siblings who insisted on tagging along, Ye Luochen's face was full of helplessness.

"You two, I only took a day off because my soul power is sufficient and I need to hunt for a soul ring. But why are you skipping class to follow me?"

Hearing Ye Luochen's words, Xiao Hongchen couldn't even be bothered to lift his head. While admiring his own jade-like palms, he spoke indifferently:

"I have already passed the Level 5 Soul Engineer examination. Going to class doesn't hold much meaning for me anymore."

Meng Hongchen, on the other hand, raised her arm with an eager look and said with a giggle:

"I'm here to keep an eye on my brother. And let me tell you, Ye Luochen, my brother is such a hypocrite."

"He says he doesn't want to go to class, but in reality, he heard that you broke through to level forty in just one night, and now he has no heart for lessons."

"He can't stand anyone being more talented than him, so he has to see for himself what kind of soul ring you obtain. If it's better than his fourth soul ring, I reckon he'll be furious."

Hearing Meng Hongchen's words, Xiao Hongchen's expression changed instantly. He turned his head and snapped:

"Meng Hongchen! I'm warning you, stop spouting nonsense!"

However, Meng Hongchen remained completely indifferent, not taking Xiao Hongchen's words to heart at all. Instead, she leaned in closer and said:

"What nonsense am I spouting? What's the matter, if you don't like it, hit me then."

"You!"

Xiao Hongchen's face flushed red, but he couldn't manage to say anything else.

Seeing the two siblings bickering again, Ye Luochen couldn't help but chuckle.

After spending half a month together, he had already realized that among all the students, only Meng Hongchen could keep Xiao Hongchen in check.

Firstly, Meng Hongchen was his sister, and secondly, her cultivation was at the Soul King level.

She had Xiao Hongchen firmly under control in terms of both status and strength.

"Alright, you two, tone it down. This soul-hunting mission is to obtain a soul ring for Ye Luochen. Bringing you two along is already a violation; if the Hall Master finds out, I'll surely be in for a lecture."

Beside them, an old man in grey robes spoke up.