"What did you say? Who dares to snatch someone I've set my sights on? I'll have to go head-to-head with them! And check if there are any issues with their research funding!"
In the dean's office, Jing Hongchen, who was reviewing the upper-year students' end-of-semester project experiment reports one by one, answered the phone. Upon hearing the report, he immediately burst into a rage.
Although Lin Jiayi didn't specify who the person coveted by one of his subordinates was, Jing Hongchen knew without a second thought that it was Xu Tianxi, whom he had repeatedly cautioned everyone to keep an eye on.
This was a dual genius, a Soul Master and Soul Engineer, as rare as Xiao and Meng, seen only once in a thousand years. This was the precious duck his dean had long since put in the pot to steam. Which suicidal fool dared to come and lift the lid?
He'd hit them with his Cut-Off-Supplies Great Art!
"That bastard is Xuan Ziwen, a Level 6 student advisor and the chief researcher of Mingde Hall!"
Lin Jiayi's words came out faster than if he'd swallowed gunpowder.
"What did you say? How could it be that scoundrel?"
Hearing it was Xuan Ziwen, Jing Hongchen's anger immediately dissipated quite a bit, and the idea of cutting off his funding vanished instantly.
Xuan Ziwen could hold the position of chief researcher not only because of his talent but also due to his strong connections. He was the personal disciple of Kong Deming, Old Man Kong, the foremost figure in the Sun Moon Empire.
Kong Deming was renowned as the "Father of Ninth-Level Soul Engineers." While this might be an exaggeration, it wasn't far off; more than half of the Level 9 Soul Engineers in the country had once been his students. This meant Xuan Ziwen had many Level 9 Soul Engineer senior brothers and sisters.
Even if Xuan Ziwen were fired, he could simply turn to his senior brothers and sisters for help, or even more brazenly, go to the Hall of Worship to serve tea and water to Old Man Kong and still not starve.
If he were to rally people in the Hall of Worship, inviting one or two well-connected Level 9 Soul Engineers to cause trouble, even Jing Hongchen would get a headache.
"According to him, he heard about what young Xu said in my class from a student who likes to wander around various laboratories, and it piqued his interest.
Later, he 'coincidentally' met young Xu in the library and they hit it off immediately. He started paying attention to him then, and now he's even proctoring young Xu's Level 2 exam at the examination hall."
Lin Jiayi had heard from Xuan Ziwen about the circumstances of his meeting with Xu Tianxi in the library. Considering the issue of the dean's harmonious family, he decisively omitted Meng Hongchen's presence.
"Damn it! Infuriating! No one can snatch a student Jing Hongchen has set his sights on! You keep an eye on the examination hall; I'm going over there now!"
Jing Hongchen thumped the student report he was holding onto the desk, then rushed out of the office in three steps that became two, directly displaying his powerful cultivation as a Titled Douluo, transforming into a streak of light and flying towards the academy's examination hall.
"Young Master Xiao, the semester is almost over. Why aren't you going into secluded cultivation to compete for first place in the assessment? What do you need a idler like me for?"
"First place in the assessment isn't worth fighting for anyway; it's either me or Meng. My grandfather just took me out of the academic affairs office last night. I'd been stuck there for two and a half months. I've already finished all the studies for secluded cultivation. I came to you, the gossip expert, to ask about someone."
On the green path of the academy's playground, Xiao Hongchen, who had just been released from his "sentence" for making noise on the roof until the end of the semester, was chatting idly with Li SanShui, the academy's top gossip student, sighing constantly.
"My grandfather is really something. He actually said I'm too proud and easily restless, so a period of secluded cultivation would be good. He just let me stay there longer, not even letting Meng pick me up. I think he's just old and confused from being busy. It took him over two months to remember his grandson—"
Li SanShui covered one ear with a hand, pretending not to hear Xiao Hongchen's complaints, and waved his other hand repeatedly.
"Young Master Xiao, why don't you tell me who you want to ask about? Otherwise, even if you dare to say it, I wouldn't dare to listen."
"Oh, the person I want to ask about is none other than Xu Tianxi, who fled here from the Douluo Three Kingdoms two and a half months ago and then passed the Level 1 Soul Engineer exam in just one month."
Xiao Hongchen seamlessly put on the expression of an enlightened master who had seen through the mundane world, lamenting:
"This morning, when I was eating in the academy cafeteria, I heard that he's already become a big shot in the academy. Many people are going to him for good luck before the final exams. It really feels like a lifetime ago."
"I remember a few years ago when Meng and I first came to the academy, many people also came to us for good luck.
I wonder how long his fame will last this time. I'm quite looking forward to it."
Li SanShui thought for a moment, then hesitated, "I don't think this time will be short."
Xiao Hongchen nodded, stating calmly, "It's not surprising if it lasts a long time—"
"This morning, someone saw him again at the Soul Engineer Level Qualification Examination Hall."
"What did you say? What do you mean 'again'?"
Xiao Hongchen turned his head abruptly, his calm expression replaced by utter astonishment.
Li SanShui nodded gently, "It's exactly what you're thinking. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be taking the Level 2 Soul Engineer certificate exam. Given the time, he might even be close to finishing by now."
"Considering he passed the Level 1 Soul Engineer exam with a perfect score, I don't think passing the second exam will be a problem for him. Otherwise, he wouldn't even be taking it."
"No, there's so much theoretical knowledge for Level 2 Soul Engineers. It took me several months to get through it back then. Only Meng was a bit faster than me. How did this guy pass in such a short amount of time?"
Xiao Hongchen's jaw dropped, even suspecting he had misheard.
Could that guy really be a genius who never forgets what he's learned? But how did he manage to devour all those books, piled higher than himself, in a month and a half?
Even finding those exam prep books is troublesome, and it's even harder to understand them without a teacher's guidance. Could Director Lin have given him special tutoring?
Li SanShui spread his hands, shaking his head in response:
"I don't know about that. Maybe he really is an unparalleled genius. Actually, he registered two days ago. Everyone thinks he's confident because he dared to sign up, otherwise, so many people wouldn't be trying to get good luck from him."
"Oh, by the way, some quick-witted people are already planning to make Examination God Figurines in his likeness soon." Xiao Hongchen frowned at the mention. He was all too familiar with Examination God Figurines; the academy even had souvenirs modeled after him and Meng Hongchen, though his souvenirs never sold as well as Meng Hongchen's.
"Whoosh—"
Just then, a whistling sound cut through the air above their heads. Li SanShui's gaze swept up, and he excitedly raised a finger.
"Young Master Xiao, quick, look! Isn't that your grandfather, our dean, flying over there?"
"What, what?"
Xiao Hongchen looked up at the sound, and his eyelids twitched.
The object flying over as a streak of light was indeed his dear grandfather, Jing Hongchen!
From his many years of experience, he noticed that his grandfather still seemed a little anxious.
"Young Master Xiao, it looks like your grandfather is flying towards the Soul Engineer Level Qualification Examination Hall," Li SanShui said in surprise.
Xiao Hongchen's face instantly darkened. His gut told him that his grandfather's urgency was very likely because of Xu Tianxi.
Perhaps Xu Tianxi had caused another big stir, exciting his grandfather enough to drop everything and personally intervene!
The question was, his grandson had been locked in the dean's office for two and a half months before anyone came to get him, yet his grandfather got so flustered when something happened to Xu Tianxi, who wasn't even an official disciple yet. Who was his real grandson anyway?
"Thanks for the heads-up. I'm off to the library to seclude myself and cultivate!"
Xiao Hongchen said with a heavy heart, handing a Soul Guided Device to Li SanShui, then walked with determined steps towards the massive library.
Grandpa isn't worth it, my sister isn't reliable, and then there's Xu Tianxi. Once I pass the Fifth Level Soul Engineer exam, I'll make you all look at me differently!
Li SanShui watched Xiao Hongchen walk away, shaking his head silently, and muttered softly:
"Good thing I didn't tell you someone saw your sister take Xu Tianxi to the Soul Engineer Level Qualification Examination Hall, and she waited outside the whole time. Otherwise, you'd be even angrier—"
"But this Xu Tianxi is truly impressive. He just arrived at the academy and already has a connection with Young Miss Meng, and even the Dean is so concerned about him. Talent truly comes with privileges. Could Young Miss Meng have a crush on him? I wonder what the Dean will think when he finds out—"