Meng Hongchen lifted her little chin, smiling brightly at Wang Chen.
Meng Hongchen: (ω) "My grandfather is the Dean, I can be this willful, hehe."
Wang Chen chuckled, pinching her soft cheeks before deciding to be honest:
"Dream, it's not like that. The real reason I don't want to go to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy… is because the academy's teachings are far too shallow for me. Going to classes would just waste my cultivation time."
Meng Hongchen, seeing that Wang Chen refused, suggested again:
"Wang Chen-gege, if the academy classes are too simple, why don't you study in Mingde Hall instead? I can have the Director arrange a test for you. If you pass, you can join Mingde Hall directly. Even if you fail, you can still intern there."
But Wang Chen only shook his head again. He knew exactly what he lacked—time and soul power accumulation, not soul tool knowledge.
When it came to soul tools, as long as he saw another Soul Engineer work once, his Black Book could record the process. He would then quickly master it.
In terms of soul tool expertise, Wang Chen was in no way inferior to an Eighth-rank Soul Engineer. The only limitation was his cultivation; he couldn't yet make or use high-level soul tools.
So, even Mingde Hall—sacred ground to countless Soul Engineers—was meaningless for him. It would only be a waste of time.
Besides, except for the four Ninth-rank Soul Engineers, no one in Mingde Hall was qualified to teach him.
And those Ninth-rank Soul Engineers were always busy; even their own children or grandchildren rarely got personal guidance. How could they have time for an outsider?
Meng Hongchen didn't know his true level. Seeing him still unwilling, she pouted and frowned.
Her thoughts ran wild:
"Bad Wang Chen-gege! Even Mingde Hall isn't good enough for him? Does he just not want to see me every day? Or… is it because he wants to spend time with Ye Guyi instead?"
Wang Chen could guess her mood almost exactly. He knew refusing again would upset her, but he couldn't afford to waste time—not while his strength was still insufficient.
If he already had the strength of a Ninth-rank Soul Engineer, then he could relax. At that point, he would stand unshakable, able to protect his family and friends, and live on his own terms.
But as long as he hadn't reached that level, he could not afford to ease up.
No one could predict whether tomorrow or disaster would arrive first.
And besides, even if he joined the Academy or Mingde Hall, he couldn't openly declare himself Meng Hongchen's man.
The Sun Moon Empire's Emperor had decreed that no prince was allowed to interact with Mingde Hall's Ninth-rank Soul Engineers.
Since the Wang Clan supported the Second Prince, Wang Chen's relationship with Meng Hongchen could only remain secret.
If made public, it would look like a violation of imperial decree—unless Wang Chen himself had Ninth-rank strength to ignore it.
This was the sadness of being weak: he couldn't even announce their relationship openly.
Sighing, Wang Chen pulled Meng Hongchen into his arms, kissing her smooth forehead, her delicate nose, and finally those soft, rosy lips.
Meng Hongchen quickly melted in his tenderness, her earlier irritation already washed away.
After a long while, her face flushed, she whispered with glossy lips:
"Since Wang Chen-gege doesn't want to see Dream every day, then… forget it."
Wang Chen looked at her sulky face and replied:
"Dream, how about this—tomorrow I'll go to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and take the Mingde Hall assessment. I'll hang my name there. That way, when I have free time, I can come see you. But as for actually studying there, that won't work. I have my own path of cultivation. Mingde Hall isn't suitable for me."
What he meant was: he'd get the pass card to come and go freely. That way, it'd be easy to meet Meng Hongchen whenever possible.
Meng Hongchen looked at his handsome face and knew this was his biggest concession. She nodded in agreement—better to accept this than to lose everything.
As for Ye Guyi… Meng Hongchen trusted the bond between herself and Wang Chen. No way could Ye Guyi break it!
Time quickly passed to the next day.
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
The academy was built in a hexagonal shape; its campus was so vast it rivaled a medium-sized city.
When Wang Chen arrived, the front gates were packed with people.
It was the first day of the new term—both new students enrolling and older students returning.
The Academy's admission rules weren't strict: as long as you were under twelve, had reached the tenth level of soul power, and possessed one soul ring, you could join.
As a result, the number of students was huge—far exceeding Shrek Academy. Just the first grade alone had thirty-two classes.
Once admitted, students weren't ranked by age, but by strength:
First-rank Soul Engineer = Year Two.
Second-rank = Year Three.
And so on.
By the age of twenty-five, anyone reaching Fifth-rank Soul Engineer level could attempt the Mingde Hall assessment.
So on opening day, with all six grades gathered, the place was buzzing.
Wang Chen walked through the crowd and went straight to the high-level passage—a path reserved for teachers and Mingde Hall researchers.
He pulled out a card from his storage soul tool and swiped it. With a ding, the gate opened.
As for where the card came from… naturally, his little sweetheart Meng Hongchen had arranged it.
After all, being the granddaughter of Jing Hongchen, Dean of the Academy and Hallmaster of Mingde Hall, meant getting a few high-level cards was nothing at all.
Nearby, a Mingde Hall researcher frowned suspiciously:
"Who is this handsome guy? I've never seen him before. If someone this good-looking were in the Academy or Hall, I'd definitely remember! Could he be a spy? But no… what spy would be bold enough to walk openly through the high-level passage? Isn't that just suicide?"
Unaware of the doubts behind him, Wang Chen strode confidently forward and soon reached the exit.
There, a short, stout middle-aged man appeared before him—Lin Jiayi, the Academy's Director of Education.
Lin Jiayi was a Soul Douluo and an Eighth-rank Soul Engineer, a trusted aide of Jing Hongchen.
Because Jing Hongchen was usually busy with Mingde Hall matters, Lin Jiayi handled most of the Academy's daily affairs.
Today, he came because he had received an order from the little princess Meng Hongchen—
to arrange a special entry into Mingde Hall for a youth under fifteen named Wang Chen.
Meng Hongchen: (╯3╰) "It's not that I don't trust him, I'm just worried he won't pass the test…"
On the surface, Lin Jiayi agreed. But secretly, he reported to Jing Hongchen. Mingde Hall wasn't a place for jokes—there were too many secrets.
Even as Jing Hongchen's confidant, he couldn't make such a decision alone.
But to his shock, Jing Hongchen didn't refuse. He even instructed Lin Jiayi to let Wang Chen take the assessment.
However, there were to be no back doors. Everything must follow the rules—pass if he could, be rejected if he couldn't.
Lin Jiayi almost thought he had misheard.
A youth not even fifteen, taking Mingde Hall's test seriously?
Even Fifth-rank Soul Engineers often failed the test! At his age, being Fourth-rank was already a genius.
As for those rare prodigies who reached Fifth-rank before fifteen, Lin Jiayi had only seen a few in his entire career—and each was a once-in-a-generation talent.
Meanwhile, inside Mingde Hall itself—
Jing Hongchen thought coldly:
Three years have passed… I want to see just what level this boy Wang Chen has reached. Hmph!