Xuan Ziwen had told Kong Xuan that if anything happened at the academy, he had to come to him.
But Kong Xuan had been doing quite well at the academy and had even become a "celebrity," so naturally, he had had no need to trouble his martial uncle.
As such, today was his first visit to Xuan Ziwen's laboratory.
He guessed that the girl before him, who seemed to be making a Soul Tool, was probably one of Xuan Ziwen's students or something of the sort. After all, his martial uncle had come to the academy to teach.
Kong Xuan waved the access card in his hand and said with a smile, "Xuan Ziwen is my martial uncle. He gave me this access card. Are you his student?"
Only then did the girl lower her guard, casually slipping the Soul Tool carving knife in her hand back into the tool pouch at her waist.
She tilted her head, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes. "You're... Kong Xuan?"
Kong Xuan nodded. "Looks like my martial uncle has told you about me."
The girl smiled. "Teacher mentioned you."
She stepped down from the Soul Tool workbench, walked up to Kong Xuan, and extended her hand with easy poise. "My name is Ju Zi. I'm Teacher Xuan's disciple."
Kong Xuan paused at her words, then raised his hand and lightly touched her fingertips out of courtesy.
He had not expected that the girl standing before him would actually be an important character from the original story.
Although Ju Zi had little talent for cultivation and was not particularly strong, she was a very important character.
He would become the crown princess of the Sun Moon Empire, and later, the Empress God of War.
This very girl, who looked so sweet and innocent at the moment, would one day lead the offensive against the original Douluo Three Kingdoms.
If Sea God Tang San had not intervened in the end, she would have accomplished the "great feat" of unifying Douluo!
There were also many other things worth discussing about her, because he was deeply entangled with Huo Yuhao, this world's destined protagonist.
For instance, joining forces with Huo Yuhao to murder her own husband, Xu Tianran.
And then there was the son she bore Huo Yuhao, who would later become the crown prince of the Sun Moon Empire and ultimately accomplish the unification of the Douluo Continent.
It could be said that Ju Zi was destined to leave a bold, vivid stroke in the history books of later generations.
In an instant, Kong Xuan came back to his senses and asked, "Where did my martial uncle go?"
"Teacher went to Mingde Hall to get some materials, but he should be back soon."
Ju Zi's voice was clear and bright as she asked, "Did you need Teacher for something?"
"Yes!"
Kong Xuan gave a brief reply, his gaze falling on the Soul Tool core she had just been carving.
Ju Zi noticed his gaze, and her eyes brightened slightly. "Have you studied Soul Tools too?"
Kong Xuan shook his head. "I'm a student in the Soul Master class. I haven't studied Soul Tools yet."
A trace of disappointment flashed through Ju Zi's eyes. She had thought they might be able to exchange ideas.
Just then, the laboratory door, which had only recently closed, opened again, and Xuan Ziwen appeared before them.
Xuan Ziwen was a little surprised to see the two of them, then smiled. "Looks like you've already met. That saves me the introductions."
As he spoke, Xuan Ziwen turned his gaze to Kong Xuan. "You rarely come here. What is it?"
Kong Xuan wasted no words and said directly, "The semester is almost over. I just came to ask whether you'll be returning to the Worship Hall with us, Martial Uncle."
"Of course. I promised Teacher I'd personally escort you back."
"What day are you leaving?"
Kong Xuan had already worked out the timing. "The afternoon of the day after tomorrow."
Xuan Ziwen nodded. "All right. I'll pick you up at the dormitory building that afternoon."
With the time settled with his martial uncle, Kong Xuan had accomplished what he had come for.
He did not linger in the laboratory afterward. After all, he was not a Soul Engineer and had no interest in these lumps of metal.
Ren Jun's pointer tapped crisply against the lectern, while the Soul Tool screen above displayed each student's data.
Today's lesson was also the last lesson of the semester.
"Over this semester of study, I've seen all the effort you've put in."
"None of that effort has gone to waste, either. Just now, you all saw the improvements in your various stats."
"As your teacher, I sincerely want to tell you, the members of this newly established Soul Master class, that you are no worse than those students at Shrek Academy. In my eyes, you're even more outstanding!"
Ren Jun's words came from the heart. This was an outcome he had never anticipated before coming to teach in Sun Moon.
There was no need to mention the class's super genius, Kong Xuan, who stood in a league entirely apart from everyone else.
But even excluding Kong Xuan, there were quite a few exceptionally dazzling students in the class.
After this brief praise, Ren Jun's expression grew serious again.
"Although the holidays are about to begin, I hope you won't slack off during the break. In cultivation, fall behind one step, and you'll fall behind at every step..."
Listening to Ren Jun, Kong Xuan suddenly felt as though he had returned to a classroom in another world.
Before the holidays began, the teacher was telling them that they had to study hard over the break.
Back in that other world, it was already an achievement if Kong Xuan finished his holiday homework. Studying was naturally out of the question.
But things were different in this world. After all, strength reigned supreme here, and Kong Xuan had never slackened in his cultivation since awakening his Martial Soul.
"After the next semester begins, the National Soul Master Class Competition will be held within a month!"
Ren Jun had already informed them of this news earlier.
For this competition, the students had formed teams of three, and all were rubbing their fists and flexing their palms in anticipation of next semester's event.
A semester of study had left them feeling that their strength had improved considerably, and they needed this competition to test their abilities.
But Ren Jun's next words sent a jolt through everyone's hearts.
"After the Soul Master Class Competition ends, classes will be reorganized based on the performance of teams nationwide, and a new experimental class will be formed."
"I'll be the homeroom teacher of the experimental class. I hope all of you will be there."
After Ren Jun finished speaking, a sudden sense of urgency rose in the hearts of all the students in the classroom.
Even those who had originally been indifferent to victory now felt a desire to win.
After all, no one wanted to be the one eliminated.
Ren Jun swept his gaze over the students' faces, very satisfied with the fighting spirit in their eyes and the determination they revealed.
"Class dismissed!"
As Ren Jun disappeared from the classroom, the semester's studies officially came to a complete end.
The students left the classroom in twos and threes, but rather than thinking about how to spend a leisurely holiday, they were thinking about how to improve their strength during the break.
That afternoon, four figures gathered in the first-floor lobby of the dormitory building, facing their impending parting.
Xu Tianyi had taken off his school uniform and changed into lavish purple-and-gold attire, with his princely household's crest embroidered on the collar. His entire bearing exuded cold pride and nobility.
His gaze swept over the three of them as he said slowly, "I'll be cultivating at the princely residence throughout the holidays."
Something occurred to Xu Wei, and he looked at him with concern. "That brother of yours won't cause trouble again, will he?"
Xu Wei had originally been rather envious of Xu Tianyi's status as a prince. But ever since witnessing Xu Tianyi nearly beaten to death by his own brother in the Soul Fighting Arena, that envy had instantly vanished without a trace. Now, instead, he worried about his safety.
At the mention of his brother, Xu Tianyi's expression grew a few degrees colder. Then he shook his head. "He won't dare do much inside the princely residence."
Xu Wei felt somewhat reassured by this, but Kong Xuan cautioned, "Even so, you can't let your guard down. An open spear is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against."
Xu Tianyi looked at Kong Xuan and nodded firmly, committing those words to memory.
Seeing the others turn their gazes toward him, Xu Wei smiled. "I'm on my own, so I'll stay at the academy over the holidays. It happens to have all the cultivation resources I need."
As an orphan, Xu Wei had little other choice.
Seeing Xuan Ziwen already standing at the dormitory entrance, Kong Xuan said simply, "Ling'er and I are going home too. We'll see you next semester, then."
Kong Xuan and Kong Ling waved, then walked out of the dormitory building and over to Xuan Ziwen.
Xu Tianyi glanced at Xu Wei beside him. "People from the princely residence will be here to pick me up shortly. I hope your strength won't disappoint me next semester."
Xu Wei raised a finger, the lightning flickering at its tip illuminating his calm face. "Don't talk big. Next semester, we'll let our skills do the talking!"