A few days later.
Inside the dean's office.
"Mm, not bad."
"Ninety-nine percent. A rare find."
Jing Hongchen carefully examined the Level Two Soul Guidance Array core in his hand.
As one of the Sun Moon Empire's few Level 9 Soul Engineers.
He could judge the array in his hand with his naked eyes alone.
Standing before the desk, Chen Mo said, "Teacher, I've decided. I'm taking the Level Two Soul Tool Assessment today!"
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!"
"Good!"
"That's my student! I'll go prepare the assessment for you right away!"
"Lie down here and rest for a while first."
A smile spread across Jing Hongchen's face.
At that moment, his mood could not have been better.
Counting every last day, only seven months had passed since Chen Mo enrolled.
And two of those months had been vacation.
Yet Chen Mo's skill with soul tools had already reached the standard of a Level 2 Soul Engineer.
Such speed was rarely recorded even in the Sun Moon Empire.
What made him wild with joy was that this genius was his own student.
Without delay, he turned and left, flying swiftly toward the Experimental Building.
Watching Jing Hongchen's excitement.
"Honestly, you're this excited over a mere Level Two Soul Tool Assessment. If I told you I could already take the Level Three Soul Tool Assessment, wouldn't you go mad?" Chen Mo shook his head and lay down on the sofa.
Thanks to the teaching system at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
Over these past days.
He had continued studying hard as before, making efficient use of his time.
Finally, a week earlier, he had completed a Level Three Formation Core.
The reason he had waited until today to tell Jing Hongchen that he wanted to take the Level Two Soul Tool Assessment.
Was that he had deliberately spent this week honing and familiarizing himself with the techniques for making a Level Three Formation Core.
Of course, he had not neglected his martial soul cultivation either.
With an ultimate martial soul and his level having reached thirty.
His cultivation speed had already slowed.
If he did not cultivate diligently, what good would mastering soul tool techniques do?
After all, soul power was a Soul Master's foundation, as well as the key to powering soul tools.
So, compared with his first semester.
This semester, he had devoted most of his energy to cultivating his martial soul.
Before long.
Jing Hongchen had finished arranging the assessment.
As the dean of an academy, he certainly had that much ability.
"Xiao Mo, the materials and venue for the assessment are ready. You can begin whenever you like. I'll personally serve as your examiner."
"As long as you produce a qualifying level two soul tool, you'll pass the assessment and become a true Level 2 Soul Engineer!"
"But if your soul tool fails to meet the requirements, I'll still fail you, even though I'm your teacher."
Although he knew passing the Level 2 Soul Engineer assessment was something Chen Mo had firmly in the palm of his hand.
He still offered a reminder, lest the boy become so arrogant that carelessness during the assessment caused him to fail.
Chen Mo patted his chest. "Rest assured, sir. I wouldn't do anything I wasn't confident about."
Teacher and student soon headed toward the Experimental Building.
Just as they reached the building.
They saw all the first- and second-year students gathered outside, led by their respective class teachers.
Chen Mo whispered to Jing Hongchen, "Teacher, I'm only taking the Level Two Soul Tool Assessment. Isn't this a bit too much fanfare?"
"I have no idea. I didn't arrange this."
Jing Hongchen looked equally bewildered.
Just then, a figure came racing toward them at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint, then stopped firmly before them.
The newcomer was none other than Old Zhang, the Director of Education.
"Dean, you're here."
"Old Zhang, what exactly is going on? Did you summon all these students?"
Jing Hongchen promptly questioned him.
Old Zhang chuckled. "Dean, I heard Chen Mo was taking the Level Two Soul Tool Assessment. In keeping with sound teaching principles, I specially invited the first- and second-year students to observe and learn."
Jing Hongchen glanced at Chen Mo.
"I don't mind," Chen Mo replied.
Seeing that his student had no objections, Jing Hongchen said nothing further.
He merely instructed, "They may only watch from the observation room. They absolutely must not interfere with Chen Mo's performance."
"Rest assured, Dean. I've already instructed them."
Having received the dean's approval.
Old Zhang quickly directed the students into the Experimental Building in an orderly fashion.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo followed Jing Hongchen.
Toward the laboratory.
They happened to encounter Xuan Ziwen along the way.
"Hall Master."
"Oh? Chen Mo, we meet again."
Xuan Ziwen's memory of Chen Mo remained vivid.
Back then, he had nearly taken Chen Mo as his student before Jing Hongchen could. Unfortunately, a tiny bit of prejudice had caused him to miss out on this genius.
When he learned that Chen Mo had passed the Level One Soul Tool Assessment in just three months.
He had nearly regretted it enough to bash his head against the southern wall, bitterly wondering why he had not accepted Chen Mo back then.
"Hello, Teacher Xuan," Chen Mo replied politely.
Xuan Ziwen looked at Jing Hongchen. "Hall Master, what brings you and Chen Mo here? And why are there first- and second-year students here too?"
"Oh, nothing much. I'm just bringing this little fellow here for the Level Two Soul Tool Assessment."
"As for the others, they're simply here to learn."
Jing Hongchen spoke as lightly as drifting clouds and a gentle breeze, as though it were hardly worth mentioning.
"So he's taking the level two..." Xuan Ziwen had yet to register it. When realization struck, his eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he shouted, "The Level 2 Soul Engineer assessment?!!!"
He turned to look at Chen Mo.
If he remembered correctly.
This boy had only enrolled seven months ago.
Subtracting the two-month vacation.
That left just five months, all told, and Chen Mo was already ready to take the Level Two Soul Tool Assessment!
Was this a joke?
What kind of heaven-defying learning speed was this?
Even after spending so long in the Illustrious Virtue Hall, he had rarely seen such a genius.
"Teacher Xuan, was there anything else?"
"If not, I'll take Chen Mo to his assessment now."
Jing Hongchen paid Xuan Ziwen no further attention.
He led Chen Mo around him and into the laboratory.
By the time Xuan Ziwen came to his senses, he realized they had already entered the laboratory.
Without time to think further.
He immediately took out his Soul Tool Token.
He thought to himself.
Even if Chen Mo can't become my student, he could still become my junior fellow disciple.
Soon, a kindly voice came from the Soul Tool Token.
"Ziwen, it's been a long time. What made you suddenly think to contact your teacher?"
The person on the other end was none other.
Than Kong Deming—the current Hall Master of the Sun Moon Empire's Offering Hall, a Level 9 Soul Engineer, and a figure who represented the very pinnacle of the soul tool field!
Xuan Ziwen hurriedly said, "Teacher, something huge has happened..."
Before he could finish, Kong Deming interrupted him. "What's all this fuss? Take your time. What could be so serious? Have the Douluo Three Kingdoms invaded? Or has the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy exploded?"
"Teacher, do you know Chen Mo?" Xuan Ziwen asked.
Kong Deming thought for a moment. "Chen Mo? The name rings a bell. He's the student Jing Hongchen took in, isn't he? What is it? Has something happened to him?"
"Chen Mo is already preparing to take the Level 2 Soul Engineer assessment."
After Xuan Ziwen finished speaking, Kong Deming fell silent for a moment, then shouted, "Why didn't you say so sooner!"
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