There's a traitor among us, a Gold-Eating Beast in a carb coma, and a family that gets in each other's way (4K)

Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, the dean's office.

"What on earth happened..."

"The entire academy was a solid wall, the news sealed up airtight. How did Master Kong know ultimate metal enrolled yesterday?"

"Last week, I personally visited the Offering Hall to invite Master Kong out to guide Experiment No. 1. He dragged it out for seven days, then picked today of all days to come to Mingde Hall!"

"I'd wanted to keep probing Lin Qing's abilities and learn more about his character before offering to take him as a disciple. Now it's all ruined..."

His ample belly thrust forward, Jing Hongchen paced restlessly around the room, his aura in disarray and his left ear slightly swollen.

"The answer is obvious. There's a traitor among us... Jiayi!"

"Here, Hall Master!"

The heavy footsteps stopped abruptly. Jing Hongchen's low bark sent Lin Jiayi's heart pounding. Having tried his hardest to fade into the background, he stepped forward apprehensively, agonizing over whether confessing voluntarily might earn him leniency.

A rainbow gleam of wisdom flashed in Jing Hongchen's eyes as he instructed, "Jiayi, you've been with me for thirty years, working your way up step by step from teaching assistant to director of studies. You've always been loyal and cautious. I'm entrusting this task to you.

"Since this concerns Master Kong, remember to keep it quiet. Investigate privately and find out who sneaked off to the Offering Hall to tip him off over the past two days. Someday, I'll find an excuse to transfer him to guarding the warehouse doors!"

"Yes, sir! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

Lin Jiayi suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly cursing Zhang Bin's ancestors ten thousand times. He swore that if he ever went drinking heavily with him again, he'd be a native of the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

Knock, knock, knock-

"Reporting to the Hall Master! An abnormal reaction has occurred in the Mimicry Training Grounds!"

Someone knocked on the office door, a note of urgency in his booming voice.

Lin Jiayi hurried to open the door. A middle-aged man entered the office-the chief supervisor of the Mimicry Training Grounds.

The supervisor cupped his hands. "Hall Master, an abrupt anomaly has occurred in the metal-attribute Mimicry Training Ground. Its consumption has skyrocketed far beyond normal levels. The Level-Nine Soul Tool Furnace is running at five times its usual speed, and rare metal consumption has increased by the same amount!

"My investigation found that the metal energy is being drawn toward the top floor. Only two students went there to cultivate tonight: Xiao Hongchen and Lin Qing.

"I'm deeply concerned. First, devouring metal energy so endlessly puts both students at risk of exploding. Second, the Metal World's expenses have surged, and we need your approval for more rare metals to supply the level-nine furnace.

"This is tonight's metal consumption list. I've itemized every type and converted the costs into Gold Soul Coins. Please review it, Hall Master."

"Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands... whoa, hey... good heavens, it really is a giant gold-eating beast!"

That string of zeros was startling. Hall Master Hongchen clicked his tongue in wonder, his blind guess hitting upon the true name of the Machine Element's ultimate talent.

Since Lin Qing was cultivating in the Metal World, the changes there were only natural. Having reached Four-Ring Ultimate Soul Ancestor at just eleven, he was bound to devour a terrifying quantity of rare metals.

Studying the report submitted by the Mimicry Training Grounds' supervisor, Jing Hongchen finally understood completely why Lin Qing had crossed mountains and rivers to join the Sun Moon Empire.

Sun Moon metals were essential to manufacturing high-grade Soul Tools. The Douluo Three Kingdoms had always relied on underground smuggling organizations such as the Ordinary Alliance to purchase them. If those metals were used to nurture ultimate metal instead, Douluo would inevitably pay the price of stagnating Soul Tool development.

Taking everything into account, Jing Hongchen believed Lin Qing had indeed made a wise choice by joining the Sun Moon Empire. Only the Sun Moon Empire could support him without feeling the strain.

"I specifically studied the growth trajectories of Ultimate Soul Masters. That Shrek dean with ultimate fire took a full five years to advance from Soul Ancestor to Soul King, even with Shrek Academy pouring every effort into nurturing him."

Jing Hongchen grinned. "Judging by the Metal World's energy consumption, Lin Qing will probably break through level fifty in about a year. With his Soul Power growing that quickly, burning through a few more rare metals is no great concern.

"Effective immediately, I authorize an unlimited supply of metal resources to the Metal World. Mingde Hall isn't short of Gold Soul Coins, and the Sun Moon Empire has rare metals in abundance!"

"Yes, sir!"

The supervisor cupped his fists and accepted the order. Then his sharp eyes caught sight of the Mingde Hall Master's swollen, reddened left ear, and he asked with concern:

"Hall Master, your ear?"

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't."

His plump body jolted. Jing Hongchen reined in his smile and added a feeble explanation.

"An experiment exploded in Mingde Hall. I suffered a minor injury."

"Oh, of course. You personally attend to everything, Hall Master. I admire you immensely."

Hold it in. Damn mouth, you'd better hold it in!

At those words, Lin Jiayi immediately sent memories of his saddest experiences flashing through his mind like a revolving lantern.

That afternoon, Silver Moon Douluo had returned to Mingde Hall looking ready to call someone to account. He demanded to know Jing Hongchen's motives for concealing ultimate metal, declaring that Lin Qing ought to be taught by someone as respected and virtuous as himself.

Lin Jiayi had happened to be present and witnessed the entire affair.

Facing his teacher, Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen could only argue feebly that he had discovered the genius first, and beg Master Kong to show mercy.

The next second, Kong Deming shot out a hand and seized the Mingde Hall Master's soft, fleshy ear, spittle flying as he unleashed a torrent of rebukes:

An unfilial student who betrayed his teacher and ancestors, a schemer who played dumb to muddle through, a stumbling block to the empire's revival, a false man of action who obeyed in public and defied in private...

The damning labels grew more outrageous by the moment. Jing Hongchen didn't even dare breathe loudly, afraid Kong Deming might suddenly accuse him of treason, drag him to the execution grounds, and sentence him to being shot for three days and nights.

In the end, Jing Hongchen "willingly" agreed to Kong Deming's demands. He abandoned his rebellious notion of taking Lin Qing as a personal disciple and warned every Level 9 Soul Engineer that ultimate metal was already under Silver Moon's close watch.

Having neatly dealt with that little clown Jing, Kong Deming was in no hurry to take a disciple himself.

He was, after all, a renowned pillar of the empire and the foremost native of Sun Moon. His approach fit the older generation's customary thinking.

First, he would draw closer to Lin Qing step by step, offering pointers while showing off a trick or two to leave him awestruck. After some time, he would reveal his identity, smiling as he patted Lin Qing's head. Silly boy, why haven't you bowed to this old man as your master yet?

When he first met Lin Qing, Kong Deming had casually claimed to be a librarian. His words had come true: from now on, this pillar of the empire would appear at random in the library!

Having received clear instructions for his visit, the supervisor bowed and left. Only Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi remained in the office, and the latter cautiously asked:

"Hall Master, Lin Qing only recently immigrated to the Sun Moon Empire. His Eminence Silver Moon and you both greatly value his ultimate metal talent, but how can we make his heart belong entirely to Sun Moon, so he no longer thinks of his homeland?"

"You eat a meal one bite at a time. Don't rush." Jing Hongchen remained unruffled.

"A person is the sum of all their social relationships. Wherever they live, they form bonds with the people and things around them: affection between teacher and student, friendship, love...

"Those feelings weave together endlessly, like a gentle net spread across heaven and earth. Even with wings, they cannot escape, and they choose to stay from the heart. Look, isn't Xiao already cultivating alongside Lin Qing in the Metal World?

"Xiao is a little arrogant and considers himself invincible among his peers, but he respects all strong people and holds to his moral boundaries. I believe they'll become close friends."

"And Little Meng, she seems to..." Lin Jiayi left the rest unsaid.

Jing Hongchen laughed heartily. "That depends on the two children's fate. I won't meddle in Meng's love life.

"Still, for my own selfish reasons, if I can't become ultimate metal's teacher in this lifetime, taking him as my grandson-in-law would be a wonderful alternative..."

The Metal World.

Metal energy poured frantically into Lin Qing. His skin had become almost transparent, revealing streams of light coursing through the meridians beneath it.

The phantom Three-Legged Golden Toad lay listlessly, its three legs curled up around its round body, like an aggrieved child whose candy had been stolen by a thug. The strange sensation of the Machine Element prying at the back of its throat still lingered.

Xiao Hongchen sat cross-legged on the floor three meters from Lin Qing, his chin propped on one hand and his expression indescribable.

His attempt to seize the initiative had failed. His divine beast bloodline had suffered a crushing defeat.

Thinking back on it now, his face stung a little.

All his grand boasts had turned into slaps that came flying back at him. But who was Xiao Hongchen? If he could provoke trouble, he could take it!

The promise he had made to Ai Xiao was like water poured out. He would fulfill it even if he had to crawl on his knees.

His resolve no longer wavering, Xiao Hongchen straightened his back. His gaze grew firm and forceful again as he stared at the humanoid glutton opposite him, who looked as though he had gone hungry for half his life.

Perhaps Brother Xiao's gaze packed considerable killing power, for the Machine Element dissolved into a skyful of light. Peace returned to the Metal World, while Lin Qing, sitting cross-legged on the floor, suddenly went limp and nearly toppled forward.

"Hey, are you all right?" Xiao Hongchen exclaimed, raising both hands to proclaim his innocence.

"Nothing serious."

Lin Qing shook his head. White mist billowed the instant he spoke, as though he had exhaled a cloud of metal energy.

Sorry, I've eaten myself into a carb coma.

Merely keeping the Gold-Eating Beast operating every night had already drained the Lin Family dry. How could he ever have dared eat his fill?

The Metal World had given Lin Qing his first chance to test the Gold-Eating Beast's limits. His body was stuffed full, the meridians in his limbs swollen and tight. He couldn't fit in another drop.

Rising with some difficulty, Lin Qing knew he wouldn't need to visit the Metal World's buffet for the next week. Digesting tonight's rich nourishment would be enough to fuel his cultivation at full effort.

Meanwhile, Xiao Hongchen, who had suffered repeated blows tonight, silently stood upright. He didn't want to stay here either. He needed to go home and urgently devise a three-month intensive training plan, taking another step forward before the selection tournament began so he could amaze every student.

Ultimate metal and the divine beast bloodline left the top-floor space one after the other, maintaining a safe distance that was neither too close nor too far. Soon, at the Metal World's entrance, they spotted a beautiful white-haired figure who had been waiting for some time.

"Lin Qing!"

Meng Hongchen waved excitedly from afar, automatically ignoring her brother.

"Classmate Meng."

"We are classmates, sure, but calling me Classmate Meng sounds so distant," Meng Hongchen complained. "My family and friends all call me Little Meng. I think we'll definitely be good friends."

"Little Meng."

It was only a form of address. Lin Qing readily obliged. "What brings you to the Metal World?"

"I was in the poison-attribute Mimicry Training Ground earlier. When I finished, I came to wait for my idiot brother so we could go home together."

The change in address signaled a closer relationship. Meng Hongchen answered with a giggle, revealing that the Hongchen Family's young master and young lady didn't live in the academy dormitories at all.

"I've told you ten thousand times: spend less time in the poison-attribute training ground and cultivate your ice attribute more."

Unwilling to serve as a human pillar, Xiao Hongchen cut in sternly. "The cold poison's backlash is getting worse and worse. If you keep focusing entirely on cultivating poison, do you not care about your body anymore?"

"Ice is only the Vermilion-Sun Ice Toad's means of releasing Ice Toad Poison. Why would I abandon the root to chase the branches by cultivating my ice attribute?" Meng Hongchen rewarded her brother with a view of the back of her head. "So what if there's cold poison backlash? I'll endure it myself."

With that, Little Meng skipped over to Lin Qing, her smile lovely as flowers and jade:

"It's late. The dormitory building might already have shut its doors for the night. The Hongchen Family's ancestral residence is actually quite big, and there are lots of advanced Soul Tools you can look at freely. You're welcome to visit.

"Oh, and the toads we keep in our back garden can dance, too~"

At those words, Xiao Hongchen's expression became uglier than if he'd swallowed two flies. He promptly lunged forward, blocking his increasingly eager-to-give-herself-away sister with half his body. "Meng's joking. The academy dormitories don't lock up at night, and we don't keep toads in our back garden!"

Fine, fine. Keep stirring the pot, Xiao Hongchen. You'd better keep one eye open when you meditate tonight!

Meng Hongchen gritted her pearly teeth. Her own brother was actually the greatest stumbling block on his sister's road to success!

Her icy-blue eyes shifted. When one scheme failed, Miss Meng devised another. She abruptly raised her head to look at the sky, smacked Xiao Hongchen's shoulder, and said urgently:

"Brother, quick! What's that up in the sky?"

"Huh?"

The instant Xiao Hongchen raised his head and opened his mouth, Meng Hongchen snapped her fingers. A ball of ice formed out of thin air, and she forcibly stuffed it into her brother's mouth.

Thud-

Brother Xiao, invincible among his peers, had been poisoned unconscious by his own sister in a single second while completely off guard!

Watching Xiao Hongchen twitch all over on the ground, foam still bubbling endlessly from his mouth, Lin Qing truly couldn't bear to look any longer. He decisively averted his eyes and, in a spirit of humanitarian concern, asked:

"Your brother isn't going to die, is he...?"

"Don't worry, I know the right dosage. Besides, I've poisoned him plenty of times since we were little. The important thing now is stopping him from ruining my grand plan. I can just detoxify him when we get home tonight."

Meng Hongchen was brimming with confidence. This comforting little padded jacket was stuffed entirely with black-hearted cotton.

Foolish onii-chan, spend the rest of your life with your Soul Cannons. I'm going after true love!

"Lin Qing, my house really is huge. Want to come over tonight?"

Brilliant starlight flickered in the girl's eyes. The warmth of her overtures spread outward, making it hard to bear the thought of cooling her enthusiasm.

"A first visit shouldn't be so hasty. Next time, when your brother and Hall Master Hongchen are home, I'll bring gifts and pay a proper visit." Lin Qing declined with a smile.

"All right."

Meng Hongchen sighed in disappointment. Yet one glance at Lin Qing's face swept every trace of resentment away, and she began finding excuses for him in her heart.

He was right. Her grandfather didn't know, and her brother hadn't agreed, so today really wasn't suitable for a visit. In a way, Lin Qing's actions also told her that he was a good person who wouldn't be swayed by beauty. Her judgment had been right all along!

Her thoughts racing, Miss Meng brightened again and said in a clear, sweet voice, "Lin Qing, you agreed to help Lan Xiu upgrade Nine Radiances today. I'd like to commission a set of Soul Tools from you too."

"What type, exactly?"

"Soul Tool Armor," Meng Hongchen said. "I'm half a practical-control Soul Engineer. I'm not particularly good at making Soul Tools, so some of mine were made for me by other Soul Engineers.

"This suit of Soul Tool Armor will be for the Soul Master Tournament a year from now. By then, I'll definitely have broken through to Soul King.

"With the Vermilion-Sun Ice Toad's physical constitution, a Five-Ring Soul King can easily withstand level-six Soul Tool Armor. Originally, I planned to ask Mingde Hall for help, but now ultimate metal is a more suitable maker."

"Level-six Soul Tool Armor... I can't make that yet. You'll have to wait at least half a year or more," Lin Qing told her candidly.

"That's fine. Consider it an advance order." Meng Hongchen's interest lay beyond the wine in her cup. "In the meantime, we can discuss the details of making the Soul Tool Armor. I'll give you some manufacturing requirements, and you can learn about all my abilities in detail.

"After class on Friday, let's go out for dinner together. We can talk while we eat, and I'll pay the deposit too!"

"Sure!"

Lin Qing gladly agreed.

Her strategy of casting a long line to catch a big fish had won a resounding victory. Meng Hongchen grabbed the back of Xiao Hongchen's collar and dragged her brother along like a sack of rubbish, showing eight snow-white teeth as she said goodbye to Lin Qing:

"See you at school tomorrow. Nighty-night!"