Jing Hongchen

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Jing Hongchen (镜红尘)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy; Mingde Hall; Hongchen Family 67
Occupation/Role	Dean of Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy; Master of Mingde Hall 67
Rank	Described as an eighth-rank Soul Engineer upon meeting Yu Chen; later identified as a Level-9 Soul Engineer and Titled Douluo-level powerhouse 67 97
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 66

Appearance

Jing Hongchen is an older man, appearing to be around sixty, with gray hair kept sleek and carefully combed. He carries himself with the unmistakable authority of a senior academy leader. 67

• Wears dark-gold robes embroidered with sun-and-moon patterns at the cuffs. 67
• Often rolls two walnuts in his hand. 67
• Has thick brows, a high straight nose, thin lips, and a broad, solid jaw. 104
• His demeanor shifts readily between stern authority, strategic calculation, and unusually warm enthusiasm toward exceptional students. 66 90

Personality

Jing Hongchen is shrewd, pragmatic, and highly responsive to extraordinary talent. After learning that Shrek Academy had branded Yu Chen a Sun Moon spy despite never receiving such an agent from the empire, he dismisses the accusation as a baseless label and regards Shrek's loss of Yu Chen as foolish. 66

His interest in Yu Chen is not purely academic. He immediately recognizes the Golden Dragon's immense physique as ideal for operating high-grade Soul Tools, then considers recruiting Yu Chen and Gu Yuena into the Hongchen Family to protect its future amid an increasingly unstable imperial situation. 66

Although calculating, Jing Hongchen is an active patron of talent. He breaks academy rules to accelerate gifted students, provides resources and opportunities, and becomes increasingly protective once Yu Chen becomes Kong Deming's disciple. 78 89 90

Abilities & Skills

Soul Engineering

Jing Hongchen is a high-ranking Soul Engineer and the master of Mingde Hall. He personally assesses experimental Soul Tools and recognizes unconventional designs that could change the academy's—and empire's—future. 67 71

• Tested Yu Chen's fourth-rank fixed-installation Soul Cannon despite its unconventional forward energy-chamber design. 71
• Awarded Yu Chen a gold-edged fourth-rank badge after confirming that he had broken the academy's age record. 71
• Recognized Yu Chen's mass-producible weapon concepts as militarily significant and advanced Yu Chen and Gu Yuena to higher-year studies. 78
• Identified Battle Armor technology as a revolutionary Soul Tool concept worthy of the academy's attention. 88

Talent Assessment and Institutional Planning

Jing Hongchen makes exceptions to academy regulations when he judges a student's potential warrants it. 65 78 98

• Arranged exceptional enrollment for Yu Chen and Gu Yuena after reviewing their entrance-test results. 65 66
• Personally demanded to examine their Martial Souls and Soul Ring configurations rather than rely solely on written reports. 67 68
• Advanced Yu Chen and Gu Yuena directly to fourth year, then later to fifth year for tournament eligibility. 78 98
• Placed Ye Guyi in the Practical Control Soul Tool class rather than forcing her into Soul Tool crafting, judging her Sacred Angel Martial Soul to be her true strength. 98

Political and Protective Measures

Jing Hongchen takes discreet measures to secure valuable students while avoiding unnecessary interference. 66 91

• Investigated Yu Chen's alleged status as a Sun Moon spy and confirmed that the accusation had no basis. 66
• Considered drawing Yu Chen and Gu Yuena into the Hongchen Family through his grandchildren. 66
• Secretly assigned the Level Eight Soul Engineer Old Wang to protect Yu Chen and Gu Yuena during their Far North expedition. 91
• Became particularly cautious about Yu Chen's safety after Kong Deming accepted him as his final disciple. 90

Background / History

When Yu Chen and Gu Yuena applied to Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Jing Hongchen received Lin Jiayi's report on their exceptional test results. Yu Chen's Soul Douluo-level physical constitution and spiritual power, combined with his eleven-year-old bone age, left Jing Hongchen astonished. 66

His investigation established that Yu Chen had come from Shrek Academy and was wanted by Shrek on a fabricated accusation of being a Sun Moon Empire spy. Jing Hongchen confirmed that the empire had sent no such spy and concluded that Shrek had driven away an unparalleled genius. 66

After learning Yu Chen possessed the Golden Dragon Martial Soul, Jing Hongchen immediately saw its practical value: a body with ultimate strength could withstand the recoil of high-grade Soul Tools. He began treating Yu Chen and Gu Yuena as prospective pillars of the Sun Moon Empire and potential assets for the Hongchen Family. 66 68

Jing Hongchen later personally tested the pair. Yu Chen displayed six Soul Rings—two purple and four black—while concealing his true hundred-thousand-year rings; the revelation convinced Jing Hongchen that Shrek's rejection had been a monumental mistake. 68

He introduced Yu Chen and Gu Yuena to Xuan Ziwen's laboratory, enabling Yu Chen's rapid rise in Soul Engineering. When Yu Chen achieved fourth-rank certification at age twelve, Jing Hongchen awarded him the academy's gold-edged badge and prepared his technical work for publication in the Sun Moon Soul Tool Journal. 69 71 72

After Yu Chen became Kong Deming's final disciple, Jing Hongchen's concern became even more pronounced. He approved Yu Chen's Far North research leave only after arranging for Old Wang to follow the pair in secret. 89 91

Upon Yu Chen's return, Jing Hongchen accepted Ye Guyi into the academy after witnessing her Sacred Angel Martial Soul. He was then overwhelmed when Yu Chen revealed his advancement to Soul Saint, though Yu Chen still concealed the true age of his rings. 96 97

Relationships

• Yu Chen — Student and highly valued prodigy. Jing Hongchen supports his Soul Tool research, protects his interests, repeatedly makes academic exceptions for him, and appoints him captain of the tournament Main Team. 66 71 91 99
• Gu Yuena — Yu Chen's companion and an exceptional academy student. Jing Hongchen advances her alongside Yu Chen despite her lower Soul Engineer rank because of her elemental control and their close partnership. 66 78 98
• Xuan Ziwen — Soul Tool researcher and instructor. Jing Hongchen brings Yu Chen and Gu Yuena to Xuan Ziwen's laboratory, correctly anticipating that Yu Chen's ideas would interest him. 68 69
• Kong Deming — Senior figure whose acceptance of Yu Chen as his final disciple causes Jing Hongchen to treat Yu Chen's safety with even greater caution. 89 90
• Xiao Hongchen — Grandson. Jing Hongchen compares Yu Chen's fourth-rank achievement with Xiao's former academy record and later appoints Xiao captain of the Reserve Team. 71 99
• Meng Hongchen — Granddaughter. Jing Hongchen considers using his grandchildren's connection with Yu Chen and Gu Yuena to bring the pair closer to the Hongchen Family. 66
• Ye Guyi — Newly enrolled core disciple. Jing Hongchen recognizes the value of her Sacred Angel Martial Soul and assigns her to a class focused on practical Soul Tool use and Martial Soul development. 96 98
• Lin Jiayi — Dean of students who reports Yu Chen and Gu Yuena's admission results and background investigation to Jing Hongchen. 65 66
• Old Wang — Level Eight Soul Engineer secretly assigned by Jing Hongchen to protect Yu Chen and Gu Yuena during their Far North trip. 91

Story Role / Major Arcs

Yu Chen and Gu Yuena's Enrollment

Jing Hongchen becomes aware of Yu Chen and Gu Yuena through their entrance examinations, investigates their backgrounds, and accepts them as academy students despite Shrek's accusations. 65 66

Recruitment into Soul Tool Research

He tests the pair's Soul Rings himself, recognizes Yu Chen's suitability for high-level Soul Tool use, and introduces both students to Xuan Ziwen's laboratory. 67 68

Fourth-Rank Record and Grade Advancement

Jing Hongchen confirms Yu Chen's fourth-rank Soul Engineer achievement, awards him a gold-edged badge, and later advances Yu Chen and Gu Yuena to fourth-year studies due to their superior ability. 71 78

Far North Expedition

Concerned for Yu Chen and Gu Yuena's safety, Jing Hongchen grants their leave request while secretly dispatching Old Wang as a concealed protector. 91

Tournament Preparations

Jing Hongchen advances Yu Chen to fifth year, places Gu Yuena and Ye Guyi in appropriate courses, and appoints Yu Chen captain of the Sun Moon Academy Main Team for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. 98 99

He sets the academy's objective as ending Shrek Academy's championship monopoly and entrusts Yu Chen with leading the team to the Star Luo Empire. 105