Xu Tianran's Recruitment, Zhong Liwu's Personal Arrival

The young man was handsome, with a noble and refined bearing.

Most importantly, he was in a wheelchair. Who else could it be but Xu Tianran?

Yan Jingchuan felt utterly helpless. He had barely stepped out of the classroom when he ran into Xu Tianran. Who would believe Xu Tianran had not deliberately been waiting for him?

Most likely, Xu Tianran wanted to probe the various theories Yan Jingchuan had proposed, draw some information out of him, and recruit him while indirectly currying favor with Kong Deming.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Excellency Shadow Douluo, and Senior Orange."

One did not slap a smiling face. No matter how unwilling Yan Jingchuan was, they had already come to his door, so he had no choice but to respectfully prepare for some polite sparring.

"Student Yan, there is no need for such formality."

Xu Tianran waved his hand repeatedly, while the middle-aged man beside him, Xue Chen, the Shadow Douluo, looked quite surprised.

"You actually know me."

Xue Chen, the Shadow Douluo, had vanished from public view many years ago. He had only recently become a royal court consecrated soul master, yet a mere brat had recognized him today.

"My teacher and Dean Hongchen have both mentioned Your Excellency, which was how I recognized you."

Yan Jingchuan used the opportunity to emphasize that he had people backing him. Who among the prominent figures of the Sun Moon Empire did not know that Kong Deming had taken a disciple?

When they learned that Yan Jingchuan had been ambushed twice because of the Third Prince, Kong Deming had personally stepped in to suppress the Third Prince, and Wang Shaojie had been dealt with on the spot.

Afterward, Kong Deming had very publicly announced that Yan Jingchuan and Xiao Hongchen were his disciples. Now, who in the Sun Moon Empire would not show the two of them some respect?

"So it was Elder Kong and Dean Hongchen who mentioned me. I am truly honored. Please convey my regards to them, Student Yan. I will certainly pay them a personal visit another day."

Xue Chen and Xu Tianran were both old foxes. Naturally, they understood the meaning beneath Yan Jingchuan's words.

He was merely using Kong Deming's name to remind them that even if he refused their recruitment and invitation, they should not go too far afterward.

Kong Deming held an immensely important position in the Sun Moon Empire. Not only was he the foremost soul engineer, he was also the empire's strongest individual.

With royal blood running through his veins, even Xu Tianran would have to rely on him after ascending the throne in the original story. Kong Deming was the foundation and stabilizing pillar of the Sun Moon Empire's royal family.

Xu Tianran still wore a smile on the surface. He truly did not dare target Yan Jingchuan afterward, given that he was Kong Deming's disciple. If it went undiscovered, that was one thing, but if Kong Deming found out, forget ascending the throne—he might not even be able to keep his position as Crown Prince.

"Student Yan, I have also come on behalf of my imperial father to apologize to you. You have made outstanding contributions to the development of soul tools, yet your life has been threatened time and again. This is the academy's fault, and a failure of the empire and myself."

Xu Tianran spoke with conviction and apparent sincerity, every bit the wise ruler devoted to his people, deeply regretting the treatment suffered by a meritorious subject like Yan Jingchuan.

"Your Highness overstates it..."

Yan Jingchuan immediately put on a flattered and fearful expression. He was now immensely impressed by Xu Tianran's acting. If he did not know what Xu Tianran was really like, he might truly have been fooled.

Orange, wearing glasses and with long orange hair, remained silent throughout, simply watching the two men trade words.

Although she was also Xuan Ziwen's student, just like Yan Jingchuan, she had almost no interaction with him.

On one hand, she was rather lazy. On the other, Yan Jingchuan had deliberately avoided her.

Knowing that Orange would become the future empress and war goddess of the Sun Moon Empire, as well as Xu Tianran's trusted confidante, Yan Jingchuan had not wanted to become entangled with the royal family. Naturally, he avoided interacting with her whenever possible. They sat in the same classroom, yet were complete strangers.

Still, what was meant to come had come. The Third Prince and Xu Tianran had sought him out one after another. After Kong Deming took him as a disciple, Yan Jingchuan had known that he would not be able to hide forever.

Xu Tianran shamelessly expressed his wish for Yan Jingchuan to show him around the academy. Yan Jingchuan could not refuse too bluntly and could only continue humoring him.

Sure enough, during the "tour," Xu Tianran could no longer hold himself back and began indirectly probing the theories Yan Jingchuan had proposed.

Regarding forging, the development of bonded soul tools, and the concepts of mechas and battle armor, Kong Deming had classified all of them as confidential. As the one who had proposed them, Yan Jingchuan had the authority to tell others, but Xu Tianran was clearly not among them.

As always, he had no desire to involve himself in the royal succession struggle, much less take the side of any prince.

Yan Jingchuan chose to play dumb. Everything Xu Tianran said was right; whatever he said went. Yan Jingchuan neither corrected him nor gave him any precise response. Xu Tianran could think whatever he wanted.

After wandering around for a while, Xu Tianran realized that he could not get anything out of Yan Jingchuan. He simply gave Yan Jingchuan a pile of rewards before turning and leaving.

Yan Jingchuan had not expected Xu Tianran to be so patient. He had even been prepared to use Kong Deming as a shield.

At the entrance of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Orange pushed Xu Tianran's wheelchair while Xu Tianran sat with a dark expression.

Xue Chen's gaze was solemn, his expression grim.

"Your Highness, that brat refuses all persuasion."

His fingers lightly tapping the armrest, a shadow flashed through Xu Tianran's eyes.

"As expected of someone who made Elder Kong make an exception and accept a disciple. He is far more clever than ordinary children. We will need to make long-term plans."

As he spoke, Xu Tianran turned to Orange.

"Orange, you are in the same class as him. Make good contact with him these days. It would be best if you could build a good relationship with him."

Light reflected off Orange's glasses as she nodded silently.

Inside the dormitory, Yan Jingchuan sat cross-legged on his bed, cultivating until deep into the night.

Ever since becoming Kong Deming's disciple, the pressure on him had multiplied. Not only did he have to go to the Hall of Virtue to inspect the various research projects launched because of his theories, but his previously suspended soul tool studies had also been put back on the agenda.

He had almost no time to cultivate during the day and could only use the nighttime.

Immersed in cultivation, Yan Jingchuan did not notice in the slightest that someone was standing before him.

The man was exceptionally tall. His silver hair was like steel needles, his brows like stars and his eyes like swords. He had purple eyes, wore a black robe and a mask over the lower half of his face, and held a scepter as he silently studied Yan Jingchuan.

Near dawn, Yan Jingchuan finally ended his cultivation and opened his eyes.

The stranger before him made him shudder in alarm.

"Who are you!?"

The Dark Sacred Dragon martial soul possessed him, and two soul rings, yellow and purple, rose beneath his feet.

Cold sweat streamed down Yan Jingchuan's back. He had not noticed anyone entering his dormitory at all. When had this person arrived!?

Jing Hongchen had already purged the academy. Why could someone still enter so casually? And directly enter his dormitory at that. This was already the third time!

"Second..."

Just as he tried to activate a soul skill to escape, a powerful pressure instantly interrupted Yan Jingchuan. His soul power was suppressed, and his soul skill activation failed.

Realizing that things had gone badly, Yan Jingchuan immediately tried to contact Kong Deming. However, his little movements were completely useless before the person standing in front of him.

Several defensive soul tools could not even last a breath before being destroyed in an instant. His communication soul tool fell into the stranger's hand.

The man examined the delicate, compact communication soul tool, then stared at Yan Jingchuan's martial soul for a long while.

"Dark Sacred Dragon, exactly the same as Uncle Long's."

Suppressed so thoroughly that he could not move, Yan Jingchuan did not hear the other man's quiet muttering. His mind raced as he considered the man's identity.

There were only a few people on the entire continent capable of giving him such a sense of oppression. Just who was this person?

"You have a second martial soul, don't you? Release it."

The pressure suddenly eased, and Yan Jingchuan looked at him in surprise.

"Senior, you are..."

The man casually tossed the communication soul tool back to Yan Jingchuan, then heavily struck the ground with his scepter.

"I am Zhongli Wu, leader of the Holy Spirit Cult."

Zhongli Wu! Yan Jingchuan was stunned. He had never expected the other party to actually be Zhongli Wu.

The leader of the Holy Spirit Cult had come looking for him in person. So Nangong Wan had not done nothing after all—he had reported the matter upward to Zhongli Wu and even alarmed him enough to make the trip personally.