Looking at Park Guk-chang, who had turned up uninvited and introduced himself as the dean of Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy, Chen Mo studied him.
Chen Mo couldn't help wanting to laugh.
How had he ended up with that name?
It was just so... well, that.
Fortunately, he was a professional. Holding back his laughter, he demanded, "Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy?"
"That's right. Have you considered my offer, young friend?" Park Guk-chang asked with a smile.
Chen Mo asked curiously, "How did you get past academy security, the detectors, the dorm supervisor, and all the surveillance around here?"
"Hahaha, mere child's play."
Park Guk-chang took out a box-shaped device and began answering every question like an alien who knew everything.
"This is a Signal Scrambler developed by our Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy. With a single press, it can block the detectors' scans."
"As for the dorm supervisor, I'm an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo. Dealing with a dorm supervisor was effortless."
"And the surveillance? With the dorm supervisor knocked flat, the surveillance naturally became useless."
"Well?"
"You've seen how powerful our Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy is, haven't you?"
"Aren't you itching to join our school now? Just nod, and I'll take you away right now."
"What's more, I can grant you core disciple status at our academy, the privileges of entering the inner academy, and even take you as my personal disciple."
Park Guk-chang stared straight at Chen Mo, offering him a whole pile of benefits.
"And what if I refuse?" Chen Mo asked again.
At that, Park Guk-chang's expression changed. "Refusing doesn't matter either, because I'll knock you unconscious and take you by force. See these men behind me?"
Park Guk-chang pointed at the burly men behind him.
"They're all Soul Emperors or above. You have no chance of escaping."
"I've made every possible preparation to bring you back this time. Once I take you back to the academy, you'll be a student of our Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy, whether you agree or not."
"Think carefully. Will you accept my invitation outright, or will we force you to accept it?"
Chen Mo said nothing, pretending to think while inwardly cursing, Holy shit, why isn't Jing Hongchen here yet? If you don't get here soon, your beloved student is going to be dragged away by these bastards.
Inside the Hongchen Family's luxurious manor.
Jing Hongchen was still deep in thought in his laboratory.
His Soul Tool Token, meanwhile, had been left on a chair in the living room.
This was Jing Hongchen's habit, meant to prevent interruptions while he researched Soul Tools.
He usually left his soul communicator token outside.
So he hadn't seen Chen Mo's message at all.
Just then, Meng Hongchen, fresh from her bath, arrived at the skybridge and noticed an unread message on Jing Hongchen's Soul Tool Token.
She figured that a message sent in the middle of the night had to be important.
Taking the Soul Tool Token, she went to the laboratory. "Grandpa, there's a message on your Soul Tool Token."
As Jing Hongchen took the token, he wondered who would be sending him a message.
And what could possibly have happened in the middle of the night?
Reluctantly, he opened the Soul Tool Token, only to leap up the instant he saw the message.
"Holy shit! Something really serious has happened!!!"
Ignoring Meng Hongchen beside him, he hurriedly rushed out of the house.
He also disguised himself as his usual short, stout figure.
Inside the dorm room.
A short while later.
Having guessed that Chen Mo was stalling for time, Park Guk-chang watched him.
"Student Chen Mo, stop struggling," Park Guk-chang said with a beaming smile.
"With my Signal Scrambler here, no soul device you use can send a message. Don't expect anyone to come help you."
"Just be good and come back with me."
Chen Mo chuckled. "Not necessarily."
Park Guk-chang's expression froze as he sensed something was wrong.
He immediately ordered his subordinates, "Move! Take our genius back."
"Yes!"
At his command, the burly men forced their way into the dorm room.
"Hehehe, kid, be good and come back with us."
Seeing that they were about to attack, Chen Mo reacted.
Chen Mo immediately activated his martial soul.
Two Soul Rings appeared, one purple and one black.
"First Soul Skill—Three Blooms of Azure Radiance!"
After using his enhancement Soul Skill, he prepared to strike.
His eyes widened!
He unleashed Soul Burst at the men.
Caught off guard, they were struck and instantly dropped to their knees, their heads aching as though they would split apart.
Seizing the opportunity, Chen Mo acted.
Chen Mo unleashed his second Soul Skill.
"Spatial Interference!"
In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
Chen Mo teleported outside the dormitory floor.
"Impossible!" Park Guk-chang exclaimed in shock, then snarled viciously, "After him! We must bring that brat back. Otherwise, kill him! We absolutely cannot let someone like him remain at Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy!"
"Yes."
The others immediately leaped out through the window.
They followed Chen Mo's aura in pursuit.
After escaping the dorm room, Chen Mo cried for help and ran toward a crowded area.
Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.
People from Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy caught up with him halfway there.
Park Guk-chang saw that the brat Chen Mo had already called for help.
He knew people from Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy would arrive before long.
To leave no evidence of their visit, he made his decision.
A murderous gleam flashed in his eyes. "Kill him!"
The moment his words fell, they moved.
The other men all attacked.
All kinds of Soul Skills hurtled toward Chen Mo.
At that hair's-breadth moment, something happened.
A slip of paper emerged from Chen Mo's chest.
Brilliant golden light erupted, forming a translucent spherical shield around Chen Mo.
It blocked every incoming attack.
This was precisely the gift Jing Hongchen had given Chen Mo earlier.
The Level 9 Soul Tool—Hongchen's Protection!
"A Level 9 Soul Tool!" Park Guk-chang paled in shock, then flew into a rage. "Damn it! How does a brat have a Level 9 Soul Tool?"
At the same time, someone arrived.
Jing Hongchen finally reached the scene.
The instant he landed, he launched into a tirade. "Park Guk-chang, fuck your mother! You sneaked into our academy in the middle of the night and fucking attacked my student! If you don't give me an explanation today, I'll blow your Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy to pieces!!!"
The genius student he had finally managed to recruit had nearly died at the hands of these animals.
Fortunately, he had given Chen Mo Hongchen's Protection earlier.
Otherwise, Chen Mo truly would have had no escape from disaster today.
So this time, Jing Hongchen was genuinely furious.
He brought out two Level 9 Soul Tools outright and aimed them at Park Guk-chang and his men.
Whether in strength, Soul Tool technology, or home-ground advantage, Jing Hongchen held the upper hand.
Park Guk-chang was no match for Jing Hongchen at all.
Yet there wasn't the slightest panic on his face. Instead, he smiled and said, "Hall Master Jing, what are you saying? I came here today merely to invite the gifted student behind you to join our Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy."
"Just now, I merely saw a fly behind the boy and wanted to swat it for him. How could I have intended to hurt him?"
Chen Mo was speechless.
Good grief.
This fellow really was shameless enough.
Even in this situation, he was still lying with his eyes wide open.
That attack had practically reached Chen Mo's face.
If Hongchen's Protection hadn't sensed the danger and activated automatically, things would have ended very differently.
Even if he hadn't died, he would probably have been severely injured.
He immediately repeated what Park Guk-chang had said earlier to Jing Hongchen, adding extra oil and vinegar along the way.
Sure enough, it worked.
After hearing him out, Jing Hongchen's face twisted with ferocity.
He took out another Level 9 Soul Cannon and aimed it at the men, saying coldly, "You bastard Park, do you think I'm that easy to fool? Or are you confident you can withstand my Soul Cannon?"
Before you continue