"Teacher Xuan, if you're interested in the Holographic Strategic Chamber, our academy has detailed information available, and the library also houses a vast collection of soul tool technology data. This exchange study period lasts almost five years, giving you ample time for in-depth research."
Zhang Lexuan smiled as she looked at Xuan Ziwen.
The importance of soul tool technology data was judged differently by various factions. For many powers on the Douluo Continent, this information was indeed crucial. Once mastered, it could lead to rapid advancements in their soul tool technology.
However, for Haiyuan City, which boasted a cosmic-level genius in Herta, the situation was entirely different. Given enough resources, Haiyuan City had the capability to manufacture space stations, star destroyers, spaceships, and even extinction-level weapons capable of annihilating star systems. Therefore, some soul tool technologies were not as critical to Haiyuan City.
In Haiyuan City's view, resources were the most crucial factor. Moreover, these soul tool technologies could be updated and iterated at any time, as long as Herta desired it. There was no need to worry about them posing a threat to Haiyuan City if acquired by others. This was the immense influence and value that a cosmic-level genius possessed.
In fact, it was the relatively meager resources of the Douluo Continent that limited Herta, and to some extent, Lu Jingming also limited Herta. Otherwise, with Herta's capabilities, she would have probably lost interest in this small Douluo Star long ago. Therefore, Herta's current focus was more on exploring parallel worlds and researching the God Realm. For her, exploring various parallel worlds and delving into the mysteries of the God Realm was clearly more attractive and interesting than these minor affairs on Douluo Star.
It was precisely for this reason that Zhang Lexuan was brimming with confidence and had no intention of restricting Xuan Ziwen from accessing soul tool technology data. On the contrary, she saw this as an excellent opportunity to win Xuan Ziwen over. After all, Haiyuan City genuinely needed more research-oriented talents like Xuan Ziwen as it developed.
Indeed, many things couldn't always rely solely on Herta; diversified talent reserves were essential for Haiyuan City's continuous growth and strengthening. People like Xuan Ziwen, who were wholeheartedly devoted to soul tools and immersed in research, were actually the easiest to recruit. This was because, for him, as long as you could offer conditions he couldn't refuse, he would willingly leave the Mingde Hall and join Haiyuan City.
Coincidentally, Haiyuan City possessed the ability to fulfill Xuan Ziwen's every demand. Whether it was more advanced soul tool technology beyond current understanding, or precious opportunities to communicate with Herta, or even just letting him see a Herta puppet, these conditions would be enough to completely win over Xuan Ziwen. After all, for someone so obsessed with soul tool research, such temptations were simply irresistible.
Moreover, the exchange students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy were not without the potential to be recruited.
Zhang Lexuan's gaze fell upon the screen of the holographic strategy. There, Ji Juechen was fiercely battling a Black Tide Commander, his iron sword swinging with surging sword intent. Jing Ziyan wielded a whip-type soul tool, controlling smoke with agile movements. And Meng Hongchen, clad in ice-blue soul tool armor, held ice-blue twin swords, looking valiant and spirited.
These few individuals had a great chance of being recruited by Haiyuan City.
Ji Juechen was obsessed with the way of the sword, and Jingliu was precisely the teacher he yearned to follow and learn from. Once Ji Juechen could be persuaded to join Haiyuan City, Jing Ziyan would naturally not leave easily. After all, Zhang Lexuan could tell at a glance Jing Ziyan's feelings for Ji Juechen; their relationship was close, so if Ji Juechen stayed, Jing Ziyan would most likely stay as well.
As for Meng Hongchen, Zhang Lexuan also had a plan in mind. She believed that as long as Lu Jingming employed a little charm, perhaps a "honey trap," winning over Meng Hongchen would be a piece of cake. And once Meng Hongchen was successfully secured, Haiyuan City could establish a connection with the Hongchen Family. It was important to note that the Hongchen Family was one of the oldest families in the Sun Moon Empire, deeply rooted and with thousands of years of profound heritage. Leveraging the relationship with Meng Hongchen to foster good relations with the Hongchen Family would undoubtedly be a huge asset to Lu Jingming's future plan to dominate the Douluo Continent.
In Zhang Lexuan's view, Meng Hongchen's role was roughly similar to Xu Jiujiu. As long as it could help Lu Jingming, she didn't mind having a few more "sisters." Devoted wholeheartedly to Lu Jingming, she had unknowingly become part of the "harem faction," even one that actively helped her man expand his harem, willing to even give a push if needed.
Before long, the battle in the holographic strategy was nearing its end.
Aside from Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, Ji Juechen, and Jing Ziyan, the other six students had all been "killed" and were now clutching their foreheads, immersed in the after-effects of simulated death. Most of them had died at the hands of the Black Tide Counselor, who could turn invisible. This terrifying monster could stealthily approach while invisible, and as soul tool masters, most of them didn't have time to react before their throats were slit by short blades. Some students even had their heads directly removed, a brutal sight.
At this point, within the holographic strategy, out of the six Black Tide monsters, only the Black Tide Commander had its core destroyed and had lost its life force. Through the combined efforts of Ji Juechen and Meng Hongchen, and after sacrificing six classmates, they finally succeeded in killing one monster.
Suddenly, a flash of dark blade light appeared, and Xiao Hongchen's face instantly changed drastically. He unhesitatingly unleashed his life-saving spirit skill—Golden Affinity. His entire body instantly elementalized, turning into golden liquid, narrowly dodging the Black Tide Counselor's fatal blow.
However, just as the golden liquid he transformed into solidified not far away, a black light arrow struck like lightning, instantly piercing his forehead.
"Brother!" Meng Hongchen exclaimed in shock, watching helplessly as Xiao Hongchen's figure dissipated into light.
"Old Ji!" Almost simultaneously, Jing Ziyan's long whip, like a nimble snake, quickly wrapped around Ji Juechen's waist. She then swung him forcefully towards the direction of the Black Tide Decayed Bow.
But she herself was slammed hard by a massive axe light.
Accompanied by a deafening roar, the ground violently vibrated in a circular pattern, and a huge deep pit instantly appeared on the ground. Amidst the swirling dust, specks of light emerged, signifying Jing Ziyan's "death."
Ji Juechen did not hesitate. His gray deadly sword intent instantly permeated the air, and a silent yet extremely sharp sword light, like a black lightning bolt, instantly pierced the energy core in the Black Tide Decayed Bow's chest, a decisive killing blow.
But before Ji Juechen could even catch his breath, a dark claw, bearing orange flame, slammed viciously towards his head.
In this critical moment, as ice crystals flashed beneath the monster's feet, Meng Hongchen's figure instantly appeared. Two ice-blue sword lights in her hands slashed down fiercely, blocking the fatal blow from the Black Tide Corroding Demon for Ji Juechen.
Looking at the Black Tide Corroding Axe, Black Tide Counselor, and Black Sun Gryphon that had surrounded them from all directions, as well as the menacing Black Tide Corroding Demon in front of them, Meng Hongchen's lips couldn't help but twitch slightly.
Ten people participated in the battle, and now eight were dead, having only just managed to find an opportunity to kill two monsters. The difficulty of this test was truly beyond imagination.
After continuous high-intensity combat, Meng Hongchen and Ji Juechen were both at their limits. Faced with the monsters' encirclement, they had almost no power to resist and were quickly "killed," transforming into light and disappearing from the holographic strategy.
At this point, this team dungeon ended with the complete annihilation of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy.
"Very good, your test is over. That's all for today. I'll take you to the dorms to rest."
Zhang Lexuan clapped her hands, a smile on her face, as she spoke to Meng Hongchen and the others.
"What's our rating?" Even though his face was pale and his spirit was sluggish, Xiao Hongchen still couldn't stop himself from asking about their rating. The others also turned their gazes to Zhang Lexuan, their eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity. After all, after such an incredibly difficult battle, they were all eager to know what level they had achieved within St. Freya Academy's evaluation system.
"Meng Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, Ji Juechen, Jing Ziyan, A-rank students. The rest are B-rank students."
Zhang Lexuan glanced at the evaluation provided by the holographic strategy and said calmly.
"Only A-rank?" Xiao Hongchen's face immediately darkened. From the moment he was "killed," he knew that he probably had no chance of an S-rank evaluation; after all, how could one die in a test and still receive the highest rating?
"That's right, this evaluation is based on your overall performance in various aspects of the battle, not simply how many monsters you killed," Zhang Lexuan patiently explained.
Trying to kill all the Black Tide monsters in this test was simply too difficult. Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the others were already considered first-class talented students, but even putting in their full effort, they could only kill two monsters.
This rating comprehensively considered factors such as Xiao Hongchen and the others' age, soul power cultivation, and combat intelligence. In terms of age and soul power evaluation, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were clearly superior to Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan. However, in terms of combat wisdom, willpower, and combat techniques, Ji Juechen surpassed Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen.
Therefore, after comprehensive evaluation, all four of them received an A-rank evaluation. Ji Juechen's rating was not lowered simply because he was slightly older. Just based on the sword intent Ji Juechen comprehended, he was already worthy of an A-rank student evaluation. After all, many Titled Douluo spent their entire lives without comprehending something as profound as sword intent, yet Ji Juechen was able to comprehend and skillfully apply sword intent in actual combat with only a Soul King's cultivation. His failure to receive an S-rank evaluation was mainly because his age, cultivation, and relatively ordinary martial spirit somewhat held him back.
As for Jing Ziyan, her combat talent was also quite good, so she also barely managed to receive an A-rank evaluation.