Listening to the noisy arguments all around him.
Old Zhang, the Director of Education, was utterly exasperated.
He had nearly finished work for the day, only for these people to trap him in his office.
What puzzled him was this.
Where had these people gotten their information about Chen Mo?
The day the principal returned, he had left specific instructions.
Although Chen Mo had become a new student at the academy.
Because of questions surrounding his identity and background.
He would not be assigned to a class for the time being.
The principal had also taken away Chen Mo's information sheet.
He had said he would make the arrangements himself when the time came, and ordered Old Zhang to maintain strict confidentiality, without revealing a single detail.
Yet even though Old Zhang had kept his lips sealed, he still couldn't stop the information from leaking.
He swore.
If he ever found out who had leaked Chen Mo's information.
He guaranteed it.
That person would be fired the next day for letting their left foot touch the ground first.
A certain teacher surnamed Tang couldn't help shivering.
As the teachers' arguments grew fiercer and their tempers flared higher.
Some even brought out soul cannons, declaring that they would duel in his office.
Old Zhang finally lost his patience.
He slammed the desk and sprang to his feet.
"Goddammit!"
"All of you, shut the fuck up!"
As the Director of Education.
His authority still carried some weight.
At that furious roar.
The teachers, who had been on the verge of battle, instantly fell silent.
But they still bristled and glared at one another.
Seeing that everyone had quieted down.
Old Zhang said angrily, "You're all teachers, for goodness' sake. You're supposed to set an example. Could you watch how you behave?"
"Look at the way you're fighting over a single new student!"
"Some of you even took out your fucking soul cannons. What are you doing? Starting a war?"
"This is my office."
"If you want a war, go fight it in your own offices."
A respected elderly man said, "Little Zhang, don't be angry. We did get a little carried away just now, but as long as you put Chen Mo in my class, I'll help you chase everyone else out right away. I'm getting on in years, and I've devoted my entire life to this academy. Now, near the end, I've finally come across a promising seedling and want to nurture him into a fine talent. Surely you can grant this old man's little wish, Little Zhang?"
At those words.
The other teachers all turned to look at him.
They voiced their displeasure.
Holy shit!
Had he thrown away all shame just to snatch a student?
They were just about to unleash a barrage of criticism.
When Old Zhang said helplessly, "Elder Yi, it's really not that I don't want to grant your wish. This simply isn't something I can decide. Someone has already claimed Chen Mo."
"Already claimed him?"
"Who?"
"Is there someone here whose soul power and mastery of soul tools surpass mine?"
"Tell me who it is. I'll have a little match with him."
This time, nobody objected.
Because Elder Yi was standing before them.
Was not only a Soul Douluo, but also a peak Level 8 Soul Engineer.
On top of that, he was one of the elders with a voice in the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
If not for his advanced age and his prolonged inability to break through to Titled Douluo.
He would have become a Level 9 Soul Engineer long ago!
Old Zhang paused before saying, "The principal."
"..."
Elder Yi, who had just been demanding a one-on-one match with whoever was competing for Chen Mo, immediately fell silent.
Oh, it was the principal.
Never mind, then.
The others cried out in unison, "The principal?!"
As luck would have it.
A voice came from outside the door.
"Who's looking for me?"
Jing Hongchen pushed the door open and entered.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw all those people gathered together.
Puzzled, he asked, "Tomorrow is the new students' first day. What are you all doing here?"
Old Zhang looked as though he had spotted his savior.
He made his way through the crowd and approached Jing Hongchen.
"Principal, what brings you here?"
"While observing the stars tonight, I felt a sudden stirring of inspiration. On a whim, I decided to personally take charge of a class among this year's new students."
Jing Hongchen talked in circles for quite a while before finally revealing his purpose.
Silence fell over the office once again.
Everyone stared at Jing Hongchen in disbelief.
As though they had heard something extraordinary.
The Director of Education was the first to recover. Lowering his voice, he whispered, "Principal, don't tell me you're doing this for Chen Mo?"
"Shh!"
"Keep your voice down. There are too many people here. Don't let them hear."
The other teachers: We heard everything.
After two days of thought.
Jing Hongchen had come to understand something.
Although Chen Mo was from the Heaven Dou Empire, and even belonged to the Body Sect.
So what?
It wasn't as though nobody had ever studied in an enemy nation before.
How could the academy treat students differently because of their origins?
Besides.
Chen Mo possessed exceptional talent.
At just nine years old, he was already a Level 27 Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster.
Far ahead of his peers.
A genius like that had passed over the nearby Shrek Academy.
And instead traveled a thousand miles to attend the Sun Moon Royal Academy.
That was proof enough of his sincerity.
As for the possibility that Chen Mo was an undercover agent.
Jing Hongchen's answer was that whoever sent him would have to be out of their mind.
Otherwise.
What sane person would send a genius with level-ten innate soul power to infiltrate an enemy nation?
If that really were the case.
He would be only too happy for those nations to send over a few more geniuses as undercover agents.
When the time came, he would appeal to their reason and move their hearts, turning every last one of them to his side.
Wouldn't he make a killing then!
After considering it from every angle.
Jing Hongchen believed what Chen Mo had told him.
After all, he couldn't bear to hand a genius like this over to someone else.
As for the condition he had previously set for Chen Mo—to pass the Level 2 Soul Engineer examination within a year.
Jing Hongchen had already made up his mind about that, too.
If Chen Mo truly couldn't pass the Level 2 Soul Engineer examination by then, he would still find a way to take him as his student.
"Hall Master, don't you only teach students specifically attached to the Illustrious Virtue Hall?"
"Teaching ordinary new students would be beneath your station."
"Why not leave this year's new students to us?"
Seeing the genius on his plate about to sprout wings and fly away, Elder Yi hurriedly tried to persuade him.
Perhaps he could still salvage the situation.
After hearing Elder Yi's words, how could Jing Hongchen fail to understand what he meant?
He simply laid his cards on the table. "Let's speak plainly, Elder Yi. I'm taking Chen Mo as my student. Even if the King of Heaven himself came today, I wouldn't yield. If you don't like it, let's have a match. Soul power or soul tools—take your pick."
"..."
Seeing Jing Hongchen's uncompromising attitude.
Elder Yi said nothing more and could only turn to leave.
The other teachers saw this and knew that getting Chen Mo was out of the question.
So they departed one after another.
Watching them leave, Jing Hongchen's lips curled into a crooked smile.
Who do you think you are, trying to steal my student?
Afterward, he handed over Chen Mo's information sheet, arranged his class assignment, and appointed himself as the homeroom teacher.
Jing Hongchen hummed a little tune.
And walked straight out.
Old Zhang, the Director of Education, was left wearing a worried expression.
"The principal himself, who's also the Hall Master of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, has come to work as a homeroom teacher."
"What kind of situation is this?"
Meanwhile, Chen Mo was in his dorm room.
Still unaware that a battle to claim him had just ended.
At that moment, he was reading late into the night by lamplight.
Diligently studying the soul tool theory in his books.
Before you continue