Jiang Shengyu watched Yan Shaozhe. Although Yan spoke with apparent regret, his expression carried only the most superficial pretense.
Put simply—his "acting" was so perfunctory that it was clearly fake.
Yan Shaozhe didn't seem to care that they could see through his lack of sincerity. He turned to Jing Hongchen and said:
"Hall Master Hongchen, let's be off. The students from Shrek are waiting for us just ahead in Yumíng City."
But Jing Hongchen declined:
"No need. Dean Yan, please bring your academy's students here. We can conduct the exchange ceremony on this side—it's safer, and we'll avoid any further complications."
Seeing that Jing Hongchen refused to go into Yumíng City with him, Yan Shaozhe didn't object. He simply nodded.
"Very well. I'll head back now to bring my students over."
As he spoke, Dai Hao came flying in from the distance.
As the general tasked with guarding the borders of the Star Luo Empire, a battle of this scale had required Dai Hao to first calm the panicked soldiers and travelers at the pass. Only afterward had he found the time to pursue the disturbance here and see what was going on.
Upon spotting Yan Shaozhe together with Jing Hongchen's group, he descended immediately.
"Dean Yan, what happened here?"
Dai Hao knew Yan Shaozhe. Back when the Star Luo Empire had decided to launch the spirit beast–hunting campaign to destroy the Spirit Hall's branch, Dai Hao had attended meetings with him. Not to mention, both Dai Huabin and Dai Yueheng were students of Shrek Academy.
Within the group, Huo Yuhao's fists clenched tightly the instant he saw Dai Hao—but Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen quickly stepped in front of him, blocking him from sight.
Their instinctive action sent a warm current through Huo Yuhao's heart.
Yan Shaozhe briefly introduced Jing Hongchen to Dai Hao. Upon learning his identity, Dai Hao was surprised. The conversation turned to the battle outside Yumíng Pass.
Yan Shaozhe explained the situation.
When Dai Hao realized that such a powerful individual existed within the Sun–Moon Empire, his expression grew grim.
Yan Shaozhe then made a quick trip back to Yumíng City to bring over Jiang Nannan and the others who had been waiting there.
"Father!" Seeing Dai Hao present, Dai Huabin's face lit up in delight and he called out.
Dai Hao gave him a nod of acknowledgment, instructing firmly:
"Do not bring shame upon the White Tiger bloodline!"
"Yes, I will do my best!" Dai Huabin nodded heavily, his expression brimming with pride.
This father-and-son exchange only deepened Huo Yuhao's loathing for the Dai family.
Jiang Shengyu glanced back at the downcast Huo Yuhao and exchanged a look with Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen. They understood instantly and deliberately drew Huo Yuhao a little farther away, chatting with him as cover.
Jiang Nannan and Xiao Xiao greeted Jiang Shengyu warmly when they spotted him in the group.
Xiao Xiao even called out directly:
"Hello, Brother Qingtong!"
"You'd best call me 'Brother King' instead." Jiang Shengyu quipped before adding,
"Since you're Qingtong's friend, no need to be so formal. Just call me Shengyu. After all, I'm not much older than you."
"Alright!" Xiao Xiao agreed happily with a nod.
Jiang Nannan also called Jiang Shengyu's name softly, her tone so gentle that Xu Sanshi, standing to the side, grew visibly jealous and resentful. His gaze at Jiang Shengyu was filled with hostility.
Jiang Shengyu naturally noticed Xu Sanshi's look, but he didn't call it out. Instead, he quietly exchanged a few words with Jing Hongchen.
After hearing him, Jing Hongchen cast a discreet sidelong glance at Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan, careful not to draw attention. Once Jiang Shengyu finished, he nodded.
"Alright. I understand."
Dare to glare at my junior brother, will you?
Just wait until you get to Mingdu—you'll suffer for it.
All it would take was to spread word that Jiang Shengyu disliked Xu Sanshi. In Mingdu, there were plenty of ambitious people eager to curry favor!
Under Dai Hao's witness, Jing Hongchen and Yan Shaozhe completed the exchange of students.
Yan Shaozhe looked at Jiang Shengyu and the others who had now come to his side, smiling broadly as he said:
"From this moment on, you will be spending three years studying at Shrek Academy! I hope you all enjoy your time there—the Academy welcomes you warmly!"
To him, this welcome speech seemed perfectly adequate.
Then Yan Shaozhe turned to Jing Hongchen and Dai Hao.
"Hall Master Hongchen, Duke White Tiger, it grows late. I should be bringing these children back to Shrek Academy now. Farewell!"
"Safe travels, Dean Yan." Jing Hongchen and Dai Hao both nodded politely in farewell.
With a wave of his hand, Yan Shaozhe released a surge of majestic soul power, lifting Jiang Shengyu and the others into the air. Without the aid of any flying soul tools, he carried them up into the sky, flying directly in the direction of Shrek Academy.
Jing Hongchen raised his head to watch, unable to keep from sighing inwardly.
In terms of soul tools, the Sun–Moon Empire was leagues ahead of the other empires and Shrek Academy. But when it came to Super Douluo—
The Sun–Moon Empire still had none.
Not a single one.
Whether it was himself or Kong Deming, their cultivation remained stuck at level ninety-four. Of course, Kong Deming was far stronger than Jing Hongchen, his comprehension of soul tools reaching extraordinary depths.
But even so, Jing Hongchen admitted he could not replicate Yan Shaozhe's feat just now. Even Kong Deming, with his current strength, might not be able to rely solely on pure soul power to carry so many people all the way from the border back to Shrek Academy.
The distance was simply too great.
To achieve this with soul power alone… perhaps only when Kong Deming broke through to Super Douluo and became a Tenth-Rank Soul Engineer could such a feat be possible.
After Yan Shaozhe left, Jing Hongchen fitted Jiang Nannan and the others with flying soul tools. Bowing slightly to Dai Hao, he said:
"Duke White Tiger, this old man will also take his people back now. If time permits, I shall visit Yumíng Pass again."
"Idle chatter is welcome—anything more, unnecessary." Dai Hao replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
Jing Hongchen's smile did not waver. He turned to Jiang Nannan and the others.
"Come. Let me show you what the most powerful empire in the world truly looks like!"
He spoke the words openly, paying no mind to how Dai Hao might feel.
Within the group, Dai Huabin, Xu Sanshi, and the others all sneered at Jing Hongchen's proclamation.
They knew well that the Sun–Moon Empire led the three original Douluo Continent nations by a wide margin in the field of soul tools. But as heirs of soul master clans, they clung to the creed: soul masters surpass soul engineers.
To them, the Sun–Moon Empire, which had risen by relying on soul tools but lagged far behind in high-level soul masters, was not worthy of respect. After all—everyone had heard of soul masters ascending to godhood. But who had ever heard of a soul engineer becoming a god?
Soul masters were the true essence of everything!
Jing Hongchen led them to the Sun–Moon side of the border pass. When the group caught sight of the soul-guided bus waiting for them, they froze in astonishment on the spot.
(Regarding Dai Hao's cultivation: at this point in the timeline, he should indeed only be at the Soul Douluo level. My earlier assumption was incorrect—he doesn't reach Title Douluo until much later.)
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