Despite his curiosity about Meng Hongchen's intentions, Xu Tianxi cooperated and activated Mirror Flower, Water Moon to conceal her presence.
Regardless, such clandestine matters required caution. If some unscrupulous campus gossipers accidentally discovered and spread it, the naive Xiao Hongchen might come looking for a fight.
The easygoing Dean Jing Hongchen would likely also become highly wary of him, this "Potential Blondie."
"Hehe, that Xiao guy has been racking his brains lately, wanting to give you, junior, some grief from your Detestable Senior. As your kind Senior Meng, I couldn't bear it, so I decided to come help you out."
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Once she was sure no one could see her, Meng Hongchen, quite familiarly, picked out a few notebooks and pushed them onto Xu Tianxi's Study Desk. As she opened one to reveal neat handwriting, she began to instruct him:
"Here, these are some theories and ideas I marked when I was preparing for the Level 1 Soul Engineer exam, and some recorded test questions. The academy's exam content hasn't changed much over the years.
As long as you thoroughly understand these, passing the Written Examination will absolutely be no problem. Xiao's talent in manipulating Soul Guided Devices is better than mine, but he can't compare to me in theory."
Xu Tianxi followed Meng Hongchen's explanation for a while, nodding as he read. Soon, he couldn't help but ask:
"Senior Meng, you're helping me so much, do you have some ulterior motive? If you have any demands, please say them first. Although I came here as a refugee, I'm not completely destitute yet."
Meng Hongchen pondered for a moment, then smiled sweetly at Xu Tianxi, gently coaxing him:
"Junior, you might not have a clear concept of our Hongchen Family's financial power. Talking about money would be vulgar. I never consider how much money someone has when making friends."
Xu Tianxi's mouth twitched: "Then how about I make you a few Fixed Soul Cannon Shells? I can't promise anything too high-level, but Level 3 ones are definitely no problem. Consider it a token of my appreciation."
Meng Hongchen clasped her hands on the table, her bright eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint as she smiled:
"I'm helping you because I think you're handsome—I think you were so spirited when debating with Director Lin in class, and what you said was very meaningful. How about, in a few years, after your Soul Guided Technology improves, you tell me about your ideas and research?
Consider this me making an early investment today, how does that sound?"
Xu Tianxi's pupils suddenly contracted. Oh no! Academic Daji has her eyes on me!
No, wait, Academic Daji is useless. Meng Hongchen's talent is almost on par with Xiao Hongchen's. She's destined to become a Titled Douluo and a Level 9 Soul Engineer in the future, so she's not Academic Daji.
Moreover, her grandfather's Soul Guided Technology was geometrically superior to his, and while Xiao Hongchen might be naive, his Soul Guided proficiency was certainly there. They wouldn't need to freeload off his Scientific Research Results.
If he built a good relationship with her, future project funding should also go much more smoothly… right?
"How about it, junior? What do you think of my suggestion? I'm very close with the Dean.
If your ideas are sound, I can help you get sufficient funding from the Dean, that old man."
Seeing that the junior seemed overly wary of her, Meng Hongchen felt it was necessary to show off the generosity of a Hongchen Family heir, directly making him abandon the idea of repaying her kindness with money.
Would the Dean's granddaughter lack money? That was absolutely impossible.
Xu Tianxi seriously thought for two seconds, then decisively nodded in thanks, giving a thumbs-up as a guarantee:
"Senior, your generosity is appreciated, and I won't decline! I'll definitely remember you when I have Scientific Research Results in the future!"
He still had to eat at her grandfather's academy, so giving her a first author credit in the future wouldn't be out of the question. Since she had put it this way, not agreeing would be disrespectful.
Besides, he knew how much substance his ideas held. The general direction was certainly fine,
but how much time and effort it would take to achieve results could only be said to be promising for the future.
In this Era of Douluo II where dragons and tigers surge, Jing Hongchen led the team to develop the Zero Machine, which Yuhao then opportunistically stole during his Body Sect attack on Mingde Hall. Xuan Ziwen, who developed the First Generation Doukai, was also poached by Yuhao to work for the Tang Sect for many years.
Mingde Hall's years of hard work had all benefited Shrek and the Tang Sect, which was truly tragic. Since he was here, he would definitely secure those two things.
Currently, his imitation ability was powerful, but how strong his innovation ability was truly an unknown.
"Mm, junior, you're so likable. I really hope you can become a Level 9 Soul Engineer even earlier than Xiao."
Seeing Xu Tianxi agree so readily, Meng Hongchen's eyes curved into a smile, and a hopeful gleam flitted through her gaze.
That Xiao guy always used to complain about how lonely it was to be invincible in the academy. Now that she had personally helped him cultivate a future rival, he should be very grateful to her, right?
Hehe, the junior really makes one want to tease him, especially those brilliant eyes. The mark between his brows is also very charming. A Body Martial Soul truly has its unique aspects…
From Meng Hongchen's beaming expression, Xu Tianxi could tell that this senior was likely someone who enjoyed watching drama unfold and was wholeheartedly dedicated to causing trouble for her good brother. However, at the moment, their transaction was mutually beneficial, so he felt slightly relieved.
With his photographic memory and years of practical experience, passing this small Level 1 Soul Engineer assessment would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?
There were less than three months left in this semester. He set a small goal: to pass the exam and level up before the end of the semester, breaking the record set by Young Master Xiao Hongchen, and also showing Senior Meng Hongchen what she wanted to see.
He believed that once the novelty wore off, this senior would probably lose interest in him. Perhaps she would even do the opposite and start pushing Xiao Hongchen to work harder every day.
As for whether he could succeed, Xu Tianxi felt it was absolutely no problem. If judged by the Douluo Three Kingdoms' standard of "as long as the corresponding level Core Magic Array is inscribed, one can become a Soul Engineer," he was already a Fifth Level Soul Engineer, and could even attempt a Level 6 Soul Engineer.
Here in Sun Moon, only theoretical knowledge obstructed him. After a month-long battle in the Library, even Levels 4 and 6 would be conquered. Why would he be afraid of this?
Under Meng Hongchen's guidance, Xu Tianxi diligently absorbed knowledge, occasionally asking some fantastical questions:
"By the way, Senior Meng, do we Soul Engineers always have to use blacksmithing methods when processing Rare Metal? Are there other methods, like utilizing Water Power or Wind Power?"
Meng Hongchen: "??? ()"
What strange things was this junior talking about? Why couldn't she understand?
"The creativity of a Soul Engineer is limitless. I believe we can fully use more methods to simplify our work. For example, when I was still in the Xuanming Sect, I saw something called a Waterwheel. If this Water Power is used well, could it also be used for cutting Rare Metal—"
"And Soul Power, an energy source that can be called omnipotent. I think if it's stored to automatically power Soul Guided machinery, wouldn't that greatly increase our Soul Engineers' work efficiency? And it should also be suitable for large-scale operations."
Xu Tianxi took out paper and pen, sketching some rough designs from his previous life, attempting to light up new Technology Tree branches.
The Tang Family Continent's thousand-year-old blacksmithing craftsmanship was truly a headache. The metal tables here in the Sun Moon Empire were much more advanced, but he believed the efficiency was still very low and lacked standardization.
If you want to massively increase production and conquer the Three Kingdoms, don't you have to create something like an assembly line?
Meng Hongchen grabbed the scrap paper and racked her brain, imagining the scene based on Xu Tianxi's words. In a daze, she felt like she'd grasped something, but couldn't quite make sense of it.
"You—wait a moment, I'll call a professional to help ask."
Unable to figure it out, Meng Hongchen decisively chose to call for backup. She dialed a soul guided number and said respectfully,
"Hello? Is this Master Xuan Ziwen? It's Xiao Meng. I have a very creative junior here who just discussed some very interesting things with me. I think it might be helpful for your sealed milk bottle research... Yes, yes, I'm in the library. This junior of mine is named Kong Tianxi. It's even better that you know him. I can't believe even you've heard his name so quickly."
Hanging up the soul guided communication, Meng Hongchen gave Xu Tianxi a cheerful smile, making a "V" sign with her right hand.
She said with a grin:
"Done! How about it, junior? Isn't your senior amazing?
I'll tell you a little secret: the Master Xuan Ziwen your senior just managed to get to come is our Mingde Hall's Chief Researcher, and one of the Sun Moon Empire's top Level 8 Soul Engineer Grandmasters."
Xu Tianxi nodded earnestly, showing absolute admiration for Meng Hongchen's ability.
As expected of the Hall Master's granddaughter, she can even summon a research titan like Xuan Ziwen at any time.
However, Meng Hongchen just said on the phone that Xuan Ziwen had heard of him. What was that about?
He had only managed to verbally stun Director Lin Jiayi, that Dean of Education; had his reputation spread that quickly?
A moment later, a gust of wind whistled past. A man who looked no older than thirty rushed into the library, flying straight towards Meng Hongchen and Xu Tianxi, who had dispelled the Illusion.
Meng Hongchen proactively stood up and offered her seat, inviting the master to sit down:
"Master Xuan Ziwen, you really didn't need to rush so much. Tianxi and I still have a lot of things to sort out..."
"Hahaha, I can't not rush, Xiao Meng! You're the Hall Master's precious granddaughter, and you've introduced me to such a talented student. Of course, I can't let down your kind intentions, Xiao Meng."
Xuan Ziwen responded to Meng Hongchen with a beaming face, then stared intently at Xu Tianxi, who was protected behind Meng Hongchen. He placed a hand on Xu Tianxi's shoulder, his smile warm and friendly.
"You're Kong Tianxi, the one who verbally stunned that good-for-nothing Lin Jiayi yesterday? You really are a promising talent for Soul Guided Device research! I just heard Xiao Meng say you have many brilliant ideas to share with me. That's truly wonderful!
Come, come, let's go directly to my laboratory. We can slowly explore the marvelous world of Soul Guided Devices. There's so much we can research there—"
As he spoke, Xuan Ziwen ignored the sudden paling of Meng Hongchen's face next to him, and the bewildered expression on Xu Tianxi's face.
He was about to pull Xu Tianxi away with his formidable Soul Douluo cultivation.
A strong sense of unease rose in Meng Hongchen's heart. She shouldn't have called this person!
Without time to think further, she cried out, stopping Xuan Ziwen from forcibly taking him:
"Master Xuan Ziwen, Junior Tianxi is with me right now. Isn't it a bit unseemly for you to just snatch him away?"