Jing Hongchen

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Jing Hongchen (镜红尘)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy; Mingde Hall; Hongchen Family
Occupation/Role	Dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy; Master of Mingde Hall; Class 9 Soul Engineer; Yao Shi's master
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 49

Background

Jing Hongchen serves as both dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and master of Mingde Hall, giving him authority over the Sun Moon Empire's foremost soul-tool institution 49. He is one of the continent's few Class 9 Soul Engineers 53.

He first encounters Yao Shi during academy enrollment. Although Yao Shi is one year above the normal age limit and lacks any grounding in soul-tool theory, Jing Hongchen invokes special treatment for a genius and personally brings him for evaluation 49. Yao Shi's Rank 41 soul power, exceptional physical measurements, and a malfunctioning testing device convince Jing Hongchen to admit him without a strength test 49 50.

After investigating Yao Shi's past at Shrek Academy, Jing Hongchen briefly suspects him of being a spy. He reconsiders after learning that Yao Shi was denied core-disciple status despite winning the freshman championship, concluding that Shrek had failed to appreciate an Innate Full Soul Power genius with what he believes are Twin Martial Souls 51.

Personality

Jing Hongchen is highly discerning about talent and openly enthusiastic when he finds it. Yao Shi's rapid progress repeatedly astonishes him, from passing the Class 1 Soul Engineer examination after eight days to reaching Class 3 only a month later 52 53.

He is cautious in matters affecting the academy and empire. His initial investigation of Yao Shi reflects suspicion toward an extraordinary former Shrek student, but he changes his judgment once the available evidence no longer supports espionage 51.

As a mentor, he is generous, demanding, and ambitious for his disciple. He provides Yao Shi with elite resources while setting difficult assessment conditions, and later sees Yao Shi's Title Douluo cultivation as an opportunity to pursue the highest levels of soul-tool engineering 53 102.

Abilities & Skills

Soul Tool Engineering

Jing Hongchen is a Class 9 Soul Engineer and oversees Mingde Hall's research, workshops, rare-metal stores, and restricted knowledge resources 53 102.

• Uses a Level 2 soul-tool ray weapon, though Yao Shi easily evades its shot upon returning to Mingde Hall 101.
• Can assess, recognize, and support exceptional Soul Engineer talent.
• Personally grants qualified disciples access to high-grade workshops, rare metals, and high-level library materials 53.
• Verifies Little Spirit's claimed abilities by watching her create a Level 9 Soul Tool from high-grade materials, then grants her access to Mingde Hall's most confidential study areas 110.

Institutional Influence

As dean and Mingde Hall master, Jing Hongchen can override standard academy procedures and direct its resources.

• Personally approves Yao Shi's enrollment despite the age restriction 49.
• Accepts Yao Shi as a personal disciple and registers him with privileged Mingde Hall access 53.
• Arranges for Yao Shi's grandfather, Yao, to live in the Sun Moon Empire and pursue Soul Tool studies 94 103.
• His family status is influential enough that Meng Hongchen believes the imperial family would not dare retaliate against Yao Shi for injuring Ye Shaojie 108.

Equipment / Resources

• Mingde Hall — Leads the Sun Moon Empire's top Soul Tool research institution 101.
• Soul-tool ray weapon — A Level 2 weapon used when Yao Shi unexpectedly returns after a year 101.
• Mingde Hall resource network — Includes high-grade workshops, rare-metal vaults, extensive archives, and controlled-access areas 53.
• Intelligence network — Used to investigate Yao Shi's Shrek Academy background and later search for him after his disappearance 51 80.

Relationships

• Yao Shi — Personal disciple. Jing Hongchen recognizes his potential, provides unrestricted instruction and resources, worries over his year-long disappearance, and remains overwhelmed yet proud after learning of Yao Shi's rise to Title Douluo 53 80 101 102.
• Meng Hongchen — Granddaughter and disciple. He allows her to accompany him in investigating Yao Shi's disappearance and recognizes her affection for Yao Shi 53 81 103.
• Xiao Hongchen — Grandson and disciple; Yao Shi's senior brother 53 56.
• Yao — Yao Shi's grandfather. Jing Hongchen brings him to the Sun Moon Empire, supports his education, and is astonished that the Soul Power-less elder becomes a Level 2 Soul Engineer 94 103 109.
• Little Spirit — The awakened Life Metal under Yao Shi's command. Jing Hongchen initially doubts her claimed Level 9 abilities, then grants her exceptional research access after witnessing her work 110.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment of Yao Shi

Jing Hongchen discovers Yao Shi at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's admissions test. He personally evaluates the applicant, bypasses the age rule, and becomes increasingly convinced that Yao Shi is an unprecedented talent 49 50.

Apprenticeship

After Yao Shi becomes a Class 1 Soul Engineer in eight days, Jing Hongchen formally takes him as his third personal disciple. He grants Yao Shi a storage Soul Tool card containing a Class 8 defensive Soul Tool, as well as broad access to Mingde Hall's non-core facilities and resources 52 53.

Search for Yao Shi

When Yao Shi vanishes after the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament, Jing Hongchen dispatches agents to investigate but finds no trace of him. He later travels with Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen to Bluestone Town, where they find and bring Yao to the Sun Moon Empire 80 94.

Divine Tree Investigation

Reports of the Divine Tree's life energy, healing effects, and resurrection of recently deceased people leave Jing Hongchen deeply shocked. He decides to investigate it while continuing the search for Yao Shi 81.

Reunion at Mingde Hall

Yao Shi returns after a year and tells Jing Hongchen that his body was annihilated by a god, that another god saved him, and that he became the inheritor of the God of Abundance's divine position. Jing Hongchen is repeatedly bewildered by Yao Shi's nine hundred-thousand-year soul rings and Title Douluo cultivation, but quickly refocuses on developing his disciple's Soul Engineer potential 101 102.

Notable Quotes

“Yao Shi, are you willing to become my disciple?” 53

“In the future, I will teach you all my knowledge without reservation.” 53

“With your talent, becoming a Rank 9 Soul Engineer is already a certainty.” 102