Sparring

Xian Lin and Qian Duoduo sat on the left side of the conference table, several files spread out before them. They had clearly arrived early.

As dean of the Soul Guidance Department, Xian Lin had to attend this meeting.

Qian Duoduo was not only his wife but also the vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department, so naturally, she could not be absent either.

At that moment, Qian Duoduo swept her gaze over Jin Hongchen's party before finally settling on Jin Hongchen.

There was a trace of barely perceptible scrutiny in her eyes.

Soul power fluctuations at this level should count as very powerful in the Sun Moon Empire, that nation of soul engineering that didn't even have a Hyper Douluo.

I wonder how he compares to me, the vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department?

That was what Qian Duoduo was thinking at that moment.

If Gu Xingyue knew what she was thinking, he would probably say she had drunk too much.

After all, in the original story, that hall master of the Virtuous Hall was guaranteed a place in the top five and could contend for the top three. He could even challenge a Level 98 Peak Douluo. Of course, just as he himself had said, he had to keep his distance.

All things considered, this Jin Hongchen's strength probably fluctuated somewhere between Level 97 and Level 98 at present.

A fight between Qian Duoduo and her would be a thirty-seventy split: blasted to death by a Soul Guidance Cannon seven times in three seconds.

Jin Hongchen also spotted Xian Lin and Qian Duoduo.

She gave a slight nod in greeting, then took her seat under Yan Shaozhe's guidance.

The attendants she had brought were arranged to wait in the lounge outside the conference hall. Only Jin Hongchen entered the formal meeting.

Yan Shaozhe sat at the head of the table, glanced over those present, and said, "Director Jin, before we formally begin, let me make the introductions. This is Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department, whom you already know. This is Xian Lin, dean of the Soul Guidance Department, and beside him is Qian Duoduo, a senior researcher in the Soul Guidance Department. They'll be responsible for coordinating the exchange students with your side going forward."

When Jin Hongchen heard the title "dean of the Soul Guidance Department," her gaze lingered on Xian Lin a moment longer.

She had read the materials before coming and knew that Shrek's Soul Guidance Department had started late and had a weak foundation, but the Xian Lin before her did not look like someone in charge of a makeshift operation.

He sat steadily, his face square, his eyes calm and reserved, like a rock.

"Dean Xian," Jin Hongchen began, "there will be plenty of room for cooperation between the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Guidance Research Institute and your academy's Soul Guidance Department in the future. I've read several papers your department published over the past two years. Their approaches were quite thought-provoking."

Xian Lin nodded, his tone neither warm nor cold. "You're too kind, Director Jin. Our foundation is weak, and we're still feeling our way forward. We can't compare with the Sun Moon Empire's accumulated technological expertise."

"Technology can be shared." Jin Hongchen smiled. "That is precisely the purpose of our visit."

Qian Duoduo opened a file beside him and interjected, "Director Jin, I've read the draft cooperation proposal you sent ahead. The exchange program is larger than I expected. Thirty people in the very first batch."

"You're quite right, Dean Qian." Jin Hongchen responded with composure. "Thirty is the scale of the first phase. If implementation goes smoothly, the numbers will increase later. Of course, all these specific details are open to discussion."

Yan Shaozhe raised her teacup and took a sip, her gaze passing between Jin Hongchen and Qian Duoduo.

It seemed Qian Duoduo was more enthusiastic about this cooperation than Xian Lin-or rather, one was playing the stern face and the other the friendly face.

The meeting progressed through this back-and-forth.

Yan Shaozhe steered the overall direction, while Xian Lin and Qian Duoduo asked detailed questions and gave responses concerning cooperation at the Soul Guidance Department level.

Jin Hongchen maintained an unhurried pace throughout, answering every question without letting a single drop leak through.

After half a day of back-and-forth, both sides finally stamped the last document.

Jin Hongchen was also closing her folder, a perfectly measured smile at the corners of her mouth and a hint of relief in her eyes behind her lenses.

Both sides felt they had gotten the better deal. That was probably the highest realm of negotiation.

Jin Hongchen put the documents into the soul tool he carried, then looked up at Yan Shaozhe, a little more hesitant, as though he had something to say but held back. "Dean Yan, I have another presumptuous request. I'm not sure whether I should bring it up."

Seeing her hesitant manner, Yan Shaozhe smiled and waved a hand. "Why shouldn't you? Given our relationship now, there's no need to stand on ceremony."

"Then I'll speak frankly." Jin Hongchen smiled too, pushing up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. "To tell you the truth, I brought some students from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy on this trip. They've always greatly admired Shrek Academy. They came along with me this time because they wanted to see the splendor of the continent's foremost academy for themselves."

At this point, she added just the right measure of sincerity to her tone. "Unfortunately, some of them have never made it to the Continental Soul Master Tournament and haven't even had the chance to gaze up at Shrek's students in all their glory. I wonder if Dean Yan could give them an opportunity to spar with your academy's students, simply to broaden their horizons?"

As Yan Shaozhe listened, her expression remained unchanged, but thoughts raced through her mind.

What exactly is this fellow trying to do?

Bringing a group of Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy students to spar at Shrek-on the surface, it's admiration and a desire to learn, but who knows whether there's some other calculation behind it?

Or could these students really just want to chase their idols, then step into the arena to experience being thrashed by Shrek students?

If that's the case, that's a rather strange taste.

But on second thought, it was only sparring. They would stop short of causing harm; it was not a formal competition.

She knew perfectly well what level Shrek's students were at.

Besides, they had just signed a cooperation agreement. She ought to show them this much courtesy.

"Certainly." Yan Shaozhe nodded, her tone brisk. "We can do it today. I'll arrange for the students."

Jin Hongchen seemed not to have expected her to agree so readily. He froze for a moment, then his smile deepened, and he bowed slightly in a respectful manner. "That couldn't be better. Sorry to trouble you with the arrangements, Dean Yan."

Yan Shaozhe waved a hand to indicate there was no need for thanks, then summoned someone and instructed, "Go fetch a few students. Pick some in the upper-middle range of strength. Let's not bully them too much."

With that, Yan Shaozhe looked at Gu Xingyue and tipped her chin toward him. "You stay and watch too. Since you'll be coordinating the exchange students, it's worth getting an early sense of their abilities."

Gu Xingyue had already been preparing to leave, but at those words, he sat back down.

He leaned against the back of his chair, his arms folded across his chest, his gaze settling on the attendants Jin Hongchen had brought opposite him.

Upon hearing the arrangements for the sparring, the young people wore different expressions.

Some had eagerness in their eyes, while others were visibly somewhat nervous. There was also a girl who had stood silently in the corner all along, dressed in a plain white robe.

Jin Hongchen called the students behind him over to his side and gave them a few quiet instructions. They all nodded.

Then she turned around and said to Yan Shaozhe with a smile, "Dean Yan, my students are all looking forward to it."

Yan Shaozhe smiled too. "Then let's go to the training grounds."