Brother Xiao, Peerless Among Peers; Ju Zi: I Think He Pitied Me Like an Idiot; Final Exams (4K)

Of all the heroes under heaven, only Qing and Xiao counted!

Brother Xiao was someone worth befriending. His emotions came and went in a flash, and every last one was written on his face.

After indulging in Ultimate Metal, all his tangled gloom and worries vanished like smoke. He clung to Lin Qing and refused to let go, utterly oblivious to the dark clouds gathering over his sister's and Ye Guyi's faces.

"Qing, our temperaments, dispositions, and ambitions couldn't be more compatible. Why choose another day when today will do? Let's find a peach grove and become true brothers born of different parents, swear an oath in blood, and henceforth sleep foot to foot, sharing everything without distinction!" Xiao Hongchen proposed excitedly.

"Want to play with Ultimate Metal for the rest of your life?" Lin Qing guessed with pure malice.

Xiao Hongchen bristled. "With our two metals united, hardly anyone in the world could withstand a single exchange with us. The combination of machine element and the Three-Legged Golden Toad will sweep all opposition beneath heaven.

"I've already planned it out. From now on, our titles will be Peerless Among Peers Lin Qing and Peerless Among Peers Xiao Hongchen!"

"Custom-tailored invincibility won't win public recognition!"

Little Meng could stand it no longer. She slammed into Xiao Hongchen with an Iron Mountain Lean, knocking him aside, and angrily berated her idiot brother for adding his own qualifiers and taking pride in a title as full of Ah Q's self-deluding spirit as "invincible among people exactly his age."

"Foolish little sister, do you intend to challenge your elder brother's supreme throne of invincibility among those his age?"

Xiao Hongchen raised his chin slightly and looked down on the white-haired girl. The Three-Legged Golden Toad could not beat the older waves ahead of him, nor the surging younger waves behind him, but against people literally his own age, Brother Xiao had victory firmly in his grasp. He had never lost in his life!

"Pah! Who cares?" Little Meng pulled a face.

"So you admit your brother is invincible among those his age?"

"Student Xiao Hongchen, put that matter aside for now."

A large hand suddenly seized Xiao Hongchen by the scruff of his neck. Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin appeared like a ghost and soared into the sky, carrying Brother Xiao like a little chick.

"Come with me. We're finding your grandfather to reimburse the damage to the aerial soul tools!"

The days passed steadily and orderly, and Lin Qing safely completed his first year at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

Leaving his homeland to seek his fortune in a foreign country, the lone, courageous adventurer had received his rightful rewards. The most important was naturally his soaring soul power.

In just one year, his Ultimate Metal cultivation had climbed from rank forty-two to rank forty-nine. Rank fifty was dimly in sight, and he would certainly become a Soul King before the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

The price was that the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy had encountered its fiercest, most vicious, and greediest student in a thousand years. With every rank he gained, the metal energy Lin Qing consumed increased another notch, and the monthly rare-metal bill multiplied several times over.

And this was only at the Four-Ring Soul Ancestor stage. Once he became a Five-Ring Soul King and then a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy would be facing a bottomless black hole!

Nor could they forget their own ravenous divine-beast boy waiting to be fed. The Gold-Eating Beast and the Three-Legged Golden Toad often ventured out together at night, opened their stomachs wide, sucked the Metal World dry of energy, and then left contentedly picking their teeth.

More than once, the hall master had sat in the dean's office, staring blankly at bills that, laid end to end, could encircle the academy two and a half times. He pondered whether selling some of Mingde Hall's soul tools to replenish his coffers was feasible.

In the Hongchen Class classroom, students worked in pairs to freely create soul tools.

After observing him for over half a year, homeroom teacher Xuan Ziwen held Lin Qing in extremely high regard. He confidently entrusted classroom discipline to the class monitor, then cheerfully stole a little time off to research high-tier soul tools at Mingde Hall.

"Xiao Hongchen, what kind of rubbish did you carve? Take it back and redo it!" Little Meng slapped the table irritably.

"Hey, you're being unreasonable."

The Hongchen siblings were bickering yet again. With a dark face, Xiao Hongchen said, "The soul tool casing you were responsible for clearly doesn't match the design we agreed on at the start. There's nothing wrong with the core array!"

This time, Miss Meng was in the wrong. Unable to find an argument, she huffed twice, then decisively overturned the board and called for outside help. "Lin Qing, Xiao Hongchen is bullying me!"

"One Ultimate Metal experience pass deducted."

The gentle, clear voice reached him like a bolt from a cloudless sky striking Xiao Hongchen squarely on the head.

"No-"

Brother Xiao immediately went limp as hand-rolled noodles and fawned over his sister. "My sister, the cutest in all the world, I'm sorry! Your brother didn't know what was good for him and spoke wildly just now! I'll remake the core array to match the new casing right away. I can't accept a world without Ultimate Metal. Without Ultimate Metal, I-I'd rather slit my throat and depart this life!"

"All right, all right, you can have your experience pass back."

Her eyes full of disdain, Little Meng pushed away her brother's large face as he leaned toward her.

Ever since experiencing the sublime wonders of machine element, Brother Xiao had been unable to forget that soul-leaving-the-body pleasure. Before his nightly meditation and cultivation, he tossed and turned incessantly, as though two whirlpools spun madly inside his head, filled entirely with the floating bliss of Ultimate Metal.

Xiao Hongchen longed for another ultimate conversion. Just then, Jing Hongchen invited three Level 8 Soul Engineers to accompany his beloved grandson on a soul beast hunt.

After successfully absorbing his fifth soul ring, Xiao Hongchen looked utterly unwell. His cheeks were sunken, and his eyes glowed with a savage green light, like a Gale Demon Wolf driven mad by starvation. He charged all the way to Lin Qing's dormitory and hammered furiously on the door.

At the time, Lin Qing was revising Little Meng's soul tool armor blueprints. He jumped in fright the moment he opened the door, while Xiao Hongchen looked as though he had encountered a savior who delivered the world from suffering. He shakily extended a hand. "Quick-give me a mouthful of Ultimate Metal-"

Yes, Xiao Hongchen had become addicted to ultimate conversion. Possessing divine-beast blood and an ultimate attribute, the Three-Legged Golden Toad considered himself the god of metal and wished he could remain in his ultimate state anytime, anywhere.

But Lin Qing was not Xiao Hongchen's personal energy pump. He had a mountain of miscellaneous tasks to handle. Unfortunately, Xiao Hongchen refused to give up, trailing after him every day and begging for Ultimate Metal.

Then young Qing had a flash of inspiration and invented Ultimate Metal experience passes. Each pass could be exchanged for one hour of machine element use, and only a limited number were issued to Xiao Hongchen.

After learning the whole story, Miss Meng gained an overwhelming advantage in the twins' rivalry. Wheedling, acting cute, and tattling came effortlessly to her. She begged Lin Qing to withhold experience passes to punish her brother, keeping a death grip on the throat of the man invincible among those his age.

"Finally finished!"

Ye Guyi raised the Stars Divine Needle high, her holy, lovely face blooming with joy.

A scholar must be seen with fresh eyes after just three days apart. Through systematic study of aerial soul tools under Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin, the angelic young lady had progressed at astonishing speed. She was no longer a half-trained amateur who stumbled even when making level 4 soul tools.

Lin Qing had made the relatively simple soul tool casing, while Ye Guyi had completed the core soul guidance array independently. Over the past year, she had shed the bad habits of Douluo-style soul engineers and grown into an excellent Level 4 Soul Engineer, working hard toward becoming a Level 5 Soul Engineer.

Stretching in relief, the angelic young lady reclined halfway in her metal chair. Her dazzling golden hair almost reached the floor, her snow-white legs crossed, and her white uniform clung to her skin, displaying every curve of her exquisitely proportioned figure. The stark contrast between her angelic face and devilish body made it difficult to look away.

"Tomorrow's final exam will be a group soul tool experiment. Has Teacher Xuan mentioned where your group is going?" Ye Guyi asked.

In the Hongchen Class's second week, its thirty students had been evenly divided into six teams, each studying under an experienced Level 8 Soul Engineer.

Lin Qing, Ju Zi, and Keke had been assigned to homeroom teacher Xuan Ziwen. Together with Wang Shaojie and Zi Mu, two sixth-year students Xuan Ziwen had previously taught, they formed a five-person study group.

Ye Guyi, the Hongchen siblings, Nana, and Lan Xiu had been grouped together. Their instructor was called Elder Ma, whom Xiao Hongchen said was the grandfather of Ma Rulong, the Sun Moon main team captain for the next Soul Master Tournament.

"Teacher Xuan told the five of us to find him at Mingde Hall after class. He'll probably tell us then." Lin Qing shook his head. "Has Elder Ma told you?"

"Corona City, a coastal city near the Iron Sea," Ye Guyi answered. "The Iron Sea contains several valuable metal deposits, but the sea soul beasts living there are extremely aggressive, especially its ferocious-beast overlord, the Iron Sea Dragon Emperor.

"The Iron Sea Dragon Emperor stirs up wind and waves in the Iron Sea year-round, leaving fishing boats afraid to sail from Corona City and preventing the Sun Moon Empire from mining its rare metals.

"Mingde Hall has developed a concealed mining soul tool. Our final exam is to test its effectiveness. Because of the threat posed by the Iron Sea Dragon Emperor, Starry Sky Douluo volunteered to join the team and protect us."

"Each has the terrain advantage in the sky or the sea. Starry Sky Douluo should at least hold his own against the Iron Sea Dragon Emperor."

Lin Qing nodded slightly. With Tao Rui Douluo's "shining example" before him, Ye Yulin could hardly have seemed more dependable.

Leaving the angelic young lady to rest and recuperate, Lin Qing walked to Ju Zi and Keke's soul tool workbench on the other side. Keke had already finished making the casing and was picking at her nails in boredom, while Ju Zi continued to struggle.

Driven by curiosity, Lin Qing stood behind Ju Zi like a veteran craftsman watching her work. The girl's neck was slender and long, and her icy, snow-white skin inevitably brought to mind the fluffy white feathers of a swan in snowy lands. Stroking that delicate skin would probably feel softly warm.

Silently marveling that her creamy jade skin truly was favored by heaven, Lin Qing then noticed she was making a level-five soul tool compressed explosive bomb shaped like an orange.

As another of Xuan Ziwen's prized students, Ju Zi was accustomed to Lin Qing watching her work. A level-five soul tool was somewhat beyond her capabilities, and even after studying it for ages, she had yet to find her way. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly saw the heavenly class monitor standing with one hand behind his back, his gaze complicated. He even sighed and shook his head almost imperceptibly.

Noticing Ju Zi's incredulous look, Lin Qing hurriedly put on an approving smile.

I think he pitied me like an idiot... Ju Zi secretly mourned.

"Ju Zi, I can help you."

Zi Mu seized the opportunity to make a heroic entrance, deliberately keeping his voice deep and resonant. Hearing him, Keke could not help curling her lips.

"No need. If I have any questions, I'll ask Lin Qing." Ju Zi indicated that the Azure Heavenly Emperor was present; petty intruders should retreat.

Their eyes met. Zi Mu would never dare challenge Lin Qing's authority. After all, Lin Qing had dared to beat even Wang Shaojie, who carried imperial blood. What was a minor noble like him in comparison? He could only suppress his resentment and slink away with his tail between his legs.

"He seems to be pursuing you," Lin Qing said bluntly.

"I know, but I'm not interested in Zi Mu. He doesn't have any qualities I like. Also..."

After checking three times to ensure Zi Mu had gone far enough not to hear her, Ju Zi spoke in a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum. "Zi Mu isn't good-looking enough."

At that, Lin Qing's expression as a bystander enjoying the gossip immediately changed. He adjusted his stance slightly and offered two words. "By contrast?"

Ju Zi understood instantly. "Our class monitor's beauty is universally acknowledged and renowned throughout the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. The Qing Army has surpassed Ai Xiao to become the academy's foremost student faction."

That felt good!

"For this compressed explosive orange, you'd best..."

Honest children deserved candy as a reward. Lin Qing answered Ju Zi's questions on the spot, and Keke craned her neck to join in. The three chatted animatedly.

Watching his goddess smile like a blossoming flower from afar, Zi Mu felt his heart twist painfully. Wang Shaojie patted his brother's shoulder and said coldly, "A mud-legged bumpkin from the Douluo Continent, acting without restraint just because he has a little talent. He even dares disregard the noble Sun Moon Imperial Family. Just let me find an opening, and he'll have a bitter pill to swallow..."

"Wang Shaojie, Zi Mu, come to Mingde Hall with us."

"Sure thing, class monitor!"

Wang Shaojie called back loudly. The enemy was strong and he was weak; best avoid that sharp edge for now!

The bell rang, and the Hongchen Class scattered like birds and beasts, each heading home to prepare for the final exam. The five went straight to Mingde Hall.

Mingde Hall stood at the heart of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. From outside, it looked like an unremarkable gray building, but its true face lay underground.

Xuan Ziwen had given Lin Qing proof of identity to pass the numerous checks required before entering Mingde Hall.

Seeing the Chief Researcher's soul tool imprint and confirming that the visitors' identities posed no danger, the guard captain smiled. "So you're Teacher Xuan's outstanding students. This must be your first visit to Mingde Hall.

"Prepare yourselves mentally, everyone. Mingde Hall is the Douluo Continent's sacred ground for soul tools. Countless sophisticated, cutting-edge soul guidance technologies originated here, and over a hundred influential high-tier soul engineers are gathered within."

"If Mingde Hall is so important, what happens if an outside enemy invades and tries to wipe out all these soul engineers in one fell swoop?" Keke blinked.

Hearing the girl's innocent question, the guard captain responded with utmost patience and a wickedly charming smile. "If something really happens, I beg you genius soul engineers to protect me first. If you still have strength to spare, then try protecting Mingde Hall's soul guidance technology.

"Living people always come before lifeless objects. History will remember your contributions. Saving lives is a greater achievement than unifying the continent!"

Lin Qing and Ju Zi raised their hands to cover their faces.

It was the first time they had heard anyone dress up cowardice and fear of death in such refreshingly refined terms.

The five entered the gray building and took a lift underground. Before them lay an extraordinarily vast metal hall, stretching beyond sight. Countless soul tool workbenches stood in neat rows extending into the distance, with soul engineers absorbed in research at each one.

They knocked at the Chief Researcher's private laboratory. The metal door creaked open, revealing their homeroom teacher Xuan Ziwen and an elderly man in blue-green robes.

"Senior Unbreakable." ×5

A Level 9 Soul Engineer of the Sun Moon Empire, Unbreakable Douluo Zheng Zhan.

He was one of the Hongchen Class's level-nine instructors, teaching defensive soul tools such as soul tool shields and Invincible Shields.

Once everyone had arrived, Zheng Zhan said in a ringing voice, "Ziwen is a research-oriented soul engineer and isn't skilled in combat. At the old toad's invitation, I'll serve as the guardian for this final exam.

"The Mingde Hall soul tool you'll be testing is called the All-Terrain Automatic Detection Soul Tool. Ziwen is its core researcher.

"The first-generation prototype was only recently completed. Only after trials across different terrain can Mingde Hall confidently put it into production.

"We leave first thing tomorrow morning.

"Our destination: the Jingyang Mountain Range."