Joining the Team

"There is still far too little recorded about gods.

"I merely felt that your Martial Soul's two evolutions bore some resemblance to the format of divine trials, which was why I had this conjecture."

"But a conjecture is only a conjecture. Before it is verified by facts, it is enough for you to simply hear it out."

Jing Hongchen reminded him.

"Do not become fixated on the word 'god.'"

Hearing Jing Hongchen's words, Ye Luochen finally came back to his senses.

He then let out a long breath and nodded.

Jing Hongchen was likely worried that the speculation just now would cloud his judgment, that he would truly cast himself in the role of a "chosen one" and devote all his attention to it from then on.

But Ye Luochen understood that much.

Leaving aside the fact that he had never felt chosen by any god, nor had any god displayed a miracle before him.

Even if there had been, the focus would still have to be on himself.

Even if there really were divine trials, he would still need to be capable of passing them, wouldn't he?

Seeing Ye Luochen quickly regain his composure after his earlier shock, Jing Hongchen nodded in satisfaction before saying,

"Enough. Treat today's discussion as entertainment and nothing more. Cultivate with peace of mind. If your Martial Soul shows any further abnormalities, report them to me promptly."

After that little episode, Ye Luochen returned to his dormitory.

Without wasting a moment, he immediately entered a cultivation state.

Gods and such were far too illusory—impossible to touch, impossible to reach.

Martial Soul Evolution was merely a guessed explanation. It had yet to be verified again, and he did not know whether there would be another opportunity. It too was illusory, impossible to touch or reach.

And the only thing he could truly and solidly feel—

Was his own diligent cultivation.

The increase in Soul Power could not possibly be faked. It acted directly upon him, something he could clearly feel.

Since that was the case, then he would cultivate wholeheartedly!

That cultivation session lasted three days.

Since Xuan Ziwen had once again thrown himself into the assembly line and specifically warned him not to visit the research lab for the time being until several backup assembly lines had been completed,

Ye Luochen did not go to Mingde Hall again.

With no other arrangements either, Ye Luochen spent nearly all of those three days cultivating, aside from going to the cafeteria for meals.

And his Innate Soul Power, which had risen another level to rank six, truly did not disappoint him.

In just three days, he could feel that his Soul Power, which had only reached rank forty a few days ago, was already faintly showing signs of advancing again.

It likely would not be long before he had a chance to break through to rank forty-one.

Although it could not compare to his previous experience of breaking through two ranks in a single night, this speed was still absolutely terrifying.

Today, however, Ye Luochen did not choose to continue cultivating.

Instead, he left his dormitory and headed toward the teaching building for the first time in a while,

Because today was the day Jing Hongchen had previously arranged for him to join the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's reserve team.

By the time Ye Luochen arrived at the designated location, quite a few people had already gathered there.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were among them.

After several days of recuperation, the Hongchen siblings had lost their earlier frailty.

At least outwardly, they looked no different from before.

Xiao Hongchen remained indifferent to everything around him, lowering his head as he intently played with his jade-white hands.

Meng Hongchen, meanwhile, kept cracking her knuckles as she stared at Xiao Hongchen, ready at any moment to deliver a thunderous blow whenever her brother started showing off.

"You came so early?"

Ye Luochen stepped forward and greeted the Hongchen siblings.

If there had still been some unfamiliarity and distance between Ye Luochen and the Hongchen siblings before, despite their usual interactions,

Then after taking part in the Soul Hunting Operation, that distance had essentially vanished.

After all, they had truly formed a life-and-death bond.

Hearing Ye Luochen's voice, the Hongchen siblings finally raised their heads.

Jing Hongchen had already told them that Ye Luochen would be joining the reserve team with them.

Therefore, neither sibling was surprised to see Ye Luochen here.

However, Xiao Hongchen's reaction left Ye Luochen somewhat puzzled.

After raising his head, Xiao Hongchen did not look directly at Ye Luochen. Instead, he first cast an arrogant glance around the area, then shook his head.

Only then did he finally turn his gaze toward Ye Luochen, who had greeted him, and nod in response.

Before Ye Luochen could figure out why Xiao Hongchen's behavior was so baffling and incomprehensible,

Meng Hongchen's eyes suddenly lit up beside him, as though she had discovered some treasure.

Then, the slap she had been waiting to deliver for so long landed without mercy on Xiao Hongchen's face, just as he returned to playing with his hands.

Caught by his sister's sudden slap to the face, Xiao Hongchen froze for a moment before his face instantly flushed red.

"Meng Hongchen, are you looking for a beating?!"

However, Meng Hongchen ignored her brother. After delivering another slap, she grinned at Ye Luochen and said,

"You finally came."

"Let me tell you, my brother is such a show-off. Did you see that whole routine he just did? He thinks none of these people are qualified to enter the reserve team with him.

"Only you have earned his approval."

Beside them, hearing Meng Hongchen's words, Xiao Hongchen tore the hand from his face, veins bulging on his neck as he angrily shouted,

"I didn't say a single word, and you still hit me based on your own imagination?"

"Meng Hongchen, I think you've really gotten out of hand!"

Xiao Hongchen's response was yet another heavy blow from his sister.

"You didn't say anything, but everything you wanted to say was already written all over your face.

"Was anything I just said wrong?"

Watching the scene before him, Ye Luochen's mouth twitched slightly. In the end, he chose to ignore it.

He had already grown used to the way these siblings got along.

In a situation like this, saying nothing and pretending not to see anything was the best choice.

After overlooking the Hongchen siblings, who had begun trading blows again, Ye Luochen turned his attention to the others present.

Besides Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen, four others were also dressed in academy uniforms.

There were seven members in the reserve team altogether. These four were presumably the remaining members besides the three of them.

Not far away, someone dressed in a teacher's uniform was slowly approaching.

He appeared to be the teacher in charge of leading the reserve team.

And after seeing who it was, Ye Luochen's brows immediately rose.

That was because he knew this person very well. He was Lin Yuan, the director of the academy admissions office who had overseen Ye Luochen's entrance examination.

Ye Luochen recognized the newcomer, and naturally, the other man saw Ye Luochen as well.

Once he drew close, Lin Yuan immediately smiled and said,

"Long time no see, Luochen."

"Well? Didn't expect me to be the one leading the reserve team for this tournament, did you?"