Chapter 22 – Crown Prince Xu Tianran, Triple Promotion
Meng Hongchen didn't feel the slightest bit embarrassed.
Back in the Teaching Department, she had already heard the rumors about Huo Yuhao. She knew he was an outrageously handsome young man, but with her heavy academic workload, she'd never had the chance to meet him in person.
Now, with her elder brother saying this, it was like he had struck directly at the softest part of her heart.
"Alright, alright! But… should we tell Grandfather first? Didn't Grandfather say he wanted to take Huo Yuhao as a disciple? If we contact him privately like this, won't it interfere with Grandfather's plan?"
Xiao Hongchen only shrugged, completely unconcerned.
"That's far from a done deal. Besides, with that kid's monstrous talent in soul guidance device research, Grandfather might not be able to get his way. Before anything's set in stone, sneaking in a conversation or two won't hurt. Grandfather won't mind."
Meng Hongchen was persuaded—or perhaps it was more accurate to say that her curiosity about Huo Yuhao had only grown.
"Alright then, genius brother. I hope you and this Huo Yuhao get along."
"Of course we will. Your brother is a genius! I'll make sure he knows exactly how impressive I am!"
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Sun Moon Imperial Palace – near dusk.
Crown Prince Xu Tianran sat in his wheelchair, absorbed in the intelligence report in his hands.
"Body martial soul, twin martial souls, and he's broken the Empire's record for the fastest advancement to Level-2 soul engineer… Elder Kong's final disciple is truly fascinating."
"Come."
When his personal guard entered, Xu Tianran ordered:
"Send a reward to the youth named Huo Yuhao. Congratulate him for breaking the Empire's fastest Level-2 soul engineer record."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Once the guard departed, Xu Tianran looked toward the shadowed corner.
"A genius like that, and Elder Kong's last disciple no less—you can't touch him. Otherwise, that old man will go mad."
A chilling, snake-like voice slithered out from the darkness.
"This is beyond my duties. The Holy Spirit Church has no interest in such matters."
"That's for the best." Xu Tianran's tone was neutral, giving nothing away.
He needed to win over Illustrious Virtue Hall—or rather, show goodwill toward the Worship Hall. Making contact through this boy named Huo Yuhao was a viable option. But he couldn't ignore the Holy Spirit Church's presence.
To bargain with a tiger was to risk being mauled. Once he ascended the throne and held the Empire's power firmly in his hands, it would be time to sever ties with such filthy creatures.
A man who aspired to unify the entire continent could not afford to bear such a permanent stain.
The setting sun bathed the Imperial City in molten gold. With all attendants and shadow guards dismissed, Xu Tianran muttered under his breath:
"The entire Empire will one day be mine. Father… you're getting old. Why cling to the throne? Your son is getting impatient."
At that moment, a figure appeared silently in the tranquil space—a woman with long, silky orange-red hair, porcelain skin, and a tear mole at the corner of her eye. Her beauty carried a languid, dangerous air, like a predator with the privilege to walk unchallenged.
Amber, cat-like eyes—sharp and deadly—gazed at the sunset.
"Ju Zi, you're here."
Ju Zi said nothing, only stepped behind him and began to push his wheelchair toward the lower palace. She disliked this place, but her hatred kept her here. Only by staying close to the Crown Prince could she avenge her parents and fulfill her vow.
As for why the cunning Crown Prince tolerated her presence, it was because, years ago, when the Third Prince attempted to assassinate him, Ju Zi had taken a fatal strike on his behalf. Their relationship was not built on trust, but on mutual use.
Seeing her silence, Xu Tianran didn't mind and continued speaking to himself.
"I've heard a peerless genius appeared at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy—someone who had never touched a soul guidance device before, yet became a Level-2 soul engineer in just three months. Ju Zi, you should meet him sometime."
Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he added:
"Oh, right—your teacher Xuan Ziwen happens to be that boy's senior brother. You'll inevitably see him in the future. His name is Huo Yuhao, a first-year student in the Teaching Department."
Ju Zi's body trembled slightly, though her face betrayed no emotion. She simply nodded faintly.
Huo Yuhao?
She suddenly remembered—the blue-haired boy she'd glimpsed outside the academy. Was it him? To become a Level-2 soul engineer in three months… no wonder Xu Tianran would call him a peerless genius.
"…Alright. I understand."
Xu Tianran was momentarily surprised at her response but said no more.
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The next morning – Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Teaching Department dormitory.
Huo Yuhao emerged from the bath, still drowsy, only to be hit by an awful stench. As expected, purging bodily impurities was unavoidable. Luckily, he had prepared beforehand, so he didn't need to waste effort cleaning the room.
"Rank 17… just a little more to reach Rank 18."
After a quick wash, he assessed his soul power. No surprises—he had been on the verge of breaking through before, and the Mystic Water Pill had cleansed his body, nourished his meridians, and given him a deep refinement. A single-level increase was to be expected.
Having passed the Level-2 soul engineer assessment and broken the Empire's fastest promotion record, he no longer needed to attend first-year classes. By next semester, he would be in his fifth year, studying Level-3 soul guidance device theory in earnest.
He requested leave from Teacher Shi Xuan, then returned to his dorm and took out a Soul Ascension Pill.
As for concerns about taking it right after the Mystic Water Pill—wasting potential because his foundation hadn't stabilized—Huo Yuhao didn't care in the slightest.
His teacher had already prepared weekly medicinal baths to stabilize his cultivation. The Soul Ascension Pill could only be taken once in a lifetime, and its special effect on Rank 30 Soul Master breaking through to Rank 31 was meaningless to him. With better resources awaiting him in the future, why would he hoard this one?
Resources unused were resources wasted—he wasn't like that plagiarist "Grandmaster" who treated Level 30 as some insurmountable barrier.
"Hiss—"
Even though both pills were mild, Huo Yuhao still felt his meridians swell slightly. But it wasn't unbearable, and his soul power surged rapidly.
Two hours later, he climbed out of bed and stretched.
"Rank 19… just shy of Rank 20. Two more levels gained."
Three levels in a single day—yet his soul power felt completely solid.
In truth, soul power was essentially quantity. If your level rose, you had that level's strength. The difference lay in quality, but unless one had an extreme-attribute martial soul, that difference rarely showed in battle.
Without arrogance, he adapted to the new power, then headed to the dining hall. Afterward, he planned to visit his teacher for a round of body tempering.
Once his foundation was secure, he intended to try his luck in the market tonight—perhaps he could acquire some Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber.
The Sun–Moon Empire, with its vast coastline, surely had ample stores of such marine treasures. And with his gold soul coins practically overflowing, there was no reason to delay. Better to convert wealth into strength immediately—anything else would disappoint Tian Meng's hopes for him in the Extreme North.
If not for its… aphrodisiac side effect, he would've eaten whale rubber like candy.
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End of Chapter