The night was thick and heavy.
Long Xiaoyao, dressed in a flowing black robe with golden embroidery, stood quietly as the evening breeze gently lifted the hem of his garment.
After a long pause, he put down a letter, his brows slightly furrowed. The words within spoke not only of old memories but also of a single request—to take care of his only great-grandson, Bei Bei.
"It seems your time is near," Long Xiaoyao sighed softly.
Mu En was a clever man. He knew that their past friendship alone would not be enough to make him leave the Holy Spirit Cult. However, looking after a mere great-grandson was a favor he could not refuse.
"But… this kid is also a romantic?" Long Xiaoyao took out another letter—an intelligence report from the Holy Spirit Cult detailing Bei Bei's background.
"Licking…" He was about to speak but choked on the words, hesitating for a moment before shaking his head. "Forget it. He does bear some resemblance to me…"
"In the Sun-Moon Empire, I will keep you alive."
Maple Leaf City
Located on the western border of the Heavenly Soul Empire, near both the Star Luo Empire and the Sun-Moon Empire, Maple Leaf City housed a portion of the Western Frontier Army—ten thousand strong—serving as a crucial logistics hub.
It had also been marked with a red dot in Elder Cheng's discussions on blitzkrieg strategy.
Yet today, this usually disciplined and solemn city, a source of great pride for its citizens, found itself occupied by two groups of uninvited guests.
The city square had been cleared. Not only were civilians barred entry, but even military officers who had previously stationed troops here had been unceremoniously thrown out. Now, covered in bruises, these high-ranking officers stood alongside commoners, their usual arrogance replaced with silent humiliation.
The sight of once-powerful military officials cowering against the walls, having been soundly beaten yet unable to retaliate, left the citizens in stunned awe. The oppressive might of two true top-tier forces weighed upon them.
Inside the Square
The Shrek Academy and Sun-Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy exchange students—forty-two people in total, including Yan Shaozhe and Jing Hongchen—stood proudly on the stage.
Yan Shaozhe glanced at the opposing side and found his stiff expression easing slightly.
Among them were three seventh-tier soul engineers, all under thirty years old, as well as two notable figures: the recent tournament's champion team leader, Ma Rulong, and Jing Hongchen's grandson, Xiao Hongchen.
Their presence showed how much the Sun-Moon Empire valued this exchange.
"Hall Master Jing, long time no see."
"Heh, indeed…"
The two old schemers exchanged polite smiles.
Before the journey, Xu Cheng had pointed out a loophole: Shrek's internal task force had given these exchange students three years at the Sun-Moon Academy. With talents like Xiao Hongchen, they could very well qualify for Shrek's Inner Court, making the exchange feel one-sided.
Shrek initially planned to stall for time and negotiate terms, but the next day, a letter from Xu Cheng shut them up.
"By the principle of equal exchange, since your school insists on this, we also have the right to require your students to participate in our 'Inspection Corps' mission—eliminating Evil Soul Masters. They only need to complete three missions to graduate."
Shrek: "…"
Considering that nearly 90% of Evil Soul Masters were now in the Sun-Moon Empire, and that the empire was colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult, sending students on this mission was basically a death sentence.
Not to mention that two of the three missions might as well involve walking into the Holy Spirit Cult's headquarters and taking a bath. If their headquarters were conveniently located across from the academy, that would be even more absurd…
Xiao Hongchen secretly observed the Shrek students.
There was the composed Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's heir, and his old rivals Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi—many familiar faces.
Shrek and the Sun-Moon Empire had been long-time enemies, so Xiao Hongchen naturally recognized these prodigies.
But the more he recognized them, the more it proved that Shrek had sent their best this time.
Satisfied, he nodded. As the second most talented person in the Sun-Moon Empire, the grandson of Jing Hongchen, and one of the rulers of Mingde Hall, this was the level of competition he deserved.
However… when his gaze landed on Senior Sister Zhang Lexuan, he hesitated.
That guy, Xu Cheng, had always been ridiculously popular with women. As his close friend, Xiao Hongchen had witnessed firsthand how Xu Cheng had gone from a lonely wanderer to being surrounded by admirers.
Hopefully, his little sister would at least get a chance.
He glanced at Ning Tian, suspecting that she was also here for Xu Cheng.
Ning Tian sensed something and looked up, catching Xiao Hongchen's gaze. She frowned slightly but still nodded politely in acknowledgment.
"…Ahem." Xiao Hongchen coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Forget it. Everyone has their own fate.
Meng, your time is running out.
Meanwhile, in Mingde Hall…
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
Xuan Ziwen, looking at the esteemed visitor, felt a bit uneasy.
"I came to escort Juzi to the military. Also, I wanted to see you." Xu Cheng casually sat down, glancing around.
This was Xuan Ziwen's private laboratory. Every eighth-tier soul engineer in Mingde Hall had one, fully equipped for independent research projects.
In the original timeline, Xuan Ziwen had led the development of the All-Terrain Detection Soul Device, which was instrumental in stealth reconnaissance and missile guidance. But it had also evolved into an offensive weapon—essentially, a mobile artillery platform.
Sun-Moon Empire had already experimented with tank-like vehicles, replacing wheels with tracks. However, they had been deemed inefficient for their blitzkrieg strategy against the Three Empires.
Tanks were powerful and durable, capable of mounting heavy soul cannons. But they were slow and struggled with the continent's complex terrain.
On the other hand, flying soul engineers were fast and maneuverable but lacked sustained heavy firepower and ground support.
This was where Xu Cheng's latest project—Mecha Units—came in.
Mechas were more agile, had built-in flight capabilities, auto-targeting, enhanced defenses, and extended combat endurance with secondary energy sources. A six-tier mecha could fight like a seven-tier soul engineer.
But they still couldn't match tanks in sheer firepower.
Thus, Xu Cheng's visit today had another purpose—weaponizing the All-Terrain Detection Soul Device into a mobile cannon fortress.
Xuan Ziwen, stunned, quickly poured Xu Cheng a cup of tea.
Xu Cheng waved it away. "No need. I came to request your help with something—about the All-Terrain Detection Soul Device."
"You mean improving it?"
"Yes. The empire has underestimated its potential. A weapon that can reshape warfare deserves more attention."
"You're suggesting…?"
"Transform it into a mobile artillery platform."
"But funding…" Xuan Ziwen hesitated.
"Heh. Just submit a request. I'll personally fund it. Moving forward, this will be our second-highest priority—just after mecha development."
Xuan Ziwen's eyes lit up. He had recognized the device's potential but never expected royal endorsement.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Xu Cheng smiled.
Of course, he had another goal—recruiting Xuan Ziwen.
This man was a scientific genius, whose later research on linked soul devices almost changed the war.
Letting him slip away? Impossible.
Elsewhere, in another Mingde Hall laboratory…
"You're leaving?"
Zi Mu looked at Juzi, his heart conflicted.
Juzi simply smiled. "His Highness has assigned me to the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion as a regiment commander."
Zi Mu clenched his fists. He had loved Juzi from the start, even abandoning his status as a soul engineer to become a chef for her.
But her heart already belonged to Xu Cheng.
And so, with egg-fried rice as his only weapon, he faced the toughest opponent of his life.
A prince, powerful and noble, yet he can cook egg fried rice?
Zi Mu felt as if the sky had collapsed. No wonder he managed to win the goddess's heart…
Unfair competition! Stir-fry!
Of course, he refused to believe that a prince's cooking could surpass his own. It had to be the prince's status that moved Orange, nothing more.
"Ju Zi Sis, hehe…" Keke quickly hugged Ju Zi's arm, acting cute and coquettish.
"This is a military regulation. Height, weight, and soul power all have strict requirements," Ju Zi said helplessly, ruffling the little loli's hair. "Only those who are truly exceptional can have these rules waived."
"Am I not exceptional enough? I entered Mingde Hall at fifteen, and I'm already a level-five Soul Engineer. They must be blind!" Keke pouted angrily.
"…" Ju Zi shrugged.
Keke was indeed outstanding—one in a thousand within the academy. But to ignore military regulations? She was still far from that level.
Unless she reached the same caliber as Ma Rulong or Lin Xi, only then could exceptions be made…
"Alright, I'm leaving now. Don't miss me too much, everyone~" Ju Zi smiled playfully, waving goodbye to the two of them. Just as she was about to leave, the laboratory door slowly opened.
Xu Cheng walked out, chatting and laughing with Xuan Ziwen.
(End of Chapter)