Countless illumination soul tools lit up once again, as if draping the entire Mingdu in a layer of hazy gauze.
Outside Mingdu, a faint golden stream of light rapidly streaked across the sky. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a pale golden protective barrier, within which more than a dozen figures were looking down through the shield.
"We have already entered the territory of Mingdu," Jing Hongchen said to the people inside the barrier behind him. "Mingdu is also called Sun Moon City; it is the capital of our Sun Moon Empire. You will all spend the next two and a half years here. I hope you will come to like this city."
Even Lin Xiao, who possessed memories from his previous life, had inwardly exclaimed in admiration the first time he laid eyes on Mingdu. The group from Shrek Academy, seeing a city with a style completely different from the three great empires of the Douluo Continent, revealed looks of astonishment.
"Hall Master Hongchen, why doesn't your Mingdu have city walls?" Fan Yu couldn't help but ask.
"Mingdu does not need city walls."
Jing Hongchen's tone was calm, yet it carried an unconcealed pride.
In the Sun Moon Empire, where soul tools had developed at breakneck speed, the people of the Illustrious Virtue Hall had long ago discovered one thing: as soul tools continued to advance, the role of city walls would become smaller and smaller.
One day, city walls would become completely useless in wars involving soul tools. The things that could truly be used for defence would no longer be limited to mere walls.
"They're here."
Inside the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Lin Jiayi looked up at the stream of light growing ever closer in the sky.
Unauthorised flight was prohibited within Mingdu; clearly, Jing Hongchen had already obtained permission from the imperial family before picking up the Shrek group.
The golden light gently descended. The protective barrier behind Jing Hongchen quietly dispersed, and the dozen-plus members of Shrek Academy landed steadily on the ground.
Lin Jiayi hurriedly stepped forward. "Hall Master, everything has been arranged."
Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen's gaze paused for a moment on Lin Xiao before he quickly smiled and nodded. "Let me introduce everyone. This is the Director of Teaching at our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, Lin Jiayi. In the future, you will have frequent contact with him regarding your studies and daily life over the next two and a half years."
"Teacher Fan Yu, come with me." Jing Hongchen turned to Fan Yu and then led him toward the direction of the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
"Alright, everyone, welcome to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy." Seeing Jing Hongchen leave with Fan Yu, Lin Jiayi spoke up, drawing everyone's attention to himself.
"From this moment on, you are also considered members of our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. We will provide you with the same living and learning environment as our other students."
"Likewise, you will have the opportunity to enter Illustrious Virtue Hall. Once you pass the assessment, you may also become a member of Illustrious Virtue Hall."
"Here are the maps and identity certificates prepared for you. Someone will take you to your dormitories shortly." As Lin Jiayi spoke, he looked behind him, and soon more than a dozen people approached.
While the others were still marvelling at the layout of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy, the expressions of He Caitou and Huo Yuhao among them subtly changed.
Even though two years had passed, they still could not forget Shrek Academy's defeat in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition. The person who had been sitting in the preparation area of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy team back then was now standing right in front of them.
Lin Xiao looked at the two youths' gazes and revealed a gentle smile.
"Alright, everyone, after receiving your maps, don't be in a hurry to look at them. As is customary, we will conduct a simple test for students entering the academy."
"Although it's getting late today, there aren't many of you, so I hope you can bear with it for a little while. It will be over soon."
Lin Jiayi led the Shrek Academy group toward the teaching building. Lin Xiao followed at the rear of the group, watching Huo Yuhao at the very back, looking around curiously.
"This is your first time at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy. Although there are illumination soul tools around, still be careful where you step."
Lin Xiao lightly leaned in and spoke in a low voice. Huo Yuhao's body visibly stiffened; he abruptly turned his head to look back, then quickly averted his gaze.
"What's wrong, little junior brother?"
He Caitou noticed the movement behind him and asked in a low voice.
"It's nothing." Huo Yuhao shook his head, but his heart was far from calm.
His spiritual power was outstanding; even if the opponent's cultivation surpassed his own, he could still faintly sense their cultivation level.
Yet on Lin Xiao, he actually sensed a trace of the unique aura that belonged only to a Titled Douluo.
Could the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy really have such a young Titled Douluo?
He turned his head again for another glance, only to find Lin Xiao smiling at him.
Lin Xiao didn't have too many thoughts about it. With Huo Yuhao's abilities, now that he was here, the structures of some soul tools would inevitably be impossible to conceal.
Moreover, even if he obtained the blueprints, replicating them might be easy, but fully unravelling the unique ingenuity of each soul guidance array inside was not a simple matter.
What was more, the creation process of soul tools was also greatly related to the soul mentors themselves.
As long as… the talents of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy were not poached by Huo Yuhao, it would still take the three great empires of the Douluo Continent thousands of years to catch up to the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool technology.
The group soon arrived at the testing area. It was the first time the Shrek Academy students had seen soul tools capable of measuring a soul master's physical data, and there was a trace of wariness in their eyes.
Lin Xiao had no intention of watching their embarrassment or paying much attention to their physical conditions. He simply stepped forward to Lin Jiayi's side.
"Teacher, according to the records in Illustrious Virtue Hall, our academy seems to be researching sealed charging soul tool technology recently."
Lin Jiayi glanced at the Shrek students before turning to Lin Xiao and lowering his voice slightly. "That's right. Why are you asking about this?"
"Teacher, you know the principle of my soul tool. After going out this time, I discovered that the stored soul power leaks quite severely, so I was wondering if it could be improved."
"That's possible." Lin Jiayi nodded. "This project is being handled by Teacher Xuan Ziwen. If you want to learn more, you can go find him."
Lin Xiao nodded as well.
Whether Xuan Ziwen would still be poached just as in his memories, Lin Xiao couldn't be certain. But if that day truly came, Lin Xiao still hoped Xuan Ziwen would leave his research achievements behind instead of leaving the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy with a crippled version.
After all, he genuinely needed sealed charging soul tools. If his array-type aerial cannon could incorporate sealed charging soul tools, its power might increase even further.
And only when Illustrious Virtue Hall later developed soul tools capable of converting other forms of energy into soul power would his array-type aerial cannon truly reach the level he envisioned.
"Alright, the first student may come forward. Relax, nothing will happen."
The teacher in charge of the testing spoke up nearby, and Lin Xiao stopped talking further with Lin Jiayi.
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