The entrance to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was already packed with people, making it impossible to move.
Almost all the students, regardless of their year or department, spontaneously gathered here.
Because they knew that today was the day the academy's participating teams would return to Mingdu.
This time, the participating team fulfilled the long-cherished wish of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, which had lasted for thousands of years, and everyone felt honored.
At the very front of the group, wearing a smile of satisfaction and pride, was none other than Dean Jing Hongchen, who was usually elusive and rarely seen.
Today, Jing Hongchen was not wearing the long robe that marked him as the head of the Mingde Hall, but rather a more casual set of fine clothes.
Mingdu Suian did not prohibit flying, but Kong Xuan and his group still chose to walk after flying to the vicinity of the academy.
From high above, they could already see the crowd welcoming them at the school gate, a sign of respect.
As they appeared in everyone's sight, deafening cheers erupted at the academy gate.
This is a source of pride, and the joy of fulfilling a long-cherished wish.
"Master!"
At the very front of the group, the teacher in charge Ma Sheng, stepped forward.
The rugged-looking man's eyes were slightly red, and his voice trembled as he said, "The trainees fought bravely and lived up to their mission, finally winning the championship!"
Jing Hongchen patted him on the shoulder and said, "You've worked hard!"
He then glanced at each team member, his voice loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He said "good" three times in a row, then laughed and said, "Well done! You have not only won honor, but also shown the future of our Sun Moon Empire to the whole continent. The academy is proud of you! The empire is proud of you!"
Long live the Sun Moon Empire!
The students erupted in even louder cheers, flowers and ribbons filled the air, and the entire Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy was plunged into a sea of celebration.
Surrounded by the crowd, Kong Xuan and the others entered the academy gate amidst cheers and jubilation.
After traversing almost half of the academy, it finally quieted down once we entered the indoor area, as the space couldn't accommodate so many people.
Jing Hongchen led everyone past the dean's office and pushed open the door to a conference room next door.
Kong Xuan had assumed this was going to be a victory celebration or something, but to his surprise, he saw two familiar figures as soon as he walked in.
On one side of the oval table in the conference room, Prince Xu Tianran of the Sun Moon stood with a smile in his eyes, while Ju Zi stood quietly behind him.
Xu Tianran looked at the doorway and called out, "Heroes of my Sun Moon Empire, please take your seats!"
Under Jing Hongchen's arrangement, everyone quickly sat down.
Because of the sudden appearance of Xu Tianran, an "outsider," and his status as the crown prince, many people felt somewhat restrained, and the joy of their previous victory was somewhat overshadowed.
Crown Prince Xu Tianran sat in the main seat, his face still pale with a hint of illness, but his deep eyes were now as sharp as an eagle's.
His gaze swept over every young Soul Master in the conference room, filled with undisguised appreciation and satisfaction.
"Everyone!"
Xu Tianran broke the silence in the conference room with a bright smile.
"Although I couldn't be there in person to witness your heroic figures, your perseverance and wisdom perfectly showcase the spirit of the Soul Master of my Sun Moon Empire!"
"Especially the final battle!"
His voice grew stronger, even trembling slightly, filled with barely suppressed excitement. "You defeated Shrek Academy, shattering their myth of invincibility!"
He slammed his fist hard on the armrest of the wheelchair.
"For thousands of years, my Sun Moon Empire has awaited this moment!"
"This long-cherished wish, which has lasted for thousands of years, has finally been realized in your hands!"
"You... are heroes of the empire, meritorious figures recorded in history!"
Xu Tianran's voice was passionate and his eyes were filled with sincere gratitude and congratulations as he looked at the crowd.
"On behalf of the Empire and the Royal Family, I thank you all for your hard work and dedication!"
"The Empire will not forget your achievements, and all rewards will be bestowed upon you according to the highest standards!"
"All participants may visit the Imperial Treasury tomorrow and choose one treasure according to their merits!"
The atmosphere in the meeting room was instantly ignited, and all the team members showed excited expressions.
Kong Xuan, who had been observing from the shadows, chuckled to himself, thinking that the Soul Master of this world and the working class of another world seemed to be no different.
It was clear from their subtle changes in expression that they disliked meetings with "high-ranking leaders" present.
But now, upon hearing that a real reward was about to be in their hands, their expressions changed, and they became more enthusiastic than anyone else.
Once everyone had calmed down a bit, Xu Tianran continued, "The future of the empire will be created by you. I hope you will all remain humble and diligent, and continue your efforts to build an everlasting legacy for the empire."
He smiled finally and said, "Alright, I won't disturb your celebration any longer. Don't forget to come to the palace tomorrow morning to collect your rewards."
After he finished speaking, Ju Zi behind him took the initiative to push him to walk outside, and everyone stood up to see him off.
After Xu Tianran disappeared at the end of the corridor, enthusiastic cheers erupted again in the conference room.
This time, they no longer suppressed their emotions, shouting freely and releasing their excitement and anticipation for tomorrow.
Early the next morning, Jing Hongchen personally led everyone into the palace through the Wan'an Gate on the east side.
Even though Kong Deming's home was right next to the palace, this was actually Kong Xuan's first time entering the palace grounds.
The walls and columns of this palace are all cast from a special alloy, making it quite different from the palace architecture of another world.
Within the Sun Moon Imperial Palace, Kong Xuan always felt that there was more metal than earth and wood.
Moreover, the abundance of advanced Soul Tool adds a lot of "technological" feel, truly befitting the characteristics of the Sun Moon Empire.
Overall, this is not a traditional, magnificent palace, but rather a metal temple that perfectly blends Soul Guidance Technology with imperial authority.
The group followed Jing Hongchen to the northeast corner of the palace, where a nine-story tower stood.
This tower, several tens of meters high, appears to be entirely cast in metal. Instead of any flying eaves or sharp edges, it is smooth and covered with various soul-guiding patterns.
The tower is hexagonal, tapering at the top and widening at the bottom, resembling a hexagonal pyramid when viewed from a distance.
As they walked, Jing Hongchen explained, "Ahead lies the Sun Moon Bright Light Tower, your destination for this journey. Inside is the royal family's treasure trove!"
When the group arrived in front of the tower, as if they already knew someone was coming, the metal door on the first floor of the Sun Moon Bright Light Tower slowly opened.
Everyone saw Jing Hongchen take a few steps forward, walk to the door, but not go straight in.
A short while later, two people emerged from the tower.
Both men had white hair and beards, and looked quite old.
Although they were ordinary-looking, like the old grandfather next door, they were certainly no ordinary people who could guard the royal treasury.
At this moment, Yun Ming in the Sea of Consciousness reminded him, "Both of these two are Titled Douluo."
Kong Xuan thought to himself, "As expected, otherwise Jing Hongchen wouldn't be so respectful."