Lin Jiayi could tell that Jing Hongchen was in a good mood and asked, "They damaged the soul tool?"
Jing Hongchen waved his hand dismissively. "Just a level-seven soul tool. You can make another one. As for the other practical soul tool control classes that haven't undergone testing, let them go to the Soul Tool Department for evaluation."
Lin Jiayi hesitated, wanting to ask, Why me? But he didn't dare to.
Meanwhile, fifth-year students Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen also heard about Liuxing's feat.
Xiao Hongchen scoffed. "It's just a martial soul fusion technique. We have one too. Having a higher cultivation is what truly matters."
Meng Hongchen covered her mouth and giggled.
"But I heard that Liuxing and Liuying have a 100% martial soul compatibility, and their incomplete martial soul fusion technique already destroyed a level-seven soul tool testing device."
Xiao Hongchen's face darkened, and he glared at his sister, who just had to bring up that sore point.
He was clearly unconvinced.
"Hmph, just wait! In next year's preliminary team selection competition, I'll defeat him fair and square."
Meng Hongchen was speechless.
Forget whether you can even beat Liuxing, you're two years older than him.
If you lose, it's humiliating. If you win, no one will say you're better than him.
Is this really necessary?
---
Soul Tool Department, Year One, Class One
Gu Yuena listened to the discussions around her, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
She knew that those people would be in the spotlight wherever they went.
And she couldn't fall behind either.
Gu Yuena stood up and walked towards the teachers' office.
She was going to take the level-three soul engineer assessment.
Only by doing this could she earn the recognition of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineering Academy and possibly even be assigned a personal mentor.
A month after the new semester began, the names of Liuxing, Liuying, Xu Tianzhen, Ye Guyi, Xue Nu, and Gu Yuena had already spread throughout the academy.
The first five were first-year students in the practical soul tool control department, eleven-year-old Soul Elders, with four of them possessing martial soul fusion techniques.
As for the last one, Gu Yuena, on her first day at the academy, she passed the level-one soul engineer assessment.
Five days later, she passed the level-two assessment. Half a month later, she passed the level-three assessment.
The academy even assigned her a dedicated mentor.
"Beep! Student card."
Gu Yuena took out her identification card and swiped it in front of the silver-white door. The door opened automatically.
Upon entering the laboratory, she saw a black-haired girl completely engrossed in assembling a soul tool, so focused that she didn't even notice Gu Yuena's arrival.
Gu Yuena walked up behind the girl, remaining silent, simply observing as the girl assembled the soul tool.
"Phew! Success! Yay!"
The black-haired girl carefully inserted the final component into the circular soul tool in front of her.
As the soul tool formation lit up with a white glow, the round device clicked and transformed, small wings extending from its sides as it hovered in the air.
"Senior Ju Zi."
"Ahh!"
The sudden voice startled Ju Zi, causing her to fall onto the ground in shock.
She looked at Gu Yuena with wide eyes.
"Oh, it's you, Gu Yuena! You scared me. You must be looking for Teacher Xuan, right? He's in another lab."
Ju Zi patted her backside and adjusted her glasses, feeling a little embarrassed about her reaction in front of her junior.
"Sorry about that, Senior. Actually, Teacher Xuan sent me to find you. He wants you to teach me the level-four soul tool formation."
Gu Yuena spoke softly.
"Level-four soul tool formation? Gu Yuena, are you about to advance to a level-four soul engineer?"
Ju Zi looked at Gu Yuena in surprise.
The fact that this junior had become a level-three soul engineer within a month of enrollment, and had been assigned an eighth-level soul engineer, Xuan Ziwen, as her mentor, was already shocking enough.
But now, she was ready to learn the level-four formation?
"There's still a long way to go, which is why I need your help. But if you don't have time, I understand."
Gu Yuena's expression remained calm.
To her, it didn't matter whether Ju Zi was willing to teach her or not.
"Oh, of course I have time! How could I refuse such an adorable junior? Leave it to me! I'll make sure you become a level-four soul engineer as fast as possible!"
Ju Zi patted her chest confidently.
"In that case, I appreciate your help. Have you had lunch yet, Senior? My treat."
During her time in the human world, Gu Yuena had learned many things, such as the importance of treating someone to a meal when asking for a favor.
"Well, since you're offering, I won't hold back. You haven't joined Illustrious Virtue Hall yet, so let's go to the sixth-year dining hall. The food there isn't too different from Illustrious Virtue Hall's."
Ju Zi was quite straightforward, directly choosing the best dining option outside of Mingde Hall.
Gu Yuena nodded in agreement.
She wasn't short on money. In fact, she lacked almost everything except money.
Items considered priceless treasures in the human world, such as soul bones, were practically available in bulk to her.
Even if she didn't personally own hundred-thousand-year soul bones, her subordinates did.
The Star Dou Forest had existed for countless years, and many soul beasts had lived for tens of thousands of years.
How could they not have a collection of soul bones?
The number of students in the sixth-year cohort was relatively small, so the dining hall wasn't separated into divisions like the practical soul tool control department and the regular soul tool department.
However, not all of the diners were sixth-year students. Many lower-year students who could afford it also ate here.
For example, Liuxing and his friends.
"Over here, Gu Yuena!"
Liuxing, with his sharp eyes, immediately noticed Gu Yuena as she entered and waved to her.
Gu Yuena hesitated. If she were alone, she would have gone over without hesitation. But she wasn't alone.
She was accompanied by Ju Zi and Ju Zi's close friend, Keke. So, Gu Yuena turned to look at Ju Zi for guidance.
"Are they your friends? That's great, eating together is always livelier."
Ju Zi smiled knowingly. She wasn't a socially anxious person, so she had no issues with it.
Since Ju Zi had no objections, Keke naturally had none either.
"Huh? Senior Ju Zi?"
Xu Tianzhen was taken aback when he saw Ju Zi behind Gu Yuena.
"Tianzhen, do you know this Senior?"
Liuxing and the others looked at Xu Tianzhen curiously.
"Hello, I'm Ju Zi. I actually know all of you, no, actually, I should say that in this academy, no one doesn't know you. I just didn't expect you all to be Gu Yuena's friends."
Ju Zi winked at Xu Tianzhen playfully.
For now, she didn't want too many people knowing about her connection to the prince.
The dining hall was crowded, and too many eyes were watching.
"Mhm, I have met her before. Senior Ju Zi is a very kind person."
Xu Tianzhen nodded, refraining from revealing more details.
"Senior Ju Zi, nice to meet you."
Though curious, Liuxing wasn't the type to pry.
"I'm Keke! I've heard so much about you guys, even in the laboratory, your names are famous!"
Keke grinned cheerfully, clearly the outgoing type, much like Xu Tianzhen.