"Oh, I'm so sorry, Little Meng, I completely forgot about you. You can just come to my lab with me and listen in for as long as you like.
But what you just said wasn't quite right. We're all from the academy, from Mingde Hall. Why talk about yours and mine? We can discuss things, can't we?"
Hearing Meng Hongchen's desperate and bold words, Xuan Ziwen turned to look at the Hall Master's granddaughter, a playful smile on his face.
Meng Hongchen grew anxious, her face flushing.
"But Teacher Xuan, I was discussing these things with Junior Brother Tianxi first! Isn't it a bit rude to just take him away without asking?"
Is listening in what I want? I want to be involved! You just cut me out completely!
Xu Tianxi, whose arm was throbbing from being gripped, nodded repeatedly and said,
"Teacher Xuan Ziwen, I'm just a first-year student right now. I still need to catch up with Senior Sister Meng for my certification exams. I know you're the teaching instructor for the sixth-year seniors, and I honestly don't think I have much to discuss with you."
A slight smile touched Meng Hongchen's lips. Her junior brother still had a good conscience.
Xuan Ziwen smiled, shaking his head and wagging a finger.
"No, no, no, Tianxi, you're being too modest. Soul conductor certificates are secondary. Those Soul Guided Devices can be made anytime. Novel ideas are the most valuable talent."
"Just based on the innovative ideas you've brought up twice, I can already confirm that you are a Soul Guided Device genius with infinite potential, and you need unconventional cultivation—"
Meng Hongchen instantly stared at Xuan Ziwen with a wary expression. "Teacher Xuan, Junior Brother Tianxi isn't just my person. Grandfather also thinks very highly of him."
Xuan Ziwen paid no mind to Meng Hongchen's interruption, continuing to cheerfully tout his abilities.
"If you're willing, I can help you outline the most detailed Soul Engineer advancement path, guaranteeing you'll reach sixth-year status at the fastest speed, and then you can study in my lab. How about it, consider it?"
"You know, I'm the chief researcher of Mingde Hall. Aside from those Level 9 Soul Engineers who are rarely seen, no one is more qualified to teach you than I am."
"And those Level 9 masters are all very busy. Take Little Meng's grandfather, your dean, my Hall Master, for example. He's currently leading a team to tackle a massive project, and he usually has to handle the administrative affairs of two major organizations. Even Little Meng rarely has time to teach individually."
Meng Hongchen stood by, dumbfounded. Are you really going to poach me and my grandfather's talent right in front of me? Is that really okay?
Xu Tianxi was hit by a sudden, overwhelming offer, feeling a little numb all over. He didn't know whether to nod or shake his head.
Fortunately, Xuan Ziwen finally seemed to notice Meng Hongchen's increasingly hostile gaze. Considering that she might just call Jing Hongchen over, he laughed heartily, pulled out a Soul Guided Card, forcibly shoved it into Xu Tianxi's hand, and then vanished like a gust of wind.
"I just remembered I have some experimental data to record. We'll stop here for today. I've given you my lab key card. Remember to visit sometime! Little Meng knows where my lab is, you two can just come together, hahahaha—"
Standing there, Xu Tianxi looked at the Soul Guided key card in his hand, feeling a sense of unreality.
He had just talked in class about some future directions for Soul Guided Devices, borrowing some concepts from Kong Deming, and now a top-tier Level 8 Soul Engineer was actively pursuing him?
If he said something even more drastic in the future, would it draw out Kong Deming too?
It seemed he needed to be a bit more careful from now on. Building too much fame might draw out Kong Deming, which would be fine, but drawing out the crazy old hag Ye Xishui would be disastrous.
"Ah~ ah~ ah! That hateful Xuan Ziwen! How shameless! It's too much! Too much! I'm going to make Grandfather dock his allowance!"
While Xu Tianxi found peace, Meng Hongchen beside him exploded. She glared in the direction Xuan Ziwen had disappeared, fiercely waving her fists and muttering about docking Xuan Ziwen's salary, her silver-white hair fluttering wildly as if also enraged.
"Senior Sister, I think that instead of docking his allowance, it would be more effective to audit his research funds to see if he's inflated them."
Xu Tianxi made a quick decision, put away the card, and offered a brilliant suggestion.
Upon hearing this, Meng Hongchen's eyes suddenly lit up, then dimmed again as she remembered something, saying helplessly,
"Other Level 8 Soul Engineer masters, yes, but that hateful Xuan Ziwen has a very powerful backer. Grandfather even has to show him respect because of it. Otherwise, how would he dare to talk to my grandfather like that in front of me, even if what he said was true?"
Understood. Xuan Ziwen's teacher is Kong Deming, the Sea Stabilizing Divine Needle of the Sun Moon Empire and the Hall Master of the Hall of Worship. Even Jing Hongchen has to address him as "Elder Kong."
Come to think of it, I seem to have some distant family ties with Kong Deming. My great-great-grandfather, whom I've never met, was apparently a nephew of Kong Deming. I just don't know what their relationship was like back then.
Could Xuan Ziwen's frantic search for me, besides my shocking words, also be because my current surname is "Kong"?
"But no matter how powerful that guy's backer is, I refuse to believe that old man can teach better than I can. Junior Brother Tianxi, do you believe in your senior sister?"
Distracted by Xu Tianxi, Meng Hongchen recovered, her gaze burning as she stared at Xu Tianxi, as if afraid he might slip away if she wasn't careful.
"Of course, I believe in your strength, Senior Sister—"
Xu Tianxi felt a little nervous under Meng Hongchen's intense gaze, thinking, This senior sister has probably been provoked quite a bit.
"Good that you believe me! Didn't he say he could help you become a Level 8 Soul Engineer in the shortest time? This time, your senior sister will have a proper competition with that old man! I can't reach Level 8, but Level 5 is no problem!"
With that, Meng Hongchen directly grabbed Xu Tianxi's wrist and led him back to the self-study table. The eyes that had recently been full of flowing light now burned with a fierce fire.
Xu Tianxi observed the fuming Meng Hongchen, thinking, Xuan Ziwen, you've really kicked a Level 5 Soul Guided Device steel plate by provoking her.
Everyone knew Xiao Hongchen was the Sun Moon Empire's greatest genius in a thousand years, but his siblings were always mentioned together.
Meng Hongchen's strength was not much inferior to her brother's, and she also harbored pride, though she was usually more reserved, unlike Xiao Hongchen's showiness.
In pure Soul Engineer ability, she couldn't compare to Xiao Hongchen, who possessed the Three-legged Golden Toad, but in terms of theoretical knowledge, she was probably more confident than anyone.
However, when immortals fight, Tianxi benefits. These two bickering, in a way, brought him more advantages. Senior Sister Meng was truly a great person.
Seeing Meng Hongchen, who had clearly switched into strict teacher mode, Xu Tianxi silently decided that if he ever innovated any Level 8 or 9 Soul Guided Devices in the future, he could give her naming rights.
A genius who first became a Level 4 Soul Engineer empowering a genius who later became a Level 4 Soul Engineer—such good fortune was truly rare.
Two and a half months later.
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Soul Engineer Rank Qualification Exam Hall.
Dean Lin Jiayi once again deigned to serve as the invigilator, sitting regally at the front of the exam hall, his gaze sharp as he watched Xu Tianxi write furiously, his pen scratching "shasha" as he filled in the answers to theoretical questions.
Moments later, Xu Tianxi submitted his theoretical exam, picked up his carving knife, and grabbed a piece of rare metal to begin carving the most basic Level 2 core array patterns.
Lin Jiayi glanced through Xu Tianxi's theoretical exam, nodded in satisfaction, and without waiting for Xu Tianxi to finish his practical work, took out the official certification stamp of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and firmly pressed it onto Xu Tianxi's Level 2 Soul Engineer assessment form.
He also added a few lines to the "Academy Evaluation" section: "This student is exceptionally gifted and passes with a perfect score."
Xuan Ziwen, who seemed to have heard the news from somewhere and rushed over to be an impromptu proctor, exclaimed in surprise, "Director Lin, his practical results haven't even been reviewed yet, and he's already received a perfect score?"
"There's no need to review them. If he can't get a perfect score, then all students below Level 3 in this academy might as well be melted down and remade," Lin Jiayi said without hesitation.
If someone could craft a Level 2 Fixed Soul Cannon Round within half an hour, yet couldn't engrave some perfect Level 2 core arrays, it would only mean that the Soul Guided Device he made wasn't Level 2!
Xuan Ziwen nodded in agreement, clapped his hands, and laughed, saying:
"That's true. This child became a Level 1 Soul Engineer within a month of enrolling, and now he's passed the Level 2 Soul Engineer assessment. There have been some genius students in the academy's history who learned early at home and only formally took their exams after joining the academy, but their skill levels probably can't compare to his."
"I've looked into him. This child just came here for further study from the Soul Engineer Desert, and he's already achieved so much. What a talent, truly a remarkable talent!"
Lin Jiayi suddenly turned, his eyes fixed on Xuan Ziwen with extreme caution. "What are you trying to do? He's someone the Dean recognized early on."
"It's exactly what you're thinking. The old Dean is so busy; how can he be bothered with trivial matters like teaching students? I'm young and energetic; it's only right that I help him share some of the burden."
Xuan Ziwen smiled leisurely, winking at Lin Jiayi. "And don't you always say that I don't like getting involved in academy affairs and lack dedication?
I rarely take an interest in a student, and this child not only has extraordinary talent but also shares my surname, Kong. Don't you think that means we have an extraordinary destiny? Also, I'll tell you secretly, I've already given him the key card to my laboratory."
"You...!" Lin Jiayi was speechless for a moment.
Oh no, Dean, the unscrupulous Xuan Ziwen is trying to poach your talent!
Giving up on arguing with Xuan Ziwen, Lin Jiayi turned and jumped out of the examination room. He dialed a Soul Guided phone, and as soon as it connected, he immediately shouted:
"Dean, it's bad! Someone wants to snatch the person you've set your sights on!"