Exotic beast Three-Headed Blood Wyrm, a rather heated Lin Qing, and low-level sprites jumping out of roadside bushes (4K)

An upgraded Invincible Shield!

Silently analyzing the Azure Sky Jade Moon's effects, Lin Qing's expression cleared with understanding.

The Invincible Shield used golden crystal for its core array. As a disposable soul tool, its cost was astronomical.

During the Soul Master Tournament, even Mingde Hall, the wealthiest organization in the world, only equipped each person with one Invincible Shield.

The strongest Invincible Shield of this era was merely a Level 7 Soul Tool, capable of blocking a Super Douluo's attacks for three seconds.

The Azure Sky Jade Moon could fully replace a level-seven Invincible Shield, with the added mechanisms of charging and automatic activation, preventing tragedies where soul engineers died bitter deaths because of insufficient soul power or sluggish reactions.

Clearly, the Level 9 Soul Engineer he had never met had put considerable care into it.

"The Azure Sky Jade Moon contains a Mental Identification Array, allowing its first owner to extend their spiritual power inside and study the level-nine soul tool core array. Anyone else will activate the Self-Destruct Mechanism. You must remember that."

Jing Hongchen solemnly handed the Azure Sky Jade Moon to Lin Qing.

For the Hongchen Class selection tournament's championship reward, Jing Hongchen had originally planned to give him a high-grade Defensive Soul Tool as well.

Although the Golden Toad Martial Soul had made Jing Hongchen a demolition-type Level 9 Soul Engineer specializing in powerful long-range soul tools and fixed-installation soul cannons, the master of Mingde Hall often studied a broad range of fields, possessing a versatility other Level 9 Soul Engineers lacked.

One of Jing Hongchen's signature Level 9 Soul Tools was defensive, named Red Dust Protection.

Like the Azure Sky Jade Moon, Red Dust Protection incorporated a charged activation effect.

The difference was that Red Dust Protection absorbed its wearer's soul power, took three times as long to charge as the Azure Sky Jade Moon, and had a shield strength dependent on the wearer. It could not expend a full moon's radiance to withstand an attack from a rank-ninety-five Super Douluo for Lin Qing as the Azure Sky Jade Moon could.

The hall master had to admit that old ginger was the spiciest. The Azure Sky Jade Moon completely outclassed Red Dust Protection. He would never catch up to his teacher in his lifetime, much less touch the threshold of a Level 10 Soul Engineer.

Lin Qing gently stroked the Azure Sky Jade Moon's cool jade casing, privately guessing who had made it.

Among the Sun Moon Empire's native Level 9 Soul Engineers, Jing Hongchen was comfortably in the top five and a contender for the top three.

Counting the powerful figures who could willingly turn Mingde Hall's master into a bootlicking toad, there was only one.

Silver Moon Douluo, Kong Deming!

Silver Moon Douluo had taken an interest in Ultimate Metal but did not wish to appear personally, entrusting Jing Hongchen with delivering a level-nine Defensive Soul Tool. It was just like Patriarch Bodhi striking Sun Wukong's head three times with a ruler, hinting that he should come study the Way during the third watch.

Could the answer be hidden in the Azure Sky Jade Moon- Great Detective A-Qing let his imagination run wild. Suppose "Qing," azure, refers to my name, and "moon" represents Silver Moon Douluo's title.

What day does "sky" refer to, then, and what does this "jade" mean-

At that moment, Lin Qing suddenly found himself sharing Jing Hongchen's thinking. The older generation just loved twisting and turning in circles, dressing it up as a test of young people's intelligence!

Little did they know that a genius's flower language was "too slow, and you miss out." If a pillar of the empire opened his doors to take a disciple, would Lin Qing really refuse to look after him in his old age?

Watching Lin Qing fondle it so fondly, Jing Hongchen felt both gratified and relieved. Their bargaining chips kept growing, and Lin Qing's ties to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy were deepening. The day his heart belonged to the empire was within reach.

With the Azure Sky Jade Moon protecting him from now on, Ultimate Metal's safety would soar, and both he and Kong Deming could rest easy.

"Let's continue presenting the championship rewards," Jing Hongchen said with a smile. "You may take any one item from Mingde Hall's black-level treasury. Have a look at the list."

A soul tool screen descended, its table gleaming with a dazzling array of rare treasures. Mingde Hall's reputation for wealth rivaling a nation resounded across the Douluo Continent. Rare metals, exotic flowers and herbs, ranked carving knives, Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones-the black-level treasury was simply bewildering.

"Headmaster, I've made my choice."

The Machine Element drew a silver circle. Jing Hongchen looked closely and said in surprise, "Ten-thousand-year Nine Netherworld Soul-Nourishing Grass. It nourishes the soul and greatly benefits a soul master's spiritual power.

"I thought you would choose the ten-thousand-year Golden Iron Beast Left Arm Soul Bone. It seems you have a clear direction for your development, strengthening the spiritual power that your Machine Element cannot cover.

"Very well. I'll have Meng bring it to you tomorrow. A reminder: Nine Netherworld Soul-Nourishing Grass has cold, yin properties. It would be best to wait until you reach the Five-Ring Soul King realm before taking it."

"I understand."

The Nine Netherworld Soul-Nourishing Grass was naturally meant to feed Electrolux, so Lin Qing agreed without hesitation.

"There is one more thing. The championship reward was supposed to be a soul tool I made myself. However high its grade, the Azure Sky Jade Moon is still someone else's work, and I never take advantage of others," Jing Hongchen said.

"Other than your life-saving soul tool, your equipment undoubtedly ranks among the very best for Level 5 Soul Engineers. Calling it flawless would be perfectly appropriate. So, after much thought, I decided to replace the soul tool with a natural treasure."

With that, his short, plump fingers brushed the Storage Soul Tool at his barrel-shaped waist, and a blood-red crystal appeared in Jing Hongchen's palm. To the naked eye, it resembled a faintly beating heart. A rich fragrance instantly filled the headmaster's office. Lin Qing took several deep breaths, feeling indescribably comfortable.

"Twenty years ago, I led more than ten Mingde Hall soul engineers into the deep sea to test a batch of special level-nine fixed-installation soul tools," Jing Hongchen recalled. "The tests attracted a blood-colored wyrm with three heads, its strength comparable to a thirty-thousand-year soul beast.

"Of course, a thirty-thousand-year soul beast was hardly a formidable enemy for our team of soul engineers. I personally slew the wyrm.

"Then something strange happened. The blood-colored wyrm did not produce a soul ring when it died. Puzzled and uncertain, we unanimously agreed to dissect its corpse and investigate the mystery. In the end, we found three brain cores inside its heads."

"An exotic beast?" Lin Qing frowned slightly.

"Oh? You've heard of them?"

"Unofficial histories of the Douluo Continent say that Slaughter City nurtured an exotic beast, the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent. The Sea God and Spirit Hall's holy maiden joined forces to kill it. Like the blood-colored wyrm, it produced no soul ring, instead dropping an inner core.

"Ma Hongjun of the first Shrek Seven Devils benefited enormously. After absorbing the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent's inner core, his Evil Fire Phoenix evolved into a Nine-Headed Fire Phoenix."

"The world is vast, and nothing is too strange to exist," Jing Hongchen sighed. "In that case, the Three-Headed Blood Wyrm and the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent must have similar origins. It was an exotic beast of the deep sea.

"According to Mingde Hall's researchers, the three brain cores contain tremendous bloodline energy and are immensely nourishing when consumed.

"I was already a Titled Douluo back then. Limited by my talent, I had no hope of breaking through to Super Douluo in this lifetime, so I intended to leave the blood wyrm's brain cores to the younger generation. Xiao and Meng carry the Hongchen Family's hopes; that goes without saying. As for this third brain core-

"Little Qing, I believe Ultimate Metal is the soul master best suited to absorbing it."

"Headmaster, this is too precious. I don't deserve it."

The Level 9 Soul Tool Azure Sky Jade Moon was already a rare treasure. He should not take something from Jing Hongchen's personal collection on top of that.

"My word is a nail hammered into place. I have never taken back what I've given. If I give it to you, take it." The hall master glared, his plump face revealing some of a Titled Douluo's imposing might.

"I heard from Little Meng that you promised to make her a full suit of level-six Soul Tool Armor. That is no small undertaking. If you truly feel uncomfortable accepting it, consider this blood wyrm brain core your payment.

"Today is our first face-to-face conversation since you enrolled.

"As your headmaster, I want to show you through actions that the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is the place on the Douluo Continent best suited to Ultimate Metal's growth. Whatever the Douluo Three Kingdoms can give you, the Sun Moon Empire will give you more.

"A soul master with an Ultimate Attribute is destined to shake the world with his name. Never dwell on gossip about immigration.

"You must take the long view. One day, when the continent is unified, the Sun Moon Empire's histories will record only Lin Qing's heroic deeds, his virtue surpassing the Angel's and his achievements eclipsing the Sea God's."

"-I will remember your teachings, Headmaster."

The office door slowly closed. Mingde Hall's master hummed an unknown country tune, believing he had successfully adapted to local customs by placing Lin Qing on a high pedestal with the supreme, divine glory revered in the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

Whether it was letting him drink his fill of metal energy, giving him Nine Netherworld Soul-Nourishing Grass, or offering the Three-Headed Blood Wyrm's brain core, all of it was a wager placed in advance.

Even as the esteemed headmaster of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Jing Hongchen still harbored ambitions to climb higher.

He firmly believed that under his leadership, Mingde Hall would surpass Shrek and the Body Sect to become the Douluo Continent's foremost power, while the Hongchen Family's name would likewise go down in history!

The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's Mimicry Training Grounds, the Metal World.

With the gold-devouring behemoth's arrival, the staff immediately went on full alert. The Level-Nine Soul Tool Furnace was adjusted to maximum efficiency, frantically smelting rare metals and converting them into metal energy to supply the boundless black hole occupying the top floor.

"Whew-"

Feeling metal energy fill every limb and bone, Lin Qing let out a long, satisfied sigh. Vast as heaven and earth were, cultivation mattered most. Every visit to the Metal World sent him home fully laden.

"Right, the Three-Headed Blood Wyrm's brain core-"

Natural treasures that nourished bloodline vitality were exceedingly rare, let alone those from a deep-sea exotic beast like the Three-Headed Blood Wyrm, which could only be encountered by chance. In all honesty, Jing Hongchen's lavish generosity had made Lin Qing's fondness for him soar.

If the hall master's lifelong dream was to ruthlessly suppress Shrek Academy, Qing would gladly be his vanguard!

The blood-red brain core felt warm and soft in his hand, like a springy boiled egg. It was soft all over, with an intensely gelatinous feel. Yet the thin membrane covering its surface was exceptionally tough; crushing it would be no easy feat.

Such a trifling matter posed no challenge to an Ultimate Metal soul master. He casually tossed the blood wyrm brain core into his mouth, coating his teeth with the all-piercing Machine Element. With a crunch, the core shattered, and scorching liquid rushed down his throat into his organs!

Sitting cross-legged on the spot, Lin Qing focused and entered meditation. His body temperature instantly rose, his exposed skin turned deep red, and wisps of white vapor appeared over his forehead. He looked like a steam engine, rapidly heating the Metal World's top floor along with him until the surroundings became sweltering.

The Three-Headed Blood Wyrm's energy nourished every meridian. Bloodline vitality surged mightily inside Lin Qing, even making his veins bulge. Fortunately, his Ultimate Attribute soul power was exceptionally dense, firmly protecting the meridians being stretched by his bloodline power.

Bloodline energy coursed through all his meridians, and his physical strength soared. It felt as though he had struggled through an extremely narrow crevice barely wide enough for a person, only to emerge into a suddenly open vista, his blood surging with vigor and his heart swelling like a tide.

Another problem followed right on its heels. Lin Qing distinctly sensed a searing heat. His abundant bloodline vitality had nowhere to go, leaving him unbearably pent up, with a tingling, itching heat both inside and out.

"This is getting a little hot. Is the Three-Headed Blood Wyrm a respectable exotic beast? The last time I felt like this was probably after eating the whale rubber Sister Little Lan brought home-"

Everything had been perfectly fine, and then it suddenly went wrong!

Lin Qing's imagination immediately ran wild. His current state was like Huo Yuhao after eating Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue, or Tang Wulin in the Star Luo Imperial Palace-

A young man brimming with fire!

On an academy path, a man and woman who had emerged from the Mimicry Training Grounds walked side by side.

"Ziyan," the handsome, cold-faced young man said quietly.

"Speak." Jing Ziyan looked thoroughly wary.

"Let's find a testing area and fight."

"Are you sick in the head? Watching Lin Qing and Xiao Hongchen's final made your hands itch, didn't it? If you're so capable, go challenge them! Why take it out on me for no reason?" Jing Ziyan snapped.

Ji Juechen said coolly, "I can't find either of them. Right now, you're the closest."

"I'm not fighting, anyway. Go practice your sword against a wooden post." Jing Ziyan rolled her dead-fish eyes.

"Never mind. I don't need you anymore. My challenge target has shown up on his own-"

Ji Juechen's eyes lit up. As though a god had sensed the Sword Enthusiast's devout call, Lin Qing appeared not far away!

"Hiss-"

White steam abruptly gushed from Lin Qing's back. With his bloodline vitality overflowing, every cell in his body was breathing, power coursing through his veins like magma, and his temperature rising until he was hot enough to fry an egg.

At that moment, Lin Qing desperately wanted to find someone to thrash. A girl would do, but a boy would be better.

With bloodline vitality rushing to his head, Lin Qing might not know his own strength. Boys were tougher and could take more beating.

Lin Qing pressed his palms together and prayed to heaven that, around the next corner, Xiao Hongchen would leap out of the roadside bushes and declare with his neck stiff that defeat had opened his conception and governing vessels, allowing him to suddenly comprehend a Self-Created Soul Skill.

With the dignity of Ultimate Metal and the Three-Legged Golden Toad on the line, let's fight again!

However, Xiao Hongchen was still fast asleep in his bedroom at that moment, and Lin Qing laughed at his own unrealistic idea.

Deep in the quiet night-ambitious Sun Moon students were meditating and cultivating in their dormitories, while couples intent on making babies were shyly slipping under their quilts to whisper sweet nothings. What lunatic had so little to do that he would block the road at midnight, clamoring to fight an Ultimate Martial Soul?

Swish, swish!

Immediately afterward, two figures actually jumped out of the bushes. The sword-bearing young man shed a Sword Soul Master's coldness and volunteered his name. "Ji Juechen of Mingde Hall.

"I request a duel!"

"Jing Ziyan of Mingde Hall."

Afraid Lin Qing might be startled, Jing Ziyan hastily added, "Junior Lin Qing, the two of us watched today's final and couldn't bear the itch to test our skills. We came to spar and seek your guidance."

"Sure-"

His wish granted, Lin Qing's grin stretched like Venom's.

"Old Ji, he looks kind of strange-"

At the sight, Jing Ziyan swallowed and glanced at Lin Qing, who seemed ready to explode. His eyes were shot through with blood, as though he might pounce at any moment, open his mouth, and gobble them both down in one bite!

"I understand. He's thrilled to spot worthy prey."

Ji Juechen gave it some thought and explained seriously, "He's obsessed with fighting, just like me!"

A kindred spirit was hard to find in a lifetime. Ji Juechen raised his sword in salute and said with utmost solemnity, "I, Juechen, have challenged experts of every kind for years. This is the first time I've met an opponent who agreed to fight so readily. We sprang out halfway along your path, yet you turned no challenger away. You truly deserve to be Mingde Hall's foremost disciple.

"Sword Enthusiast Ji Juechen requests a duel!"