Jing Hongchen ultimately could not refuse Yan Jingchuan.
Such a genius had practically been delivered to his doorstep. If he still did not take him in, then there really had to be something wrong with his head.
Having successfully enrolled in Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Yan Jingchuan finally let out a sigh of relief. Although it had not been beyond his expectations—Jing Hongchen had indeed not refused him—the matter had remained unresolved until now, and he could not help worrying that something might go wrong.
In the blink of an eye, more than half a month passed.
From Laboratory Seven came Xuan Ziwen's ecstatic, tearful wail:
"Wonderful, wonderful! You finally succeeded!!"
Yan Jingchuan looked at the Soul Tool core formation in his hand, his face darkening.
Beside him, the white-haired young man and woman with heterochromatic eyes covered their mouths, barely holding back their laughter.
They were Jing Hongchen's grandson and granddaughter, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen.
"More than a month to reach the level of a first-rank Soul Engineer. What extraordinary talent... Hahaha!"
Xiao Hongchen bent over laughing without the slightest concern for his image.
Xuan Ziwen, with his long hair, glasses, and tears of relieved emotion on his face, raised his head toward the ceiling, not wanting to say a single word.
Ever since enrolling, Yan Jingchuan had been studying under Xuan Ziwen. Seeing Yan Jingchuan's exceptional talent in cultivation and how quickly he understood and mastered Soul Tool theory, Xuan Ziwen had thought that he would be a Soul Tool prodigy.
The result was a crushing disappointment—at one point, it had even been utterly torturous.
Taking over a month to become a first-rank Soul Engineer, Xuan Ziwen had never taught a student with such talent before.
Yan Jingchuan was helpless as well. Strictly speaking, going from a vague understanding of Soul Tools to becoming a first-rank Soul Engineer in just over a month was not particularly slow, but that depended on whom he was being compared with.
Xuan Ziwen was an eighth-rank Soul Engineer, and none of the students he personally taught had ever been poor at Soul Tools.
There was even less need to mention Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen. At barely over ten years old, if not for their Soul Power Level limitations, they would already have been third-rank Soul Engineers.
Compared side by side, Yan Jingchuan's talent with Soul Tools could only be considered ordinary, perhaps even lacking.
Seeing Xiao Hongchen still laughing, Yan Jingchuan frowned.
"Xiao Hongchen! Are you done yet? Want to spar again?"
Noticing Yan Jingchuan's unfriendly expression, Xiao Hongchen shut his mouth.
When Yan Jingchuan had first enrolled, Xiao Hongchen had heard about him and immediately run over to challenge him, wanting to prove that he was the most talented of the new generation.
Then Yan Jingchuan taught him a lesson.
Proud and unyielding, Xiao Hongchen refused to accept it. As the self-proclaimed greatest genius of the Sun Moon Empire, he would never lose to Yan Jingchuan a second time.
What followed were challenge after challenge, and crushing defeat after crushing defeat.
With two Soul Rings, he could not beat someone with one, and Yan Jingchuan had to hold back for fear of accidentally seriously injuring Xiao Hongchen.
Even the greatest pride would eventually be worn away, and through their repeated fights, they had become acquainted.
"Just wait until I break through to three Soul Rings. Then we'll fight again!"
Though he had shut his mouth, Xiao Hongchen had no intention of yielding so easily. Yan Jingchuan's Soul Tool talent was average, so he still had an advantage.
Perhaps because of Yan Jingchuan's blows to his confidence, Xiao Hongchen's Soul Power Level had risen rapidly. He was now at level twenty-eight, not far from a breakthrough.
"Brother! By the time you break through, Jingchuan will probably have reached two Soul Rings too. You still won't be able to beat him then."
The ponytailed, lively, adorable Meng Hongchen suddenly undermined her own brother from beside him.
Yan Jingchuan had not spent the past month solely studying Soul Tools. His Soul Power Level was now nineteen, only a step away from breaking through. As long as he wanted to, he could break through at any time.
Such rapid cultivation was thanks to his tenfold cultivation efficiency. Gaining three levels in a single night was absurdly easy.
As for why he had not broken through, Yan Jingchuan was afraid that cultivating too quickly would arouse suspicion. Arriving at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and immediately gaining three levels to break through would be far too conspicuous.
At the same time, Yan Jingchuan intended to improve his physical condition and spiritual power as much as possible, striving to absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring as his second Soul Ring and attempt a ten-thousand-year one for his third.
"Meng! Why are you boosting someone else's morale while crushing your own brother's? Once I reach three Soul Rings, this genius will definitely defeat him!"
"And why do you call him Jingchuan? And so intimately, too!"
Xiao Hongchen was extremely displeased by his little sister's backstabbing and became somewhat flustered.
After recovering his composure, Xuan Ziwen turned serious again. He first carefully examined the core formation Yan Jingchuan had inscribed, then spoke after weighing the pros and cons.
"Yan Jingchuan, I don't think you are suited for the path of Soul Tool crafting. Besides, your martial soul is already powerful enough. In the future, you should mainly study external-use Soul Tools and pair them with your martial soul."
"As for Soul Tool crafting, do what you can. I will discuss this matter with Dean Jing Hongchen."
Yan Jingchuan had no objections and nodded.
There was nothing wrong with fully exploiting the advantages of his martial soul. One of his reasons for coming to the Sun Moon Empire was to obtain a Soul Tool that complemented him, like Ye Xishui's Death God Pagoda.
The Death God Pagoda had not been personally crafted by Ye Xishui. It had come from Kong Deming, that tenth-rank Soul Engineer known as the father of Soul Tools.
If he could not craft one himself, then he would raise a tenth-rank Soul Engineer instead—Xiao Hongchen, for example.
When the time came, he would work Xiao Hongchen like a mule and mass-produce ninth-rank Soul Tools.
After leaving the laboratory, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen followed him, one on each side.
Yan Jingchuan was thoroughly confused.
"Don't you need to attend class? Why are you following me?"
He no longer needed systematic instruction in Soul Tool crafting and could simply take electives, but Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were different. Soul Tools were the foundation of their future. Why were they following him during class time?
"Relaxing once in a while is no big deal. Besides, we're mainly cultivating and obtaining Soul Rings now. We learned the third-rank Soul Engineer material ages ago."
Xiao Hongchen placed both hands behind his head, looking unconcerned.
"We also wanted to ask whether you can break through before next month. Then Grandpa can take us to obtain Soul Rings together."
Meng Hongchen walked lightly in front of Yan Jingchuan and asked.
"You're going to the Extreme North to obtain Soul Rings?"
"Yes, there... It will probably be difficult to find a suitable soul beast for you."
Meng Hongchen was a model example of the perfect fusion between the Soul Master system and the Soul Engineer system. Her Jade-Clear Ice Toad martial soul had certain requirements for Soul Rings.
The siblings were going to the Extreme North together. While helping Meng Hongchen find a Soul Ring, they would settle Xiao Hongchen's as well.
After all, Xiao Hongchen followed the pure Soul Engineer path and did not have many requirements for Soul Rings. He mainly needed one to break through his realm.
If Yan Jingchuan's Dark Sacred Dragon went to the Extreme North, he could only hope to encounter a draconic soul beast.
"That works. I can probably break through next week."
Xiao Hongchen was no longer calm when he heard that.
"So fast!?"
Back in his dormitory, Yan Jingchuan sat cross-legged on his bed and could not help thinking.
The Holy Spirit Cult still had not come looking for him. There were many Evil Soul Masters in the Sun Moon Empire. Even if they could not reach into Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, they should not have had no reaction at all after learning of him.
What was Xu Tianran doing? Had he not yet colluded with the Holy Spirit Cult at this point? That should not be the case...
Yan Jingchuan had even intended to use the Holy Spirit Cult to search the Star Luo Empire for the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife.
Life Gold was good stuff. With Life Gold, not only could he absorb its life force to improve his physical condition, but he could also intercept Electrolux in the future.
Yan Jingchuan did not dare touch that giant bug, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. He feared drastically affecting Huo Yuhao's fate and drawing the attention of Great God-King Tang, but he absolutely had to intercept Electrolux.
As he was thinking, someone knocked on the door.
Yan Jingchuan froze. Who would come looking for him at this time?
Opening the door, he found a man and a woman standing outside. The young man had long hair and an ethereal air, his gaze sharp as blades. He stood ramrod straight with a sword held in his arms.
The young woman wore a purple cheongsam, her hair in a bun, and glasses as she looked Yan Jingchuan up and down.
Ji Juechen! And Jing Ziyan...
Recognizing them, Yan Jingchuan felt a vague sense of foreboding. He wasn't here to fight me, was he?
"Hello, junior. I am Ji Juechen. I heard that you came from Shrek Academy, so I have come specifically to ask for a match. Would you be willing to accept my challenge?"
Before you continue