Steamrolling Everyone

"I... lost..."

Xiao Hongchen stood rooted to the spot, dumb as a wooden chicken.

He refused to believe what had just happened.

He was a high-tier Soul King, and a Level 5 Soul Engineer to boot.

Yet his sister, a low-tier Soul King, and a mere Soul Elder had defeated him.

It defied all reason. It was unbelievable. It was utter nonsense.

"Meng, Chen Mo, I admit I lost, but at least tell me how."

Even now, Xiao Hongchen could not understand how a battle in which he clearly held the advantage had turned into a complete rout in less than five minutes.

"That's simple. Xiao Mo, explain it to my brother."

"Brother Xiao, sorry for the trouble, but please don't resist."

Chen Mo used his Soul Skill on Xiao Hongchen.

Xiao Hongchen, who had still been full of doubts, instantly understood why he had lost.

"Wait! I don't accept this!"

"I didn't understand Chen Mo's Soul Skill just now. A moment of carelessness threw me off my game and made me lose."

"I never got to show my true strength, so I demand a rematch!"

Refusing to accept defeat, Xiao Hongchen righteously declared the reasons for his loss.

"Since you won't accept it, big brother, we'll just have to beat you until you do."

"What do you say, Xiao Mo?"

Meng Hongchen looked to Chen Mo for his opinion.

"No problem!"

Chen Mo replied with a smile.

He, too, thought they should fight a few more rounds.

That would help them develop their teamwork and let the other two quickly familiarize themselves with his Soul Skill.

"Then, Teacher, sorry for the trouble, but please referee for us again."

"No trouble at all."

Jing Hongchen stepped forward and replaced Xiao Hongchen's Soul Tool Shield.

Then, beaming, he resumed his role as referee.

Soon, the three of them fought several more rounds.

In the first round, Xiao Hongchen learned from his earlier mistake and tried to take out Chen Mo as soon as the match began. After finally slipping past Meng Hongchen and closing in to attack Chen Mo, he was caught completely off guard by Mental Rampage, then eliminated by a flurry of attacks from Meng Hongchen as she rushed over.

In the second round, having figured out Meng Hongchen and Chen Mo's approach, Xiao Hongchen came up with a plan and opted for a battle of attrition. The two sides remained evenly matched for quite some time, but Xiao Hongchen ultimately lost by a narrow margin.

After losing repeatedly, Xiao Hongchen could take no more and demanded that they switch teams.

And so, in the third round, he teamed up with Chen Mo against Meng Hongchen.

With the support of Chen Mo's Soul Skill, Xiao Hongchen finally won a round.

Meng Hongchen, however, was not happy.

She walked up to Chen Mo and pinched his cheeks. "You little rascal, Xiao Mo! You couldn't even go easy on your senior? You made me look so miserable just now."

"Sorry, Senior. We were fighting, after all."

Chen Mo hastily explained himself.

"All right, Meng. You only lost once. Is that really necessary?"

"But I have to say, Xiao Mo, your Soul Skill is practically like opening a heavenly eye."

"When we fight in the team matches of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, the three of us will be invincible together!"

"We'll be steamrolling everyone! Quack, quack!"

Xiao Hongchen had reached a conclusion.

In a team battle, whichever side had Chen Mo would win.

"Pfft."

Meng Hongchen suddenly burst out laughing.

Puzzled, Xiao Hongchen asked, "Meng, what are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing because you sounded like a duck when you went 'quack, quack' just now."

"Well, little sister, you sound like a pigeon when you laugh."

"You lousy brother, what did you just say...?"

And just like that, the siblings started their usual bickering again.

Chen Mo sat quietly to one side.

He glanced around, only to discover something.

At some point, Jing Hongchen had disappeared.

At that very moment.

In a secluded corner of the Soul Fighting Arena.

"Elder Kong, did you see that battle?"

"Chen Mo's Soul Skill is simply perfect for team battles. Whoever teams up with him wins..."

Brimming with excitement, Jing Hongchen showed off his student to Kong Deming.

He had deliberately arranged today's battle.

He wanted Chen Mo to demonstrate his strength so that he could secure more resources for him.

As for this.

Kong Deming was also very interested.

He wanted to see how this genius with outstanding talent for soul tools performed in combat.

And so, he had canceled his meal with the emperor.

He had come here specifically to watch.

Had he not watched, all would have been well. But after watching, his desire to take Chen Mo as a disciple rose once more.

"Little Jing, can you really not let this old man have your student?"

"You must be joking, Elder Kong. You already know how Xiao Mo felt about that."

Jing Hongchen smiled pleasantly on the surface.

Inside, he was cursing up a storm.

I kindly invited you to watch, and you're still eyeing my student.

"What a pity."

"Why couldn't this old man have met him first?"

"The talent and potential this child has shown so far are truly terrifying... If he doesn't meet an untimely end and encounters some fortunate opportunities, he might reach that legendary level."

Stroking his beard, Kong Deming offered his assessment of Chen Mo.

Jing Hongchen was somewhat confused. What was this legendary level Kong Deming spoke of?

So he asked, "Do you mean a Limit Douluo, Elder Kong?"

Kong Deming shook his head.

"Before someone at that level, what does a Limit Douluo amount to?"

"Elder Kong, just what are you referring to...?"

"You must have heard of Sea God Tang San, who defeated Spirit Hall on the Douluo Continent ten thousand years ago, founded the Tang Sect, and became a god at level one hundred?"

Jing Hongchen nodded.

Naturally, he had heard that legend.

The Douluo Three Kingdoms, Shrek Academy, and even the now-declining Tang Sect.

They had always taken pride in it.

But he suddenly furrowed his brow. "Elder Kong, are you saying Chen Mo might become a god?"

"Surely... surely that's impossible? Aren't these so-called gods nothing but legends, vague and intangible things?"

Over the past ten thousand years.

Since Tang San's era.

There had been Soul Masters on the continent who reached Level 99 Limit Douluo.

Yet without exception, they had all remained trapped at that level.

Many could not even reach level ninety-nine in their entire lives.

As time passed.

The notion of becoming a god at level one hundred had gradually become a legend.

"Who knows whether god-level powerhouses are merely legends?"

"Perhaps it is only a legend, but better to believe it exists than dismiss it outright."

"Speaking realistically, I can say for certain that once Chen Mo matures, he will have no trouble ensuring a century of stability for the Empire!"

"Hongchen, you must nurture Chen Mo well. If you need any resources for him in the future, just tell me. I'll coordinate things."

After hearing this, Jing Hongchen bowed. "Thank you, Elder Kong."

Kong Deming glanced toward Chen Mo.

He wondered whether he should also take someone with a Body Martial Soul as his disciple.

Then he vanished in a flash.

Jing Hongchen returned to the Soul Fighting Arena.

Since the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament would begin the following spring.

He told the three youngsters to spend this time cultivating diligently and honing their teamwork.

After urging them to strive for a good performance in the tournament.

Jing Hongchen also vanished in a flash, leaving to handle the academy's affairs.

After Chen Mo, Meng Hongchen, and Xiao Hongchen rested for a while.

They resumed practicing their teamwork.

The three trained until nightfall before finally heading home.

Before they parted, however, Meng Hongchen pressed a box into Chen Mo's hands.

She said it was the reward she had promised him for passing the Level 2 Soul Engineer Assessment.

Chen Mo opened it. Inside was a Mystic Water Pill.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Mo's second semester was nearing its end.

During this break.

He did not return to the Body Sect.

Instead, he stayed at the academy for another month.

For one thing, he wanted to improve the Faraday Cage. For another, he had already promised Meng Hongchen.

He had said he would stay this semester to spend time having fun with her.