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Luan Yu didn't stop the white-haired boy's actions. For one thing, that Gold-Eating Beast was knocked out by Jing Hongchen, and anyway, it wasn't really their target.
The white-haired boy sat cross-legged and released a Three-Legged Golden Toad martial spirit with a yellow soul ring glowing on its body. He started absorbing the soul rings from the Gold-Eating Beast.
Unlike the white-haired boy who eagerly absorbed the soul rings, ignoring Luan Yu and the others, the red-haired girl lowered her guard and took a good look at Liuxing and the rest. Then her eyes lit up as she stared at Liuxing, murmuring, "Such a cute little brother…"
Liuxing twitched his mouth, instinctively stepping back and putting Liuying in front of him to block. He clicked his tongue inside—what was going on? Had he run into a crazy fan? The girl didn't look much older than him!
Jing Hongchen shook his head helplessly when he saw his grandson and granddaughter's reactions. One was totally arrogant, the other already showing signs of being lovestruck at such a young age. What was going to happen in the future?
Luan Yu frowned and got serious. She said in a deep voice, "Jing Hongchen, I don't care about that Gold-Eating Beast, but that Blaze Crow was first spotted by us."
Of course, Luan Yu knew she wasn't exactly in the right. Although her soul detection device found both beasts first, it was Jing Hongchen who subdued them first.
But for Xu Tianzhen's soul rings, she had to test the waters a bit.
If it weren't absolutely necessary, she wouldn't want to give up that Blaze Crow. It was just too perfect for Xu Tianzhen. As the team leader, she did have some sense of responsibility.
Besides, since they all knew each other, even if there was a dispute, it wouldn't come to blows—at most some arguing or paying a little price.
Jing Hongchen chuckled, shaking his head. "Still the same as before, so impatient. It's just a hundred-year-old soul beast. Sure, it has a divine beast bloodline, but I don't need it. You can deal with it however you want."
Jing Hongchen didn't care much about a hundred-year-old soul beast. He was familiar with Luan Yu, and her sister was a soul master of his level. No need to damage the relationship over a hundred-year-old beast. Giving it away could even earn some favor.
Luan Yu nodded. "Alright, thanks. I owe you one."
Although they found the Blaze Crow first, Jing Hongchen acted first, and him giving it up was a favor. Even for a hundred-year-old soul beast with a divine bloodline, it wouldn't be handed over that easily.
Under Luan Yu's soul force suppression, Xu Tianzhen immediately dealt a solid blow to the Blaze Crow. As a yellow ring of light rose from its corpse, Xu Tianzhen sat cross-legged. A golden orb appeared above her head, radiating intense heat, and she began to draw the Blaze Crow's soul rings toward her.
Jing Hongchen's pupils constricted as he stared at the golden orb above Xu Tianzhen's head in surprise. He looked at Luan Yu and asked, "A Solar martial spirit? Is she royal blood?"
Luan Yu shrugged. "Princess Xu Tianzhen."
Jing Hongchen nodded knowingly. As the leader of Mingde Hall, he was familiar with royal family members. Xu Tianzhen awakened with full innate soul power and inherited the Solar martial spirit. The empire's higher-ups got the news immediately.
Then he glanced at Liuxing and the others, noticing how young they looked—probably just awakened their martial spirits. He asked, surprised, "All born with full soul power?"
Luan Yu smirked proudly and nodded. "That's right. These two are my kids—Liuxing and Liuying. Quickly, say hello to Grandpa Hongchen. And this one is Ye Guyi, from the Shangguan Wei'er family. You can call me Grandpa too."
"Grandpa Hongchen!"
Liuxing, Liuying, and Ye Guyi immediately stepped forward to salute. After all, Jing Hongchen was one of the top three soul masters in the Sun Moon Empire and one of the very highest-ranking soul masters there!
"Well, well, well… The new generation of the Sun Moon Empire is getting better and better. You kids are the future pillars of the empire."
Jing Hongchen didn't care about the formalities of titles. He looked at the three kids, then at his own granddaughter and grandson who were busy absorbing soul rings, and at Xu Tianzhen with a smile on his face.
He had thought his own grandchildren were the top talents of the empire's new generation. If it weren't for laying a solid foundation, the eight-year-olds would probably already have their second soul rings and be heading toward becoming soul lords.
Never expected to meet four kids today all born with full soul power, close in age to his own grandchildren. He could already see the day when these six kids would rise up at the Advanced Soul Master Academy's Spirit Combat Tournament and beat Shrek Academy, finally wiping away the "perennial second" shame from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.
Whether these kids would join the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy wasn't a worry for him at all. Come on, it was the empire's strongest academy, ranked second on the entire continent, the cradle of Mingde Hall. How could anyone from the Sun Moon Empire not want to join?
"Hey there, little brother! Big sister's name is Meng Hongchen. What's your name?"
Without warning, the red-haired girl suddenly appeared next to Liuxing, eyes sparkling.
Ugh, another overly friendly one! Liuxing sighed inside. How many had there been already? Besides Ye Guyi, most of the same-age kids he knew seemed to be this way!
"Hello, Sister Meng. I'm Liuxing."
You can't punch a smiling face, right? The girl was polite, didn't touch him or anything, kept a good distance. He couldn't be rude either, especially since she looked young but clearly showed signs of future breathtaking beauty.
People are visual creatures; they're naturally drawn to beautiful things. Liuxing was no exception and didn't push people away.
Liuying watched Meng Hongchen talking to Liuxing and felt weird inside. This feeling wasn't there when Nan Qiuqiu, Ye Guyi, or Xu Tianzhen interacted with Liuxing.
That strange feeling left her standing dazed, as if something of hers was about to be taken away. Looking at Meng Hongchen's delicate face, a flash of alarm shot through her mind. Suddenly, she was a hundred times more cautious of Meng Hongchen.
A big enemy! This was an unprecedented big enemy! Can't take it lightly—Liuying, get ready to act!
"Hello, Sister Meng, I'm Liuying."
True to her bold nature, Liuying didn't hesitate to step forward. No fear, just go for it.
Meng Hongchen frowned at Liuying standing in front of her but still forced a smile. "Hello, Liuying. Are you and Liuxing siblings?"
"No."
Liuying shook her head without hesitation. She had a feeling that if she admitted they were siblings, everything would be over.
Meng Hongchen looked surprised. "You're not siblings? Then how do you look so alike, and have similar names?"
"....."