Meng Hongchen: Time to feast! (Two chapters in one)

"That beast Wang Shaojie, just wait until I get back, I'll tell Teacher Xuan on him! Even though Grandmaster helped the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy win, he still secretly sabotaged things behind the scenes—that's despicable behavior!"

On the way back, Ke Ke looked indignant.

That guy was very conspicuous and was naturally spotted at a glance. But he pretended to be dead and slipped away with Princess Xu Tianzhen. Once they got back to the lab... he'd definitely give her a good scolding.

Or it would be better to fire him and let him go.

Ju Zi pursed her red lips. Although she didn't say anything, she meant the same thing. She really looked down on that guy. He was so stupid that he didn't even know how to trip someone up. And yet, she was stuck in the same lab as this kind of person. If she got dragged into this mess later, she would have no one to complain to.

"Hehe..."

Lu Cheng smiled, completely unconcerned.

In the original story, this guy was also a good-for-nothing. He was nearly turned into an idiot by Huo Gua's Spiritual Shock, and after recovering, he relied on his marginal status in the royal family to use the death penalty...

The imperial family is full of corrupt officials; how similar this is to the Da Ming!

Let's go.

Leading everyone back in victory, he continued to study the Spiritual Operating System. These days, he and Xuan Ziwen studied it almost day and night, always excitedly discussing their experiences together. Their relationship gradually became closer than before.

"Here... is today's progress and reflections."

Lu Cheng handed Shan Xuan Ziwen, who had arrived late, and stretched, saying, "I need to go take a nap."

"You... offended the royal family?" Xuan Ziwen absentmindedly took the file, but his eyes held a hint of worry as he asked, "Should I try to pull some strings?"

"Hmm..." Lu Cheng was taken aback. Offended the royal family?

In his memory, Xu Tianzhen was indeed arrogant and willful, but her personality was also straightforward. Surely she wouldn't hold a grudge against him for that?

Or perhaps it's Xu Song who shouldn't be like this either.

Could it be that...

After briefly recounting yesterday's events to Xuan Ziwen, the latter's expression softened considerably. He patted Lu Cheng on the shoulder and said, "That's good. A prince mentioned your name today, and his tone seemed somewhat displeased. But don't worry, since Hall Master Jing has taken notice of you, just focus on your research. Even a prince can't take people from our academy."

After comforting Lu Cheng with a few words, Xuan Ziwen also breathed a sigh of relief and began to review Lu Cheng's experimental progress. The two had been taking turns working on the project, and with the millions of Gold Soul Coin invested and Lu Cheng's imaginative ideas, the long-dormant project was slowly starting to move forward.

At least a Sisi of hope has appeared, however faint it may be.

"Go and rest, get a good night's sleep." Xuan Ziwen adjusted his glasses, then remembered something. "Oh right, don't forget the Fully Automatic Soul Tool Detector either. That thing is also part of our lab's research project... The key is to get more funding; we're responsible for its speed and stability..."

Lu Cheng didn't even turn his head, waving his hand to indicate that he understood.

In Xuan Ziwen's eyes, the laboratory is currently surviving solely on this project, which he managed to secure with great difficulty. Otherwise, with his family's savings recently depleted, he feared that without raising some funds, the laboratory would not even be able to continue operating.

If we achieve some results, we can ask for some funding from higher authorities.

"Ha~"

The sun is shining brightly outside; I've stayed up all night again.

Lu Cheng planned to have breakfast first, then go to his dorm for a nap. The research project was just too exhausting. The Spiritual Operating System required him to be 100% focused and consumed a lot of Spiritual Power. If he didn't get enough food, even Soul Douluo would be unable to withstand it.

Along the way, many disciples of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy greeted him, their eyes filled with admiration and respect. Everywhere, the strong are respected, especially since he had saved the day from collapse.

His effortless and confident demeanor in defeating his opponents has captured the hearts of many girls.

"I've been waiting for you!"

At the end of the tree-lined path, a beautiful figure emerged, her lovely eyes fixed on Lu Cheng with a hint of resentment.

"Junior Meng?" Lu Cheng was taken aback. Looking at the girl's dark circles, he wondered if she had stayed up all night.

"Hmph! Don't forget your grandfather is looking for you," Meng Hongchen said expressionlessly.

"..." Lu Cheng's eyes twitched; he had indeed forgotten about that, but he remained calm and smiled, "Hahaha, I was just about to go find the Hall Master Hongchen."

"Hmph, you better be." Meng Hongchen kicked the big tree next to her, taking her anger out on it.

She really did stay up all night last night, just to wait for this guy and "extort" him a bit. After all, it was late at night and no one else would know about it, but this guy really has been staying in the lab until now...

The only thing I can do is take him to see his grandfather first.

but...

Meng Hongchen gave a soft hum, leaned closer, and a fragrant breeze wafted over her. Then, she heard a girl's sweet, orchid-like voice whisper in her ear, "Lu Cheng, this secret of yours is something I'll live off for the rest of my life. Don't even think about running away. After we meet Grandpa..."

"..."

Lu Cheng remained calm.

She actually found out.

But Lu Cheng couldn't feel a ripple of emotion. This girl was purely and extremely love-struck, and it was simply impossible for her to expose him. In fact, she would most likely help him conceal his identity.

However, I still feel somewhat emotional.

Girl, are your eyes like an eagle's?

How could you tell that?

Illustrious Virtue Hall Laboratory.

At the entrance.

Lu Cheng smiled, rubbing a crimson diamond ring on his finger. Jing Hongchen was indeed generous, allocating nearly three million gold soul coins worth of rare metals, including Heavy Silver and meteorite iron. You should know that Xuan Ziwen had scrimped and saved for half his life and only had four million Gold Soul Coin left. This reward was truly extravagant, given that he had just won a match.

Of course, Jing Hongchen originally intended to give him a level nine Defensive Soul Tool, which was far more valuable than the reward that should have been his. It also had the implication of investment and wooing him, but Lu Cheng refused.

Compared to a level nine Defensive Soul Tool, which is hard to sell and he already had one, he might as well get some more practical metal.

"So what's next?"

Lu Cheng glanced at the slender young woman stretching lazily to the side, her graceful curves exposed to the sunlight, and realized that empty promises wouldn't work if he wanted to settle things peacefully and appease this guy who knew about his "spy" identity.

She didn't want anything else, only her body.

Since that's the case...

Where to?

Lu Cheng asked.

"Anything, anything is fine..." Meng Hongchen turned her head away, pretending to be nonchalant, but her fair and rosy earlobes and her slender fingers twisted together revealed her less-than-peaceful inner world.

He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him.

Lu Cheng sighed helplessly.

When did Lu Cheng, a dignified seven-foot-tall man, fall so low as to sell himself into servitude?

Inside a detached dormitory building with pinkish walls.

Lu Cheng let out a long breath.

With a beautiful woman in his arms, her slender, white fingers drew circles on his chest, squeezing the ball into a semi-circle that pressed against his chest, revealing a stunning curve. "Little Master... cough cough, Senior Lu Cheng, what brings you to the Sun Moon Empire?"

Meng Hongchen's beautiful face was flushed with desire. Having tasted the sweetness of love, she was even more obsessed with this after a woman had just lost her virginity. However, she still managed to restrain herself, blinking her beautiful eyes as she asked.

"I've joined the Body Sect." Lu Cheng didn't hide anything. "They're short of talent, especially in the Soul Tool Department."

He didn't believe Meng Hongchen would betray him.

Given this girl's personality, she would never betray him, even if it meant death. Even if he turned around now and asked her to elope with him from the Sun Moon Empire, she would not hesitate for a second.

"I knew it..." Meng Hongchen said with a hint of resentment.

Which woman doesn't hope that her ideal husband will overcome numerous difficulties to find her?

"Smack~"

Lu Cheng glanced at the beauty in his arms, gently patted her bottom, and the slightly fleshy bottom instantly stirred up ripples. "In the competition, I already gave first place to the Sun Moon Empire. It's not too much to ask to poach some talent, is it?"

"Hmm..." The beauty rolled her eyes at Lu Cheng, but seemed to like this kind of thing. She snuggled closer to Lu Cheng, her long, beautiful legs clamping tightly around Lu Cheng thighs, their skin touching. Neither of them seemed to be thinking about that kind of thing, since they had already been fighting hard all night and their skin was red and swollen.

In the end, Meng Hongchen was only at the Soul King level, how could he withstand the beatings of Lu Cheng, a peak Soul Emperor who had honed his physical body several times?

"So your goal is... Teacher Xuan?"

Meng Hongchen suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke with a slight surprise.

"Good."

"Why choose him? It's not that he's weak, but compared to other Illustrious Virtue Hall researchers, he's relatively peripheral, not even in the Core Circle."

"If you're willing, I can persuade Grandpa to let you join another lab, or even make you his assistant!" Meng Hongchen's face lit up with joy.

"No need."

Lu Cheng pondered for a moment, kneading the soft flesh of her buttocks, and shook his head. "Teacher Xuan and I get along well, and being too close to the Core Circle of the Illustrious Virtue Hall will inevitably attract strict identity checks, and I'm afraid I'll be exposed."

It wasn't that I was deliberately hiding it from Meng Hongchen; some things don't need explaining.

"Then you must be careful."

Meng Hongchen wrapped her arms around Lu Cheng's neck, and they shared a passionate kiss. She had planned to linger in bed a little longer with her beloved, savoring the afterglow of the previous night, but Lu Cheng pried her fingers off, meeting her puzzled gaze. "Your brother's here..."

"..."

After a brief silence, Meng Hongchen's face turned bright red, and she seemed flustered. Ignoring her discomfort, she began cleaning the room.

Brother-in-law?

Feeling the Spiritual Power covering Xiao Hongchen, who was still about a kilometer away, Lu Cheng smiled and thought, "Let's talk about it next time we meet." If this kid weren't the grandson of Jing Hongchen, he would definitely try to win him over, but today... he could only slip away like a little blondie.

"Where did Grandmaster go? He looks so refreshed all night."

Ke Ke said with great interest, then added with a mischievous grin, "Could it be that he went to spend the night with some beauty from the academy? The other day, quite a few girls from our academy asked me about our Grandmaster."

Ju Zi pretended to be looking through some documents, but she was actually secretly listening in.

"So a few big meals and you've completely sold me out?" Lu Cheng said with a smile.

"How... how could this be..." Ke Ke, her face full of guilt.

Shaking his head, Lu Cheng solemnly said, "Come here, all of you, and report on the recent progress of the project, specifically the progress of your respective control over the All-Terrain Detection Soul Tool."

"Yes!"

The entire laboratory fell silent instantly, the lively atmosphere vanishing in an instant.

The All-Terrain Detection Soul Tool is still very promising, because with a little modification, it can become an all-terrain self-propelled artillery turret. In the original work, after Huo Gua improved it, he equipped it with a soul-guided heavy cannon and amplified its firepower, making it a powerful weapon. After he infiltrated the heartland of the Sun Moon Empire, it took on the main role of artillery.

This thing is actually quite a good fit for him.

His Spiritual Power is extremely vast. If he were to simultaneously control these All-Terrain Self-Propelled Soul Tool Turret, it would be no different from a massive soul-guided legion. Even if they were thousands of meters away, they could launch attacks and advance and retreat freely.

That's a bit scary.

Similar to drones from my previous life, this thing isn't afraid of being consumed. Once the technology matures, production capacity won't be low. If it's combined with high-level heavy artillery, its power...

Therefore, he attached great importance to this, at least trying to figure out the core technologies involved.

"The core soul-guided array for the All-Terrain Soul Tool Detector's speed is located here. At the bottom of the self-propelled probe, we've adopted inverted hook-shaped 'claws' to cope with uneven terrain. We've also incorporated some earth-attribute soul-guided arrays to enhance adhesion to the soil, thereby increasing movement speed..."

Ju Zi's report was the most accurate and concise.

Ke Ke stammered, unable to articulate her thoughts, and just kept nodding behind Ju Zi. I did the same, Zi Mu being quite conventional.

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng glanced at everyone, his gaze calm.

I can see that now, it truly lives up to its name as the "Slacking Off Lab."

The experiment was entirely driven by Xuan Ziwen, which was understandable, as none of them were really interested in scientific research; they were just there to "gild their resumes." One was determined to join the army to avenge his parents, another wanted to be a chef, and the third was clueless and did odd jobs. When the project was finally completed, they would just add their names to the end.

The expressions on everyone's faces varied, but they were all somewhat tense.

Although Lu Cheng arrived the latest, he held the highest position. Xuan Ziwen had publicly stated that Lu Cheng was equivalent to him, and that he would listen to Lu Cheng in everything when he was not around.

Not to mention, this person is also quite capable, with enough strength to convince everyone.

"Great, it just so happens that Teacher Xuan said he wanted to take a test..."

Lu Cheng pondered for a moment.

"Then let's go to the nearby forest tomorrow. Does anyone have time?"

"Me, me!!!"

Upon hearing about a picnic or a publicly funded trip, Ke Ke became extremely excited, raising her hand high and jumping up and down.

"I'm free too," Ju Zi nodded.

"I... I'm afraid I have something to attend to," Zi Mu said awkwardly.

Something happened at home, so I need to ask for leave to go back.

"Alright, let's all three of us go back and prepare. We need to focus on testing the performance of the self-propelled soul-guided detector, its climbing speed, manned speed, and energy consumption. After we get back, I'll optimize it based on the problems we encounter."

Lu Cheng waved his hand and said.

In his eyes, that big guy still had a lot of room for optimization.

At least they have to put on an act and show some of their talent in Soul Tool.