After leaving Jing Hongchen's laboratory, Lin Jiayi took Jiang Hai somewhere to collect an Identity Card and a new Soul Engineer Badge. This badge had been made by Illustrious Virtue Hall itself. Even though the Soul Engineer Association had badges for the highest ranks, Illustrious Virtue Hall still followed its own principles, and the badges it certified carried more authority than those of the Soul Engineer Association.
The rank badges issued by Illustrious Virtue Hall featured the sun and moon at their base, with stars suspended above them. The number of stars represented the Soul Engineer's rank.
Jiang Hai's badge bore seven stars in total, marking him as a Level 7 Soul Engineer.
After replacing his old Soul Engineer Badge with the new one, Jiang Hai examined his Identity Card. Every Identity Card was a Soul Tool, though not a high-ranking one-only Level 3. However, each contained an encrypted chip. Without an Identity Card, it was impossible to use any of Illustrious Virtue Hall's Soul Tools or even enter the hall, unless one forced their way in. Few powers in the world dared trespass on Illustrious Virtue Hall's grounds.
Jiang Hai's Identity Card was black, with patterns in the same base colors as his Soul Engineer Badge. Those patterns converged into the number thirteen. Black-level clearance allowed him not only to enter and leave Illustrious Virtue Hall freely, but also to enter the secret research laboratory numbered thirteen.
"Numbered laboratories are among Illustrious Virtue Hall's highest priorities," Lin Jiayi said. "Each has at least one Level 8 Soul Engineer conducting research, while the top three are led by Level 9 Soul Engineers. Including the Hall Master, we currently have four Level 9 Soul Engineers stationed here. They command immense respect, and most of our Soul Engineers are their disciples or