"Nana, where have you been these past few days?"
At the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Nana had just arrived near the soul tool experimental area when several students came to greet her.
As one of the students who would soon represent the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy in the elite competition, and especially after she had defeated opponents from Shrek Academy during the previous exchange match, many students had been paying attention to her whereabouts.
"You don't know, but after you participated in that exchange match a few days ago, Shrek Academy won several more matches. Director Lin's face looked terrible. Fortunately, in the end, Senior Brother Ji Juechen won against many people from Shrek Academy with just one sword."
"I…" Nana was slightly stunned, "I had something to do at home and went back for a while."
The students who had just been discussing the exchange match suddenly froze.
"…Then… is everything okay at home?"
Nana gently raised her hand and pressed it against her chest. The aura of her mother was especially clear there; it almost felt as though she could hear her mother's breathing.
"It's fine." Nana lightly shook her head.
The experiences of these past few days felt like a dream to her. It was the first time she had truly participated in the affairs of the Holy Spirit Cult, becoming a Holy Spirit, the soul ascending ceremony, the changes to soul rings, and her mother's soul.
All these memories were exceptionally vivid in her heart, yet at the same time, it felt as though a piece was missing, leaving an empty, hollow feeling.
"Teacher Lin, good morning."
The greeting from the students beside her interrupted Nana's thoughts. She turned her head and saw Lin Xiao smiling and nodding toward them.
Nana mechanically nodded as well, then stared at Lin Xiao's back for a very long time.
"It seems that after you intervened, that girl's condition has recovered quite well," Electrolux's voice sounded from within Lin Xiao's mind.
"Mm. She was never deeply brainwashed to begin with. It was only because I stripped away some of her memories that her state should be much better than the other disciples."
"Sigh… at least my power didn't cause one more person to suffer," Electrolux let out a long sigh.
Lin Xiao gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"But in the Holy Spirit Cult… there are still many disciples like Nana."
While continuing to discuss necromancy with Electrolux along the way, Lin Xiao entered the Mingde Hall with familiarity. He had just stepped into the main hall and hadn't yet reached the elevator when he saw Jing Hongchen walking out from inside.
"Halls Master."
"You came at just the right time," Jing Hongchen seemed a little surprised. "I was thinking that if you didn't make it back, I'd have to find someone else to accompany me on this trip to send off the students."
"So soon?" Lin Xiao thought for a moment, calculating the days; it did seem about right.
"Yes, let's go. We can talk on the way."
"Yes, Hall's Master." Lin Xiao turned and followed behind Jing Hongchen.
"Sigh… the older one gets, the faster time seems to fly. Thinking back, the last Soul Dueling Competition feels like it was only yesterday."
"The lifespan of a Titled Douluo far exceeds that of ordinary people. How can you say you're old, Halls Master?" Lin Xiao casually replied with some meaningless pleasantries.
"That depends on who you compare with. Compared to a Titled Douluo like you, of course, I'm old." Jing Hongchen turned his head and glanced at Lin Xiao. "For ordinary people, at your age, you would already be the pillar of the family."
"But for us soul masters, at your current age… you've really only just begun. You're still a child."
Jing Hongchen seemed to have only sighed casually before quickly changing the subject.
"Today we're sending the Shrek Academy group off. I wonder how much they actually learned during their stay here."
Lin Xiao slightly narrowed his eyes.
"I'm afraid they 'learned' quite a lot."
"Hahaha." Jing Hongchen laughed out loud. "You mean to say that they must have investigated quite a few of our soul tools, right?"
"You're not the first person to say that. Many teachers have suggested that I shouldn't give the Shrek students too much access. Even your teacher Lin Jiayi thought the same."
"But I don't mind. Once you truly reach the level of a ninth-rank soul engineer, you'll understand that there are some soul tools that even if they figure out the principles behind them, they still won't be able to replicate them."
"And by the time they've spent tremendous effort to produce them, those soul tools will have long been obsolete in our hands."
"The innovation and iteration of soul tool technology isn't that also a topic you're very interested in? How come you seem to have forgotten about it now?"
Lin Xiao opened his mouth, but for once, he actually sensed a trace of magnanimity in Jing Hongchen's tone. Perhaps it was precisely because he had become a ninth-rank soul engineer and the head of Mingde Hall that Jing Hongchen possessed such pride.
"By the way, while you were away these past two years, the hall has developed quite a few new technologies. If you're interested, feel free to come to me to study anytime. It will also be convenient for me to help you craft that soul tool."
"Thank you, Hall's Master." Lin Xiao nodded. With this, it probably wouldn't be long before he entered the ranks of eighth-rank soul engineers. And once he obtained a humanoid soul tool, his strength would rise significantly once again.
The Shrek Academy group had already received the notice in advance. Wearing their Shrek Academy uniforms, they waited quietly on the plaza. From far away, one could already see that distinctive red color that belonged to Shrek's inner court.
"What a pity," Jing Hongchen lightly shook his head.
Lin Xiao turned to look at him. Jing Hongchen noticed his gaze and sighed softly again.
"These students have excellent talent. I've spoken with them individually, but not a single one was willing to stay with us."
Hearing this, Lin Xiao looked toward the plaza. More or less, every student's face showed the eagerness to return home; none of them seemed to have the slightest intention of staying even a moment longer.
Only Huo Yuhao kept looking around left and right, as if searching for someone's figure. But he still hadn't found the person he was looking for. When he spotted Lin Xiao and Jing Hongchen from afar, he quickly withdrew his gaze.
"Hall's Master, you're here."
"Teacher."
Lin Xiao also greeted Lin Jiayi, who had arrived much earlier. Jing Hongchen only nodded slightly before walking forward to stand in front of the group of students. His gaze swept across them, finally pausing for a moment on Huo Yuhao.
Although they had been intentionally or unintentionally concealing Huo Yuhao's talent, in front of a ninth-rank soul engineer's scrutiny, it was truly difficult to hide from Jing Hongchen's eyes.
Jing Hongchen pondered for a moment longer before finally showing a trace of a smile.
"Alright, students. Your life at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is coming to an end…"
Jing Hongchen's speech was not long. After saying a few polite formalities, he activated a pale golden soul tool just like when he arrived, then carried everyone into the sky.
"Teacher."
Lin Xiao glanced back at Lin Jiayi.
"Go on. Be careful on the road."
"Don't worry, Teacher. With the Halls Master present, there won't be any accidents." Lin Xiao smiled, then also rose into the air, following behind Jing Hongchen.
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