Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Mingde Hall.
The grand hall was vast and imposing, entirely adorned in a metallic style dominated by a pale gold hue. Though not overly lavish, it exuded an air of solid craftsmanship and meticulous design. Above the entrance hung a dark gold plaque engraved with bold characters: Mingde Hall.
At the center of the hall, seated on a wide chair, was a man who appeared to be in his early forties. Though not tall, his frame was broad and commanding.
"Grandfather, we lost."
Xiao Hongchen stood before the man, his face flushed with shame. The news of his humiliating defeat at Qianran's hands had already reached the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Once proud to call himself a genius, he now felt unworthy of the title.
He had been thoroughly trounced, unable to mount even the slightest resistance.
"You can't blame yourself entirely," Jing Hongchen said calmly. "Life often surprises us. While our academy's strength has improved significantly this generation, it seems Shrek Academy's young talents have outpaced us once again."
"Go back and reflect. Use this experience to learn and grow. Remember, while you may be a genius within our academy, the continent is vast, and there will always be someone stronger than you."
Jing Hongchen, already well-informed about the tournament's details, even those unknown to Xiao Hongchen, remained composed despite the loss.
"Spirit Hall, is it? An enemy far surpassing the Body Sect, one with ties to the legendary Spirit Hall of ten thousand years ago. But so what? The era has changed. The future belongs to soul tools."
Jing Hongchen's expression darkened as he spoke.
The Sun Moon Empire's strategy of invading the other nations had never wavered. At its core was Mingde Hall, whose soul tools had long been the empire's greatest advantage. With advancements in ninth-grade soul tools becoming more sophisticated and numerous, Jing Hongchen was confident that, eventually, no coalition of forces could stand against them.
Even so, the emergence of an even more formidable faction, Spirit Hall, was a thorn in his side.
Shrek Academy Main Gate.
It was nearing noon, and classes were still in session. The usually bustling entrance of Shrek Academy was unusually quiet; even the usual vendors had disappeared. Standing before the massive gate were five individuals.
At the forefront were Yan Shaozhe, head of the Martial Spirit Department, and Xian Lin'er, head of the Soul Guidance Department.
Behind them stood Qian Duoduo, vice dean of the Soul Guidance Department, along with core faculty members Fan Yu and Zhou Yi.
All five gazed into the distant sky, waiting.
Both Xian Lin'er and Zhou Yi were noticeably uneasy. Since Qianran's departure, life had been challenging for them. Having grown accustomed to the intense and thrilling days spent with him, the sudden return to normalcy felt dull and unbearable.
Though he was gone, the memories of their time together lingered, a seed that had taken root within them, growing stronger with each passing day.
Now, with Qianran's imminent return, they anticipated the resumption of their chaotic, exhilarating lives.
The mere thought made their bodies tingle, their gazes fixed longingly on the horizon.
"They're finally coming back," Xian Lin'er murmured, her voice tinged with joy. These days without Qianran had been difficult—days filled with emptiness and longing.
"Lin'er, you're looking stunning as always," Yan Shaozhe remarked, his eyes betraying a hint of admiration as he took in Xian Lin'er's appearance.
Over the past year, Xian Lin'er had undergone a striking transformation, her allure reaching new heights. Yan Shaozhe couldn't help but regret not pursuing her more aggressively in the past. While she had always been beautiful, she rarely made an effort to enhance her appearance.
Today, however, Xian Lin'er wore a deep blue dress with a fitted waist, accentuating her slender figure. Her ample chest stretched the fabric taut, while her shapely legs were clad in jet-black stockings. Her heels, a matching shade of blue-black, completed the ensemble, exuding a captivating elegance.
Zhou Yi, too, had dressed to impress. Her upper half was adorned with a classic black blazer, but below she wore a striking pink skirt. From behind, her well-shaped hips curved perfectly under the snug fabric, while her flawless legs seemed sculpted for admiration.
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's compliment toward Xian Lin'er, Fan Yu couldn't resist chiming in with praise for Zhou Yi. Over the years, Zhou Yi had grown increasingly conservative in her attire, but today she seemed to radiate a youthful charm, as if experiencing a second spring.
"It's a shame, though," Fan Yu muttered to himself. "I don't know what's wrong with me lately. Maybe all that time spent researching soul tools has taken a toll."
Despite Zhou Yi's growing allure, Fan Yu found himself lacking the physical response he desired. He suspected prolonged exposure to certain rare metals used in soul tool research had dulled his abilities.
Such issues weren't uncommon among soul tool researchers. Some materials did have peculiar side effects on the body. Out of embarrassment, Fan Yu had been avoiding Zhou Yi lately, burying himself in his work to escape confrontation.
What Fan Yu didn't know, however, was that his condition was no accident—Zhou Yi had secretly drugged him.
To others, Zhou Yi might have seemed composed and virtuous in Qianran's absence, but her outward behavior masked a stark contrast.
"Yan Shaozhe, mind your manners. Cai Mei'er is returning soon," Qian Duoduo interjected, irritated by Yan Shaozhe's blatant admiration for Xian Lin'er.
"You misunderstand," Yan Shaozhe replied, his tone carefully measured. "Lin'er and I grew up together; I was simply complimenting her beauty. Nothing more."
Even so, his composed expression betrayed a flicker of guilt. Despite his outward gentlemanly facade, Yan Shaozhe had already resolved to pursue Xian Lin'er.
After all, Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er were only nominally married. If he played his cards right, victory was within reach.
To Yan Shaozhe and Fan Yu, Xian Lin'er and Zhou Yi were irresistible temptations—prizes they were determined to claim.
Little did they know...
(End of Chapter)