"You feel that way too?"
"I feel the same way."
Hearing this, Du Busi became even more convinced of his own thoughts.
After all, the hundred-thousand-year soul ring was already on Jiang Jue. Any further speculation would be meaningless.
"Still, it's because your physique and spiritual power are strong enough. Otherwise, how could you possibly absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring?"
Du Busi stared intently at Jiang Jue and said in a deep voice.
"It's all thanks to the Body Sect's powerful body-tempering secret arts. If I didn't have the Flawless Golden Body, I wouldn't have dared to risk absorbing it,"
Jiang Jue said with a sigh.
"Of course. Our Body Sect's secret techniques have been refined by countless predecessors. Naturally, they are the most suitable for disciples of the Body Sect,"
Du Busi said proudly.
"Tsk, boy Jiang—you've already cultivated the Flawless Golden Body to the third layer, the Reforging Realm. Truly… truly gifted beyond measure."
Hearing Jiang Jue mention the Flawless Golden Body, Du Busi grew interested and looked him over, wanting to see which stage he had reached.
He hadn't realized it at first glance—but when he did, Du Busi was shocked.
"Of course, compared to this old man back then, you're still just a little bit lacking."
After a pause, Du Busi continued.
At the same time, he finally understood why Jin Peng had said that once he met Jiang Jue, he would understand the meaning of that statement.
"It seems this old man was right to go to Xingluo City back then. And it's also thanks to Lang Ya and Yu Tao. Later, I'll raise their clearance level and let them each choose a treasure from the sect's vault,"
Du Busi thought to himself.
"Sect Master, I happened to hear Brothers Lang Ya and Yu Tao mention that our Body Sect has a major operation coming up. What kind of operation is it?"
Jiang Jue asked.
Hearing this, Du Busi's mouth twitched, and he silently crossed out his previous thought.
Those two brats, Lang Ya and Yu Tao, don't deserve it…
They were about to head to Mingde Hall to retrieve an item that had a destined connection with the Body Sect. But Jiang Jue had been a student of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy before joining the Body Sect.
"There is indeed an operation. As for what kind of operation it is…"
Du Busi said reluctantly.
"Then can I join? I've been in the Body Sect for over a year now, and all the resources I've used came from the sect, but I haven't made any contribution yet. Now that I have some strength, I also want to contribute my share in this operation."
"Surely you won't refuse, Sect Master?"
Seeing the hopeful look in Jiang Jue's eyes, Du Busi forced a smile, his expression conflicted.
"This old man doesn't want to refuse either, but this operation is extremely difficult. I'm afraid you won't be able to withstand it. How about you join the next operation instead?"
"It's fine, Sect Master. I'm not afraid of hardship. As long as I can contribute to the sect, I'm not afraid,"
Jiang Jue said firmly, shaking his head with a serious expression.
Du Busi felt both gratified and pained. Looking at Jiang Jue's sincere gaze, he really couldn't bring himself to refuse—this was, after all, a future rising star of the sect.
"Being willing to contribute to the sect is a good thing. And besides, he was just an ordinary student of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy before. There shouldn't be any problems,"
Du Busi kept persuading himself inwardly. Finally, under Jiang Jue's expectant gaze, he slowly nodded.
"Since you want to contribute to the sect, then come along. But when the time comes, you must protect your own safety."
"This operation is very dangerous,"
Du Busi said, carefully instructing him.
"I'll definitely be careful!"
Seeing his plan succeed, Jiang Jue nodded and agreed to everything Du Busi said.
"Alright then. This old man still has matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first. If you encounter any problems in your cultivation, just come and find me."
"Alright, Sect Master."
Seeing Jiang Jue agree, Du Busi left with mixed feelings.
He had come in a good mood, but when he left, there was an extra trace of melancholy.
"No, those two brats Lang Ya and Yu Tao definitely haven't been cultivating properly these past few days. This sect master needs to go urge them on a bit,"
Thinking this, Du Busi suddenly felt much better.
…
Three months later.
Maple Leaf City.
Central Plaza.
Several dozen people gathered here.
On one side stood students wearing white uniforms from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. On the other side were students in green uniforms from Shrek Academy.
"Hahaha, Dean Yan, long time no see. Look at you—your hair has already turned white. You must have been worrying a lot lately,"
Jing Hongchen, dressed in a luxurious golden robe, stepped out from the students and looked at Yan Shaozhe opposite him, saying with a smile.
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's face darkened. Of course, he knew what Jing Hongchen was referring to.
Ever since the last All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament, not only had Shrek Academy failed to defend its former glory, but due to Elder Xuan's impulsiveness, Shrek's prestige had also declined significantly.
The most obvious sign of this was that the quality of new students recruited by Shrek Academy this year was far inferior to previous years.
"Hall Master Hongchen, you too. After not seeing you for so many years, you've become quite a bit more… well-fed,"
Yan Shaozhe said, gesturing toward Jing Hongchen's belly as he spoke.
"No help for it. Ever since our Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy won the tournament last time, this hall master has been in a great mood all year. When the mood is good, you eat more,"
Jing Hongchen said with a chuckle.
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe's face grew even darker.
This was simply killing with words!
"Alright, Hall Master Hongchen. Let's not talk about these pointless things anymore. Since we already agreed earlier, let's exchange students now. On behalf of the Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department, I welcome your academy's students to come and study,"
Seeing that he couldn't win the exchange of words, Yan Shaozhe decided to stop.
Hearing Yan Shaozhe's straightforward words, Jing Hongchen smiled and replied,
"Very well. I didn't expect Dean Yan to be such a forthright person. I'll have to trouble Dean Yan to take good care of our academy's students."
Yan Shaozhe smiled calmly.
"Rest assured. At the very least, I can guarantee that during their time studying at Shrek, they'll learn real skills. The doors of Shrek's Inner Court will be open to them. I also hope Hall Master Hongchen can show enough sincerity during this exchange and remember our agreement."
"Of course. The doors of Mingde Hall will always be open to them as well,"
Jing Hongchen laughed loudly.
Previously, because Jing Hongchen refused to let Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen serve as exchange students, Yan Shaozhe had proposed that all exchanged students from Shrek be allowed to directly enter Mingde Hall to study.
As an equal exchange, students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy would also be able to enter Shrek's Inner Court without any assessment.
"Hall Master Hongchen, you're still too naive. Our Shrek Inner Court is quite relaxed with its students. Most of the time, it's just students sparring with one another and taking missions. What can your students really learn there?"
Yan Shaozhe thought gleefully to himself.
The Inner Court students of Shrek Academy were all five-ring or even six-ring cultivators, and had long formed their own training methods. For the most part, they cultivated on their own and sparred.
Students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy would surely find it hard to adapt.
"Yan Shaozhe, Yan Shaozhe—you think entering Mingde Hall directly is a good thing? That place is full of elites, all doing their own research. Without following teachers for guidance in the early stages, your Shrek students will only aim too high and achieve too little,"
Jing Hongchen thought to himself as he looked at Yan Shaozhe.
"Then, may our exchange be fruitful!"
"May our exchange be fruitful!"
Yan Shaozhe and Jing Hongchen clasped hands, exchanged a glance, and laughed simultaneously.
The two old foxes both wore cheerful smiles on their faces. As for what they were truly thinking inside, only they themselves knew.
Immediately afterward, the two sides exchanged students.
The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy students moved to stand behind Yan Shaozhe, while the Shrek Academy members went to stand behind Jing Hongchen.
"Then, Dean Yan, we'll meet again in two and a half years,"
Jing Hongchen said softly, preparing to leave with the Shrek Academy group.
Just before departing, Yan Shaozhe stopped Huo Yuhao and secretly transmitted a message:
"Yuhao, don't forget—spiritual detection, blueprints."
"Senior Brother, don't worry,"
Huo Yuhao nodded heavily.
This time, he wasn't just here to learn soul engineering techniques—he also carried the heavy responsibility of strengthening the Soul Engineering Department.
"Soul engineering techniques will come, and the blueprints will come as well,"
Huo Yuhao thought firmly to himself.
(End of Chapter)