Mingde Hall

Biodata

Background / History

Mingde Hall is regarded as the true core of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and, by extension, the Sun Moon Empire. Entry is reserved for top-tier Soul Master geniuses, and it is spoken of as a sacred institution comparable in standing to Shrek Academy's Sea God Pavilion. 5

Its importance is deliberately concealed. The visible structure occupies less than five hundred square meters and appears unremarkable, while the actual complex lies hundreds of meters underground. Entry requires identification clearance, passage through three guarded checkpoints, and descent by one of dozens of metal elevators. 6

Lin Yuan brought Ye Luochen to Mingde Hall after his first successful Level 1 Core Array engraving. The Hall's personnel conducted a special-grade evaluation, using advanced equipment to assess his physical attributes, soul power, reactions, and mental strength. His results persuaded its instructors and leadership to admit him immediately upon enrollment—an unprecedented arrangement. 6 7 10

Hall Master Jing Hongchen subsequently invested heavily in Ye Luochen's development, arranging continuous instruction, raising his clearance, granting access to resources, and assigning Xuan Ziwen as his mentor. Jing Hongchen explicitly viewed these benefits as an investment intended to make Ye Luochen identify with and remain useful to Mingde Hall. 13 17 18 24

Before substantially expanding Ye Luochen's access to the Hall's genuine teachings and resources, Jing Hongchen ordered a thorough investigation into his past in the Star Luo Empire and at Shrek Academy. The precaution reflected the Sun Moon Empire's longstanding concern over spies from the original three empires infiltrating soul-engineering institutions to steal soul-tool technology. 14

Mingde Hall continued to serve as the center of Ye Luochen's advancement after his admission. It accommodated the soul beasts collected for his Fourth Soul Ring selection, supported his work in Xuan Ziwen's laboratory, and became the location to which Jing Hongchen urgently returned after Ye Luochen smuggled the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo back from Star Luo. Jing personally examined the God-Sealing Altar and embryo within the Hall's depths. 37 94 109

Following the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Jing Hongchen had the victorious students return to Mingde Hall to resume their research. He also disclosed Shrek Academy's proposal for an exchange-student program between the two academies, intended to facilitate study of martial souls and soul tools. 139

Facilities & Security

• Concealed underground complex — The true Hall is located hundreds of meters beneath its small surface building. 6
• Layered access control — Soul masters, soul-guided devices, metal gates, identification cards, and authorization badges regulate entry. 6 17 18
• Identity and contraband detection — Internal checkpoints scan visitors' identities and search for prohibited items; the system is stated to be difficult even for a Title Douluo to force through. 6
• Metal-elevator network — Dozens of large elevators connect the underground sections. 6
• Evaluation facilities — Advanced instruments measure bone age, physique, soul-power fluctuations, physical strength, resilience, speed, reaction, and mental power. 6 7 38
• Experimental halls — Restricted areas contain dozens of workbenches, large-scale soul-guided devices, soul-guided shields, and aircraft. 18
• Research laboratories — Specialized laboratories support high-level soul-device development, including Xuan Ziwen's lab and its stamping-machine research. The Hall also provides laboratory space for important personnel to recover under supervision when necessary. 19 20 41 128
• Soul-beast selection resources — Jing Hongchen was able to have numerous compatible soul beasts gathered within the Hall for Ye Luochen's Fourth Soul Ring selection. 37
• Deep internal research areas — Jing Hongchen brought the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo and its God-Sealing Altar into the Hall's depths for examination after its return to the empire. 109

Organization

Leadership

• Jing Hongchen — Hall Master; possesses the only Level 9 internal authorization and directs major admissions, resource allocation, and personnel arrangements. A Title Douluo and Level 9 Soul Engineer, he personally determines major investments in exceptional talent and publicly supported Crown Prince Xu Tianran during the imperial succession struggle. 9 17 120 135
• Elder Ma — Senior Hall figure with Level 7 authorization; supervised Ye Luochen's special-grade evaluation and later participated in decisions involving Hall resources. As a senior Level 8 Soul Engineer responsible for many of Mingde Hall's daily affairs, his practical authority is second only to Jing Hongchen's. 7 17 69
• Lin Yuan — Level 7 Soul Master who identified Ye Luochen's talent, submitted his special-grade evaluation application, and later led the academy's reserve tournament team. 3 5 6 45
• Xuan Ziwen — Hall-backed chief researcher receiving special subsidies from Mingde Hall; became Ye Luochen's mentor and monitored the condition of his evolving martial soul. 24

Instructors

Mingde Hall's instructors are described as the elite of both the academy and empire. Most students study independently with its superior resources and consult instructors only when they are available. 13

Ye Luochen received exceptional treatment: Jing Hongchen assigned six instructors to provide constant guidance—four Level 7 Soul Engineers and two Level 8 Soul Engineers. 13

Specially Authorized Personnel

• Ji Juechen — The head of the academy's Practical Control Soul Tool Department. Although not regarded as a conventional Soul Engineer, Jing Hongchen granted him special permission to enter Mingde Hall because of his pure dedication to martial cultivation and practical combat. 120
• Wang Yan — After joining the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, he was permitted to recuperate in a Mingde Hall laboratory under Xuan Ziwen's arrangements, though ordinary newcomers could not pass the Hall's checkpoints. 128

Authorization System

Ye Luochen was elevated to Level 6 after his practical-class performance, and his monthly rare-metal quota was increased fivefold. 17 His new badge granted access to the Level 1–8 soul-device theory and Core Array databases, as well as eligibility to use high-level experimental areas. 17 Due to unadded restrictions on his badge, he briefly gained access broad enough to enter Xuan Ziwen's laboratory by mistake. 19

Resources & Support

• Elite instruction — High-ranking Soul Engineers provide technical guidance; Ye Luochen progressed from no soul-device experience to a Level 2 Soul Engineer in fifteen days under Hall-supported training. 3 13 14
• Rare metals — Students receive quotas for soul-device practice; Ye Luochen's quota was increased fivefold following his authorization upgrade. 17
• High-level soul tools — Jing Hongchen provided Ye Luochen with two Level 9 Mirrors of Protection as compensation after a dangerous mission. Each can passively generate a thirty-second barrier capable of withstanding a Title Douluo's full-force attack. 35
• Personal equipment — As Xuan Ziwen's disciple and one of Jing Hongchen's highly valued talents, Ye Luochen was equipped with a compact, lightweight, energy-efficient, latest-generation Mingde Hall flight-type soul tool. 49
• Soul-ring support — Jing Hongchen arranged a Level 9 Soul Engineer to lead Ye Luochen's soul-hunting mission and later supplied multiple soul beasts for him to freely select from for his Fourth Soul Ring. 26 37
• Soul-beast embryo custody — After the reserve team returned the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo to the Sun Moon Empire, Jing Hongchen personally took possession of it at Mingde Hall. He later intended for Ye Luochen to attempt fusion with the embryo, whose cultivation might have reached several hundred thousand years. 109 125
• Research support — Xuan Ziwen's laboratory gives Ye Luochen opportunities to contribute to and troubleshoot advanced soul-device projects. Ye Luochen's modular-design ideas also helped advance Xuan Ziwen's work toward assembly-line soul-tool production. 20 41 94
• Exceptional privileges — Ye Luochen has been exempted from ordinary classes and routine assessments, allowing him to focus on Mingde Hall research, cultivation, and advanced instruction. 138

Relationships

• Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy — Mingde Hall is the academy's true core and holds greater importance than the academy itself for some members, including the Hongchen siblings. 5 77
• Sun Moon Empire — The Hall is considered a core institution of the empire, supported by the imperial family through the academy. 6 13
• Jing Hongchen — Hall Master who uses Mingde Hall's resources and status to recruit, reward, and retain exceptional talents. 9 17 18
• Ye Luochen — Specially admitted member and major recipient of Hall resources, instruction, clearance, and soul-ring support. He is also trusted with sensitive responsibilities, including transporting the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo back to the empire. 10 13 17 37 107 109
• Xuan Ziwen — Hall-backed chief researcher and Ye Luochen's appointed mentor. 24
• Crown Prince Xu Tianran — Jing Hongchen publicly backed Xu Tianran's authority during the imperial award ceremony, strengthening the Crown Prince's position within the empire's political struggle. 135
• Shrek Academy — A rival institution whose proposed exchange-student program was disclosed by Jing Hongchen after the tournament; the proposal concerns reciprocal study of Shrek's martial-soul knowledge and the Sun Moon side's soul-tool technology. 139
• Ji Juechen — A practical-combat specialist granted special permission by Jing Hongchen to access Mingde Hall despite his limited soul-engineering aptitude. 120