Those who were able to leave the original Douluo Continent and join the Illustrious Virtue Hall unquestionably had an undeniable passion for soul tools.
Why would they travel such great distances to study at Illustrious Virtue Hall?
Wasn't it because Illustrious Virtue Hall possessed the most advanced knowledge of soul tools?
Wasn't it because it provided the best research conditions?
All these advantages, Su Yu could offer even better. Considering the choices, Su Yu, who was also from the original Douluo Continent's Three Kingdoms, would naturally be more approachable than the people from Illustrious Virtue Hall.
Moreover, with Su Yu's substantial background, recruiting these three individuals wasn't particularly difficult.
As for the remaining two Rank 7 soul engineers, they were both locals of the Sun Moon Empire.
Their defining characteristic was their pure and intense enthusiasm for soul tools, which Su Yu admired the most.
After some twists and turns, these two were also persuaded by Su Yu.
With this, the foundation of the current Holy Slayer Palace was established.
In terms of soul engineers, there was the Rank 8 soul engineer Xuan Ziwen, as well as five Rank 7 soul engineers, six Rank 6 soul engineers, and nine Rank 5 soul engineers.
It was beginning to take shape.
Of course, there was also himself—Su Yu, a Rank 8 soul engineer.
With this setup, it was sufficient to handle the early stages of work.
However, more people were still needed. After all, Su Yu aspired to establish a truly top-tier organization, and the current team was far from enough.
But as long as the early work could be sustained, the rest could be developed gradually.
Then there were soul masters.
Soul masters were also indispensable.
In Su Yu's vision, soul engineers would create soul tools, and soul masters would use them—this was a complementary relationship.
However, finding true soul master geniuses was relatively difficult in the Sun Moon Empire.
The Sun Moon Empire was abundant in talented soul engineers, but it was indeed lacking in soul masters compared to the original Douluo Continent.
Therefore, when it came to recruiting soul masters, the focus still needed to be on the Three Kingdoms of the original Douluo Continent.
With the Ice God Palace as his backing, recruiting people in the familiar territory of the original Douluo Continent was much easier.
At worst, Su Yu could establish a branch of Holy Slayer Palace on the original Douluo Continent, primarily to recruit soul master talents.
By combining efforts on both the Sun Moon Empire side and the original Douluo Continent side, the results might be even better.
...
Illustrious Virtue Hall Dormitory Area, Small Villa
After finishing work, Su Yu slumped onto the couch and complained, "Finally done. I'm exhausted."
In recent days, he had been busy with the establishment of Holy Slayer Palace, which was indeed quite troublesome.
The creation of a new organization involved countless matters, both big and small, which were incredibly tedious.
"Here, have some tea. You've worked hard these past few days," Meng Hongchen said softly as she handed Su Yu a cup of tea.
"You're the one who truly cares about me," Su Yu said casually, taking the tea and drinking it in one gulp.
The refreshing aroma washed over him, dissipating his mental fatigue and leaving him feeling completely invigorated.
"Hmph, and do I not care about you?" Wang Dong'er pouted, handing him a peeled Purple Hibiscus fruit.
Su Yu took it with a smile and replied, "My Dong'er is the best too."
"Hmph!"
Wang Dong'er huffed softly and gave Su Yu a playful kick.
While munching on the fruit, Su Yu gently ran his fingers through Wang Dong'er's long hair.
"Yu, how are things progressing over there?" Meng Hongchen asked quietly as she refilled his tea.
Su Yu took a bite of the fruit and replied, "Not bad. The progress is okay for now."
"Once the construction of Holy Slayer Palace is complete, we can move people in."
"That's such a large area. Won't the construction take a long time?" Meng Hongchen asked.
Su Yu shook his head. "Not really. If we find a few high-level soul masters with earth attributes, it'll only take a few days."
"I've already sent people to the Douluo Continent to find help. In this regard, soul masters do have an advantage over soul engineers."
Meng Hongchen nodded uncertainly. After all, the construction of Illustrious Virtue Hall had taken several years.
Although the Holy Slayer Palace wasn't as large as Mingde Hall, it was still quite substantial. How could it possibly be completed in just a few days?
However, seeing Su Yu's confident demeanor, Meng Hongchen began to doubt her thoughts.
Su Yu never made baseless claims, so perhaps he had good reason to say this.
Eventually, Meng Hongchen chose to trust Su Yu.
"Yu, if there's anything you need, you must let me know. I'll help you," Meng Hongchen said earnestly, holding Su Yu's hand after a moment of hesitation.
Su Yu smiled and nodded.
As they chatted, the doorbell suddenly rang.
The group in the living room froze momentarily, exchanging glances.
"I'll get it," Wang Dong'er said, leaping to her feet and dashing to the door.
She opened the door and, upon seeing the visitor, exclaimed in surprise, "It's you?"
The visitor smiled faintly. "Is Su Yu home?"
"He just got back. Come in," Wang Dong'er said grudgingly. Although she didn't particularly like this person, she couldn't turn her away.
"Thank you," the visitor said softly, stepping into the living room.
Inside, Su Yu glanced up and, upon seeing the visitor, a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes before quickly vanishing.
The visitor was none other than Juzi.
Juzi wore a light yellow dress, her black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her fair and radiant face exuded a natural beauty.
In terms of looks, Juzi was certainly exceptional, no less stunning than Meng Hongchen. Her lazy and adorable demeanor was an added charm.
But Su Yu only gave her a brief look before averting his gaze.
Having been surrounded by beautiful women for so long, he had long since grown accustomed to their presence.
"Su Yu!"
Juzi smiled apologetically and said, "Sorry for dropping by unannounced."
"Not at all. It's an honor to have you here, Senior Juzi. Please, have a seat," Su Yu said politely, gesturing for her to sit.
Juzi thanked him and sat down, legs together and hands resting on her lap. Her posture was straight but slightly stiff, betraying a hint of nervousness.
Seeing Su Yu again after two years, she couldn't help feeling uneasy. His mature demeanor and subtle yet commanding presence left her flustered.
Having spent years at Xu Tianran's side, she was familiar with his commanding aura. But compared to Su Yu, Xu Tianran's presence seemed far less imposing.
Even a casual glance from Su Yu carried immense pressure.
She wondered if it was guilt over her intentions that made her feel this way, but Su Yu's presence alone left her at a loss.
"Senior Juzi, you seem a little nervous. Relax, I don't bite," Su Yu teased.
"No, I'm just surprised by how much you've changed," Juzi replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she tried to calm herself.
"Oh?"
"And how have I changed?" Su Yu asked with a smile.
Juzi's red lips pursed slightly as she scrutinized Su Yu, speaking in a soft voice: "You've become more handsome and mature. Compared to two and a half years ago, you're much more charming."
This was entirely Juzi's heartfelt sentiment.
To speak truthfully, upon seeing Su Yu again, the faint figure in Juzi's heart became more vivid and solid.
Su Yu was truly outstanding and extraordinary, and indeed, he stunned her.
Back then, Su Yu was already a remarkable presence at the Sun and Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy.
Now, he had left everyone far behind, standing head and shoulders above the rest.
A sixteen-year-old Level 8 Soul Engineer—what kind of concept is that?
Even the term peerless genius falls short of describing him.
If it weren't for Jing Hongchen constantly shielding Su Yu from pressure, countless people would have already come knocking to recruit him.
Juzi was self-aware. Coupled with the heavy burden of her blood feud, she didn't allow herself to fall for him like Meng Hongchen did.
But ever since that encounter, Su Yu's figure lingered in her mind, refusing to leave.
It wasn't something she could control.
She knew that there was no possibility between her and Su Yu, yet she could never erase his figure from her heart.
When she said Su Yu was charming, she truly meant it.
Hearing this, Su Yu smiled faintly but said nothing.
At this moment, Meng Hongchen stepped forward with a cup of freshly brewed tea.
"Have some tea."
"Thank you," Juzi said softly, her gaze falling on Meng Hongchen.
She was naturally familiar with Meng Hongchen.
The treasured daughter of Jing Hongchen, the famous Miss Meng, Su Yu's first love.
No matter which title, Juzi had heard of her countless times.
Sometimes, Juzi couldn't help but envy Meng Hongchen.
Compared to herself, Meng Hongchen seemed like a darling of the heavens. Family, love, friendship—she seemed to have it all, everything perfectly complete.
Meanwhile, Juzi stood on the opposite extreme. Her father had been forcibly conscripted and died in war. Her mother succumbed to illness from grief. She liked someone but dared not confess her feelings.
To avenge her family, she could only conspire with dangerous forces, becoming a blade in others' hands.
Meng Hongchen was far happier than she could ever be.
These thoughts flashed through her mind as Juzi took the tea with both hands, sipped it, and smiled, praising, "Good tea."
Meng Hongchen smiled gently, looked at Su Yu, and said softly, "Yu, Juzi rarely visits. You should spend some time chatting with her."
Su Yu nodded with a smile.
Meng Hongchen exchanged a glance with Wang Dong'er, and the two women left the living room, heading upstairs, leaving the space to Su Yu and Juzi.
Juzi looked at Su Yu, sincerely sighing, "Miss Meng is so gentle, poised, and understanding. Su Yu, you've truly gained a wonderful partner."
Su Yu smiled and said, "Meeting Meng is indeed a blessing. She's one of the best girls I've ever met."
Hearing this, Juzi smiled, but her gaze carried a hint of complexity.
She chuckled lightly and said, "I haven't congratulated you yet on passing the promotion exam and becoming a Level 8 Soul Engineer."
"A sixteen-year-old Level 8 Soul Engineer—that must have broken a record lasting thousands of years, right?"
"Su Yu, how did you manage to achieve it?"
Su Yu replied without hesitation, "Of course, it was through hard work. All my accomplishments today are thanks to my efforts."
Juzi covered her mouth and laughed, teasing, "If hard work alone could make someone a Level 8 Soul Engineer, then I would have become one long ago."
"The main factor is still your incredible talent, Su Yu. Your talent is truly enviable."
"Does that include you, Senior Juzi?" Su Yu asked with a smile.
"Of course," Juzi replied. "Sometimes I envy you. Why are you so smart and capable of learning everything, while I'm so clumsy?"
"If I had even a quarter of your talent, I wouldn't still be struggling to get into Illustrious Virtue Hall."
Juzi smiled, but there was a trace of self-deprecation in her tone.
Su Yu waved his hand and said, "Senior Juzi, you're being too hard on yourself. You're not clumsy at all."
"If you're clumsy, then most people in the world would be worse than pigs."
Juzi wasn't truly clumsy. She was clever in her way, though her thought process was somewhat unconventional.
Before Juzi could respond, Su Yu continued, "Senior Juzi, can you tell me your purpose for coming here now?"
"You specifically came to see me—it can't just be to congratulate me on passing the exam, right?"
"Why not?" Juzi blinked.
Su Yu chuckled, "Of course you can. If that were truly the case, I'd be even happier."
Happier to have gained a pure friend.
Juzi's smile froze momentarily, perhaps because she caught the underlying meaning in Su Yu's words.
She stared at Su Yu, and he quietly stared back at her. For a moment, the atmosphere grew heavy.
Juzi bit her lip, hesitating several times. Facing Su Yu's gaze, she felt ashamed, as though she wanted to cover her face and flee.
Because she wasn't here just to congratulate him.
After a long struggle, Juzi sighed deeply and said, "Actually, besides congratulating you on passing the exam, there's another matter."
"What is it?" Su Yu asked calmly.
Juzi turned her head, avoiding Su Yu's eyes. She hesitated, speaking softly, "There's… someone… who… wants to meet you."
Su Yu's expression remained unchanged, his calm voice reaching Juzi's ears.
"Senior Juzi, the person you're talking about—is it Xu Tiannan?"
JUzi's body trembled, her heart skipping a beat. She stiffly turned back, her expression shocked. "How… how do you know?"
Su Yu sneered and said, "If I couldn't figure this out, I wouldn't even deserve to be here."
"Xu Tiannan thinks he's being discreet, planting spies in Illustrious Virtue Hall without being noticed?"
"Does he believe that the Hall Master and I are oblivious?"
"That we wouldn't notice someone monitoring me?"
"With his level of skill, he's only capable of fooling little kids."
Hearing this, Juzi's face turned pale, her expression horrified.
She couldn't believe that Xu Tiannan's actions had been completely exposed under Jing Hongchen and Su Yu's watch.
Facing Su Yu's gaze, Juzi suddenly felt a chilling sense of terror.
It was as if, under his gaze, her entire being was stripped bare, with no secrets left hidden.
This sudden change left Juzi momentarily stunned, unable to speak.
Su Yu looked at Juzi's pale face and said calmly, "Juzi, originally born into a humble family in a border town, your father was a chef with excellent skills, and your mother was a beautiful woman. The couple lived blissfully, and life was once perfect. But all of that was shattered eleven years ago."