Xiao Hongchen fell into a rare silence.
Specifically, after hearing Huo Yuhao explain that he was only taken as a student by Jing Hongchen after independently engraving a Rank 3 soul tool core, he had wordlessly dragged Huo Yuhao to the laboratory.
The result was that Huo Yuhao hand-carved a Rank 3 soul tool core right in front of him, leaving Xiao Hongchen utterly speechless.
Now, just as the morning classes ended, Xiao Hongchen turned and left the classroom without a word. Judging by the direction he took, he was likely heading back to the lab.
"Sister Meng, Brother Xiao... he should be alright, shouldn't he?"
"Don't worry, Xiao is just a bit shaken. But rest assured, he'll recover quickly. It's a minor issue."
Meng Hongchen wasn't worried at all.
Her brother had always been like this. Since they were young, he strove to be the best in everything. Once he saw someone close to his age surpass him in some aspect, he would fall into a silent state.
Then, he would quietly start working harder than ever, growing at a terrifying pace until he defeated the person who surpassed him, at which point he would regain his usual overbearing attitude.
Of course, there were very few people who could surpass her brother, especially as his talent matured; those who could beat him at the same age were practically non-existent.
Perhaps Grandpa arranged for her and her brother to look after little Huo Yuhao for this very reason?
To use little Huo Yuhao's talent to humble her brother's arrogance?
In a flash of thought, Meng Hongchen figured out her grandfather's probable intention.
She was very clever; she just didn't enjoy showing off as much as her brother did. After all, if she were as dazzling as her brother, Grandpa would probably be very stressed, wouldn't he?
She blinked, looked at Huo Yuhao beside her, and naturally took his hand.
"Let's go, Yuhao. Your Sister Meng will show you around the academy today!"
Compared to schemes, cultivation, or competition, Meng Hongchen felt that the beautiful boy beside her was much more important!
As for her brother's situation...
Well, no doubt Grandpa already had a plan. She shouldn't interfere. Wasn't it better to just show a handsome boy around the school?
...
Late at night, inside the laboratory belonging exclusively to Xiao Hongchen.
As the grandson of the Dean and a possessor of outstanding talent, Xiao Hongchen naturally enjoyed certain privileges.
For example, the equipment in his laboratory was already better than the labs of some Rank 7 soul tool masters.
Furthermore, Xiao Hongchen's supply of various rare metals was unlimited; he could have practically as much as he wanted!
At this moment, atop the workbench, a faint silver-white light emanated from Xiao Hongchen's body. Simultaneously, three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—hovered beside him, radiating faint soul power fluctuations.
He held the carving knife steadily, engraving soul tool array lines onto a piece of Star Silver stroke by stroke.
Suddenly, the soul power injected into the carving knife fluctuated slightly. His hand trembled, and the knife instantly deviated from its intended path, rendering the entire soul tool core useless.
Xiao Hongchen remained expressionless. He threw the ruined Star Silver aside and reached for another piece.
To the side, the pile of manufactured scrap had already grown into a small mountain, containing at least a hundred pieces.
"Xiao, you've reached your limit."
From the shadows, Jing Hongchen stepped out slowly, his calm gaze falling upon his grandson.
"I have not!"
"But you lost, didn't you?"
Jing Hongchen spoke calmly.
Xiao Hongchen fell into silence.
The Dean knew his grandson's strengths and weaknesses.
His strengths were obvious: whether as a Soul Master or a soul tool master, his grandson possessed extremely high talent.
His weakness was equally obvious: he was too arrogant!
In the past, he had shown some restraint, but as he grew older, he became increasingly unrestrained and oblivious to the vastness of the world.
As Xiao Hongchen's grandfather, Jing Hongchen naturally wouldn't let his grandson grow up warped, but unfortunately, he had lacked a suitable opportunity.
Now, that opportunity had arrived.
Huo Yuhao's existence could serve as a perfect incentive for Xiao.
An 8-year-old child could engrave a Rank 3 soul tool core with only Rank 16 soul power.
In contrast, Xiao Hongchen, who was already 11 years old, had just broken through to Rank 30 with his soul power reaching Rank 31, and possessed a martial soul with innate metal-control abilities, yet he could not engrave a Rank 4 soul tool core.
Yes, Rank 4.
Xiao Hongchen was attempting to engrave a Rank 4 soul tool core.
Under the influence of soul tool knowledge since childhood, Xiao Hongchen had naturally become a Rank 3 soul tool master upon breaking through to become a Soul Elder.
However, compared to Huo Yuhao's achievement, his status as a Rank 3 soul tool master felt inexplicably laughable.
So, naturally, he began trying to engrave a Rank 4 core!
If he can engrave across ranks, why can't I?!
Although theoretically his soul power was entirely sufficient to engrave a Rank 4 soul tool core, the reality was that in his best attempt, he only reached one-fifth completion. After that, he would lose control of his soul power, the knife would slip, and all his effort would go to waste.
Almost all of his hundred-odd attempts had ended this way.
Xiao Hongchen was unwilling.
He had personally seen Huo Yuhao's technique—not a single bit of waste, every stroke and every line utilizing every drop of soul power perfectly. In a fluid motion, the Rank 3 soul tool core had been placed before him.
Unlike battles between Soul Masters, where looking flashy and powerful is useless and only a fight reveals the true gap, the gap between soul tool masters can often be determined by just a single glance at the other's work.
And he had lost miserably.
"Huo Yuhao is a genius; in the field of soul tools, you are inferior to him."
"Impossible!"
"But, Xiao, you know you lost, don't you?"
Jing Hongchen's gaze was calm. He looked at Xiao Hongchen, whose eyes were bloodshot as he stared back, seemingly trying to prove something. He spoke softly:
"If you lose, you must have the attitude of a loser. Or is it that you can't afford to lose?"
"I..." Xiao Hongchen was at a loss for words and lowered his head.
His grandfather's words were merciless, stripping away his disguise.
"Heh, a loss is a loss. What's so hard to admit? Is it possible that because of one failure, you're going to negate yourself? How are you any different from a coward?"
Xiao Hongchen remained silent, the suppressed emotions in his heart turning into a stubborn refusal to yield. After a long while, he looked up at his grandfather, his voice raspy yet carrying a hint of defiance.
"...What do I need to do?"
A trace of a smile finally appeared on Jing Hongchen's calm face.
"It's very simple..." Jing Hongchen produced a circular soul tool core. Xiao Hongchen recognized it at a glance; it was the Rank 3 core Huo Yuhao had engraved in front of him earlier that day.
Jing Hongchen placed the core on Xiao Hongchen's workbench and spoke calmly:
"...Learn from him, become like him, and then surpass him!"
Jing Hongchen patted Xiao Hongchen's shoulder and continued:
"Although that child is young, his control over soul power and his insight into soul tools are not lower than yours.
"Learning from him is your fastest and best path!"
Xiao Hongchen was momentarily stunned, but his previously vacant eyes suddenly burst with a newfound light!