Mingdu Soul Engineering Academy Came to Challenge Them? First Encounter with Ghost Nana!

"Senior Cheng? When did Illustrious Virtue Hall get such a person?" Xiao Hongchen narrowed his eyes, revealing a scrutinizing look.

The other party was dressed in the attire of the Illustrious Virtue Hall disciple, making them easily identifiable as ordinary Heaven Dou Imperial Academy disciples.

"I've heard a bit about that. Rumor has it that he's a disciple of a powerful family from another province. He's now studying in Mingdu and his talent is indeed extraordinary. He became Level 7 Soul Engineer at the age of eighteen and is said to have easily passed the tests of many mentors. I just don't know why he chose Researcher Xuan Ziwen..." Lin Xi leaned over and whispered.

"Oh?"

Xiao Hongchen's expression froze. This talent was probably among the top three in the entire Illustrious Virtue Hall, and could even be said to be no less than his.

No wonder her younger sister is so fond of him.

Seeing the other person cast a glance at him, Xiao Hongchen didn't refuse and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Xiao Hongchen..."

Lu Cheng watched as a cheerful and lively girl with long, silver-white hair cascading over her shoulders, as if greeting him, walked away, and the young man beside her who had just made eye contact with him.

A smile curved at the corners of his lips.

If used properly, this kid could be a fine weapon. He has good character and top-notch talent... especially in the area of Soul Tool.

But that's a story for later. For now, it's best to keep a low profile and avoid provoking Jing Hongchen. A blond guy should act like a blond guy; he can't just pat Jing Hongchen's face and arrogantly say, "Old Deng, the Ghost Fire (mecha) is parked downstairs. I'm picking up your granddaughter."

I'm afraid I'll be killed by Jing Hongchen.

Fortunately, the remaining senses from the Simulation Device were still somewhat useful. Meng Hongchen's attitude towards him was clearly ambiguous. You should know that this girl was definitely not like this with other Illustrious Virtue Hall disciples, especially men. She seemed to be all smiles, but in reality, she kept her distance from them.

This girl isn't just obsessed with looks, she's obsessed with a specific kind of looks.

After being captivated by Wang Dong'er, the protagonist never forgot her even after returning to the Sun Moon Empire. It wasn't until Wang Dong'er removed her men's clothing that his Dao heart was completely shattered.

"Perhaps we can try to win over Meng Hongchen, but we'll have to proceed cautiously with Xiao Hongchen and the Illustrious Virtue Hall."

Lu Cheng frowned slightly.

The status of the Illustrious Virtue Hall in the Sun Moon Empire is self-evident, and he felt it especially deeply when he imitated it for the second time. Jing Hongchen's status in the Sun Moon Empire is also self-evident. He Kong Deming's first disciple and one of the top five combatants in the empire. It is difficult to win over such a "good family" member of the Sun Moon Empire.

But to say there was no opportunity wouldn't be accurate.

His Majesty ascended the throne by murdering his brother. Compared to the previous Sun Moon Emperor, this generation, and even the royal disciples like Xu Tianran, are all ruthless, treacherous, and cunning. In addition, the Nine Princes' Succession Struggle is imminent, and the Sun Moon Empire is truly shrouded in dark clouds. If Jing Hongchen takes one wrong step, he will fall into an abyss.

The old emperor in his previous life tried to sow discord and frame him, but he hasn't settled the score with him yet.

Since that's the case, let's settle our debt in this lifetime.

Let's wait for the right opportunity.

Lu Cheng glanced one last time at the cafeteria entrance. Xiao Hongchen was arm in arm with another boy, while Meng Hongchen gracefully trailed behind. Seemingly noticing his gaze, she smiled brightly, her red lips curving into a cute gesture.

"Senior Cheng knows Senior Meng and the others?" Ke Ke exclaimed in surprise.

"I guess so." Lu Cheng raised an eyebrow; this girl was always so easily startled.

Even Ju Zi cast a strange glance at him, but thinking about it, Cheng Lu was probably a direct descendant of a duke from another province, so it was normal for him to be familiar with a disciple of a wealthy family like Meng Hongchen.

"..."

Outside the cafeteria.

Meng Hongchen lightly touched her red lips with a hair tie, neatly tying up her loose hair, regaining her former image as the school's big sister. Xiao Hongchen hesitated for a moment, then asked, "A Meng, do you know him?"

"Brother, don't you think this looks familiar?" Meng Hongchen rolled her eyes at him.

"Familiar?" Xiao Hongchen, being straightforward, didn't quite grasp the idea.

"Alright, the list of participants going to the Shrek Academy for the exchange program has been finalized, and you're on it," Meng Hongchen said with a light laugh.

"Normal." Xiao Hongchen's expression was calm. Since his grandfather had brought it up, he, as the eldest grandson of the Hongchen Clan, was naturally the "hostage" that had to be exchanged.

"But I didn't see my name on the list." Meng Hongchen shrugged.

"It must have been Grandpa who advocated for it," Xiao Hongchen said calmly. This was his responsibility as an older brother; he didn't want his younger sister to go to that dangerous place.

"What about me?" Lin Xi asked, leaning closer.

"The main members of the previous competition, including all the reserves, are on the list for this exchange competition. It seems that Shrek Academy is quite bothered by losing to us in the competition..." Meng Hongchen's beautiful eyes held a hint of mockery.

"So Shrek didn't make any statement?" Lin Xi muttered, slightly dissatisfied.

"Yes, there are. Bei Bei, the most outstanding disciple of Shrek who recently entered the inner academy, and Tang Wutong are both on the exchange list. The other party has obviously gone all out," Meng Hongchen said.

"Heh, they've really hit rock bottom." Lin Xi sneered. "A Bei Bei, a stray dog who was kicked to death as a reserve team member in the last competition, doesn't deserve to be called the most outstanding disciple. Shrek Academy will destroy itself sooner or later. I don't know why the hall master agreed to the exchange."

"..."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

There's no way around it; whenever the previous competition is mentioned, one can't help but think of Lu Cheng, a guy whose name is etched deep in my memory and I can't forget him.

An insurmountable mountain among all the younger generation of disciples today.

Even Xiao Hongchen, who used to be very arrogant, was completely defeated and subdued in that battle.

In fact, not a single young disciple from the entire Sun Moon Empire Team, or even from any other team present, could resist the thrill of seeing that figure. Young people always admire the strong, especially a monstrous talent like him who surpasses his peers in every aspect.

"I wonder if we'll ever meet again in this lifetime," Xiao Hongchen said with regret. "He and I were kindred spirits, truly appreciating each other."

"Brother, stop flattering yourself. He is, but you aren't." Meng Hongchen chuckled lightly, glancing indifferently at her brother.

"Cough cough cough..."

Xiao Hongchen looked embarrassed, glancing left and right.

"I heard that the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy is here to hold another arena competition?"

Inside the laboratory.

Ke Ke's mouth was bulging with snacks as she gossiped.

Lu Cheng, flipping through a lab report, smiled. Having such a cheerful person in the lab was quite amusing, but... Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy?

In the original novel, this academy did appear during the second Continental Soul Master Tournament held in Mingdu. Its overall strength was by no means bad, and it even had the confidence to compete with the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Moreover... the current princess Xu Tianzhen, is also Xu Tianran's only younger sister, and she lives in this academy.

"Ju Zi, listen to me."

Ke Ke, Keke approached Ju Zi, who always looked sleepy, lazily lying on the lab table. When Keke woke her up, Ke Ke straightened up, stretched, and showed off her graceful figure.

He then slapped Keke on the Ke Ke: "So noisy!"

"You heartless bastard! I came back to share the intelligence with you guys as soon as I heard it, and you're complaining that I'm noisy!" Ke Ke started making a fuss.

"Quiet down, both of you." Curious about the latter part of the information, Lu Cheng forcefully silenced the two. "Ke Ke, continue."

"Hehehe, I didn't expect you to be interested too, Grandmaster. I thought you were the kind of boring guy, like Teacher Xuan... cough cough cough." At this point, seemingly having learned from his previous lesson, he quickly looked around, like a mouse afraid of a cat, and Xuan Ziwen.

"Even the Hall Master Jing personally greeted them. It's said that the other side is quite arrogant, immediately demanding a duel, and they clearly came prepared. Their strongest member is obviously Level 7 Soul Engineer..."

Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineering Academy

Soul Guidance Trial Grounds.

The land, spanning several hectares, and the open-air venue, capable of accommodating several thousand people, were all filled with students who had come to watch the spectacle.

There was a large crowd, mostly dressed in the uniforms of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, though there were also a few scattered orange uniforms... disciples of the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy. But since this was the Royal Soul Engineering Academy's home ground, they were outnumbered.

The venue was packed, but there was no entrance fee.

Students in this age group have the strongest sense of collective identity. They take this kind of "invasion and provocation from other departments" very seriously, wishing they could personally step in and beat up the other side. At the same time, they cheer and shout for the disciples who win the game and bring glory to their side.

"Wow... so many people." Lu Cheng smacked his orange juice, looking at the huge crowd, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. The place was packed.

"Hehe, those noobs from the Mingdu Soul Tool Academy come to spar a few times every year, but they're basically asking for a beating. They get thrashed to the ground by our Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and then slink away. This year will probably be no different." Ke Ke grinned, showing her little tiger teeth.

Her voice wasn't quiet, and several Heaven Dou Imperial Academy disciples who heard her voice showed kind and satisfied smiles, with an expression that said, "I approve of you."

Some disciples from the Mingdu Academy looked displeased, but since they were in the enemy's base camp, they didn't dare to say anything. They could only sit quietly to the side, waiting for the match to thoroughly humiliate these arrogant guys.

"I wonder what insights you have gained from your visit today, Elder Nian?"

On the platform, Jing Hongchen sat leisurely, looking at the old man opposite him with a hint of helplessness.

That old bastard is like a persistent leech, relentlessly pestering people. He challenges them several times a year, but the difference in strength between the two sides is quite significant. Every time, the Royal Soul Engineering Academy manages to crush the other side's head. After a while, he got quite annoyed, but he couldn't refuse. So, this old bastard started spreading rumors that the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was so afraid of his Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy that they dared not accept his challenge.

"Hehe, just you wait and see." The white-haired old man didn't say much, only revealing an air of unrevealing secrets.

"..."

Jing Hongchen raised an eyebrow slightly. Could it be... that the other side really has something to say this time?

However, he shook his head after thinking about it. He would deal with whatever came his way. His side was now strong and well-equipped. Although Ma Rulong was away on a mission, his grandchildren were still around, and there were quite a few level 5 and 6 Soul Engineer in the Illustrious Virtue Hall. Why should he be afraid of him?

He gave Lin Jiayi a wink, and the latter ordered the competition to begin.

Cheers and applause resounded continuously.

Lu Cheng sat leisurely in the competition area.

Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy isn't weak; after all, it's the second-best academy in the Sun Moon Empire after the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. But it's not that strong either. Several of its disciples were defeated by the disciples of the Illustrious Virtue Hall. The battles were average for them, as they were all students at the Level 5 Soul Engineer realm. But for some of the lower-grade disciples, it was a visual feast.

However, the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy also brought out a heavyweight figure: Princess Xu Tianzhen of the royal family.

The girl, with delicate features, not very tall, and somewhat thin, had a rather eccentric and straightforward personality. As soon as she entered the arena, she tilted her head back and said some nonsensical things, which made the disciples of the Royal Soul Engineering Academy on the other side grit their teeth in anger.

This girl actually enjoyed it. She was rebellious and unwilling to obey her father's arrangements, which is why she ran away to the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy.

Now, as the vanguard, they are determined to challenge the Royal Soul Engineer Academy.

Because of her status, others dared not use their full strength, but she actually did have some skill. The Sun Moon Empire's royal Martial Soul, the Sun, was second only to the Ultimate Attribute, fire. With the help of her Soul Tool, Xu Tianzhen was like a fish in water.

He successively defeated several disciples of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Fortunately, after fighting for a while, its Soul Power was exhausted, so it slipped back to retrieve the Milk Bottle and replenish its Soul Power.

However, just as Jing Hongchen breathed a sigh of relief...

A slightly older disciple on the opposite side slowly stood up and walked straight towards the competition area.

"Wait, he's under twenty too?!" Jing Hongchen exclaimed anxiously, glaring at the white-haired old man opposite her. She had initially thought he was the team leader.

"Nonsense," the white-haired old man said with a smile.

"He's still a few days away from his twentieth birthday, so how can he not be considered under twenty? It's just that he looks a bit older than his actual age. If Hall Master Jing doesn't believe me, he can verify his bone age."

"..." Jing Hongchen's lips twitched.

This is clearly the aura of Soul Saint...

In other words, it requires at least Level 7 Soul Engineer. How can they possibly fight like that?

Logically speaking, the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy can only occasionally produce one or two Soul Engineer of this caliber, like Ma Rulong. But the problem is, Ma Rulong is well over twenty years old!!!

These shameless bastards came to catch them completely off guard.

No wonder it came today; if it had come in two more days, it might have already "expired"...

That's outrageous.

But jokes aside, even if the other person is only three days shy of turning twenty, their talent is absolutely top-notch. I wonder where they found such a genius.

"Next up, a disciple of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, practical Soul Tool Department, Nana!"

With the appearance of the Mingdu Soul Engineer Academy's ace and the sound of a familiar voice, Lu Cheng finally turned a somewhat interested gaze.

The latter clearly hasn't realized just how formidable the enemy they're about to face is.

It was just a simple warm-up. Amidst the blessings and cheers of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy disciples, she lightly gripped two soul-guided daggers in her hands, her beautiful eyes indifferently fixed on her opponent who was slowly walking towards the arena.

The girl was about seventeen years old and could be described as pretty. However, her wheat-colored skin, obvious abs, tall and proud figure, and rather aggressive gaze made her resemble a female leopard, harboring astonishing explosive energy.