Return to the Modern Era, Joining the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy

Heaven Dou City.

Du Busi flew down with Yan Jingchuan before the imperial palace gates.

"Kid Yan, are you really going to the Sun Moon Empire?"

Looking at Yan Jingchuan, Du Busi had no idea how many times he had already asked this question.

"Senior Du! Sect Master Du... I'm absolutely certain."

Yan Jingchuan answered with a lifeless expression.

"Sigh, I just can't understand it. What's so good about soul tools that you insist on studying them?"

"With your talent, becoming a Limit Douluo is only a matter of time. Why waste your time learning about soul tools?"

On their way back to Heaven Dou City, Yan Jingchuan had told Du Busi that he might go to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Du Busi had been thoroughly dismissive of the idea.

Yan Jingchuan knew very well that it was not only Du Busi. Most people in the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms held prejudices against soul tools, always believing that a Soul Master's personal cultivation was the true path.

The most ridiculous part was that the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms looked down on soul tools while holding Tang Sect's antique hidden weapons in the highest regard.

Yan Jingchuan, meanwhile, despised hidden weapons the most. Only a petty man like Tang San would treat them as sacred doctrine.

"Senior Du, I can tell you with complete seriousness that this is now an era where soul tools and Soul Masters are combined. The Sun Moon Empire's soul tools can already threaten Limit Douluo."

"How is that possible? Those scraps of metal can threaten a Limit Douluo? What a joke!"

Du Busi still clung to the old ways of thinking from the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms and refused to believe it.

With a long sigh, Yan Jingchuan said no more.

Going to the Sun Moon Empire was imperative. It would not only let him escape Shrek's threat and move farther from Great God-King Tang's gaze, but also allow him to contact the Holy Spirit Cult.

His goals did not stop at becoming a Limit Douluo. Yan Jingchuan wanted to become a god, perhaps even kill Tang San. To do that, he had to gain as much power as possible.

Seeing that he could not persuade Yan Jingchuan, Du Busi once again felt a pang of regret.

Why wasn't such a peerless monster blessed with a Noumenon martial soul? Heaven truly does not favor my Noumenon Sect!

"Senior, thank you for your help on this journey. If there is a chance in the future, I will definitely repay you generously!"

As he prepared to leave, Yan Jingchuan solemnly thanked Du Busi.

"Be careful, kid. I won't be protecting you along the way. Don't you dare die!"

Yan Jingchuan nodded and turned to leave.

Du Busi suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"Wait!"

"Is there something else, Senior?"

After hesitating repeatedly, Du Busi took out that External Spirit Bone again.

"Absorb this before you leave."

Yan Jingchuan stared at the External Spirit Bone, stunned for a moment before firmly shaking his head.

"Senior Du, I have principles. I never take back something I've given away, except from enemies."

Du Busi raised his brows.

"You're quite clear about that."

Yan Jingchuan smiled and made to run.

"So you should save it for someone else. I'm leaving first!"

"Get back here!"

A giant hand formed from soul power grabbed Yan Jingchuan and dragged him back.

"What, kid? You think this Soul Bone isn't good enough for you?"

Yan Jingchuan repeatedly shook his head. Just as he was about to speak, Du Busi interrupted him.

"Stop talking nonsense. If I tell you to absorb it, hurry up and do it. Don't think one Soul Bone is enough to repay the favor you owe me. I'm telling you, it isn't!"

Left with no choice, Yan Jingchuan tearfully absorbed the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's External Spirit Bone.

His soul power level also rose to level sixteen, only a step away from level seventeen.

The enhancement brought by this External Spirit Bone nearly allowed Yan Jingchuan's first soul skill to completely ignore defenses.

That day, with Du Busi's assistance, Yan Jingchuan joined a Heavenly Soul Empire royal caravan bound for the Sun Moon Empire.

Bright City, capital of the Sun Moon Empire.

The city at the forefront of soul tool development in this era.

Walking through Bright City's streets, Yan Jingchuan looked at the towering buildings around him and felt dazed, as though he had never transmigrated at all.

The present-day Bright City was already extremely close to a modern city.

Without wasting too much time elsewhere, Yan Jingchuan headed straight for the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.

The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy was close to the imperial palace and not difficult to find. Yan Jingchuan stood at the academy gates and looked around.

Compared to Shrek, which directly occupied an entire city, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy did not leave Yan Jingchuan particularly amazed.

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you standing there for?"

The gate guard had noticed Yan Jingchuan long ago and had not intended to bother with him, but when he saw the boy getting closer and closer, he had no choice but to stop him.

"This is the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Unauthorized people are not permitted inside!"

Yan Jingchuan made no unnecessary movements and merely spoke calmly.

"Please report this for me. Tell him that the son of Yan Shaozhe, dean of Shrek's Martial Soul Department, requests an audience with Hall Master Jing Hongchen."

Upon hearing the name Shrek, the guard's expression changed drastically.

"You're from Shrek? You... wait here!"

Revealing his identity on his own initiative was the result of Yan Jingchuan's careful consideration.

If he followed normal procedures, he would never even get through the gates of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Even if he did get in, his connection to Shrek would likely bring countless complications.

By exposing his identity, he could immediately draw the attention of the Sun Moon Empire's upper ranks. His defection from Shrek would not be hard to investigate, making it easier for them to accept him.

Of course, it did not matter if they refused to accept him. Defecting from Shrek was equivalent to becoming an enemy of the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms. He already had no place left there, so having the Sun Moon Empire added to the list made little difference.

The other reason was to use the Sun Moon Empire to send a message to the Holy Spirit Cult. The Sun Moon Empire's crown prince, Xu Tianran, worked very closely with the Holy Spirit Cult.

His existence would most likely attract the attention of Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao. At that point, joining the Holy Spirit Cult would happen naturally.

Soon, someone emerged from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. The gate guard hurriedly bowed.

"Director Lin!"

Upon hearing that form of address, Yan Jingchuan immediately knew the man's identity.

The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy's director of instruction, Lin Jiayi.

"You are Yan Jingchuan? Come with me."

Lin Jiayi led Yan Jingchuan into the academy and toward the headmaster's office.

Inside the office sat a rugged-looking man with fierce eyes, dressed in a purple robe.

Lin Jiayi poured Yan Jingchuan a cup of tea.

"Headmaster Hongchen, could you stop looking at me with that disguised appearance? It's putting a lot of pressure on me."

Before Jing Hongchen could speak, Yan Jingchuan spoke first. Though he claimed to be under pressure, he was grinning.

A flash of surprise passed through Jing Hongchen's eyes. Then, light and shadow swirled around him, revealing a young and handsome man with long white hair and a monocle.

Jing Hongchen, headmaster of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and also Hall Master of the Sun Moon Empire's Hall of Virtue, a level ninety-four Titled Douluo.

"Why did you want to see me?"

Having no intention of beating around the bush with a child, Jing Hongchen went straight to the point.

"I can't stay in the Three Douluo Kingdoms anymore. I want to find somewhere to belong."

"So you came to my Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy because you wish to join the Sun Moon Empire?"

Yan Jingchuan nodded and gave the most straightforward answer.

"Shrek wanted to cripple me. I escaped, and now I want revenge on them. The Sun Moon Empire has always been at odds with Shrek."

Jing Hongchen pondered for a moment before asking another question.

"What is your martial soul?"

Although Shrek had released word that Yan Jingchuan possessed an evil martial soul and had defected, they had not explained what his martial soul actually was.

"Dark Sacred Dragon."

As he spoke, the Dark Sacred Dragon martial soul possessed him, and Jing Hongchen's eyes lit up.

A top-tier martial soul, with exceptionally high talent as well. If he could take him in...

Thoughts aside, Jing Hongchen still had his concerns.

"You meet the enrollment requirements of my Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, but why should I trust you?"

Yan Jingchuan took out the badges of dead Shrek students from his storage soul tool.

"Because I killed Shrek students to survive, and because I am standing before you right now."

Jing Hongchen looked at those badges, then met Yan Jingchuan's eyes, which did not match his age.